Saturday, october 1, 2016 binder1

Crime&City Update

RECESSION

Features

Debts squeezing us out of business –Food vendors

Pg. 45

OCT. 1 2010 BOMBING

Man who lost 2 sons, nephews still cries for justice

Pg. 10,11

Pg. 48

SATURDAY Saturday, October 1, 2016

Vol. 3 No. 955

Sanctity of Truth

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@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

THE PRESIDENCY

N150

WHY BUHARI CAN'T CHANGE CABINET NOW l Ministers took charge four months ago PAGE 5 l Economy to top Independence Day broadcast l PDP was reckless with corruption –President Pg. 6

Nigeria witnessing loss of foreign confidence

We need to rework our political, socio-economic foundations

ROT IN THE JUDICIARY

NJC sacks Enugu CJ, 2 others

Pg. 5

Embrace 'Change begins with me'

Alex Iwobi

Govt uses Independence celebration as a camouflage to squander money

CBN GOV's DILEMMA

Kidnappers demand N1.5bn ransom for Emefiele's wife Pg. 9

Pg. 5

unveils stunning girlfriend Pg.30 9 Pg.

56th

Independence Anniversary

Nigeria

Happy independence Anniversary!

Today, we are happy to felicitate with the nation as she celebrates her 56th year of independence.

Since then, through thick and thin, we've not only supported energy development, we have also invested in economic and human development.

Over 5 decades ago, when we ď€ rst partnered with Nigeria, we committed for the long term.

further....

we will go

Together

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 SATURDAY TELEGRAPH NEW TELEGRAPH 1 OCTOBER 2016

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Why Buhari can’t reshuffle cabinet – Presidency Anule Emmanuel

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Abuja

ndications have emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari is not ready to make any changes in his cabinet. There have however been calls by concerned Nigerians for the President to appoint competent individuals that will assist him deliver.

A competent presidency source yesterday confirmed to our correspondent that President Buhari believes in the capacity of his ministers and the Economic Management Team (EMT) to deliver on their mandates of transforming the country.

The source who prefers anonymity told Saturday Telegraph that those calling for rejiging of the cabinet have no justification and are only being impatient with the government.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and the Senate Committee Chairman on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Dino Melaye are among many Nigerians that have challenged the President to reshuffle his cabinet.

The two law makers recently demanded the sack or redeployment of the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and his Finance counterpart, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, describing them as incompetent and lacking in vision to come up with policies that could assist Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

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he National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday sacked the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya and Justice Kabiru Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State.

While the council recommended both Justices Umezulike and Tsamiya for compulsory retirement, it dismissed outright Justice Auta from service.

The council will further hand over Justice Auta, to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, for prosecution.

The spokesperson for the council, Mr. Soji Oye, said Justice Tsamiya was recommended for compulsory retirement from Office to President Muhammadu Buhari, pursuant to the ‘findings’ by the council in the petition written by Nnamdi Iro Oji against him and Justices Husseini Muktar, F. O. Akinbami and J. Y. Tukur, all Justices of Court of Appeal who sat on Election Appeal Panel in the Owerri Division of the Court during the 2015 General Elections.

He added that the Peti-

l President: Why I’ll continue to blame PDP for recession

the country get out of the current economic recession.

According to the presidency source, President Buhari knows that his ministers became fully in charge of their respective ministries only four months ago and would not have performed magic as expected in some quarters within a very short time.

“The 2016 budget is not President Buhari’s budget.

He cannot really assess the ministers based on this particular budget.

“They effectively took charge in the last four months, so it is not possible to assess them based on that,” the source explained.

On whether today’s broadcast to mark the country’s 56th Independence anniversary by the President will feature a major shakeup in the cabinet, the source said “the President’s speech on the Independence Day celebration will primarily focus on the economy.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has again raised concerns over the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that it was characterised by reckless corruption which plunged the nation into its current economic recession.

The President’s statement is coming despite wide criticism that he has focused on accusing the past government rather than

concentrating on evolving new policies that would grow the economy and improve the quality of lives of the citizens.

Speaking Thursday night at the a conversation with creative youths shortly after a photo exhibition and book launch in his honour at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President noted that the massive corruption and mismanagement laid the foundation for recession.

The book which featured pictorials chronicling events that led to the emergence of Buhari as President in 2015 was put together by his personal photographer, Mr. Bayo Omoboriowo.

He said: “I am going to bore you with what we met, I know I'm being accused in the newspaper of passing the buck but passing the buck is sometimes absolutely necessary, to remind people who take things for granted.

“When we came in by some unfortunate coincidence, I screamed to high heavens because I had promised a lot, I said where is the savings? But there was no savings. There was no infrastructure, power, rails, roads, there was none.

“My dear countrymen especially the youth, you have a fantastic country, God has endowed Nigeria with human and material resources.

“What did we spend the money on? I was told buying food and petrol, where were the billions going? We conducted a study and found out that the oil marketers were committing fraud on at least one third of what they were importing, which is about 25 per cent of our foreign exchange.

“The youth must watch our elites, the condition we found ourselves, it is unpatriotic for anybody to pretend that economically we have no the tenure of problem.

“We have gone into the farms, I congratulate some of the governors and by the grace of God by the end of this government we will be exporting rice and grains.

L-R: Representative of the Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mrs. Wonu Adetayo; Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and Chief Executive Officer of NESG, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, at a press conference to announce the 22nd NESG in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NJC sacks Enugu CJ, 2 others tion contains allegations, among others of corruption, malice and vindictiveness; and giving perverse and conflicting decisions on the same issue in similar matters in Appeal CA/OW/ EPT/SN/50/201.

The cases involved are that of Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex Vs Hon. Mao Onuabunwa & Anor; CA/OW/ EPT/SN/47/2015; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu & Anor Vs Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa & Ors; and CA/OW/EPT/ HR/61/2015: Nnamdi Iro Oji Vs Nkole Uko Ndukwe & 16 Ors. The NJC said that during deliberations, it found that there was evidence that the Petitioner met with Hon. Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya thrice, in his residence in Sokoto, Gwarinpa, Abuja and Owerri where on each occasion, he demanded from him the sum of N200 million to influence the Court of Appeal Panel in Owerri or risk losing the case.

For Justice I. A. Umezulike, the council recommended its compulsory retirement to the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ug-

So all the money alleged to have been used to import will be available to sustain development.

“I have bored you with this long explanation because there are things that cannot be hidden from you by those that have mismanaged the country in the last 16 years,” he said.

President Buhari further assured Nigerians that his administration would address some of the sundry challenges with focus on the provision of security, industrialisation, manufacturing and food among others.

“I said it many years ago and I still mean it, we have no other country than Nigeria, we will stay here and salvage it together,” President Buhari said.

wuanyi, sequel to the findings by the council on the allegations levelled against him by Barrister Peter Eze. The petitioner had alleged that the Chief Judge failed to deliver judgement in suit No E/13/2008: Ajogwu Vs Nigerian Bottling Company Limited in which final addresses were adopted on October 23, 2014.

He added that the judgement was however delivered on March 9, 2015, about 126 days after addresses were adopted, contrary to constitutional provisions that judgement should be delivered within a period of 90 days.

The petitioner further stated that: “Justice Umezulike, OFR, in Suit No E/159M/2014, Ezeuko Vs Probate Registrar, High Court of Enugu State and 3 Ors ordered the arrest of Mr. Peter Eze by police and be brought before his Court after the matter was amicably resolved and judgement entered on terms of Settlement.

“That the Chief Judge in a speech delivered by him to the Eastern Bar Forum on March 4, 2016, openly made

uncomplimentary remarks containing vulgar language against the Petitioner, contrary to Rule 1.3 of the National Judicial Council Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

“That at the time of the book launch of the Hon. Chief Judge, donation of N10 million was made by Prince Arthur Eze during the pendency of the two cases in His Lordship’s Court, both of which Prince Arthur Eze has vested interest.”

In the case of Justice Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State, he was recommended to the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, for dismissal and be handed over to the police for prosecution following the findings of the Council on the allegations levelled against him

by Alhaji Kabiru Yakassai.

The petitioner alleged that he paid the sum of N125 million into an account approved by the Judge.

“The Petitioner also made cash payment of N72,000,000 to Justice Auta in several instalments through his Personal Assis-

tant, Abdullahi Bello, ostensibly for the purpose of assisting a former CJN who had just been appointed to secure accommodation and for the Petitioner to be in turn rewarded by the award of some contracts by the said CJN. “That Justice Auta facilitated telephone communications in his house between the petitioner and purportedly the former CJN on the other end.

“That Justice Auta facilitated meetings between the Petitioner and a lady who introduced herself as the purported Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria in a Prado Jeep, escorted by armed Police Officer in a hotel in Kaduna.”

According to the council, the allegations against the three Judicial Officers constitute misconduct contrary to Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and Rules 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 3.2, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 8.4a, 13.1, 15.2 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ambode charges residents on peaceful co-existence Muritala Ayinla

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overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has called on all the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the state to re-organise their respective associations so as to survive the economic recession.

The governor also charged the community associations to update their information with the government, saying his administration remains committed to running allinclusive regime.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Communities and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, the governor implored the associations to initiate community based oriented projects as well as coordinate monitoring of existing infrastructural facilities in their respective communities.

The governor, who gave the advice at the 2016 Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council Annual Congress held at Oshodi- Isolo Local Government Secretariat, said that his administration has structured the governance systems.

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Our Correspondents minent Nigerians yesterday used the celebration of Nigeria’s 56th Independence celebration to review the state of the nation.

Nigeria witnessing loss of foreign confidence –Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said Nigeria was witnessing loss of foreign confidence for her inability to resolve the economic downturn fast. According to him, there has been a slowdown of badly needed foreign investment.

He said: “This current crisis is not a time for grief, regret or recrimination. It is an opportunity for all of us to roll up our sleeves and support the government in the arduous task of revitalising the core elements of our national economy.

"We are witnessing an increasing loss of foreign confidence in the ability of Nigerians to resolve the economic downturn. There has been a slowdown of badly needed foreign investment, which has decelerated economic development that is so essential to the well-being of the ordinary Nigerian. The average Nigerian is worried about the state of things and yearning for a vibrant economy within a peaceful and stable environment so that he/she can carry on with daily endeavours to make ends meet.”

Saraki calls for joint efforts

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, has called on Nigerians to collaborate with the Federal Government in order to ensure the nation emerged from the current economic recession stronger, more united, developed and self reliant.

Saraki in his message signed in Abuja by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: “We should all vow to work together as we have done in the past to save the nation. No single individual can solve our present economic predicament. I believe that with our collective efforts and sheer political will, we can push back the high tide of recession now confronting us as nation.”

Dogara: We shall overcome

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has despite the challenges and difficulties confronting Nigerians, there is every reason for the country to celebrate its independence anniversary.

In a statement issued yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker noted that the current challenges were not insurmountable

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

Saraki, Dogara, Ekweremadu, Kalu, govs, US, others speak on journey so far because with unity of purpose, commitment, sacrifice, hard work and patriotism, we shall overcome.

Ekweremadu calls for sober reflection

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, called for sober reflection and return to the path of true federalism as envisioned by the founding fathers in order to move the nation forward.

The Senator, who stressed the need for justice, peace, and unity, once more, urged the Federal Government to mobilise all capable hands to salvage the nation’s ailing economy, as there was hunger in the land.

In his anniversary message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, he said: “This calls for sober reflection. No people can make progress, unless they retrace their steps back to where the rain started beating them.”

Embrace ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign, Kalu tells Nigerians

Eminent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has urged Nigerians to embrace the “Change Begins With Me” campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari ledFederal Government.

He noted that for the country to progress, people at the helm must place national interest above selfish ambition.

While acknowledging the ideals of Nigeria’s founding fathers like Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Ladoke Akintola, Alvan Ikoku and a few others which were anchored on patriotism, selflessness, discipline and togetherness, he urged people at all levels of government to toe the path of these past leaders in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.

According to the exgovernor, there is a need for attitudinal change and reorientation as the current economic challenges facing the country call for financial discipline as individuals and as a people.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, in commemoration of Nigeria's 56th independence anniversary celebration, Kalu said: “As we mark yet another independence anniversary, we have every cause to celebrate while reflecting on past experiences toward building a brighter tomorrow.

“Nigeria as a nation is blessed with enormous

L-R: Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed; Senate President Bukola Saraki; Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar (11) and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the Juma'at prayer to mark the 56th Independence anniversary in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

potential including human and material resources and as such she should not lag behind among the comity of nations.

“It is important for leaders both in the private and public sectors to adopt strategies that will not only create employment and wealth for today's generation but also guarantee the future of the unborn generation.

“The political class should desist from the blame game and focus their energy and resources on initiatives that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“Inasmuch as people have grievances, we cannot undermine the peace and harmony of the country for ethnic, tribal, religious and political interests.

“If the tenets of democracy are strictly adhered to by the government and the governed, there will be a meeting point by both parties and ultimately the country will be better off.”

Be more patriotic, Ahmed tasks Nigerians

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to demonstrate more patriotism, commitment and dedication to collective goals so that the current challenges become things of the past.

Ahmed said the economic situation of the country may make livelihood difficult at the present if Nigerians join hands together, the country will surely and steadily bounce back to prosperity.

Abubakar pardons 22 inmates in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday pardoned 22 inmates serving various jail terms in the state.

Abubakar announced

this in Bauchi, in a broadcast to the people of the state as part of activities marking 56th independence anniversary of the country.

Abubakar said the country had assumed a status of super power in spite of the skepticism that the country would derail after independence.

We’re not there yet -Tinubu

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, said Nigeria was not where it should be even though it has witnessed appreciable progress.

“Nigeria’s political, social and economic foundations need to be reworked and strengthened. Our institutions are not functional enough to deliver on the goals for which they were set up. This independence anniversary therefore offers us another opportunity at reflections.

“The times are tough no doubt. The reasons are not far-fetched. However, the journey to recovery has begun in earnest and I enjoin you all to support the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration in this journey,” he said.

CAN: Time to give thanks

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, said at this time, Nigerians should give thanks to God. He said: “What my bible talks of is moderation in everything no matter how rich or how poor. Moderation is the discreet way to thank God. The government should use the money that they would have used for elaborate celebration to provide employment for millions of unemployed youths in our nation.

“This is not a period of extravagance in independence celebration but it is a time of reflection on what made us to fail so that we would not walk in the path of failure anymore.”

Celebration aimed at squandering money – Okogie

His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, said Nigerians are not celebrating because Nigeria is 56 or because of her leaders.

Rather, they are celebrating Nigeria because the good Lord that put this nation together as one entity is still keeping it till today, despite all the attempts to break the country into pieces.

Okogie said: “So, we have to keep thanking God for the unity not because of the government; the government is only trying to use the avenue to bring money out of the treasury in spite of what we are going true at the present.

Their own is to camouflage that we are celebrating Independence to justify the squandering spree.

“Nigerians should rejoice because God in his infinite goodness and mercy is keeping us together and I know that one day we shall all smile again. When you look at the time of Herbert Macaulay and all those before him you see Nigeria is worth celebrating but since then the kind of people we have are just after money to the detriment of the populace. They don’t care whether the nation survives or not provided they survive, that’s what they are looking for.”

We’ve cause to celebrate –Yakassai

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a former National Assembly Liaison Officer to former President Shehu Shagari, has said Nigeria have every cause to celebrate its 56

year anniversary, despite the negative military interventions which set the country back ward.

Yakasai told our correspondent in Kano, that at the time of the nation’s Independence in 1960, there were no major inter-states roads that were tarred but said Nigeria has virtually all roads linking every states of the federation today.

We should restructure –Gani Adams

Leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams, said: “Independence is a symbol of our entity as a nation. But I will prefer it to be celebrated on a lighter mood because of the economic realities in the country at present. When Nigeria was still in a good point in terms of economy you will see many people celebrating it on their streets and they will celebrate it in joyous moods.

“That notwithstanding, Independence Day is an Independence Day. However, the government should use it an avenue to pep up talks about how this country will be restructured so that we can move forward."

US hails Nigeria

The United States of America (USA) has congratulated Nigeria on the occasion of the country’s 56th Independence anniversary which comes up today.

President Barack Obama in a statement yesterday expressed confidence that Nigerians were working hard to address current national challenges.

The US President through the Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, said: “On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1."

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1 October 2016

Fire destroys goods worth over N50m in Nsukka Market Charles Onyekwere, ENUGU

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oods such as electronic gadgets, electrical appliances, generators and other items worth over N50 million were yesterday gutted by fire in Nsukka Main Market.

The cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained.

Speaking with journalists, Chairman of Nsukka Market Electronic and Electrical Dealers Association, Mr. Emma Asogwa, described the fire incident that razed about 20 shops as unfortunate, especially at this economic recession period.

He said: “Members affected were those who have

their shops along Slaughter Road opposite private park of Nsukka main market.

“The fire started around 2am from residential building opposite Nitel building in Nsukka but the cause of the fire is yet to be known. Electronics, electrical appliances destroyed by the fire disaster worth over N50 million.”

He appealed to state, federal and philanthropists to come to aid of the affected traders as the fire had destroyed all their goods.

“Government and philanthropists should come to the rescue of these traders who have lost their goods to fire disaster.

“All electronics dealers in Nsukka market have closed for today to enable us have time attend to our members who the fire incident affected, the cause of the fire is yet to be

ascertained has destroyed,” he noted.

Speaking with journalists shortly after visiting the scene of the fire incident and Bishop Shananan hospital, Nsukka to see Mr, Reginald Asueze, the person who sustained burns during the inferno, the Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Prof. Rose Onah, described the damage done by the fire as enormous.

She said the council would set up committee to look into the cause so as to avoid future recurrence.

“I am shocked on the extent of damaged caused by the fire, as goods worth millions of naira are destroyed. The council will set up committee to find out on the causes of the fire so as to avoid future recurrence.

“Nsukka Local Government Area will help to bring

the attention of both the state and Federal Government on the fire disasters so that those who lost their goods to fire will be assisted.

Onah commended the quick intervention of fire service people which she said helped to prevent their fire from spreading to other areas.

“I commend Nsukka fire service for quick response when they were called. When contracted, the Operation Officer in Nsukka Fire Service Station, Mr. Matthew Ani, said they got the distressed call around 2.41am Friday but we reached there by 2.48am and started battling the fire.

“We responded as soon as one Anayo Ozor came to the station to inform us of the fire incident. We reached the venue by 2.48am and started battling the fire we left there by 6.46am,” he said.

L-R: Vice-President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Ismai’la Muhammadu Zakari; President of ICAN, Mr. Titus Soetan; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, during a courtesy visit by the ICAN management to the minister in Abuja… yesterday

PCN seals 216 drug premises over unethical practices

T

Appolonia Adeyemi he Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 216 drug premises in Lagos State in August.

Briefing journalists in Lagos yesterday, the Director and Head of Inspection and Monitoring Department at the PCN, Mrs Anthonia Aruya, said the sealed premises include 186 patent medicine stores and 30 pharmacies.

According to her, they were sealed for various offences ranging from operating without registration with the PCN, failure to renew premises license and dispensing ethical drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist.

She added that 43 premises were issued compliance directives for offences ranging from poor sanitary conditions, poor documentation and others.

Aruwa said the PCN enforcement team had been in the state from the beginning of this week as a follow up visit to the one held in August.

“Throughout the exercise, a total of 356 pharmaceutical outlets were visited consisting of two hundred and twenty two 222 patent medicine stores and one hundred and thirty four 134 pharmacies were visited during this exercise,” she added.

Aruya said various parts of Lagos not covered in the last

exercise comprises of Abule Egba, Alagbado, Meiran, Hamadiya, Agege, Badagry, Morogbo, Ibereko, Wilmer, Kirikiri, Ajegunle, Orile Iganmu, Epe, Lekki, Ajah, Ejigbo, Mile 12, Ketu, Ojota, Alapere, Oworonshoki, Iwaya, Makoko, Ebutemetta, Oyingbo, Yaba, Ojuelegba, Lawanson, Mushin, Ejigbo, Anthony, Maryland, Onipanu, Magodo, Shangisha, Ogudu, Ojodu, and Berger were covered during this exercise.

While the PCN is using this medium to sensitise all, Eruya advised the public to purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and simple household rem-

Edo guber: 'Nigerian democracy in danger' Onyekachi Eze, ABUJA

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said all the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government were fraught with irregularities.

The party also noted that the congratulatory message sent to the winner of Edo State governorship election by President Muhammadu Buhari was to confer legitimacy on an otherwise badly flawed election.

The party in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the party was robbed of victory in the election.

According to the statement, since the advent of the administration, no election has been free and fair.

“We go for elections as if we are going to war; and virtually all elections conducted by INEC have been either inconclusive or blatantly rigged,” the party alleged.

PDP observed that President Buhari refused to congratulate Governor Seriake Dickson when he won the Bayelsa State governorship election but wasted no time in congratulating Godwin Obaseki of APC who was declared winner of the state governorship election.

edies from licensed patent and propriety medicines vendor shops.

“I want to use this opportunity to advise members of the public intending to carry out pharmaceutical business to get in touch with the PCN head office located at Industrial Layout, Abuja or any of our state offices for proper guidance.

“The PCN is using this medium to sensitise all stakeholders to follow the laws that regulate the practice of pharmacy in Nigeria as the Federal Government will not tolerate the indiscriminate sale of drugs without submission to regulatory control,” she said.

ECWA Mopa's old students hold reunion

The 1976 set of students who graduated from ECWA Secondary School Mopa, Kogi State will converge at their alma-mater today for their reunion.

A statement signed by Mr. Fehintola Aguda, on Thursday on behalf of the organising committee, and made available to journalists, said the gathering of the 1976 set will be marked with several activities geared towards mobilising support for the school.

“The 1976 set Alumni of the school, resident home and abroad will mark its 40 years Post-Secondary Graduation in grand style with a number of activities to hold as follows on September 30: Arrival at Mopa, October 1: reunion programme,” the statement said.

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Budget padding: Court to hear Jibrin’s suit Oct 21 Tunde Oyesina, ABUJA

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he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed October 21, to entertain the suit filed by the embattled former Chairman, Appropriation Committee, House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, challenging his suspension from the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives had on Wednesday suspended Abdulmumin Jibrin, a lawmaker from Kano at the centre of the unfolding budget padding scandal, for 180 legislative days.

In a motion recommended by House Ethics Committee chairman, Nicholas Ossai, and adopted by the whole House, Jibrin will also not be able to hold any position of responsibility for the span of the current National Assembly.

The embattled legisla-

tor had on August 9, approached the court seeking an order to restrain the lower legislative chamber from any attempt to suspend him.

The suit was filed before Justice Okon Abang during the court vacation period that lasted for about two months.

However, upon resumption, the matter was re-assigned to Justice John Tsoho and was fixed for yesterday for mention.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to Jibrin, Mohammed Abdulhamid, informed the judge that the House of Representatives had, by going ahead to suspend his client ‘overreached’ his client’s motion filed before the court to seek an order restraining the House from carrying out the suspension.

Justice Tsoho said since the day’s business was for the mention of the case, he would prefer to adjourn to October 21 for the hearing of all pending motions.

CBN increases qualifications for banks’ COOs Tony Chukwunyem

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the minimum qualifications for the position of Chief Compliance Officers (COOs) of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs). It also directed DMBs to appoint Executive Compliance Officers (ECO).

In a circular posted on its website yesterday, the CBN said the move was to ensure, “strict compliance with all extant regulations, particularly those relating to foreign exchange transactions, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Anti Money Laundering/

Combating the financing of Terrorism (ATML/CFT).”

The apex bank directed that DMBs are, henceforth, required to appoint a COO who must not be below the rank of a General Manager regardless of the category of the financial institution but also an Executive Compliance Officer (ECO) who should not be below the rank of an Executive Director.

The circular reads: “The CCO will report to the ECO while the ECO will in turn report directly to the Board of Directors. The CBN will hold the ECO responsible and accountable for any breach of any extant regulation in the DMBs.”

Why Faleke can’t be declared Kogi gov –Supreme Court Tunde Oyesina, ABUJA

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he Supreme Court yesterday clarified why Mr. James Abiodun Faleke, the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year governorship election in Kogi State, cannot be declared the winner of the poll.

The apex court which had last week dismissed Faleke’s appeal while giving its reasons held that the law did not support Faleke’s request.

The apex court, among others, said that Falake, whose joint ticket with the governorship candidate of the party, Late Prince Abubakar Audu, had garnered 240,873 votes before Audu died, cannot benefit the vote or take the place of

Audu, because he did not meet the condition precedent.

In the reasons, advanced for the summary judgment, delivered on September 20, Justice Kudirat KekereEkun, held that Faleke did not obtain nomination form, did not participate in the primary election and as such, cannot under any circumstances, be made the governorship candidate to replace audu.

Besides, Justice KekereEkun, said that before the sudden death of Audu, after the November 21 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had already declared the election inconclusive and that since the election, had not been completed and the final result issued by the electoral body, Faleke, as a running mate, cannot claim victory in the election.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

NDLEA seizes cocaine, cannabisnoodles en-route China

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fficials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, Enugu State, have foiled a plot by a suspected drug trafficker using an innocent passenger in smuggling cannabis concealed in noodles to China.

A clearing and forwarding agent who ingested 74 wraps of cocaine was also arrested while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China.

Both suspects have attributed their involvement in drug trafficking to high exchange rate

and economic recession.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah, called on members of the public particularly passengers not to collect consignment from people.

“This is a plot by suspected drug traffickers to use innocent passengers in smuggling drugs.

Some persons may have fallen into this wicked plot if not for the timely intervention of the Agency. It is instructive that people be aware of this trick because what they consider as an assistance may just send them to prison or early graves.

This is because drug trafficking is punishable by death in China,” Abdallah stated.

IPOB, MASSOB: No need to celebrate at 56

l Ohanaeze seek Kanu’s release Charles Onyekwere, ENUGU

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pro-Biafra groups, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), have urged the Federal Government not to see the 56th Independence anniversary as anything, saying the people are suffering and see no reason to celebrate independence of the country.

In different statements issued by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful and MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, the two groups decried the untold hardship which Nigerians have been faced with.

In attacking the nation, the groups pointed out that there was high rate of unemployment in the land and hunger was stifling people not to talk of bad roads and poor electricity supply.

However, IPOB in its statement said: “We curse Nigeria for allowing the suffering of its citizens. The suffering has gone to the level where every citizen in the land cannot afford to eat one square meal a day.

“What is the meaning of celebration of independent in Nigeria while there are abuse of human rights, killing of unarmed civilians?

“What is the celebration of independence where more than 120,000 graduates from universities and colleges of education in every year the government cannot afford to employ five thousand people.

“What is celebration where most of Nigerians are into serious hardship and the government is planning to sell all the national assets in order to put more hard ship to its people.

Nigeria is not a better place to live.”

On its part, MASSOB noted that: “Nigeria's 56th independence according to many, is full of ups and down, even to some, it's also full of blessing while some have lost hope claiming that this is not the Nigeria their forefathers established with the British colonial masters but for we in MASSOB, its a complete and total breakthrough for us. The mere existence justifies our Biafran struggle.

“We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities of the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future.

“With the enthusiastic spirit of Islamic religious fundamentalism, President Buhari, being a core Fulani man with ethnic/sentimental hatred running in his blood, he has been carrying out the command of the Northern political father.”

Meanwhile, the apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has given the Federal Government an ultimatum to release the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally in order to save the nation from anarchy.

The Deputy President General of the group, O. A. U Onyema, disclosed this in an address he presented during Igbo World Day in Enugu.

Navy commended over free medical treatment Ola James, Warri

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he Nigerian Navy has reiterated its readiness to assist members of their host communities especially those who needed medication.

Commander, NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, Commodore Joseph Dzunne, stated this yesterday during the ongoing monthly medical rhapsody programme at Ogbe-Ijoh, Headquarters of Warri SouthWest Local Government Area

L-R (Standing): Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Peace Nnaji; her counterpart in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Charles Ndukwe; Rio paralympics gold medalist, Mrs. Lucy Ejike (on wheelchair); her husband and the coaching crew when the governor honoured the gold medalist at Government House, Enugu…yesterday

of Delta State.

He explained that the programme was designed to assist the needy who could not afford medical bill in hospitals.

The commander noted that although the base is not financially buoyant, “we feel that the programme is also meant to cushion the hardship faced by the down-trodden.

“Above all, the laudable programme is to further show the love, cooperation and unity prevailing between the Nigerian Navy and her host communities. We will continue to be friends and not enemies.”

PHOTO: ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

Hajj: 22 Nigerian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia –NAHCON ...to refund pilgrims for services not rendered

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he National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says 22 Nigerians died during this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The Head, National Medical Team, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, said this at a meeting between NAHCON’s delegation and members of the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Makkah.

He said the number represented 0.20 per cent of the more than 62,000 pilgrims who performed the pilgrimage.

He said NAHCON had introduced a national medical team to harmonise and properly coordinate health delivery during the exercise.

Kana said the team was worried at the rising cases of sudden death and had decided to perform oral autopsy to ascertain the reasons.

He said the team also installed scanning machines

at airports to check cases of women who travel for the pilgrimage while carrying pregnancy.

Earlier, the Counsellor of the Bangladesh Hajj Office, Muhammad Rahman, said 71 pilgrims from his country died during the exercise.

He also briefed the delegation on the organisation of pilgrimage in his country, which he said involved 105,000 pilgrims.

Rahman described the visit by NAHCON as significant as it afforded both sides opportunity to exchange ideas on their respective operations.

NAHCON chairman, Abdullahi Mohammed, said Nigeria was eager to perfect its hajj operations, hence the decision by the commission to visit similar bodies to learn about their experiences.

In another development, Mohammed announced that 34,818 pilgrims have been

Agip, Chevron lose bid to stall FG's suit over alleged $391.1m fraud Akeem Nafiu

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wo multinational oil companies, Total E&P Nigeria Plc and Chevron Nigeria Limited have lost out in their bid to stall a suit instituted by the Federal Government accusing the companies of short-changing Nigeria to the tune of $245,258,640 by allegedly shipping barrels of crude oil out of the country without making due remittance to the government.

This was sequel to the dismissal of the preliminary objections filed by the two companies against the suit yesterday by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of a Federal High Court in Lagos.

In her ruling, the judge declared their preliminary objections as unmeritorious and ordered them to file their defence.

Justice Olatoregun - Ishola has adjourned the matter to October 25 for commencement of hearing.

In the suit, the Federal Gov-

ernment accused the two oil companies and an indigenous firm, Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited of under-declaring the volume of crude oil they shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.

Government is claiming the sum of $145,848,102 from Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited.

The Federal Government, through its lawyer, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), claimed that the actions followed a forensic analysis linking the decline in crude oil export and government revenue to the alleged under-declaration of volume of crude oil shipped out of the country by the oil companies.

Government contended that sometime in 2014, it realised a decline in its oil export revenue and this necessitated an intelligent gathering of data, which showed that part of the reasons for the decline was the under-declaration of crude oil shipments made by some major oil and gas companies operating in the country.

transported back to Nigeria 13 days since the exercise started.

He said the pilgrims were transported in 74 flights.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the evacuation of pilgrims back home was slated to end on October 17, but the commission said it was confident it would finish earlier.

Meanwhile, Mohammed has said it will compensate pilgrims who could not get any service they paid for during this year’s Hajj.

He said this after a meeting with the main service provider for Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca.

Mohammed said the service provider had agreed to compensate pilgrims from Adamawa, Taraba, Osun and Nasarawa states, whose air coolers provided at their tents in Arafat malfunctioned.

Mohammed said the commission was happy with the services rendered to the pil-

grims by the company, adding that the meeting discussed on how to improve on the services next year.

He said NAHCON was particularly impressed with improvements made in sanitation at pilgrims’ camps in Muna as well as the transportation of pilgrims to and from various points.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive of the company, Ramy Lebaly, said the meeting afforded both sides to assess the performance and identify the challenges experienced.

He said his company was happy with the relationship with NAHCON and promised to continue to improve on the services it renders to Nigerian pilgrims.

Lebaly promised to take up the seizure of electronic wristbands of some pilgrims by the Saudi Customs Service with the Ministry of Hajj Affairs.

Ugwuanyi honours Enugu-born Paralympics Gold medalist

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nugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has donated the sum of N1 million and a plot of land to Mrs. Lucy Ejike, an indigene of the state who won gold medal at the recent Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The governor , who announced the gesture during the state’s Executive Council Meeting at the Government House, Enugu, where Ejike, her coach and nurse were honoured, described the athlete as an outstanding ambassador who had brought glory to the state.

Ejike is an indigene of Ezeagu Local Government Area.

The governor said: “You have made us proud and we are all proud of you. This is our token of appreciation to you,” adding that, “her coach and nurse would each be given N500,000 each.”

Responding, Ejike said:

“This is my happiest day in life for my state to recognize me, to know that I am existing; to appreciate what I have been doing for 16 good years. I feel so happy today.

I am very, very happy.”

Ejike who was accompanied by her husband and child also had some kind words for the governor, praying for God to bless him for his kindness.

“My prayer for the governor is that God will give him life in abundance. He did it for me today and God will continue to bless him from generation to generation. He will never lack in this life,” said Ejike, an indigene of Ezeagu Local Government Area, in Enugu State.

Also speaking, the deputy governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, praised the governor for his immense contribution to sports development in the state which, according to her, has been “taken to the next level.”

News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

Adeolu Adeyemo,

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he Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in conjunction with the Bank of Industry (BoI) and Hephzibar Network have put in place a one-month intensive agro-processing partnership training for 150 youths who are jobless.

The monarch, who made this known through his media aide, Moses Olafare, at a press conference held in Ile-Ife yesterday, said at the end of the training, the jobless youths would be engaged.

Olafare said: “Promoting agro-processing would address the menace of poverty and staggering unemployment challenges in Nigeria. In order to achieve the benefits of agroprocessing, it is important to improve the agricultural policy of the country.

“With several areas of support and budgeting from the government at all levels, and donor agencies both locally and internationally, farmers would have the chance to earn much more with a bit of extra effort.

“It is also vital to attract adequate budgeting, not only in the form of dona-

Ooni, BoI to employ 150 youths after agro-processing training tions, but also regular business investments. This can be done through a proper investment policy of government.

“The productive use of

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overnor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, has called on Nigerians to unite for the progress of the country.

Speaking yesterday during a live media broadcast to mark this year’s Independence Day anniversary and 20 years of the state’s creation, Umahi said ethnicity should be deemphasised if the country was to move forward.

“Nigeria cannot be great if we are broken along ethnic lines, Nigeria cannot be great if we cannot feed ourselves and develop our own technology, Nigeria

done in this area.

“The important thing to remember is that once grassroots farmers and their government understand the importance of

agro-processing development, the entire society will start moving towards a brighter tomorrow that is free of poverty, and of course hunger and unem-

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

The minister said his tour of Nigeria was expected to avail him the opportunity to recognise areas for which the UK could intervene to restore security and economic stability in the country.

Ellwood, however, expressed dismay with his findings in the Niger Delta region, saying that the level of environmental degeneration was overwhelming.

He called on the government and the oil companies to take urgent steps to restore sanity to the region.

“The amount of money that is being wasted because of the oil that is being stolen, which the Nigerian people are denied because it is not going through the government, is in hundreds of millions of dollars every single year.

Why Nigerians must unite –Umahi Uchenna Inya, ABAKALIKI

technologies by the grassroots youth should be maximally encouraged as this would increase the speed and quality of the process.

There is still much to be

L-R: Sectional Head, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ogun State, Mr. Azeez Amosa; a representative of state Coordinator, Mr. Jonah Ezon; Chief Executive Officer, Iki Leads Limited, Mr. Innocent Ikechukwu; Production Manager, Mr. Bekee Uchenna and Regulatory Officer, Mr. Iheanacho Macklin, during the official presentation of the Management Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificate to Iki Leads Limited to produce Meridian Brandy/Pasabitters drink by SON, at Ota…yesterday.

UK pledges support to end oil theft in Niger Delta he United Kingdom Minister for Africa and Middle East, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. Tobias Ellwood, has pledged to support Nigeria to end oil vandalism and environmental pollution in the Niger Delta.

Ellwood, who toured the creeks in Rivers State, told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that it had become imperative to help provide solutions to some of the challenges hindering the development in the country.

He said he was tasked by his Prime Minister to have a broad knowledge of the security challenge in the North East and those of oil theft, which had negatively impacted the country’s economy.

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cannot be great if we have so much hate for one another, Nigeria cannot be great if our children the hope of our future will roam the streets.

“At a challenging time like this, I believe that as a people, we should play less politics. Politics for a developing nation should not take less than six months.

“Unless the Nigeria nation is run as a business, we are still far. We talk so much about corruption without which we cannot develop as a nation. China had it and I think China own was death sentence but let us not to be confused about that because it is just an aspect of something we need to do to develop as nation,” he said.

'Economic recovery policy will bring hope for Nigeria'

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he Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) yesterday renewed its support for the various economic policies of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying there is hope for Nigeria.

President of ICAN, Deacon Titus Soetan, said this when she led a delegation of the institute’s executives to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

He said the current initiatives of the minister were capable of taking the nation out of its current economic woes.

In her welcome address,

Adeosun said: “As professionals, we are taught to be prudent and to be transparent and also to have a lot of accountability and that, in itself, means we have to deal with things which many people will be evading, but we are not going to evade the truth because we know if we do we are only postponing the evil day.”

“We are working with a mission. That mission is driven by the realisation that this economy has to grow.And to achieve the desired growth, we have to invest and spend our money wisely. To attain our goal, we have to do two things.

“First is to increase the revenue that is available and secondly, redirect ex-

penditure from wasteful things and from corruption into actually growing the economy. This is why we are implementing initiatives that address these impediments and improve control.”

Speaking on the resolve to focus on capital projects, the Minister disclosed that “So far, we have released over N700 billion in capital.

All over the country, you will see projects going on. We are dealing with a lot of arrears and a lot of hidden liabilities; some of them unrecorded.

She said: “We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our salary bill is already going down, our recurrent expenditure is far more controlled than it was.”

ployment will be drastically reduced.”

He, however, explained that, “the partnership was one of the drives of Ooni to also aid Nigeria's growth in improvement of agricultural policies.

“With several areas of support and budgeting from the government at all levels, and donor agencies both locally and internationally, farmers would have the chance to earn much more with a bit of extra effort.”

In his remarks, the Head of the state Bureau of BoI, Mr. Emmanuel Ojowuro, said: “The partnership was not only to provide fund but to also support skill development among youths in the area of agriculture.

“This is a development oriented programme for the youths. We are not to just finance but participate in the development of youths.

We are partnering from the beginning to the end.

“We will be financing some of the participants who have bankable ideas at nine per cent interest rate per annum. But if an arrangement between us and the Ooni crystalises, it may not be more than five per cent per annum. We have different kind of scheme that the participants can benefit from.”

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Hephzibar Network, Mr. Olamide Awosunle, said: “The summit for this year would be focused on cassava processing, maize processing, aquaculture and fish processing, mushroom cultivation, plantain processing, agribusiness start-up and development, insight on exportation of local products and NAFDAC registration procedure among others.”

Pandemonium over alleged kidnap of CBN governor’s wife Dominic Adewole, ASABA

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neasy calm gripped the kinsmen of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emiefele, at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday, following the alleged kidnap of his wife.

Pandemonium erupted when the news of her kidnap filtered into the streets of Asaba and its environs yesterday after the factional group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff's Deputy National Chairman, Cairo Ojougboh, inaugurated the 25 party council

chairmen in Agbor.

The victim, the Saturday Telegraph gathered, was abducted after she alighted from the flight she took from Abuja to Benin, Edo state, and was being escorted to her husband's home-town in Agbor, Delta state.

A family source, who pleaded anonymity, wondered how the woman was whisked away in the presence of four police escort.

While she sensed an insider-game in the abduction saga, he maintained that “somebody who knows about her journey from Abuja to the village (Agbor) masterminded her kidnap.”

He disclosed that the town's vigilante groups and other relevant security agencies have since combined efforts to rescue her unhurt.

According to the source, the hoodlums ambushed the victim around Ighoneki axis of Edo state, along the ever-busy Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Expressway at about 2.30 to 3p.m on Thursday, and they have since thence remained incommunicado.

While he prayed that the kidnappers open up discussion or negotiation with her family members, he said the incident has thrown the kinsmen of the victim and those of her husband into trauma.

But when contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), denied the kidnap saga, stating that: “The command is not aware of such thing.”

On why the police in state claimed ignorance

about the saga, another family member of the victim in Agbor, said: “It was because the kidnap didn't occur within their jurisdiction. It was within an agrarian town in Edo State.

“So, the PPRO cannot confirm what did not take place within their command. More so, if the command should confirm it, it burden will be on them to provide rescue and other modalities. It is like shifting the blame game to Edo Police Command.”

SaharaReporters had reported that Mrs. Emefiele was kidnapped along the Benin-Agbor Road. Our source disclosed that the kidnappers have made contact with their victim’s husband, adding that they were demanding a huge sum in ransom.

10 Voices What does Nigeria's Independence symbolise? p.12

City & crime update

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2016

People eating at 'mama put' PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Waheed Bakare, Vincent Eboigbe, Lekan Osiade, Andrew Iro Okungbowa, Adedayo Odulaja, Taiwo Jimoh, Ogechi Ndubunma and Esther Sodeke

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food vendor in the Ikeja area of Lagos, Mrs Chinyere Adiukwu, said it was commonplace for people to buy food on credit and that there was really no problem with that. Where you have issues Adiukwu said is “when many of those who buy food on credit can’t pay. I had a rather difficult experience where I used to sell; people would buy food and promise to pay at the end of the month, but they always defaulted.

“The effect of this is that I had to get money from other sources to make up the difference when I had to go to the market to buy raw foodstuffs to make the food. In fact, after I stopped selling in that place, many of the people who lived in the neighbourhood owed me for a long time. I had to keep going back before I was able to collect my money. Even at that, I had to write off some of the debts as a few of the people could not pay.

There is no way that kind of situation won’t affect your business, it definitely affected mine, but what can you do? Even in the new place I’m selling now, it is the same story; the recession is almost driving many food vendors out of business; we are just struggling to hang in there”.

For John Nwandugo, who sells foodstuffs, business is really bad this time as most food vendors who patronise him now buy on credit.

Asked whether his selling on credit is based on trust that credi-

Debts squeezing us out of business, food vendors cry out To say the recession in the country is affecting all aspects of the economy, is stating the obvious. Food vendors and sellers of raw food items, who constitute a significant part of the informal sector, have only tales of harsh and harrowing times as people who buy food and foodstuffs on credit with the promise to pay later, routinely default. They lament how they are being squeezed out of business as a result. tors would pay whenever they are buoyant, John, who has been in the business for over five years, said it had nothing to do with trust. Rather, he said the situation in the country made it compelling for him to risk selling on credit.

He said: “It is not about trust but you just have to sell on credit.

This is because they will also tell you that people buy from them on credit especially those who sell to workers at construction sites. Unfortunately, where I buy, nobody will sell to me on credit.

“The reason I sell to food vendors on credit is that if you don’t, they will find someone who will sell to them on credit and when they are not buying on credit, they will go to the man who has been giving them credit.

“However, selling on credit involves a lot of risk. There are cases whereby credit turned into bad debt. Some of them will stop coming to your shop after you sold to them on credit. They will find another person to be giving them credit while they continue to give you excuses. Some will only give you part payment and that

The reason I sell to food vendors on credit is that if you don’t, they will find someone who will sell to them on credit

may be the end.

“For instance, a food vendor on the next street used to buy half bag of rice every week. There was a time she paid part of the money and was left with N2, 000 balance.

She bought another half bag and paid in full while the balance was still hanging. The next thing she did was to ask for a bag and only paid the N2, 000 balance.

“She said she needed the full bag so she could make more money. After a while, I didn’t see her again and each time I went to her house, she was not around. When I finally saw her, she told me that she bought the bag of rice when someone invited her to be cooking for workers at a construction site along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

She said everything was going on fine until the workers started buying on credit since they were no longer being paid on a daily basis.

So, they asked her to come for her money at the end of the month.”

Nwandugo, who described rice as “gold”, said the food vendor still continues to take food to the site as that is the only guarantee that she would get her money from

the workers.

He is however worried that too many bad debt might ruin his business and urged the government to do something about the recession.

Similarly, a food vendor, known simply as Madam Lara, who sells rice and beans in the Oregun area of Lagos told our correspondent that some of her customers had deserted her for refusing to sell on credit.

According to Madam Lara, there had been so much pressure on her since the recession began and some of her most loyal customers had left because they believe that she is just being wicked, not knowing that she doesn’t sell on credit as a matter of principle.

“It is my principle and a policy I adopted long ago. I don’t sell on credit, but they don’t understand, some of my loyal customers have left me for other sellers. They don’t believe me when I tell them that is a policy I adopted long ago.

“The most painful was the man that always had his breakfast here CONTINUE ON PAGE 11

City&crime update

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

11

'I have reduced the quantity of food I cook' CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1O

in my shop. He used to stop around 7am every morning to eat before going to work. But the country is hard now, I just couldn’t sell to him on credit”, she said.

Another food vendor, who sells raw food in the same area, Mallam Muhammed, when contacted said he could not even account for the debt he has incurred because he had to sell on credit.

“When they come, they will promise to pay tomorrow, but that tomorrow will turn to weeks, they are not paying and now, there is a problem, I don’t even know how to recover my money”, he said.

A yam seller in Olugbade Market located in the Egbeda area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, Abu Hassan, said however that sales had increased in recent time despite the economic recession that had led to increase in prices of various food items.

Hassan, who is happy that sales have been on the increase, said: ''People have to eat no matter the situation.''

He stated that he had retained many of his regular customers even as he disclosed that he allows a good number of them to buy yams on credit with the understanding that payment would be made the following week. He said this was understandable as he had come to know many of them and somehow developed a personal relationship with them. He therefore allows for credit and even forgives a number of the debts because he has to keep his business going and get constant patronage.

He said that the rate of compliance had been high although some do default on the arrangement especially in the last few months.

He also said that most times they, traders do not really have any choice but to sometimes sell foodstuffs on credit based on trust and given the fact that they also enjoy a level of credit facility or arrangement from the various distributors and suppliers that they get their products from.

In the same vein, Chidi Ezugo, who sells foodstuff at Ojokoro Housing Estate, Meiran, had this to say in Pidgin English: “Many people dey come beg

Nwadugo

PHOTO: WAHEED BAKARE

me o. Some of them na housewives and those wey dey sell food dey buy on credit. See my shop now, you see say e no be like before and one thing be say I no know when dem go pay me self.

Mama Bose, who sells cooked food to artisans at Ijaiye in Lagos State spoke in Yoruba.

“As you can see, the set of people that I sell to mainly wouldn’t even tell you they don’t have money until they finish the food. After eating sometimes for four days at a stretch, they pay for one day. What can I do?" She asked.

Also, a foodstuff seller, Chris Kennedy, said people just want to buy on credit but that he no longer sell on credit because they don’t pay anymore. Some of my customers used to buy on credit and at the end of the month will pay but now even at the end of the month they don’t pay, so I no longer sell on credit.

For instance rice is now N20,000 and last year it was between N7,500 and N7,800 and you cannot even find the right kind of rice to buy. People are no longer buying bags. I have customers who used to buy bags but now they can only afford to buy three or four ‘derica’.

They cannot afford it.

The price of everything has gone up.

People are no longer buying things. You can buy a commodity today for N1000 and tomorrow it will be N5000. People are not well paid so they cannot even afford to buy these things. I don’t know the where Nigeria is going now. Everybody is lamenting.

In the same vein, Mrs Adeoye Ifeoluwa a food vendor said sales was very slow these days. “Before now I usually cook like two times in the morning and two times in the afternoon but now I cook just once in the morning and twice in the afternoon and I make sure the quantity I prepare is not too much so that I will be able to finish selling it same day.

Also, people often want to but on credit especially the bus drivers. The boys that supply sachet water to me also want food on credit and I have to sell to them so that there will not be any leftover but the problem is that it is becoming very difficult to get the money from most of them. What I now do in the case of the boys that sell water to me is to use the money they are owing me

My profit is now low because the prices of foodstuffs have gone up.

Before now a big tuber of yam could be got for N400 but now it goes for N600 Kennedy PHOTO: OGECHI NDUBUNMA

to collect bags of sachet water from them.

My profit is now low because the prices of foodstuffs have gone up. Before now a big tuber of yam could be got for N400 but now it goes for N600 and above; garri that was a bowl for N650 now sells for N1200. It is really difficult”.

A foodstuff merchant at Agege who gave her name as Evelyn Iyase, said the situation had gone from bad to worse.

"Most of the people selling cooked food in this Agege come to buy from us. When the economy was better, they would pay immediately but later, it became a situation whereby they buy and pay a day or two later.

"But since the last few weeks, ‎rice has become hard to come by and even beans and garri are equally expensive if not more so. Everyone is struggling to meet up. The method I'm using to remain in business is that I sell to them and then run after them once it's evening and I think they would have made the money back. Even with that, they hardly pay everything, so you can imagine what will

happen if I leave them to come when they like; I'd have shut down this shop since June or July.

Corroborating Iyase's claim, Mrs Adanna Obasi offered to show one of our correspondents her shop to underline how she practically lives on the benevolence of others to remain in business.

"I get all these things I cook everyday, apart from pepper, ‎from those who agree to sell to us then wait to collect money later. Rice, plantain and even fish and meat are through this 'pay as you sell method'.

As if to confirm the practice of buying food on credit and finding it difficult to pay, some bricklayers working in a site in Mowe said the economic recession had made life difficult for them.

According to Mr. Akeem Lateet, a bricklayer, things have become difficult for some of them to the extent that they hardly pay for food they buy on credit.

He said: “Before the recession, whenever a food vendor comes to site where we work, after serving us food we pay such a person immediately so that they can come the following day. But now the reverse is the case as we hardly pay them now.”

Lateef said one of the reasons for this is the fact that most people don’t build houses anymore, those who still manage to don’t pay on time, and it is from the money they give us we in turn pay the food vendors.”

Another bricklayer, Mr. Adekunle Saheed told our correspondent that he came all the way from Osun State to work in the Mowe area of Ogun State.

“I came from Iwo in Osun State to work in Ogun State believing that things will be better, because of the closeness of the village to Lagos, but to my surprise my colleague who invited me has been the one taking care of me.”

Saheed added that: “Unfortunately last week, my friend exhausted all his money hoping the owner of the building we are working on would pay us; we owe the food vendor N3, 000. To our surprise the owner of the house did not come that very day, the food vendor was expecting her money and we had to persuade her to come the following day for her money, the situation of the country is bad, government should do something urgently we are dying of hunger.”

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

Voices

1 OCTOBER 2016

What does Nigeria’s Independence symbolise It makes me happy

It is a joyful thing since we enjoy peace and not in prison. It makes me happy and also, our welfare is not being compromised.

—Safaradeen Oyebowale, trader

It meant goodness but not anymore

It is not the way it used to be. Before now it was very rosy but now things have become bad. We need prayers to change the country. Sin has brought us to where we are now. People are suffering. A lot of people are dying. We need food, more food in the country.

—Eleshinla Emmanuel, trader

It is no more meaningful

In those days, it was funfair. People were happy and enthusiastic about the independence. Back then the expectation of the youth was high. When the plane was flying they would be dropping green and white flags and football and we used to pick them. Now the expectation has withered.

Celebrating the independence is not meaningful at this period. We'll only give thanks to God for life.

—Bello Olabode Sikiru,

former President, AVCDSAN

We are not yet truly independent An independent country has its own government and makes its own laws. Nigeria has been independent since 1960. We still have various problems but by and large we shall overcome. By the grace of God we shall attain true independence.

—Onwuegbuzie Joseph, civil servant

Freedom from bondage

Nigeria’s independence symbolises unity. If not for that freedom, we would have been in bondage today but thank God anywhere Nigerians go today they are well respected due to the fact that Nigeria is a free country. But I pray that all recession or whatever hardship that is ongoing now in the country would come to an end so that we can smile like we really have freedom.

—Godwin Onuoha, businessman

It means we are a sovereign nation

Independence for a country is synonymous with sovereignty. A sovereign country adopts and develops its own system of governance, controls its resources and partakes in activities of the comity of nations. Nigeria is independent but has not really gained freedom from political and economic dominance.

—Joseph Shokpeka, company executive

The unity of Nigeria Nigeria independence shows the unity of Nigeria as a country and the different cultures of Nigeria. It makes me to remember that I'm a Nigerian and it also makes me to think if I have gained anything from Nigeria as my country. My past memories of our independence are my primary school days when we go to the stadium and fully dressed in our school uniform with shoes and socks and given the Nigeria flag.

—Wale Martins

Symbolises ability to run your affairs For me, an independent country should be able to provide the basic needs of its citizens, with respect to food, water, power, infrastructure, health care, education and many more. Any country that does not meet these standards is not truly independent. I don’t think Nigeria is.

—Ifeanyi Nwoko, educationist

The day Nigeria was allowed to stand on its own Independence symbolises the freedom of Nigeria, it is the day that Nigeria was allowed to stand on its own and my past memory of independence celebration was the march pass I usually go for in my primary school days and we will be under the hot sun just to see the governor.

—Mrs. Christina Ngozi, trader

Our ability to take control of our affairs

It connotes freedom, that is, the ability of a nation to take control of its affairs and make policies for good governance. Nigeria became an independent country in 1960 but we are still crawling, quite unfortunate.

—Nonye Afamefuna Egere,

boutique owner

God should come to the rescue of Nigeria My prayer is that God should come and repair our country. The way things are no man can help this country. It is only Jesus that can rescue the country from completely destroying.

—Mary Alade, marketer

Peace and unity

There is nothing to celebrate about it

Nigeria's independence as at now is nothing to celebrate. The independence was meant to make the nation better but the leaders are making life unbearable. I am not happy about Nigeria anymore.

—Albert Odogwu, civil servant

Freedom is very important Independence means a whole lot. Freedom in any nation is very important but I don't think the leaders nowadays really want to follow the footstep of those heroes past that fought for the nation.

—Peter Friday, accountant

Well, Nigerian Independence symbolises peace and unity. Thank God we are a free nation today and no matter the situation of the country, Nigeria will always be great.

—Emmanuel Adinoji, civil servant

It has made the country a better place

I can say that Nigeria’s independence has made the country a better place for anyone from any part of the world to dwell. If not, other countries would have made things miserable for our nation. So I'm glad and proud of our past heroes that made it possible.

—Olufemi Akinola, civil servant

compiled by: NGOZI OGBOLU, OLANIYI ADERUKU, OGE NDUBUNMA AND ESTHER SODEKE

WeekendBliss

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

13

N O P U E S O CL SHILE

E D A E D N U T YE

I WANTED TO QUIT BOARDING SCHOOL AT 8 United Kingdom trained life coach, Yetunde Adeshile, is glad to return to her root, Nigeria, to impact lives after decades of studying abroad. The author, social crusader and project management consultant recounts her experience as a child living among whites, youth empowerment, husband and sundry issues in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA.

You're several things at the same time: an author, a project management consultant and a social crusader, how did you become this versatile?

Every skill and knowledge set was built over many years. I like to challenge myself every year to do new and greater things. I think the social aspect has always been in me though.

Wouldn't you rather focus on one or two of these fields so as not to become the proverbial Jack of all trades…?

I do very well in managing all these areas together but now that demand is extending in all directions, I believe I will choose the social aspects. Remember that I did not start of as Jack of all trades… I have simply acquired these diverse skills over the years.

How did you cut your teeth in publishing and what influenced your thematic choice in the book titled The Youth Evolution?

I got into publishing my own book because I was looking for a platform to reach more people across the world with my knowledge. I felt that writing the book would help parents and youths in today's world to focus for success. I'm glad that the purpose for the book has been achieved.

this crucial time of their national life, would be willing to buy the services you've brought back home?

This is the best time for Nigerians to embrace what I have to offer. I am not offering a service. I am offering a solution to the many challenges that Nigeria has today.

Have you ever worked in the UK? Where and what sort of job(s) did you do?

Yes, I had worked in the UK across many organisations both in the public and private sectors. I've worked for organisations such as Mott MacDonalds, Transport for London, 2012 London Olympics and I'm currently consulting on high profile UK government projects.

Why do you think it pays you more to return to Nigeria now, leaving the enticing fortunes you could make in the UK? Nigeria is my fatherland currently crying out for help. I'm proud and glad to be part of the army selected by God to return home as a catalyst for the solution to the cry for help.

How expensive is it to get a life coach?

That would need to be defined by the person with the challenge. It's not

Do you think Nigerians, particularly at

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

continued on page 14

Instyle

The Arts

Hospitality

TV & Radio

p.15

p.37

p.41

p.36

White native for fresh, stylish looks

Documenting human conditions through creative photography

Dubai Parks and Resorts unfolds in Lagos, promises amazing thrills

The role of literacy in sustaining civilisation

14

Close Up

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

coached sometimes too?

Absolutely! Everybody needs a coach.

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

about the money you pay it's about the solution to get.

What was your earliest career fantasy?

To help young people get into work, career and business. Seems there is more to it than that.

Why did your parents take you away from Nigeria to study in the UK at the early age of eight?

Leaving Nigeria at the age of eight was definitely one of the most life changing experiences that I have ever had even till date. Leaving home full of relatives and mum in the house in Nigeria one night and the next evening I was in a boarding house full of white people and one other black girl that was one year my senior. I can assure you it was not funny, quite strange for me really.

What was your experience of being in the boarding house at that stage?

When I first arrived at boarding house, not fully understanding that I was actually going to be staying there without my mum made me cry and emotionally unstable. I remember I hardly spoke to anyone in my room. They were all white and their English was definitely different from mine. There seemed to be something different about them all apart from colour. Breakfast time was really strange, all I could eat was toast. There was no yam and egg! Bacon, Sausage, and what seems like half cooked eggs with baked beans were foods I was not used to, but that was breakfast. As for lunch, for many weeks, I didn't eat much because if there wasn't rice, chicken or beef on the menu, I wasn't having it. And it was the same for dinner. I remember that every Sunday we had to write to our parents telling them about our experience for the week. Mine was no more than two lines, it always read: “Dear Dad, I don't know why I am here. Please come and get me. I really don't like it here. From your daughter, Yetunde.�

As time went on, I made some friends and started to eat more of the food and gradually began to acclimatise to the new culture. It got to a stage that my letters to dad became like four to five pages. Looking back, I know my parents did the best for me at the time and for that I am truly grateful. I left the school at the age of 16 and appreciate the opportunities that the school gave to me.

Could you give an insight into your background, your education and professional career?

All my education was done in the UK since the age of 8. My first degree is in Social Policy and Management (BSc Hons.). I also have a master’s degree in Business Administration. I'm a professional project management consultant and a full member of the Association for Project Management.

I have professional certification in APM, Prince2, Managing Successful Programme, ITiL, Programme and Project Office Management at the very least. I am a certified public speaker and coach. I am a certified ministry leader and recently completed my diploma in Youth Ministry with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. How did you become a public speaker and consultant in the United Kingdom?

Youth Ministry has always been my passion. Also looking out for those younger than me and wanting the best for them, sometimes as a sacrifice. I wrote the Youth Evolution because I wanted parents to be more aware of

Did you ever make a detour and why?

Yes. I wanted a stable career and I didn't think I could get one following my dreams until I got coached a few years ago.

Adeshile

My hubby handled my first birth worse than I did

How does it feel being married to a musician?

It is great but can often be challenging at times.

However, we always find a way to make every challenge worthwhile.

How did you meet your husband?

I met my husband in church. We were both youth leaders and choir members.

When did he propose to you and how did he do it?

I think he knew he had found everything he wanted in a woman while we were working together. He said he wanted a relationship, I said the only relationship I was interested in was the one that would lead to a lifetime commitment and here we are today.

the factors surrounding raising a successful child in today's world.

I got into public speaking first as a preacher in church, then as an MC at events. Parties were never really my thing, so realising that I have a real message for the world, I started public speaking. I have a voice and I want to use it to positively impact lives to the glory of God. As an undergraduate, I wanted to go into Human Resources. After graduation, Human Resources became really challenging to get into. Project Management was just kicking off in the UK then, so I diverted my career choice towards that. It presented me with opportunities to do HR and a lot more.

With all my experience and knowledge, I believe I have enough to help any organisation achieve their desired outcome. This includes ministries and companies, hence I am a consultant.

You have been nominated recently for the Back to Black awards. How do you feel being recognised for exceptional service within the black community in the United Kingdom?

Completely shocked and overjoyed.

The nomination is for the top 20 youth advocates in the black community.

There are a lot of great black leaders doing a huge amount of service for the black community. I have a lot of respect for them. So, to be nominated as one of the top 20 is amazing and I am truly grateful to God for all He has done.

lenges and fulfilments since you started?

The highpoints for me have always been to see the transformation in attitude, dressing and mannerism of the young people. Challenges have been the work that leads to this transformation, the law that governs my work and the lack of funds occasionally. I am always fulfilled at the end of sessions of teaching, especially when there is indication that it has gone really well.

How do you balance your busy career with being a mother, and wife to a musician?

First, I want to say we (my husband and I) with the support of genuine family and friends especially when it comes to the children, I understand our priorities and most of what it's going to take for us to achieve our goals, so we work together. Now the children are older, it has become a bit easier. I guess it all comes down to planning, excellent execution, determination and focus on the main things.

What would you be doing differently from the many life coaches in the country?

I pride myself in doing whatever it takes (within legal boundaries) to achieve the results that have been agreed. Those that know me well, know that I am result driven.

How has it been working with young people across the world?

The experience is absolutely out of this world. I have so much fun that sometimes they have to remind me of my age. I learn from them and they learn from me. The journey has turned me into a better mother to my children and probably a better wife to my husband as well.

In case being a life coach doesn't reward practitioners in Nigeria, what would you be exploring as a means of livelihood?

Life coaching is not my livelihood.

Coaching is a methodology that is used to help people get the results that they want and a lot quicker. As I said earlier, I am a solution provider, coaching is part of the methodology that I use in solving problems and challenges.

What have been the highpoints, chal-

Do life coaches themselves need to be

When did he propose?

It was one early morning. I had cooked dinner for him the night before.

He woke up and proposed. I actually thought he was joking, so I said yes. The next thing I knew, we were planning the wedding.

Was he with you when you had your first child?

Yes, he was. Where else would he have been? I think he handled it worse than me. I remember the nurse telling him that she thought he was going to pass out whilst I was in labour.

Are there books you read that were defining for you?

I have defined myself, but I have read books that have helped me to get to where I am today.

What kind of childhood did you have?

A great one for the circumstances; I know it could have been better.

Are there fond memories you still hold?

Yes, there are loads of them. School achievements, graduation (never seen my mum so proud), wedding day, giving birth to my children, holding my first published book in my hands, getting nominated for and winning awards. I am truly blessed.

What's your definition of style?

Style is doing you and with all confidence.

Have you ever committed any embarrassing cooking blunder and what exactly was it?

Yes, in fact, too many especially when I cook Nigerian foods. I can't even be specific.

If you get a second chance, is there anything you would like to do differently in life?

I would have got myself a life coach as early in life as possible. This would have made my journey a bit easier.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

White native for fresh, stylish looks Deborah Ocheni

N

owadays, fashion buffs want to rock unique and classy white native attires. Whether it’s for a wedding occasion, a casual outing, a business meeting or any form of social function white native will always keep you clean and yuppie.

There is no colour that is fresher or more crisp than white, so when you wear the hue in native attire, it results in an ex-

TIPS zz Note that these different types of materials can be used for any native style but some are more suitable for specific styles than other. zz Another important step to looking good is getting a good tailor who is experienced and known for nice jobs. The most expensive attire if not tailored well will never be appreciated. zz The style you go for depends on what you love and what fits you most. It is very important to choose a style that looks good on you. zz There is no limit to what accessories can do; you can step into Independence celebration mood by accessorising your white native with green hat or bracelet.

ceptionally stylish, high-impact look.

Whether you want to wear an ivory-hued native ensemble at today’s Independence Day celebration or work the trend for your next weekend event, ensure you give it a personalised touch so that you appear trendy like the trailblazer that you are.

The usual material used for native wears are lace, guinea, brocade, linen and trousers material which are now being used to sew native wears.

Instyle

15

16

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

ACCESSORIES TO LIVE FOR

Stand out inries o s s e c c a n e e r g i Deborah Ochen

V

is spicy, as arieties they say n today’s tio ra a way of celeb you can go independent day, usual by e th er a little bit ov accessories n ee gr l fu ur introducing colo e. into your wardrob s, neckpiece, clutch, Be it green earring polish nd you out in a shoes etc can sta are ies or paired. Access e. way if properly nc re ffe di e th es mak n the difference that ca le sty details that It is in these small ay be found. be subtle, or it m The style maybe

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TIPS

eel to help you zz Use the colour wh sting colour ere int h wit come up ent green combinations that acc

beautifully. e and sleek zz Keep makeup subtl green accessories zz Avoid wearing all

other colours in zz Play around with tered other not to look tat ple; adding zz Keep everything sim , or wrist tch clu gs, rin a green ear you as a ow sh to gh ou en is watch patriotic citizen.

Instyle

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

17

MY STYLE

Beauty

I admire Timi Dakolo’s style –1st John A gospel artiste John Ode commonly addressed as 1st John speaks with Deborah Ocheni about his fashion philosophy, love for simple, classy shoes, his newly released single and more Which fashion rule do you live by?

That should be simple, smart and classy.

Does your background influence who you are now?

Yes, I was born and raised in a Christian family. My mum and Dad are very committed and devoted members of Assemblies of God Church.

I started singing in church at a very tender age; my mum particularly kept praying and encouraging me when she discovered I had passion for music. I am very lucky to have them as my parents so whatever I am or doing today is a product of what I learnt from them and my background as a Christian.

Trend wise, don’t you think women have more varieties than men? How do you guys feel about that? Do you feel cheated?

Women have more varieties than men; women fashion trend changes almost daily. Well, I don’t feel cheated but I envy them in a good way.

What makes a man well dressed?

A good sense of colour combo, I am easily turned off if I see men with wrong colour combination.

Use bold green makeup for Independence Day

I

Deborah Ocheni

f you're wearing a shade of knockout red lipstick, or you've lined your eyes for a vintage cat eye look and green eye shadow you probably don't need too many other green accessories to get into the mood for today’s celebration.

Let your makeup itself be the accessory. Just make sure the colours you choose complement the colours in your outfit in other to help tie your look together.

Wearing makeup is a fun, safe activity that any lady can enjoy. If you don’t have anything green to get into the mood, not to worry, just open your makeup kit, pick your green eye shadow and blend it with white top.

However, you cannot just pick any shade and try it on. Furthermore, you need to know how to apply green eye shadow or how to choose it. It is not just for fall, it is something you can wear all year round but in doing this, note that there are different kinds of green; opt for the one that flatters your skin tone.

The gospel music market seems saturated, how do you intend to keep afloat?

I don't quite agree with you on this, the market is not yet saturated. We need to do more, we need more gospel artistes in Nigeria.

The Bible says "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge and the glory of God as the waters covers the sea" We need to preach the gospel of Jesus through music until the whole world have knowledge of Jesus Christ; we need to sing and do good gospel music until nobody listens or dances to any other music except gospel, that is when I think we will be talking about the market being saturated.

What do you think of the world without fashion?

I don’t even want to imagine the world without fashion because it will be obsolete.

Which fashion trend do you like most?

I admire the latest trend of accessorizing with lapel pin. It has a magical way of giving ordinary suit a classy yet sophisticated look.

What are you offering differently from other artistes?

I am bringing something very unique and fresh to the gospel music industry by the grace of God. Basically my genre of music can be described as Afro-gospel. I love African sounds, I love African music.

It's really difficult for you not to hear either one or two indigenous languages in my songs. My kind of music has no age or language barrier. I can sing very well in any popular language in Nigeria and you can never suspect I am not from that Part of the country, my latest single (Grateful) was done in Yoruba language, the comments and wonderful reception the song has received so far is amazing. I also discovered my unique kind of voice that is quite different from many other singers, that's another big advantage for me.

Would you say you are satisfied with places gospel music has taken you to?

Let me start by saying I am grateful to God for how far he has brought me. I would never have dreamt of coming close to where I am today but for his grace. Choosing a carrier in music for me is a long journey, I just got started. I want to get to that peak where my music is being played in every home, office, market place, car etc where million of souls are being won for Christ through my music. Whatever I am doing now is all about God. I am trusting Him to use me to affect lives and make maximum impact, I can see the future is really bright

Which celebrity style do you admire most?

I admire Timi Dakolo’s style.

Which accessory do you live for?

I love lapel pin Define your style in one word?

Classy Is there anything you are unlikely to be caught wearing?

Anything that is not meant for men When it comes to fashion would you say your physique works to your advantage?

Very well, I am just normal. Not too tall not too short, I am not skinny neither fat. I just love the way God created me and it works well when it comes to dressing.

Personally what does style mean to you?

You are fashionable when you wear what flatters your body silhouette.

Are you a label freak?

Not at all, if it’s good then I go for it regardless of the labels.

How you did come up with name Sent John and what is the message behind it? Are there any challenges?

I discovered that I have a message from above, to deliver to mankind through my music so I decided to adopt ‘Sent John’ but along the line people started calling me ‘Saint’ instead of ‘Sent’ so I decided to change the name to 1st John.

Fashion wise, would you rather go for quality, trend or colour?

First of all, it is the colour that draws my attention then quality follows Do you have specific outfits?

Of course yes, for church services, I feel good in suits while I prefer native for traditional marriages and other local events

You recently released a single (Grateful) what is the level of patronage?

Very high, God has been faithful. We have received thousands of comments from listeners all over the world. The song is enjoying a very good air play in many radio stations. We had thousands of download within the first one week that it was uploaded on line.

What is your ready to go outfits?

Jeans and T-shirt Comparing modern designers to classical ones, how will you rate designers of these days?

Classical designers didn’t do badly, but modern designers are putting more innovation and creativity into fashion.

Does your present status as an artiste influence your dress sense?

Very well; there are things I can not wear no matter how attractive they seem because of my present status, I now have people looking up to me.

Do you conform to trends?

Not at all, uniqueness is key

What informed the decision of becoming a gospel artiste?

Like I said earlier, my background really influenced what I am doing and where I am today. I was lucky to be born into a Christian home and while growing up, I found that I have passion for singing; that is how the whole thing started.

John

How do you love your shoes?

Flat, comfy and pointy For live performance, would you rather go for suit or simple native?

Simple trendy native is cool

Would you say government has done enough for creative people in the society?

Not at all, government can and should do better in supporting talents that abound in Nigeria. I learnt there are many skills acquisition and creative development centres all over Nigeria with little or no attention from the relevant agencies.

What is your advice to those who wish to attain the height that you are now?

Put God first, pray and work hard.

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Interiors

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

TIPS zz Throwing green duvet on white bedding is an instant and cost effective way to step into the mood of Independence celebration. zz You can tone down the green with splashes of other colours. zz There is no limit to what accessories can do; adding green minimalistic décor accessories is an effortless way to decorate for Independence celebration. zz Going all green is richly attitudinal.

Endearing green décor for Independence celebration

W

Deborah Ocheni

hat would your decor look like as Nigeria celebrates her Independence today? Do you enjoy simplicity or perhaps you prefer an eclectic mix of colour, texture and pattern? Whatever your preference, the design and style of your decor form an important colour and for today it is green.

Modern design is a trend these days es-

pecially for those people whose main focus is the function of their homes. Aside from that, the fresh and energetic look of green colour, you’d love introducing the concept of green which is stress free to mark this year’s Independence celebration.

It doesn’t matter where, which part of your home you choose to decorate, be it sitting room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom or even bath room, add something green!

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

I enjoyed ’30 days in Atlanta’ before pirates started dubbing –AY p.20 Abuja-based veteran actor and pioneer member of Nollywood Francis Duru speaks with Deborah Ocheni about the emergence of Nollywood industry from nothing, loss of professional ethics in the industry, recent trip to Germany and sundry issues.

As pioneer member of Nollywood, how will you compare the industry - looking at its past and what it is today?

It can never be the same thing. Whether you like it or not, no apologies to those who are around now, we set the foundation, it was our sweat, it was passion driven, and when passion drives a thing it can be sustained.

Passion is a force, it takes you to places and does things that you couldn’t do naturally.

There are people who are working and are not making money from what they are doing but are not leaving the job because they are passionate, and once you are passionate, you are emotionally committed to it.

It was our own industry, we gave reference to it after leaving the university and today, I make bold to call myself a legendary actor.

Then, professional ethics were held high but as time changed, the power of disruptive innovation, social media and technology came in. When you fast tracks a thing, it can never be the same as one which goes through the proper processes.

The difference between then and now is that the power of passion, respect for professional ethics and discipline are lacking now. Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to get into the industry, the feeling is that once “you have good looks so you can act”. Dumb mentality and perspective, no respect for anybody. I believe for any profession to thrive, you must uphold its professional ethics; it is within that context that the heritage is preserved. You cannot become an accountant even if you are the most beautiful woman in the world without ICAN. Is that to say actors of nowadays are halfbaked?

Some who have adopted the fast track process.

So what is this fast track process?

It is horrible in my industry right now; I can make you a popular actress in three months How? I take your stuffs, package you in social media and make noise about it. You do 20 movies in one year and so on. It cannot be, but the good thing about it is that we are happy because in life, there must be a balance. Character is of essence in life, once character is lacking, everything is lacking.

Do you still welcome scripts?

I still do; I just finished filming like a month ago but at this stage in life, you don’t let everything define you. I define scripts now based on new philosophy, looking at life from a divergent perspective. Scripts come and I know the kind of things I look out for, I don’t go for any script.

People address you as a humble celebrity.

How do you feel about that?

Humility sometimes have different perspectives; human beings have various ways of seeing things. Some may define me from experience as a rude and arrogant person and I will take it because different stroke for different folks but the truth of the matter is that, there is nothing I am doing now that’s new. I am not just learning whatever I am doing now, it is a gift from God to me and I am not taking it for granted. To stop being

ShowBiz

Popular Nigerian celebs and their luxury cars p.21

I’m not carried away by celebrity status –Francis Duru humble is like telling me to stop being me and that is madness at this age.

How far with you Emcee business?

I am still doing it. I am making money from it, I am eating well and I am good.

Would you say you are satisfied with regard to where acting has taken you?

Answering the question may make me look like I had some regrets in the past; acting is one thing God has designed for me and I am happy I am fulfilling it. So no regrets whatsoever; I am getting bigger and growing stronger each day.

How would you compare Nollywood to Hollywood?

There shouldn’t be any point of comparison rather they should complement each other, and I think is a disfavour to the industry if anybody tries to compare us because we are talking about a country that is well instituted. The aggregate of anything that thrives in any country is born out of the overall outlook of the country itself. They called us third world countries, and in third world countries there is a tendency to behave like what you have been labelled as. We have been wrongly defined and we carry that definition and we build things around it. We have been described as criminals but are we criminals? If five percent of Nigerians are criminals, does that describe the majority 95 percent? I watched a video of Rio 2016 where Brazilians were collecting phones of athletes and tourists and I said to myself that ‘may thunder strike anybody that insults this country’.

Travel abroad and see broad daylight robbery; ours is pronounced because we identified with the definition given by people who don’t like us.

We regard any coloured idiot that come into this country as ‘oyibo’ which is a faulty, stupid mentality. When you begin to respect your own, value will never be looked for.

I get angry when people begin to define our industry because they have failed to see how much we have been able to do in so short a time. Give us 20 percent of what it took to build Hollywood and we will match them.

If we were able to build an industry from nothing to something the world celebrates today, it simply means if we have 20 percent of what they used and the time span used in developing Hollywood we will get there. We are a blessed people and it is time we had a new mentality of wealth creation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Duru

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

in well, and when you pick up the movie you should feel the story is not all about Nigeria, but Africa and the rest of the world- we have Chris Attoh in the movie as well. There’s also Eric Roberts from Hollywood and you cannot go to Jamaica and not have one of their very best in the movie industry and that was why we got Paul Campbell. Campbell is an iconic figure in Jamaica and even in Hollywood, he’s well known.

And to also create an aesthetic balance, we get former Miss Jamaica who also doubles as the winner of ‘She’s Got Games’ in America, Rebecca Silvera and she played Akpor’s love interest in the movie.

I enjoyed ’30 days in Atlanta’ before pirates started dubbing – AY The buzz is everywhere about the movie project you’re working on. Sequel to ‘30 Days in Atlanta’ which is the highest grossing movie in Nigeria at the moment, what’s next?

After the success of '30 Days in Atlanta', there was a need to do something different, so we started to film another project called ‘A Trip to Jamaica’. All the while we were thinking of what to do and how to do it, we are glad to receive the news that '30 Days in Atlanta' is the highest grossing movie in this part of the world.

And it just entered the Guinness Book of World Records. We’re currently promoting 'A Trip to Jamaica' and people already asked, why Jamaica? I did a little research and I discovered that Jamaicans love Nollywood movies

and many of them even work in America, they go out to buy our DVDs. And apart from that, I’m also aware that we love their culture in the area of music, so I felt it would be nice to have that blend.

And that was how we decided to go to Jamaica to shoot the movie. And as part of the efforts to make it work, we had a lot of collaboration alongside the movie.

Tiwa Savage from Nigeria and Busy Signal from Jamaica had a collaboration which is the official motion picture sound track for the movie. I also know that

What would you really say you’ve done differently on this project?

A lot of people attribute the success of '30 Days in Atlanta' to things I don’t understand like voodoo. I’ve heard all sorts of things and I’m beginning to suspect myself in the sense that in the series of the things that I do, they always come out well.

The stand-up comedy show is one of the biggest in the country and my TV show is also one of the biggest. And having the highest grossing movie to add to the milestones is amazing too. What am I doing? How can I just take a walk into an existing industry for the first time and break all the records.

I haven’t done anything out of the world. I’m just a product of grace. I just have this shining light on my direction so, I keep praying on a daily basis that grace should be there for life.

Ace comedian, Ayo Makun, otherwise known as AY reminisces the success of his debut movie, 30 Days in Atlanta while seeking the support of his teeming fans for the next project, 'A Trip to Jamaica’ in this interview with LANRE ODUKOYA. we love soccer so much in Nigeria and likewise Jamaicans, so, I said let’s get the blend of former Jamaican and Nigerian internationals. This goes beyond the movie, we fixed a match between the ex-Jamaican and Nigerian internationals. And that took place last Saturday. It was to kick off the promotions. And last Sunday, we took it to the Filmhouse, IMAX Cinema, which is the first of its kind in West Africa, located in Lekki, Lagos, for the premiere. The movie is a romantic comedy, a spin-off from '30 Days in Atlanta'. And it’s featuring me playing the role of Akpos, my partner in crime (jocularly) Funke Akindele-Bello, playing Bola a.k.a. Bola Bastard. In order to maintain some

sanity we decided to bring some of our Nollywood actors including Nse Ikpe Etim. Etim played Abigail and Dan Davis (from Hollywood) is the brutal husband of Abigail and he played Michael Rise. I love my works to cut across, so from Ghana, to fill

I haven’t done anything out of the world. I’m just a product of grace. I just have this shining light on my direction

Have you grown thick skin on piracy especially after once crying foul about what the perpetrators did to your movie, '30 Days in Atlanta?'

Piracy is a global threat but in Nigeria it’s worse because even before your work gets to the cinemas, it could get pirated.

And that is very heart-breaking but fair enough, they allowed me enjoy '30 Days in Atlanta' and they waited for the movie to gross well. We did our cinema runs before we started seeing the movie out there. It’s very heart-breaking but we had worked out modalities to curb the excesses of these guys. We cannot clamp down on them completely because the person who is sabotaging you is either the person working with you or an employee of the cinema; they’re just going to do it one way or the other.

But we have a security check in place which is not something we want to make public because we’ll be given ourselves away that way. That’s the reason I cannot answer that directly. I am also going to enjoin the Federal Government to do something about it. The change they preach is something we want to apply in the film industry as well. Provide for us an enabling environment where others would not be feeding off our sweat. I live in fear knowing that my movie is going to be released because I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I’m believing God and the security check we’d put in place.

Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

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Wizkid

Kcee

Davido

MI

Wizkid It’s impossible to talk about luxury cars without mentioning Starboy boss, Wizkid. The Surulere-bred star is Nigeria’s most high-flying act at the moment having recently worked with Tinie Tempah, Chris Brown, Drake and others. Since hitting limelight with his single, “Holla at Your Boy”, the Ojuelegba singer has won numerous awards and recently signed an international deal with Sony Music.

Perhaps driven by his recent exploits, Wizkid rewarded himself with a Bentley reportedly worth N45 million not long ago. That is not all, the former EME act also owns a sleek Porsche Panamera S among others.

Davido Davido, who also signed a deal with Sony Music in January is one Nigerian entertainer who lives the good life and makes sure people are aware of his latest acquisitions. The boss at HKN Music, he broke barriers with his smash hit, “Dami Duro” and has gone on to headline shows in Nigeria and abroad. As he constantly reminds us in his songs, money is not a problem for him and his devoted fans know the self-styled “Omo Baba Olowo” boasts a Porsche Turbo S worth around N59 million and a Range Rover in his garage.

Jim Iyke Cars owned by the Nigerian actor many people love to hate for his bad boy image and unyielding style has cars including a Plymouth Prowler Convertible and a Camero Convertible which he was said to have bought for N13.3 million. Known for his bad boy roles, Jim has appeared in over 150 Nollywood films and was once in a widely publicised relationship with beautiful Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buhari.

His intention to pursue a music career, which started following the establishment of a music label known as Untamed Records in 2007has not taken him anywhere, but Iyke still boasts luxury cars fans are dreaming of.

Peter Okoye Peter Okoye is known as the outspoken half of Psquare, and along with his twin brother, Paul, has numerous hits to his credit. Peter has worked with various artistes including Tan-

Popular Nigerian celebs and their luxury cars Celebs all over the world are known for their high taste when it comes to phones, cars and homes. From those involved in music to movies stars and even footballers, they are never shy when it comes to splashing the cash. In this piece, Ogechi Ndubunma looks at some Nigerian stars and the luxury cars they cruise around town. zania’s Diamond Platnumz, Jill Scott and American rapper, TI among others.

Exuding style on all fronts, Peter who is married to the beautiful Lola Omotayo drives a 2014 Bentley Continental GT said to be worth a whopping N62 million.

MI Abaga MI is a leading Nigerian rapper and label executive. Having come so far since releasing his debut album, Talk About It in 2011, he is currently the CEO of Chocolate City with his brother, Jesse Jagz, Victoria Kimani, Ruby Gyang, Koker and Ice Prince as label mates. MI owns a G Wagon listed as worth about N37 million and a Bentley Coupe.

Joseph Yobo A retired footballer who was the captain of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior national football team, Joseph Yobo had always played in the big league. A long time defender for Everton FC, he was linked to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs while active, he is married to former beauty queen, Adaeze. Call the dashing Yobo the king on this list and you won’t be wrong.

Apart from a Ferrari worth between N44 million and N51 million, Yobo’s fleet of cars includes a Bentley, a Mercedes Benz G63 Wagon, Mercedes Benz ML AMG, a Porsche Panamera Turbo S, a Range Rover

and an Audi Q7.

Ibinabo Fiberesema Aside being a former beauty queen, Ibinabo was Actors Guild of Nigeria president before she was stripped of the position. Since making her debut in the hugely popular film, Most Wanted, the light-skinned beauty has acted in many movies but has been involved in one controversy after the other. Although a manslaughter case dating back five years hangs on her neck now less than a year after she remarried, she owns a lovely black Mercedes G-Wagon.

Ini Edo Sexy and proud to show it, this actress has a degree in Theater Arts and has acted in over 100 movies and. She was a judge of the Miss Black Africa Pageant in 2013 and is the recipient of numerous awards.

Edo, who has displayed her talent over the years by taking on different roles no matter how difficult, has continued to flourish despite the crash of her marriage in 2014.

She is currently the Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom on Tourism and like other celebrities, she obviously takes a fancy to the G-Wagon which she proudly shows off on social media.

Emma Nyra Former MMMG act, Emma Nyra, is a American-born Nigerian singer, actress and model who relocated to Nigeria to pursue a career in

music. She made a dramatic exit from Made Men Group in 2015 and is currently doing well on her own. For a fancy lady like Emma, it has to be a fancy car and that is the BMW 2015 model.

Kcee A singer, songwriter and boss at Five Star Music, Kcee kick-started his career by emerging winner of Star Quest along with his former partner, Presh.

However, his solo career, after being the other half of KCPresh for about a decade, only really took off with the release of the well-received hit song, “Limpopo”. Known for his taste and with his brother, E Money splashing the cash, Kcee is one of the proud owners of Range Rover Sport and G-Wagon luxury cars.

Daniella Okeke This curvaceous actress has acted in a number of movies including Lagos Cougars which earned her a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and the 10th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Despite not having been around for long, Daniella who invades social media with pictures of vacations without let, has a fleet of cars including a Range Rover and a Lexus.

Ebube Nwagbo She started her acting career at the age of 20 in 2003 and has since acted in numerous movies like Arrested by Love, Not Yours, Royal Palace, Eyes of the Nun and others. She is single and seems to love it to no end, Ebube owns the classyPorsche Panamera and the sturdy Hummer Jeep.

She sure has her unique preferences.

Don Jazzy Micheal Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy, is arguably one of the best producers in Nigeria. Also making stellar displays through his gig as a singer and a songwriter, Don Jazzy who has produced for different artistes sits atop one of Nigeria’s major labels, Mavin Records.

Don Jazzy has different acts like Di’ja, Dr Sid, D’Prince, Tiwa Savage and others under his label, after parting ways with D’banj years ago. Apart from his numerous awards and standing in Nigerian entertainment, he has a sleek black Bentley to show for it.

D’banj To describe D’banj as a successful singer, songwriter and businessman would not be off the mark at any time as he combines all without a fuss. Widely popular in Nigeria and beyond, the 'Kokomaster' has won several awards including the MTV Europe Music Awards and the BET awards in 2011.

D’banj’s romance with the beautiful Nigerian actress and producer, Genevieve Nnaji, might have come to nothing but D’banj is still powering on in music, business and among women. He is the proud owner of a Bentley which is priced at about N46.5 and a black Toyota Prado Jeep worth N12.2 million.

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Social Media Craze TravelTourism

1 October 2016

Trending

Gist

Photos Controversies

Twitter erupts for Olisa Adibua at 49

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opular media personality and veteran broadcaster, Olisa Adibua, turned 49 years old on Thursday and social media was not queit about it. And going from the outpouring of love, as kick-started by Beat FM where he is the Programmes Director, Olisa is one of the most regarded figures in the Nigerian media/ entertainment landscape.

Still one of the most sought after on radio and even television almost 30 years after he started contributing his quota, the Nigerian section of Twitter literally erupted for Olisa, who founded Storm Records

Adibua

Adedayo Odulaja

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

along his former partner, Obi Asika.

Since starting his electronic broadcasting career with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) as an independent presenter/producer of entertainment programmes, Olisa has risen to the top of the ladder and is currently presenter of Morning Rush, Buka and Joints and others apart from being Director of programmes at Beat 99.9 FM and Naija FM. In the course of his glittering career, Olisa has also worked at Clapperboard TV, Nigeria’s first independent private TV station and he also hosted the primetime afternoon drive-time radio show on Cool FM for ten years. He moved over to Beat FM in 2009 and has hosted the morning drive-time show since then.

With 5,227 tweets as at the time of going to press, messages were still coming in for Olisa who is still single and is hardly ever afraid to talk about it through the #HappyBirthdayOlisa hashtag. @lifechangingnent wrote: “Big S/O to our incredible Host Olisa.

We’re blessed to have you. God bless your new age. #HappyBirthdayOlisa” BMAX@officialBMAX wrote: “From NTA, to Clapperboard TV to Cool FM to Beat FM @officialolisa gets better with age! We celebrate you. #HappyBirthdayOlisa.”

Smiley@SmileyWaves wrote: May the stars align in your favour as you celebrate your special day @ officialolisa. #HappyBirthdayOlisa Ademola Adetona @DEMOLAEXPOSE: “Thank you for making yourself available to change the game.

Eight years after failing in auditions, Adekunle Gold conquers Project Fame stage

W

hen last weekend, YBNL’s Adekunle Gold was on stage as the special guest performer of MTN Project Fame Season 9’s closing gala, many Nigerian Twitter users were only thinking about the entertainment value of the event.

But behind his usually impressive appearance and performance lies a story that grips the heart.

Eight years ago, Adekunle Gold was one of the numerous young men and women who auditioned for a place among the few chosen ones but he was told he was not good enough.

It is 2016, not so far away from 2008 and the “Sade” singer has at least four certified hit songs ruling the airwaves and a well-received debut album to his name.

So much has been his impact despite having only been around for a few years that he was invited (for a hefty sum of course) to perform on the stage he could not even reach as a contestant.

Through his Twitter account, he wrote on Sunday: “7&8 years ago I auditioned for @MTNProjectFame9. I nor enter. Today I was a Guest Performer on d show. There’s a God in heaven & He loves me.”

You can’t agree less.

APC’s ‘free akara for all’ triggers social media melt down

A

Adekunle Gold

s the date of the governorship elections in Edo State which was conducted September 28 drew nearer, a picture of a banner belonging to the All Progressive Congress (APC), one of Nigeria’s two main political parties hit the internet.

The banner, inviting voters to come for free bean cakes popularly known in Nigeria as akara, caused a meltdown as akara became one of the day’s trending topics shortly after on Monday.

With the sharing of customised bags of rice, cooking oil and others having taken place in previous elections in Nigeria, perhaps reaching its climax with the stomach infrastructure campaign of Ayodele Fayose, then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, the talk of many on social media was: This is a new low.

A.S Aruwa tweeting through @ MusadiqZ, wrote: “APC Free Akara for

All? Who comes up with these things?” @regietron saw it this way: “As #Edodecides, Collectors of Akara,Rice,wrappers,5k should note dat dey won't be remembered after d elections!! @APCNigeria @OfficialPDPNig.” For some Twitter followers, the resort to Akara has everything to do with the ongoing recession in the country.

Taking a funny angle to it, Bunmi Esther Olufuwa @estillo wrote: “Bread is now expensive hence the reason for only akara......flour don cost.”

Another Twitter user, @9grrepublican said this is not the end of it all: “Before Recession….Rice. After Recession…..Akara. (Depression………..pure water).”

From Isa Abdul @JajaPhD came even a funnier offering: “But where is the (agege) bread spot @APCNigeria? It is insensitive and an insult to serve Akara on its own.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

Investigations

TBS: NEGLECTOF A MONUMENT As Nigeria celebrates her 56th anniversary of independence from the British colonial masters today, ISIOMA MADIKE in this report, looks at an almost forgotten monument that once served as venue of that momentous occasion when country still had her capital in the “centre of excellence”

T

he famed Tafawa Balewa Square, better known as TBS, is a monument named after Nigeria’s first and only indigenous Prime Minister, Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. It is situated in the centre of Lagos Island’s commercial district. The entrance is a striking feature that will elicit awe into visitors. Indeed, it is historic in all ramifications.

Said to have been reconstructed in 1972 over the site of a defunct rack for horse racing, the vicinity was host to Nigeria’s historic Independence Day celebrations, 56 years ago on October 1, 1960.

Similar history was to be re-enacted 19 years after in the same arena, when the then military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, handed over power to Nigeria’s first executive president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Situated on a large expanse of land within the prime section of Onikan on Lagos Island, this

Isioma madike

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

14.5-hectare (35.8-acre) ceremonial ground, was just a mere race course at the time. It is bounded

by Awolowo Road, Cable Street, Force Road and Catholic Mission Street. The entrance to the square has gigantic sculptures of four white horses hovering above the gate and seven eagles, which are symbols from the national emblem signifying Strength and Dignity respectively.

Aside federal government agencies and parastatals such as the National Assembly complex within the annex, there are two imposing Independence towers, said to have been built in 1963. The buildings were, for a long time, the tallest in Nigeria.

Sadly, the paintings had faded off, giving them subdued appearances.

The glitz, glam and spectacle associated with the arena have been watered down and trimmed over the years. It largely serves, at present, as a good business centre where all manner of products are put on sale for brisk business operators. From the big hands to those with smaller wares, sales activities thrive in the complex unchecked.

Indeed, that glorious moment of a monument was one that was short-lived. TBS, as it is fondly called, appears to have fallen into abyss. In spite of efforts said to reposition its fortune, not a few are worried if the national monument will still be able continued on page 24

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Investigations

c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 2 3

to regain its lost glory. Many believe it presents an irony and poor sense of Nigeria’s history.

A short walk from the square is the National Museum, featuring the Benin City brasses, traditional ivory carvings, royal crowns and some of the world’s most ancient artwork. The museum also contains a non-profit crafts centre and parades the ill-fated black Mercedes Benz Limousine where former Head of State, General Muritala Ramat Mohammed, was slain on his way to Dodan Barracks a day before Valentine in 1976.

A sight of the old cabinet office building, which lies between Strachan and Moloney Streets and once served as office of Balewa, is in ruins. The now dilapidated and apparently abandoned building also served as offices to the cabinet members in the early 60s.

The three-storey edifice is dwarfed by the sprawling pavilions of the TBS Complex that overlooks what used to be the PM’s office in the First Republic.

56 years after independence, the office lies desolate and remains a shadow of its old self. Though a section of the premises presently houses Nigeria’s Defence Ministry Liaison office, the sites have been overtaken by weeds and shrubs. Residents, who spoke to Saturday Telegraph, said the place now harbours dangerous reptiles and rodents.

One of those who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “It is shameful that the Cabinet Office, which housed the offices of the late prime minister, is in this shape. It is a depiction of who we are as a people and how we relish things that we are supposed to treasure in this part of the world. It is a shame if you ask me.”

The anonymous man may not be far from the truth. A section of the building has no rooftops and the rainbow-like paints have peeled off the walls. “It is a disgrace that such a historical monument had got to such a sorry state,” said another who identified himself simply as Taofeek.

Taofeek, who claimed to be an old soldier, should be close to 90 years of age. He added: “Like many other national Institutions, the beauty and significance of this arena is gone; it now belongs to a faded past. We have no sense of history that is why we allow this place to be in ruins. I wish you were born at independence to appreciate what I’m saying. I am angry with Nigeria and her people.”

Another concerned Nigerian who also spoke on condition of anonymity described the parade ground where the British flag was lowered for that of the Nigerian to be hoisted describe the relic as an eye-sore and a disgrace to the nation.

“I am ashamed to recall that this is the same place our Independence was officially declared. Though, I’m not surprised that subsequent governments left it to rot away. I said so because ordinary Nigerians are no better; they are worse off. I wish the British had refused our request to self governance. We were better off under them. This eyesore only shows that we lack maintenance culture,” he added.

On his part, Pa Matthew, told Saturday Telegraph that the whole arena used to be a wonderful place. “I was born and brought up in this neighbourhood. This is where I was born and bred. I was a boy then but I experienced the splendour of this arena. We don’t know where Nigeria is heading to. People just want to grab anything they can. This is not the only place in ruins, but the whole country; we are a big mess. This is not the country we wished at independence, if truth be said,” the Octogenarian lamented.

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

'It's now a centre for

Another, who identified himself as Ibrahim, sat quietly on the pavement. He is about 76 years old or so. He can’t quite remember when he was actually born. In the small polythene bag close to where he sat, were five packs of burger sachets, cigarettes of assorted makes and biscuits, mainly crackers. The old man ekes out a living out of the sale of these petty wares.

Apart from being aged, Ibrahim has other worries. One of his legs is bad. It was amputated as a result of the wound he sustained during the Nigerian civil war. He also has no descent roof over his head and belongs to the horde of squatters who have turned the annex section of the famous Square to a permanent place of abode.

“This is what I got from a country that I fought for. I was residing within the main bowl. But there was a time they chased all of us out of the premises.

Since then, I have found solace where I am now. I don’t go around. I do all I have to do here except when I need to defecate.

This place is a public place. I am not the only one sleeping here, as you can see other people everywhere. Anytime it is 11 pm, the two main gates leading here are closed,” he said with regret written all over his wrinkled face.

Aside these “executive” tenants, TBS also play host to touts and other criminally-minded elements, who often rupture the peaceful atmosphere at the slightest opportunity, according to neighbours. A few metres away from where Ibrahim was, a theatric display unfolded between

some “landlords” and other destitutes, as if to confirm what this reporter was told of the place. The former were attempting to forcefully eject those they accused of littering the environs with faeces and urine.

“Incidences of this nature entertain us on a daily basis; we are now used to it, it is a common feature of this environment. For some of us who have lived all our lives on Lagos Island and have seen TBS degenerate to the level of abyss, we have always been saddened by this turn of events,” a 73-year-old woman who doubles as a tenant in one of TBS shops, said. She refused to give her name.

She is disheartened. Her displeasure is quite understandable. To think of such arena floundering in precarious state as TBS is today, appears to be nauseating not only to her but to many other Nigerians who witnessed its allure and are conscious of history.

Indeed, rot of unimaginable proportion welcomes one to the arena. This is rudely complemented by the sight of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminus and motor park for commercial buses by Lagos State government. These provide a sort of alibi for drivers and motorists alike to litter and loiter the arena.

The human activities, no doubt, have eclipsed the architectural beauty of the complex. The three sculptural Eyo masquerade effigies at the gate are not in better condition either. Their celebrated white apparels have been dusted and torn to the displeasure of onlookers. It is a representation of what TBS has become.

I saw it all A septuagenarian, Taoqeeb Bello, is disheartened about Nigeria’s Independence and the commemorative arena that host the momentous occasion in 1960. As a 17-year-old, Bello recalls with nostalgia what it was a night before, Independence Day and weeks after, in this interview with ISIOMA MADIKE. Excerpts:

What was the mood like on October 1, 1960?

I think we should start from a day to the Independence Day. I was 17-year-old then but I remembered vividly what and how it happened like it was yesterday.

Independence glee filled the atmosphere a week before the D-Day. People were merry-making and being enthusiastic about it. Expectations were high. The

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

Interview 24 hours to glory: I'm Rangers for life, says Okala p.27

S

Ajibade Olusesan ince Nojeem Maiyegun won Nigeria’s first medal at the 1964 Olympics, it has been mixed fortunes for the country in sports after she gained independence in 1960.

Although some Nigerian sportsmen had done remarkably well prior to the Independence, sports became a serious business shortly after. Emmanuel Ifeanjuna won Nigeria’s first ever gold medal in Commonwealth Games in 1954 edition of the tournament in Vancouver, Canada, while the likes of Hogan Kid Bassey and Dick Tiger became household names before the union Jack was lowered and the green and white of Nigeria was hoisted in Lagos in 1960, it was not until 1962 when proper structure was laid for the blooming of sport in the country.

The then government realised sports could be a veritable tool to advance the image of the country and it established the National Sports Commission and two years later Maiyegun boxed the country into a bronze medal feat at the Tokyo Games.

Although the country came back from 1968 Olympics games empty-handed, the qualification of the Green Eagles for the tournament was an achievement on its own.

Football is the ‘king of sports’ in Nigeria, and it is not surprising the country has succeeded most in the game. The bronze medals won at the 1976 and 1978 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations prepared the Eagles for their triumph at home in 1980.

That was the first time the country would win the biggest football event on the continent.

The team could not defend its title in Libya 1982 but got to the finals in 1984, 1988 and 1990 editions and 14 years after claiming its first title, the Eagles won the 1994 tournament in Tunisia with coach Clemence Westerhof in charge. The team also qualified and attended the World Cup for the first time in the United States; the success of that ‘Golden Generation’ was profound as it reached number five

The Team Ajibade Olusesan l Co-ordinator

Charles Ogundiya l Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Sport Splash

25

News Independence Day test for Flamingoes p.32

Knocks, kudos for Nigeria at 56

Nwankwo Kanu battling for the ball with Brazil's Roberto Carlos

Football is the ‘king of sports’ in Nigeria, and it is not surprising the country has succeeded most in the gam

spot in the FIFA rankings, the highest ever by any African country.

Nigeria had won the Nations Cup just once after that, the 2013 success in South Africa which was masterminded Stephen Keshi who coached Vincent Enyeama-skippered side to victory, 19 years after he lifted the title as the captain of the team in 1994.

Nigeria has attended World Cup four times after it first appeared in the competition in 1994 and has not progressed beyond second round.

But before then, in 1985, Nduka Ugbade-captained Golden Eaglets CONTINUE ON PAGE 31

Chioma Ajunwa jumping to Gold at Atlanta '96

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Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

Nigerian League Rendezvous

BY CHARLES OGUNDIYA

Rivers, IfeanyiUbah, Wikki battle for CL R ivers United, IfeanyiUbah and Wikki Tourists are the three clubs fighting for the remaining CAF Champions League slot after Rangers secured one of the two slots reserved for the top finishers of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Wikki will be banking on their home form to get the second ticket while hoping that Rivers United and IfeanyiUbah will falter in their away matches against Akwa United and MFM respectively.

A victory for either Rivers or IfeanyiUbah will put paid to Wikki’s ambition as they are currently fourth on the table with 54 points but with healthy goals difference of 15.

IfeanyiUbah will find it difficult in Lagos when they file out against MFM as the home team are currently fighting to escape relegation and anything short of victory will spell doom for them.

For Akwa United, they have nothing to fight for apart from pride when they take

on Rivers United who are yet to pick a point away from home since June 9.

Heartland will hope to pick a precious victory against Plateau United to preserve their history as one of only two clubs that have never been relegated in the league.

The other club is Rangers.

Warri Wolves last season finished second on the table but currently battling to escape relegation; are they have to go out of their way to get a victory against Ikorodu United while also hopping other results go

Caution remains the word for Rangers – Amakapabo

C

oach of Rangers International, Imama Amakapabo, has said they are taking the game against ElKanemi Warriors with caution as they cannot celebrate yet.

The coach told League Rendezvous that the game against the warriors remains the biggest match of the season for the Flying Antelopes and promised to take the game with all seriousness.

“We are putting the celebration on hold for now,” the former Enyimba coach said.

“If we fail to do the needful against ElKanemi Warriors, then all the hardwork from the beginning of the season will be wasted.

“I am happy that we are at a stage where our destiny is in our own hands but we are not writing our opponent off because such might spell doom for us.”

He stated that they would approach the game like they had done with their matches since the start of the season.

For Christian Madu, he was happy to be part of the history making team as he assured fans that nothing would stop them from winning the title.

According to him, the players have resolved within themselves to win it in style as they want to entertain their fans on the final day.

He said: “We are not disrespecting our opponent, but this will a good opportunity for us to appreciate our fans for their support by posting a good result against El-Kanemi.

“The fans have been supporting us from the beginning of the season, while some of them have been there for years and winning the title now is a way of saying thank you to them.

“El-Kanemi should be ready for anything we are going to throw at them on Sunday because we want to sign out in style.”

Amakapabo

Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

1 Rangers

35

17

9

9

49

37

12

60

2 Rivers Utd

35

18

3

14

36

28

8

57

3 IfeanyiUbah

35

16

8

11

37

32

5

56

4 Wikki

35

15

9

11

43

28

15

54

5 Sunshine

35

14

11

10

44

35

9

53

6 Lobi Stars

35

15

7

13

39

35

4

52

7 Kano Pillars

35

15

6

14

46

39

7

51

8 El-Kanemi

35

16

3

16

37

38

-1

51

9 Nasarawa Utd

35

16

2

17

41

41

0

50

10 Enyimba

36

14

8

14

34

35

-1

50

11 Tornadoes

35

15

3

17

39

41

-2

48

12 Plateau Utd

35

13

9

13

33

36

-3

48

13 Akwa Utd

35

13

8

14

44

44

0

47

14 Shooting

35

14

5

16

40

46

-6

47

15 Abia Warriors

35

11

12

12

33

-5

45

44

16 Heartland

35

11

10

14

24

29

-5

43

17 MFM FC

35

11

9

15

35

40

-5

42

18 Warri Wolves

35

11

9

15

28

38

-10

42

19 Ikorodu Utd

35

7

11

17

32

54

-22

32

20 Giwa FC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

MATCHDAY 38

IfeanyiUbah's Oluchukwu Nwosuo vying for the ball against Plateau United's Benjamin Turba

Amapakabo, Egbuchulam win SupportTheNPFL award

I

t was an overwhelming victory for coach of Rangers International, Imama Amapakabo, after he was voted as the SupportTheNPFL Manager of the Season.

The coach pooled 84 percent of votes ahead of Wikki Tourists coach, Abdu Maikaba, in second position with paltry seven percent votes.

Other coaches voted for in the first ever award by the online site are IfeanyiUbah coach, Rafael Everton (five percent) and Stanley Eguma of Rivers United (three percent).

In the Player of the Season category, Rangers’ Chisom Egbuchulam, won with 48 percent votes while top scorer, Godwin Obaje, of Wikki Tourists finished second with 36 percent votes.

IfeanyiUbah Ismaila Gata polled 15 percent votes while Rivers United skipper, Festus Austin, finished last with

their way.

Abia Warriors picked a valuable point in Port Harcourt during the last game as they forced Rivers United to a goalless draw.

A victory aginst Shooting Stars this weekend will secure their stay in the premier league for another season.

Other matches scheduled for this weekend are Lobi Stars versus Nasarawa United while Kano Pillars will end their season with a home game against Niger Tornadoes.

one vote.

The award organiser, Akinlolu Alonge, said it was a way of encouraging the players and managers who are the main actors of the game.

“We are delighted to honour the stars and managers in the NPFL, it is a platform to encourage them so that they can do better next season,” Alonge said.

“We decided to make the voting open to people who have been following the league and the response was overwhelming. It shows that people have started following the league.

“The winners will receive their awards in Enugu on Sunday when Rangers host El-Kanemi Warriors.”

He further revealed that the first edition was sponsored by Yarmalight FC proprietor, Farouk Yarma, while also calling on other sponsors to partner with them ahead of next season.

Plateau Utd vs Heartland Rangers vs El-Kanemi Warri Wolves vs Ikorodu Utd Wikki Tourists vs Sunshine Abia Warriors vs Shooting Akwa Utd vs Rivers Utd Lobi vs Nasarawa Utd MFM vs IfeanyiUbah Kano Pillars vs Tornadoes

Disappointing season for Pillars, says Alimi

K

ano Pillars defender, Jamiu Alimi, has described the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season as a disappointing one for the players of the team.

The former champions failed to mount a serious challenge for the league title and will be finishing without qualifying to play on the continent for the second season running.

“We thank God for helping us to this moment, but it was a very bad season for us,” Alimi said.

“As former champions, all what we wanted at the beginning of the season was to win the title, but we failed. Hopefully Kano Pillars will come back stronger next season.”

On whether he will be with the team next season, Alimi said he just want to end this current season and wait for what happen during the break.

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

whose name , la a k O l e u n Emma goalymous with n o n y s e m a bec nd, eria and beyo ig N in g in p e ke rable of the memo recalls some ents orable mom m e m o s t o and n serve al career. We n o ti p e c x e n of a with rview he had te in is th u o y at his 1993 now th Sportstar in verge rs are on the e g n a R d e v belo the first league title, e th g in n in w of xcerpts… since 1984. E

24 hours to glory: I'm Rangers for life, says Okala

You should have had enough of Rangers International; why are you still sticking around?

Well, you know, it’s just like one leaving a family. You know I have stayed so long on the team that I don’t think of leaving. It’s impossible for one to abandon one’s family. So, if I’m leaving Rangers, I’m talking of leaving football entirely. It’s a place I cannot leave anymore. So I’m part of the family.

For how long have you been in the team?

I have been there since 1970. And I hope to remain in Rangers till I leave football.

Can you still remember your most memorable save as a goalkeeper?

My most memorable save? There were many, many saves. Like when we qualified for Montreal Olympics in Canada in 1976. At the preliminary stage, we played against Congo. In Brazzaville we scored in the first minute of the match.

Sunny Oyarekhua scored our only goal and it turned out to be the only goal of the match.

That match was played between the Congolese team and myself.

Unfortunately, the match was not re - corded.

We only travelled out with Bisi Lawrence who did the commentary; surprisingly, when we returned to Lagos they said the commentary did not reach Nigeria so we had no records at all of the match. Another memorable match should be the one between Rangers and IICC in Kaduna in 1977 during the Cup Winners Cup semi-final second leg. I was in good shape. There were very many other matches, I just cannot say this one was the best among them.

Another memorable match should be the one between Rangers and IICC in Kaduna in 1977 during the Cup Winners Cup semi-final second leg. I was in good shape

to exchange pleasantries even though I was still Best’s reserve.

And before the match at the dressing room, they called their interpreter to convey their intention and all the things they had heard about me. Both good and bad stories. They were enthusiastic about seeing me play. They told the players to stand up and clap for me. I’m saying this for the first time. It happened the day we played Ivory Coast in that African Cup of Nations.

It was before the kick off in the dressing room.

So, they wanted to honour me, even if I was not as good anymore. But some of our officials refused, I did not know why. And that forced me out of the national camp. I left but to show them that I was not yet finished, I came back with Rangers in 1981 and won the Challenge Cup before I quit in 1982. So there was nothing in it. The coaches felt Best was good and they featured him. Nothing was bad about it; that is how football should be run.

Let’s talk about the other Okalas…

Patrick is dead now. It was very painful but what can one do?

We are in the world; today people are born and the same day people die, so I tried to put in behind me. But you know, I thank God I survived the shock I had when he died. The world goes on. But there was another one, Charles. He had a knee injury and I advised him to forget about goalkeeping.

Let’s assume you were to be in goal for the national team once more, what mistake did you make in those days that you wouldn’t want to repeat?

When I was in goal, well, I can blow my trumpet at this stage, I was good. Really good. And I had the heart because as a good goalkeeper, you must have a big heart to come out and pick the ball from the opponent’s leg; to jump up with opponents and make sure you punch the ball. Well, I don’t think there was anything left that I did not do when I was a goalkeeper. It is people that would point out my mistakes and I’d then correct them if I were to be in goal again. For sure, I can’t say the mistakes I made but as human beings you can make some mistakes here and there which is normal. So that is the way I see it.

What does it take to make a good goalie?

The way I see it, goalkeeping is in-born.

It’s natural. You must at one stage or the other in your younger days have kept goal in the village, in the streets, you know. And it is then left for the person to have the opportunity to take it to a level from where somebody will brush him up. So, goalkeeping is an art. It must be in a person before someone can brush them up.

In your case, who moulded you?

A lot of coaches. In my case, I used to keep in village matches. I started keeping from my secondary school days. We were practising one day when one of our goalkeepers was not measuring up, our games master then, Mr. C.N.O. Ugbaka, asked if any other person could man the post. I said yes because I knew I had a little experience then. So after that day’s practice session he said my position would be at the goal from then onward.

From that time I had been a goalkeeper but I have gone through many coaches, from Ugbaka to Obi Okoye in Onitsha. In Enugu I met Paulinus Nzerem and Isaac Nnado, the late Dan Anyiam. At the national level, there were Carl O’Dwyer, Godwin Etemike, Willy Bazuaye, Father Tiko, George Penna, Otto Gloria, Dias and many others.

Okala

27

This takes us back to the 1980 African Cup of Nations when Best Ogedegbe was suddenly brought in to replace you; is it that Ogedegbe was better than you at that point in time?

As I had already said, good coaches field good players at any particular time. Otto Gloria and his crew found out that Ogedegbe was in a better shape for that competition, so that was why they used him. That was the way I saw it.

But what happened that I did not like was at the finals with Algeria when we were leading them 3-0 the coaches wanted to honour me. They had heard a lot about me. They wanted

Rangers' Razaq Adegbite challenges Gabros' Chibuzor Okonkwo. INSET: Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, returning Rangers to the top

B

SATURDAY Pescara VS Chievo 5:00PM Udinese VS Lazio 7:45PM

Serie A

Celta Vigo VS Barcelona 7:45PM

Malaga VS Bilbao 5:30PM

Espanyol VS Villarreal 5:30PM

Real Madrid VS Eibar 3:15PM

Valencia VS Atletico 11:00AM

SUNDAY

Deportivo VS Gijon 7:45PM

Osasuna VS Las Palmas 5:30PM

Sevilla VS Alaves 3:15PM

Granada VS Leganes 12:00PM

SATURDAY

La Liga

Burnley VS Arsenal 4:30PM

Tottenham VS Man City 2:15PM

2:I5PM

Leicester VS Southampton

12:00PM

Man United VS Stoke City

3:00PM

West Ham VS Middlesbrough

Watford VS B'mouth 3:00 PM

3:00PM

Sunderland VS West Brom

Hull City VS Chelsea 3:00PM

Swansea VS Liverpool 12:30 PM

EPL

FIXTURES

W

AT F O R D : The question ahead of this fixture is a simple one.

Which Watford will turn up? The Hornets were limp, lethargic and lacklustre against Burnley on Monday night, a pale imitation of the team that swept Manchester United aside a week earlier. Bournemouth will provide a challenge perhaps more suited to

Eddie Howe's side have momentum heading into this fixture.

Their outstanding performance in a 1-0 win over high-flying Everton will fill them with confidence for the coming weeks. Harry Arter will again be the best player on the pitch and inspire the Cherries to another

Inconsistent Watford host Bournemouth

ayern Munich must brush aside their first loss of the season, a 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and immediately bounce back with victory over Cologne, said club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

The German champions, who had won all eight matches in all competitions this season before their loss in Spain, take on third-placed Cologne on Saturday as they look to protect their

three-point lead in the German league.

The Bavarians, chasing a record-extending fifth consecutive league title, are not expected to be thrown off track by the result but they must rediscover their killer instinct after also being dominant against Hamburg SV last week but leaving it late for narrow 1-0 win.

Few, however, doubt that Bayern will bounce back, with Ancelotti having no injury concerns in his large squad.

"It is a big disappointment but also a signal that we need to keep at it," Bayern midfielder Thomas Mueller said.

"The areas we need to improve were highlighted tonight."

"We need to improve things and adapt to the tasks we have to master. We want to do it much better against Cologne on Saturday."

The visitors will be a tough nut to crack, however, having conceded just two Ancelotti goals in five games and having scored nine.

Bayern boss demands instant reaction to Atletico loss

anchester City will head to White Hart Lane on Sunday lunchtime determined

to that which saw off Monaco in midweek. That side switched between a 4-3-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 formation, with

War at White Hart Lane as Tottenham, Man City CLASH

Kickoff: 2:15pm

Stoke ace B looks forward to Old Trafford date runo Martins Indi says that he and his teammates will approach this weekend’s clash with Manchester United with excitement rather than fear.

The Potters travel to Old Trafford bidding to record their first league win there in over 40 years and in the process kickstart their 2016/17 Premier League campaign.

Speaking ahead of the clash, the Dutch international defender looked forward to the testing fixture in positive fashion.

"It was disappointing for us last weekend to concede the goal so late on and deny us the victory that we were

he champions will be confident of continuing their strong home record against Southampton, especially after the tremendous win over Porto in the Champions League. If City are to contend for a top-half finish or better they must win at the King Power since their away form has been shaky thus far. Saints are capable of goals so it may be a case of which Leicester defence turns up: the one who beat Porto or conceded four against Manchester United last weekend. If it's a tight game, it's one City should win.

Energetic Leicester are the last side Southampton would want to face after a tiring 4,600-mile round trip to Israel in the Europa League on Thursday.

Claude Puel left big-hitters Charlie Austin, Ryan Bertrand, Steven Davis and Jose Fonte at home and will be hoping his side benefit from their fresh legs.

Martins

Leicester ready for Southampton challenge T

looking for," he said.

"But, I saw so many positives on the day and I have seen many more since, in training, too, and that gives us all great reason for optimism.

"I believe if we keep doing the positive things and correct the one or two little areas that haven’t been quite as positive then our position in the table will soon change.

"Manchester United will be a big test for us, just as every game is in football, but I am looking at it positively.

"I know Jose Mourinho from my time in the game and I think I have won one and lost one against him, but we are playing all of Manchester United and not just Jose."

Global Football Special www.newtelegraphonline.com

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

28

Sport SATURDAY

1 OCTOBE

No Clubs P 1 Man City 6 2 Tottenham 6 3 Arsenal 6 4 Liverpool 6 5 Everton 6 6 ManUnited 6 7 Crystal Palace 6 8 Chelsea 6 9 Southampton 6 10 West Brom 6 11 Watford 6 12 Leicester City 6 13 Burnley 6 14 Hull City 6 15 Bournemouth 6 16 Middlesbrough6 17 Swansea City 6 18 West Ham 6 19 Stoke City 6 20 Sunderland 6

EPL

Pts 18 14 13 13 13 12 10 10 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 5 4 3 2 1

Schalke VS M’gladbach 4:30PM

Wolfsburg VS Mainz 05 2:30PM

SUNDAY

Leverkusen VS Dortmund 5:30PM

Ingolstadt VS Hoffenheim 2:30PM

Berlin VS Hamburg 2:30PM

Freiburg VS Frankfurt 2:30PM

Darmstadt VS Bremen 2:30PM

Bayern VS Cologne 2:30PM

SATURDAY

Bundesliga

SUNDAY Empoli VS Juventus 11:30AM Atalanta VS Napoli 2:00PM Bologna VS Genoa 2:00PM Cagliari VS Crotone 2:00PM Sampdoria VS Palermo 2:00PM Milan VS Sassuolo 5:00PM

P 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Pts 15 14 11 10 10 10 10 10 9 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 1

No Clubs 1 Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3 Atletico 4 Villarreal 5 Bilbao 6 Sevilla 7 Las Palmas 8 Eibar 9 Alaves 10 Real Betis 11 Sociedad 12 Celta Vigo 13 Leganes 14 Gijon 15 Valencia 16 Deportivo 17 Malaga 18 Espanyol 19 Granada 20 Osasuna

P 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Ryder Cup veteran Phil Mickelson has apologised to former captain Hal Sutton for criticism of his leadership in 2004.

"We were told two days before that we were playing together and that gave us no time to work together and prepare," Mickelson said on Wednesday.

"That's an example of starting with the captain that put us in a position to fail and we failed monumentally, absolutely."

LA LIGA

Success

Phil Mickelson

No Clubs 1 Juventus 2 SSC Napoli 3 Inter 4 Roma 5 Lazio 6 AC Milan 7 ChievoVerona 8 Bologna 9 Sassuolo 10 Torino 11 Genoa 12 Fiorentina 13 Cagliari 14 Udinese 15 Pescara 16 Atalanta 17 Sampdoria 18 Palermo 19 Empoli 20 Crotone

SERIE A

TABLES

the Hornets' style of play, but a big reaction will be expected and required if Walter Mazzarri's men are to get back on track.

Pts 14 13 12 12 12 11 10 10 9 8 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 2 2 Matic

Mahrez INSET: Claudio Ranieri

N

emanja Matic has reminded his teammates that they are representing a “big club” after they were humiliated 3-0 by Arsenal at the weekend as Chelsea prepare for a trip to newly-promoted Hull City.

The Gunners dismantled an erratic Blues defence as they scored all three goals before the half-time whistle. Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil capitalised on some hesitant, and at times horrid, Chelsea defending to run away with the game and leave boss Antonio Conte struggling for ways to come back.

Chelsea were again heavily criticised for their display, especially given that eight days earlier Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool earned a well-deserved win at Stamford Bridge in a commanding and authoritarian display.

The Serbian midfielder has now issued

Twice Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva will stand in the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) presidential election this year, she said on Wednesday.

The ARAF announced last week that the election would take place on Dec. 9.

"I took this decision of responsibility myself to head the AllRussian Athletics Federation and return its membership of the international federation (IAAF)," the 34-year-old said.

Sebastian Vettel is adamant that there is "always" a chance of victory when Ferrari line up on the grid at Sepang this Sunday.

Vettel said: "The last races seems to show that we are on a way up again so in theory the mood is positive, the car is working fine.

"We have some new bits, hopefully they help us to be even more competitive and then we'll see.

Sebastian Vettel

a stern challenge to his team-mates as they travel to Hull City this weekend.

The ex-Benfica man said: “We have to see where we made mistakes and what we can do better to improve. We have to know we play for a big club and we have to recover as soon as possible and be focused on the next game. I’m sure the coach will see where the problem is.

“Every game is a different story. The next game is very hard for us, Hull are a good team, but we have to be ready.”

Chelsea have fallen off the pace since their three wins from their opening three games.

Their draw away at Swansea means they have only taken one point from the last nine available.

Conte’s men are currently in eighth place and sit eight points off the pace set by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Matic fires warning to Chelsea team-mates ahead of Hull clash

Christian Eriksen dropping deeper at times with Dele Alli playing deeper than usual due to the absence of a number of first choice midfielders. Kyle Walker is expected to return after his rest gave Kieran Trippier an opportunity.

Pep Guardiola vowed to start John Stones after dropping the England international for the trip to Celtic, which paved the way for a defensive horror show. Aleksander Kolarov is likely to return to his preferred position at left-back. In midfield, the absence of Nolito is likely to give a n opportunity to Jesus Navas, with Raheem Sterling likely to feature centrally behind Sergio Aguero, although he may switch with David Silva on the left flank at times.

Yelena Isinbayeva

SPORT BRIEFLY

to get revenge for last season, when Spurs did the double over them for the first time since the 2009/2010 season. The Citizens 4-1 humiliation in London last September is not likely to be forgotten as City look to get back to winning ways after a midweek draw with Celtic. Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be looking to replicate that performance once again this season as they look to make it five wins in a row.

Tottenham have enjoyed a good start to their season, winning their last four in a row after defeat to Monaco in the Champions League saw them beaten for the first, and to date only time this campaign. After a slow start, Spurs finally seem to have found their rhythm and have been superb defensively, conceding just five goals in nine games even without first choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Beating the Spurs backline will be key to victory for Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City missed the opportunity to break a Tottenham record for the best ever start to a season as Celtic held them to a 3-3 draw in midweek which highlighted the frailty of the City defence, with John Stones amongst those singled out for criticism. Before that Champions League trip, the Citizens looked unstoppable, with ten consecutive victories all looking comfortable, including up against their city rivals Manchester United. Which Manchester City side turns up could determine how successful they will be on Sunday.

Spurs will have few options given their current injury situation, but are expected to field a similar side

M Y TELEGRAPH

ER 2016

29

30

Sport

Lifestyle of Sportsmen

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

Clarisse

Iwobi and girlfriend Clarisse

Behold Alex Iwobi’s stunning girlfriend ...striking a pose

A

Clarisse

lex Iwobi is so happy with his FIFA 17 ratings after a brilliant start to the season with Arsenal; he got his stunning girlfriend to read out his stats.

The Gunners midfielder has started three Premier League games already this season as well as the crucial Champions League clash with PSG and been compared by team-mate Mesut Ozil to Holland legend Edgar Davids.

The Nigeria international has produced three league assists already, creating goals for Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott in the 4-1 demolition of Hull.

He also teed up Walcott for Arsenal’s first goal of the season, against Liverpool, but Arsene Wenger’s men managed to go on and lose that thriller 4-3.

The exciting 20-year-old, who describes himself as a midfieldstriker, got girlfriend Clarisse Juliette to proudly display his stats and facts and read out his ratings to his Instagram followers.

Despite a nervous start, Iwobi’s beau managed to get through the football abbreviations with a little help and no errors and the playmaker was impressed with her performance.

Stories courtesy : Dailymail

The lovers enjoy time out

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

31

CONTINUEd from PAGE 25

won the maiden FIFA U-17 World Cup in China, another first in Africa. In fact the team went ahead to win four more titles in 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015 to become the most successful team in the world at that level.

The Dream Team, dominated by 1994 squad highlighted Nigeria’s best ever appearance in the Olympics when they shocked the world to claim a gold medal. The team, led by Nwankwo Kanu defeated top footballing nations including Argentina, Brazil and star-studded Mexico to win their first ever football gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Games.

The national U-23 team has won one silver and broze medal at the Games since that 1996 gold medal feat.

The women footballers have also done incredibly well, although have not achieved as much as their male counterparts at the world stage, they have heavily dominated the continent. They have won each of the edition of African Women Championship since 1991 except the 2011 edition which was claimed by Equatorial Guinea.

The 1996 Olympic Games was special for the country because that was the first time Nigeria would win two gold medals in a competition of that magnitude after Chioma Ajunwa and Dream Team's triumph.

Nigeria won further four medals; one silver and three bronze medals at that edition of the Games. Duncan Dokiwari won bronze in boxing while Falilat Ogunkoya and Mary Onyali claimed same shade of medals in athletics before Ogunkoya partnered Olabisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf and Charity Opara to win silver in 4x400m race.

Remarkably, Nigeria has been blessed with world class athletes and tremendous achievements have been recorded in athletics since independence with the success in Atlanta as the highlight of such good runs. Athletes such as Onyali, Sunday Uti (400m), Yusuf Ali (long jump), Ajayi Agbebaku (triple jump). Innocent Egbunike (200m) and Chidi Imoh (100m), the Ezinwa brothers (100m) Afolabi, Yusuf, Sunday Bada, Deji Aliu, Uche Emedolu, Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu and recently Blessing Okagbare have all done well on the world stage.

In fact, out of total 24 medals Nigeria has won in the Olympics, athletics is responsible for 13; two gold, three silver and eight bronze medals.

Boxing is another sport that has fetched the country a considerable amount of goodwill both at the amateur and professional levels. Great boxers like Tiger, Bassey, Maiyegun, Duncan Dokiwari, Richard Igbineghu, David Izonritei Peter Konyegwachie, Isaac Ikhouria, Henry Akinwande and Samuel Peters have all etched their names in the sand of time with impressive records.

Peters and Akinwande were world champions in the heavyweight of the professional cadre while Izonritei, Maiyegun, Ikhouria, Konyegwachie and Dokiwari had Olympics medals round their necks.

There are also some successes recorded in other sports, such as Segun Toriola

Nigeria's Dream Team

'Inconsistency bane of Nigerian sports' national basketball team winning 2015 Afrobasket Championship and attening two Olympics Games. Also Aruna Quadri reached the quarterfinal of the table tennis of the Summer Games and became the first African to be ranked 25th in the world.

But many Nigerians who witnessed the glorious days of sports in the country will argue the sector has slid into abyss considering the lacklustre performances of national teams and athletes in recent time.

That is the sentiment echoed by a member of that 1980 African Nations Cup winning side, Segun Odegbami.

The former Eagles captain argued that the country’s sports started sliding in the late '80s and became almost unbearable now.

“Nigerian sports since Independence was a glorious one until recent years when things have gone bad,” Odegbami asserted “Our sports flourished in those days, we did well in virtually all the sports but things started falling apart slowly in the late '80s and we failed to do anything about it.”

For former Secretary General of Nigeria Football Federation, Fanny Amun, it is not all gloomy for Nigerian sports. The man who coached the Giolden Eaglets side that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993 said that although there were problems with sports in the country, it is important to celebrate successes recorded.

“It has been a huge success so far. We have done marvellously well having won the Nations Cup thrice, the U- 17 World Cup so many times and having achieved a whole lot of feat, it is worth being celebrated.

However, a lot still has to be done to get more results,

Mikel Obi

Blessing Okagbare

Rome was not built in a day, and there is always a starting point,” he said.

Former fastest man in Africa Deji Aliu said Nigeria was struggling in the midst of unlimited potential. He said sports sector needs to be overhauled. ”Nigeria sports needs total overhauling. We need to bring in our professionals; people that know more about sports. We need to bring back life into the sector for us to move forward,” he said.

Another former Green Eagles player Felix Owolabi said that inconsistency of policy is one other problem bedevilling the sector. He decried the scrapping of the Nations Sports Commission, saying that action would further worsen the condition in the sector.

He canvassed for the formulation and effective implementation of policies that could help revamp the sector with competent and sincere personnel to drive the process.

“Instability in governance is another problem. I don’t know why we have decided to scrap the sports commission, which was supposed to drive development. A sports ministry is supposed to be filled with technocrats but in our case, it’s a different ball game.

We need good structure to get things right. It will be very difficult because of our fire-brigade approach to doing things as a nation. We need to start getting things right, now is a time for reflection.

“Nigerians are very good at talking, we form many committees, and at the end of the day, what is being discussed is not taken seriously. What is very important now as we celebrate 56 years as a nation, it is necessary to sit down and ask ourselves what we want.

We have to make sure we have a blueprint, formulate plans that are very aggressive, functional, practical, effective, coordinated and drives programmes for youth development. This is needed so that every nook and cranny of the country would feel its impact. Our youths are interested in sports and a comprehensive programme is needed to nurture them.”

Odegbami concurred when he said very many wrong people had been in the administration of sports in the country and now was the time to allow qualified men and women run the show. ‘’We need brand new people, genuine sports people to take over the administration of our sports. We need those who have the passion for sports to nurture the roots of sports to its zenith,” he added.

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32

Sport

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

Independence Day test for Flamingoes T Ajibade Olusesan

fore finishing eighth.

“We will beat Brazil to record our first victory and to celebrate our nation’s 56th independence anniversary,” Coach Bala Nkiyu said.

“The team is tactically ready for the event, their fitness level is good, communication too, while playing is hundred percent now.

“We taught them to be fast in making decision; what to do when they have the ball and what is expected from them when the ball is with their opponents.

“We hope to give Nigerians good result at the end of the World Cup. We ask them to pray for us.”

…as U-17 girls tackle Brazil

oday Nigerians are celebrating 56th Independence Day and Flamingoes can make it a worthwhile one for football fans by beating Brazil in their opening match of the FIFA U-17 Women World Cup taking place in Jordan.

The two teams have met one time before with the game ending in a 2-2 draw but the sides will be looking forward to outdoing each other so as to stand a chance of progressing from a group that also has England and Korea DPR. With four wins, 16 goals scored and none conceded, the Nigerians certainly looked like a force to be reckoned with en route to the tournament. Spearheaded by captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, who top-scored in qualifying with eight goals, they are determined to finally break through the quarter-final barrier and become the second African side to claim a medal at the competition, after Ghana in 2012.

Jordan 2016 will be Brazil’s fourth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup outing and their return to the competition following their failure to qualify for Costa Rica 2014. Present at the tournament’s debut in New Zealand in 2008, where they collected a solitary point and finished 14th out of 16, A Canarinha also appeared at Trinidad and Tobago 2010 and Azerbaijan 2012, making it out of the group phase on both occasions be-

A

W

Focus on other sports needed

e depend on soccer as a nation; we should give room for other sports to thrive. We need a sports carnival, where different sports would be showcased and states compete with fanfare.

Let this carnival be given national importance, most people don’t care about sports anymore, but with a new mindset they will change.

Ajala Oluwaseyin Samuel, American Football player.

Focus on grassroots development

W

e are improving but the problem we have is that we have the talents but we are not reaching out to them. Also I would like it if our local league is improved and if we watch less of the European league Uche Oche Laundry man

T

he problem we are having is leadership. Our leaders are corrupt, if they give our sportsmen the basic equipment to excel, they will perform well. Just look at our National Stadium, Lagos, it is a sore sight. The leaders are corrupt and definitely things will be bad. The only solution is to take these leaders away. Let us change them.

Ziko Utus, Cab driver.

Flamingoes celebrates a goal

Charles Ogundiya

fter he was stopped by his father from following his dream of becoming a professional table tennis player, Ighoruemu Akpedeye, has vowed to do anything to make his daughter, Blossom Akpedeye, an Olympic Games medalist in the nearest future.

Akpedeye informed Saturday Telegraph that his father’s decision to ensure all his children were educated, ended his quest of participating in sports.

“When I was growing up, my dad didn’t allow me to partake in sports, if he had allowed me, maybe I would have become a table tennis champion,” he said.

“When I grew up, I decided that I would encourage any of my kids that decided to take to sports and that’s why I have been supporting Blossom.

“Actually I didn’t choose athletics for her, she decided to go for it and I decided to support her. Education is very important and I know she can combine both with right support which I am ready to give her.”

Speaking further, he said he expects her to become another Blessing Okagbare who incidentally comes from the same state, Delta, as Akpedeye.

While on her part, the 14-year-old Senior Secondary School two student of Dowen College, Lekki, said her target is to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

She said: “I wish to get to the youth Olympics and hopefully 2020 Tokyo Games.

“I love athletics and it has been a good experience for me.''

Fans speak on Nigerian sports at 56

Leadership structure must change

I want my daughter Tokyo 2020: Start preparations to be another Okagbare – Akpedeye now, Alozie warns Charles Ogundiya

FAN ZONE

O

lympian, Gloria Alozie, has warned the sports ministry to start preparation for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist informed Saturday Telegraph that we should not expect to go for an Olympics and expect miracles.

While expressing her disappointment about the recent Olympics in Rio, Brazil, where for the second

Alozie

time running, the country failed to win a medal, Alozie said the athletes should not be blamed.

“The competition was disappointing, but the question is did we really prepare for the Olympics?” she queried.

“The answer is no, so we can’t really blame the athletes. The way forward is to start on time and the right time is now.

“Some countries prepare for Olympics for four even up to six years. It is not about training alone, but going for several competitions during the preparation period, and getting encouragement.

“We don’t just have to go to Olympics and expect miracles. We must prepare to get results, and I believe we have the talents to become great again as a country.”

She expressed happiness on the performance of University of Texas at El Paso athlete, Tobi Amusan, who took the hurdle world by storm in the year under review.

Alozie however advised her to be disciplined and dedicated to the sport as the sky remains the starting point for her.

We must remove sentiment and insincerity

T

he way forward for Nigerian sports is to make sure that our sports men and women who are going for competitions are of the right ages and are chose on merit. We don’t want sentiment and insincerity in Nigerian sports again. If we do this we will have the best, brilliant and quality sports men and women.

Augustina Oby Business woman

N

We have declined

igeria is not doing well especially in football.

What we see is not what we expect. With the crisis rocking the NFF and the hiring and firing of coaches, we are not improving at all.

Ayoola Abogunloko Security officer

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Still a long way to go

hey have tried but there are still problems to be solved. We don’t know what is happening to our sports. For example, in football we used to be at the top in Africa but now we are nowhere to be found.

Emmanuel Effiong Business man

Compiled by: Ifeanyi Anyaka and Ugochi Akwueze

I tried all kinds of drugs before becoming a champ –Pacquiao

M

anny Pacquiao says he's no stranger to drug use -- admitting that he tried "all kinds of drugs" before he became a boxing champion.

Pacquiao was talking about Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and his plan to crack down on drug dealers in his home country ... when he delved

into his own history with drugs.

"I tried drugs ... many kinds of drugs, all kinds of drugs," Pacquiao reportedly said during an interview in his senate office in the Philippines.

He noted the drug use occurred "before I became a champion."

President Duterte's crackdown has reportedly led to the deaths of more

than 3,000 people -- but Pacquiao says he fully supports it because Duterte was chosen by God to "discipline the people."

Police officials in the Philippines say 3,171 drug dealers and users have been killed -- two thirds of which occurred at the hands of unknown assailants. The other 1/3 were killed by police.

Investigations 33

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

brisk business operators'

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

at TBS in 1960 – Taoqeeb Bello feelings were actually indescribable.

Schoolchildren were busy rehearsing the match past and were very happy to be part of history. The atmosphere was very cool. There was no trouble. It was fun that people of my generation would take to the grave.

How would you describe the setting around the arena where things happened?

It was electrifying, to say the least.

The police were practising parade on a daily basis and we had the privilege to be watching since we live close to the arena. The parade ground was decorated and the weather was in its best element; it complemented the efforts of those organising the occasion. I should not forget the vigil we kept a day to the D-Day. And the houses in the area wore new looks to complement the occasion.

Did you witness the march past?

Yes, I witnessed it. It was very enjoyable. I was on the parade ground. We were given cows. Every school was giv-

en a cow to slaughter as part of the celebration. They cooked rice for us because things were very cheap then. We took part in the match past. I was in class six then. The arena was built around 1959 for the purpose of the independence. We also danced. There were parties a day before the independence itself.

Why is this place called race course?

They name it race course because it was used to do relay horse races. There was a stable at Falomo from which the horses were brought. People used to gamble too. That is the reason we have horse representation in front of this arena to show what and how it was then.

Were you in the military at any point in your life?

Yes, I'm a military man.

You know we don’t retire.

Once a military, always one; old soldier never dies. I joined the army in 1967 during

the war and I left in 1978 on medical grounds. And I still receive my pension.

How would compare that time of independence and now. Has anything changed?

A lot has changed; the two eras are not comparable at all. If we compare that time to now, you'll observe that there is a huge difference. The anticipation was that Nigeria would be better than what it was but everything is now going zigzag. The era of the British was better than what it is now. Things were much cheaper. Even the British didn't expect that things would have been this way otherwise, they wouldn't have granted us our independence.

I believe that the counBello

try and her politicians were not ripe for such occasion. They wanted to be free from the colonialists without knowing what to do with power and that is why they messed everything up. Look at what they turned Nigeria to; definitely, this wasn’t the Nigeria we anticipated in independence. If I have my way, I’d ask the British to come back and take over rulership of this country. We were better off with them.

Do you still look to the celebration like you did in 1960?

There is nothing to look up to again. The celebration ended on October 1, 1960. And because we have failed to live up to expectations of the then new and promising Nigeria, we should not be deceiving ourselves trying to celebrate failure. We have failed the nation and her people and should be sober instead of be joyous.

How do you look up to nothing? We now live in hopelessness after 56 years of expectation.

Sportsplash 34 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 Duru

Entertainment contributed to growth of Nigerian economy in 2014 when the economy was rebased. Would you say government has done enough for the industry?

I remember that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration built positive structures around the industry in terms of capacity building, funding among others.

How accessible is the funds?

Very accessible, people are still accessing it. The truth about it is that the Jonathan administration saw this potential and built around it; all we are asking is that the new administration should improve on it, you can never undermine the power of entertainment in any given nation.

An average Nigerian is stuck to one job and the salary you make from that one job cannot take care of anything, so at the end of the day there is a tendency of trying to manipulate when all you need to do is to diversify. Whether the government likes it or not they must give thorough attention to the entertainment sector because at the end of the day what will sustain this country is entertainment and agriculture.

Any challenges?

We are not where we used to be and we are not where we want to be. There is advancement and I see it as a process of getting to the Promised Land. Nothing in life is perfect except God and imperfection remains the birthing ground for exploits; creativity thrives in chaos.

How about your family?

My family is good; my daughter is in second year at Babcock University reading international law and diplomacy. My son is in JSS 2 and my last child is in grade two.

As a celebrity, how have you been able to keep a scandal free marriage?

Celebrity is a title; anybody can be a celebrity once you excel in what you are doing. That title does not stop you from doing the things that life demands from you. The concept of broken marriages in entertainment industry is a falsehood those in the media are peddling, and it is wrong because we have broken marriages in other professions. So why do you build things around what doesn’t exist on people who are mortgaging their lives to expose social ills?

When you stretch your hand towards my eyes because I am a celebrity, my individuality shows up and that is when I punch your face because my individuality is bigger than celebrity. My perspective on celebrity differs; it’s like a shirt that I wear whenever I want to. It must not come near my family if it’s not adding value. My fans can leave but my wife and children stays; they are my sustaining power. My fans can destroy me but my family will always be there to welcome me and that is what gives me life.

Which is the best award you have ever received?

That was when I was in the university. Erudite Professor Ola Rotimi of blessed memory called me after I finished performing and said: “You

'We’ll match Hollywood if we get fraction of what they have' are good but don’t let it get to your head”. That is my biggest award in life, it may not be visible but I am wearing it in my mind and it is forming every aspect of my life. Those of us who started the industry have won gifts of firm foundation.

I had a firm foundation as a kid to respect humanity.

What is Little Big Soul about?

Little Big Soul is a humanitarian project that is made to assist pre-term births, that is premature children who are going through difficulties especially at that early stage from poor parents who cannot afford the finance for thorough medical assistance. It is a global charity project that has myself, Tuface Idibia, Celine Dion, Ejike Asiegbu as part of the Little Big Soul ambassadors. We are using all our resources - artistic and otherwise - to advocate for support, medical, finances and other kind of advocacies we can, to make sure we are there. We are the voice of the Little Big Soul, we look out for them in the rural areas where we have a lot of them. After rehabilitation, get them from intensive care unit and restore them back.

We look at their environment, nutrition and their general welfare and wellbeing.

What informed the decision of supporting this project amidst others?

It is humanity, we are human first and foremost before tribe, religion and any other thing; the most important is that we are human being and if you are human what made you to be human is to be pro humanity and being pro humanity means directing values towards humanity, assisting hope, succour and counsel.

As a pro human and an artiste I think it is my job

A FAN DID TO ME

I

– Sadiq Daba

get angry when people misplace their appreciation.

They expect so much from you that they do not respect your privacy.

Being a public person, they forget that you are first a human and you like to be treated as one. There are moments you just want to be yourself. That is for older people.

I feel the craziest thing or better put appreciation of my art is when I was having a beer and a small boy came to knock me on my head. It was during the days of ‘Cock Crow at Dawn’ and I would never forget that till I die.

As far as he was concerned, we were mates. He asked me what I was doing with the beer and I had to lie to him. I told him the beer was not mine and it was not sweet when I tasted it. God knows I made an impression on him. If I had told him it tasted well, the boy would have probably ended up as a drunk.

to service humanity especially when there is a need to be there for someone. I am popular yes, famous yes, I have a name yes but it shouldn’t only be about things that affects me and my family. I need to be responsible for others; some call it corporate social responsibility but I call it human social responsibility, every human being has something to offer to the society.

Is the Little Big Soul project in any way connected to the trip you made to Germany recently?

No, it was a personal trip. I went for an award from Izoya as most outstanding actor; it is more or less from legendary perspective. Izoya runs an entertainment outfit in Germany and he has been on ground for quite some time looking out for people who have done well in the society.

Those of us who have the legendary attribute by virtue of the fact that we started the industry, stayed in it and have remained relevant were awarded; that is what my recent trip to Germany is all about.

What inspired your various creations?

You cannot go into acting when you are not creative, otherwise you should go and sell pure water. Acting is a cerebral profession and you cannot be in a profession that is cerebral without being creative; your ability to step into moods or characters, blend emotions, actions, idiosyncrasies together and people begin to give a name to it and put them in their psyche and thought, then it is powerful. If we are to talk about the creator which is God who by the virtue of spoken words things came to be, that is the same power we have. Spoken abstract words generate emotion and those characters come life, people internalise it to the point that when they see you they forget your real name and begin to relate to that particular character you act. It is a force and it’s so powerful and it can change to direction of human to the point that you no longer see the person that you used to see. Its influence and creativity is powerful.

God endowed every human being he created with so much; it is how you activate it that matters. As for me as an actor, I am living up to the expectation of what my creator has put in me, if I act different characters it means I am reflecting the fact that I was created in the image of God. So, as an actor when I create a new character, I take the semblance of my creator and the power he has deposited in me so that the power doesn’t get fallow.

Does your background influence who you are now?

Whether you like it or not, parental background must affect every human being, to the point that every human being begins to think for himself.

As a child you grow, you take the precepts of your parents when you begin to learn to depend on yourself. Your parents’ precepts now form the concept for your life. Every human being is a product of the foundation that brought you to life, you change when you begin to make decisions for yourself and it is at that point in life that you begin to get your own concept. Truth be told, the role of our parents are so influential if you do not come to the point of telling yourself that you have come of age. So, sometimes, their precepts dovetail into your own concept. If their precept is faulty, you grow a faulty concept as

Acting is a cerebral profession and you cannot be in a profession that is cerebral without being creative a human and begin to behave more or less in default culture until you have a greater force that can reprocess you out of that wrong concept.

For me, background is relative and I cannot be taken from my background but again to what extent did I develop it.

To what extent did you develop it?

I had a firm background of spirituality not as if a ‘born again’ but of value, respect, to be a nice kid and attended good schools. Nursery was not in vogue as at the time we were in Cameroon, so I did not do nursery but we did not see it as a necessity then; we went to a big school where we trekked to and it was fun because we see other children going to school in groups and we helped our parents in their business after school hour and what that did was to build a sense of enterprise in us and that is what has kept me on.

I went through the good, the bad and the ugly and at the end of the day I don’t think my parents did badly; I had good upbringing, I respect humanity and I got the basic things I needed to get from family foundation. It wasn’t a bed of roses neither was it a bed of thorns.

How will you compare your life now as a born again Christian and what it used to be?

There was never a time a Christ like atribute was not there. I was an altar boy and at no point was spirituality decimated or relegated from my background. As a Catholic, you were born into the Catholic tradition and you understood that Catholic tradition was very sacrosanct; very holy that you must follow the rules which keep you within the place of spirituality. So, the God factor was never taken away from me. The only difference is that when I came back from Cameroon and I started doing things for myself, I went Pentecostal but does that change the fact that I respect the Catholic tradition? No! The Catholic tradition remains my spiritual foundation.

Was it easy adapting to Nigerian environment when you returned from Cameroon?

Adaptability is one of the things human being must possess; you must be able to adapt to situations and climatic conditions. As somebody at the peak of teenage years, it was the period of adventure whereby you explored anything that came your way and those are some of the basic things.

How do you relax?

I am a non-conformist; I create my own fun anytime I want to.

Interview 35

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

LANRE ODUKOYA

SHOWBIZ TODAY

08059296445 lanre.odukoya@newtelegraphonline.com

Tuface's Rwandan show, a near flop

I Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, being presented with Best of Nollywood Awards hosting right certificate by Executive Producer of BON, Seun Oloketuyi

Best of Nollywood Awards 2016 goes to Abia

T

he Best of Nollywood Awards, Nigeria’s preeminent homegrown reward system for the movie industry, will this year hold in Abia State on December 10. While accepting the hosting rights from the BON Awards organising committee and a sprinkling of actors including Walter Anga, Yomi Fash Lanso, Rex Nosa and Tayo Sobola, the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, expressed delight that Abia State was considered worthy to host such an event of note.

Weighing in on the global acceptance and importance of Nollywood, Dr. Ikpeazu said Nigeria used to receive a lot of flaks from the outside world but, “In the last

couple of years, we now receive considerable buffer from Nollywood. Nollywood has given us a new level of respect across the world. Therefore, when I was approached to host the awards, I thought that while this might not be the best of times financially for us as a state, it avails us a platform to bring the industry back home, show our various tourism and economic potential and join you to celebrate an industry whose contribution to the GDP of Nigeria is invaluable.”

Continuing, he said, “For us in Abia State, Nollywood has contributed immensely to the well-being of our people because one of the marketing and distribution pivots of the industry, Pound Road, is here in Aba, the SME capital of Africa. Just like

TURNING P INT Charles Inojie

I

have done many roles.

Sometimes, as an actor, there are roles you do and feel fulfilled, but they won’t make any impact. So, what you think is a very big role could just come and go. But one of those roles you played without too much attention could become the hub.

Over the period of time, I would say two movies have had a very remarkable impact on my career. The first is Cor-

porate Maid where I played Mr. Dumbra, while the other is The Gamblers. In the latter, I played the man who returned from Lagos after stealing his boss’ money.

He became a champion, claiming he had travelled to Costa Rica. I believe every role in a movie is challenging because it comes with its own challenges. The style you adopt to deliver a role may be different from what you would need to effectively deliver another role.

Idumota in Lagos and Iweka Road, Onitsha, Pound Road contributes more than 50 percent to Nollywood. So, prior to now, I always thought about how to further get involved with the industry which is why we are working on a film village and are glad to host the Best of Nollywood Awards 2016. ” Dr. Ikpeazu promised that the state would join forces with the organising team to produce a world class event that would surpass all other editions and create the high watermark by which awards ceremonies in Nigeria and beyond would be measured.

The executive producer, Seun Oloketuyi, thanked the governor for agreeing to host the event, saying, “The Best of Nollywood Awards was created in 2009 as a veritable premium platform to honour the enterprise and ingenuity of stars and stakeholders of the Nigerian movie industry otherwise known as Nollywood. I am happy to say that we are now the longest running homegrown movie awards ceremony. We designed BON as a travelling awards ceremony and in the intervening years, it has been hosted by the Ogun State government under Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the Delta State government (Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan), the Rivers State government (Hon. Rotimi Amaechi) and the Ondo State government (Dr. Olusegun Mimiko).”

Oloketuyi assured the governor that there was no better ceremony to officially launch the new ultramodern international events centre being constructed by the state than the BON Awards.

nnocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface has assumed an iconic status in Africa and this is incontrovertible. But it seemed the respected Raggae/R&B exponent got it wrong with one of his shows outside Nigeria. The singer had previously announced a show he was to hold in Serena Hotel at Kigali, Rwanda. And it held on September 23 at the aforementioned venue, but its turn out wasn’t encouraging.

Undaunted, Tuface still incredibly gave a top notch performance that he would have given if he was to perform before a large audience. The guests present were allegedly less than 50 and despite its low turnout, it ended beautifully. Many blamed the show’s promoter for their incompetence which led to the low turn-out at the singer's show.

Tuface

Basorge slams comedians, says they lack intelligent jokes

A

ce actor, comedian, producer and director, Basorge Tariah Jnr., has been away from the movie scene as well as the comic industry for a while now.

The entertainer slammed comedians in a recent interview with Hip TV where he disclosed that a lot of Nigerian comedians recycle jokes. There’s no gainsaying that, many still think there are comedians whose originality still stands rock-solid till date.

He further stressed that the jokes are not intelligent and he is yet to see any comedian in the industry who sounds like Trevor Noah.

“I can’t specify who got what it takes and who doesn't. My problem with the industry is that a lot of people are telling the same jokes, and a lot of them are not intelligent or original. I will say it’s time for us to have intelligent writers that would have punch-lines that would begin to sound like Trevor Noah, because I haven’t seen anyo n e yet.”

Basorge

Are Davido, Sophia back in love?

D

avido and the mother of his daughter, Sophia Momodu, may have had it rough for some time now, but there are fresh indications that the estranged lovers are mending fence.

Signs of peace emerged on

September 29, when it was noticed that the pop star was re-posting pictures of his little girl from Sophie’s snap-chat to his.

Interestingly, he affectionately has her name saved as, “Big Head”. Then Sophie took to her Instagram page to post the album artwork of

Davido’s soon to be released sophomore album – Son of Mercy.

This stirred a whirlwind of speculations that the two are back together after all.

While it remains uncertain what now exists between the pair, it’s safe to conclude that their altercation is abat-

36

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

TV&Radio

1 OCTOBER 2016

with Deborah Ocheni

This weekend WAP TV

Nwagbara

T

The role of literacy in sustaining civilisations

VC Breakfast is a current affairs programme that covers business, politics, entertainment and sports.

This edition of the programme features Austin Nwagbara, Associate Professor of English, UNILAG and he speaks the role of literacy in civilisations.

Nwagbara defines literacy as: “Literacy is a human right; my idea of it is to look at literacy as a way of sustaining civilisation just beyond what individuals do with themselves because you are who you are because of what you know, and one of the ways to sustain knowledge is through literacy. Literacy is a way of sustaining organised memory of what you know of the past and how to link the past, the present and the future”.

He added that Africans look at their past with some level of denigration because it was not documented.

“Today many of us in Africa look at our past with some notion of denigration, and that happens because our past wasn’t documented due to lack of formal literacy. We are who we are today because of that accidence of the past. Our past has not been fully articulated, expressed and documented because we didn’t have writing forms,” Nwagbara said.

He argued the mistakes of the past are still being made despite the fact that some form of literacy is now available. He said: “Today we have

writing form, we have some form of literacy but that situation in the past is still subsisting because we are not documenting our civilisation, development and our world; most of what we know about ourselves is got from outside. So it is a basic problem of illiteracy”.

Speaking on the link between education and sustainable development, Nwagbara said: “Let us take one of the worst, the Boko Haram insurgency, attacks on education and that happens because education is lacking; literacy creates development in terms of information base and if you don’t have it, you are disadvantaged. At individual level, you acquire your own form of development and that impact immediately on the community and give you a means livelihood. At social level education gives you cohesion and at the global society level it creates connections and links that bring about development”.

Differentiating civilisations from westernisation, Nwagbara said our level of civilisation will gravitate towards westernisation due to the dependence on western language for communication.

“Civilization and westernization are different; every society has its own civili-

sation but for us to be literate we need the western language which is English language. Many of us are not literate in our language and culture, and as long as that happens, our level of civilisation will turn towards westernization.

“Boko Haram in relation to their professed agenda is hypocritical, it is structured in some form of dilemma, you don’t want something but you use it.

The truth is that, if they use internet and military weapons provided by western science and technology it is contradicting when you go against western civilisation. I think the argument is not against westernisation, it is just propaganda by some ‘squeezed’ heads. So I will say, if they do not want western education then they should provide an alternative and that alternative is not violence. There is no civilisation I know that use violence as the means of storing information”.

Nwagbara added that giving education and receiving education are two different things. What form of education did you get? Mind you, education is not just formal schooling; there is also some form of education that goes on at the informal level and this happen more than what we do in a classroom.

Programme summary

Nollywood premiere

AIT (253) Daily @7:30 pm It is a showbiz programme that exclusively screens the latest Nollywood blockbusters on AIT.

Latest bulletin EuroN TV (414) Daily @ 7:00 am It is a current affairs programme that presents international and world news from European perspectives.

FACE BEHIND THE VOICE

T Sophia

Cool FM’s Sophia

oluwalope Sophia Anidugbe’s venture into the world of broadcasting is a childhood dream come true. She deliberately nurtured this by proceeding from the prestigious Baptist Girls College, Idi Aba, to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojeere, Abeokuta, where she studied Mass Communication and graduated with merit.

Before the one year mandatory

National Youth Service, she took advantage of the ‘wait-window’ and enrolled at the famous Federal Radio Corporation Training School, Ikeja, to be groomed in presentation by seasoned broadcasters; a decision that set her on a journey she would love to entitle “Path of Destiny” if it were to be a movie.

She is currently with Cool FM Kano.

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

The Arts

Documenting human conditions through creative photography T

Enekwachi Agwu he power of creative photography in generating potent images that offer narratives about human conditions cannot be overemphasised. This is more so in periods of great human suffering such as war and famine and other forms of crisis. The NorthEast of Nigeria has been a theatre of a deep crisis as a result of the insurgency.

Thousands of people have been killed, many rendered homeless while others are missing. Prize-winning Dutch photographer Chris de Bode travelled to Yola in Adamawa State, North-East of Nigeria where he created a photo series based on the moving acts of kindness by people who share limited belongings with others in dire conditions. The assemblage of images accompanied with side texts titled “Nigerian Hospitality” was presented for a one-week exhibition at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Wuse, Abuja.

Chris has been to over 70 countries documenting images on various human conditions. The focus of his work is mainly on humanitarian and children issues.

As a result, he has done commissions for several NGOs and branches of the United Nations like UNFPA, UNHCR and WHO. Known for designing unique angles to his photo-stories, Chris had approached his recent project in North-East of Nigeria from the perspective of Nigeria’s culture of hospitality. People who despite their

material limitations made allowances for other hard hit neighbours and strangers.

His images tell stories of familiar peoplefriends, children, and mothers, as against impersonal and distant statistics often far flung in the media space.

The photographs were accompanied by personal stories printed usually by the side of the images. A combination of the images and texts together empowered the viewers to connect with the painful realities of the Boko Haram’s destructive campaign.

In one of the pictures, 41-year-old Hannutu, narrates the support she received: “My landlord provided a portion of her land and the means to start this shop, she supported me until I could take care of myself. I can be independent again and that is the greatest gift anyone could give me.” Commenting on what inspired his perspective on the photography project; De Bode praised the brotherliness exhibited by individuals, families and communities in the face of humanitarian disasters caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The hospitality I have seen in Yola should be an example for similar situations worldwide. The series shows that with the help of others, people in any society are capable of supporting each other, without any limitations or conditions, just the driving force of being human.”

A representative of Save the Children, an international humanitarian organisation operating in more than 120 countries, Hanna Van Schie, said: “The images and

texts are not the traditional stories of people in need, it is about how people share with others from what they have in times of extreme need.” The photo exhibition is a part of humanitarian aid programme named, Nigerian Joint Response (NJR) being implemented by the Embassy of the Netherlands in partnership with four global organisations- Save the Children, Oxfam Novib, Stichting Vluchteling/IRC and Tear Fund. Together, they help people that are in need of psycho-social support, access to water and food aid. Van Schie added that, outside these direct needs, they realised that there is a limited coverage of what the people go through in the north east, so all their partners agreed that there is need to convey to the public

Chris de Bode

37

Some of the photographs on display

through a photography platform, images on the situations in the affected areas.

Van Schie explains that: “It is to make it possible for as many people to see these pictures and the stories behind them that they are holding this exhibition.” The first leg of the exhibition started in Yola, Adamawa State, one of the North-East states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“It was a touching experience at Yola because the actual people portrayed in the photographs were at the event to physically share their stories. Half of the attendants were moved to tears. From Yola, the exhibition moved to the premises of the Embassy of Netherlands at the Thoughts Pyramid Arts Centre, where more people are expected to view the exhibition.”

Asked where the next venue for another round of the exhibition will be, she explained that “Lagos has always been in the plan though it may not be immediate, but we will be working with partners and will be mounting this body of work in galleries to show the pictures to wider audiences as possible. This is an important part of our programmes.”

This exhibition is an effort to bring attention to the conditions in the northeast in addition to what many others are already doing; but more importantly it should be a point of reflection for all stakeholders about insecurity elsewhere in Nigeria and other parts of the world so that people can work hard towards preventing more humanitarian crisis as we currently have in different parts of the world."

38

FRED NWAOZOR

“M

um,” Ifeanyi called in a soared mood.

“Yes son.” responded his mother, Madam Chika.

“I have often times asked you to tell me who is my father.”

The 57-year-old Madam Chika was speechless.

“Is he dead?” the 24-year-old Ifeanyi rode on. “If he is dead, I want to see his grave.”

His mother remained calm and sober, couldn’t utter a word.

Madam Chika Ochi who used to be known and addressed as Lolo Chika Okezie begot the perturbed Mr. Ifeanyi Okezie many years back when she was still in her matrimonial home. She got divorced with her husband, Chief Azu Okezie when Ifeanyi was barely one-yearold, owing to her infidelity; she was actually caught in the act.

Now, ‘Obi’ had eventually become a man and he anxiously longed to be intimated on his real lineage; hence, the divorcee needed to start confessing, else, something tragic might transpire therein.

Though she knew someday the truth would be unveiled to her lovely and only child, she was actually awaiting the right time. Maybe, that was the right time as it was apparent that Ifeanyi could not leave that sitting room at Ochi’s compound without a tangible answer.

When he was growing up till that very moment he was seated with his mother in the parlour, he was meant to believe that his maternal grandfather Elder J.O. Ochi was his biological dad; but the intriguing part remained that Ifeanyi’s surname had been ‘Okezie’ right from his primary school era till then. Hence, all along, he strongly knew there was something fishy.

“Everywhere I go,” Ifeanyi proceeded. “They call me a bastard.”

Ifeanyi who just returned from an informal outing he had with his peers was seated directly adjacent to his mum in the sitting room at his maternal home where he had grown to see as his paternal home. Only both of them were in the enclosed space.

Madam Chika who was deeply touched by her son’s last words was therein engulfed in ghost pimples. “My son,” she called tenderly, looking into his eyes. “You are not a bastard.” She informed, paused. “And, your father is not dead.”

“Then, who am I?” the poor chap ranted. “And, where is my father?”

“Calm down, my son,” Madam Chika enjoined. “I know I have really hurt you for the continued denial of your father.”

Mr. Ifeanyi gathered himself, became calm having felt relieved.

“I have been keeping this from you,” she continued. “Waiting till when you grow up.”

Ifeanyi was quiet and attentive, became more anxious and curious.

“Your father is Chief Azu Okezie,” she eventually disclosed. “From Umunga village.”

“Umunga village…?” Ifeanyi

ShortStory

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

frednwaozor@gmail.com +2348028608056 Follow: @mediambassador

Unfinished mission

wondered.

His mother nodded continuously. “He has vowed never to see my face again.” She hinted.

‘Umunga’ was about thirty minutes drive from Ifeanyi’s maternal home. Funnily enough, Chief Okezie who got married to another woman after he divorced Chika had never bothered to check on his first son, Ifeanyi at his maternal home because he wasn’t willing to catch the sight of his ex-wife again, though he never relented remitting the required alimony for Ifeanyi’s upkeep as was mandated by the customary court that assented to the divorce proposal; he was making the statutory payment via Chika’s bank account.

This was the sole reason Ifeanyi hardly knew him in spite of the fact that both parties weren’t separated by a huge distance. However, that didn’t imply he never cared for the chap; there was no second in his life he didn’t think of his well-being.

“Why?” Ifeanyi inquired.

“Were you legally married to him?”

Madam Chika nodded. “We were legally married until we got divorced.”

“He divorced you…?”

She responded via a nod, looked pitiable.

“Why?” She abruptly burst into tears, head bent, felt ashamed.

Of course, she saw the question coming, thus she was prepared for the sob.

“Mum, why are you crying?”

He said, touched by the storyteller’s sudden change of mood.

“I cheated on him….” She finally confessed loudly amid the choking sobs.

“What…?” Ifeanyi exclaimed, shocked.

“It was the work of the devil ooh…” She claimed, kept sobbing bitterly.

Ifeanyi was really mad at her

until at a point he decided to have a rethink, thus he began to console her having left his seat for hers.

The following week, Ifeanyi was reunited with his father. The reunion was preceded by every consequential arrangement.

Though his father, Chief Azu Okezie could boast of five children – two males and three females begotten by his second cum incumbent wife, he was filled with overwhelming ecstasy to witness the presence of his first son once again in his humble and ancient abode.

He took time to let the children of the incumbent wife, Lolo Nma Okezie comprehend that Ifeanyi was their biological brother, hence ought to see him as their blood; but pathetically, their mother, on her part, instigated them to isolate Ifeanyi who she described as one who had come to reap where he never sowed.

Afterwards, Ifeanyi was deep-

ly discriminated by his step-siblings, particularly his immediate younger half-brother, Mezie who saw him as his greatest rival. The 22-year-old Mezie who happened to be the first child of Lolo Nma could describe Ifeanyi best as an enemy within, thus he left no stone unturned toward unleashing his hatred on him with the help of his derailed mother. All those tricks and antics were taking place in their father’s absence.

When their father got the report of the unfair treatment via the victim (Ifeanyi), he made frantic effort to resolve the crisis, but all his moves were futile.

The continued maltreatment made Ifeanyi to bring back his mother to his paternal home having sought his father’s consent, though she was allowed to return on the condition that she would only live at the boys’ quarters. The abrupt return of Madam Chika caused more havoc among the overall children of Chief Okezie, thereby making him to contract hypertension in the long run.

Two years later, Chief Azu Okezie kicked the bucket at 66, via cardiac arrest; at this time, Ifeanyi and Mezie were 26 and 24 years old respectively.

At 30, Ifeanyi who was a successful trader got married and wanted to erect his own house, thus sought for plots of land for the proposed project. As the legitimate first son of Late Chief Okezie, his kinsmen told him that he could possess his late father’s compound as the custom demanded. The commendable gesture from the kinsmen triggered Mezie’s venom alongside that of his mother and siblings; according to him, he was the only rightful and legitimate first son of Late Chief Okezie, hence no person should ‘pretend’ as such under any guise.

Thereafter, Ifeanyi who knew his onions took the case to court. In the process, Mezie foresaw that the plaintiff would eventually emerge victorious, thus he was urged by his mother to eliminate him (Ifeanyi).

Three weeks on, Ifeanyi was brutally murdered in the early morning of the day by assassins when he was headed for his shop.

Behold, his wife, Adaobi was fivemonth pregnant when the ugly incident transpired.

The deceased’s mother, Madam Chika also gave up the ghost on hearing the news, leaving the poor Adaobi behind. Indeed, only God knew the story Mrs. Adaobi Okezie would live to tell; the unfinished mission, if not missions, remained vague to her psyche coupled with that of the unborn child.

What occurred thereafter ought to be a story for another day. So, keep a date with us!

• Nwaozor novelist, playwright and poet, is Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

Travel & Tourism

39

CHEF'S CORNER

T

Airo Mause he first time I heard about Super foods I thought probably it was some genetically engineered foods or something that comes out of the pill bottle. I was quick to dismiss it with the wave of the hand as one of the get slim quick herbal solution, which I am always wary of with good reasons.

Meanwhile, some companies and individuals have made millions all over the world with Super foods jingles.

When in actual fact these are not any new miracle foods but just the normal naturally and previously existing foods as old as Adam and Eve. The acronym Super foods are now a popular trend in the world of food and nutrition most especially weight watchers and people leaning towards alternative unorthodox medicine.

Needless to say there is scientific evidence of the health implications of these foods though most times often positive, still does not necessarily mean to apply to real diet.

A balanced diet based on different varieties of foods consisting of fruits, vegetables, plus other important nutrients and directly proportional to your daily needs for optimal consumption and metabolism remains the best form of diet and nutrition management for good physical and mental health.

Concept of Super foods The world is full of reports and claims of ultra-healthy Super foods from normal fruits to rare ones, even cocoa to salmon or apple. These claims always boast of recent findings and scientific evidence assuring us that eating these foods will give us the boost we need to remain healthy and in some cases cure or prevent diseases. But is it really the case?

There is a lot of misinformation about Super foods. Therefore, the public needs to be made aware of the importance of knowing what these Super foods actually are and how they can be incorporated adequately with our daily diets.

Super foods had been in existence as a term used since the beginning of

SUPER FOODS

What it portends for healthy living

the 20th century. Despite the buzz surrounding Super foods, there is however, no technical, official or legal definition of Super foods.

But the Oxford English dictionary describes it as foods rich in nutrients considered to be of benefits to health and well-being. While another dictionary defines it as a nutrient dense foods loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and/or phytonutrients.

Therefore, generally speaking, Super foods refer to those foods that have more beneficial nutrients than other classes of foods.

One of the proofs of Super foods’ efficacy is the abundance of antioxidants, these are molecules that protect the body cells from harmful free radicals.

These radicals may be naturally produced in the body during metabolism or from foreign compounds ingested into the body system such as

Southern Sun Ikoyi celebrates Nigeria’s Independence with bumper offers As Nigeria marks its 56th Independence anniversary today, Southern Sun Ikoyi, is offering guests bumper treats, design for the historic and memorable celebration.

The extravaganza and unforgettable package spans Sunday, is inclusive of room, full buffet breakfast for one in addition to other thrilling packages.

The hotel’s signature Sunday champagne brunch offers 10 per cent discount as the hotel delights with its unique culinary treat that is famous for its freshness, perfect fusion of local and international

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

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Chika Balogun: I want NIHOTOUR to become a world class training and research institute

p.40

for a longer period of time before there can be any visible difference.

Bu in reality you cannot because you need the flavonoids in cocoa to start consuming chocolate in excess. That of course will lead to another nutritional catastrophe.

The nutrients in these foods have been shown to have health promoting properties, but there still exist the problem that the studies of these foods are done in isolation. While the majority of these foods are consume in combination.

Combination of food increases the body’s chances to absorb and metabolise nutrients as opposed to taking a handful of selected Super foods that you don’t even know how your body receives it alone.

When it comes to balancing our nutrients intake for optimal health we need to increase our flexibility for a wide range of fruits and vegetables and some sea foods instead of focusing entirely on selected foods claim to be Super.

TRAVEL BEATS

delicacies, in a serene atmosphere spiced by delicate jazz tunes from a grand piano, finger-licking good food, and a family-friendly hangout.

Southern Sun Ikoyi is famed for its stylish and contemporary design and beautifully furnished rooms, suites, deluxe suites, a relaxing terrace and swimming pool area guaranteeing utmost peace and privacy for you. The hotel also boasts high speed (Wi-Fi) internet access, ensuring that you have a truly memorable stay. Take advantage of this long weekend at Southern Sun Ikoyi to make the Independence Day celebration a memorable one.

Travel Personality

cigarette smoke and alcohol. Too many free radicals in the body can result in oxidative stress and these causes cell damage leading to age related diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Cocoa is another food type that is taken as Super foods because it is thought to cut risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and increasing elasticity of blood vessels. This is due to cocoa high content of flavonoids.

A lot more can be said about Super foods but what we should not fail to remind ourselves of is that the conditions - temperature and pressure that these foods are studied in the laboratory is different from the way they are prepared and consumed by people in their everyday lives.

In the laboratory, high concentration of these nutrients are used and these are not obtainable in normal diet. Above all the physiological effect is short-lived, which means people have to take them

ANJET reorganises, names 2-man committee

The Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers Ogidan of Tourism (ANJET) has signalled its intention to reclaim its place of pride and influence in the development and promotion of Nigeria tourism industry, as it has named a two-man caretaker committee to oversee its affairs for the next one year.

This new dawn was proclaimed at a recent meeting of the association held in Lagos where it resolved to put the past behind it and focused on the task of building the association in order for it to play the role expected of it in the tourism industry.

To this end, a two-man caretaker committee made up of seasoned and respected travel

and tourism journalists was put in place with the marching order to reorganise the association, galvanise the members, reposition the association and make it relevant as well as deliver on its promise of holding both the government and private sector players accountable for the wellbeing of Nigeria tourism.

While acknowledging the enormous task ahead of it, the chairman of the committee pledged the commitment of the committee to discharging its mandate as he called for the unalloyed support and commitment of the members of the association, adding that the task requires the forthrightness of all the members.

Hospitality Hospitality

Destination

p.41 p.41

p.42

Dubai Westown Parks Hotels: and Resorts unfolds Entices inwith Lagos, bumper promises Ramadan amazing offerings thrills

NigeriaTourism Tourism: Stakeholders World Day 2016 point pathway to growth Celebration: A minister’s appeal p.42 for investment in tourism

40 Travel&Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2 2016

CHIKA BALOGUN

I want NIHOTOUR to become a world class training and research institute Chika Balogun is the director general of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). She speaks on her mandate as a manpower development and training institute and sundry issues How would you describe your stint at NIHOTOUR so far?

It has not been absolutely smooth ride, but if I were to aggregate the time spent here, the value, the work that has been put in, the work from my team, the work from the stakeholders, the support we have gotten from the staff and the stakeholders in general, I will say it has been a very pleasant time that I have spent here.

What are the basic mandates of the institute?

Our mandate here is to develop capacity within the hospitality and tourism industry, to train, to make people get better skills and on skills, life-long skills and also to regulate the quality of services and personnel within the hospitality and tourism industry.

When I first came onboard the mandate stared me in the face and reality of what we were doing at the time also stared me in the face.

Outline some of your modest achievements over the years?

One of them is getting approval to get a national vocational qualification framework training centre. I think we are actually the first approved for hospitality and tourism by the National Board for Technical Education.

After that we also got appointed into the status council for hospitality and tourism. We don’t run the council by ourselves, we run the council with the biggest players in the industry. After the national occupational standards levels 1-3, because there are 6 levels in the entire framework, but levels 1-3 were validated by the council, which became the mandatory benchmark for training in Nigeria for the hospitality and tourism industry.

We were also able to host joint convocation ceremony for our past students and as a result of that, an alumni for the institute was effectively started.

There are lots to draw from those who have passed through this place.

We have also partnered with the Association for Business Executives (ABE).

They are one of the biggest hospitality training institutes in the world. They are in UK. They came to us through our Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Winning Group, one of the biggest IT trainers in Nigeria presently. It was through them we got the partnership with ABE. So, we have impacted a lot of things, we also had stakeholders’ conference when we came in. We decided not to have one last year because of the paucity of fund.

We also through the quality delivered by our staff got the award for the best International Air Transport Association (IATA) training school in Africa in 2015. This is no mean feat as IATA as an international body can’t be influenced.

TRAVEL PERSONALITY It speaks on the kind of efforts the staff and students put in. So, we are proud of our staff and students.

But why is there is a glaring lack of quality and standard in the industry?

I think it is a function of understanding because I am very sure that if everyone clearly understands that the quality of service that they deliver directly affects the bottom line of the business, tourism and hospitality, as service driven industry, you can’t get away from it.

I think it is about engaging them with conversation, there is no point bringing out the sledge hammer until you have done the needful.

I still believe there are some grey areas but I have a very strong feelings that in the next one year and a half, this question will not come up again as we are all beginning to agree that the only way to address it is to train the people.

Why have your campuses especially that of Lagos remain in very poor state?

We have not done well as we should have done even if I met them so, government is a continuum. But we have realised that this has adversely affected us, our image and brand.

We have tried to put in the repairs we need for our campuses into the budget. Lagos is on this year and once the funds are released, Lagos campus will get the required facelift and we are hoping to make it our centre of excellence.

To my mind, the cam-

Balogun

pus is even small but let us gets it up to standard before we start to look at expansion and the minister is not also happy about the Lagos campus.

We are doing same for the Enugu campus as there is a property that we started but due to finance we stopped work on the hostels.

We get about 5, 000 applications for the Enugu campus, but the minister has approved the completion of work at the campus this year and we are looking forward to the release of the fund for it.

We will work on the other campuses in the next budget, I am sure in the next two years we would have touched the other campuses.

Why has Nigeria not been able to set up a hotel school in the country as it is done elsewhere?

We are working in partnership with a few states to see how we can possibly bridge this gap. First of all as a training institute, it is not compulsory that we have a training hotel. We could partner with hotels and send our students there to do their internship as that is the easiest way to settle the issue of having our own hotel training school.

While that is ongoing we are also working with Benue State government to set up a campus in the state. They are working out an MOU in one of their hotels to be used as a training hotel.

We are also working in partnership with another institute

in Kano for us to grow one of the hotels in the state into a training hotel. If that works it will be excellent as it will be like something we are part of directly and we will proudly send as many of our students from anywhere in Nigeria to go there for their internship.

But the short proposition really is work with established hotels for our student to have their internship in these hotels. That even afford them a broader education than just what we would have taught them.

What is your future plan for NIHOTOUR? The future belongs to God but if I were to draw my vision of what I will like to see happen in NIHOTOUR, I will like to see the institute become a world class training and research institute.

Research is very important as it allows you to forecast the future and that is not something we that we are very good at collectively in Nigeria.

Research allows you to gather real time data as you are not just speaking without facts but with empirical data in planning for the future. So, I will like to see the institute become that kind of world class institute where we not only train, we not only build capacity from the lowest level of management but to the highest level within the industry.

I will like to see us improve in our ICT capacity such that we offer full online training for as many programmes as possible so that those who are already working don’t need to stop work to be able to get their certification because certification is the only way forward.

On the National Occupational Standard With the National Occupational Standards now set I am sure in the next two years you will not be able to work in the industry if you don’t have a certified level from 1- 6 because it will become mandatory even for those who are working now as managers, all the way to door keepers. And being able to deliver training online will been a very easy way for us to help as many people as possible get their learning through.

I will also like to see an expansion of the scope of training we offer. For instance, the ABE is one such expansion.

Luckily the National Occupational Standards for Nigeria has come in but I will like to see a few other training styles and service styles that are globally accepted being offered in the institute so that we are not telling people take it or leave it.

You know you can sit for Cambridge, Oxford, MIT, and we are delivering it in the same quality as any of those institutions. Those are the kind of things I like to see happening and not in the very far future, but in two, three to four years from now at the very most.

Hospitality and tourism still remains the lowest hanging fruits in the nation's basket of opportunities in diversification.

We are the easiest place for government to get revenue from and we are the easiest place to get employed.

We are the easiest place to get entrepreneurs, so, I really will hope that especially state governments and the private individuals will tap into hospitality and tourism.

Travel&Tourism

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

HOSPITALITY

D

ubai, one of United Arab Emirates (UAE) golden emirate noted for its attraction of the richest, finest and most sophisticated with amazing spectacles when it comes to structures and events in its tourism push, is about to up the ante with yet another most impressive world class offering in theme park and resorts.

This time it is debuting with Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is due to officially open for business on October 31.

It is located on a prime site spanning 25 million square feet on Sheikh Zayed Road, which is the most popular main highway in Dubai and the main connection to Abu Dhabi, with excellent local access across a range of transport links.

The location on Sheikh Zayed Road is 63 kilometres from Dubai International Airport, 68 kilometres from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 20kilometres from the new Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, which is designed to be the biggest airport in the world, with an expected capacity of 160 million passengers by 2027.

In terms of its offerings, the newly created tourism enclave, which is tagged ‘Wonderland,’ is said to become the largest integrated themed park in the Middle East, with six cumulative experiences, ranging from Motiongate Dubai; Bollywood Parks Dubai; Legoland Dubai; Legoland Water Parks; Lapita and Riverland Dubai with many more excited offerings in the offing.

With its sights on the world, it has however, made attracting the Nigerian travelling public a priority as it has signed on four leading travel management companies in the country - Tour Brokers International (BTI), Wakanow, Quantum/Ajala and All States Travels, to promote and market the new world class entertainment outfit to its populace who are noted for their heavy and high earn spends on travel across the world.

As a prove of its strong commitment to its pitch for the Nigerian market, it, last week at a very colourful event that was spiced with convivial spirit and a lot to eat and drink, showcased a sleek preview of its full offerings selected travel professionals including its four Nigerian trade partners. The event held at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Head of Sales, Africa, Americas and Pacific, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Abdul Raouf Razaq, not only painted a glowing picture of the thrills and amazing experiences that await the Nigerian visitors to the wonderland, which has adopted the slogan, ‘Experience Amazing,’ but a moving and telling picture of what the theme parks and resorts hopes to achieve in few years’ time.

According to him, it is not only the

41

L-R: Deputy Head of Sales, Dubai Parks and Resorts, AbdulRaouf AbdulRazak; Managing Director, Dees Travel and Tours, Daisi Olotu; Regional Head, Africa, Lions&Gazelles, Chiamaka Ifediora and President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Bankole Bernard at the event

Dubai Parks and Resorts unfolds in Lagos, promises amazing thrills ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, who was at the unveiling of Dubai Parks and Resorts to a selected audience of travel professionals in Lagos, writes on the promises of the soon to debut theme park and resorts in Dubai largest entertainment enclave in both the Middle East and Africa but also, “our aim is to overtake Orlando (world recognised theme park in the USA) as we have started the construction of a world class water park in the next three years and due for opening in 2018,” adding that “by 2019 we will be the largest entertainment outfit in the world.”

He also revealed that over seven million is targeted at its first few years of operations while over 20 million visitors had been projected for 2020. Rasaq disclosed that it is a spectacular outfit with 70 per cent indoors entertainment and due to operate all year round and opens to all categories of people ranging from the individual, families to corporate bodies and that it has facilities of all sorts as well as hosting of various events including wedding and birthday parties.

Exploring the entire complex, he said would take about four days, which is quite amazing for anyone wishing to have the world ever offerings. Targeting the Nigerian market, he said it was quite key and strategic to the operation of the theme parks and resorts, as he said that Nigeria is the powerhouse of Africa and that the penchant for travelling and high spends by Nigerians is legendary.

This, he said, was something that they wanted to leverage on especially

given the high volume of Nigerian visitors to Dubai for leisure, entertainment, shopping, business and other social activities, such as wedding and birthday parties. Therefore, the newly created world class entertainment haven beckons Nigerians as it is ready to give them special and warm treats.

“We look forward to your support once we open the park,” so concluded Rasaq with his pitching for the soul of Nigerians.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lions and Gazelles, which is also a partner of Dubai Parks and Resorts, Daniel Weihrauch, who was accompanied to the event by the Regional Head, Lagos, Chiamaka Ifediora, also took to the podium to sing praise of the amazing experiences promised by the new entertainment outfit, impressing it on Nigerians the reason to take advantage of its offerings as a new world of leisure and entertainment await them.

HOSPITALITY BIT

AIHF, AviaDev open in Kigali October 4 All is set for yet another revealing and promising edition of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) billed to open on October 4 in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda alongside Aviation Development Conference.

The twin events, with the theme, ‘connecting tomorrow,’ adopted by AHIF, are expected to attract a number of operators, investors, corporate organisations, hotel and airline brands as well as government officials from across Africa and the globe to the three days conference, which spans October 6, to discuss issues bordering on the development of African hospitality and aviation business.

Organised annually on the soil of Africa by Bench Events, the choice of the theme is said to be informed by the fact that “meaningful connections and collaborations from today are what will drive the future forward tomorrow.” The event is being hosted by the government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development

Board (RDB).

AHIF 2016 Rwanda, according to the organisers, “will provide an opportunity to meet local organisations and forge partnerships in the Land of a Thousand Hills and also provide an opportunity to experience some of the renowned attractions the country has to offer,” even as it seeks at uniting the hotel and aviation industries to align and strategise for development and investment in Africa.

Besides the theme, various speakers across the continent and the world have been signed on to present papers and lead discussions on various topics related to hospitality and aviation as well as tourism in general with commissioned studies and reports on various trends such as those by W Hospitality and Forward Keys, will be formally presented and these are expected to generate discussions during the forum.

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

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LAGOS

29, OROLEYE CRESCENT, OFF ABEL ORENIYI, OFF SALAVATION RD, OPEBI, LAGOS

CAPITOL HOTEL, AGEGE

REE DANIELS HOTEL AND SUITES

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Travel&Tourism

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1 OCTOBER 2016

Motherland Beckons takes on Destination

DESTINATION

otherland Beckons has continued to build on its Continent Building project as it extends its influence in promoting and marketing African continent to Ghana. This time specifically to the northern district of the West Africa country, picking on the famed Akosombo town as its next destination.

To this end, an all inclusive promotional tour package, labelled Destination Akosombo Ghana (DAG) has been designed to draw traffic to this sleepy but richly endowed community in the south of Asuogyamna District, Eastern Region of the country.

It is a naturally richly blessed and endowed destination of choice with serene and picturesque scenery boosting the famed

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l Tour package debuts October 22 Akosombo Dam, which has plants in nearby Kpong, Tema and Aboadze. There is also the Lake Volta, which is reputed as the biggest and largest artificial lake in the world and of course, a friendly eco tourism environment signposted by the existence of a monkey sanctuary.

In its bid to further entrench the new found love for destination Ghana by exposing business travellers and tourists to other equally enriching and attractive regions of the country that Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, William Azumah – Awinador Kanyirige, approached the

founder of Motherland Beckons, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, seeking the deployment of his expertise and platform in this regard.

Besides holding discussion, the envoy alongside over five of his aids hosted Akinboboye and his team on tour the various districts of the country, at the end of which Akosombo was settled for as the next destination to be promoted given its enduring and rich history, development, business opportunities and tourist attractions.

Motherland Beckons, which has the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, as its grand patron, is designed primar-

ily to serve as a link between the people of African descent in The Diaspora to Africa, their ancestral root. Over the years it has succeeded in bringing thousands of the over 700 million people of African descent in The Diaspora to the continent with them engaging in tours across the various countries and investing in businesses among other profitable and adventurous engagements.

Therefore, Destination Akosombo Ghana is geared towards giving vent to this belief by encouraging and creating a platform, particularly for Nigerians and other Africans on the continent and in The Diaspora to travel to Ghana to explore its rich history, culture, tourism, businesses

and people among others.

To jumpstart this new move, a comprehensive tour package has been put together for October 22 with the following activities: Kamp Africa - A camp for children aged 5-17.The essence of this camp is to inculcate African cultures, values and norms in children in an African themed eco friendly environment. Activities at the camp would include learning how to prepare African cuisine, tying head gear (gele), playing simple African instruments, African dance, experience simulated African wedding and naming ceremony, and tales by moonlight every night around the bon fire.

YATE (Youth Africa Tourism Expedition) -This is aimed at en-

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2016 CELEBRATION

A minister’s appeal for investment in tourism September 27 was celebrated across the globe as the World Tourism Day (WTD.) In Nigeria, Lagos State government hosted the national event.

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA who was at the celebration held at the Eko Atlantic City captures the undercurrent of the day-long celebration

T

uesday, September 27 would go down in the annals of tourism as another historic day as the global tourism paid homage to the sector on the day set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) as World Tourism Day. The UNWTO Secretary General, Dr. Taleb Rifai, industry leaders and other leaders across the world celebrated the day in Bangkok, which was the host city for the global celebration while across the world various countries rolled out the drums to mark the day in different cities and towns.

In Nigeria, Lagos State government hosted the national celebration, which was held at the Eko Atlantic City, a private driven city project within the city, which is geared at creating a unique economic hub for Lagos, Nigeria and Africa.

The event was attended by the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Chairman of South Energy Nigeria Limited, promoter of Eko Atlantic City, Ronald Chagoury Snr., Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, state and federal government functionaries, private operators and the media.

The day’s activities started at the office of the Eko Atlantic City office with a presentation (video slide) on the project. It is indeed a massive and ambitious project, which is meant to enhance the competitiveness of Lagos as a megacity.

It is a city within a city with its independent facilities and infrastructure.

It is a private sector driven project being promoted and developed by South Energy Nigeria Limited. The city on completion will cover 10 million square metres of land and it is of a mixed use with private residences, offices, businesses, schools, hospitals, markets, leisure and entertainment, hotels, and financial city as well as shopping malls among others.

Utilising the finest design in urban development, it will on completion be a world class city with the finest facilities and infrastructure ever. Above all, it is envisage as the hub of economy in Lagos, Nigeria and the gateway to Africa, as it is expected to attract people and businesses of all sorts from across the various regions of the world.

At the end of the virtual excursion into the amazing world of the iconic and landmark city project, the Ambode gave a speech to mark the event. He commended the vision of the project and those behind it as he said that it would greatly enhance the Lagos of his dream and that the state government would continue to support the project in line with its commitment to making Lagos a megacity.

According to the governor, the world tourism day event, which draws attention to tourism, “is a necessary and strategic decision that would enhance the prospects of diversifying our economic revenue generation channels for the development and growth of our national economy,” and then called for the establishment of the right framework and enabling environment for tourism to thrive in the country as a major revenue earner.

“It is pertinent at this juncture for us

to develop a framework for the development of the travel and tourism industry in Nigeria. The potential of this sector can only be harnessed if we create the right environment for the investment to thrive. We must open up the sector through incentives, attractive policies as well as the provisions of world class infrastructure," said Ambode.

According to him, the event marking WTD “has come at a time when we are faced with the stark realities of the current economic recession and the necessity for us to reorder our economic priorities, affirms its relevance and timeliness. It also provides us an opportunity to re-strategies and develop other revenue generating channels across Nigeria.

There are other component states blessed with natural tourism sites which could be developed to harness opportunities that would generate wealth and create jobs for our people.”

The governor also spoke on the rich and vast tourism potential of the state and effort at developing it. “Our determination to fully exploit the tourism potential of the state has been demonstrated with the creation of a full-fledged ministry of tourism, arts and culture and the adoption of project THESE, Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sports for Excellence. We have remained focused on the goal of making our state the hub for tourism and entertainment in Africa by taking opportunity of events and celebration story showcase to the world our rich culture and heritage.”

Shortly after the governor’s address,

the entire audience, which also included the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, and that of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun, were conducted on tour of the unfolding Eko Atlantic City complex with the chairman, Chagoury Snr., and a host of his management team and staff in the lead.

It was indeed an exciting moment to explore the underbelly and the entire entrails of the complex to feast on the massive construction work ongoing in the reclaimed land, which was once the famed Bar Beach, Kuramo Beach extending all the way to park of Lekki. Eko Boulevard is one of the major arteries of the complex. It comes with a lot of interesting structures while three towers are near completion with the first residence and office complex, that is Eko Pearl almost set and would most likely open for business by year ending or early next year.

At the end of the enthralling tour, everyone retreated to a marquee set up somewhere in the complex where they were treated to lunch and cultural entertainment by the Lagos State Art Council with the minister addressing a press conference in which he spoke about the importance of the WTD, Eko Atlantic City, Nigeria tourism and effort by his ministry and the federal government in developing the industry.

According to the minister, WTD is held yearly “to foster awareness of the importance of tourism and its social,

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1 OCTOBER 2016

Akosombo Ghana

couraging youth to travel and explore Africa. YATE is designed for undergraduates and young business executives. CAER (Corporate African Eco Retreat) - A corporate retreat in an eco friendly African themed environment spiced with team bonding exercises such as volleyball, basketball, paint ball, swimming, tug of war, and kayaking.

Musical jamboree, which is to deliver a first entertainment to the people with a mix of Nigerian and Ghanaian musical artistes slated to perform. Also, comic and fashion shows as well as other culture performances that would expose the people to the rich and colourful cultural heritage of the people would be on display.

Going forward, the partner-

ship deal would also see the building of a mountain resort and lake resort both a reflection of the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort African themed type resort in Ikegun Village, Lagos, the home base of Motherland Beckons. While a yearly festival and other sports and adventure tourism related activities are expected to be created and weaved round the uniqueness of Akosombo so as to offer different options to the expected tourists.

Also collaborating on the October 29 debutant tour is African World Airlines (AWA), which is the official carrier, Best Western Hotel, Accra, and Royal Senchi Hotel as well as Volta Hotel, both located in Akosombo.

L-R: DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, Mrs. Adebule, Mohammed, Chagoury Snr., former DG, NTDC, Omotayo Omoteso and Folarin-Coker at the WTD celebration

cultural, political and economic impact.

Highlighting the importance of tourism is particularly important at a time that our country is diversifying its economy away from oil. As I have said at many fora, tourism and the creative industry represent the new oil for the Nigerian economy.”

Paying attention to the present economic situation of the country, Mohammed admonished that “we must find other sustainable means of earning foreign exchange outside of oil, to grow our country's GDP and create jobs for our people. Agriculture and mining are viable options, but tourism is the low hanging fruit in this regard, and we must not hesitate to pluck it.

“The venue we have chosen for this year's celebration, Eko Atlantic City, attests to this fact. While I will like to reiterate Nigeria's readiness to explore and exploit tourism for the benefit of its economy, I can confidently add that Eko Atlantic City has what it takes to drive tourism in Nigeria. And this is just as well, because while the role of the government will be to provide the enabling environment, the private sector will drive the growth of tourism. This is a win-win model for the government and the private sector, and I commend Eko Atlantic City for being in the forefront of actualising this model.”

For him, it is paramount to highlight the fact that the ongoing project will also be a tourist haven: “For those who may not know, Eko Atlantic -when completed- will be a tourist haven. The city will boast of 450,000 residents and 300,000 commuters, which is a boon for the myriad of businesses to be located in the city. In addition, it will have a registered Free Economic Zone to

Akosombo Dam

encourage economic activities.

“As you are also aware, shopping malls attract tourists the way bees are attracted to honey. The shopping mall here in Eko Atlantic will be the largest of its kind in subSaharan Africa. The 10 million square metres of space in the city will also boast of an impressive retail layout for shopping, vast amenities for entertainment, such as food courts, cinemas and playgrounds, an ample parking space and a canal that can be used for water transportation and water sports.”

Therefore, the minister presented the project to Nigeria as the next tourist attraction and a destination that will outpace Dubai.

“Nigerians who are looking for relaxation spots and exquisite shopping malls will no longer need to jet to Dubai and similar destinations, because Eko Atlantic City will be a better destination than Dubai.

“This is not a joke! Whereas you can only comfortably soak in the sights and sounds of Dubai for a maximum of four months every year due to the prevailing inclement weather there, Eko Atlantic City offers - in addition to the massive shopping mall - 365 days of sunshine and clement weather. This is an added incentive for foreign tourists.

In short, the city will have everything you need for tourism to thrive: security, modern infrastructure, good weather, uninterrupted power supply, potable water supply," said the minister.

On the theme of the World Tourism Day celebration, ‘Tourism for all, promoting universal accessibility for all’, he affirmed that Eko Atlantic City would be accessible to all: “It is instructive to note that, in line with the theme of this year's World Tourism Day celebration - which is ‘tourism for all, promoting universal accessibility for all,’ this city that we are propping as one of Nigeria's top tourist destinations will be accessible to the rich and the poor, the young and the old as well as men and women. It will also not discriminate against the aged and the physically challenged.”

Addressing the economic situation, he expressed hope in the future of the country, which he said is very near and urged faith in the economy, as he said that “in spite of the difficulties occasioned by the current recession, the future of Nigeria's economy is bright. There is no better testimony to this statement than Eko Atlantic. It takes an investor to have a great confidence in any economy before putting hundreds of millions of dollars into a city like this.

“Those who can see the bright stars in our horizon, beyond this temporary cloud of difficulties, are investing in the country even as we speak. For our part, we appeal to investors to help turn our numerous tourist sites to tourist attractions. Nigeria is rich in natural and man-made tourist destinations.

With this administration's massive investment in infrastructural development, more and more of the tourist sites will become accessible to all.”

Ife preps for Olojo Festival 2016 grand finale

P

reparations for the hosting of the grand finale of Olojo Festival 2016 hit the final stages as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, poise to lead his people in what has been described as a most promising and grandeur festival, the first by him since ascending the throne in December 2015.

According to the festival organising committee, all is now set for the annual festival, which this year has been rebranded with its scope and content as well as cultural and economic appeal elevated following the formal appointment of Infogem Limited as the official festival administrator even as Ife town is already agog with a number of traditional activities leading to the grand finale bill to hold on 17 in Ile-Ife town. But the festival itself beats on October 8.

One of such events was the staging of the unfolding of the festival logo and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the newly appointed festival administrator, Infogem Limited, which is headed by Otunba Ayo Olumoko.

Speaking at the event held at the Enuwa Palace of the Ooni, who was in attendance, the chairman of the festival organising committee, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, said the unveiling of the logo signified the commencement of the 2016 edition of the festival.

As a follow up, the Festival Corporate Forum was held in Lagos last week at the Eko Hotel and Suites where the organisers once again highlighted the importance of the festival.

During the forum, a seminal paper on ‘community festival: a veritable avenue for boosting domestic tourism,’ was presented by the guest speaker, Adedayo Oluremi Funso, with him taking the captive audience through the whole gamut of communal festivals, Nigeria tourism with emphasis on domestic tourism and then historical perspective on Olojo Festival, it benefits and how its economic and communal development aspects can better be explored.

He concluded by saying that: ‘‘Community festivals are veritable means of encouraging domestic tourism which inadvertently will lead to local and national revenue generations. Economic growth through participatory community-based tourism can also be sustained through the preservation and conservation of

tourist sites because they are “the goose that lays the golden egg”.

Partnerships of all stakeholders in the development of domestic tourism should be the bedrock of national tourism development.’’

The importance of the festival was elaborated on by Governor Rauf Aregbesola during the unfolding of the logo when he said that “Olojo Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Ife and celebrated all over Yorubaland as Ogun, the god of iron, noted for creativity. It is perhaps the most famous of the festivals in Ile-Ife which echoes reverberate all over the world.

It is proper therefore that it is being branded and presented in modern form. It is going to reinforce the notion of Ife as a foremost cultural centre.’’

Essentially, “Olojo Festival commemorates the descent of Oduduwa to Ile-Ife and is the celebration of the first dawn, the first afternoon and the first night in creation, which is only celebrated in the land of expansion, Ile-Ife. The appearance of the new dawn is what Olojo basically signifies as the day of creation.’’

Therefore, the festival is design to commemorate the period Oduduwa and other spiritual deities descended on the earth. Traditionally, the festival begins with the celebration of IDIJO (determination of sacred dates) in the first week of August, (Osu Ogun) and then followed by Gbajure (signalling the commencement of Olojo Festival).

Thereafter, the Ooni (Oonirisa) is said to go into a state of seclusion (physical and spiritual communal with his ancestors) for five sacred days and emerges from the spiritual solitude on a Friday (Ojo Ilagun), a day of earth cleansing with a message for his people while the next day, Saturday (Ojo Okemogun), the Ooni adorns the sacred beaded crown (The Are). The day is usually a colorful and fun filled one as it is heralded by festivities of all sorts.

The festival rises to its crescendo the next day, Sunday, which is dedicated to high level celebration and feasting by the entire people of Yoruba land as obas, high chiefs, families, age groups and traditional organisations, youth and women groups as well as individuals among others, turn out in their most colourful attires amidst traditional dances and cultural pageantries, to pay homage to the Ooni and shower him with various gifts.

Sportsplash 44 Showbiz

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

Okonkwo

Lewis

Akintola

Novia

Showbiz personalities speak on On the head of Nigeria’s 56th Independence anniversary, showbiz community stakeholders rate the nation’s growth since October 1 in this Voxpop with LANRE ODUKOYA. Dejumo Lewis (Actor) Nigeria has been unhappy since 1960 I can tell you that we’re having the best government since Independence. It is the first government that I know that is holding the bull by the horns. What is unfortunate is that the people who have contributed to bringing the country down are the ones sabotaging and opposing the war against corruption.

For me, the greatest challenge of Nigeria and Africa is corruption. If we can win the war against corruption, every other thing will fall in place, I can assure you. Previous governments have successively mismanaged things and have not been very honest. They were stealing the commonwealth of the people and they claimed all was well. We’ve been unhappy from 1960. The founding fathers tried to put Nigeria on a good pedestal but they were fighting themselves too. And they didn’t allow the most competent man, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to take control of this country and replicate what he did before Independence in the Western region.

Kenneth Okonkwo (Actor) Our growth pace is too slow Well, I know that Nigeria will come out of this difficulty victorious eventually, but the speed of the journey is very unacceptable. This is because we have what it takes to move faster than we’re moving now.

But for Nigeria to be better, we must come to the level where we would insist that we must develop our nation and make it a better place. We must stop pointing accusing fingers against one another. In all honesty, I believe in that maxim, ‘be the change that you want to see in Nigeria’.

It doesn’t matter whether the change begins with me or it begins with you. Be the change you expect to see. Let us change Nigeria for the better. We can do it.

Bimbo Akintola (Actor) Nigeria has failed in some ways and succeeded in

Danja

others We have failed in certain ways and we have succeeded in so many other ways.

This country has given birth to so many talents but you’d find out that so many of her talents are outside the country because the country is not conducive enough to stay in. There is a worldwide recession going on and obviously Nigeria cannot exist in isolation. But it’s a Clarion call to all Nigerians that if you don’t take care of Nigeria, Nigeria cannot take care of you. We have people in the North who are suffering, most of them are even displaced, children going to bed hungry and all those things we thought are simple- we must pay attention to them. We need to come as one unit and start helping one another. The situation in the North is an example of how what we must save as a people. We need to get up and fight for Nigeria. 56 years and there’s so much and so little to show for it. People are complaining about the current government, when are we going to stop complaining?

I think this period is when we need to reflect. The present government came in with the mantra of change, this is change that begins with each person.

Charles Novia (Filmmaker and social critic) It’s a shame we’re here at 56 Nigeria is a country blighted by un-realised potential, with short sighted leaders and a brow beaten populace. At 56, it's a shame that the basic necessities of life, guaranteed in developed countries, are still used as campaign promises till today. There's no reason to celebrate. We have dead dreams. We need to awaken a new dawn soon.

Sani Danja (Musician and actor) Unity and prosperity are worth celebrating Well, Nigeria at 56 has made a lot of achievements. First of all, let me comment about my industry. If you look at the industry then and now, you’d realise that the industry has grown to an extent that people are making millions

Oniga

of money and a lot of people benefit from the industry unlike years back when people just did the artistic things based on just love that they had for the art. It’s interesting to know that today even the country makes money from the creative industry. Apart from that, Nigeria as a nation has so much ethnic tolerance. Tribalism is reduced now, before now intermarriages were few but now Yorubas marry Hausas and Igbos marry Yorubas.

And that’s something to celebrate.

Rachel Oniga (Actor) Nigeria’s lagging behind My sincere thought is that we’re lagging behind. There’s nothing to celebrate really because things are not getting better.

A lot of people are out of job and recession has been hitting really hard. How do we get out of this? That’s what we should be thinking about right now.

Eddy Ugboma (Filmmaker) Ethnicity is killing Nigeria In my opinion, Nigeria is a great and gifted country but has never had a good leader since 1960. I’m very proud of the late Sauduana of Sokoto, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe, but they brought tribalism into Nigeria. And if you cannot defeat that cankerworm, there is no future for Nigeria. We’re living a fake life; a drive from Lagos to Abuja would take 15 hours, why? It’s because of failed infrastructure. No roads, nothing seems to be working perfectly anywhere.

Fidelis Duker (Filmmaker) No cause for celebration For most Nigerians, our 56th anniversary doesn’t really call for celebration. We’re going through our most challenging times in this country. Yes many would attribute it to past leadership structure and you’d begin to ask, who are those who led us in the past? So, I think essentially, I feel we’ve not done too well. It’s so sad that the recession we’re facing at this

Ugboma

time could have been avoided if we’ve taken precaution in the past. But beyond that, our togetherness for this long especially despite the crisis in the North-East, with the Biafra agitations and of course the indiscretion of some people in the South-South, beyond that we continue to exist as a country and that assures one that Nigeria will continue to exist. But I feel there is a lot to do. If you look at the political environments too- elections are here and you still hear that it wasn’t fair.

I was expecting that after the last election we would have gotten to a point where people would no longer see elections as do or die. One of the hallmarks of the past government was the ability of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to show statesmanship by stepping aside because that was the collective will of Nigerians. We’re hearing things like budget padding for the first time this year and it’s so sad. We hear of people trading their children for food.

Stella Monye (Singer) We’ve got enviable infrastructure Well, so far so good, Nigeria has been inconsistent in terms of politics and polity and we have tried as a nation because as a growing nation, we’ve not really achieved like developed ones. We’re like a child who didn’t crawl but started walking. That’s commendable but we have shortcomings in terms of leadership. We’re still struggling to have good governance. Our problem has really been the leaders being unable to manage our resources or not having the right ideas to drive the nation to an enviable destination. I was in the Caribbean sometimes ago, and going through Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica, I saw that as a Black nation, Nigeria is really standing tall. After touring these places, I saw that we’re not really doing badly, starting from our airports, forget about the lack of maintenance, in terms of the infrastructure we have.

Duker

Politics

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1 OCTOBER 2016

'Buhari's body language scaring investors away'

p.47

45 Edo election: Atiku, Ikimi react

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Edo guber: How winners, losers emerged The just-concluded governorship election in Edo State, which produced the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, as the governor-elect has thrown up more posers than answers.

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and CAJETAN MMUTA write on the intrigues that led to the outcome of the polls and the factors that shaped the contest.

T

he battle for the September 28 governorship election in Edo State was laid to rest last Thursday with the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, as governor-elect of the state. The APC candidate according to the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), polled 319,483 votes out of the total number of 613, 244 votes cast to defeat his major opponent, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 253,173 votes. The total number of registered voters was 1,900,223 while only 662,039 people, representing about 33 per cent of registered voters were accredited for the exercise.

According to the results released by the returning officer and the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Professor Kayode Soremekun, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) candidate, Cosmos Irabor came third with 3,184 votes. Comrade Ishaka Paul Ofemile of Action Alliance (AA) had 155 votes while Richard Oronsaye of Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) scored 1,350 votes. Osaro Onaiwu of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) got 876 votes, David Okoror of Citizens Popular Party (CPP) secured 226 votes, the Independent Democrats (ID) candidate, Tobi Adeniyi; Thompson Osadolor of KOWA Party (KP) and Amos Aroloegbe of Labour Party (LP) had 99, 75 and 182 votes respectively.

Others are: Richard Omoronsaye of Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), 125 votes; Peter Omoragbon of National Conscience Party (NCP), 234 votes; Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena of People for Democratic Change (PDC), 1,289 votes; Thomas Sadoh of Progressives People Alliance (PPA), 855 votes; Ebun Agol of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), 112 votes; Omorogieva Gbajumo of Social Democratic Party (SDP), 72 votes; Shadrach Efogie of United Progressives Party (UPP), 431 votes; Nurudeen Inwanefero of Young People Democratic Party (YDP), 200 votes and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s candidate, Frank Ukonga, 118 votes.

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

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Obaseki

Voting pattern across senatorial districts, LGAs

The governorship contest was a test of powers by political gladiators in Edo State and the result of the poll as declared

by INEC is a clear indication of the new political direction in Edo State.

The result of the election shows the political strength and weakness of the ruling party and the main opposition party across the three senatorial districts and 18 local governments in the state. The outcome of the last Wednesday’s election was a departure from the outcome of the 2015 general elections where PDP won majority of National Assembly seats in the state.

According to the results released by INEC, Obaseki won in 13 out of the 18 local governments while Ize-Iyamu won in five councils. APC won in Egor, Igueben, Uhumwonde, Oredo, Ovia South West, Ovia North East and Ikpoba/Okha. Other local governments won by Obaseki are Etsako West, Estako Central, Estako East, Owan East, Owan West and Akoko Edo local council areas.

Ize-Iyamu defeated Obaseki in Orhiomwon, Esan South East, Esan North West, Esan West and Esan Central local governments.

The APC candidate won conveniently in Edo North Senatorial District, which is his stronghold by sweeping the entire six local governments in the zone. The ruling party also won six out of the seven local governments in Edo South zone. The PDP had its way in Edo Central Senatorial District, which is his stronghold, winning four out of the five councils in the senatorial district.

According to the results from Edo North Senatorial District, the APC candidate trounced the PDP candidate in all the councils in the zone. In Estako West, APC scored 29,199 votes against Ize-Iyamu’s 10,843. It also won conveniently in Owan East council, scoring 21,233 against PDP’s 12,889 votes. APC also secured 12,862 votes in Owan West to defeat PDP, which scored 10,132 votes in the council. In Etsako Central, Obaseki won with 10,373 votes against Ize-Iyamu’s 8,827 votes. At Etsako East, APC won with 18,078 votes against PDP’s 12,552 while Obaseki had

Ize-Iyamu

24,545 votes in Akoko Edo Local Government Area against PDP’s 13,027 votes.

In Edo South Senatorial district, Obaseki scored 37,612 against Ize-Iyamu’s 30,492 votes in Oredo Local Government Area.

In Egor, APC’s won with 26,177 votes while PDP had 19,514 votes; Obaseki also recorded 10,911 votes in Uhunmwode council against Ize-Iyamu’s 8,667. In Ovia North East, APC candidate recorded 17,561 against PDP’s 13,141 votes. In Ovia South West, Obaseki got 12,820 votes against Ize-Iyamu’s 8,810. APC also won in Ikpoba Okha with 33,469 votes while PDP had 26,096 votes. Ize-Iyamu won in Uhumuronde with 16,446 votes while Obaseki had 15,262 votes.

Ize-Iyamu had his way in Edo Central Senatorial District by winning four out of the five councils in the senatorial zone. He won in Esan South East with 11,466 votes against APC’s 9,554 votes. Ize-Iyamu also won in Esan West, securing 16,311 votes against Obaseki’s 13,114 votes. The PDP candidate had 16,220 votes in Esan North East to beat his opponent who polled 9,130. Ize-Iyamu. He also won in Esan Central with 10,180 votes against APC’s 9,781. But Obaseki defeated Ize-Iyamu in Igueben, scoring 7,802 votes against PDP’s 7,560.

The determining factors

As was predicted, the ruling APC kept its promise to the people alive by ensuring that its policy implementations and development strategies cut across the three senatorial districts of the state. Governor Adams Oshiomhole was quite determined and focused on his targets and had rigorously pursued them to shrugged off all obstacles to his government.

His poise to meet goals towards achieving set out objectives was part of the core efforts that brought fame to the outgoing administration.

It is on record that the APC led government under the former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) dared political godfathers in the state.

The likes of former chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; former Foreign Affairs Minister and Igueben born politician, Chief Tom

Ikimi and the popular business magnate, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin kingdom, might not have enough space in their history books to tell the tales of sordid experiences witnessed in the hands of Oshiomhole and his government, a situation that was saved by the late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, whose intervention on key issues paved way for the feat achieved today in some parts of the state.

The listing of areas the monarch demonstrated his fatherly role were innumerable and inexplicable too. Today, both the dead and the living can testify to the massive cleanliness of Benin City and adjoin towns as well as communities as against the rot of the past.

But with the will, uncommon courage and commitment, the outgoing governor has written his name on the sand of time with the massive network of roads with side drains, erosion control measures that gulped billions of naira, though with the financial assistance (loans) from the World Bank; construction and renovation of primary and secondary school buildings within the 18 local government areas in what is today known as the red roof revolution in the state, the new Central Hospital emergency unit, Benin and General Hospitals that dot the state, enabling atmosphere of peace, improved welfare of workers (regular payment of workers that the state is now one out of a few states that are not owing salary of workers), urban renewal, the N30 billion Benin Water Storm Project, human capital development and breeding of a new crop of leaders, just to mention a few.

Analysts have argued that Oshiomhole is a ‘king’ in Edo North Senatorial District where he hails from because of the countless achievements and opportunities he gave his people. Those were some of the things the PDP bigwigs could not give when they held sway at the state and federal levels.

It is no wonder therefore, why one should not reap where he did not sow.

Rightly or wrongly, the PDP and its bankrollers must not expect to ascend to power in a state where the least is exposed as Edo state not to think of allowing mercenaries under the guise of governors to wade into the internal affairs of a people who have eyes and conscience to know when they are being deceived. The September 28 gubernatorial election and the apparent propaganda that followed the campaigns, no doubt, brought to the fore the irreversible the opposition would have plunged the state had they won the number one seat at the Dennis Osadebay Avenue government house in Benin City.

It is also believed that the PDP candidate overrated himself. He is believed to have been lackadaisical in handling some sensitive political issues that trailed his political records when he had walked in and out of during the eight years of Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

A lot of those whom he so much believed in and trusted him like what as witnessed in the ruling APC, betrayed the gangling Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). One may not forget in a hurry the Grace Group days that bombarded the Chief Tony Anenih’s overbearing influence to strip him CONTINUE ON PAGE 46

46 Politics

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Edo guber: The battle ahead CONTINUEd from PAGE 45

of power from Lucky Igbinedion’s second term in office and his 2012 political destructive escapades that denied his now deputy governorship candidate, Hon. John Yakubu of the chairmanship ticket for the Esan North East council seat, following what was tagged as the victorious 18/18 garnered by the APC during the local government election in the state.

Money might have played a huge role in edging out the opposition as canvassed in some quarters, but the question is; where in human political campaign has money not been a determinant factor in the race for power. A local adage has it that the goat follows who has the leaves and so it did during the September 28 governorship polls even though both actors and spectators in the politics of the state have all denied any involvement.

What was certain is that betrayals within the PDP could not be ruled out as a major contribution to its loss in the election.

The politics of self-interest and the personality of the Igbinedion political dynasty also add a devastating blow to the PDP and Ize-Iaymu loss. The sordid tales of the eight years of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion has never been completely wiped out from the memory of average Edo person. The state witnessed incalculable loss during the period Chief Lucky Igbinedion presided over the collective patrimony of the state and his comments and lips on issues of the state discuss since then has not gone down well with the state.

Winners

The outcome of the governorship election is a victory for many individuals and institutions not only in Edo State but also across the length and breadth of Nigeria, including the people of Edo State, leaders and members of the APC, especially Oshiomhole and Obaseki. They are presently in joyful mood based on the success recorded by the ruling party during the governorship poll.

Apart from the people, Oshiomhole and Obaseki, other winners of the polls are; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, the governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki, APC leadership, Obaseki’s wive and that of his running mate, among others.

INEC Prior to the election, there were doubts in some quarters that the Edo State governorship election will end up inconclusive like some previous elections conducted by the Prof. Manhood Yakubu-led INEC. It would be recalled both last year Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections were first declared inconclusive by the electoral commission, which later conducted another election before a winner emerged in both states.

For INEC to have declared the winner of the election less than 24 hours after the election ended is a plus to the electoral commission. It is also commendable that the Edo governorship election did not end inconclusive despite reported cases of alleged irregularities and complains by various parties, especially the opposition parties.

Security agencies The security agencies performed beyond people expectation by ensuring that life and property were protected during the exercise. Unlike previous elections, which were marred by violence and other irregularities such like snatching of ballot

boxes and mass thumb printing, the over 30,000 security agencies deployed to Edo State for the governorship poll deserved commendation for working tirelessly to ensure that no blood was shed during the election.

Oshiomhole Though Oshiomhole is not the governor-elect, many people see him as the major winner of the governorship poll following his tireless effort and determination to ensure that Obaseki succeeded him. For eight years, Oshiomhole, popularly known as ‘Comrade Governor’ redefined governance in Edo State by performing credible beyond all his predecessors in office. And while leaving office, one of his desires is to be replaced by a trusted ally, which he found in Obaseki, the chairman of Edo State Economic Team. Obaseki’s victory is a fulfilment of Governor Oshiomhole’s dreams because the dream of every leader is to have a reliable successor.

APC Obaseki’s emergence was also a victory for the APC. Prior to the governorship election, many leaders and members of the party were disgruntled over the emergence of Obaseki as the party flag bearer but the party was able to put its house in order and they went into the election in unity. It is also a thing of joy for President Muhammadu Buhari, APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who hailed from Edo State, and other leaders of the party that APC did not Edo State to opposition party.

Obaseki Having served Edo State passionately for eight years, Obaseki threw his hat into the ring for the governorship poll and with full support from Oshiomhole and other APC leaders, Obaseki’s dream of leading Edo State has become a reality. The bankerturned-politician will on November 22 join the league of professionals and technocrats who have become elected governors in Nigeria. The deputy governor-elect, Philip Shaibu, is also a happy man following the APC victory.

Losers

The outcome of the Edo State governorship election is not palatable to some gladiators in politics not only in Edo State but Nigeria as a whole because of how they lost their relevance in scheme of things. The defeat of the PDP governorship candidate really exposed and weakened the strength of those perceived to be the PDP bigwigs and kingmakers in Edo politics. Despite boasting during the campaigns that they will end the reign of the ruling party in Edo State, they failed to deliver the state for the PDP. Prior to the Wednesday governorship election, there was determination by the PDP to use the Edo governorship election to bounce back but the outcome of the poll has tactically ended the PDP’s dream of adding Edo, the only APC state to SouthSouth states being governed by the PDP. The failure of the PDP to win the poll despite all the huge resources devoted to the contest by the party is a major loss not only at the state level but also at the national level.

The loser in the governorship poll is the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who failed to realise his long time aspiration of governing Edo State. Other big losers of the governorship poll are former chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; Esama

Oshiomhole

of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and his son, who was a former governor of the state, Lucky; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; PDP state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; PDP national chairmanship aspirant and media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; two incumbent senators from Edo State, Senator Matthew Uroghide and Clifford Ordia, Ize-Iyamu’s running mate, John Yakubu, among many others.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu Pastor Ize-Iyamu at present is not a happy man following his loss at the governorship poll. Prior to the contest, the PDP governorship candidate was confidence of winning the poll base on his popularity and widely acceptance as 'son of the soil.'

But despite several endorsements and assurances he received from major gladiators in the state, he could not gathered enough votes to win the governorship poll.

With INEC's declaration of Obaseki as governor-elect, Ize-Iyamu's dream of ruling Edo State has hit the rock ‎unless the decision of the electoral commission is revert through judicial process.

Like Ize-Iyamu, his running mate, John Yakubu has also joined the league of losers in Edo governorship poll based on the poor performance of his party at the governorship poll.

Tony Anenih Anenih is one of the renowned politicians in Nigerians politics having contributed immensely to the victory of many public office holders at both the state and national levels. Anenih popularly called “Mr. Fix It,” since he joined partisan politics have worked for the victory of some presidents and also the emergence of many governors in Edo State. But despite being versatile in politics, Anenih, the national chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the aborted Third Republic was caged in Wednesday election by Governor Oshiomhole.

The elder statesman was unable to deliver the victory he predicted for his party in the state. With the defeat of his party and age not being on his side again, the former Minister of Works, the outcome of the Edo governorship poll has dealt a big blow on Anenih and it may likely mark his unceremonial exit from politics, which brought him to political limelight and gave him fame for many years.

Igbinedions The Igbinedion dynasty in Edo State is a voice to reckon with in the state polity having installed some governors in the state

in the past. The Esama of Benin, Chief Igbinedion, is a wealthy businessman and high chief in Benin Kingdom and he has used those influences to determine political direction in Edo State on many occasion but failed to do so in Wednesday governorship election.

Chief Igbinedion backed his son, Lucky to governed Edo State for two consecutive terms between 1999 and 2007 but failed to repeat the same feat during the just concluded governorship poll. The governorship result has tactically denied the Esama of Benin the opportunity of making Ize-Iyamu the number one citizen of Edo State. It will also retired him from Edo State politics.

Like his father, Lucky is also a loser for failing to help his former Chief of Staff and Secretary to State Government (SSG) to a governor. The PDP loss at the election is a set back to the former governor bid to re-launch his political career that has been on sabbatical after his ordeal in the hands of the anti-corruption agencies over corruption cases during his tenure as Edo State governor.

PDP governors The defeat of the PDP is also a big loss to the party governors, especially Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Delta counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowo, who many people alleged of spearheading the financing of Pastor Ize-Iyamu campaign.

The PDP governors did all they could do to add Edo State to PDP states but they find it difficult to stop the ruling party from continue its stay in the Government House.

Don Pedro Obaseki Another loser in this election is Don Pedro Obaseki, who dumped his cousin, Godwin to pitched tent with Pastor IzeIyamu following the alleged refusal of the governor-elect to support his governorship aspiration. With the outcome of the election, Don Pedro Obaseki’s may have gambled by refusing to support his cousin.

The battle ahead

Though INEC has already declared Obaseki as the governor-elect, there are still many hurdles ahead as he still needsto fight and conquer to be able to spend four years in office. Already, the PDP and the YDP have already declared their intention to challenge the result of the polls.

Speaking at a press conference in Benin, Edo State capital before the declaration of results by INEC, the state PDP chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, gave reason his party rejected the results announced

by INEC, pointing out that even in areas where the PDP won, INEC officials remove most of the votes on the premise that the card readers did not function in those areas, even when there are incident forms for such challenge.

“If you put the results together, PDP is clearly ahead of APC in all the 18 local government areas, there is no way we will not win the election with a minimum of 30,000 votes. But from what they are announcing at the INEC’s headquarters, it is clear that they have totally disregarded the results from the various polling units across the 18 local governments in the state and they have decided to announce the results which they wrote even before the elections were held.”

On his part, Ize-Iyamu said the delay in announcing the official results by INEC was clearly predetermined, which is to announce fabricated results that are completely at variance with what happened in the polling units, noting that the results as announced by INEC did not reflect the huge turnout during the polls.

“The results, because it was predetermined, was written without taking cognizance of where people will come out. We CONTINUEd on PAGE 47

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SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

'Buhari's body language scaring investors away' Comrade Uko Umoh is the Special Assistant on Media to Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. He spoke with TONY ANICHEBE. Excerpts...

Akwa Ibom is 29, some people have argued that there was no need for the creation of the state. Do you agree?

So far, so good, in the comity of states, Akwa Ibom is rated high. The state has been very lucky to have good leaders and administrators, let me start with civilian governors, Obong Victor is a very good administrator who loves Akwa Ibom. He fought for the emancipation of Akwa Ibom State. He fought for the resource control and got a fair share for our people. Victor Attah as governor tried for the state; projects like Ibom Airport and Le-Merdien Hotel were brainchild of his government. Attah had lofty dreams for Akwa Ibom State but was handicapped by the lean resources at his disposal. It is on record that he initiated a lot of projects and programme for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people.

Chief Godswill Akpabio took over from him. Notwithstanding Attah’s big shoe, Akpabio was able to wear the shoe and wore it very well. Akpabio took governance to another level surpassing what his predecessor did.

Some said Akpabio brought tremendous infrastructural development to the state. Could you enumerate such projects?

Today, power and road network in Akwa Ibom State cannot be compared with that of any state in the country. Every council area in the state have about 50 units of housing estate, then we have the state university among so many other projects. All these gigantic projects were done because he knew that the oil money may not always be there, thus when the opportunity came, he maximised it. He used the oil money accrued to the state for the betterment of the people. The state within the said period bought an aircraft which facilitates easy movement for our governor as he scouts for investors.

So for emphasis, ex-governor Attah fought and brought the resources for the take off of new Akwa Ibom State, Chief

Akpabio came and added massively built and developed the infrastructures across the state. Today Governor Udom Gabriel Emanuel is here to industrialise the state, so I can say we are extremely lucky to have good leaders in the last 29 years, I can say that Akwa Ibom State has fared well and that is why you see a lot of people jostling to come here for investment.

The way you have commended the previous governors, will you be able to commend the incumbent governor in like manner in years to come?

With the present governor in the saddle, in the next few years, every other state of the federation will be trailing behind Akwa Ibom State in both infrastructural development and industrialisation.

Most of the youths still look forward to getting white collar jobs. Do you think that is a good development?

No, our youths must not continue that way. The incumbent administration has said that the state would be an industrial hub in the next few years, our youths must face the challenges of the time. They must begin to think of how to become employers of labour, not employees. Take for instance, someone like me, before my appointment into government, I was already an employer of labour. I started employing people to work for me a long time ago. Today I have more than 20 people working in my establishment. Every Akwa Ibom person must take up leadership mantle upon himself or herself and think of how to create jobs which is more beneficial than receiving salaries at the end of the month. I challenge our youths to be job creators and entrepreneurs.

We have several Akwa Ibom people across Nigeria who are doing marvelously

well without working for anybody. God has deposited enough in everyone of us to blossom and become employer of labour. They have the abilities to do it but our problem is that our people don’t want delayed gratification rather they want immediate enjoyment. They don’t want to suffer at all.

Today, we have a sound economist as our governor and Akwa Ibom will be industrialised during Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration. The state will also create jobs and massively employ our teeming unemployed youths.

We have a governor who knows how to bring in investors under the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

He is creating enabling environment for investors. The governor has the network of connections and synergy to interface with real investors all over the world.

You are aware we have had a good number of ground breaking ceremonies for firms and industries, in the next one or two years, the state will be booming with activities.

I believe in the capacity of Udom

Emmanuel to industrialise the state.

How do you see the dakadaa philosophy being championed by this administration.

The whole idea behind the dakadaa philosophy is that our people should not wait on anybody but arise with their creative minds and build wealth for themselves.

If only Akwa Ibom people will fully embrace the spirit of the dakadaa philosophy, the people of the state would be unequalled in all ramifications in the near future.

Nigeria is celebrating 56th independence anniversary, what is your take on the nationhood so far?

Nigerians should pray fervently for the country and her leaders. Those working with our leaders should also be sincere in giving them just and sound advice that will make the country prosper. The country has made steady progress until 2015 when the incumbent administration took over. The body language of President Muhammadu Buhari towards some very sensitive national issues may be scaring away investors.

They should allow the parallel market to work and the domiciliary accounts to continue. They should not favour a section of the country against the other.

What we have today is a selfinflicted recession caused by the present government. If Jonathan had continued, we may not be where we are today. The body language and actions of the incumbent government made a lot of investors to withdraw their funds and investments from the country. Most of the policies brought by the incumbent administration simply crippled the economy. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian economy but bad policies. We must continue to pray for Nigeria and for her leaders to be given a sense of direction by God Umoh to take us out of our present predicament.

Edo election: Atiku, Ikimi react

CONTINUEd from PAGE 46

have told our agents to bring all the results and in three or four days, we will have a complete record of all the results. But like I tell you from our findings, it is clear a lot of manipulations have taken place,” he said.

Also speaking, a chieftain of YDP, Momeh Samuel, said his party would challenge the outcome of the election because of the omission of the party’s logo from ballot papers.

Other political parties, whose agents expressed dissatisfaction on the outcome of the governorship poll during collation of results at INEC office as a result of reported violence, manipulation of the electoral process and other irregularities might also challenge the election result in court.

Therefore, despite INEC declaring the APC candidate as winner of the gubernatorial poll, Obaseki’s would be looking forward to the judiciary to either affirm or nullify his victory.

Tom Ikimi: We won’t accept Obaseki’s victory Ikimi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs is one of the founding fathers of

the APC but dumped the party to pitch tent with the PDP after losing the national chairmanship position to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who is also from Edo State.

He has boasted prior to the governorship poll that the PDP will send APC packing from the Government House but rather than sacking the ruling party, he was silenced in the election by APC as he failed to help PDP to return to the Government House, they left in 2008 But the former minister has rejected the outcome of the election, claiming the result was manipulated in favour of the APC. The PDP chief, who hails from Igueben Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state, insisted the APC didn’t deserve victory in the poll.

In an interview on Thursday, Ikimi said the election did not represent the wish of the people.

He said: “All I can say is that I dispute the election completely. I take the view expressed by our candidate that the outcome of the election as announced by INEC is completely at variance with what happened on the ground.

“We dispute it completely and we will seek redress through constitutional means.

I’m not totally surprised at the process of the election. But I take the view that INEC and all those who were responsible for the conduct of the election will abide by the attitude that is being openly expressed by President Muhammad Buhari that they should not interfere in the electoral processes.

“The president is one person who has gone through this process in the past. And he knows very well that everyone should have a free and fair election. That is why we feel this shouldn’t have been like that.

“Like I said before I abide by the position that my party has taken on the election. The conduct is at variance with the anti-corruption stance of the Federal Government.”

Atiku: Victory, reflection of APC’s capacity Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said the victory of Mr. Godwin Obaseki at the governorship poll in Edo State was a belief of the people of the state and Nigerians in what the All Progressives Congress (APC) could do.

The former Vice-President, who congratulated the governor-elect, urged him

to build on the achievements of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

A statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku describes the election victory as well deserved, adding that it was an indication of how impactful the administration of Oshiomhole is.

He said: “The fact that the APC was able to record such a resounding victory at a time of economic recession and uncertainty caused by years of poor planning and neglect of the past is a clear manifestation that the people of Edo State and indeed all Nigerians believe in the capacity of the APC to get the country out of the present economic predicament using transparency in governance and anticorruption as principles of government.”

Atiku further noted that Obaseki’s close association with the glaring achievements of the immediate past administration of the APC in the state was another reason for the election victory of the APC candidate.

He, however, advised the governorelect not to disappoint the people of the state but to improve on his famed economic planning and management wizardry that brought him victory.

48

Feature

Onwuka Nzeshi

S ABUJA

ix years ago, Nigeria witnessed a novel form of violence in the polity.

It was October 1, 2010, the day the country was marking the fiftieth ( 50th) anniversary of its independence from colonial rule. The drums were rolled out and the nation's capital was agog as top government officials,diplomats and citizens trooped to the Eagle Square to witness the ceremonial parade and colourful dances.

It was amidst this mood of celebration the terrorists struck, detonating two car bombs near the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja. The location is about a kilometer to the Eagle Square. The blast left eight persons dead and several other wounded.

Among the victims of the bomb blast was Mr. Donatus Arua, a trailer driver with Julius Berger and indigene of Obukpam, in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State. He lost his two sons: John Chidera Arau (11) and Paul Onyekachi (7), his nephew, Ambrose Onyeme Ozioko (27), and Alfred Ona (32), who hailed from Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State. The two sons went to Eagle Square alongside Ambrose and Alfred who was also a trailer driver with the construction firm.

Since that incident, life has not been the same for the Arua family. The wound inflicted by the sudden loss of their beloved sons is yet to heal. The pains may have subsided but the memories ave refused to fade away.

Instead, thoughts of what happened always triggered tears. When Saturday Telegraph tracked down Arua and asked how he had fared with his family since the incident, he broke down in tears and one could perceive that it had not been easy for him.

He said that before the incident, he had five children, two boys and three girls and had made up his mind not to bear more children. Little did he know that he was going to lose his two sons at their tender ages and in one day.

"By the grace of God, I had five children and I had made up my mind that these five were okay for me. I had two boys and three girls. I told myself that if I could train all of them, I will be okay. But those two boys just disappeared in one day.

By the grace of God, I still have my girls.

"I did not see my two sons on that fateful day because they were still seeping when I left home with my wife to see my younger brothers whose wife was sick and had just been discharged from the General Hospital, Gwagwalada. Since i was not on duty that day, i decided to use the opportunity to visit them. We were there when a friend called me on phone to come back home because there was a bomb blast and they could not find my people. My brother if not for God,there and then I lost control.

"We all jumped inside motor and started going home to know what was happening.

When we got home, nobody could give us any reasonable information. We moved to Life Camp Clinic. When we got there, we saw some people who were wounded but we could not see my sons. we went round various hospitals. but could not find any of them. It was the following day that we found the for of them in the mortuary at the National Hospital."

He recalled that Senator Ayogu Eze, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the then Minister of State ( Aviation), Mrs Fidelia Njeze visited his home to console him. The family also received condolences from the Enugu State Government through its Liaison Office in Abuja. According to him, each of these delegations promised to ensure that the federal government came to the aid of the family but none of these promises have been fulfilled till now. According to him, those who paid condolences promised to reach out to the government to ensure that the family did not bear the brunt of the bomb blast all alone.

"Till today nothing has happened. I

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

Independence Day Bombing: Victim still crying for justice, 6 years after haven't heard anything from anybody. Even the burial that we did, there was nothing from the government till today.

Since this thing happened, I have not been myself again. If I am not sick today, I will be sick tomorrow. It happened in October 2010, by January 2011 as we came back from holidays and the company resumed work, Julius Berger demoted me from being a trailer driver. Instead of my profession as a trailer driver, I was made a helper. They said that I should be sweeping the compound.

Now in 2013, they retired me, even when people who were my seniors on the job were still in service. There was no reason given to me for the action.

I served them twenty three years, they didn't find me wanting in anything," he said.

According Arua, Julius Berger was fair to him in that he got a lot of support during the period he was bereaved and had to convey the corpses of his sons and nephew back home for burial.

"During the burial of my children, julius Berger brought out vehicles. I didn't pay one naira to hire vehicle. Even the casket, they were the ones who did everything free of charge. But the federal government did

Arua

not even remember that these people who died went to Eagle Square because of the love for their country. Look at me today, I am living by the grace of God. I have been sick for almost all the time because my mind as been running up and down. High blood pressure that I never knew before, I am passing through it today."

He said that though he got his full benefits on retirement, he wished he was not retired at that time. He suspects the company felt he was no longer in a state of mind to drive but claims that he was still able to drive even after the incident. He is unhappy about his state of health and the paltry sum paid to him as his monthly pension.

However, Arua would not want to make demands on the government or anybody because, according to him, no amount of money can bring back his two sons and others who lost their lives.

"Government knows what it is supposed to do. If they like to console all the families that lost their beloved ones, it is well. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan has passed, nothing happened during that time. Now we have the Buhari regime.

If they can remember the families of those people that died in the bomb blast, it is good.

I will thank them. But if they say that what has happened has happened, let bygone be bygone, let them forget. But it is not good.

If they can console us in anyway, I will be happy. There is nothing they can do that will bring back the life of even a single person," he said.

Prostitution in Italy: Nigerian girls pay ‘benefactors’ between $28,000 and $112,000 Ndubuisi Ugah with agency reports

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or young, vibrant and vulnerable Nigerian ladies, who are oblivious of what awaits them in Italy as ‘prostitutes’, they are most likely to pay as much as 25,000 to 100,000 euros ($28,000 to $112,000) to those who ‘trafficked’ them, Saturday Telegraph has learnt.

According to Italian charities, many victims are told that prostitution is the only way to repay hefty debts, which they are oblivious about until they are trafficked to Italy by their generous paymasters.

With the numbers of Nigerians rising in Sicily, prostitution is said to be a thriving business as campaigners argue – since nobody knows exactly how many women end up plying their trade on the streets, according to an online news portal, Reuters.

Investigations also revealed that over 12,000 Nigerian women have reached Italy through the Mediterranean Sea from Libya over the past two years.

For the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), almost 80 per cent of the young women are victims of trafficking as aid workers say the new arrivals (young girls) are also stretching the workload of the IOM, the United Nations (U.N), refugee agency (UNHCR) and local charities.

The number of Nigerian women arriving in Italy is accelerating - complicating the task of law enforcement agencies determined to keep tabs on the location of pimps or their female brokers known as “madams.”

the only stigma threatening the In view of this, a legal advisor with the IOM in Catania, serenity of her life.

Margherita Limoni, said the As it was gathered by Satursituation: “Is reaching a stage day Telegraph, reports showed where it is out of control.” that fear plays a major role beRecalling her experience tween the trafficker and the and how she found herself in trafficked. the business of prostitution, Investigation revealed that a victim by the pseudonym victims go through some juju Beauty (not real name), said rituals, with pubic hair, fingernails and blood collected from she arrived in Sicily, after crossing the Mediterranean from the victim as she is made to North Africa last year. swear never to report her situShe explained that it took ation to the authorities, rights her only hours to telephone groups say. the man who trafIn some cases, fearficked her - or risk ing the juju “spell” be turned on the lethal repercusAt the (migrant) may them and they may sions for loved ones camp a man back home before die, Nigerian parents she realised what insist their daughters came to pick she had involved obey their traffickers, herself into. me up in a car. I testimony from ItalBefore her jourian court documents got into the car ney through Niger shows. to Libya, a spiritual Beauty only and I was taken priest practicing a learned later that she away form of black magic had been trafficked known in Nigeria as and that the man who “juju” had forced had brought her to her to swear an oath Europe, a friend of her of obedience to her trafficker. father’s, now demanded she The threat of a “curse” if she pay back 25,000 euros ($28,000) broke her oath and the possibilby working as a prostitute.

Beauty, who told the Thomity of violence by her traffickers son Reuters Foundation in the at home in Benin City, a southern Nigerian hub for human security of the safe house where trafficking, were enough to she now lives, said: “My pimp was a nice man. I think he was trap her into sex slavery. a good man.”

Fiddling her black-andBut as she provided sex serblond braids while recalling the events of last summer, Beauty vices for dozens of Italian cli(19), said: “If I had reported ents in a town in southern Italy, him to the police, my fama tyranny of abuse unfolded as, ily would have been in great “The man pimped me. His girldanger. At the (migrant) camp friend beat me.” a man came to pick me up in a Although minors are offered car. I got into the car and I was state protection, Beauty was not taken away.” eligible for this as she was alBeauty, who declined to reready 18, she said. veal her full name, further reAfter running away from vealed that fear has remained her pimp late last year, she fled

to the local office of the Penelope Association, which found her a place in sheltered accommodation late last year.

Beauty is one of 45 people the charity aims to support this year by finding them a place to live and employment in restaurants, well away from the preying eyes of traffickers, Cannavo said.

Commenting further, the head of the charity’s Catania branch, Oriana Cannavo, said: “The women need help to reintegrate in society.”

Cannavo said the offer of support remains a delicate one because the girls are already in the psychological clutches of their traffickers.

Statistics released by the IOM revealed that the number of Nigerian women arriving in Italy has almost doubled in the past year, surpassing 6,300 in the first eight months of this year, which is up from 3,400 for the same period last year.

It was also revealed that unaccompanied children from Nigeria - some as young as 10 or 11 - have also flocked to Italy.

The IOM data further showed that around 1,700 Nigerian girls have arrived Italy in the first eight months of this year, while 1,000 came during the whole of 2015.

Further investigations revealed that seven of Beauty’s friends slipped back into prostitution out of fear of their pimps, or loyalty.

“Many times the girls see their pimp as a benefactor who is trying to improve their lives. They trust them 100 per cent,” Limoni said, while briefing newly arrived migrants about the dangers of trafficking.

News 49

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBer 2016

Tony Anichebe, Sola Adeyemo, Dominic Adewole, Uchenna Inya, Kunle Olayeni, Cephas Iorhemen, Dan Atori, Igbeaku Orji and Steve Uzoechi

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Akwa Ibom State oming from a week long activities to mark its 29th state anniversary during which projects were commissioned, Akwa Ibom State may have opted for a low-key Independence Day celebration. Saturday Telegraph observed that at the time of filing this report the Governor Udom Emmanuel was away in China with most key members of his cabinet. When Saturday Telegraph visited Government house Uyo no meaningful activity was observed as only a few civil servants were cited idling away in their offices.

A top government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the state had no serious plans for the event. He attributed this to the prevailing economic situation in the country and the fact that the state just finished its anniversary celebration which involved enormous resources.

Oyo State Owing to the economic recession currently ravaging the country, Oyo State government has said that there is no plan to engage in any celebration as the condition in the land calls for sober reflection.

Speaking with Saturday Telegraph in Ibadan on preparation for the 56th anniversary, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, said: "Government's plan in this period of recession? Should any state government roll out any drum in this time of recession?

"Aside from the governor addressing the people of the state, march past and any other relevant observances, we are not planning anything big for the celebration.

This is because this is a period for sober reflection", he said.

Delta State Delta State Government is grappling to pay workers' salaries, hence it could not declare any bogus celebration at the 56th Anniversary of Nigeria.

The Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, is looking for money to develop the state and deliver on the mandate that produced him in 2015 amid the current economic crunch.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, explained that N18.62 billion did not accrue to the state from the Federation account as being peddled. Instead, he said they got only N5, 226,068,645.78 for July this year.

According to him, the Gross FAAC (Statutory, Mineral Derivation, VAT, etc) for July 2016 was N7,485,871,893.05. Less Deductions (Bond, Foreign Loans, Salary Bailout, etc N2,259,803,247.27.

He said, "Net FAAC receipt accruing to the State's Account for July 2016 is N5,226,068,645.78, when our salary overhead is over N7 billion for over 60,000 workers.

Similarly, the Local Government Councils (LGCs) received a gross allocation of N3.332 billion from the Federation Account for the month of July, 2016". So, how can we go into bogus celebration?"

Ebonyi State While the nation will be celebrating its 56 years Independence anniversary today,

States opt for low-key Independence celebration

Following the harsh economic reality, state governments have decided not to roll out the drums in celebration of Nigeria’s 56th Independence anniversary. The recession has forced not just citizens but organisations and governments to take a hard look at their expenditure with a view to cutting costs.

Ebonyi State will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its creation, making to double celebration in the state that prides itself the salt of the nation.

Ebonyi State was created on October 1, 1996 by the late General Sanni Abacha. A statement from the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, urged the people of the state to turn out in large numbers to the Abakaliki Township Stadium to participate in the double celebrations.

He said the state had every reason to celebrate having recorded tremendous success especially under the present administration.

Earlier during foundation laying of new government house at Centenary City, Abakaliki, yesterday, the first military administrator in the state, Navy Commander Walter Feghabor, said: “Nigeria was 36 when Ebonyi State was created, now 26 down the line. It is time for Ebonyi to grow and take decision on its own. Our fathers will always pray for us to be better than them. ‘’Ebonyi State is 20 years old but by the grace of God, it will be better than what other states have achieved’’.

Ogun State In Ogun State, the Independence Day celebration will be low-key. The Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Adejuwon Soyinka, said the day would be marked as usual with the parade at MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.

Various groups, including students, civil servants, teachers, artisans and transporters, are expected to participate in the parade.

Already, an interdenominational service and special Jumah prayer were held last Sunday and Friday (yesterday) respectively to commemorate this year's celebration.

Benue State The hopes and expectations of the people of Benue State to celebrate the 56th Independence anniversary of Nigeria with compatriots across the country has again been dashed as Governor Samuel Ortom left from the state on the eve of the celebration.

Saturday Telegraph gathered that this is the second time the governor decided to stay away from the historic event leaving the state in the hands of his deputy, Engr.

Benson Abounu.

The governor has neither celebrated the Workers or May Day, Democracy Day nor Children's Day among other national events, since he assumed office barely sixteen months ago.

Saturday Telegraph observed that the governor had made a declaration that this year's event too would be low-key as he was said to have cited paucity of funds accruing to the state as the major obstacle to celebrating the annual event.

The governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, told Saturday Telegraph on the telephone yesterday that: "The governor is not going to be around, he is already in Abuja and I am here with him. The deputy governor is going to be around in the state, so if anything is going to happen, he will be in charge," Akase said.

Niger State In Niger State, the government said it

would have a low key celebration and as such had earmarked the sum of thirty million naira (N30million) for the Independence Day celebration.

State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, told our correspondent on the telephone that out of the money, ten million naira (N10,000,000) had been set aside for the purchase of foodstuffs that would be distributed orphanages and old peoples’ homes, prisons and to the physically challenged.

"If the Federal Government is celebrating on a low key, who are we not to follow suit? We will be left with twenty million naira (N20,000,000) to mobilise schools, cultural troupes to the Minna International Trade Fair ground on Saturday.

"On Friday, Muslims prayed for the nation and on Sunday, Christians will also pray for the nation. We will join other states to mark this year's Independence Day", he said.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Jibrin Ndace, told our correspondent in an interview that the Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, was mindful of the importance of the Independence Day and as such had given the go-ahead for at least a low-key celebration.

Abia State From all indications there is nothing on ground to show that the state government has any programme for celebrating the 56 Independence anniversary of the country. Apart from the traditional broadcast of the governor on October 1, there is no other visible plan for the Nigeria at 56. It is even doubtful that the governor will take the traditional salute

for match past.

It would actually be callous of any government that owes its workers a minimum of three months salaries not to talk of pensioners, to vote money for celebrating Independence anniversary. Besides, most of the contractors have stopped work obviously because of financial constraint. At the moment, the governor has to personally intervene in the sanitary condition of the capital city because of the failure of the State Environmental Protection Agency.

Imo State It is likely that Imo state will be experiencing a low-key Independence anniversary celebration this year as there is currently no indication of a celebration in the offing for this year’s national day.

As at yesterday afternoon, there has not been any official announcement as to events lined up to mark the event in the state as was the usual practice.

There is no air of anticipation or excitement of any sort in the state. The Independence anniversary is not even a major subject matter in the local news tabloids and radios within the state instead the atmosphere is thick with apprehension as the September 30 evacuation deadline given to occupants of the Ekeukwu Owerri Main Market elapsed yesterday.

Emotions and nerves are too frayed over the demolition of properties and small businesses in the state to care anything about the Independence anniversary.

Not even from the Public Enlightenment department of the Ministry of Information in the state has anything been said about the Independence anniversary.

Independence Day: How we make money selling flags Ugochi Ndubunma and Esther Sodeke

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reparatory to Independence Day celebration, certain businesses begin to enjoy patronage. One of such is the sale of flags. Adepeju Azeez who has been

Adepeju PHOTO: UGOCHI Ndubunma

into the business for some time now told Saturday Telegraph that despite the harsh economic situation people are still buying flags and other items such as wristbands and mufflers. Adepeju claimed to have sold about 1,000 flags to a woman last year. She says there is profit in the flag selling business. "Last year one flag sold for N50 but it is currently selling for N150 especially during this Independence period,” said Azeez when asked about the prices of the flags and if they had changed. She had people patronising her even as this reporter was interviewing her.

Another flag seller, Mr Samuel Afolabi, spoke on how he makes quick sales around Independence Day, He said "whenever it is close to Independence Day, I will go to different primary schools to meet their proprietors because most schools will be participating in the march past and the Nigerian flags will be needed for the occasion".

Mr Samuel added saying his strategy had been working for him for some years. Although he said some schools might not buy and in cases like this he sells to the students.

"My method of selling flags has worked for me for two years and has not failed once, but if the management of the schools does not buy then I will just stand at the gate of the schools and sell to the students," Samuel said.

Extra Sportsplash 50 News

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

Sheriff's faction inaugurates PDP LG executives in Delta Dominic Adewole, ASABA

S

enator Ali Modu Sheriffled faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday inaugurated parallel state executives to pilot the affairs of the party in Delta State.

Those sworn in include the party chairmen across the 25 local government areas and the deputy state chairmen in the three senatorial districts of the state.

This came barely four months after Senator Ahmed Makafi’s faction, led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, inaugurated the executives of the party across the council areas 25 of the state.

Modu Sheriff, who was represented at the ceremony by his Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, at Agbor, the home-town of Okowa, in Ika South Local Government Area, said with the inauguration, the “mountain of crisis in the party has been removed.”

While Ojougboh said Sheriff's interest in PDP remains paramount at the national, state and local government levels of the party, the factional state chairman, Chief Austin Ogbaburhon, flanked by his new deputies in Delta South, Delta North and Delta Central Senatorial Districts of the state, maintained that his group represents the true face of the party in Nigeria.

Bello effects minor cabinet reshuffle Zacchaeus Ozovehe, Lokoja

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he Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, yesterday approved the immediate redeployment of some principal aides in his cabinet in order to evolve new strategies to make governance and government more effective and efficient.

A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. (Mrs.) Ayoade Folashade Arike, said the reshuffling became imperative in or-

der to inject fresh ideas, creativity and innovations into the system in order to help drive the New Direction Agenda of the present administration.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Imam, was redeployed to Culture and Tourism as Commissioner, while Mallam Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Planning to the governor was re-deployed to Ministry of Information as Director- General, Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Mobilization.

CHANGE AND CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ogini

I, formerly known and addressed as KIKELOMO MUSTAPHA, now wish to be known and addressed as OGINI KIKE DEBORA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

oluwadara I, formerly known and addressed as OWADARA OLUWATOSIN, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWADARA OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

kuye

I, formerly known and addressed as ADETITUN TOLULADE IBITOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as KUYE TOLULADE IBITOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

salami

I, formerly known and addressed as GLADYS EJOVWOKE AFI, now wish to be known and addressed as GLADYS EJOVWOKE SALAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

oguntoye

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEPEJU ADEOLA ADEBAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNTOYE ADEPEJU ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OSE

I formerly known and addressed as JULIET WELLINGTON now wish to be known and addressed as OSE EFE JULIET. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ACHI

I formerly known and addressed as ABASILIM CHIZOBA CHINWENDU LILIAN now wish to be known and addressed as ACHI CHIZOBA CHINWENDU LILIAN. All former documents remain valid. Bank, NYSC and general public should please take note.

nkemnole

This is to confirm that the names NKEMNOLE CHIGOZIE and NKEMNOLE CHIGOZIE PROMISE refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as NKEMNOLE CHIGOZIE PROMISE. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc and the general public please take note.

fasesin

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUBUSAYO ESTHER KOLADE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUBUSAYO ESTHER FASESIN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ogbonna

I formerly known and addressed as MISS UKPAI ANGELA AMARACHI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OGBONNA ANGELA AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. Banks, N.Y.S.C and the general public should please take note.

OJOBO

I formerly known and addressed as UGWOKE JOHN OJOBOSON now wish to be known and addressed as UGWOKE SILAS OJOBO. All former documents remain valid.

First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Anthony Alo

I formerly known and addressed as MISS EZINNE ITUMO OJON now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EZINNE ANTHONY ALO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

ILUKU

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLANIYAN IWALEWA OMOTOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ILUKU IWALEWA OMOTOLA. All former documents remain valid. Bank and general public should please take note

Minister extols 14 states for improved efforts in HIV control

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inister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has lauded 14 states in the federation for their improved efforts in the control of HIV/AIDS. Adewole, represented by Dr. Evelyn Ngige, the Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) gave the commendation at the Dissemination of the National Quality Improvement Project (NQIP) and NigeriaQual Awards Ceremony in Abuja.

The overall goal of NigeriaQual programme is to improve the quality and standard of care and related services for all patients enrolled in HIV/ AIDS care and treatment using continuous quality improvement methods.

Adewole, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that thousands of patients had been enrolled in HIV/AIDS treatment, care and related services in health facilities.

“It is pertinent that the service rendered to patients in these health facilities are closely and continuously monitored and improved to ensure that patients receive optimum services.

“The FMOH has established several programmes aimed at improving and unifying the quality of clinical care and other related services rendered to people living with HIV and AIDS across the country.

“And the NigeriaQual programme implemented with technical support from Centre for Disease Control (CDC) funded by University of Maryland-led Nigerian Alliance for Health Systems Strengthening is one of such programmes.

“In the implementation of five rounds of the NigeriaQual programme, several activities have been conducted, including series of stakeholders meeting and some treatment sites have been exceptional in their conduct of the programme.

“Based on the site performance after evolution of their scores on some clinical indicators and the consistency of their participation some sites have been selected to be awarded,’’ the minister said.

Man Charurat, Principal Investigator, Nigeria Alliance for Health System Strengthening (NAHS), said the occasion was aimed at bringing awareness to the NQIP that had been going on for the last four years.

Charurat, who is also the Director, Division of Epidemiology and prevention, Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, U.S., said Nigeria had supported the project very well but that more needed to be done.

“We want to make sure that besides testing and linking, the best of care is provided to HIV infected patients.

“The second area of priority is early infant diagnosis, Nigeria in this aspect has performed very poorly, we are still in about 25 per cent and

the number needs to scale up.

“We are now putting intervention forward to increase diagnosis, once you diagnose then services will be provided so that the children can live longer because HIV is no longer a death sentence.

“The key gap when it comes to children is diagnosis and once a patient is identified and enrolled in care that care is maintained regardless of where they are,’’ he said.

Chinenye Ugoji, Project Director, NAHSS, said the programme was to deal with two problems that were of national significance.

Ugoji said the gaps are Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) initiation and bridging the gap identified in early infant diagnosis.

“We must ensure that every HIV infected patient, who needs to be on ART, is placed on treatment because that is the only way we can achieve the goal of UNAIDS,’’ she said.

We probe diversion of public funds, not political party funds –EFCC Kenneth Ofoma, ENUGU

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday clarified that it was only interested in probing economic crimes such as sources of public funds contrary to insinuations in some quarters that it was investigating some political parties’ funding.

Based on this, the antigraft agency vowed not to relent until the $2.1 billion arms fund allegedly diverted to finance the presidential campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during 2015 election was completely recovered.

Speaking with journalists at the commission’s office in Enugu, the EFCC South-East Zonal Head, Mr. Johnson Babalola, said the agency would continue with its ongoing investigations targeted at unveiling how the funds which was meant to procure equipment for the military to help to effectively tackle the Boko Haram crisis in the NorthEast zone was diverted.

Babalola said all those who have anything to do with the funds should return same insisting that “no matter who they are, we must get them.”

“We need our money from politicians. Money meant for

improvement of lives. Money supposed to be used to buy equipments for our armed forces were embezzled and we want to get it from wherever it is. There's recession and government needs this money. EFCC is ready to get the monies and plough it back to the economy.

“As I speak to you, election, INEC cases are being investigated. Money wrongly deployed for election financing must be recovered.

Mind you, we are not trying political funding of parties but rather the source of such funds. People cannot use public funds meant for people oriented projects and programmes and invest in campaigns,” he said.

He also used the opportunity to dispel insinuations in some quarters that the anti-graft body was engaging in media trial of some notable politicians, especially former governors and minis-

ters simply known as ‘Politically Exposed Persons’, insisting that the EFCC owes it a duty to properly investigate the persons concerned before taking them to court.

“Most times, you see these people rushing to the press to defend themselves even when we haven't said anything. Whenever you see this kind of situation, you see us also coming out to defend ourselves,” he said.

NGE: Adamu, a patriotic, selfless colleague

T

he Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday expressed sadness over the death of its colleague, Mallam Sani Adamu, who died after a brief illness on September 25.

In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, the NGE noted that it was, “saddened by his (Adamu) untimely passing and sincerely convey deep sympathies in this difficult time to members of his family who are devastated by his demise.”

Adamu until his sudden exit was an invaluable and respected member of the Standing Committee (MSC) of our prestigious association who contributed immensely to the growth of the Guild and development of the media in-

dustry in Nigeria, Africa and the whole world.

The statement recalled that Adamu was born in Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State, where he worked as the Managing Editor/Director, Multi Media Services of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Sani as he was fondly called, also graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology (Second Class Upper) in 1986.

After his National Youth Service at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin-City, Edo State, Adamu returned to Sokoto where he gained employment into the Sokoto State Civil Service. He left the Sokoto State Civil Service to join NAN as a Reporter in

1988.

Subsequently, he was the pioneer NAN District Correspondent in Bida and Kontangora district offices.

He was promoted as Correspondent in 1989 and a year later, he became a State Correspondent, NAN, Minna, Niger State.

The late Adamu was later appointed Personal Assistant to the former Minister of Works and Housing, the late Maj.-Gen. Mamman Kontagora, a position he held until 1993. He returned to NAN in 1993 and worked in various parts of the country in various editorial positions.

Adamu was married and blessed with children. He had been laid to rest according to Islamic rites. May Allah grant him jannah and bestow sabr on his family.

Release Boko Haram fighters, Chibok girls’ parents tell Buhari Yekeen Nurudeen, Abuja

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istraught parents of 218 abducted Chibok Secondary School girls have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release Boko Haram fighters in government's prison in order to secure the rescue of the girls.

The parents who expressed disappointment in the President's handling of the rescue of the girls said they were no longer interested in hearing

the President's excuses about the rescue operation, rather, he should negotiate with the Boko Haram terrorists and get the girls back.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday at the day 900 of the abduction of the girls which was being marked by the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) advocacy group, Esther Yakubu, mother of Maida Yakubu, who was in the video released

by Boko Haram in July said the Chibok girls' parents regretted having President Buhari as their President.

She said: “We don't want the President to talk about

our daughters since he has the gut to say he doesn't want to be talking about the girls.

We want him to release the fighters so that our girls can be released.

“We want our girls to be back and be reunited with their families and siblings.

He does not deserve to be my President. Many countries used to lose several lives to safe one. He has the gut to say he does not want to say about the girls again, we too we don't want him to say anything again, let him release the fighters.”

While addressing jour-

nalists at the sit out, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, on behalf of the group expressed the support of BBOG for the recent call by President Buhari to the United Nations to come to the aid of the country in mediating between the terrorists group.

She, however, said the President must be seeing to be living up to his responsibilities to the citizenry noting that the Federal Government under his watch should not abdicate his duty before running to the international community for help.

News Extra

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

Clement James, Calabar with agency reports

A

n attempt by Bakassi militants to invade an army post at Efut Esighi in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State ended in tragedy as officers of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar killed seven of the militants during the incident.

The foiled attempt at the Army post came on a day the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences said it had arrested five suspected land-grabbers operating in Lekki and Ajah areas of the state.

The Army’s Public Relations Officer (APRO) of 13 Brigade, Capt. Kayode Owolabi, said the militants numbering over 20 had invaded the army post to cart away arms in the early hours of yesterday but were confronted by the superior fireworks of the soldiers which eventually led to the death of seven of the militants while others fled into the creeks.

Owolabi, while linking the militants to Benjamin Ene, otherwise known as “G-1,” explained that the attack may not be unconnected with the

Army kills 7 militants in foiled attack in Cross River l Task force nabs 5 land grabbers in Lagos

killing of three militants last week, noting, however, that soldiers stationed at the post were able to rise to the occasion.

“The very determined troops from the 13 Brigade and operation Delta Safe repelled an attack from armed militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi local government.

The militants tried to attack the Army post in Efut Esighi with some of them wearing Nigerian military camouflage.

“We recovered 250 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, rocket propelled gun launcher, GPMG belt links and various charms on their bodies. Other militants escaped with very serious gun shots injuries,” he said.

Owolabi, who noted that there was no casualty on the part of the soldiers, further explained that: “There was

no casualty on the side of the military. Our men were in full combat readiness during the attack. We have also destroyed their camps and shrines in the creeks.”

While noting that the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, was determined to comb the creeks in order to ensure that no militant or criminal group operates in the state, the APRO stressed that the army, in conjunction with other security agencies, will continue to ensure the unity and integrity of the Nigerian nation.

“The 13 Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu has promised to end militancy in the state and the Nigerian Army is ready to ensure the unity and integrity of the Nigerian nation. We are ready to go after all criminals who are operating in the state

in whatever guise and sooner than later, they will be brought to justice,” Owolabi pointed out.

He, however, appealed to residents of the state to always avail army of useful and timely information that would assist them in curbing crime in the state.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, Olayinka Egbeyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspects were arrested on Thursday in conjunction with the state task force on land grabbing.

“We acted on save our soul messages sent by members of the community who were chased away from their land with dangerous weapons by the land grabbers.

“The leader of the gang, who refused to disclose their L-R: Head, Sponsorship and Events, FirstBank Bridget OyefesoOdusami; FirstBank Ambassador, Blessing Okagbare; Sports Officer, Education District 1, Lagos state, Mrs. Akande Esther Lade, and Director Co-Curriculum, Science and Technology Department, Education District 1, Lagos state, Mrs. Oyetunde Mary Ibironke, at the FirstBank Athletics Clinic with Blessing Okagbare …yesterday.

World tourism records 561m arrivals in six months Andrew Iro Okungbowa

W

orld tourism has continued its upward swing as international tourist arrival figures for the first half of 2016 grew by four per cent with 561 million visiting destinations across the world between January and June, 21 million above that of 2015 for the same period.

Secretary General of the United Nations World Tour-

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ism Organisation (UNWTO), Dr. Taleb Rifai, expressed happiness with this performance as detailed by the World Tourism Barometre report.

He said tourism had remained resilient, creating jobs for people and revenue for countries: “Tourism has proven to be one of the most resilient economic sectors worldwide. It is creating jobs for millions, at a time when providing perspectives for a better future to people of all regions is one of our biggest challenges. But tourism is also creating bonds among

LOKOJA Poly students protest over lack of basic facilities

Students of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, yesterday embarked on a peaceful demonstration to express their anger over lack of toilet facilities, water, electricity and other amenities on the campus.

The aggrieved students chased away the Rector and other lecturers before blocking the entrance gate to the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Omale Usman, said they had to embark on the peaceful demonstration since their series of complaints to the management of the institution yielded no results.

people of all nations and backgrounds, bringing down stereotypes and fighting fear and distrust,” he said.

While highlighting safety and security as vital for tourism development, Rifai said: “Safety and security are key pillars of tourism development and we need to strengthen our common action to build a safe, secure and seamless travel framework. This is no time to build walls or point fingers; it is time to build an alliance based on a shared vision and a joint responsibility.”

ALAUSA

Premium Gifts Expo holds on Oct 3

An exhibition, Premium Gifts Expo, will take place on October 3, at The Batten House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The conveners, Yejide Owootomo and Yetunde Omorode, said the purpose of the event was to sensitise and enlighten the public on how to get gifts beyond the regular ones for occasions.

Omorode said: “This expo is the first of its kind. My partner and I have nursed this dream for a while and we thought to make it happen. We have been at wedding exhibitions and saw that gifting was not noticed. Other things like the ‘aso oke’, make-ups, wedding dresses and decorations got all the attention.

Stating the importance of gifts, she added that it would be hard for people to go to an occasion empty-handed.

Similarly, Owootomo maintained that the long term plan of expo was to become the ultimate gifts destination for gifting ideas and solutions.

According to the details of the report, Asia and the Pacific topped other regions, receiving nine per cent more international arrivals.

The Americas, recorded four per cent growth with Central America and South America in the lead while Europe netted +3 and Africa recording +5%, with Sub-Saharan destinations rebounded strongly while North Africa recorded weak results. The Middle East was reported to have recorded a decrease of nine per cent.

AJAO ESTATE Chi Limited commits to youth development

The management of Chi Limited has pledged its commitment to the support of youth development in the country.

This followed the company’s collaboration with King Jaja Hall residence of the University of Lagos to celebrate its hall week.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, said: “Our youths are key to our future and we need to do everything we can to help them achieve their full potential so that they in turn can do their own bit to help shape and share in our future success.

“For us at Chi Limited, we shall continue to offer the best there is in fruit juices, dairy products and snacks for their wellbeing whilst supporting positive initiatives to ensure an all-round development for the youths.”

NEWS I N BRIE F

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godfathers, claimed they had been operating around LekkiAjah for about 15 years,” he said.

In a related development, the police in Lagos said the three suspected land grabbers arrested in August have been charged to court for violating the state anti-grabbing law.

The police spokesperson in the state, SP Dolapo Badmos, said that land grabbing was an offence in Lagos State and

warned that anyone caught would be prosecuted.

“The Lagos State Police Command will continue to enforce all laws of the land and anyone violating the laws, irrespective of the offender’s personality, will be prosecuted,” Badmos said.

The state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, had on August 5 assented to the law prohibiting land grabbing in the state.

Police intercept truck with 176kg of Indian hemp in Kebbi Abubakar Abdul, Birnin Kebbi

K

ebbi State Police Command has intercepted a truck conveying 176.50kg bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp loaded from Ogere in Ogun State.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the police headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kabiru Ibrhaim, said the suspect, Aliyu Sani, was arrested in Koko Division during a-stop-and-search exercise with the truck with reg.

No. Kano SML 124 XA belonging to Dangote Group of company.

Sani said the truck was arrested on his way to Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State, while the case was still under in-

vestigation.

He explained that five other cases of culpable homicide with 12 suspects have been arrested in Unguwar Samaila village through Argungu and also five cases of armed robbery with 13 suspects were also arrested in Zuur Local Government Area of the state.

The CP who further added that all the arrest was done within two months with the effort of the other sister security agencies even as he called on the people of the state not to relent in terms of information as police officers are their friends.

“You see the herdsmen leaders in Zuru Emirate have embarked on enlightenment campaign on their kinsmen to desist from indulging themselves into criminal activities,” he added.

1,076 prisoners on awaiting trial list in Benue-Comptroller Cephas Iorhemen, MAKURDI

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he Comptroller of Prisons in Benue State, Mr. Peter Pevigo, yesterday disclosed that about 1,076 prisoners who are currently languishing in the cell at the Makurdi Medium and Security Prison are on awaiting trial list.

Pevigo, who disclosed this when he led other officials of the prison on a familiarisation visit to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa, said 299 other inmates are those convicted for various crimes while a total of 1,375 prisoners were in the cell.

While describing the condition of the inmates as pathetic, the prison boss lamented the congestion of the prison, as according to him, a room that is supposed to accommodate 36 inmates now houses 121, saying with the condition, the inmates were prone to attack by epidemics especially as the raining season is gradually giving way.

He implored the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to ensure the inmates receive the prerogative of mercy by the government as many of them have been reformed through the efforts of religious various religions and trained to be useful by different craftsmen and further promised to reposition the prison to do more in the area of training and reforming of inmates and sued for assistance from the government in terms of tools.

In his response, Gusa, assured the prison boss of government's plan to construct a spacious block of cell at the state prison office in Makurdi to ease the problem of congestion being experienced by inmates.

He added that a committee headed by the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Benson Abounu, for the construction of the cell block has since been put in place.

On the state pardon to be granted inmates, Gusa said the list was being scrutinised and will soon be sent to the governor for approval and onward implementation.

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Perspectives

1 OCTOBER 2016

Nigeria @ 56: Still suffering and smiling

oday Nigeria and Nigerians should be cheerfully celebrating the 56th year that the nation gained its independence from Great Britain. With much fanfare back in the day, millions of Nigerians were happy to see the back of the British, believing optimistically that with locals in control things will only get better for the new born nation.

But the sadly the reality for many people, especially those old enough to have seen Nnamdi Azikiwe sworn in as Nigeria's maiden Governor-General in 1960 (later becoming the nation’s first president after the plebiscite the following year which made the country a Federal Republic) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa the first and only Prime Minister at an elaborate ceremony at Race Course, in Lagos, which was then the capital of the new nation, is a far cry from what was promised and expected back then.

Truly the democratic experience only lasted for six years before the military came calling to truncate it and subsequently plunge the nation into a bitter civil war which lasted for 30 months and only ended in January 1970, with the then military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon famously declaring his ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’ policy in an effort to fast track the re-integration of the Igbos into main stream Nigeria.

Of course Gowon’s failure to keep his promise of handing over to a civilian government prompted his colleagues to oust him in 1975 with General Murtala Muhammed taking over before another coup cost him his own life and General Olusegun Obasanjo taking over and finally launching the Second Republic, which Shehu Shagari and his National Party of Nigeria (NPN) headed.

But soon, the same old woes, which prompted Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu to oust the first civilian experiment, once again reared

I

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

TS from the Sidelines 08050498544 (sms only) tunsul2@gmail.com its ugly head with the same outcome – another coup in December 1983.

This action then triggered a number of military juntas between then and 1999 when General Abdulsalami Abubakar, adopted a new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty elections.

And 24 days later Abubakar transferred power to the winner of the elections, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who had retired from the military when he handed over in 1979.

However, while the musical chairs surrounding the control of the country has changed hands multiple times, sadly the lot of the majority of Nigerians have not – in fact many will even say they are worse off now than ever before!

And the facts are there for all to see – prices of virtually everything have shot through the roof while salaries are stagnant.

It’s as if every government (civilian or military) will promise the masses heaven and earth and yet leave the masses more wretched while they (those in government or politics) become much richer. Gloomily, this has been the only constant in the country.

When the late Umaru Dikko was holding fort as the most powerful minister in Shagari’s government a bag of rice, of which he was in charge of, sold for about

N1,000 and yet we complained!

By the time the General Sani Abacha passed on June 8, 1998 a bag of rice had crept to N2, 000. It moved up further during the 16 years of the rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that by the time Goodluck Jonathan lost election last May it hovered around N10, 000 a bag – now the same bag is going for about N22, 000.

Back in the day, 1978 to be precise, fuel was sold for five kobo a litre. And then we had massive investments in roads (that was when the Benin-Shagamu Expressway was started), telecoms and other facilities got upgrades.

Yet, subsequent governments told us that we were paying too little for the fuel and they needed to increase the price in order to free up funds to spend on other more pressing needs. And so from five kobo to N145 per litre all in the space of 38 years and yet the same old issues of no roads, poor security, epileptic power and lack of decent hospitals still exist – if not even worse. We are paying for more yet are not enjoying the corresponding benefits of the price hikes.

On February 1 this year, the government approved a 45 per cent hike in the cost of electricity on the grounds that more money was needed by the power companies to provide improved services – yet I have not

had public power supply for almost a week!

I remember nostalgically growing up in Isolo in the late 70s, my father never had a generator because the public supply was quite okay. Whenever there was an outage.

All we had to do back then was to drive to the NEPA office at Mile 2 and before long a truck from the office will be in Ire Akari to fix the problem – we neither paid a kobo nor heard complaints like “We don’t have any vehicle or no fuel in the car”.

Such is no longer possible under our fast aging Nigeria. Now, every night I cringe watching Channels’ ‘Eyewitness Report’ because the majority of photographs sent to the television station are pictures of the deplorable state of our roads across the country.

Seeing such photographs nightly makes one wonders what successive governments had spent their yearly multi-billion budgets on!

In the early 80s while studying at the University of Nigeria one used to leave Nsukka to visit friends at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), travelling on very decent roads. Now the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway which was built during that time is no longer in existence; ditto for the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and many other roads across the country.

What would it have taken to have maintained such infrastructure, which would have meant that in these lean times the roads would not be a big issue? But they are and sadly millions of Nigerians are now going through harrowing times just plying on them.

The list of woes are virtually endless but as we celebrate our 56th Independence Anniversary we can at least still give thanks to the Almighty that we are alive to be able to complain and pray that one day we will enjoy the Nigeria of our dreams.

Wanted: A confident, responsible husband

f you are a young man, ripe for marriage but you are yet to find your good thing called a wife, there is hope for you if you are in Christ Jesus. He says: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask WHATEVER you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

However, it is important that you look inwards and ensure that you are RESPONSIBLE enough to marry a wife. Also, CONFIDENCE is one of the major qualities that RESPONSIBLE single ladies seek in a husband.

What happens to you cannot prove your confidence and level of responsibility as a man, more than what happens in you as you travel through the challenging roads of life. Your self confidence in seeking the kind of wife you desire might have been eroded by some wrong perceptions about marital relationship. For instance, you might have felt that your not being a university graduate, is an impediment to marrying a graduate wife. It could also be that you are not bold enough to propose marriage to your desired character of a wife because your spoken English is bad. Maybe your inferiority complex is born out of your poor financial status or you are the type of guy who believes a man must have money in billions before proposing marriage to a lady.

Unfortunately, your perceptions are just too wrong. The responsible, single lady that is searching for her own husband is looking for character; good character. She is not even looking at most of those factors that have limited your self confidence and kept you unmarried for so long.

Maybe you are even busy comparing

Marriage Clinic with Albinus Chiedu 08038117704 (sms only) marriagecanwork@yahoo.com yourself with peers. “I wish I had so and so, that Mr. A or B has, I would have attracted a good wife. Can’t you see that his wife is so happy being with him? It is because of those things he has.”

Brother! You are so wrong. No matter how much you condemn a Rolls Royce car, it can never become a Beetle. Whatever people think about you does not define who you are. It only reflects their own inadequacies of not having a 360 degrees mind.

Their opinions about you can be wrong.

They are indeed, wrong if you have a positive character based on Biblical standards.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Maybe you have found your missing rib and you have been prayerfully convinced. But you are not confident enough to approach her, open your mouth and say what is on your mind. You do not have to be intimidated by a lady’s credentials, be they natural, intellectual or spiritual. Just be sure that the desire you have for her was put there by God and not Satan. If the Lord is leading you to your wife-to-be, then, be sure that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Drop that fear. Realize that

no matter now beautiful and intelligent a woman may be, a man must marry her and she craves for the love of that man. Why do you think you cannot be that man? You cannot be intimidated if the Lord is the one directing you. If the Lord be for you, who can be against you? Prayerfully tell her what you want. Don’t be intimidated or fearful.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2nd Timothy 1:7).

To attract a good wife, you MUST be responsible. If you are a guy that beats up women as if they are children, you are not responsible. If you are a guy that seduces a lady to have sex with her when you have not performed the required marriage rites, you are irresponsible. If you are the type that lies to women, you are not responsible.

If you are a guy that exhibits what you are not when you appear before ladies, just to impress them, check your life.

A responsible single sister desires a man that she can give her hope of a better future, working together. If you are a guy that talks and thinks more of now than the future, you cannot attract her. Talk more about a future with her, your dreams for her career,

your future children, your dream building project, your relationships with her relatives, how you intend to enhance your joint service of God in future, your plans for her spiritual life, and so on. Talk less about how much you bought the clothes you are currently wearing, the price of the car you currently drive, etc.

If your destiny decisions such as where you will live, who you will marry and what job you will are still left to your mum, dad, aunty or some other relatives to make, you are not responsible enough to attract a confident, responsible wife.

A confident, responsible young man has the fear of God. He dresses responsibly and appears neat most times. Your wife-to-be desires a guy who convinces her that he says what he means and knows what he says; a bold person who can protect her and who she can rely on. Do not deliberately leave her to ALWAYS pay your bills, especially when you both are working and you earn more than her.

Your walking steps, added to clarity and firmness in your voice when you speak, combine to present your confidence. When you say something, say it clearly. Don’t talk as if you have water in your mouth. You could dress fantastically and yet, walk like a panicky and scared person and talk like someone who is afraid, thereby displaying a lack of confidence. Many responsible ladies would never consider such a guy as a husband material.

A responsible guy loves, fears, respects and obeys God and his word. All responsible single sisters desire such husband. Are you? Above all, read Proverbs 3:5-6.

Perspectives

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 OCTOBER 2016

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Working or talking our way out of recession?

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conomists have described recession as a negative economic growth for two consecutive quarters. During this period, there will be a general lull in business activities, unemployment and inflation will be high, businesses will shut down and investors will easily be discouraged to invest in a country under recession. The purchasing power of individuals will be abysmally low. While the poor are gnashing their teeth, the rich will also be crying.

Before the Muhammadu Buhari administration admitted in August that Nigeria was in recession after the semantics of declaration of "technical recession", Nigerians were already dejected. The faces of Nigerians attest to the psychological trauma they are now experiencing. Three square meals in a day is now a luxury in some homes. Some have resorted to begging at a time when the number of alms givers has shrunk due to the recession. Family heads now unnecessarily transfer aggression to their wives and children as a way of covering up their failure to meet their obligatory responsibilities. Those who lacked the stoic endurance to absorb the shocking and daunting challenges had found solace in suicide. There are genuine fears that the suicide rate will increase in the days and weeks ahead especially if there is nothing to suggest that the gloomy situation will soon clear.

Recession does not happen overnight.

The ominous signs would have been there and seen by discerning minds. By the admission of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party that was in power for 16 years, the ominous signs had been there since 2011. Since administrations get credit or blame for the state of the economy, both the present and past deserve to be blamed for the situation.

The past, for their egregious policies that engendered the recession and the present for its response to the situation.

Different countries of the world had had their own share of recession but governments usually have different ways of responding to the challenges. However, the commonest ways of tackling the problems are increasing money supply, increasing government spending, decreasing taxation and more importantly, reducing unemployment.

On Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the Great Crash or the Stock Market Crash hit the United States. It was the most devastating stock market crash in the annals of the US leading to the threshold of the 10-year Great Depression that eventually affected all Western industrialised country. Herbert Hoover was the US President at the time of this unprecedented depression. Although his predecessors' policies largely contributed to the depression, to the average American, Hoover became the scapegoat. He had no answer to the problem and the severity of the problem was completely lost on him. That he

Waheed Bakare on Saturday

09056089320 (sms only) waheedbakare2003@yahoo.com was not the cause of the problems was not enough as an alibi. The only thing that interested Americans was the solution. They regarded him as a callous and insensitive leader who could think outside the box to tackle the recession.

As a result, they waited for him at the poll and plotted his ouster using the ballots to vote out the man many considered as incompetent. This ushered in Franklin D. Roosevelt as the 32nd president. The new man knew that poor communication between Americans and Hoover was a major factor that led to his defeat at the poll. Roosevelt started a radio programme where he talked to Americans on steps being taken by his administration to bail the country out of the depression. The radio programme gave hope to the people more so when they could see that their president was 'working the talk.' This is the power of effective communication in governance.

Roosevelt became the US President on March 4, 1933. This was just a few weeks after Adolf Hitler, the man regarded as one of the worst dictators, became the German Chancellor on January 30, 1933. So, the two leaders reigned during the great depression. Each leader had different approaches and recorded different results. But the important thing was that theirs were not about complaints. For instance, Roosevelt knew that if Americans were interested in complaints, they would have retained Hoover.

Great Economists and historians have

Emefiele

over time compared the approaches used

by Hitler and Roosevelt. Some argued that while Roosevelt recorded only marginal success, Hitler's policies achieved remarkable success using large scale borrowing to finance projects like railroads, canal, Autobahnen and more importantly reduction of unemployment at a time when there was acute hunger in Germany. It was so bad that Germans resorted to eating grass in place of food. But innovative and ambitious programmes launched by the government wiped away people's sorrow and tears.

The notion that nothing good can come from a despotic and ambitious ruler, ruined Hitler’s good economic policies such that people are reluctant to touch him even with a long pole. Despite this, the methods he used were documented and some may still be useful and applicable in Nigeria's situation. President Muhammadu Buhari had said his government would borrow to finance some capital projects like rail, road and power. There is nothing wrong in borrowing provided it is meant to finance capital expenditure and not for recurrent ones.

If the government cares about the need for it to salvage whatever remains of its reputation, it should realise that giving Nigerians forlorn hope as a way out of this recession is not the solution. For crying out loud, recession is not like butter that disappears on hot knife in a twinkle of an eye. If it took great nations at least three years to be out of abysmal economic quagmire, can

Adeosun

a less organised country like ours continue to beat its chest as if recession is a tea party?

That the government needs to raise our hope with soothing talks is beyond mere rhetorics as being done by the Central Bank governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who changed her earlier position of 'I don't know when we will get out of the recession, to 'we are getting out of the recession soon.' My suspicion is that the two officials might have been cautioned to stop working at cross purposes going by the differences in their utterances on matters of national interest.

What are the things on the ground and how convincing are they that the worse is over and that we are getting out of the recession beyond mere utterances by the Buhari ministers? If our thinking is that selling our assets is a viable option as a way of injecting funds into the economy, how well did it bail out countries which took similar steps in the past? Our leaders should not allow their poor sense of history to fail them this time around. It has been established that selling of nations’ assets will only swell governments’ coffer in short term.

A classic example was Britain in the late ‘70s and '80s when it removed regulation on overseas investment. Boots, a pharmaceutical company, was thriving and was in existence for 161 years in Nottingham before it was bought by Italian investors. The new owners moved its headquarters to Zug in Switzerland. So, major decisions were being taken from the new headquarters and this affected tax remittances. Interestingly, the firm paid 89 million pounds to Britain in tax in its final year as a firm coated in London Stock Market. But in its first year as a firm with its headquarters in Switzerland, it paid only a paltry sum of 9 million pounds as tax to Britain.

Besides, some of the firms sold to foreigners, which hitherto got needed materials from local firms, started doing business with firms outside Britain leading to massive job losses in the UK. There is also fear that when nations' assets are sold, the country may lose ownership of its economy as well as key technology. If Nigeria is selling its assets, is it selling moribund or optimal ones? Who are the buyers? What are the conditions giving the buyers as a way of taking care of Nigerians’ interest?

The worse will not be over until Nigerians can buy a bag of rice for N6000, people stop losing their jobs, naira is strengthened and the purchasing power is restored. Classroom economics cannot be useful to the average Nigerian and abstract things will not be interesting to them. Nigerians will only be interested in seeing, feeling and touching the change they were promised. It is only when this happens that they can understand that the worse is over.

Bring back our people, not only Chibok girls

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Prof. Ma'azu Nguru

he issue of the missing Chibok girls has been unproportionately politicised, in other words, it is out of proportion both locally and internationally. For more than two years now, people have been clamouring for them, as if the deadly Boko Haram elements did not commit atrocities against any other person but the girls only.

Nobody talks or cares much about the other unfortunate Nigerians from the North East. Even the media focus more on these girls than the other innocent villagers slained. People were butchered like sheep and chickens in the region, but this has not received sympathy or concern from some people as the Chibok girls had. Whoever visits Nigeria talks first on this matter.

Thousands of women were kidnapped or abducted, and impregnated, and by so doing hundreds of orphans were produced with no one taking proper care of them in the IDP Camps and have no future. We have thousands of widows who need all kinds of assistance. One should look at what happened of dreadful killings in Bama, Baga, Gwoza and so on.

Chibok girls are not the only people in the North East. Just, they are part of the scoundrel lots victims. Many school girls and boys were annihilated and at Buni Yadi and Mamudo towns of Yobe State.

Were those not Nigerians? Or are they less important? I am not against finding the Chibok girls. They are our daughters, but let others also receive the same concern.

Those who persistently exert pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari and his

government to look for them, should ask those who know their whereabouts. Who knows whether most of them were used by the savages for suicide bombing? Why did the previous administration not locate them when the issue was very fresh and quite possible to tackle? If one contends that the girls were abducted and bundled off under the canopy of the government, when they were in their school hostels, as such, the past government should be held responsible for their disappearance.

Every citizen has right to be protected by the government. The prime assignment of any government is to give security to life and property of all.

In my view this kind of keen interest in these students only, may thwart our dauntless and audacious army who are recording victory after victory every day.

For those who say that, if the army fails to locate these girls, they have done nothing; this is not fair. People should bear in mind that, the aim and objective of our gallant troops are to obliterate and destroy the hideous creatures completely, and they are doing so now. Just on 19th of August about 300 of the ferocious insurgents were killed including three of their leaders by air strike. We, the people of the North East know this very well, for we see it practically on the ground.

Well done our army, kudos to Mr. President and his government. Please, instead of bring back our girls, let us be bring back all our women and all other captives, for they are also Nigerians.

•Prof. Nguru is the Director/CEO, Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala.

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Sport Extra

Mikel doubtful for Zambia clash

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Ajibade Olusesan uper Eagles captain Mikel Obi is doubtful for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia after Chelsea boss Antonio Conte revealed the midfielder was injured.

Conte told a pre-match press conference that the midfielder will not be available for selection in today’s English Premier League clash against Hull City.

“John Terry is out of the game. Mikel is also out with a small muscular problem,” Conte said on Friday.

The Nigeria captain Mikel has yet to play a competitive game for Chelsea under Conte after he cut short pre-season training with ‘The Blues’ to feature for Nigeria at the recent Olympics in Rio. It has not yet been ascertained if he would have recovered in time for an October 9 showdown against Zambia in Ndola.

Efforts from our correspondent to seek clearance from Super Eagles and Nigeria Football federation officials proved abortive as at press time.

Meanwhile, Eagles Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf said in a television programme Friday morning that Mikel prefers a more attacking role in the team’s midfield rather than the defensive role he plays at Chelsea.

“We sat down with him to discuss his preferred position and he told us he would rather play as a second holding player like what he did at the Rio Olympics”, Yusuf said.

“And that was also the position we played him against Tanzania and he played very well.”

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1 OCTOber 2016

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The amazing return of Rangers

am one of the many Nige18 goals is the highest scorer so far and he is one goal better than that rians who are thrilled with the feat achieved by Rangers of Gbolahan Salami last season. The International Football Club LMC should work towards putting of Enugu in the Nigeria Profesall matters of litigations to rest before the new season. sional Football League which The league body and the Nigecomes to a close in various cenria Football Federation should also ters this weekend. Although work with the officials of Rangers the Flying Antelopes are still and other teams playing continenon the verge of being crowned tal football on how best to prepare on Sunday after the last match against El-Kanemi Warriors of for the challenges ahead. Winadekunles@yahoo.com 08050498539 (sms only) them Maiduguri. Rangers need only ning the league is a great achieveone point to confirm their status ment but what next after that is as the 2016 NPFL Champions. very important. Rangers should be To clinch the domestic title after 32 Coach Imama Amakapabo’s men will taken to the next level. Governor Ugwuayi years is a big feat for the Antelopes. Coach have to avoid a defeat or go all out for should raise a solid board that can take the Amakapabo, a goalkeeper in his footballing an outright win. team to the apex of African football. career, has done a good job and credit also My sentiment for Rangers is because The name ‘Rangers’ is like an institugoes to former Eagles coach Christian tion, a movement. Top Nigerians from all they are one of the traditional teams in Chukwu and others who provided techwalks of life are in love with this team and the country. Shooting Stars, Leventis nical back up for the head coach. Governor United of Ibadan, Sharks of Port Harso they could be encouraged to rally round Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi also did a good job as he court, Spartans of Owerri, Abiola Babes of the team. This is the time to go heavy on gave the team a blank cheque for its operamerchandise. People will be ready to buy Abeokuta and Stationery Stores of Lagos tions. The team flew to Lagos for the last were other traditional teams but I covered various souvenirs of this team like key match against Ikorodu United which RangRangers more than any other team in the holders, stickers, T- shirts and Face caps. ers won 2-1. Motivation is crucial in sports. league that time. The team’s camp comIf the original is made and well-labelled, it With celebration in the air for Sunday’s mandant, Segun Martins, was a friendly will turn out to be a big boom. match in Enugu, the state government guy that made reporting interesting for Corporate organisations should be should provide adequate security espejournalists. He arranged interviews for brought in for the preparation of Rangers cially now that the gates have been thrown journalists after matches not only at the for the CAF Champions League while kits open. There should be enough education stadium but in their camp base. I learnt manufacturers can also help for next seaand crowd control measures to check the he died three years ago. He could have son. The pedigree of this team is so big and spectators. been at the Stadium on Sunday for the the Antelopes can go all the way to win Generally, the 2016 NPFL season has anticipated celebration. We called him the CAF Champions League if the right been fair but there is room for improve‘Segun Rangers.’ He lived like a king in steps are taken. ments with controversial officiating and alEnugu even though he was Yoruba. I also While celebrating on Sunday, as exlegations of buying and selling of games by remember Davidson Owumi. He was a pected, the chieftains of the team should ‘moneybags.’ The number of away wins for prolific scorer for the team and he rose to be thinking of how to take Rangers higher. the season after 35 matches is 20 while 71 become the secretary and later the ChairIt is possible and I hope it is not too early draws were recorded. Rangers with three man of the team. He spent the better part to say Congrats to Amakapabo and his away wins top the chart as best team on the of his football career with Rangers. wards. Bravo! road. Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists with

Sport Slaming

Adekunle Salami

SATURDAY TELEGRAPH

1 October 2016

News 55

Sanctity of Truth

SATURDAY

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2016

DESTINATION Motherland Beckons takes on Destination Akosombo Ghana

N150

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

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PERSPECTIVES

Working or talking our way out of recession?

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Aguero, Tottenham’s tormentor, comes to town

Aguero

oint

p a e v o r p to t e s n o S ’ s •Spur

O

Ajibade Olusesan

SPORTS WORD SEARCH SHOOTING STARS SPORTS CLUB PLAYERS

Fabiyi Adedeji Jimoh Umar Adepoju Adetunji Bazuaye Bright Najeem Suraj

Ismail

Osawe Waheed Attah Moses Izu Ebiaku Ibrahim Babalola

Son

nly Newcastle has suffered more in the hands of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero than Tottenham so the London club will be more careful when the Argentine arrives capital with his side for an English Premier League date on Sunday afternoon.

Aguero who is the most lethal striker in the division at the moment has scored 10 times against Tottenham, just one less than he has managed against Newcastle, and will be looking to inflict more misery on Spurs when his side arrives to White Hart Lane tomorrow.

Only a three-match domestic suspension has halted Aguero's impressive start to the season. The striker has scored five goals in four EPL appearances this season, including a brace at Swansea last weekend.

His scintillating form has continued in Europe, with the 28-year-old Argentine scoring hattricks against both Steaua Bucharest and Borussia Monchengladbach.

One player that will want to see Aguero’s form halted is goalkeeper Hugo Lloris who has let in eight of the Argentine's goals, the most the Spurs captain has conceded against a single player in his

EPL career.

Meanwhile, Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino will not have the services of his top striker Harry Kane who is still side-lined due to injury but the Argentine coach is certainly delighted with the form of another forward Heung-Min Son who has carried the goal scoring burden.

Son has seized the opportunity handed to him this season by Pochettino after the Tottenham manager turned down his request to leave the club in the summer.

The South Korea forward has already equaled his EPL goals tally from last season, scoring twice in both away wins at Stoke and Middlesbrough.

Despite appearing in only half of Spurs' league games this term, the 24-year-old has scored the most goals, made the most dribbles and had the most touches in the opposition box for his club this season.

Son also averages 11.3 dribbles per game, which is more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this campaign going into this weekend.

Despite Son’s impressive stats ahead of tomorrow’s tie, England legend Paul Ince is tipping Aguero to come out tops in the battle of the strikers.

“Sergio Aguero – you can’t go with anyone else [to score in] this game,” Ince said.

“His record against Spurs is great and he came back from his ban last week and scored two. He takes penalties too. This will be a big test for both sides, plenty of people are saying City will walk the league, but games like this are definitely testers for them. It’s definitely an exciting game!”

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