Sunday, august 28, 2016

Militancy: Avengers nominates Soyinka, Kalu to lead dialogue team lEx-Abia gov calls for caution

}3&4

Okogie: Nigeria shouldn’t go hungry again under buhari }31

SUNDAY Why we can’t enter Sambisa Forest - COAS Sanctity of Truth

Sunday, AUGUST 28, 2016 Vol. 3 No. 921

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Adekemi Taofeek

lBlames lull in operations on difficult terrain, rainy season lNAF gears up to produce own jet fighters lTrains 50 pilots, 700 others on relevant skills

I can date below my status }42 NEWS I’m nobody’s stooge -Gov Ortom }24

Poor storage, bad roads killing our business – Farmers and traders cry out }8&9

4,000 pupils in calisthenics display in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Osun State at the Osogbo Township Stadium...yesterday

Fresh intrigues trail Ondo guber race lPresidency set to stop Tinubu’s anointed man lJonathan’s aide dumps Mimiko, backs Sheriff

}4

2

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 28.08.16 BODY & SOUL

My passion Grassroot mobiliser and leader of Yoruba ethnic organisation, Odua Peoples’ Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, talks about his family, passion for the Yoruba race and lifestyle

}20&21

POLITICS

Judiciary on trial Conflicting judgements in mostly political cases at high and appeal courts have cast aspersions on the nation's judiciary's readiness to protect our democracy

}23

BUSINESS

Recession: Manufacturers urge government to go beyond mouthing diversification of the economy and provide incentives to revive Nigeria's ailing industries

}43

FAITH

Nigerians are hungry Cardinal Okogie has again taken a swipe at the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, accusing it of being insensitive to the cries of hunger in the land

}31

SPORT

Olympics blues Nigeria’s wrestler, Odunayo Adekuoroye, says injury deprived her of a medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics

}53

Magazine

Farmers' woes Farmers and farm produce marketers across the country are losing money due to paucity of storage facilities, preservatives and poor condition of roads

}8&9

SUNDAY

Editorial

As Havelange departs The passage of Dr. Jean–Marie Faustin Godefroid “Joao” de Havelange at 100 years calls for celebration especially in Africa where traditionally departure at such ripe age is seen as a glorious exit.

Havelange, who was President of the International Football Federation from 1974 to 1998 was seen as a strong supporter of African football development. For his avowed interest in the growth of the game on the continent, he was often in the bad books of the Western press.

As the first non European head of FIFA, Havelange was bent on promoting the game beyond Europe and South America.

That sounded strange to some of those who felt soccer was not for Africa, Asia and Oceania. Many thought Havelange ‘s Revolution was not necessary. His parents migrated from Belgium to Brazil and as he mounted the stage in 1974, allegiance to his paternal roots and country of birth, therefore, was expected.

When the Brazilian became FIFA President in 1974, African football was a big disgrace. First timers Zaire left the West Germany ’74 Mundial with a basketful of goals. In their debut, the Leopards lost 2-0 to Scotland. It got worse in the 9-0 drubbing

by Yugoslavia before Brazil completed the humiliation with a 3-0 result. The debutants conceded 14 goals, enough to spell Mobutu Sese Seko, their leader. That was at a time the whole of the African continent had just one slot.

Four years in the saddle, Havelange noticed the future of African football. Debutants Tunisia drew goalless with defending champions West Germany at the Argentina ’98 World Cup. In the next game, the Carthage Eagles lost 1-0 to Poland. Then came the spectacle. The North Africans defeated Mexico 3-1 in their last group game.

The FIFA boss decided to try something new. He increased Africa’s slot to two. It was a wise decision. At the Espana‘ 82 World Cup, debutants Algeria and Cameroun showed that the continent had come of age. The Desert Warriors stunned the globe when they hit West Germany, who at the time were European champions, 2-1.

In what Pele called the ‘revolt of the little guys’, the Algerians also beat Chile 3-2 and were on the way to the Second round when Germany and Austria decided to play the dumbest form of soccer .The Spanish crowd booed them with fuera, fuera [out,out]. It ended 1-0 for the Germans and ensured qualification for the two European countries at the expense of Africa.

The Indomitable Lions were also out-

standing. In a group that had experienced Italy, Poland and Peru, Cameroun remained unbeaten although three draws could not guarantee a second round position.

The import was that Germany and Italy, powerful teams, would later play in the grand finale of that Mundial. Italy,led, by Dino Zoff lifted the trophy but neither team could beat African opposition during the Group stages and those were newcomers.

Other debutants like New Zealand, Honduras and Kuwait did not show much.

With that strong African showing, Havelange continued with policies that favoured Africa. The FIFA Coca-Cola U-20 Youth Championships was introduced in 1977.

And for the very first time, Africa was allowed to host the world in Tunisia. It is to the eternal credit of Havelange that 32 years later, an African country, Ghana won the cup. That was on home soil, Egypt.

There was also the FIFA U-16 competition which was introduced in 1985. Sponsored by Kodak, it was won by Nigeria in China. The colour photographs company withdrew sponsorship after that African victory. It was unbelievable that Nigeria could beat Germany 2-0. Referee Christopher Bambridge tried everything possible to deny the Eaglets victory.

Credit to Havelange. When Kodak pulled out, claiming that Africa was not a fertile ground for their business, the FIFA boss brought in Japanese electronics giants JVC Nivico. Today, the Golden Eaglets stand out from the rest having won the trophy a record five times. The Starlets of Ghana have also been successful more than once.

If the Brazilian had not created that window, African football would still be on the grass, exactly where his predecessors wanted it. By the time Havelange left office in 1998, the World Cup had become open to 32 finalists from the 16 he met when he assumed office in 1974.

Havelange also made FIFA more attractive by opening doors to marketers. Football yielded huge dividends as Adidas and CocaCola invested in it. This would later create an opportunity for some of the big players in the West who did not like his innovations, to accuse him of siphoning $41 million accruing from marketing rights in 2012.

For a man who moved African football forward by introducing age group competitions, the least the continent owes him is a befitting farewell. As an Olympian who died during the Olympics and a boss who preached Fair Play, we wish him eternal rest.

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

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani (Leave of Absence)

Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor n Tunde Sulaiman

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam Asst. Editor, News & Politics n Biyi Adegoroye

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun Head, Arts & Creative n Ugochukwu Nnakwe Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

3

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

Why troops can’t penetrate Sambisa Forest - COAS

T

Onwuka Nzeshi here are strong indications that the Nigerian troops involved in counterterrorism and insurgency operations in the North Eastern flanks of the country may be witnessing a lull in their activities, following the difficulties of the terrain and the coming of the rainy season.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who gave this hint in a chat with newsmen, disclosed that Sambisa Forest, which is arguably the last stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorist group, is a very difficult terrain, especially for ground troops as some of their vehicles could sink in the vast forest which is usually waterlogged at the peak of the rainy season.

“The terrain is very difficult, especially for the ground forces. You can’t go in there, especially during the rainy season. But for us in the Air Force, we are not limited by terrain; we simply fly over the place to see what is happening.

What we are targeting is that at the end of the rainy season, when it would be easier for all these equipments to move in, we will renew our operations. You know water collects there from everywhere and sometimes it becomes very difficult for troops because their equipment could get stuck. I believe that towards the end of the year, when it will be dry season, it will be much easier to penetrate,” he said.

Abubakar, who was exchanging views with journalists on the operations of the military in the terrorists’ enclave, said that, apart from the difficult terrain, the sheer size of Sambisa Forest was also a challenge to the Nigerian troops. According to him, Sambisa Forest has a land area of about 60,000 square kilometers, spreading across the three states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

“It extends even into Cameroon and that is why sometimes in the past, these terrorists could do whatever they like and thereafter sneak into Cameroon. But now, Cameroon is also hot for them and they are now coming back. You can see the difficulty involved in ensuring that we cover every square inch of that forest. We still fly over Sambisa Forest on a regular basis but you see there are issues with the terrain. “ But for us in the Air Force, we are not limited by the terrain; we simply fly over the place to see what is happening. But I can tell you that it is substantially deserted. Even if people are there, from what we have

•Blames lull in operations on difficult terrain, rainy season •NAF gears up to produce own jet fighters •Trains 50 pilots, 700 others on relevant skills been seeing from our Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance ( ISR) pictures, it is extremely difficult to say that the place can be occupied especially now. What we have achieved so far is degrading the capacity of these people and looking out for any equipment belonging to Boko Haram and destroying them. We are also destroying their logistic base where they stock diesel and even foodstuff,” he said.

Abubakar explained that the Nigeria Air Force has been fully involved in the fight against Boko Haram because it will enable the Army to conducts its ground operations successfully. He disclosed that all over the world, air -power was very crucial in any warfare because of its capacity to soften the ground so that by the time the ground troops move in, there will be little or no resistance from the enemy.

“One of missions we conduct to achieve this is called the Close Air Support and it’s a mission that requires close integration with the ground forces so that you don’t end up killing your own people. Close Air Support helps you to know where your enemies are and the location of your own people. We use it in the operations we have conducted to neutralize enemy forces that are in close proximity with the friendly forces,” he stated.

The Nigeria Air Force, Abubakar disclosed, had in the last one year, invested in training of its personnel to boost their capacity in various aspects of its operations as well as in research and development.

In the last one year or thereabout, we have sent over 700 personnel to different parts of the world to acquire the right skills so that when they come back, they will be more effective.

Training is a very important component of our service in order to provide that close air support to the army.

Right now, we have about fifty (50) pilots that we are training in different parts of the world,” he said.

On the prospects of Nigeria manufacturing its own war planes, Abubakar said that they have already started the process by developing the UAV ( Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) which was designed by Nigerian engineers. According to him, the engineering drawings of the UAVs were done by Nigerians without any foreign interventions.

“But you also recognise that to put together these

ideas, you need machines and these machines are not available locally. Right now, we have a team undergoing training in the United States on aircraft manufacturing.

They have been there since

last year. We want to understand how the fuselage is made. What are the things you need to consider when you are developing an aircraft? How do put together the wings and the fuselage?

How do you integrate the avionics equipment into the aircraft? It is something that will take some time, but at least we are building capacity. By the time these guys come back; we would’ve

already understood how to make fuselage. It is just a matter of building on that knowledge and I believe that one day, we will get there,” said the Air Force boss.

President Muhammadu Buhari(middle) participates at the Opening Session of the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), in Nairobi Kenya…yesterday

Militancy: Avengers nominates Kalu, Soyinka to lead dialogue team Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

T

he Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) yesterday made good its promise to name a team of seven eminent personalities who have been mandated to hold talks with the Federal Government and explore avenues to end the hostilities in the Niger Delta region.

The long awaited list of names of the dialogue committee was released last night by the leadership of Niger Delta Avengers (Central and Eastern Zones) and other splinter militant groups from other oil producing states in the region.

Top on the list of the team is a former Governor of Abia state, Chief (Dr.) Orji Uzor Kalu, and Prof. Wole Soyinka who has been designated as the Adviser to the seven-man panel. Others on the panel include Prof. Steve Odi-Owei; Etubom (Dr.) Anthony A. Ani; Nalaguo Chris Alagoa; Chief (Mrs.) Alice Mobolaji Osomo and Mr. Inienimi Ballantyne Agiri, who has been the spokesman of the group.

New Telegraph had, last week, exclusively reported

that Nobel Laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka may play a key role in resolving the current conflict between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group which has claimed responsibility for the renewed militancy and bombing of oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta.

Soyinka is expected to lead the dialogue team comprising about six other eminent Nigerians nominated by the NDA to meet with the federal government to explore ways of securing a ceasefire and restoring lasting peace in the region.

The resolve to dialogue with the Federal Government came after months of sustained violent campaign and economic sabotage, which has impacted negatively on oil production and revenue accruing to the federation.

Spokesman for the Dialogue Group, Mr. Ballantyne Agiri, had, last week confirmed that the NDA was in the process of constituting a contact and dialogue group to engage the Federal Government in meaningful dialogue as part of the initiatives to resolve the crisis.

Agiri, who declined to mentioned the names of the other members of the dialogue team, said Soyinka, was chosen because of his track records as a freedom fighter as well as a credible and detribalised personality.

The move to select a dialogue team, Agiri said, has been going on for months but was delayed due to the fact that the leadership of the NDA was looking for credible personalities who are capable of presenting their grievances before the Federal Government and insist on extracting useful commitments from the other side.

“I was on my own when they invited me to work for them. But I told them that one person cannot hold dialogue with the government that we should look for eminent Nigerians who have the pedigree to do a good job. The moment I mentioned Prof.

Wole Soyinka they became interested because according to them, he is somebody who is not from the Niger Delta region but has a credible and detribalised personality. They said they were looking for about five or at most seven persons to lead the negotiation on their behalf.

“Right now, we are constituting the dialogue team, we are putting logistics in place.

Some of the members of the team are coming from outside the country. When you see some of them, you will be shocked. Some of them are people who have served this country in different capacities,” he said.

Agiri disclosed that at a certain stage, there were some elements of disagreement among the leaders of the NDA on the proposed dialogue. A section of them he said, believed that there was no need to dialogue with the Federal Government because of the perception that the current administration was not favourably disposed to listening to the cries of marginalisation of the Niger Delta people.

“There has been differences among the militants in terms of approach to ending the crisis. The Central Niger Delta is Bayelsa, then the East comprises Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River states. These two groups have agreed to work together towards the dialogue and they constitute about 70 per cent of the total fighting Continues on page 4

4

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Japan pledges $30bn for Africa over three years

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

J

apan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, told African leaders on Saturday that his country will commit $30 billion in public and private support for infrastructure development on the continent.

Resource-poor Japan has long been interested in tapping Africa’s vast natural resources, even more so since dependence on oil and natural gas imports jumped after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster shut almost all of Japan’s nuclear reactors.

Abe, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), said the package would be spread over three years from this year and this include $10 billion for infrastructure projects on the continent, to be executed through cooperation with the African Development Bank.

“When combined with investment from the private sector, I expect that the total will amount to $30 billion.

This is an investment that has faith in Africa’s future, an investment for Japan and Africa to grow together,” he told a gathering of more than 30 heads of state and government from across Africa.

The $30 billion announced on Saturday is in addition to $32 billion which Japan pledged to Africa over a five-year period at the last TICAD meeting in 2013. Abe said 67 percent of that had already been put to use in various projects.

“Today’s new pledges will enhance and further expand upon those launched three years ago. The motive is quality and enhancement,” he said.

Japan’s overall direct investment in Africa totaled $1.24 billion in 2015, down from about $1.5 billion a year earlier, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation, which does not provide a breakdown of sectors.

Japan’s presence in infrastructure projects range from roads, ports, airports to power plants.

In comparison, rival China made a single investment of $2 billion in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea in the month of April, 2015, alone.

Abe said the new pledge will also go towards improving labour productivity and healthcare, reports Reuters.

Chadian President and current African Union Chairman Idriss Deby, attending the summit, urged Tokyo to lend support to efforts to tackle insecurity, including that arising from terrorism.

“At the recent African Union Summit, we did say how it was important to mobilise the international community to counter all these scourges,” he said.

“I urge all our partners, and in particular Japan, to contribute to the African Fund against Terrorism that was set up and established by the Kigali summit,” Deby said, in reference to an AU meeting held in Rwanda in July.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the Federal Government will ensure full rehabilitation of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President said government is working hard to also find lasting solutions to threats of terrorism in the country.

President Buhari, who stated this yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya at the opening of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), added that Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded, even as the reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country receives immediate attention.

Acknowledging Japanese assistance through UNICEF in the rehabilitation of the victims of Boko Haram, the President commended development partners for their work geared towards improving the lives of some two million IDPs in the country.

L-R: Head, Publicity, Nnokwa Progress Union (NPU), Lagos branch, Mr. Victor Eze; Chairman, Education Committee, Rev. Emeka Abone; Chairman, NPU, Prince Charles Ezeagwu; Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Nnamdi Anozie; Guest of honour, Dr. Obiora Chukwuka, and Past Chairman, Education Committee, Dr. Simon Ukpaka, at the 7th NPU Youth Forum on ‘Skill Acquisition and Youth Empowerment’ in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Fresh intrigues trail Ondo guber race •Presidency set to stop Tinubu’s anointed man •Jonathan’s aide dumps Mimiko, backs Sheriff

L

ess than three months to the November governorship in Ondo State, a fresh web of intrigues appears to be trailing the contest in the two main political partiesthe Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and the All Progressives Congress ( APC).

The intrigues have to do with the choice of standard bearers for both parties even as the leaderships of the parties are divided along interest lines.

It was gathered that in order to calm frayed nerves and give a clearer direction, the Presidency is expected to meet with the over 20 governorship aspirants seeking to fly the APC’s flag. The meeting will hold on Monday night in Abuja and will

Militancy: Avengers nominates Soyinka, Kalu to lead dialogue team Continues from page 3

force now. Those from the Western Niger Delta that is Delta, Edo and Ondo constitute about 30 per cent of the fighting force of the NDA. They were not too keen on dialogue because they felt that the body language of President Muhamnadu Buhari does not suggest he was open to any dialogue. So the Central and Eastern blocks said that if the others were not ready for dialogue, we are ready for dialogue; go

ahead and open talks with the Federal Government on our behalf,” he said.

On how far the dialogue process had gone, Agiri confided in our reporter that those who have been contacted did not want their names disclosed until the coast was clear.

Acknowledging the receipt of the letter, Kalu, who had a few weeks ago, charged the militia group to sheath their swords, said that for the sake of national well-being, it is

important for all parties to thread with caution.

In a statement by his Special Adviser Media, Kunle Oyewunmi, he noted that government, as an institution, cannot be held to ransom and pleaded with the Federal Government to embrace dialogue as a mechanism for conflict resolution, pointing out that in view of the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, agitations are bound to arise from different quarters.

be hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr Babachir David Lawal. It was unclear if the aspirants would meet President Muhammadu Buhari after meeting the SGF. According to an impeccable source, the meeting of the SGF and the aspirants which had the blessing of the president was conveyed on the heels of protests that trailed the endorsement of one of the governorship aspirants, Engr Segun Abraham, by the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The purported endorsement of Abraham has already polarized the party, culminating in the controversial removal of the state chairman, Hon Isaacs Kekemeke, just as most of the governorship aspirants wrote protest letters to the national leadership of the APC as well as the Presidency.

The source, who is privy to Monday’s parley said the other governorship aspirants, led by former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu(SAN), had sought audience with President Buhari who mandated the SGF to meet them and give clear directions.

The proposed meeting was reportedly brokered by three ministers who are close to the president.

The three ministers, two of whom are from the South-West, have a frosty

relationship with Tinubu while the other is from the South-South.

The trio is said to be backing Akeredolu whose friendship with the APC national leader has also hit the rocks. Akeredolu was the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) in the 2012 Ondo State governorship election. ’’The endorsement of one of the aspirants will be overturned on Monday night because the president has asked the SGF to listen to the aggrieved aspirants and give clear directions as to what to do. ‘’You know that people are working round the clock and with the calibre of persons,especially the three ministers backing one of the aggrieved aspirants, I doubt if whatever endorsement that had been done will fly. ‘’We are yet to confirm, but there are indications that a statement will be made to that effect and a new line to follow might be laid out at the meeting,’’ the source said.

Kuku dumps Mimiko ‘s man, backs Sheriff’s faction Meanwhile, there are strong indications that negotiations between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and former presidential adviser, Hon Kingsley Kuku, ahead of the governorship election, may have broken down following the governor’s refusal to allow Kuku pair with

Mr. Eyitayo Jegede. Jegede had emerged the PDP ‘s governorship candidate last week.

Kuku now backs the Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim led group of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP. Hon Biyi Poroye, who is now the factional state chairman of the party, was Kuku’s campaign coordinator for the Southern Senatorial District while the state legal adviser, Barrister Ebi Eritei Ebekun, is a cousin of the former presidential aide.

Also, Kuku’s campaign spokesperson during the ill-fated governorship attempt, Yemi Akintomide, served in the same position as Director of Publicity of the factional group.

It will be recalled that a two months ago, Mimiko had sent emissaries to Kuku in the United States where he is self exiled, seeking his support for Jegede, but the former presidential aide was said to have given two related conditions, one of which was to be Jegede’s running mate. The other was to allow him nominate the running mate if the first condition did not fly.

It was on the heels of this ,that Kuku reportedly expressed his preference for his former campaign chief, Hon John Mafo. However, Mimiko was said to have tacitly turned down the request,opting for wider consultations within the leadership of the PDP before taking a decision on the issue of Jegede’s running mate.

5

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 28, AUGUST, 2016

NEWS

Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he militant group, Niger Delta Red Squad, operating in the Ohaji-Egbema axis of Imo State has bombed an Agip Petroleum pipeline at Uzo-Oru Ikwerede in Awarra community of Ohaji-Egbema council area of Imo state.

Posting the attack on their Facebook wall yesterday, the group warned Agip personnel to keep away from the pipeline as

Niger Delta Red Squad strikes again •Hits Agip pipeline •Threatens to behead soldiers, attack Okorocha’s home anybody found within the area would be beheaded.

The group also threatened to attack Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Ogboko village if government eventually deploys any military taskforce to their community which they

claim is relatively peaceful.

According to the post, the group said that their community, particularly the Awarra Court area, has nothing to show for the operations of Agip, SPDC and other oil companies in their community since the

creation of Imo State.

It read in part: “We have crude oil, gas, palm oil, rubber estate, which we use to put food in the basket of Imo State, yet we don’t benefit anything from Imo State or the oil companies in our commu-

L-R: Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi; former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; his wife, Monica; former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, and state’s Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party, Augustine Nnamani, during the Silver Jubilee celebration of the state, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu... yesterday

Paul Ogbuokiri and Ugo Ezurike

I

f feelers from the Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri, and concerned citizens of the Imo State are anything to go by, there may not be any new intakes of students into some departments of the university in the new academic year of 2016/2017 starting September, 2016.

It will be recalled that during the recent four-month strike embarked upon by the staff of the university, that was suspended early last month, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had reminded the institution and the government of the danger of not resuming academic activities in the school - that the final year law students would not go to the Law School without completing their academic prerequisite, a situation which according to JAMB, could also lead to the institution losing the 2016/2017 academic year.

Also, the board cannot release admission to two sets of first year students in the same school.

Though screening and other admission formalities have kicked off at the institution on August 15 and ended on Friday, according to official information from the university, there is, however, palpable fear that the lecturers will down tools again over unpaid salary arrears and allowances.

Unpaid salaries: IMSU students to repeat classes …as fresh strike looms

Sunday Telegraph learnt that the lecturers are still owed over three months’ salary even as they are paid only 70 per cent of their monthly salary.

But, a final year student of the institution, Kenny Edoziem, while speaking on the development, said, with about one week of crash programme and two weeks of exams, there is glimmer of hope that new students will be admitted in very many departments of the institution.

However, there is still an unresolved accreditation issue in the Nursing Department and Medical Laboratory Sciences, while the situation in Medical Department is more conjectural.

Meanwhile in his widely publicised article, on the deluge of issues bordering on the governance of the state, a social activist and an indigene of the state, Okechukwu Nwanguma, stated that the state government has succeeded in ruining the academic fortunes of the state that was once a flagship in academic performances in the country.

No matter their best ef-

forts, he doubts the possibility of the institution meeting up with its curriculum.

“It’s going to be a crash programme which means that they are going to leave out so many things. I don’t see them meeting up. What it means is that the state government has ruined the health, judiciary, education and other aspects of the state. The state is currently at a standstill. The school may not meet up because they are struggling to make up the first semester they have lost.

“At times like this, lecturers will resort to all forms of illegitimate acts to make ends meet; they will milk the students. Their commitment is going to be very low. It’s actually affecting standard. At the end, we will have half-baked graduates,” he said.

Nwanguma further said that for seven months running, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Imo State branch, has been on indefinite strike due to non-payment of their salaries from January 2006 to date. He also said that efforts made by the national body of JUSUN to broker

truce failed as the governor refused to endorse the terms of settlement articulated by his Attorney General which include the payment of three months’ salary to the workers to enable them start work while the outstanding shall be paid successively.

A retired pensioner in the state, Joel Okeke, said, “What baffles me is that our governor goes about castigating the immediate past administration at the centre for not saving for the rainy day, what then prevented him that said that the state was swimming in wealth in 2011 not to have saved for a day like this,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Ralph Njokuobi in an email to Sunday Telegraph yesterday, was mum on the reported looming strike and likelihood of some department losing one academic year. He simply said without elaborating, “The revised academic calendar will take care of 12 weeks of academics while the remaining 3 weeks will take care of the exams as the session will end in October.”

The new JAMB intake will start the 2016/17 academic session in September.

nity. We have seen enough marginalization and it has to be stopped.”

Continuing, the group said, “To Imo State government and their security agencies, we ask you to give our people what rightfully belong to them.

You think the best thing you can do is to plan on how to deploy security men to our area. No problem, Rochas Okorocha, we are assuring you that no security agent will come to any part of Awarra and go without being beheaded”.

The group averred that there is no crisis in their community, warning that there will be no peace for anybody that brings crisis to their community.

“Since you don’t want our parents to have peace, your own people will not have peace and we will start it from Ideato; we will turn their children to orphans and their parents to widows and widowers,” the group said.

When contacted, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utilities, Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, said that the state government is not aware of the said incident.

He said, “The information has not reached us. It is not true. That’s the government position on it. We don’t have the security report of such incident. Until we get a security report on it, it does not exist.”

Okowa, Tambuwal pray for successful militants’, FG dialogue Dominic Adewole ASABA

D

elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and his Sokoto State counterpart, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday appealed to militants in the Niger Delta region to embrace dialogue to resolve the issues surrounding the region’s questions.

The governors said dialogue would bring speedy growth and development in the region rather than the current hostility approach to the agitations.

Speaking at the second day of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit in Asaba, organised to mark the state’s silver jubilee celebration, the two governors in separate remarks lamented that the resumed hostility have crippled the country’s mainstay of the economy.

According to them, the security challenges in the region degenerated to a level where the country was losing huge revenue as a result of incessant bombing of oil installations.

“I bring you felicitations from the Nigeria Governors Forum on your state’s silver jubilee celebration, Delta State is known for peace, and a lot can be achieved when dialogue is applied.

“I want to call on the youths of the Niger Delta region to embrace dialogue and peace in their agitations, let us have dialogue on the various issues affecting the region; we need

peace and tranquillity in the country so that we can harness all our resources for development. I urge the youths of the Niger Delta to engage the Federal Government through dialogue so that solutions can be found,” Governor Tambuwal said.

On his part, Governor Okowa said: “We seek peaceful environment from our people, so that a lot of development can take place; we need to cooperate with ourselves so that we can right the wrongs of the past.

“A lot of the investment community are ready to partner with us to develop the state, but, we need to ensure that we sustain the peace and security in our communities so that investors can come in; it is not wrong to agitate but we can do that through dialogue, we will get better results when we agitate through dialogue.”

While Okowa assured the people of the state, especially the participants at the summit, that government would take all necessary measures to implement whatever resolution is reached with the Federal Government during the proposed dialogue, Governor Tambuwal urged the summit to chart the way forward for a progressive Delta State.

He lauded the participants especially the former administrators and governors of the state; even as he called for cooperation of all to provide an enabling environment for investment to thrive in the state.

6

NEWS Kenneth Ofoma Enugu

T

here is growing tension in Enugu State as the youths of Attakwu Community in Akagbeugwu, Nkanu West Local Government area of the state at the weekend vowed to carry out reprisal against the Fulani herdsmen that allegedly attacked their community on Thursday killing a Catholic seminarian and fatally injuring four others.

One of the survivors of the Fulani herdsmen attack on Enugu community, 65year old Mrs. Ifeoma Agbo passed on Saturday, bringing the death toll to two.

The youths told the member representing Nkanu West/Nkanu East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, who visited the community to sympathise with them over the attack, that unless the Fulani people vacate their land, no amount of persuasion would dissuade them from carrying out retaliatory attack, no matter how long it takes.

SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Danger looms as Enugu community threatens reprisals against herdsmen

They pleaded with the security personnel, including the police and military deployed to maintain peace in the area, to leave so that they would vent their anger on the Fulanis, who had earlier deserted their camps in the wake of the attack, but had reportedly returned after some days.

Addressing the people of the community, Hon Ujam appealed to the Federal Government and the security agencies to protect members of his constituency from further attacks

by Fulani herdsmen.

Ujam stated that the killing of Catholic seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor and wounding of four others was a painful and unprovoked attack.

The lawmaker, who is also from the community, was accompanied by his colleague, Hon Kingsley Eb-

enyi representing Isi-Uzo/ Enugu East Federal Constituency, and the traditional ruler of the community, HRM Igwe Gregory Ugwu.

He called on the community to hold the peace.

“My colleague and I are here to see for ourselves what happened in the early hours of Thursday. Let me refresh your memory, I was quite vocal on the floor of the National Assembly when a similar act happened in Nimbo community and we stressed that this kind of act dastardly as it is should cease.

“We have come here today, painfully, yet again to hear same story. I will put on record that our people are peace loving people. I want to thank them so far for maintaining the peace. There has been no reprisals and I pray it continues that way.

“I also want to thank His

Excellency the governor Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for coming immediately it happened. I also thank, as I can see, the presence of various security personnel, I thank them for also responding.

“But I call on the Federal Government; I call on the security agencies to step up; it is their responsibility to protect the lives and property of the Nigerian citizens. No life is worth losing for any reason whatsoever, and when you hear the story about how this happened, it was simply an unprovoked attack. Cattle came into a farm and were just chased away.

Does that warrant murder in cold blood?

“My people are pained, they are agitating but we are appealing to them to hold the peace, two wrongs should not make a right,” he appealed.

Earlier, the traditional

ruler, Igwe Ugwu, while receiving the lawmaker in his palace, said the attack was planned and well executed, even as he declared that the Fulanis were illegal occupants as there was no agreement between them and the community to carry our gracing in the area.

Meanwhile, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has called the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to speed up investigations into the murder of eight students of the Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Zamfara State, and a Catholic seminarian in Enugu.

It also urged security agencies not spare any detail in unraveling circumstances

Increase work pace on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Fashola tells contractors

T

Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle); Federal Controller of Works, Mr. Anya Njoku Omerekpe (left) and Project Manager, Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Harley Vaknin (right) during the tour of the on-going construction work on the dualisation of Oyo - Ogbomosho Road in Oyo State...on Friday

Ondo APC crises worsen as aspirants kidnap delegates Babatope Okeowo Akure

B

arely a week to the rescheduled governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, one of the leading aspirants, Dr. Segun Abraham, yesterday alleged that some delegates who will vote in the exercise have been kidnapped.

Also, Abraham rose in defence of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his endorsement for the September 3 primary of the party.

Sources said many of statutory and elected delegates have been camped in different hotels in various South-West geo-political zone of the country, preparatory to the governorship

primaries. While some are hosted in Lagos State, others were either in Osun or Oyo states.

Speaking while featuring on a live programme on Adaba FM, Abraham said those aspirants who knew that they would lose the primary election out of their desperation invited some delegates to a meeting but later held them hostage at various hotels and facilities in the zone.

His words: “These delegates, who never knew the intention of the desperate aspirants, went for the meeting, only to be confined and never allowed to go home.”

In veiled reference to Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu’s tongue lash of Tinubu for endorsing him as the candidate for

the November 26 governorship election, Abraham described the former’s comment as unfortunate and an ungrateful act.

Akeredolu had in a live radio programme said that it was not Tinubu that made him the Action Congress of Nigeria’s candidate in 2012 and that Tinubu had lost his national leadership of the party by endorsing an aspirant ahead of the forthcoming APC primaries.

But Abraham described the statement credited to Akeredolu as an act of disrespect to one’s benefactor, highlighting all that Tinubu did for Akeredolu. He said; “Without our National Leader, President Muhammadu Buhari would not have won the ticket of the APC in 2015 and he would

not have become the President of Nigeria.

“The National Leader was being accused of imposing me, I was not imposed. Endorsement is different from imposition. Those who regarded the two as the same do not know what they were saying. The National Leader only said I am a preferred aspirant that can deliver the state for APC in the coming election.

“There is still going to be primary election and delegates know who they are going to vote for and who can win election for the APC. I have met the delegates and they have assured me that they are for me. If we hold the primary election today, I shall have nothing less than 85 per cent of their votes,” he said.

surrounding their deaths, arrest the perpetrators and ensure that they faced the wrath of the law.

The National President of PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude, who made the call in a statement on Saturday, described the killings of innocent Nigerians as barbaric and shocking.

Omobude lamented that it was becoming more difficult, with each attack, to find answers to the “seeming helplessness on the part of law enforcement agents” to rein in on individuals, whom he said “insist on these barbaric, riotous and criminal acts, while claiming to be acting in the name of religion”.

he Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, over the weekend, urged the contractors on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to speed up work pace on the road to ensure smooth movement of travelers across the country during the coming festivities.

The Minister, who undertook an inspection tour of the ongoing dualisation of the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, said this while returning from Ilorin, where he attended the 5th National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development.

Fashola, also urged the contractors to plan their works in a manner that it would not affect motorists and travelers during the forthcoming festivities, regardless of unpredictable constraints they encountered in the area of controlling traffic and working at the same time.

He said, “You must plan your work in such a way that you’re able to accommodate the traffic and also help to make the journey time of commuters better during the period. People will be travelling home and coming back. I also want you to improve the safety signs on this highway.”

Noting that the Moslem festival, Eid-el-Kabir was around the corner and that of the Christians’ Christmas as well as the New Year celebrations, the Minister tasked the contractors, handling the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to plan to accommodate the expected high volume of traffic from the events.

Fashola, who explained that the contractors on the Lagos-Ibadan road are working in sections, disclosed that the contractors were also changing all the expansion joints on the section of the Bridge between Berger and Arepo in Ogun State, popularly called the Long Bridge, which he noted is about 40 years old.

He noted that the motorists would experience something smoother against the harrowing experience of the recent past when the work on the bridge is finished, frowning at the current situation, where some citizens use some portions of the roads across the country for business transactions.

The Minister pointed out that such practice had not only slowed down work on the roads, but also done to detriment of smooth and unhindered vehicular movement and safety of road users.

He appealed to those concerned to voluntarily vacate the right of ways or be forced to do so by government, adding that government was already developing strategies for repossessing all the right of ways, which, according to him, is 45 meters from the central line.

Noting that those engaged in the act are also doing business at the expense of the citizenry, Fashola said the government is planning a meeting with all the Controllers across the 36 states to agree on new guidelines in managing the nation’s highways, saying such guidelines would include those that would promote safety and clearing of the right of way.

7

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

News

Buhari will revamp economy, says Onu Sabiu Mustapha

M JALINGO

inister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbannaya Onu, has reflected on the current economic situation in the country, reminding Nigerians that this is not the first time they are ex-

periencing hardship.

Onu said Nigerians had experienced a worse situation in the early 1980s when people had to queue up for essential commodities when the military overthrew a democratically elected government.

He made the statement in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital at the gradu-

ation ceremony of entrepreneurs of the National Board for Technology Incubation Centre (NBTI), stating that, the country will come out stronger from the current economic situation.

Although the minister was not specific on the regime when the nation went through the said economic

crises, he was said to have made a veiled allusion to what happened during the military regime of the incumbent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sunday Telegraph recalled that President Buhari served as the Nigeria’s military head of state in 1983, when he took over power from Presi-

dent Shehu Shagari and terminated the inglorious four years of the Second Republic. He himself was over thrown on August 27, 1985 by General Ibrahim Babangida.

Reminding Nigerians of their suffering of the early 80’s, Onu said: “We had this experience in the early 80s, at that time the situa-

tion was even worse, because we had to queue up for essential commodities. “ But President Muhammadu is determined to diversify our economy in a manner that it would be sustainable so that if there is a drop in commodity prices other sub-sectors of the economy will come to help us.”

NDDC nomination: Oro Youth Group backs Ekere, Frank

A

kpakip Oro Patriotic League, a prominent youth group in Oro nation in Akwa Ibom state, has risen in support of the nomination of Mr. Nsima Ekere as the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Mr. Samuel Frank as the Commissioner representing the state in the Commission.

The latest goodwill message to President Muhammadu Buhari on the nomination by the youth group is coming on the heels of earlier ones by the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers and Esu Nlap Oro, the apex traditional and youth institutions of the Oro. In the message signed by its President, Comrade Iniobong Edmond, Secretary-General, Prince John Anwana Ikott, and three other officials, Comrade Emmanuel Nduonyi, Mr. Victor Effiong Onomo and Mr. Eteka Edet

Ulo of the Akpakip Oro Patriotic League described the two nominees as men of integrity who were certain to utilize the opportunity of their membership of the NDDC Board for the development of the Niger Delta as a whole and Akwa Ibom State in particular.

The group, whose membership is drawn from the five local government areas of Oro Nation, hailed Ekere as a seasoned administrator with sincerity of purpose, pedigree and passion for development.

It also appealed to President Buhari to appoint more Akwa Ibom indigenes, especially of Oro extraction, into prominent positions, to reflect Oro’s status as the third largest ethnic group in the state.

The group commended the President’s strides in fighting corruption, insecurity and unemployment in the country.

NSCDC arrests minor with fake currency Dan Atori MINNA

T

he Niger State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested a 15-year-old boy who has been the supplier of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) to customers near Minna, the state capital.

The minor, names withheld, was arrested along Gidan Mongoro Bida Road with fake N1,000 and N500 notes amounting to N3,500 including cannabis sativa and a match box.

Upon interrogation, he confessed to using the cur-

rency but that he was not aware they were fake, adding that, the fake money was used in paying for the services he rendered.

He also said the cannabis sativa found on him were not his because he had stopped smoking.

The suspect, however, pleaded for clemency, saying that, he was just released from a remand home in Minna.

The state Commandant, NSCDC, Philip Ayuba, said the suspect will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

Kwara to spend N48m on community assistance

T

he Kwara Internal Revenue Service has earmarked the sum of N48 million as annual contribution to community development in the state.

Chairman of the service, Dr. Muritala Awodun, who disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital, said already it has spent over N28m for the renovation

of three markets at different parts of the state within the last three months.

Awodun justified the community development initiatives as part of efforts at assuring people that taxation is not only about collecting money from people.

He said such efforts would also encourage people to be committed to paying taxes.

L-R: Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Matins Azubuike; Deputy Chairman, Administration Advisory Council, De Bob Ogbuagu; Abia State Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu; Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife Nkechi; former Abia State Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, and Chairman, Abia State/South East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Eze Eberechi Dike, after Unveiling the new Abia State Logo, at the Silver Jubilee anniversary of the state, in Umuahia... on Saturday

RTEAN warns against discriminatory implementation of speed limiters Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Executive National President of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Chief Musa Isiwele, has cautioned the federal government not to be selective in the planned issuance of speed limiters to vehicles.

Isiwele, who gave the warning in Abuja while speaking with journalists on certain government policies in the transport sector, said that all categories of vehicles in the country must be made to have speed limiters when implementing the initiative.

He, however, said that only security and fire service vehicles, hospital ambulances and other special duty vehicles should be exempted from the proposed policy on speed limit because of the peculiar nature of their assignments.

Isiwele explained that his position that all vehicles should be given speed limiters was informed by the need to ensure that crimi-

nals were not exempted, and unconsciously given undue advantage to start terrorizing other citizens whose vehicles operate with speed limiters.

According to him, if certain class of vehicles, apart from security and other special services vehicles are exempted, armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals might take advantage of the speed limit device to pursue and overtake such disadvantaged road users to unleash their evil motives on their victims.

He also enjoined the Federal Road Safety Corps (NRSC), to ensure that counterfeit speed limiters were not imported into the country because inefficient product could result in fatal road mishaps.

Isiwele further implored the Commission not to fix price for the speed limiters when implemented so that market forces could determine the cost of the product.

His words: “Yes, I subscribe to the idea of introducing speed limiters

because I signed a communiqué to that effect but I advised them that it has to be uniform. It should not be selective; there should be no exemption.

“It must not be given to the commercial vehicles alone because if you say that you are giving it to the commercial vehicles alone, what of other vehicles that are used by kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals on the road?

“If they don’t have speed limiters in their vehicles, it means that you cannot run from them when you notice that they are pursuing you, and I have said this to the authorities in one-on-one interaction with them. I told them that it has to be uniformly administered, and not selective.

“The only vehicles that supposed not to have speed limiters should be security vehicles, hospital ambulances, fire service vehicles and those in related essential services; but if you say it is only commercial vehicles, that is going to bring a very big tragedy

that would not be good for this country.

“I know when my driver came from Port Harcourt, and I asked him why he didn’t sleep in Lagos; he said that there were armed robbers on the way and that was why he reversed the same day. So, if you know you are running 100 km/h and you can’t run anywhere they will just pursue you and catch you for their evil motives.”

He also called for the creation of separate parks for trailers and other heavy trucks so that the existing parks would be decongested, which he said were inadequate to accommodate the big trucks.

Commenting on the state of roads in Nigeria, and the threat by National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and transport associations, that government should fix some roads in Nigeria or face industrial action, the RTEAN boss said that the group were joking because no government could fix road in one month.

8

The Sunday Magazine

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Help! Poor storage, bad roads killing our Annual wastage of a staggering 80 per cent of the total food produced in Nigeria due to lack of storage facilities, preservation and transportation is not only causing major economic losses, but also wreaking significant harm on the country’s natural resources.

Sunday Telegraph’s investigations revealed that tons of agricultural produce are wasted daily in these markets, CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports

I

n Nigeria post-harvest losses of fruit and vegetables are more serious than those in well-developed countries of the world.

An additional constraint to improving this situation is that in Nigeria and most developing countries, the number of scientists concerned with post-harvest food losses is significantly lower than those involved in production research. In the early days of horticulture in some developed countries, heavy losses occurred in much the same manner as they do today in developing countries.

Increasing industrialization in technologically advanced nations gradually brought about improvements in crop handling. Elaborate harvesting equipment replaced the crude harvesting tools.

Collection centres were strategically established in major producing areas.

Containers were remodeled to add more protection to the produce. Commercial storage plants were installed and grade standards adopted. Engineers and economists became more and more aware of raw material behaviour. Concomitant advances in refrigeration technology in the developed countries have made possible establishment of cold chains for the entire post-harvest and handling operations.

At the institutional level, post-harvest research was initiated. Pilot packing houses were installed, coupled with the development of intensive training programmes.

The improvement of product quality and reduction in post-harvest losses became the main concern of producers, middlemen, marketing specialists and consumers. Today, enormous volumes of quality horticultural crops produced in technologically advanced countries are made available to millions of people through improved post-harvest handling. Thus, historically and by necessity, post-harvest technology is part of the normal development processes in agriculture.

These handling procedures are not fully recognized in less developed countries like Nigeria. Here agriculture may be characterized as disjointed. Production is not linked with marketing. With perishable crops like fruits and vegetables, storage, packaging, transport and handling technologies are practically non-oxidant.

Hence, a considerable amount of produce are lost. Thus, as more fresh fruits and vegatables are needed to supply the growing population in less developed countries, as more produce is transported to non-producing areas, and as more commodities are stored longer to obtain an year-round supply, post-harvest lose

Some spoit fruit.

PHOTOS:GODWIN IREKHE

prevention technology measures become paramount. It is distressing to note that so much time is being devoted to the culture of the plant, so much money spent on irrigation, fertilization and crop protection measures only to be wasted about a week after harvest. It is, therefore, important that post-harvest procedures be given as much attention as production practices the stages from planting until the product reach the consuming public must be a mutual undertaking between the growers and those who will handle the products after harvest.

In the case of Nigeria, the poor transportation network and delay in the supply of agricultural produce after marketers and traders must have paid for the services, are wreaking havoc to a fragile business.

A trader at the Mile 12 market in Lagos, Ishaku Hassan told Sunday Telegraph: “Sometimes, after bringing in goods into Lagos, what is left to be sold does not even cover our transport cost. We pay transporters to bring in these produce but how soon they get to the destination does not matter to them because they have been paid. If all the produce gets spoilt before getting to the market, we have to bear the brunt alone,” said Ishakwu at the Agoyi-Ketu Local Government Area of Lagos State.

He appealed to government at all levels

to tackle the problem of transportation, one of the major causes of food spoilage in the country as the decay affects profit margin.

He noted that bad roads, poor storage facilities and lack of farm produce preservation in the country make the farmers and farm produce marketers to operate at a very high loss. He stated that, Nigeria can feed the whole of West Africa if the country can prevent the volume of farm produce lost every month to lack of a decentrail transportation.

According to him, spoilage of agricultural produce can be curtained, if the country is ready to do the needful. “In Nigeria, a lot of agricultural produce rot away. When you go to the north, you see tomatoes, pineapples and other perishable produce rot away after three days of being harvested. Billions of naira are lost at the end of the year,” he added.

Unfriendly chain, he said, would help farmers to prevent spoilage associated with transportation of farm produce to the market.

More so, the issue of perishable food loss is a visible reality across major food markets in the country, such as the Mile 12 Market in Lagos, which has a permanent refuse dump on display of perishable foods, which include essential produce like tomatoes, pepper, fruits and

vegetables.

One of the officials at the market, Alhaji Abdul Mohammed, told our reporter that lack of storage facilities and food preservation is the major cause of food spoilage in the market, saying that, the prices of food in the market have gone up due to the rainy season, a situation that has increased spoilage.

He said: “We don’t have the facilities to store and preserve our farm produce.

Most of our farmers still use the old methods of storage and preservation, which do not last long. It is high time modern ways of preserving foods are improved.

This is beyond the farmers and that is why we are appealing that government has to step in.

“For instance, one can spend up to N250, 000 to bring in a trailer-load of fruits from the middle-belt to Lagos and before it gets to the market, many of the produce would have gone bad. By the time one waits for days to offload produce already paid for, more than half would had gone bad. These are the produce I expect to sell and make profits. If I remove all these spoilage, nothing tangible would be left for me? This is a big challenge,” he said.

A poultry farmer at Iyana Oba market, at the Ojo LGA, Frank Ojelua, said: “It is often painful that a high percentage of foods produced in Nigeria are not

9

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

Sunday Magazine

business –Farmers, traders cry out

consumed by the citizens. It would have been a better bargain if we export these produce rather than allow them spoil in the farms before they get to their final markets? You can imagine me transporting day-old chicks to the market and getting trapped in traffic where trailers emit poisonous carbon-dioxide. The chicks all suffocated.

“There is the urgent need by the government to re-channel its efforts at developing the rural areas and should stop concentrating all its activities only in state capitals. If this is done, gradually the cities would be decongested and Nigerians in their prime can be encouraged to go back to the villages to work in the farm, instead of leaving the aged to carry on farming,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sunday Telegraph’s visit to a number of markets in the state, including popular Mile 12 Market, Iyana Oba, Arena Market, Oshodi, and Alaba-rago among others, revealed that agricultural produce supplied to the markets in large quantity are prone to spoilage due largely to absence of storage facilities after transportation from long distances.

Tons of agricultural produce were on the verge of going bad upon arrival to the markets. Some of the produce spoilt before getting to the market due to poor transportation.

With this volume of food spoilage, agricultural experts and researches have warned that agricultural policies without deliberate measures to introduce and improve the country’s policy on food storage, transportation and preservation will

amount to an exercise in futility. Nigeria is currently losing over 80 per cent of its agricultural produce.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 54 per cent of food spoilage occurs ‘upstream,’ during production, post-harvest handling and storage, while 46 per cent of it happens ‘downstream,’ at the processing, distribution and consumption stages; hence, there is the need for new techniques in both upstream and downstream.

In Nigeria, we suffer more food losses during agricultural production, while food spoilage is higher in the middle and high-income regions, where it accounts for between 31and 39 per cent of total wastage compared to the in low-income regions of between four and 16 per cent, said FAO. FAO blames it on lack of good infrastructure for transportation, storage, cooling and marketing of the produce, which it said, cause food to spoil, especially in hot climates. FAO’s major front for action in the effort to reduce food wastage is developing better food harvest, storage, processing, transportation and retailing.

According to the FAO’s toolkit, a survey, one factor that often contributes to food spoilage by consumers is confusion over sell-by and best-before dates. “Harvest losses have several causes, including bad timing and poor conditioning during harvest as well as inadequate techniques and equipment.”

FAO’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, said new technologies can help in solving the problem of food spoilage,

saying that, improved bagging of rice in the Philippines have helped cut losses of that staple grain by 15 per cent. He noted that, the use of solar dryers to extend the shelf life of fruit and tubers in West Africa has the potential of reducing post-harvest losses.

He said: "All of us - farmers and fishermen; food processors and supermarkets; local and national governments; individual consumers - must make changes at every link of the human food chain to prevent food spoilage."

In some cases, ‘overzealous’ legislation has been adopted and should be revisited and revised. Lawmakers and other authorities should also issue clearer and more flexible guidelines for businesses and consumers alike. Governments must do more to implement legislation aimed at lowering food spoilage.

National President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, said the problem with food spoilage is the transfer of knowledge from the various research institutes and universities of agriculture into the market.

He noted that a number of research bodies have done excellent work on procedures and preservation of foods, but they end up on the shelves due to the fact that Nigerian food industry is more interested in importing tested food formula into the country than developing the local market.

“Food spoilage is induced by microorganisms, which are found in the foods.

When you transport these products under heat, the microorganisms tend to multiply faster due to the temperature, which end up destroying the food. But if these foods are transported in cold condition with rails that have air-conditioned coaches, we would tackle spoilage of food,” he said.

According to Food Technologist, Samuel Obiora, any agricultural policy without quality policy on storage, transportation and preservation of farm produce will amount to exercise in futility.

“There are farm produce that need to be transported in a controlled temperature to ensure it does not decay. Tomatoes, for instance, must not be transported in high temperature. For Nigeria’s economy to move from dependence on oil to agriculture, government at all levels should consider formulating quality policies that

would trigger revolution in agriculture,” he said Executive Director of Environment Rights Action (ERA), Dr. Godwin Ojo, also noted that half of Nigeria’s population faces threats of hunger and starvation due to food spoilage, saying that, 60 million Nigerians are unemployed and only 10 per cent are gainfully employed and it could be said that half of the population are underfed, malnourished and under serious threats of starvation.

“To address the problem of food spoilage and deficits, Nigeria will require some measures be put in place to fix deplorable road networks that seriously affects transportation of food from one point to the other,” he added.

On fish farming, Mr. Eleri Ephraim, explained: “Fingerlings are not transported in hot temperature lest all would die.

That’s why some fish farmers will put ice in their vehicles when transporting fingerlings on a long distance. When the water is heating up, they put some ice to control the temperature. But for short distance, the products had to be transported in early hours of the day or late in the night.”

More so, rejection of food products on the basis of aesthetic or safety concerns is often another major cause of food losses and waste. In some cases, farmers discard between 20 and 40 per cent of their fresh produce because it doesn't meet retailer's specifications and these produce are not returned due to poor transportation system and lack of storage facilities.

According to Sales Manager, North West and Central Africa Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Danfoss, Youssef Zitouni, in a programme, held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre recently, said Nigeria’s food spoilage has hit $750 billion on a yearly basis.

He noted that food spoilage in Nigeria is incredible as 80 percent food is wasted in Nigeria as against the 33 per cent in the world, saying that, every ton of food waste generated, 1.9t C02 eq/t is emitted;’ insisting that half of Nigeria’s population faces threats of hunger and starvation.

However, ahead of World Food Day in October 16 and continued tomato waste in Nigeria, the United Kingdom (UK) and World Bank advocated the use of innovation to curb food wastage in Nigeria.

10

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Political travail ‘ll make Abia stronger, united, Ikpeazu Igbeaku Orji

T

UMUAHIA

he present political crisis in Abia State will eventually make the state stronger and redefine its future, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary of the state yesterday at the Michael Okpara auditorium, which was preceded by an inter denominational church service; the governor said the occasion afforded him the opportunity to reflection on the character of the Abia personality of hard work, dedication and honesty.

He said the creation of the

state 25 years ago was a fulfillment of long cherished dream of prominent sons of Ngwa and wished to see the day the Ngwa man would become governor Governor Ikpeazu said the sacrifice of the founding fathers was a challenge for “us to march forward for the greatness of the state.

Abia will shine as the Small and Medium Enterprises capital of Nigeria; it will shine as the leading entrepreneurial centre, not only in the South- East but, Nigeria in general; Abia would be the state that would link the South-East to the sea.”

He described the state anthem as a new dawn for the state, saying “God will

fulfill the lyrics of the anthem in our lives,” just as he described the logo/coat of arms as “representing our identity; it represents the Abia entrepreneurial spirit and hard work.”

He used the occasion to disabuse the minds of the people of Abia South against their Abia North brothers over the governorship tussle and reminded them that there are many from the zone who are sympathetic with their cause in respect of the Abia chartter of equity.

In his address earlier, Chairman of the Abia Advisory Council, Dr. Anagha Ezeikpe, who was represented by his deputy, Sir.

Bob Ogbuagu said that the founding fathers of the state made the charter of equity in order to eliminate fear of domination by a section of the state over others.

He explained that it was in the spirit of equity that Abia North and Central took their turns as governor, adding that, the present governor from the South should be allowed to complete his tenure in that spirit.

He declared that the chatter of equity built the pillar of the state on four divisions that make up the state including, Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato and Afikpo before it was carved out to Ebonyi State.

Troops kill 5 militants, arrest 23 others - Army

M

ilitary authorities on Saturday said troops of the 133 Special Forces of the Nigerian Army killed five militants and arrested 23 others in an operation in the Niger Delta.

According to a statement

by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, this happened when the troops carried out precursor operation to exercise `Crocodile Smile’ in Rivers.

“The operation which was conducted on Aug.

Senate will probe IDPs food crisis –Saraki Chukwu David ABUJA

P

resident of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday, said that the Senate would investigate the severe hunger and nutrition crisis in the Internally Displaced Persons camps in the North- East.

L – R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar N. Onyema; Past President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh; President, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State

Osun at 25: Former govs commend Aregbesola for transforming state

F

our thousand Osun pupils drawn from 17 schools on Saturday dazzled a capacity filled Osogbo Township Stadium with captivating calisthenics displays to mark the creation of the state.

The state was created on August 27, 1991 by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).

At the colouful event, former administrators of the state were full of praises for the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as they gathered with other dignitaries to mark the epochal event.

Col. Theophilus Bamigboye, and Navy Capt. Anthony Udofia, who spoke on behalf of the previous administrators of the state commended Aregbesola for what they described as unprecedented developments witnessed under the Aregbesola administra-

tion.

This was just as Aregbesola said “worthy legacies” of previous leaders should be sustained while saluting the late governor of the old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige for introducing the idea of calisthenics during his time as governor.

The two former administrators said that they were pleased with the level of transformations and developments that have taken place in the state since they left as military governors.

They stated that there was little or nothing to show for the state when it was first created, adding that today, the state has grown in leaps and bounds and can rank favourably with other states of the federation.

“In 1991 when the state was created, there was little or nothing to show that a state actually existed.

“Today, we are very

proud to see this state the way it is. “When we first came, there was a ramshackle school in the heart of Osogbo. We tried our best to change the situation in our own way.

“Osun is working. We are proud of the Governor, Ogbeni Aregbesola for the wonderful work he is doing. This state will continue to progress. We want you to keep the flag flying,” he said Bamigboye also said that they were impressed with the colourful calisthenics the children displayed.

Earlier in his address, Governor Aregbesola while congratulating all on the 25th Anniversary of the creation of the state, noted that the Osun School Calisthenics is not a frivolous brainwave that will be swept away by the tide of time. The Governor emphasised that the programme is well-conceived

as part of the overall redesign and reorganisation of the education system in Osun.

He said his administration views physical education with all seriousness, regarding formal education as incomplete without its physical development component.

Aregbesola said that the calisthenics programme is not only an out-of-school sports activity but a lifestyle-change project for building a new generation of students who are physically fit, mentally sound and socially well-adjusted.

The Governor also said that the programme is supported by practices in other lands and climes, adding that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) regards physical education programmes as part of its crucial brief.

26, 2016, was carried out by the Special Forces at the militants’ camps.

“Items recovered from the camps include 2 AK-47 rifles, 11 pump action guns, a locally-made revolver pistol, 292 cartridges of live ammunition, 199 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition, four electricity generating sets and a camp gas cooker.

“The troops also recovered an abandoned engine boat left by the fleeing criminals,” the statement said.

Saraki stated this while reacting to the protest embarked upon by women from the various IDP camps in Borno State, who said they and their children were facing severe hunger and starvation.

It was recalled that hundreds of women from camps in Borno state, had last week Thursday, taken to peaceful protest and barricaded the Maiduguri-Kano/Jos Road, demonstrating against acute food crisis facing the inmates of the camps in the Boko Haram ravaged state.

However, Saraki, in his reaction in Abuja, described the development as desperate and reiterated his calls for better

coordination amongst government and international aid agencies.

He also stressed the need for Nigeria to quickly operationalise a more effective and efficient humanitarian response infrastructure to address the dire situation.

“It is important that we all focus on eliminating the coordination, access and food supply issues hindering us from successfully feeding the millions in the IDPs. This is particularly important for the many children who are dying daily from starvation. It should break every Nigerian’s heart to know that our own women and children are enduring such horrendous hardships”, he stated.

The President of the Senate further called on the Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies to quickly move to investigate the diversion of food aid deliveries in the affected areas.

Bello attack: Community accuses police of vandalism Muhammad Bashir LOKOJA

M

adabbo Community in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State yesterday accused some men of the Nigeria Police Force in Governor Yahaya Bello’s convoy of destroying parked vehicles belonging to residents in the area.

The community is a far distance from the Lokoja Central Mosque, where Governor Bello was attacked by irate youths on Friday and prevented from performing the Juma’at Service, pelting his convoy with stones.

The action appeared to be a protest against the government over non- payment of several months salary to their parents and guardians.

The mobile police men in their reprisal over the attack on their principal were said to have aggressively matched to Madabbo and began to smash vehicles and tricycles (Keke-NAPEP) with impunity and not minding the innocence of the owners.

A one-time member of the Kogi State House of Assembly representing Lokoja 1 Constituency, Hon. Muhammadu Alhassan Ibn Hashim, whose car was damaged by the police, condemned the attack on his car and other vehicles.

“I have been to the police headquarters to lay complaint and I was told to come back. I won’t allow this to go for nothing. I will pursue my right even to Inspector General of Police and the President.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

OPINION Will workers still get wage increase?

Adewale Kupoluyi

N

igerian public workers were excited when the Federal Government announced that it had constituted a committee to come up with proposals on a new minimum wage and palliatives that would cushion the effects of the recent hike in the price of fuel. Unfortunately, the excitement appears to be waning by the day because not much has been heard of what the committee is doing, or has so far done.

We recall that the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress set up a national committee to work out palliative measures and fashion out a new minimum wage that would ameliorate the impact of the increase in the pump price of the premium motor spirit (petrol).

Not long after the committee was constituted, there were conflicting media reports on its activities. Initially, it was alleged that the committee had started sitting, but NLC denied that the committee had truly started meeting, saying the Federal Government was yet to constitute the committee.

Both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the two central labour organisations in the nation had proposed N56,000 as the new national minimum wage as against the current N18,000, which had been in operation since 2011.

There is every justification for an upward review of the minimum wage following the increase in the pump price because the adjustment has worsened the plight of workers such that their purchasing power has drastically reduced. Not only that, an increase in transportation cost is making some of them to become truant at work.

Apart from the high transportation fares, the

11

increment has rubbed-off on virtually all the goods and services being traded in the country, which the current minimum wage cannot cope with. As a result of this, many government staff cross the states and their families are undergoing untold hardship, ranging from lack of food on the table to their children’s/ward’s withdrawal from school as fees cannot be paid promptly.

Many people have turned into begging as pasttime, criminality, heavy indebtedness and even suicide, as a result of the harsh economic situation facing the country.

Infact, for an average public servant of today, good life can be described as an unaffordable luxury. That has largely accounted for why trade unions in country have continued to press for better remuneration and working conditions for Nigerian workers. The Joint Negotiation Council has consistently clamoured for an increase in national minimum wage had claimed that such a reviewed had lapsed over five years ago. The issue of reviewing workers’ miminum wage took a centre-stage during this year’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where participants encouraged ILO to promote the ratification and implementation of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention of 1970, while the wage reviews should be held in a five-year cycle, according to global labour practice.

As the debate intensifies on whether there should be minimum wage increase or not, those who are against the proposal had argued that the labour’s demand for a wage increase is unsustainable on account of the deplorable and prevailing economic situation in the country coupled with the sharp fall in the price of crude oil at the international market. For them,

this has culminated into the inability of most state governors to pay workers’ salaries and meet other official obligations. To date, many state governments still owe salary arrears up to seven months or more. In view of this financial crisis, the Federal Government recently declared 27 states bankrupt, stating that they were ‘incapable’ of paying salaries and maintaining ‘efficient’ and unhindered daily government operations, a position affirmed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State, who claimed that many governors had failed to perform their statutory responsibilities because they accepted the wage increase when oil price averaged $100 per barrel and hence, it makes no sense continuing with the payment of N18,000.

On the other hand, those who support an increase in the minimum wage, however, hinged their reasoning on the grounds that those on the bottom rungs of the civil service salary ladder are among the poorest civil servants in the world and the N18,000 minimum wage was grossly inadequate to meet the basic need of the workers. Not only that, many critics still believe that the salaries of low-level workers can be increased, only if serious efforts are made to check corruption and other wastage in the system through mechanism such as reduction in the humongous salaries and allowances paid to political office holders, curbing ghost workers syndrome, downward review of the huge sums committed to security votes, constituency allowances and checking the unbridled bureaucratic corruption/wastage.

Then, the questions to ask are: Is it really feasible to increase the minimum wage payable to Nigerian workers? Is this realistic for both the

federal and state governments to impmement?

While the case of the Federal Government seems to be feasible, state governors could also achieve it by borrowing a leaf from the recent example shown by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, who has increased the state’s minimum wage to N25,000. Similarly, despite the cash crunch being experienced, workers’ salaries are still regularly being paid by the Cross River State government. The Governor Ben Ayade-led administration’s prudent fiscal management is worthy of emulation, despite the fact that the state’s earning has nosedived since the hitherto 13 per cent derivation from its oil wells had been ceded to Akwa Ibom State, following a Supreme Court judgment.

Another governor that could be a reference point is Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. It is remarkable to note that Lagos State has already surpassed its first quarter internally-generated revenue target with the over N100 billion gross earning, as many states remain beggarly by rushing to Abuja for the monthly dole and reliance on bail-out funds. Without further delay, the Federal Government should let Nigerians know how far the committee has gone in the provision on the blueprint on the palliatives and evolving of a living and sustainable minimum wage for workers. By that, the government would not only be sending the right signals that accountability is key to responsive governance; it is also shows clear commitment and sensitivity to workers’ agitation. This is the right way to go!

Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk,@ AdewaleKupoluyi

Akpabio: Darts from familiar quarters Jackson Udom

A

damu is an indigene of Campordi in Republic of Togo. For him and his siblings, growing up was not a bed of roses, as he had to engage in all sorts of menial jobs to make ends meet. However, through dint of hard work, perseverance, and divine intervention, Adamu fought his way through to prominence.

The challenges he went through in life as a young boy, no doubt, acted as the catalyst which propelled him into vowing that, if he would ever become a ‘somebody’ in life, those conditions and situations that stood between his success in life would be tackled head long so that those coming after him will not be bugged down with such difficult conditions in future.

In the later part of his life, Adamu found himself in position of authority, and true to his promise, he toiled day and night to ensure that those things that made life for him and his siblings meaningless were addressed. He ensured that his people lacked nothing good in the area of education, which he believed was the bedrock for the future emancipation and development of his people. His efforts saw a renewed consciousness, self-recovery among his people, and gradually, they began to find their voices in the comity of states.

Contrastingly, while all his selfless efforts towards making his people relevant and recognised in the scheme of things were being lauded and applauded by none indigenes and those who never benefitted from his large heart and humanitarian gestures, direct beneficiaries of his benevolence to his community and state became the ones who took up the gauntlet and called for his head, as it were. Like the Biblical shout of Hosanna today, crucify him tomorrow,

Adamu was vilified, persecuted, condemned, abused, insulted, criminalised and even wished dead, by the very people whom he strove to better their lives when he had the opportunity.

Their actions, to discerning minds was an attempt to destroy a foundation (the only visible voice the Campordi community has produced in recent times) upon which their recognition was built upon, not minding the overall consequence of their actions, in as much as their target, who made the platform on which they now stand upon, was brought down at all costs and means.

The above scenario aptly captures the current ordeal of the former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio left office as the state governor over a year ago and this is one fact his traducers have failed to realise. They still do not believe the Ukana-born politician had since move up the political ladder, as the representative of the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in Abuja and yet they won’t remove their legs on the hate pedal. Akpabio governed Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 and during his period he transformed the state from a pedestrian one to investors’ haven and a destination, through the provision of world class and enduring infrastructure, an effort, which later became known nationally and internationally as the ‘Uncommon Transformation’.

The Akpabio era witnessed a renaissance in the area of infrastructure, human capital development, a new consciousness and awareness which before his assumption of office was lacking among the people.

He brought the state into the world map through his life-changing programmes, like free and compulsory education from primary to secondary level, free medical care for the aged, children and pregnant women, while his wife,

Mrs Unoma Akpabio handled the women’s angle, through her welfare package for abandoned children, the destitute and widows among other vulnerable citizens resident in the state.

The period between 2007 and 2015 can best be described as the golden moment of the state.

The houseboy/girl syndrome, which the indigenes of the state were known for both locally and internationally, was exterminated by the Akpabio-led administration, through the introduction of the free and compulsory education.

One need not mention the five-star hotel in Ikot Ekpene, the world-class stadium, the Ibom Power Plant, Ibom International Airport, the gas pipeline, the E-library, a world class referral hospital and several dualised federal and state roads with concentric flyovers, just to mention a few.

In spite of all this landmark achievements, Akpabio traducers, particularly those who have vowed not to see anything good about him, still believe they could achieve their hate and jaundiced agenda by striving to elevate propaganda, cheap blackmail, complete falsehood and lies to the level of truth and rational consciousness.

They have however, forgotten to learn or imbibe the Biblical story of David and his being the person after God’s heart. Like the proverbial fly that follows the corpse into the grave, they have decided to be blind to the fact that Akpabio appears to be a divine project in the hands of God, which can never be abandoned nor forsaken.

As a mere mortal, Akpabio cannot be said to be a saint, and that is why he is human. Though must of his accusers claim to be saints and infallible. But let it be known that he served his people to the best of his ability, and rather than be vilified simply because some of the actions he took while in office, did not go down well

with the vocal minority, Akpabio should be commended and encouraged.

A few weeks ago, national newspapers hit the newsstands with screaming headlines: ‘FG set to probe ex-govs Saraki, Ladoja, Akpabio, others’. The following day, no media organisation both online and conventional made mention of it, especially in the southwest, which hosts most of the very serious minded media houses.

But that was not the case in Akwa Ibom State. The story was feasted over and over again by registered and unregistered news outfits, for close to a week through re-angling and re-hashing, just to satisfy their paymasters. Most of the rag-tag publications which are only good for the loo, even tried, found Akpabio guilty and sentenced him over alleged corruption.

But they had forgotten that even while the WikiLeaks was busy exposing the alleged corrupt activities of public office holders all over the world, what it could only leak concerning Akwa Ibom State under Godswill Akpabio was that “Akwa Ibom State under Governor Godswill Akpabio is a state that should be watched because of the plan by the governor to unleash unprecedented development on the state”. I know they won’t remember because he praised Akpabio but if it had gone the other way, one is sure they would have made a mountain out of it. Or maybe Akpabio paid WikiLeaks for the export on his plan then for the state.

Akpabio and his numerous travails while in and out of office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State, reminds me of the statement in my dialect that says, Wot Uko, tua usen nnaneyin, literally meaning, ‘destroy your pillar and defender, and weep on the day of afflictions’.

Udom is Special Assistant on Media to the Senate Minority Leader.

12

Sunday Mail

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

@

EMAIL

thesundayletters@gmail. com and sundayletters@ newtelegraphonline.com

MAIL BAG

* Letters to the Editor

The Sunday Telegraph

Morolake Akinosun: A Nigerian hero

SMS

08037613380 Normal message fees apply

2016 Nigeria Diaspora Day, a big shame

Dear Editor, Morolake Akinosun is a Nigerian-American, whose parents are surely among the Nigerians in the Diaspora contributing immensely to the socioeconomic development of the United States.

Akinosun is an American athlete, who participated in this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won gold at the 2015 PanAmerican Games in Toronto, Canada in 4 x 100 metres with teammate Barbara Pierre and a host of others. She was born on May 17, 1994 and attended University of Texas in Austin, Texas, USA. She won another gold medal at Rio 2016. She has brought more glory, honour and fame to her family and to America. She has also registered her family’s name in the Museum of American sports.

For her to have come to the limelight through sports, means she must have been an exceptional student in school.

Akinosun’s victory is an admixture of joy and sadness for some of us who are incurable optimists of a greater Nigeria.

Nigerians are scattered across the world distinguishing themselves in all human endeavours. The years of locust have contributed to the deadly brain-drain from Nigeria.

Research has shown that Nigerian immigrants have the most educated citizens among all the nationalities in the United States.

In the last four decades, Nigerian leaders have sold their conscience and morality for porridge. The current youth is so anticipatory in the patrimony of corruption. They see the sharing of national cake as family inheritance. In a state of conundrum, we radiate in a repetitious and nauseating life circle, glorifying mundane and mediocrity. Every passing day is a wasted opportunity for all Nigerians to get it right.

Regrettably, the days of Innocent Egbunike, Falilat Ogunkoya, Sunday Bada, Mary Onyali and a host of others who delighted our collective memory are gone! As we make our bed, so we shall we lie on it. Corruption and religion are the twin towers plaguing Nigeria’s development.

I am using this medium to appreciate and congratulate all Nigerian participants in this year’s 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. You have tried your best for a country struggling with so many contradictions. Akinosun has become part of the conscience of a nation yearning for its salvation and revival. We pray that Morolake and her parent’s

(

Dear Editor,

A fisher man dilemma in Lagos Lagoon.

national duality in the course of a new Nigeria will continue to manifest in her new status.

Yahaya Balogun, Arizona, USA.

America’s political circus Dear Editor, There are now only about 73 days left before America’s presidential election. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, a narcissistic billionaire real estate magnate and reality TV star with no political experience, has defied all predictions to become his party’s nominee amid continuing dissent within its leadership. He has spewed more vituperative bigotry and misogyny than any candidate in living memory. Trump called for Muslims to be banned from the United States (US); promised to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants; backed torture for terrorist suspects and punishment for their families; termed Mexican immigrants ‘criminals’; described women as ‘fat pigs’ and ‘dogs’; and advocated the building of a giant wall along the Mexican border.

Unsurprisingly 87 per cent of Latinos, 86 per cent of blacks and 70 per cent of women disapprove of him. Trump’s campaign has been a divisively populist one, enthusiastically championed by non-collegeeducated white males in an era of stagnating wages and changing demographics in which non-whites will become a majority by 2050.

On the hustling, he has been devoid of substance and full of pithy phrases about “making America great again” by using his business skills to negoti-

ate better trade deals. Led by President Barack Obama, the Democrats have insisted on America’s continuing greatness and portrayed Trump as a dangerous, divisive demagogue and proto-fascist, unfit to have his finger on the nuclear button. But even the Democrats have not been able to respond effectively to America’s growing racial divisions in which white police officers fatally use innocent black civilians for target practice and often go unpunished by largely white juries, even as a complacent white middle class condones this grisly horror by supporting draconian crimefighting measures.

On her part, Hillary Clinton – a notoriously wooden campaigner – has struggled to shake off the perception of being an establishment figure with a sense of entitlement, having served as a Senator and Obama’s Secretary of State.

Her close ties to Wall Street donors continue to raise eyebrows. She has already made history by becoming the first woman to win a presidential nomination. This election is a grand political circus complete with a populist clown and a political contortionist. True to character, Trump has already called Hillary Clinton “the devil” and accused her husband of rape. This will be an ugly slugfest between two power-hungry egomaniacs.

It will be a blood-sport, an extravagant, profligate political show that only America – the home of Hollywood – is capable of staging. May the best woman win!

Adekeye Adebajo is executive director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town, South Africa

PDP gladiators and imaginary enemies Dear Editor, Nigerians can attest to the fact that the supposed leading opposition party, PDP, has not been living up to the expectations of the people. People are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari is using state instruments to torment, harass and hound opposing voices especially those in the PDP into submission. All of these harassments were supposedly due to their criticism of Buhari’s flaws ranging from poor management of the economy, intolerance of opposition, despotic disposition, inability to unite Nigerians and the use of too much of propaganda than real governance. Yet, despite the ongoing imbroglio Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and the National Caretaker Committee Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi is one major reason one should be wondering why the mad rush for the Wadata House, if truly PDP is a dead party or one under the siege of the APC! At this rate of political bickering in PDP, the direction of things is not clear and PDP may be its own worst enemy. For example, in Lagos a father and his political son are sharply divided over the chairmanship seat in the Wadata House. Now things are getting really interesting in the PDP. I honestly hope for the best candidate to emerge with the mind of re-positioning, reforming and returning the party to the winning ways, which will help Nigerians, come out of the current of Buhari and his APC. One man I have seen to enjoy such

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

expectations from both the old and young party members cut across all states in Nigeria is Jimi Agbaje.

Adelaja Adeoye, Lagos

Standard Alliance, Please Pay My Money I wish to use this medium to appeal to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to prevail on the management of Standard Alliance Life Assurance Limited to pay me my money.

I did a two-year life insurance policy with them and terminated same on the 1st of May, 2016. It took a month for them to get me a Discharge Voucher that I filled and signed. Since then, it has been one subterfuge after the other. On Monday, the 15th of August, 2016, I went to their Head Office on Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island, Lagos and was referred to the Ikeja Branch Manager, Mr. Niyi Festus. I narrated my ordeal and he asked me to send him my details and that I will be paid within a week.

To my utmost surprise, when I sent him a text message to remind him of his promise on Friday, he replied saying I needed to go to their Ikeja office to regularise “some things”. Obviously, that was another attempt to buy time and continue to deny me of my sweat. NAICOM, please help prevail on Standard Alliance to pay my money.

My name is ONIYOKOR, Oghenekaro Austin. My Policy No: SFP/14/0002017/ IKJ. Thank you.

Austin Oniyokor Egbeda, Lagos.

The 2016 Nigeria Diaspora Day has come and gone but its impact, though, negative, will continue to haunt the organisers of this badly and hurriedly organised conference. From day one when the committee was set up in late June, barely a month to the slated date July 24 to 26, it had been programmed to fail. It is painful and shameful that the only programme for Nigerians in the Diaspora, who had contributed a lot to national development including remittances of over $21 billion to the country, was shabbily planned and poorly executed. It was more disastrous that most stakeholders were fenced out of the Diaspora Day conference unlike the successful 2015 Diaspora Day conference, where all stakeholders took active part.

One of the greatest flaws in this year’s Diaspora Day was that the portal for registration was not opened until about a week to the conference and it was not even functional for people to register for the conference. Even though the conference was planned for 500 delegates, less than 200 people who attended actually live in Nigeria, while the police and other secretariat staff filled the empty seats in the hall. Besides, most stakeholders like the chairpersons of the Diaspora Committee of both the House of Representatives and that of the Senate were conspicuously absent as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora. It was indeed a shame!

A renowned Nigerian in the Diaspora, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, among others, was equally absent from the conference.

The few, who came, however, regretted their coming as they openly expressed disappointment at the shoddy arrangement. Unlike in 2015, when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo represented the President, none of them was at the 2016 Diaspora conference which had as its theme: ‘Harnessing the Potentials of the Diaspora for National Development.’

Kemi Muritala, Abuja, FCT. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD! SEND YOUR LETTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THESUNDAYLETTERS@ GMAIL.COM. LETTERS SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 200 WORDS AND MUST HAVE THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SENDER

13

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

news

Partial solar eclipse in Nigeria Sept 1 Chibuihem Stanley

O

ne of the most spectacular and fascinating of all the natural phenomena is the Solar Eclipse - a condition which occurs when the intensity of the electromagnetic waves from the sun is obscured by the opaque moon from reaching the earth.

When this occurs, regions under the influence of total shadow known as ‘Umbra’(depending on the bandwidth), experience total darkness; while those under partial shadow known as ‘Penumbra’ experience partial darkness.

Information obtained from Prof. Fidelis Opara, Director, Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS),

Nsukka, Nigeria, through telescopic studies, computer simulations and modelling, shows that Nigeria will witness a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday September 1, 2016.

State capitals across the country like Umuahia, Yola, Uyo, Makurdi, Maiduguri, Enugu, Abuja, Ikeja and Abeokuta among others will witness the effect from (7:15am – 7:20am) to (9:00am – 10:00am), depending on their respective locations.

People are advised not to watch the eclipse with their naked eyes. They should obtain a solar filter which will attenuate the intensity of the electromagnetic wave to prevent them from suffering solar blindness defect.

Customs Eastern Marine Command detains vessel with no Bank Bond

T

he officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Eastern Marine Command, Port Harcourt in Rivers, have detained a vessel named `MV Defender V’ for sailing without a valid Bank Bond.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Usman Bello, who made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, said the vessel ``is a patrol vessel from South Africa, used in piloting tanker vessels’’.

The comptroller said that the seven-man crew vessel, however, had a temporary importation permit but no valid Bank Bond.

He said that the vessel was detained as part of the crack-down by his officers and men on vessel owners who chose to operate in Nigerian waters without Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) and a Valid Bank Bond.

Bello said that the vessel was detained in Onne Port under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Command of the NCS. The vessel sailed into Nigerian waters and docked in Onne Port without the necessary valid Bank Bond which is a requirement for ship owners granted Temporary Importation Permit by the Nigeria Customs Service.

It should be recalled that earlier on, a tanker vessel, `MT African Beauty’ was detained in Warri for a similar offence,’’ NAN quotes the controller as saying.

Bello warned that all ship owners plying the Nigerian territorial waters granted Temporary Importation Permit by the Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service should always ensure that they also obtain the Valid Bank Bond before either approaching or sailing into Nigerian waters.

Enugu at 25: Ugwuanyi pledges to sustain founding fathers’ legacies Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

G

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state has assured the people that he will continue with the legacies of the founding fathers of the state to inspire it to greater heights.

Ugwuanyi, who spoke at the event marking the 25th Anniversary of the creation of Enugu State which took place at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, paid tributes to all those who laboured tirelessly for the creation of the state, saying that, their vision and contributions would always be appreciated.

Describing himself as ‘Silver Jubilee Governor,’ he acknowledged the contributions of legends and giants of Nigerian history such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Professor Eyo Ita, Dr. Michael Okpara, Dr Akanu Ibiam, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Ukpabi Asika, Senator Jim Nwobodo and Chief C.C Onoh.

The governor, who observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased Catholic Seminarian, who

was murdered by suspected herdsmen at Ndiagu Attakwu, Akegbugwu, in Nkanu West Local Government Area, noted that the ceremony would have been postponed if the arrangement had not been concluded before the sad incident occurred.

While wishing the injured ones quick recovery, Ugwuanyi said that, the state is nonetheless celebrating the “goodness of God, peace, unity and shared prosperity.”

The governor recalled his promise in his inaugural address on May 29, 2015, to work in accordance with the ideals and aspirations of the founding fathers of Enugu state to deploy the resources of the state for the common good in face of the severe economic downturn. He added that he has not only kept faith with his promises but also put in place the platform for greater successes.

The governor announced the decision of his administration to reconstitute the Enugu State Elders’ Council to provide “the necessary guidance and counsel to ensure the seamless development of Enugu State.”

He equally disclosed plans to amend the state’s pension laws to “accommodate past cilivian Governors of the old Anambra and Enugu states and their deputies in appreciation of their contributions and services to the state.”

Governor Ugwuanyi stated that Enugu was still open for investment by local and foreign investors due to its conducive and investment friendly atmosphere, noting that, just a few days ago, the first international cargo flight landed at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, courtesy of the Ethiopian Airlines, “heralding another milestone in our collective efforts to further enhance the socio-economic growth of the state and the South East region at large.”

“I wish to reiterate our commitment to take development to the rural areas as part of our strategy to create new urban areas, boost socio-economic activities, create employment opportunities and reduce the pressure on Enugu metropolis.

“Ndi Enugu, we have committed Enugu State into the hands of God and with

Him as our shepherd, we will continue to overcome our challenges and record success in all our endeavours. Be assured that the God who brought us here, the God who created Enugu state, will certainly take us to the state of our dreams in Jesus name. Amen,” Ugwuanyi said.

Earlier in his sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Prof. Godfrey Onah, lamented the recent herdsmen attack on a community in the state, calling on the President to take drastic actions to put an end to the incessant killings and maiming of innocent citizens of the state and the country at large.

Prominent citizens of the state, who graced the occasion, include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; Chief Jim Nwobodo a former civilian governors of the state.

Others are former military governors in different states of Nigeria of Enugu State origin including Rear Admiral Alison Madueke, Commodore Anthony Oguguo, and Group Capt.

Joe Orje.

NRC, FMC, LAWMA, stage road show in Lagos to mark sanitation

T

he Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Saturday staged a road show campaign to mark the August Environmental Sanitation in Lagos in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The road show which kicked off at the Corporation’s headquarters took the NRC officials through Ahmadu Bello Way, Akintola St., Federal Road, Awolowo Road and OkeIra area of Ebute Meta.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr James Zang, NRC Deputy Director, Re-

search, Health, Safety and Environmental Services, (RHSES), said that the road show was meant to create people’s awareness.

According to him, the aim of the road show is to create awareness on the need for people, especially the residents of Ebute Meta, to participate in the monthly sanitation. ``It was observed that residents do not come out to clean their surroundings during the short-time of sanitation.

We should know that cleanliness is next to Godliness. We have to keep our environment clean and it should be communal efforts.

Youth Chapel of the Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Memorial Anglican Church Choir, Ajao Estate, Lagos State, at the HYPSOO IV night with the theme, ‘When We Praise’...on Saturday

Tough times have brought out the best in us, says Atiku

F

ormer Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar, has restated his commitment to the development of his home state of Adamawa, especially as it recovers from the effects of terrorism.

In a statement released to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of Adamawa, Atiku hailed the efforts of the federal and state gov-

ernments, international organisations and especially the AUN-Adamawa Peace Initiative to ensure that life returned to normalcy for many citizens of the state who were directly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“We have been through tough times, but the tough times have brought out the best in us,” Atiku Abubakar said.

“We have seen the gov-

ernment and other organisations stretch themselves beyond what we imagined they could achieve and, today, the peace and progress in Adamawa is a testimony to their hard work.”

The Turaki Adamawa assured the state government, the AUN-API and other organisations working for the betterment of life in Adamawa, that they would always have his full support.

He expressed his personal commitment to the peace and progress of the entire Nigeria, but added that charity must begin at home.

“I still aim to surpass every contribution I have made to Adamawa and to Nigeria so far,” he said.

“When it comes to the development of state and country, this is certainly not a time to rest on our laurels,” he added.

14

SCIENCE

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

08035624538

ABUAD is a unique citadel of academic excellence in law –Vice Chancellor In 2009, a certificate was issued to Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), by the Federal Government for the establishment of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. On January 4, 2010, lectures began in earnest. As a quintessential legal luminary of international repute, the College of Law, was among the pioneer colleges that started their various academic programmes. Ever since then, the College has been securing 100 per cent accreditation from the Council of Legal Education. Recently, ABUAD Law Programme became the first University College of Law ever to get its quota increased by NUC from 80 to 180 because of its academic excellence. Science writer, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM AMALAHA, in an interview with Prof. Michael Ajisafe, Vice Chancellor of the University, reports

ABUAD College of Law complex

A

Assoc.Prof. E Smaranda Olarinde, Provost, College of Law

visit to Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, without visiting Afe Babalola University’s College of Law, is like travelling to the city of New York, without having a glimpse of the famous Statue of Liberty.

Words hardly suffice when the subject of discussion is the revered Aare Afe Babalola because his record of achievement stands out like a lighthouse in the dark. Considering the legal sphere alone, which is his major area of endeavour, how would one describe a man whose formal education terminated at the then Standard Six, but the law programme of his university is currently adjudged the best in West Africa by the National Universities (NUC). How would you describe a man whose six-year-old university (ABUAD), is now the second best, out of 68 private universities in Nigeria?. How would you describe Aare Afe Babalola who obtained the rest of his academic achievements through correspondence? Today, he is one of Africa’s foremost Legal luminaries and has produced about 30 Senior Advocates of Nigeria. His arrays of degrees including that of the University of London, - the mother of the University of Ibadan, and the grandmother of all the universities in Nigeria, speak volumes.

Aare Afe Babalola SAN, OFR, CON, FNIALS, LL.D, Chancellor, and Founder, Afe Babalola University AdoEkiti, may not be the most educated person in Nigeria, but his reformatory ideas and philosophies, have made

Aare Afe Babalola, ABUAD Chancellor

him champion the most impressive cause in the nation’s academia more than any Nigerian man or woman, living or dead. For example, the establishment of ABUAD’s College of Law, presently regarded as the best in West Africa

by NUC, is one of the most genuine industrial beacons of hope for the Nigerian child in obtaining qualitative legal education.

In an interview with Prof. Michael Ajisafe, Vice Chancellor of the university on the establishment of ABUAD’s College of Law, he said: “ABUAD is a vision in motion. It is founded by foremost educationist, renowned philanthropist and legal Icon, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), in 2009. Great institutions of learning worldwide have been shaped largely by the vision and foresight of their founders. Aare Afe Babalola is a sticker for standards and discipline.

During his tenure as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos, (UNILAG), (2000-2007), he wrote his name in gold and made UNILAG the cynosure of all eyes and the best university in Nigeria. When his tenure ended, he replicated what he did in UNILAG by establishing Afe Babalola University with its law programme” On the philosophy for establishing the law programme, the Vice Chancellor, who is a Professor of Sports Science, a Curriculum Expert in Sports Sciences, and a member of several accredited bodies and professional Associations in Sports Science all over the world, stated: “Aare Afe Baba-

lola is a great Legal education reformer and international scholar. He strongly believes in the production of qualitative Law graduates who will appreciate the value of the dignity of labour, become problem solvers, self reliant, employers of labour, highly productive and globally relevant on every sphere of human endeavour.

Ajisafe, further highlighted that the Law College is a beauty to behold and a true reflection of our founder’s impeccable personality. “Verbal expression is too flimsy to express the achievements of our law programme. For example, the National Universities Commission (NUC) through its Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, recently said that: ‘ABUAD’s University’s College of Law, is certainly the best in West Africa’. It is a model for other universities to emulate. The setting is superlative and impressive with nothing of its kind in West Africa. It is equipped with the state – of – the - Art facilities comparable with any law college of high repute in the world,” he said.

In another highlight, Associate Prof. Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde, (FCAI), Provost, College of Law, and Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, ABUAD stated: “The College of Law was among the pioneering Colleges that started their various academic programmes in January, 2010. Full Accreditation of the LL.B Programme by both the NUC and Council of Legal Education (CLE) was given in 2013. The Council of Legal Education specially recognized the excellent team work, innovative and modern undergraduate curriculum, the infrastructural facilities, most conducive, serene learning environment and modern teaching facilities coupled with the state-of-the art law library of the college and as a result, increased her admission quota from 80 to 180.

“The previous year, the Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology awarded the Best University Law Faculty 2012 award for African Governance and Cooperate Leadership to ABUAD College of Law. In April 2016, the NUC‘s Verification and Accreditation panel, approved the commencement of our Postgraduate Programme in Law which will commence in October, this year.

Our students also won the Moot and Mock Trial competition organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan Branch 2015, held in Ibadan comprising ABUAD, and other first generation public universities law students in South West Nigeria.”

15

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

SUNDAY

Body Soul S U N D AY, A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

I’m going hubby-shopping (3) 22 Stun in maxi 18,39 I can date below my status –Adekemi Taofeek 42

I became a leader at 28 –Gani Adams

16

Here Beyond

Body&Soul

Suit up like a star Biwom Iklaki

S

uits are the ultimate expression of style. And while that statement may be as controversial as they come, many people would agree with me, especially with the new accents that have gone into creating this style. The red carpets are also not left out with both the male and female spectrum giving this ensemble a preference in their fashion repertoire. A few days ago, in the fashion of Queen

B, BeyoncĂŠ, she was pictured looking as svelte and curvy as is her signature. It was a pin striped double breasted number reminiscent of one favoured by a popular 90s sit-com, Ally McBeal. The Nigerian scene is not left out as our celebrities too favour some power dressing of their own whenever they suit up on the red carpet or off it. Borrow a style or two from them as they feature a plethora of looks from casual, laid back to sexy and savvy. Own your inner boss in a suit!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

17

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

StyleSta ker

Body&Soul

Ebube Nwagbo Style diva

Judith Onyebuchi

O

luebube Nwagbo is a Nigerian actress, producer and the CEO of Posh Hairline.

She earned a degree in Mass Communication from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Nwagbo started acting in 2003 at the age of 20 and has since risen to fame and starred in movies such as ‘Arrested by Love’, ‘Eyes of the Nun’, ‘Against my blood’, ‘ Widows Cult’ and many others. She made her debut as a producer with the movie ‘Smile Again’ which she followed up with a sequel ‘Romantic Rumour’. She recently produced a movie titled ‘Not Enough’.

Nwagbo is that celebrity that gives goose bumps with her fashion styles. Everything about her fashion choices are huge inspiration to everyone. Her chocolate skin colour compliments her beauty and lady-like demeanour. Whether she’s dressed casually, strutting the red carpet or dressed in traditional attire, she never goes wrong with her style; little wonder she is regarded as one of the most fashionable actresses in the industry. This diva sure knows how to rock denim jeans along with shorts and matching shoes with her alluring, curvaceous figure. We made her our style diva not because of her various roles as an actress but due to her sophisticated style and trend setting allure.

Body&Soul

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

18

Stun in maxi

Vanessa Okwara

M

axi is a wardrobe staple for most women. They are super comfortable and can be your saving grace on those days when you don’t feel like dressing up so much. They are not limited to just dresses, there are also maxi skirts and you can totally make them work for you on a dressy day.

They can also be worn at night for a fun date. All you have to do is to dress it up with a jacket and accessories. That’s what’s so great about them – they’re versatile, easy to style with anything and incredibly comfy.

Long flowing dresses are a go-

to vacation uniform for many women as they relax with friends and family on long holidays.

When styled right, these floorsweeping frocks take on an ethereal vibe that’s beautiful.

Maxis can be styled and layered to become your personal style.

Keep breezy styles by wearing your maxi dress or skirt, pairing them with platforms and wedges if you are going out for an informal event. You can also mix up sweet details with edgy sandals.

Also, opting for a flowy crop top makes it a flattering and cool option in the heat. Letting a bit of your middle peek through shows off your figure and ensures your waist is still defined. If you are

Editor’s current obsession

still self-conscious abo post baby body, it helps up and at the same ti stylish.

From dressed up fanc tle bit funky, work app to playful weekend en we show you how to l while flaunting maxi ever, to look stylish in hems without projecti sign of frumpiness is dependent on how you You also need to work selecting the right style body figure, scale and With the right accesso can go from sleek and trendy and chic.

19

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Wine & Dine

Protect your wine Ibukunoluwa Kayode

B

eing in the business of wine, we see many talented entrepreneurs seeking to elevate the drinking experience. From granting wine-lovers access to rare bottles to creating new closures and vessels for drinking wine, there’s a lot of innovation to go round.

Sure, all these controls the influx of getting more customers to have swelling tasting experience in respective bars.

Occasionally though, we come across palm-worthy wine products that, frankly, have no business existing with so many offending service items. Well, don’t get me wrong, ridiculous items only need to be ditched for the trendy safe ones.

Here are the most ridiculous items: Finger food plate ring Imagine you’re at a party, sipping some bubbly and chatting with a friend when a server presents you with a bitesize canapé. Where else will you put the tasty morsel aside from your mouth? The

finger food plate ring it’s a no item as it pose a canapé fall off. Instead, class up your next affair with classic slate cheese boards that’s more attractive.

Power drill Corkscrew Let’s ignore, for now, the ridiculous safety hazard this “tool” poses. Are you a wine drinker that still don’t know how to use a corkscrew? In case you’re looking for an electrical corkscrew option, opt for useful cool and sexy dual wine opener preserver with epitome of form plus function that opens, serves and preserves all in counter spaces in place of a power drill.

Wine bottle clothing Absolutely, no need to dress your wine bottles, much less in coveralls. If you’re mulling over your wine’s outfit, just remember: It’s what’s on the inside that counts, drinkers are fascinated by what they can see in the bottle not interested in the cover clothe wraps. Instead protect your wine, not dress it with this bottle guard protector.

New yam eats Biwom Iklaki

I

n honour of the many different cultures in Nigeria that set aside a day, weekend or week to celebrating their yam harvest this year, there are a few different ways you could highlight the food staple, yam. A certain culture gathers the people at the village square and they share roasted yam from a large bowl with another for a tasty pepper sauce. The elders and chiefs have a first turn and then it is passed on to the women.

This rite must be concluded before people begin to eat of their new yam harvest in that community. Here is our take on that epoch-making meal.

Yam and palm oil pepper sauce 1 small tuber of yam 1 cup palm oil 2 cups red bonnet pepper (pounded) 4 medium tomatoes, chopped 2 large onions, chopped Salt and stock cubes to taste.

Preparation Cut your yam into large pieces and boil or roast. In a large pan, heat up your oil until very hot. Throw in your onions and tomatoes and stir gently until some of the sweetness leaves the tomatoes. Add your pepper and lower the heat. Leave to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring gently. Add your salt and stock cube to taste, stir to mix well. Taste and set down. Serve hot in separate dishes or with the sauce poured over the yam. This makes for a lovely finger food dinner.

20

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

I became a leader at 28 Arigidi Akoko born Otunba Gani Adams came into national prominence through his involvement and activities as a leader of Yoruba ethnic organisation, Odua Peoples’ Congress, OPC. His popularity has since gone beyond the group as his status as a celebrated personality has made him a man of many parts. WOLE ADEPOJU engaged him in a revealing interview session that spoke on his attire love for white colour, his family and how about the Yoruba race which is his priority and the emergence of a new platform for the Yoruba people in diaspora, Odua Progressive Union, OPU Can you tell us what your frequent recent foreign trips have been about?

Basically, the activities that have been taking us around in recent times to places like Abidjan, Italy and so on, is not about OPC, Odua Peoples’ Congress but OPU, Odua Progressive Union. It’s quite different from OPC. OPC is a group that is run in Nigeria. OPU is a group that was formed for the Yoruba people in Diaspora. Presently, we have OPU in seventy-one countries. The idea is that we want a global platform for the Yoruba race; we want a situation where we will have the same direction, the same aim and goal.

That was why we formed OPU five years ago, and we thank God everything is going fine. The United States chapter is becoming stronger and Britain is getting stronger also. I believe Yoruba race is waking up from their slumber and it will be difficult for any race or ethnic group to oppress Yorubas anymore. That is why we are putting our house in order.

A recent letter purportedly written by Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (Rtd) to Asiwaju Tinubu lamented backward nature of Yoruba race. What is your opinion?

In actual fact, if we look at how we started our own life, talking of 18th, 19th centuries ago, you will realise that most of the professionals in Nigeria, Yoruba is the first. Talking of first medical doctor, Doctor Olu Akerele was the first medical doctor in Nigeria.

The first lawyer, Sapara Williams is a Yoruba person and even in engineering and many other professions.

The first woman to drive a car was a Yoruba woman; Mrs. Olikoye Ransome Kuti, even the first chartered accountant was from the Yoruba race. So when you draw it to how we got our first government, regional government in 1954, definitely Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo has a cause to complain. Maybe he saw Tinubu as one of the political figures now that he wrote that letter to him and it’s a welcome development. Some people, when they are in power they cannot notice the shortcomings even in their family not to talk of their race. So, I think the letter is a welcome development because most of the developments we are having in Yoruba land is an individual development. I can tell you categorically that about 80 to 85 percent of developments we have in Yoruba land is by individual efforts.

What individuals cannot do now is roads, which government will tell them they are the ones that have the right. I think it’s only minor streets you can do with approval. Basically, majority of our development has come by indi- viduals and investors.

When you view most of the multinational companies and manufacturers, about 80 to 90 percent is in the south west. So, private initiative and partnership, individual efforts gave us development in Yoruba land and not the government. Government will tell you majority of their money is used to pay salaries. I think Gen. Adebayo as one of the prominent Yoruba leaders has the responsibility to write such a letter. You know he’s the leader of Yoruba Council of Elders. He was former governor of the defunct Western Region and he knows what he did with the little resources so it will be highly painful for the old man to see what we are seeing now, hearing billions upon billions and at the end of the day nothing to show for it. As one of the prominent persons in the ruling party, maybe they decided to write Tinubu a letter and maybe he can convey it to the president. But by and large, we must not continue to deceive ourselves. I have always told our people that over dependence on somebody in power can never move Yoruba to anywhere. In a situation where somebody in power who is using state funds, has influence to get contracts, and has influence over some of the governors, when you are talking about Yoruba cause, such a person pays little attention. It is somebody who is deprived that will take the issue of Yoruba race seriously. I am not saying they should not be carried along, but we who are fighting for the Yoruba cause and those leaders of the organisations should look for people even outside the organisation who are very concerned about Yoruba race to sit down to discuss and have a platform.

With time, when the governors and those in power realise we are serious, they will come in. Our destiny is in our own hands and we should not think if we don’t bring in a particular personality, we can’t move forward.

Can you recount your experience as a freedom fighter in brief words?

I think my experiences come in different ways. I have had happy moments and I have had sad times too. As a freedom fighter, I have been in detention, prison and many police formations. I have been maligned by some political class; I have been maligned by some of us that belong to the same organisation, even the time of Dr. Fredrick Fasehun and other people.

It’s been up and down because there are some people who appreciate what you are doing. I just got a chieftaincy title in Kogi State and I have awards both internationally and locally that are over 300 in

21

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Body&Soul

–Gani Adams just about 46 years. So this kind of gesture from people who support and appreciate, make us proud and valued.

on. People thought I was too young but God gave me the grace to relate with the elders and play my role maturely.

Did you inherit the spirit of freedom fighting from any of your parents?

My father was a transporter and my mother is a petty trader, a retailer.

Definitely, it’s not something I inherited from my family but from the beginning of my life, I hate injustice. In my school days, my colleagues knew Gani hates injustice. I hate anybody who tells lies, I hate oppression and I like humble people who believe God created everybody no matter the position you are. I also like people who serve humanity and I had the antecedents when I was in school but not so much because I stopped schooling in my secondary school. I was not opportuned to go to higher institution from beginning. So, luckily and unluckily, the issue of June 12 annulment came, which we did not pray for. It was a sad moment for the entire progressive people in Nigeria, even the Yoruba people. It was at that time I decided to join Campaign for Democracy. I was actually a commentator; one of those people who argue in the street, Itire, Surulere back then. Someone called me and said ‘Gani, why don’t you go and join Campaign for Democracy because I can see you have passion for Abiola and you are not happy the way the election was annulled’. So, that man introduced me to Campaign for Democracy. I went there and joined them and started my struggle. From there, I was one of the founding members of Odua Youth Movement, OYM and from there we now formed OPC, Odua Peoples’ Congress in August, 1994, which I later became Deputy Coordinator and now National Coordinator. When people hear about Gani Adams, they think I just come from no-where but I have my background, I have where I am coming from. There were no meaningful human rights activists from the 80s and 90s that I did not work with except Tai Solarin that I did not work with. I knew Aka Bashorun briefly; I worked with late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, late Olikoye Beko Ransome Kuti, Ozekhome, Olisa Agbakoba, and Ayo Obe. All these prominent human rights activists were our leaders by then. So, I did not just come to be an OPC leader, I have my background. I served Dr. Fredrick Fasehun before I became a leader in this group. Basically, I did not inherit being a freedom fighter; I would say it’s an inborn thing for me. A few years ago when we did old students’ meeting of Ansarudeen Secondary School, my colleagues were not surprised I came this way because they know how I used to stand for my rights and resist injustice back in our school days.

Considering the setbacks and not having a higher education, did it ever cross your mind you could be made?

It’s difficult for one to have such knowledge. Its only people around you like your father, mother, uncles, siblings who perhaps see certain signs that will be able to say such things. But by and large, we have always heard from them through their research that this boy will be somebody prominent in future. I heard from some of my family members and I heard from my mother before she died; even when she died I was nothing. That was in 1993. But I remember vividly she told me two or three times that what happened when I was born showed I would be a prominent person, and from where I was born, they took her to some places in Omuo to figure out certain things about me. Anything that happened in my life is God’s will and written by God so he’s responsible for everything.

There must have been other members who were your peers in OPC when the whole thing started, so what would you say singled you out to become a celebrated one?

No human being will be able answer such a question. These are the things I did but I can tell you about my character. It’s about honesty, steadfastness and I am not lazy in anything I’m doing. I am a grassroot mobiliser and I believe in communication. God gave me the grace of maturity because I became a leader at age 28. Those who appointed me as a leader were 70, 80 years and so

You wear only white colour. Is it as a result of an Ifa divination?

It was not even an Ifa divination that instructed me to be wearing white. It was a prophet that told me that what my guiding angel wants is white; that my apparel should be white. That was in 1999. It was after then, the Ifa divination said it and later I met an Alfa that said I should be wearing white and my houses should be white. The problem we have is that people are too fanatical about religion that they take certain things for granted. I did not take it seriously initially because I was thinking how I was going to dispose all my clothes in other colours but in 2004, I made up my mind when the message kept coming. I changed my wardrobe to white. So, all my clothes are white, even my underwear.

Some might think I belong to a society; it is not about a society but what my guiding angel wants. Everyone needs to invest i -

gate what their guiding angel wants because by the time you know and do what your guiding angel wants, you have won 60 percent of your spiritual battle. But some people unknowingly do contrary to what their guiding angel wants and we know what the consequences might be.

Lots of busy people have issues with their home front.

What is it like in your own case?

I think I just have to thank my wife and my children. I am not a socialite and I don’t serve under anyone.

When you serve under someone, you know schedule, you know you don’t have engagements on Sunday so you can create time for your family but not in a situation when you can’t predict what will happen in the next

one hour. Someone may call me that there is an important visitor, an Oba may call me that ‘Otunba, there is something we need to discuss’.

So you don’t have control of your time 100 per cent.

But when I’m free, you see me playing with my children, running from the room to the living room, we watch TV together as a family but the only thing I don’t usually have time to do is to take them out. I always leave that to their mother but when we have the opportunity to travel out of the country together, I have time to take them to different places but I rarely have time to travel with them these days because my schedule is becoming tighter by the day.

22

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

I’m going hubby-shopping (3) Juliet Bumah

H

eart thumping, Kathryn steps out of her room gingerly, penknife at the ready. She expects her visitor to lunge at her. Nothing happens. She moves to the outdoor, it is locked. The kitchen...empty. She checks every other place and moves towards the guest room and listens, no noise.

She taps lightly on the door and hears the rustling of clothes.

She relaxes a bit.

“He must have overslept like I did,” she tells herself.

After a few minutes, the door opens and Dave walks out looking good but tired.

“Good morning Kathryn. Sorry, I slept off. You invested a lot in comfort in your home,” he says, wishing he could say more.

His heart is thumping. She is looking like a star prize, more beautiful than the Kathryn he romanced in his dream.

“Kathryn is just the kind of woman I need in my life,” he mumbles and regrets his tale about his family holidaying abroad. He’s been scaring women away with that tale. The truth is, at almost 42, he is lonely and needs a woman to take care of him. Kathryn makes him feel so happy and relaxed.

She stares at him for a moment before remembering her manners.

“Good morning Dave,” she mumbles.

“Too bad you are married. You look so good,” she says in her mind.

“I need to run now. Thanks for sheltering me. I owe you one. Can we er..er... can we have dinner later today?” Dave says. He doesn’t feel like leaving.

“Oh no, I have a date this evening,” Kathryn lies. She doesn’t want anything to do with a married man. She is tired of warming men’s bed. She wants a man of her own -her own husband.

Sadness flickers across Dave’s face.

“What about tomorrow? Can we see?

I really want to see you again,” he says, urgently.

“Let’s talk about that tomorrow after church service. I think you have my phone number,” she replies.

Dave doubts if he’ll have rest of mind until he sees her again.

As he heads towards the door, Kathryn remembers it’s the last Saturday of the month. There won’t be movement till after 10am because of the environmental sanitation exercise.

“Dave, you can’t leave now. There’s sanitation. No movement till after 10am,” she calls out.

Dave’s heart leaps for joy! Any opportunity to stay around her is welcomed.

“Oh, ok,” he says, walking back to the sitting room.

“I’m hungry. Wanna prepare breakfast. Care for some?” she calls out as she moves to the kitchen.

“No....er...yes,” he replies, moving to the divan.

Kathryn busies herself in the kitchen.

Cooking is one of her hobbies...and she’s a darn good cook.

As she pours some whisked eggs into the pan, she prays for that man that’ll appreciate her culinary expertise. She is so engrossed in her chores that she didn’t notice her visitor observing her

from the kitchen door.

The aroma from the kitchen is so sweet and strong. Dave couldn’t concentrate on the television. So he moves to the door and watches as Kathryn goes about her chores.

She has a well-toned physique. Her huge butt and killer legs make him giddy.

No doubt, he is falling in love with this stranger.

“How am I gonna win this prize? How am I gonna make her my wife? She has turned into a virus in my system. I must get her,” he mutters and clears his throat.

“Mind if I help you, goddess?” He says aloud.

Kathryn turns. She is startled. She opens her mouth to decline but accepts instead. There’s something arresting about her visitor. Beyond his tough, rich looks, he appears vulnerable and lonely...yes...lonely.

“You wanna help me? Can you cook?

You can help, anyway,” she tells him kindly, surprised at herself.

Dave moves into the kitchen. Her voice sounds like honey in his ears.

“I can’t cook, but I can help clean up... with the right supervision,” he says.

They look at each other and laugh. It is a sincere laughter, none tries to impress the other. They laugh like old friends do.

Kathryn relaxes her guard. Somehow,

she feels safe with him. Suddenly, it dawns on her that she’s beginning to like him the more.

“Can you chop onion?” She asks.

“Yes. Though I haven’t done that in a long while,” he replies, picking a knife on the sink.

“Um..that’s a penknife, not kitchen knife,” she says, laughing, and passes an onion bulb and a knife in a bowl to him.

She watches as he chops the onion into uneven sizes and smiles. His fingers are well-groomed and so is the man. She likes him!

Pity he is married.

Dave feels happy being beside her. She smells fresh. Underneath her tough exterior, Dave suspects she’s a very soft woman, the type that makes a good wife and mother.

“It’s obvious you do not cook,” she tells him.

“Yeah, I eat out most times,” he replies without thinking.

Kathryn wonders why a married man would eat out most times, unless his family is not based in Nigeria.

They finish in the kitchen and move to the dinette. They eat like man and wife.

The meal is scrumptious.

“You’re a good cook,” he says.

“Aided by you,” she replies and they both laugh again.

“I didn’t add anything to your cook-

ing. I haven’t tried cooking since I left school. My brothers cook at home since my cook got a foreign job and left,” he says and Kathryn wonders what his wife does when she’s around.

“You mean your wife doesn’t cook for you and your children?” She asks him.

Dave shifts uncomfortably.

“She does,” he replies and wishes he has told her the truth -that he does not have a wife, has never been married and is, in fact, hopelessly in love with her.

Something doesn’t ring right to Kathryn but she didn’t prod further.

After clearing the breakfast table, they watch a film, chatting half of the time.

He’s got a great sense of humour and they laugh so much.

“My gawd, that lady talks like she’s got hot potato in her mouth,” he says of a Nollywood actress who is desperately trying to sound American.

Kathryn laughs again and he joins her.

Their laughter is sincere. Kathryn wishes he’s not married. She likes him a lot.

In fact, she’s fallen in love with him. Yes! By the time Dave is leaving some minutes after 10am, they have agreed to have lunch together after church service the next day.

“Thank you,” he says at the door.

“For what?” She asks.

“For sheltering me, feeding me...in fact taking care of me,” he says gently, looking into her eyes, searching for a sign that she feels something for him.

“Oh, that’s nothing. I enjoy your company,” she says sincerely.

She hands a gate pass to him. As he takes it, he looks into her eyes again and holds her gaze.

Kathryn finds herself in his arms, she didn’t know how. Their lips meet and they taste love. They hold on to each other briefly, each deep in thought.

Kathryn wishes, for the thousandth time, that he is not married.

“Unfortunately, I can’t have anything to do with him,” she tells herself without conviction.

Dave is sure he’ll go crazy if he doesn’t make her his wife. He is crazily in love with her, although an alarm is ringing somewhere in his brain. She kisses like she’s a graduate of ‘school of love’ very professional.

Anyway, he pulls her back into his arms, his lips moving from her neck towards her mouth.

Kathryn yields to his every touch. She wants to say ‘no’ but every nerve in her body wants this stranger. She basks in the warmth of his embrace as they kiss passionately.

They are still standing at the door.

Dave holds on to this supple flesh that is making him giddy.

This strange lady is sure a temptress.

Her body promises a ‘neverland’ experience...and her figure looks like it knows how to turn a man into a suckling.

Every nerve in his body is on heat and reason has flown to his groin. *********** Did they heed their hearts? Let’s find out on Sunday!

•Send your observations to: julietbumah@gmail.com

23

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

Ortom: It’s wrong to say I’m somebody’s stooge p.24&25

Heads will roll over 2016 budget, says Leo Ogor p.27

The Sunday Interview

Air Marshal Abubakar: Why Sambisa Forest has been impregnable p28-29

Politics

Biyi Adegoroye Assistant Editor biyi.fire@yahoo.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Nigeria’s democracy and contradictory verdicts Conflicting judgments from judges handling mostly political cases, especially at high and appeal court divisions have cast aspersions on the nation's judiciary, which is regarded as the last hope of the common man, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was the first to raise the alarm over conflicting judgements by some courts regarding election petitions challenging the conduct of 2015 general elections.

The commission's Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at the opening ceremony of a National Conference on Election Petition Tribunals and Appeals, which was organised by the Court of Appeal in Abuja early this year, described as worrisome, the level of conflicting judgments emanating from various divisions of the Court of Appeal in respect of the 2015 general elections.

"There is need for certainty in the rules governing the resolution of electoral disputes.

Judicial precedence is of immense importance, without which neither the judiciary nor INEC will be spared of impunity by political actors," Professor Yakubu warned.

Present at the occasion were high ranking judges, including the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.

Yakubu gave an instance where a particular division of the appellate court ordered INEC to conduct fresh election, “in which only the duly qualified candidates participated, only for another division of the court, under similar circumstance, to nullify the election, disqualified the candidate and allowed the political party to submit the name of another candidate for a re-run poll.

“Yet in another division, the Court of Appeal nullified the election, ordered INEC to conduct fresh election, but remained silent about the status of the disqualified candidates, thereby giving room for endless commentary and new rounds of litigation on the eligibility of the disqualified candidate to participate in re-run elections."

Perhaps, Professor Yakubu failed to mention the conflicting judgements by both the Election Petition Tribunals and Court of Appeal regarding the use of the Smart Card Reader (SCR) in the conduct of the elections.

Even though the Supreme Court later resolved the matter, the varied judgements delivered by the election petitions and appeal tribunals created more confusion than answers. A typical example was the decisions of the courts regarding the use of SCR in the

Buhari

conduct of Lagos and Rivers State governorship elections.

In the case of the Lagos State governorship poll, the Court of Appeal on August 26, 2015, ruled that the card reader could not be a ground for annulling an election. But in the Rivers State the Appeal Court justices held that the SCR was a must-use in the governor­ ship election of April 11, 2015.

According to them, where the card reader failed, the election ought to have been postponed to the next day, notwithstanding the provision on the use of incident forms to allow electorate whose biometrics could not be captured by the car reader, exercise their franchise.

Based on the above, the tribunal and the Appeal Court upheld the election of Governor Ambode as duly elected governor of Lagos State whereas they nullified the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, and ordered a rerun election. The election of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State was also nullified on that same ground.

But the apex court disagreed with the tribunals on "substantial non-compliance with the law and election guidelines" in the conduct of the Rives and Akwa Ibom governorship elections.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the lead judgement, said until the National Assembly amends the Electoral Act to give the card reader a statutory backing, the use of it as a basis to nullify elections is

Mahmud

wrong.

Although, she acknowledged that the introduction of the card reader has improved the credibility of the elections, the judge, however, noted that there is a difference between the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the manual and guidelines made by INEC pursuant to powers granted it by the Electoral Act. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, one of the Supreme Court Justices who concurred to the lead judgement noted: “I agree that failure to follow the manual and guidelines made in exercise of the powers conferred by the Electoral Act cannot in itself render the election void. This should [however] not be understood to mean that the innovation of the card reader is in conflict with the relevant sections of the Electoral Act.” Another judge, Justice Kumai Aka’ahs also held that the “Introduction of the card reader is certainly a welcome development in the electoral process. Although it is meant to improve on the integrity of those accredited to vote so as to check the incidence of rigging, it is yet to be made part of the Electoral Act. "Section 138(2) of the Electoral Act envisages a situation where the Electoral Commission issues instructions or guidelines which are not carried out. The failure of the card reader machine or failure to use it for the accreditation of voters cannot invalidate the election.”

Three other justices: Justices Sylvester Ng-

wuta, John Okoro and Amiru Sanusi who were in the panel that heard the appeal, equally concurred to the leading judgement.

But while Governors Wike and Emmanuel as well as Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), whose petition progressed up to the Supreme Court, some members of the legislature at state and federal levels whose petitions ended at the Court of Appeal, were unlucky as their elections were equally nullified based on "substantial non-compliance with the law and election guidelines." Some of them contested the re-run elections as ordered by the courts and lost.

PDP leadership crisis These, notwithstanding, the greatest challenge the judiciary is currently facing as regard to conflicting judgments by the lower courts, is the leadership crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Claimants to the position had resorted to the courts since May 21 in an attempt to resolve the differences. But unfortunately, conflicting judgments by two divisions of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Port Harcourt have made resolution of the crisis intractable.

Two days after the PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt where the party got facCONTINUED ON PAGE 25

24

politics

Chief Samuel Ortom, is a strong willed businessman and politician who stood firm through turbulent times to become governor of Benue State. In this interview with ANULE EMMANUEL, he speaks on the challenges of governance, efforts to industrialise the state and why he will remain nobody’s stooge as governor

One of your promises on assumption of office was to boost Internally Generated Revenue in Benue State. Have you been able to achieve this?

Yes, we started very well by setting up the revenue board which is doing well too. We are able to raise internally generated revenue in the state to an average of N500million monthly. Of recent, the whole thing has been politicised and the people are resisting payment of taxes. We have had issues with this and have met with our stakeholders. We have now agreed that our government has human face; we were democratically elected so, even when we are doing the right thing and there is so much cry, we are looking at that and have instructed the board of internal revenue to treat the people with human face. We are also engaging the people to get them understand why taxes need to be paid as at when due. This issue of payment of salaries is really affecting us in trying to implement it because most of the people depend on the civil service. In the economy of Benue today, there are no commercial activities, no industries and small and medium scale enterprises. So, when salaries are not paid promptly, it becomes a problem. As at today, we are four months down at the state level and five months down at the local government level.

The fact that we were able to raise the IGR from N250million to an average of N500million means that we are heading for some positive days. It is difficult but you also agree that the general down turn in the economy has also created a gap. We believe that this is an opportunity to think outside the box of government and try to find other creative ways of improving the economy. This is what I have been telling our people. What can we do differently from what we have been doing that can add value to what is already existing. I believe that in no distance time, we should be able to come out of this.

Are there efforts to revive public entities like the Taraku mills?

We are taking steps to activate Taraku mills for instance, not just it alone. I have had investors visit Taraku, do due diligence. Currently, we have three investors, one from the United States of America, another one in Nigeria here and the other from Italy that have shown interest in the company. We believe that it will be a major boost if Taraku mills bounce back to life.

The only problem we have is that this plant has machinery that was fabricated in the 70's, so, most of the equipment are obsolete because of innovations and new technologies that are in place today. However, we are looking at investors that can take over the place and do some modifications and adjustments to fit in, since most of the plants there are still very useful and solid. The activation of the mills will be a major boost to the state’s economy and one good advantage is that the raw ma-

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Ortom: It’s wrong to say

Ortom

terials are available such as maize, soya beans, grand nuts as well as the needed man power.

What about fruit processing?

But this is not all, apart from the new industries that we are encouraging people to come and establish in order to go into processing that will add value to our primary products, we are also looking at reviving the Benue Fruits Company which we conceded to Transcorp. They are requesting that for them to break even and make profit, they must do some expansion.

They are in discussion with us to acquire the entire plant for the expansion. As a person, I am not against it, once the terms are favourable to the state, we will hand it over to them. We are ready to provide them the enabling environment. We have also concluded arrangement with a core investor on the Tomato factory in Wanune, the company will take over 80 per cent to make adjustments and commence production very soon. On the whole, we think that it is by industrialising the state that we can boost the economy. I inherited a yam factory from the previous administration which we are having challenges with the Chinese firm that fabricated and installed the machines. They excluded a whole boiler in the contract terms but we are sorting out that as well. We are also reviving the plastic industry which was leased to Oracle Business limited in 2013. A lot of work is going on there. When all of these are done, there will be job creation for the youth with business activities kicking up.

But a few people believe that Ortom is not fully in charge. How true is it that you are being tele-guided by some top politicians in the state?

That is a lie from the pit of hell. Looking at my chequered life experience, academic history, working experience and business life and the successes that I have recorded, who will say that Ortom is being tele-guided? Who has been tele-guiding me to achieve these successes? Today, the companies I established in Benue State are generating and giving employment to over 600 people. Tell me how many Benue indigenes that have done this. These companies are still working. So, who has been tele-guiding me to do all these ones. I am one of the biggest farmers we have around in Benue State if not the biggest as I sit here.

These are people who try to under rate me and what God is doing in my life. I am committed to the Almighty God and to serving humanity. My Non-Governmental Organisation with my wife has been reaching out to thousands of people in education, health and humanitarian services. I wonder how many people are doing the same thing in the state. When people say that I am being tele-guided, go and check my history and tell me where I have failed.

Even on this job that so much has been talked about and with the challenges we have, I want to assure you that I am going to succeed at the end of the day because, I know that after building the foundation, putting things right, correcting those things that were destroyed, success will follow.

And I said this on day one, when I came on board that I will build on whatever has been established by the past administration that was right, but those that are wrong, I will correct them with boldness. And that is what I have been doing. As soon as these things are set right, we will move on. One thing that I know that has destroyed my state and Nigeria is lack of fear of God. For me, I am living with the fear of God,

which will restore the basic core values that are missing in our society, honesty, accountability, selflessness, transparency and integrity. People shy away from all these things because they want to make money.

For me, it is not about making money but serving the people. The opportunity I have is to serve the people. If I make all the money and my people are poor, then I am also a poor man. So, I want God to use me to elevate the status of my people and my state. I will be a proud governor at the end of my tenure and one thing I pray and look forward to God is that I will be a free man when I leave office. The foundation to be a free man is now that I am serving.

That is why I am very careful.

How is the state coping with the current economic recession?

I have always appreciated God for bringing me at a time like this. I know that it is only when God permits that you to ascend to a position of authority. The Bible says in John 3:27 that a man can receive nothing except it is given to him from above. And for me in particular, I came in the name of God. He gave me victory despite all the challenges that were before me. So, it is clear that God will never make the mistake of bringing me at a time like this.

Coming to meet a depressed economy and a deficit treasury where salaries and contracts were not being paid as well as several other things including pensions and gratuity amounting billions of naira.

I came at a time that the opposition is out blackmailing instead of joining hands with me to work for the progress and development of the state.

They say all kinds of lies; bring several allegations of scandalous things which are completely false. I have told them that for

25

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

I’m somebody’s stooge me, my services at the local government, state and federal level are very clear. I have not been indicted or accosted for any fraudulent practice throughout my service, in party life, public and business life. I have no reason whatsoever, having been given the mandate by God himself to be talking about trying to acquire illegal wealth.

My allowances and entitlements as governor are ok. I am contented with what I get in this service. I have no business going out to short-change the people by looting the treasury. But one thing that I have identified is that when you fight corruption, it fights back to try and portray an image that you are not different from them. I am different from them and I have challenged the former governor and his cohorts to come up with anything they feel I have done wrongly in my government.

I have several things about their fraudulent activities and corruption that characterised the past administration, but were not completely captured by the Justice Kpojime Commission that mandated us to ensure that they refund N1.7billion to the coffers of the state. There are several other corrupt practices that were done by the past government in the state that are still coming up. We expect that they refund all the looted funds otherwise the law will catch up with them.

But have you explored persuasive means to get voluntary refunds?

I have said severally that all I want is the money. I am not witch hunting or intimidating anyone, it is simple. If you took money that is not yours, money from the common wealth, bring it back. That is all my concern, I have a deal with the people of Benue State and I want to see that my promises are fulfilled. It is not about people going to jail. All I am concerned like I said is that the people get dividends of democracy through provision of basic amenities in education, health sector, water sanitation and other infrastructure. I want to see that salaries are paid as at when due. But you see, why Benue State cannot pay salaries today is that, apart from the general economic down turn which has affected more than 27 states battling to pay salaries as at when due, the level of corruption that characterised the immediate past government created this loophole for me in the state. It is simple. If I met a state that had no salary arrears, I wouldn't have had any business going to borrow. If I met a state that was up to date with its financial obligations to contractors, I wouldn't have had any business to deep hands into what we collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria as infrastructural loans to pay them. If the monies gotten through sale of shares from Julius Berger, Benue Cement and several other businesses that the state had interest in, were used to clear pension arrears or gratuity to our people, I won't be having this burden on me now. But where the operators were reckless and siphoned money anyhow with impunity, is what we are saying no. I think that if they are able to return these monies, I will have no issues against them. Several things are waiting and begging for funding in the state now.

There are allegations that you mismanaged bailout funds from the Federal Government…

We properly utilised the bailout funds.

I challenged anyone that my government is the most open and transparent government. It will interest you to know that the civil servants whom we are owe, are part of my joint account committee both at the local government and the state level. We sit together and analyse whatever comes into the state's account both from the Federation Account and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account. So, it is not a matter

that we have mismanaged bail out monies. We received N12.5billion for the state service and N15.5billion for the local government service and these funds were appropriated properly. In fact, because of the screening method we adopted at the state level, we were able to save over N1.6billion which was injected back into the treasury.

Four solid months were paid to workers as arrears. It was the same thing at the local government level where we were able to also save N1.4billion through the thorough screening method. Up till today, this money is still in the account of the local government.

The leadership of the workers union are part of the committee that we have put in place and I don't see how these officials will sit and watch bailout funds being diverted when workers are not receiving salaries.

This is clearly coming from the opposition and those who were indicted by the committee I set up to screen workers. It was uncovered that some civil servants were ghost workers while others were receiving double salaries. These kinds of persons were screened out and they are the ones crying foul. It is because I am considerate enough, but if this negative campaigns continue, I will be compelled to drag them to court to refund what they have been collecting illegally. So, bailout funds were appropri-

ated properly and I challenge anyone who knows about any fraudulent practice concerning the bailout funds to come out and expose this government.

Benue has also recorded cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of criminality, what are you doing in this regard?

Unfortunately, this had been on before I came on board. By the time I took over office in 2015, there was breakdown of law and order in Benue State because the past administration had acquired weapons and given them to youths to prosecute the election. God, however, outsmarted them and showed them that He is God who gives power to whoever he wants. If not, weapons were bought and distributed at the Government House to criminals and youths who went on rampage killing, and kidnapping people. After the election, when there was no more funding from government house for them, they went wild. So, we brought the amnesty programme which has been successful.

In fact, we recovered more than 600 rifles from these youths, including thousands of ammunition and explosives. Over 900 of the youths came out to surrender but we later discovered that some were in the middle and did not submit completely. But

politics

on the day of my inauguration was when I made the pronouncement of the amnesty programme which I said will be in two fold. First, the carrot approach and then the stick approach. We have concluded the carrot approach, now we are taking the stick approach. We will go after anyone found with illegal weapons now and prosecute such persons. Since we started the stick approach, there has been a lot of calm in the state and we are going to sustain it.

The entire security apparatus in the state is working with the state government to achieve this. We cannot surrender our state to criminals. Rather, the criminals will have to surrender or will be dealt with.

When are you conducting local government elections in the state?

I was given a budget that was close to a billion naira to conduct the election. If I have such an amount, I will pay salaries.

And if you conduct elections now, you will have a chairman and his councilors. Where are you going to get money to pay them?

So, wisdom demands that you find a way around this. When the economy improves, we would conduct elections. I want to conduct elections, if I have the resources now, I will conduct elections tomorrow. But for now, my priority is how pay salaries as at when due.

Nigeria’s democracy and contradictory verdicts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

tionalised, two courts, in Port Harcourt and Lagos, gave varied orders against the two factions. While the Port Harcourt accorded recognition to the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, that of Lagos recognised a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

The National Convention, which is the highest decision organ making body of PDP, had on May 21, dissolved the NWC and appointed the caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party for 90 days and organise another convention where a new set of party leadership will be created.

On July 4, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Abudullahi Liman, affirmed the caretaker committee and asked Sheriff to stop parading himself as National Chairman.

This decision was to be reversed on July 28 by Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court, Abuja, which reinstated Sheriff and asked Makarfi-led caretaker committee to vacate office.

Since then, it has been one order after another, the height of it being the August 15 interlocutory order granted to the PDP Convention Planning Committee by Justice Watila of Port Harcourt division to go ahead with its planned August 17 National Convention.

Again, this order was countered by Justice Abang, first on August 15 and later the next day, stopping the convention. Police acted on the last order, and sealed the venue of the convention in the early hours of August 17.

Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi (rtd), said there is the need for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate recurring conflicting court judgments in the country.

"Politicians are desperate to win their cases; rather than appeal a particular unfavourable judgment, they approach a similar court with another version of the case in an attempt to mislead the judge resulting in conflicting judgments."

Justice Abdullahi further noted that the "NJC must wade in to address these contradictions; investigate if there is any corrupt undertone in these judgments; arrest the in-

discipline and recklessness by some judges."

The immediate past President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Austin Aleghe, also at the 56th Annual General Conference of the association in Port Harcourt last week, said judges giving conflicting judgments on a particular matter are embarrassing the judiciary and the nation. He also called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to step in quickly and arrest the situation and restore the dignity of the judiciary.

Now that senior lawyers and judges have began to show concern over the contradictions, perhaps, the NJC might step into the matter to prevent further erosion of people's confidence in the judiciary.

In the past, some actions of some judges handling political cases have brought disrepute to the hallowed profession. Here, Justices Bassey Ekpeme and Wilson Egbo-Egbo readily come to mind!

Justice Ikpeme, popularly called the "midnight judge," granted an ex-parte order in his chamber few hours before the June 12, 1993 presidential election, stopping the election.

Justice Ikpeme's action forced judiciary authorities to issue a directive that no ex-parte order should be granted without putting the other party on notice.

Though the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) ignored the order and went ahead with the election, relying on Section 19 of Decree No. 13, which ousted the power of any court to stop the election, Justice Dahiru Saleh, who was then Chief Judge of Abuja, issued another ruling suspending further release of the election results.

Justice Saleh went as far as issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of the then NEC Chairman, Professor Humphrey Nwosu and his principal staff for non-compliance with the earlier ruling of Justice Ikpeme.

This order stuck like a sore despite the decision of the Court of Appeal presided over

by Justice G. A. Oguntade who ruled that “where a court makes an order in contravention of a statutory provision which forbids it from making such order, the order so made is null and void and no appeal need be filed against the order." The Court of Appeal is of superior jurisdiction and has judicial precedence over the high courts.

Justice Ekpo-Egbo etched his name in the record books as the only judge to grant an

interim order, sacking a sitting governor, not on the basis of election petition but on exparte application by self acclaimed godfather.

The judge had granted the prayers of Chief Chris Uba, a businessman and others restraining the then governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige from parading himself as governor. He also granted an interim order allowing Dr. Okey Udeh who was Ngige's deputy to act and perform the functions of the governor of Anambra State pending the determination of the motion on notice.

Egbo-Egbo granted two interim orders within two days. Curiously, two days after, the judge noted: "I want to give the ex-parte order that I made on Monday to counsel to all the parties in the suit to go through. It has come to my notice that since I heard this motion and ordered that all the parties be put on notice, the defendants have filed various applications seeking the voiding of the order.

"I would want to put the records straight by saying that at no time did this court make any order curtailing or restraining any of the defendants want to give the ex-parte order that I made on Monday to counsel to all the parties in the suit to go through. It has come to my notice that since I heard this motion and ordered that all the parties be put on notice, the defendants have filed various applications seeking the voiding of the order.

"I would want to put the records straight by saying that at no time did this court make any order curtailing or restraining any of the defendants. The order I made was not the one drawn up by the Senior Registrar. One would have expected him to be able to lift the five orders that I had granted and I did not bother going through what he brought before signing it. I therefore vacate the said order as I never granted it."

The NJC quickly acted and suspended Justice Egbo-Egbo. His suspension was later converted to sack! With the current contradictory verdicts given by the judges, observers have argued that democracy may be made or marred in no time, except perhaps, one or two judges involved in the ongoing conflicting judgments might receive EgboEgbo treatment. Only then would they learn their lessons and thread with utmost caution in order that the judiciary will indeed remain the last hope of the common man.

26

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

Congratulations on your new feat. How do you feel being the youngest District Governor in the World at moment and during the centenary of the club?

Thank you. I feel humbled and challenged to go all the way to succeed and justify the confidence reposed in me.

You have “Sustaining our Legacy of Service” as your theme; what key agenda are you bringing on the service table to achieving this?

Our association is adjudged the largest service organisation in the world and the global leader in humanitarian service.

This is our legacy and to sustain this legacy, which has been in existence for about 100 years, we intend to increase on our membership growth. This is because the more quality members we invite into the association the better the world will get. So, to achieve this growth we shall be focusing on the Leo-Lion conversion and family membership; leadership development by organising training programmes for Lions at all levels; executing service activities related to the centennial service challenges; publicity of all our programmes through the print and electronic media as well as using the social network, also to execute at least one centennial legacy project.

Can you be specific about the Centennial Projects which you intend to embark upon during your tenure as the DG? Well we shall focus on the four centennial service challenges, which are our key point agenda for this year. They are as follow: Engaging the youths. For nearly 100 years, Lions have served their communities with dedication and contribution to the development and wellbeing of millions of young persons and children. In this month of August, we have already embarked on the Worldwide Week of Service for Youths and these involved lectures/seminars on entrepreneurship for young graduates and training on bead making, cake baking, decoration, tailoring and barbing for unemployed youths. We have also visited schools and donated textbooks/notebooks to some selected schools within our coverage.

The second is Shearing the Vision: Lions are dedicated to the fight against blindness. We are planning to hold Worldwide Week of Service in Sight from October 10-16, 2016. We shall screen and sponsor cataract surgeries for thousands of Nigerians. Donation of white cane and brail to blind schools and free eye glasses to those in need. The week will be rounded up with 'Dinner in the dark' in Ado Ekiti. Under the third which is Relieving the Hunger, Lions Clubs within the district will be encouraged to mobilise their members to make huge difference in their communities. At the district level from January 9-15, 2017, we shall observe Worldwide Week of Service to Fight Hunger which majorly will focus on feeding the poor and de-worming exercise. And on the last point, protecting our Environment, we plan to mobilise Lions Club members to make a positive impact in protecting and preserving the environment. April 17-23, 2017 has been set aside as Worldwide Week of Service to Protect our Planet. Activities for the week include but not limited to planting of over 10000 trees, clean up activity of roads and gardens/playgrounds.

And finally, we shall make a lasting gift to our community by enhancing our visual presence in Nigeria. We are already in talk with the Lagos State Park and Gardens (LASPARK) for the development of a Centennial Lions Park Project in Ilupeju. This will serve as our Legacy Project by the special grace of God. At the just concluded first cabinet

Lions dedicated to fighting blindness -says DG Adewunmi Lion Taiwo Adewunmi is the District Governor, District 404B2 Nigeria and Principal Partner Taiwo Adewunmi Consultant, Estate Surveyors. A graduate of Estate Management from the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos with Master of Science in Real Estate from the prestigious College of Estate Management, University of Reading, White Knights, in England, speaks with BLESSING UMEBALI on his election and activities of the group meeting, you pledged that during your tenure you will endeavour to complete some abandoned projects. How do you intend to achieve this?

Whatever projects we are yet to commence belongs to Lions Clubs International and not any individual. Uncompleted projects within our district are, therefore, our collective responsibility. In order to actualise this dream, we will be approaching individuals and corporate organisations for sponsorship and we will channel all funds received towards completing all outstanding projects.

At present, how many clubs do we have in the district and how many new clubs do you intend to charter?

We met 67 clubs and one is chartered and four pending applications by the end of my administration, we will try to add additional 10 clubs.

Could you describe who a Lion is and what makes Lions Clubs International thick?

Let me start with what makes Lions club thick.

It is on record today that we run the biggest Motherless Babies Home in Nigeria (Lions Village Motherless Babies Home) in Lekki< Lagos, ably managed by the Lions in partnership with the Lagos State Government. Also, the Lions Club in Nigeria has built and donated hospices to various hospitals, classrooms and libraries to Schools, Eye Center with Equipment to Hospitals (Ota and Isolo General Hospitals), Cancer

Screening and Treatment Center in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH Ikeja), Diabetes Screening & Treatment Center (Ede General Hospital), building and equipping of the Emergency Accident Clinic at the Sagamu interchange of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Clubs and District in the past have sunk boreholes for portable drinking water in their communities, Water Plant Factory to empower vulnerable teenage girls in OZANAM HOUSE, Lagos State, we have built primary health centers, carried out thousands of eye screening and cataract surgeries, provided reading glasses to the needy, corneal transplant for the visually blind to see amongst several other projects and activities. In collaboration with Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and other donor agencies, we have in addition built Roll Back Malaria House in Ibadan, Mercy Home for cancer patients in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH, Idi Araba) and mass advocacy in the eradication of Measles. In summary, we have lived up to our motto "WE SERVE" and we are still “Loving Individuals Offering Needed Service". We beat our chest to say “Where there's a need, there's a Lion". So a Lion simply is a loving individual who loves offering needed services without any personal reward. Furthermore, a Lion member is that person who cares about his community, shows interest in its welfare and its progress.

Could you give a brief history of Lions Clubs International?

The Lions Clubs Interna-

tional is the largest service club organization in the world with about 1.4 million members in more than 47,000 clubs in 210 countries and geographic areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions Club has aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened local through service and humanitarian projects.

The Lions Club started here in Nigeria in 1964 with the formation of the first Lions Club, which is known today as the Lagos Doyen Lions Club. It was a club founded by 24 members, all expatriates except one Nigerian- Doyen Lion (Sir) Akintola Williams (OFR, CBE) who till date is still very much active in his club.

With the support of a host of other prominent Nigerians, the Lions movement took a firm root in Nigeria. Today, I make bold to say that we have about 6000 members in 266 clubs divided into four Districts for administrative purposes and our District is 404B-2 with a membership of about 1500 Lions in 67 Clubs.

Lions Club started in 1917 and our centennial celebrations in 2017 brings Lions together all over the world to celebrate 100 years of life changing humanitarian service. The centennial campaign kicked off since July 2014 and will run through to June 2018. Lions around the world within this period will impact 100 million lives in the areas of youths, vision, relieving hunger and the environment. I am happy to inform you that as at June 30, 2016 we have already touched the lives of 93 million people across the globe. We have, therefore, increased our target to 200 million lives. A single act of service can change a life. But when 1.4 million members come together to serve, we can change the world.

Who do you consider as your mentor and role model and why?

Pastor Enoch .A Adeboye is a role model to me and I pray I can serve God and man as much as he does. He is an embodiment of a humble leader to emulate.

How can you describe yourself?

A very ambitious young man who believes so much in transparency, optimism, sincerity and accountability.

How do you intend to strike a balance among both homefront, business and the District and still achieve your set goals?

It’s all about balancing. I am very committed to every sphere of life and I will strive to do my best so one does not negatively impact into another.

27

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

politics What is your overview of budgeting in the first place?

Budgeting is clearly some form of distribution of resources for projects. And how does the instrument which we call revenue estimates and expenditure in line with the Section 81 of the constitution.

How does it emerge? It comes in as a proposal and the constitution says it should be a proposal of revenue and expenditure for the financial year. And it is those ministers and heads of those agencies, the directors and permanent secretaries that prepare these projects.

Now unfortunately for us, we don't have anybody sitting in those positions.

So I looked at the provision of the section of the constitution and I draw reference from Section 80 Subsection 4. And it says that no funds shall be withdrawn from the consolidated accounts of the federation, or any public account except in the manners, emphasis mine, manner prescribed by the National Assembly. And if that is a constitutional provision, I stand to be corrected. This is not rocket science but simple English Language, 'in a manner prescribed by the National Assembly. And we have the privilege that some funds were allocated for zonal intervention for projects, and we placed those projects in our various constituencies.

But what specifically would you point at as reasons Nigerians should support the position of the National Assembly on this issue?

The general hospital, because my people suffer from lots of environmental degradation due to oil pollution and the polluted water my people suffer from polluted fishes, drink polluted water; in the area of electricity, we have to run it on our own, while gas flaring is the street light we get on night basis with its attendant acid rain.

Outside all these, we suffer major health problems here and because I provide hospital for my people, I provide portable water for them to drink and provide roads that are approved by the Federal Executive Council for them. And somebody will have the audacity, the moral justification and the animal boldness to challenge me that why should I put that project for my people to benefit from- for the same owners of same resources that they are using to provide those overhead bridges. And I said if that is what is called budget padding; please give me the privileges to do it again. For those who do not know, it is government itself that under the provisions of Section. 82 (2) says that, 'the primary responsibility of government is the welfare of its people.

So if that is the primary responsibility of government and I participated in the welfare of my people why will somebody have to accuse me on that?

What does this endorsement mean to you?

I am excited. It shows some level of confidence. The whole exercise is more of motivation, telling me to continue to serve my people. It is a very big responsibility they have placed on my shoulder today. I pray God to give me the courage and wisdom to carry them irrespective of my assignments. I appeal to those ignorant of these provisions to ask and learn as insults wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take them anywhere.

Politics is a game of intrigues; as a result you don't need to destroy somebody for you to climb. It is all about you. I sincerely thank all of them because without the drive, force and energy from them, I do not think I would have been a member of the National Assembly and by extension a Minority Leader of the party.

What really is budget padding?

Well, it is a new word to the lexicon of the legislature and I believe it is more of an ignorant factor. I draw reference from the provisions of Section 58, but in this

Heads will roll over 2016 budget, says Leo Ogor Amidst the hue and cry that have greeted the 2016 national budget, the Minority Leader of the House of Representative, Hon. Leo Ogor declares that restructuring Nigeria is the only way out for the country to remain as one. He speaks to SONY NEME on the budget padding saga and other sundry issues at Ozoro, Delta State during a vote of confidence passed on him by Isoko Advancement Network specific aspect it has been from the 59 of the constitution, which sets out clearly the modalities and the methodology of what we call the Appropriation Act. You see, in line with Section 81of the constitution the President is expected to submit the revenue and estimates of expenditure.

And I called it mere estimate because no bill comes to the National Assembly and you expect it to go out the way it is. When a bill arrives at the National Assembly, it is considered that that bill is dead on arrival. It is now left for the lawmakers to panel beat it into a shape that will serve to serve the interest of this nation.

At what point would you say it went awry?

Based on that, the National Assembly, in their wisdom looked at the bill and sent it to the various committees that concluded their works and returned the bill to the Appropriation Committee. It is quiet unfortunate that we had an incompetent Chairman of Appropriation Committee who mutilated the details of the Appropriation Act in a manner that was quiet unacceptable. And even when the President saw the mutilated copy declined to accent to his bill and sent it back.

Then the National Assembly saw a very embarrassing situation and decided to set up an Ad Hoc Committee. They had to look at it again, address the inadequacies, packaged it neatly and removed some of the nonsense that was added and returned it for the Presidents accent. That Ad Hoc Committee is made up of the executives including the ministers and the judiciary. Thereafter, it was assented to in line with Section 59 of the constitution.

Let me also state that in a scenario where

the President refuses to assent to the bill, and the National Assembly believes the bill is okay, it has the right to override the President in line with Section 59 Subsection 4 of the constitution.

So the word padding is inconsequential. The unfortunate thing there is that we had an incompetent Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, who was a major embarrassment to the National Assembly; who rather was crying wolf, knowing full well that he has committed a major blunder. But I say this with all sense of sincerity that we live in a country that as soon as you are called a thief nobody wants to listen to you. They want to club you down then later come to ask what you did.

name as one of the finest lawmakers in this country. And I will not allow anyone to tarnish it.

What do you thing was the motivation for the whistle blowing?

Jubrin was aggrieved because he was sacked from the Appropriation Committee. He bastardised the document.

He signed the document. He said some people inserted some items. The question is why did you sign what somebody else inserted without your consent? I was not a member of his committee neither that of the ad hoc committee. So how did I have control over that document? It is very funny but I have said that the truth will come out and Nigerians will know the truth. All of us that he accused wrongfully will be vindicated. My prayer is that he doesn't run away.

As the only voice of the Isoko nation in the house, how do you feel being accused of stealing the resources coming from your place?

It is sad. It shows clearly that there is a problem with this project called Nigeria.

We are supposed to be practicing federalism but the question is, is this true federalism? What we are practicing is clearly a unitary system of government.

I give you a clear example. We take resources from particular geopolitical zones to the center and it becomes something you share on a monthly basis. Like Enugu State that is into the production of alcohol through breweries and they pay VAT. This VAT is taken into the Federation Account, and a state like Zamfara that has banned the sales and consumption of alcohol share from same resources. They now take that is coming from Enugu

Are you looking at any legal option against him?

I am taking him to court. I am not going to negotiate that. I am going to sue him to his last kobo, because I have earned a

Now that the EFCC has indicated interest in investigating Jubrin, can we begin to say it was vindication on your part?

I told you from onset that Abdumumini Jubrin was playing the role of an ostrich, that he was crying wolf where there was none and that he was the main culprit.

This was a man that we are investigating over Ministry of Niger Delta budget. Nobody knows where he took that money to.

We will follow him up. We have not even started. We will do a detailed investigation and analysis of the budget. Heads will roll I promise that.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 20

The Sunday

Air Marshal Abubakar: Why Sam has been impregnable Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar was appointed to lead the Nigeria Air Force on July 13, 2015. He has since then, made some giant strides in terms of refocusing the Nigeria Air Force towards Research and Development, Training and Welfare of the officers and air men. In this interview with a group of journalists, Abubakar spoke on the role of the Nigerian Air Force in military operations taking place in different parts of Nigeria. ONWUKA NZESHI was there Winning hearts and minds Winning hearts and mind is very important in any counter - insurgency operation. If you go into history, the French in Algeria and even in recent history of United States in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is very important if you really want to succeed, that you get intelligence. How can you get intelligence if you don't win the confidence of the people? No matter how sophisticated your Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft might be, you cannot succeed unless you work closely with the people in the local community.

How can you use an ISR platform to locate, a13-year old girl who is carrying explosives?

How do you know if she is heading for the market or the mosque? It is impossible. There is no aircraft that can pick that information. The only way you can get that information is from the community. This girl lives in somebody's house; this girl was armed in another location; she must have been invited by someone. Who invited her? You can only get answers to these questions if you are working with people in the community. They have the information but the only way they can come close to you, not to talk of giving you the information, is if they know that they have a stake in what you are doing.

If something happens and you just open fire and kill everybody, there is no way anybody will come to you and give you any information about what happened there. In fact, the community will now be divided between Boko Haram and the security forces. So winning hearts and mind is really helping us, especially if you treat women and children, you will get a lot of intelligence.

Research and development I was in charge of Rand D before I became Chief of Air Staff. I was Chief of Standards and Evaluation in the Air Force. I was the one, under the leadership of the firmer Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, that initiated the partnership between the NAF and the universities including the Diaphorm programme for helicopter gunships. So I was pretty in the picture of what was happening and honestly, we must salute the Nigerian universities. There are highly dedicated and patriotic lecturers in our universities. All you need do is call them, talk to them and they will embrace a good project. I think that that sense of patriotism and commitment, if tapped properly, can address a lot of our challenges.

The problem is that there are no linkages. You find a university man who is working alone and other public research institutes are also on their own. So, some of these research and development ideas were there. Like the prototype UAV was developed in 2013; what I am trying to do is to operationlise it and which we have reached an advanced stage.

Boko Haram's latest video Yes. This is cheap propaganda. Even the improvised explosive devices that they developed, have you ever seen a complete body together after it has been detonated at any

location? That is the crudest form of bomb but when you go there after an explosion, you don't see anything. Not to talk of a 250kg bomb. What they use for the IEDs, how many kilograms are we talking about? It is so insignificant. If you look at the clip, they positioned the girls there. Somebody even told me that he saw one of the girls even moving her head.

All I can tell you is that just looking at the way they did it, you can clearly see that it couldn't have been something that happened after an air strike.

If you drop a bomb, there will be a crater.

Where is the crater? If you drop a bomb within certain meters radius of the point of impact, everybody there will be gone. In most cases, they will be shredded, depending on the type of bomb, where it is dropped and the kind of configuration you used in doing the bombing.

But if you now neatly arrange people and say these people were killed by air strike, it doesn't make sense at all. Let people ask themselves: you have seen IED explosions; have you ever seen people killed and arranged neatly like that?

So these guys are just trying to whip up sentiments because they know that every Nigerian is concerned about those girls. I have daughters and sometimes when I look at my daughters, I remember those girls. There is no day that the sun rises and sets that we don't go out hoping to see these girls. From January this year to August 17, we flew about 2,600 hours and about 50 per cent of our mission was on ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance). Why do we do that? It is because we are hoping that maybe through that intelligence; we might be able to capture the movement of those girls. Maybe, through that intelligence, we might be able to locate what we consider legitimate targets.

Collateral damage There is no military operation without collateral damage. We are trying within available resources to try and understand the terrain called Sambisa Forest and we are able to determine what the ultimate target to be attacked is. We don't just go out to attack civilians. Like I said, counter- insurgency is about wining hearts and mind.

The thing at the back of our heads is to look out for the criminals. How do we do that? By deploying our ISR platforms. In the past, we used to have only two but with the coming of the present administration, we now have about five. Very soon, we are going to acquire one that can remain in the air for thirty three (33) hours with cameras looking everywhere.

That is why I keep telling these criminals that they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t escape. The time for you to escape is almost over.

So for the girls, it has nothing to do with air strike. After an air strike, you will not see things like that the way they displayed them in their video. Maybe because they are used to fighting on land, they don't know about air battle. So they think that they can drop anything and it will make sense. No. It doesn't work that way.

Abubakar

Resources When we came in, we were given some intervention funds. What we are simply doing is to prudently manage whatever is available.

Sambisa Forest Sambisa Forest is about 60,000 square kilometers. It extends even into Cameroon and that is why some times in the past, these terrorists could do whatever they like and then sneak into Cameroon. But now, Cameroon is also hot for them and they are now coming back.

You can see the difficulty involved in ensuring that we cover every square inch of that forest.

We still fly over Sambisa Forest on a regular basis but you see there are issues with the terrain. The terrain is very difficult especially for the ground forces. I am sure that if you have the opportunity, you can also discuss some of these issues with the Chief of Army Staff.

You can't go in there, especially during the rainy season. But for us in the Air Force, we are not limited by terrain; we simply fly over the place to see what is happening. But I can tell you that it is substantially deserted. Even if people are there, from what we have been seeing from our ISR pictures, it is extremely difficult to say that the place can be occupied especially now.

What we are targeting is that at the end of the rainy season, when it is easier for all these equipments to move in, we will renew our operations. You know water collects there from

everywhere and sometimes it becomes very difficult for us because equipment could get stuck.

But what we have achieved so far is degrading the capacity of these people and looking out for any equipment belonging to Boko Haram and destroying them. We are also destroying their logistic base where they stock diesel and even foodstuff. I believe that towards the end of the year, when it will be dry season, it will be much easier to penetrate.

Chibok Girls Honestly, we don't know if the girls are still in Sambisa Forest. That is the truth of the matter.

Even if you see people that are dressed in hijab, how are you sure they are women? The people can lure you to come in thinking that the girls are there but it is when you get there and they remove the hijab that you will now realise that they have their rifles.

There is no credible intelligence that will specifically tell you that these girls are here. It is very difficult to do that and that is why I said that even if you see people in hijab, it does not necessarily mean that the girls are there. That is one of the tricks of war. They also want to remain alive and also make sure that they kill you. So they know that the Chibok Girls issue is a very hot issue and they know you will be interested in it.

The danger is that if you fall for the trick of people putting on hijab, by the time you get there and they pull it and they turn to men, then you know the war starts all over. At the end of

016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

28, 29

y Interview

ambisa Forest made. What are the things you need to consider when you are developing an aircraft? How do you put together the wings and the fuselage? How do you integrate the avionics equipment into the aircraft? It is something that will take some time, but at least we are building capacity. By the time these guys come back, we already understand how to make fuselage. It is just a matter of building on that knowledge and I believe that one day we will be there.

For now, the major focus is making sure that we have the Nigerian made UAVs which is just like a drone. . We don't need to put a pilot in there.

You can sit down here or in Yola and control it.

It can go to Sambisa Forest and come back. You can downstream the information it gathers while on the flight; you don't even have to wait for it to come back.We have been using the Chinese UAV called the CH3 but we are also getting an additional one that will help us in our fight.

South -South operations I must tell you that talks, negotiations or dialogue with militants are political issues and I am not competent to really express an opinion on it. But what I can tell you is that our mandate as enshrined in the Constitution is to ensure that we protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and ensure that the Nigerian people are able to go about pursuing their legitimate aspirations without any hindrance.

So, we already have the airbase in the South -South that is supporting the operations. What we are doing is to ensure that we provide protection for our oil and gas infrastructure as much as possible. We are also there to protect the communities.

But whether we are going to start bombing Niger Delta? No. We are not going to bomb Niger Delta, but we are going to protect the Niger Delta people and the oil and gas infrastructure as much as possible. When are we starting? Very shortly.

We are just planning. Very shortly.

the day, you end up not saving the girls and at the same time, exposing your own people.

Honestly, there is no intelligence but we are working round the clock to ensure that we locate them. Like I said before, there is no day that passes that we don't fly aircraft round the place trying to locate them. With all due respects to civil society organisations that are very passionate about the issue, we are all passionate about it.

Sometimes when they think that not much is happening, it is not too nice because on a daily basis for surveillance, not only for the Chibok girls but also for any Nigeria who has been captured by Boko Haram. When we are on surveillance mission we are also looking out for the equipment of Boko Haram that can be used to capture more people. So that it can be destroyed before they make use of it. So we are working hard and I believe that we will get there one day.

Made in Nigeria Fighter Aircraft We have started by developing the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) which were designed by our own engineers. The engineering drawings and everything was done by Nigerians; no foreign interventions. But you also recognise that to put together these ideas, you need machines and these machines are not available locally. Right now, we have a team undergoing training in the United States on aircraft manufacturing. They have been there since last year.

We want to understand how the fuselage is

Porous borders in North-East I agree with you. We have a large area of borders and we have been discussing with the Nigeria Immigration Service on how we can collaborate in protecting our borders. If we are able to actualise our UAV programme, I think that we can make a head way on it. We have the moulds in Nigeria, which means we can produce as many as we want and by the time we achieve that we can support the Immigration Service and other security agencies that may require the UAVs for patrols and other services.

Continuity of programnes There is continuity in our system. Like some of these programnes that I mentioned were already on ground before now. We must continue to build our capacity on the UAV. We have the Air Force Research and Development Policy. Whoever becomes the Chief of Air Staff will look at it and see how he can continue from where his predecessor stopped. It all now depends on him to priorities on areas he wants to focus on; but generally there is a laid down strategic plan.

Intelligence gathering Intelligence is very important and that is why every Nigerian has a role to play. Every Nigerian wherever we may live should have situational awareness and know what is happening around us. If you see something that is not looking too normal, it might just be wise to talk to somebody about it because if you don't, it might end up taking your life or the life of somebody close to you. We are getting a lot of cooperation from communities in the North-East and even in the South-South in terms of gathering intelligence.

It is very important because without intelligence you cannot fight a battle.

Heads will roll over 2016 budget, says Leo Ogor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

as VAT and use it to develop places in Zamfara and pay their staff and a host of other things. Can’t you see that there is something wrong with this thing called federalism as being practised in Nigeria?

The system is faulty and it calls for total restructuring. And I have a proposal for the amendment of Section 44 sub 3 and deleting the provision of Section 162 of the constitution. Restructuring is the only way out for the country if we have to stay together as one. I am expecting a transparent chairman, the birth of a great party to take over from these ignorant people in government by 2019.

Now that you have risen to this level, what do you have for your mentor, Ovuzuorie Macaulay?

Let me also state that as an Isoko man, we are good at appreciating things. There is a general saying that one good turn deserves another. During those raining days when I needed shelter, when I needed an umbrella to cover me, one great man that was always there to ensure that the umbrella covered me was one great Isoko son called Comrade Ovuzuorie Macaulay.

I have always seen him like a force. One of those gladiators that remained solid behind me in my political career. And I will never any day in my life forget him, or stab him in the back. There is also this saying that those you met while climbing are same people when descending.

Once again, I want to thank IAN for this honour. I appreciate them immensely. I never expected it. I have always emphasised that leadership comes from God. You don’t fight over it. And I know that when you mention Peoples Democratic Party, I am one of the major leaders in the

country. And I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without my people. So when I see you people at every given time, I say outside what God has done, the main makers are the ones that are here. Since I didn’t plan for this visit, I will create an opportunity and time to host you people again. We the Isoko people are very few; we are a minority within a minority. So we should avoid this concept of 'pull him down'. Because you will achieve nothing by pulling somebody down. It is better to push the man up, so that you have the opportunity of also of climbing some day.

When you pull him down, he will end up falling on you. .

Ogor

‘Jegede’s choice in line with Ondo’s rotational system’ A pressure group, Ondo Continuity Group at the weekend rose in defence of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, saying his choice is in line with the original zoning formula that has existed since the colonial era.

The group in a press statement by its Chairman, Prince Kayode Fasua, and Secretary, Mr. Victor Jimoh, stressed that the old divisional system creates fairness and equity in the allotment of political slots in a heterogeneous society like Ondo State, as against a senatorial district pattern.

Rising from a two-day meeting in Akure, the state capital, the group stated that it is only the Akure Division out of the five divisions in Ondo State that has not produced a civilian governor.

Jegede

“We are only amused that people are talking of power shift from the Ondo Central senatorial district to another district. The truth is that, Ondo, as it is currently constituted, has five major ethnic groups, on the basis of which it has been rotating the governorship position.

“Before Ekiti State was excised from the present Ondo State, we used to have six divisions recognised since the colonial era; namely, Okitipupa, Ondo, Akure, Owo, Akoko and Ekiti.

“But with the creation of Ekiti State, we were left with five divisions and four of the divisions had produced governors, with Akure yet to produce one.

“The governors from the different four divisions are: Adekunle Ajasin (Owo) Adebayo Adefarati (Akoko) Olusegun Agagu (Okitipupa) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).

“The group, as a result, saluted the wisdom of the ruling PDP in Ondo State to have honoured this rotational arrangement needed to promote peace and understanding among the various heterogeneous ethnic groups that constitute the state.”

The group also added that it had endorsed the candidature of Jegede, considering his pedigree and good track record in public administration, “especially on the basis of being a successful Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State.

“Our only advice to Jegede now is that he should consider a division that has never produced a deputy governor to pick his running mate, and we wish him luck,” the group said.

30

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Colour by number

The hungry fox caught in the tree trunk

O

nce upon a time, there was a hungry fox that was looking for something to eat. He was very hungry. No matter how hard he tried, the fox could not find food. Finally he went to the edge of the forest and searched there for food. Suddenly he caught sight of a big tree with a hole in it.

Inside the hole was a package. The hungry fox immediately thought that there might be food in it, and became very happy. He jumped into the hole. When he opened the package, he saw slices of bread, meat and fruit in it!

An old woodcutter had placed the food in the tree trunk before he began to cut down trees in the forest.

He was going to eat it for his lunch.

The fox happily began to eat. After he finished eating, he felt thirsty and decided to leave the hole and drink some water from a nearby spring. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not get out of the hole. Do you know why? Yes, the fox had eaten so much food that he became too big to fit through the hole!

The fox was very sad and upset. He told himself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I had thought a little before jumping into the hole.â&#x20AC;?

Yes children, this is the result of doing something without thinking about it first.

Math cartoon

Word puzzle

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

NEWS Archbishop slams nation’s leaders p.32

INTERVIEW Leadership is the cause of unhealthy churches in Nigeria –Dr. Akin-George p.33

FAITH

31

SERMON

Have you accepted your spouse or just tolerating him? p.34 TAI ANYANWU HEAD, RELIGOUS DESK titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph © Daily Telegraph Publishing

Okogie to Buhari: May history forbid that Nigerians T die of hunger under you

Assemblies of God harvests 1000 converts, baptises 87 Tai Anyanwu

T

Tai Anyanwu

he Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos Archdiocese, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has again, come down hard on the Muhammadu Buhariadministration, accusing it of insincerity and insensitivity to cries of hunger in the country.

Speaking in an open letter to the President, Okogie said that Nigerians not only hunger for food but also for good leadership, peace, security and justice.

His words: “Last year, when you assumed office, the chant of ‘Change’, your campaign slogan, ushered you into the Presidential Villa. Today, cries of ‘hunger’ could be heard across the length and breadth of our vast country. Nigerians hunger, not only for food, but also for good leadership, for peace, security and justice.

This letter is to appeal to you to do something fast, and, if you are already doing something, to redouble your effort.

He added: “May it not be written on the pages of history that Nigerians died of starvation under your watch. As President, you are chief servant of the nation. I therefore urge you to live up to the huge expectation of millions of Nigerians. A stitch in time saves nine.”

The Archbishop Emeritus also took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), telling president “You and your party promised to lead the masses to the Promised Land. You offered to take the enormous task of leadership upon yourself.

This is the second year of your administration. Nigerians are waiting for you to fulfill the promises you made during the campaign.”

Though Okogie commended the introduction of Town Hall Meetings as medium to communicate government’s activities to the citizenry, he faulted the manner of speeches and level of insincerity exhibited by public officers at the meetings.

According to Okogie, the president and his officials must be seen to converse with Nigerians and not trick them: “Even if your administration has no magic wand at least give some words of encouragement. On this same score, please instruct your ministers, and insist that they be sincere and polite at those town meetings. Their sophistry will neither serve you nor Nigerians.

“Mr. President, if you want to leave a credible legacy come 2019, in all sincerity, please re-tool your administration. Change is desirable. But it must be a change for the better. Let this change be real. Change is not real when old things that we ought to discard refuse to pass away.”

Pointing the way forward, Okogie advised that the President needs to take a critical look at his cabinet, the policies and programmes of his administration, and at those who help to formulate and execute them.

He also frowned at the manner with which Buharit appointed public officials describing it as sectional: “It is true that

Okogie

commonsense dictates that you appoint The Archbishop, however, called on immen and women you can trust. But if most mediate restoration of the rights of indiof the people you trust are from one sec- vidual universities to use their own criteria tion of the country and practice the same to admit students into the institutions of religion, then you and all of us are living higher learning. in insecurity.”

“It is a gross violation of the principles of Invariably, Okogies blamed the terrible federalism and academic freedom for the state of the nation’s economy squarely on Federal Government to insist that only a the political class pointing out: “We can no federal parastatal can decide on who gains longer blame the turbulence on past ad- admission into our universities. It is the ministrations. You know quite well that role of the university senate, not of govsome of the officials of your administration ernment bureaucrats, to decide on who served in previous dispensations. Blame for gets admitted and who is awarded a cerwhat we have been experiencing is in fact tificate,” Okogie stressed. bipartisan in character.”

He urged the president to listen to the leTherefore, he suggested that the entire gitimate cries of fellow citizens if he cared political class needs to come together, ir- to succeed. respective of party differences, to acknowl“Mr. President, pardon me if I sound like edge its collective guilt and to seek ways a gratuitous counselor. I owe you the truth of saving the sinking ship that our country and nothing but the truth. In my life as has become. a public figure and a religious leader, I According to Okogie, have offered my counsel, for whatever its the time to revitalize worth, to quite a number of Presidents moribund indusin this country.

We can no longer tries, reinvigo“I do this because I desire that rate our agriyou succeed. For the success of blame the turbulence culture, make the leader is the success of the on past administrations. You our country citizens. If there is no solution know quite well that some of the tourist and to Nigeria’s problem there officials of your administration investor may be endless war. f r i e n d l y, “You strike one town, you served in previous dispensations. and enable gain it, and you come again to Blame for what we have been our young regain it. Remember that you experiencing is in fact men and cannot put a crown on your women to find head. It is the people who put it bipartisan in character fulfillment by on you. Otherwise one day, you contributing to the will get tired of it,” he warned. common good, is now.

he General Superintendent (GS) of Assemblies of God Nigeria), Rev. (Dr.) Chidi Okorafor, has expressed delight with the progress recorded by the evangelical outreach deployed by the church in Akwa-Ibom State.

Dr. Okorafor conveyed his gratitude while receiving 1000 new converts, presented to the GS last Sunday by the church’s missionary team in Abak, Akwa-Ibom State.

Perfecting the reception at the Assemblies of God Church, Fletcher Street Abak, Dr. Okorafor encouraged the new converts to remain strong in the worship and service of God. Sunday Telegraph learnt that the souls’ harvest was a direct outcome of a special evangelical programme titled ‘Decade of Rapid Multiplication 2015 – 2025,’ which was launched last year by the leadership of Assemblies of God Nigeria under the watch of Dr. Okorafor.

“It will be recalled that in March 2016 that the leadership of the Assemblies of God Nigeria implemented in Abak, Akwa Ibom State, a program launched by the church in May 2015 titled “Decade of Rapid Multiplication 2015 - 2025.” It is a program targeted to launch the church to a greater height and glory. The program is aimed at taking the gospel to every major sphere of unreached people regardless of culture, language and location. It is a rapid multiplication of believers in Jesus Christ and her local churches,” the GS explained.

The Secretary, National Taskforce on the Decade of Rapid Multiplication and Joint Action Committee, Rev. Uche Amah, also presented 87 persons screened and approved by the Presbytery of Abak Missionary Area, for water baptism, to the GS. Clearly impressed with the progress recorded within a period of one year, Dr. Okorafor thanked the missionaries deployed to Akwa-Ibom State, for a job well done saying: “It is both interesting and gladdening to report that the church today has gathered to baptize the first fruits of this massive evangelistic thrust.”

Okorafor

32

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Archbishop slams nation’s leaders

T

Tai Anyanwu

he Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Reverend Alfred Martins, has berated public officer holders saying that they should not take the patience of the suffering people of Nigeria for granted.

“Rather governments at all levels need to listen to all complaints from the people in these trying times and also address them,” he added.

The Archbishop, however, urged Nigerian to continue to have faith in God and pray harder for the government to lead the country out of the woods.

Martins explained that better days are ahead because God has solution to every problem but faith in God is needed to pull through.

He gave the counsel at

As Sacred Heart of Association admits 1000 faithful a solemn admission of about 1000 faithful into the Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary held at St. Luke’s Military Catholic Church in 174 Battalion Army Barracks, Odogunyan, Ikorodu recently.

He stressed that no problem is too big for God adding that the current challenges facing the nation are a reminder to Nigerians to move closer to God and seek divine intervention in solving the challenges.

Martins equally advised the nation’s leaders not to over stretch the patience of the suffering masses of Nigeria; but should also seek divine guidance in their efforts to find lasting

solution to the nation’s challenges.

According to him, justice and fairness must be the guiding principle of government in their efforts to take the country out of the woods.

“We should hope for the better in face of present challenges. I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel in. But, we need to be patient and remain in prayers for the country. Our leaders should not take our patience for granted. Governments at all levels need to listen to all complaints from the

people and address them.

“The people need to have assurance that something is being done to solve the challenges we face in our economy, with the falling naira and key infrastructures. Our leaders should seek divine intervention in taking the country out of its challenges and they must be guided by principle of fairness and justice,” Archbishop Martins said.

Martins later urged the members of the Association of Sacred heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart

of Mary to imbibe the exemplary values of Jesus Christ, adding that their admission into the association is a call to selflessness and godliness.

Also speaking on the significance of the solemn admission, the National President of the association, Group Captain John Ebiye (rtd), said the event is rooted in manner of birth of Jesus; and therefore enjoined members to engage in activities that would promote happiness and peace among people of all faiths.

For his own part, the

President of the Lagos Council, Cyprian Arinze, explained that the association is committed to the teachings and values of Jesus Christ.

He advised the new members to emulate the teachings and propagate Christ’s message of love among people.

The President of Ikorodu Deanery, which played host to the August event, Mr. Fabian Agu, advised the new members to always show love and mercy to all manners of people which is the hallmark of this year’s celebration.

‘Christianity is a gift to the world’

C

ontrary to insinuations that Christianity is imported from the western world, Jordan’s Prince Hassan has said that Christianity has been part of the essential fabrics of the Middle East for over two thousand years.

He also condemned ISIS attacks on Christians saying that Christians, Jews and Muslims must come together to combat the “apocalyptic vision” of the Islamic State.

His words: “Christianity has been part of the essential fabric of the Middle East for two thousand years. Far from being a Western import as some, incredibly, now seem to suggest, it was born here and exported as a gift to the rest of the world. Christian communities have been intrinsic to the development of Arab culture and civilization,” Prince Hassan wrote in a column along with Dr. Ed Kessler, director of the Woolf Institute.

“This central role in our region and civilization is why it is abhorrent to us, as a Muslim and a Jew, to see Christianity and Christians under such savage assault across our region.”

The column in the Telegraph notes that ISIS has not just targeted Christians, but has also gone after Muslims and Jews all “in the name of (their) God.” “Helping to end this dangerous slide towards hatred, self-destruction and fratricidal conflict is the main challenge for all of us involved in interfaith dialogue. This requires us to step up our efforts to increase understanding that what unites the three great faiths of our region is far greater than any differences. We must stress, too, that respect for the past and learning from it does not require us to live there.”

Jordan is home to more than 600,000 Syrian refugees who fled ISIS after the start of the civil war.

Cross section of members of the planning Committee of the solemn admission of members of the Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, held in Oduguyan, Ikorodu, Lagos recently

Stay off Politics, MASSOP tells Fr. Mbaka T he Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has asked the Director of Adoration Ministry, Fr. Ejikeme Mbaka to leave Nigerian politics alone

Bamgbola, Ore, Madubuko, others for Voice of Integrity Leadership Conference Adenekan Tobiloba he naira on Friday, appreciated by 3.52 per cent to close at N315.93 to a dollar at the interbank market, prompting calls for foreign investors to take advantage of the appreciation, however, the naira suffered a loss in value as it depreciated at the parallel market to trade at N412 per dollar, weaker than N397 it traded at its previous session as dollar shortages gripped

T

the official market.

The naira, which hit fresh record low since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) floated the currency on the official inter-bank market in June, first touched N400 on the black market this month.

On the inter-bank market on Friday, no trade was posted until three minutes before the end of the session, when the Central Bank which has been reducing its dollar sales, intervened, traders

said. Only three deals worth $0.75 million were traded at 305.50 per dollar, a level the market has closed at since Monday.

Specifically, according to Bloomberg, in the last two weeks, Exotix Partners LLP and Standard Bank Group Ltd. have told clients; most of who fled after the country started imposing capital controls from late 2014, that they should start buying naira assets again.

and face his spiritual calling, The also advised the fiery Priest saying that the kind of dirty politics being played in Nigeria was not a place for clerics.

The group gave the counsel following a recent message by the priest in which he castigated former President Goodluck Jonathan while reiterating his earlier prophecy that some people were plotting to kill President Muhammadu Buhari over anti-graft war.

Responding swiftly to the homily by Mbaka, the group issued a statement asking Mbaka to face his priestly call rather dable into Nigeria’s murky political waters.

The group’s spokesperson, David Chinedu, consequently called on Mbaka to choose between

politics and priesthood.

According to the statement, Mbaka should steer clear of the murky waters of Nigerian politics because: “Nigerian politics is beyond your understanding.”

The group added: “God forbid that we will be among the party that will be clapping for you while you are going wrong. He should stay clear of Nigerian politics before it drags his spirituality to the dust.

“We are not saying he should not give prophecy of what God has revealed to him concerning Nigeria and as an anointed man of God, but his preaching are far away from what is happening in the country, as if the anointing is not with him again.

“People now see him as a Priest who is always

going to Aso Villa for selfish interest. He can never serve two masters at a time, if he wants to be a politician, he should forget about priesthood.”

Invariably, MASSOB accused Buhari and other Northern leaders of celebrating the 21 years of priesthood of the Catholic priest because he was dancing to their music, stressing that the priest could not have been wiser than all the Catholic Bishops put together.

It advised Mbaka to join forces with those it described as freedom fighters clergies who it said are agitating for the liberation of millions of Biafrans from Nigeria’s enslavement, if he wants to win souls for God and not to soil his white rob in the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

33

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28 2016

FAITH

INTERVIEW

Leadership is the cause of unhealthy churches in Nigeria –Dr. Akin-George

You’ve always spoken about healthy churches and healthy ministries. But if churches are not healthy, how come more people attend services every Sunday?

Okay, thank you for that question. Let me answer it this way. There are a lot of people walking on the streets who are not healthy. That you see them moving around doesn’t mean they are healthy.

There are a lot of walking corpses.

It is the same with churches. People can go to churches and you can see crowd in truth but many churches are not scripturally and biblically healthy.

That is what I have been pointing out all these years.

There are many practices, many teachings and many things killing churches inside. These are things affecting their health. So, if you look at the crowds and infrastructure, you will miss the point.

But if you consider what goes on within churches and ministries, you will discover many of our churches are far from being healthy.

You will be missing the point if you look at churches only from physical angles, materialism, structures, attendance and crowd. That is like judging the health of somebody through appearances. One can be bubbling, buoyant and active yet a check-up might indicate serious medical issues.

If we subject our churches to the same check-up, we would find many of them are anything but healthy.

Church growth expert, Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John, speaks on indices for healthy churches and ministries in this interview with TAI ANYANWU If the members are more of goats than sheep, it is an unhealthy church. So many so-called Christians of today exhibit the traits more of goats than sheep.

Goats are immoral, covetous, thieving, gluttonous, troublesome and wicked. If you see a church where people exhibit these traits, it is unhealthy.

When the pulpit has deviated from sound teachings but only interested in politically correct messages; when the preacher is only keen in preaching what people want to hear, then it is a sick assembly.

Don’t look at the structure or the offering of a church to determine its healthiness. Consider the quality of life of the pastor and the congregation. If it is against the Bible, it is a sick church.

When you see a congregation that concentrates on meeting the physical needs of members

Ighalo

So, what are the telling signs of unhealthy churches and ministries?

First, you have to consider the spiritual life of the pastor or whoever is in charge.

If the pastor is more carnally-minded than spiritual, it’s an unhealthy church.

This is because churches will never become better than pastors regardless of what is happening there.

If the pastor is more worldly-minded than spiritual-minded, if the messages are only about motivation, inspiration and earthly success without things of eternal values, it’s an unhealthy church.

Ighalo

and neglects the soul, it’s a sick church.

When the preaching, prayers, ministrations, testimonies and emphasis are on the glittering things of this sinful, perishing world rather than the edifying of the soul, preparing people for heaven and teaching them to do good works while on earth, it is an unhealthy church.

Why the emphasis on spiritual leadership. Is church healthiness all about the pastor or the minister-in-charge?

It’s about 95 percent about church leadership. If you look at it from the Bible, God respects leadership. He honours leadership. Whenever God wants to do anything, He chooses a leader. If there’s no leadership, the world would have gone upside down.

When God wants to speak, He speaks through the leader.

In the New Testament, when Jesus had messages for the seven churches, representing all churches then and now, He spoke through the angels the pastors.

When you c o n s i d e r the ministry of Jesus, He preached to the crowd, performed signs and wonders with them but spent time training leaders of the church. So bring it to our present day. If you look at the church in Nigeria, the problem starts from leadership.

People can contest it but that’s the truth.

Ighalo

George

We became lax in the qualifications for the office of a pastor.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry became a pastor. Once you work in a corporate environment and can spend your resources for the church, you are given a parish to serve From the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s up to the early 80s, there was revival of godliness and righteousness in the land. It was through the leaders God chose. At a point, it was from the ignoramus God was using but through their prayers, God went to universities in the 60s and 70s.

Revival broke out on campuses across the nation based on the preaching of holiness, godliness, salvation, repentance, restitution and righteousness. But what do we have from 1985? What have we been teaching? We became lax in the qualifications for the office of a pastor.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry became a pastor. Once you work in a corporate environment and can spend your resources for the church, you are given a parish to serve. Once you can speak good English and have a well-paying job, you are good to go.

You might not need to go to Bible College or even learn anything. The prerequisite for choosing who becomes a pastor has been lowered and that is what has bought us to where we are today in the nation.

How can this be redressed?

We have to go back to the basics. If a man claims to be called, he must be trained. No one becomes a pilot overnight because it will only lead to monumental human disaster. Pastors are dealing with precious souls rescued by Christ. You don’t just put anybody to look after souls without training.

It is that training process that we have bastardised and must revive. That, to me, is how we can rescue our churches from the mess we all know and hear but pretend does not exist.

Will the one-week conference be enough to address this?

Certainly not. One week can never be enough. But it can trigger a revolution in lives that will last a lifetime. You see growth is a lifetime phenomenon. There are pastors who have never been to refresher courses years after they started their ministry. How can they grow and learn new things? There are some who were never at Bible College. Even if you were never in a bible school, it is never too late to start.

So, that is what we are doing at the conference. We are setting pastors on fire, making them to rethink what they do.

After then, we have regular courses for those who want to attend our Institute.

There are other training institutions in town. So, we believe the conference will trigger a major revolution that will help us to re-evaluate the healthiness of our Christian assemblies.

34

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

FAITH

He reaped what he planted

O

ne day, I was in a public transport, a bus, and a man greeted me. He told me his name but I could not recollect where I met him. He went ahead and told me to forgive him. I asked what happened?

The Pastor said he was a pastor under my Ministry some years ago, and I made Episcopal visit to his church. He mentioned the town, and I recollect the incidence. I visited the church and saw very many persons, men, and women, youths and children and wondered how the Pastor was able to grow the church in a short time. After the service, I went to see the new hall yet to be paid for. I met the Landlord and paid for it and also gave them money for repairs and for the flowing of the hall and came back home with “testimonies”.

Why did the Pastor apologise? As soon as I left all the “members” came back and shared the entire money I paid for the new hall and for work on it. Every “member” collected back his or her offerings and went back with plenty money.

Word of Life Archbishop. Moses Kattey moseskatteyabp@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

We did not curse him. We forgave him but he went ahead to reap what he planted That was what they were promised before they left their various churches to receive “their General Overseer”.

I did not hear from the Pastor again until this incidence was leaked to me. I met him somewhere in a vehicle where he cried to me that he had been “useless” and “frustrated” (using his own word) after that incidence. He actually remained so.

And the Lord said in His heart - - - while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:21, 22).

Another Pastor was

transferred to a town in Bayelsa State and was given three months salaries in advance, transport fare, rent etc and prayed for. He took off. After about a week or so the church called us that they had not seen the Pastor. We were worried.

What happened? Was it accident case? You can imagine our anxiety for almost six months. It was later revealed to us that the Pastor absconded with all the money to a Bible College without informing us. He left but the information relaxed us knowing that he was alive. He completed the Bible College, and was employed by some Ministries and eventually he could not stay. He eventually had mental problem. We did not curse him. We forgave him but he went ahead to reap what he planted.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man soweth, what shall

he also reap; for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Galatians 6:7, 8).

One day another Pastor who was in a faraway station hosted me the General Overseer in Episcopal visit. I went with money but it was not enough so I went with some postal order I bought for something else to add to what I had.

The programme was successful and I gave him some months’ salary in advance including the postal orders. He was to go to Post-Office to exchange it with money.

After about a month, he came back threatening me and crying. He said he was locked up and detailed by Police because he was accused for stealing the Postal order. I believed him even though I could not understand how such a thing could take place.

I gave him money to replace the Postal Order which he did not even give me. I gave the money he said was used to bail him. He lied to collect more money from the church.

Have you accepted your spouse or just tolerating him?

A

couple that was quarrelling in one of their usual moments of fighting started hurling hot and harsh words at each other. At one point, the wife was shouting at the top of her voice that she was tolerating her husband because she did not want to bear the name divorcee; if not, she would have left him long time ago because she has found out he was not what she thought he was when she married him.

From that moment onwards, the husband started living like someone who was not married. He stopped eating her food and stopped doing all that he was doing before as a husband. He felt not accepted but only tolerated. The woman begged and pleaded with her people but the man said he was giving her what she wanted; having a man she stays with but not being married to so that she will not be called a divorcee.

She brought the calamity upon her life because she was tolerating her husband when she was meant to accept him having being joined to him by God. She gave her home to the devil, Eph. 4:27.

There is no normal person

Marriage & Family Intimacy

Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521 that will be happy to realize he/she is only being tolerated by the spouse of many years. Tolerance is the act of putting up with somebody irritating or otherwise unpleasant. It means you are telling your spouse that he/she has been irritating or unpleasant to you all along. It is a very hard and harsh word to be used to a spouse.

Some of us ‘speak this English’ without weighing the real meaning of the word we are using especially when we are hurting and angry. This is very wrong and should not be encouraged. Practice your knowledge of English elsewhere if you want your marriage to work and last.

Always be careful with your choice of words and what comes out of your mouth to your spouse.

Col 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

You have to learn how to season your words to your spouse. Do not underrate your spouse because of overfamiliarity. It is very dangerous. You are meant to go places together and it is in your hands to achieve that, Prov. 14:1.

During the time a man and woman are being joined together, a point is reached when they are asked to give or verbalize their consent to the marriage. It means that the two adults agreed to become man and wife because they accepted each other into their lives.

Acceptance is a sure part of marriage. It gives everyone joy and gladness to be accepted in life generally.

Whenever we are planning to do something that needs approval, we always rejoice when our proposal is accepted. If acceptance means a lot to you as a person, it also means a lot to your spouse and children including your house helps.

Do not make anybody in your home feel unaccept-

able by the way and manner you treat them. You might not talk but your actions will speak volume.

Your speech will also carry the force of acceptance or rejection in the tone or in the words spoken.

Never use words that suggest your spouse is not being accepted; words that will put doubts in their hearts as to how you love or accept them into your life. Words like “I regret marrying you” are murderous to your spouse and no amount of anger can justify its usage. It spells total rejection or nonacceptance of the spouse.

It is pure foolishness being exhibited. It will also register in the heart and will always come to mind most of the time. The devil can leverage on that and make the hearer to develop bitterness or begin to drop the level of love in his/her heart. You need the wisdom of God at all times in your marriage.

Start deliberately to think positive thoughts about your spouse and others.

Deliberately decide to fulfil your marriage vows of loving him or her unconditionally. These measures will help you change from tolerating your spouse to acceptance and eventual growth of love in your marriage.

Mystery of Anxiety Bishop John Ogbansiegbe 0803 341 6327 (SMS Only)

Hold unto God in faith

F

aith is the key you need to be victorious in any situation. If you claim to be a true believer in Christ, you must exercise faith in him and his word.

To hold on means never to give up or become discouraged and disgusted.

It means not to retreat or surrender and this is only possible through your faith and trust on the powers, potency and ability of our Lord Jesus Christ. It also means to believe the word of God and to stand on his promises. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrew 11:1.

Each time worry or anxiety overcomes anybody; unrealistic assumptions are blown out of proportion thereby causing excessive fear. Then your problem becomes gigantic and magnified out of control. Fear breeds negative emotions in human body system and depression to the soul.

Hold on to God’s word in faith. The word of God to this end says “Cast all your care upon him for He careth for you” – 1Peter 5: 7. You must always be conscious of the fact that fear creates doubt and both of them, antagonizes and destroys faith. Fear has no power to empty tomorrow of it’s sorrows, but it empties today of it’s strength, courage and faith. Fear cannot show you the way of escape from evil but makes it difficult for you to cope with it when it comes. The Bible says “For whatsoever is born of God over cometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, but he that believeth in Jesus is the son of God” 1John 5 vs 4-5. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world; it is not one of the victory but the very victory that overcome the world- Hebrew 11:6.

No man can please God outside faith and whenever we come to God we must believe that he is the solution to what we desire, we must believe that he is that miracle we’re looking for.

We just believe that when we do what is expected of us He will reward us accordingly. To have faith therefore means to believe what God says regardless of what we see or feel, it means to stand on God’s

word no matter the opposition, obstacle or mountain before us.

Many believers in Christ cannot exercise faith or hold on to God because they have starved their spirit of the word of God which is the source of faith.

For the Bible says “that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” my beloved ones in Christ; in this critical situation, in this ugly condition, you have no option, but to keep trusting Good, hold on to God in faith and he shall bring your miracle to pass. The devil in this present situation may be ministering many negative things in your mind, he may coarse you in questioning the reality of the promises of God. You may erroneously see yourself questioning the authority and accuracy of his word and promises concerning your situation. Just stand on his promises. When you stand on his word and promises, you shall overcome. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by this ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” 2Peter 1 vs 4 so you see? This is mysterious; it is through the word and promises of God that will tap into the power and nature of God. Faith in God’s promises moves mountains heals cancers, afflictions, sicknesses and diseases, pays debts which you could not pay, restores broken marriages and changes every ugly situation into a beautiful one. In holding unto God in faith, you must always be ready to say to Satan and to yourself; I believe God’s word and I am not moved by what I see, hear or feel, I don’t care how long my miracles may stay, I will not be moved, my confidence must hang on the ability and potency of my too much God. This confession is predicated on the authority of that scriptural position which states thus “Cast not away therefore your confidence which has great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promises” Heb.10: 35-36.

35

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

Dolapo Badmus spreads her tentacles B

y nature of the position she occupies as the head of Public Relations Department of Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Dolapo Badmus is naturally in contact with the public and as such given to public light.

But one fact that cannot be denied is that the public is in a way more endeared to her unlike it has ever happened before in that sector.

Reasons for this are not far-fetched. Aside from the fact that this woman is living up to expectation in discharging her professional duties, her accommodating nature, great looks as well as her carriage are no doubt the secret.

Meanwhile, her interaction with people even outside her job is actually paying off for her as this is making her tentacles to spread fast.

The increasing popularity of the super cop came to the fore recently when she added a year.

It was not just that she was hosted to a reception, but the caliber of people who were in attendance to identify with her leave no doubt that she’s the toast of movers and shakers of the Lagos social circle.

Kennedy Uzoka scales major hurdle T

o every advantage there is disadvantage. This could be said to aptly describe the situation in which the man at the helm of affairs at one of the leading banks, United Bank of Africa, UBA, Kennedy Uzoka has found himself. Kennedy could not have envisaged he would barely be settling into the new office before he would be faced with a very tough situation even though he would have prepared for challenges that come with his new enviable post.

By its antecedents, the red logo financial institution has always lived up to expectation and was never found wanting in its operations even by the regulatory body under past leaders but the unexpected happened as the bank was caught in the web of alleged sharp practices which has resulted to banning it from forex operations along eight other banks by the federal government. The management of the bank under the leadership of Uzoka however swung into action immediately, denying any wrong doing that may have been leveled against them. While many fingers were crossed to see how newly installed Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy was going to live up to expectation and wriggle through what was considered a major and tough task for him which could also place a life time dent on the image of the bank, the brilliant point man marveled all by doing a magic which made the regulatory body clear them of the offence and re-admit them into forex trading immediately while others continue to battle for survival.

Waheed Olagunju savours new height

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Deola Sagoe rocks at 50 D XXX

aughter of successful Ilara, Ondo State born business man, Chief Michael Ade –Ojo, Deola Sagoe may have come from the loins of a man who is well to do but what cannot be disputed is that she was able to discover herself and consolidate on whatever she met on ground through

the passion she followed.

Of course, she may have had fair share of her low points in life but in all, she has been able to write her name on the sands of time as far as the fashion world is concerned. She has been able to make lasting impressions as a frontline designer coupled with other achievements she has made as well as her children which are certainly source of her joy. All these factors put together were probably on her mind when she decided to celebrate her special day when she clocked the significant age of 50, penultimate weekend. Her daughters who are fast dominating the fashion world all over, other family members, well-wishers and friends were in attendance at the event held to celebrate her birthday. Slim built Deola of Deola couture fame was evidently elated seeing a large crowd turn up to honour her on her golden jubilee birthday.

A

s it has long been established and proven that it is usually different strokes for different folks, some people at this point in their lives might be engulfed with how to find their feet while some others are making headway in their careers but the stroke that is at the end of the Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju at the moment is that which could make him pass for moving to another level of accomplishment in life.

Dark skinned and brilliant banking top notch, Waheed, we can tell is basking in the euphoria of being a fulfilled father. Friends and family on his invite, gathered to celebrate with him recently when he gave out his daughter, Doyin to Bayo Aromolaran in marriage. One can only expect a classy gathering going by the status of the groom’s father as the event attracted likes of The Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke among several important personalities who were on hand to share in the joy of the day. Koko master, D’Banj and other entertainers added spice to the carnival-like wedding ceremony which held in Lagos.

Happy times for James Fatoyinbo W

idely travelled city big boy, James Russell Fatoyinbo is one dude many who are in tune with the social circle will not find hard to place and the reasons is that the well-built property merchant has remained very relevant in the social scene and in the business world since he made his break many years ago. On another note, those who are close to James will steadily tell how much he cherishes his children and love his beautiful wife. On this note, it’s not very surprising the influential dude has not been able to conceal his joy as he celebrates twenty years in marriage.

Teju Phillips plans big for father’s one year memorial

T

he one year memorial of Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Nigerian billionaire, Chief Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez has been fixed to hold this week. His first child, Chief (Mrs.) Olateju Phillips, the former Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry will be hosting a memorial service event in his honour. This comes up on Thursday, September 1, 2016, at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island. However, the family is also planning to host a grand reception in Lagos, later this year.

It will be recalled that Ambassador Fernandez died on Tuesday, September 1, at exactly, 6:05 pm, in a private hospital in Brussels, Belgium. He was aged 86 years. Fernandez was later buried on Friday, 18 September, 2015, at the Cimetiere d’Ixelles, Chaussee de Boendael, 478, in Brussels.

Ambassador Fernandez, the Baron of Dudley, was born in Lagos in August 12, 1929, to the famous Olumegbon royal family of Isale-Eko, Lagos State. He held various titles during his lifetime. Notable among them are, Bajiri of Lagos, Woye Ileri of Ile-Ife, Garzan Fulani of Kano, Grand Officer of the National Order of the Leopard, Commander of the National Order of the Merit of Gabon, Grand Officer of the National Order of the Merit of the Central African Republic, and many others.

He is survived by nine children - Olateju Phillips, Olugbemisola Fernandez, Tony Fernandez, Akintokunbo Fernandez, Titilayo Unzicker, Adekoyejo Fernandez, Oyinkansola Fernandez, Atinuke Fernadez and Abimbola Fernandez.

36

Body&Soul

POTPOURRI

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

With Biwom Iklaki

Weight watchers community Change lifestyle, cut fat (part 1)

O

ne of the best and surest ways to drop weight and keep it off is to make a decision and stick to it no matter what. This decision should not only be to lose weight so as to fit into a few new jeans, but to lose weight for the health benefits that come with it. You have to make a choice for changes in your lifestyle.

When you make it your lifestyle, it is easier to lose that weight and keep it off. Here are a few lifestyle decisions you need to take in order to grab the bull by the horns.

1.

Stay hydrated You need to drink more water. You should be guzzling at least eight glasses of water daily, which means it can be more. Aim for 10 glasses a day. It keeps you hydrated and full especially when you feel like snacking and what your body really needs is water.

2.

Eat healthy fats Healthy fats help you lose fat so you do not need to stay away from all fat, just the heavily processed ones. Snack on avocados, almond nuts, cashew and pine nuts etc. you could even cook with some olive oil or dip your toast in it instead of butter.

3.

Lift weights Lifting weights is a fast way to lose major weight because you are not just losing fat, but building muscle. You can start small and work your way

to heavier weights. Begin with 5kg dumbbells, bar bells, kettle bells, etc then add bench press and leg raises, etc.

4.

Up protein intake Double your protein intake if you are serious about taking off those pounds. Eat more lean meats, beans, lentils, and fish to build muscle and repair tissues in your body especially after you begin to workout. Also, add good whey protein into your diet.

You can include it to your smoothies as well.

5.

Don’t cut carbs Cutting carbs leaves you miserable and short tempered. You will also have little energy reserves which may make your workout time suffer. Eat healthy carbs like wheat, oats, quinoa etc instead of say, rice.

I

6.

Catch up on your snooze When you sleep, your body has time to repair itself. Sleep also rests your system and provides energy for another day. The more ghrelin you produce, the more you stimulate hunger while also reducing the amount of calories you burn (your metabolism) and increasing the amount fat you store. In other words, you need to control leptin and ghrelin to successfully lose weight, butsleep deprivation makes that nearly impossible.

Money management in your 20s (Part 1)

I

no one will likely do so. It is up to you to do this self-teaching.

Yes, there is peer pressure to show that you have arrived, not to mention the constant parties, clubbing and welfare involved. You need to reign all these in and begin to manage

your money as the sooner you learn to do this, the better for you on the long run.

Ignore your salary There is a saying that rich people stay wealthy by spending like poor people while poor

Jumbo crochet braids n the beauty industry at the moment, there is a huge buzz about the crochet braids. Crochet braids is a protective style of doing cornrows with your hair and using a crochet pin to pass the desired weave through the corn rows.

When finished, and if done properly, it is amazing how lovely this style is.

An added advantage is how much it slashes the process of making your hair by way more than half. Many ladies are favouring this style and there is no limit to how many styles you can feature with this procedure. You can play with many styles, colour and weaves.

The most common of these crochet styles however is the jumbo twist crochet style in many different colours including two tones known as ombre.

If you have never been one to follow trends, then you can consider this style when next you need to look fabulous in a short amount of time because it is definitely super-fast if nothing else.

Money talks

n Nigeria, many youths in their 20s are just fresh out of school (if they are lucky) and if you are debt free and blessed with a job after your NYSC, this is for you. We all know that you were never taught how to manage your money in school and

​Trend du jour

people stay poor by spending like rich people. You have to ignore the pressures of your new job like expensive clothes and cars and live like you are still in the university, at least until you understand your new turf.

Live at home You should consider living with your parents to save costs of living like rent, utility bills and feeding.

Avoid credit cards If you do not own a credit card, it is easier to stay debt free. You will also not be tempted to buy something on a whim.

Pay off debts You have to strive to begin life on a clean slate. Pay off any debts you many have accrued as a student first before embarking on any ventures, especially if said debts are accruing interest.

Create a financial cushion While the pressure is not on yet in your 20-somethings you should consider creating a financial cushion of about six months expenditure stored in a bank account in case of a job loss or illness or…you never know what!

37

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Decorative platters Biwom Iklaki

S

ome of us probably grew up in those old, vintage and stately homes that looked like a mixture of every vintage décor available had been brought into the home and yet together, it all worked. In fact, some people are still struck with nostalgia whenever they encounter such homes with those floral couches and wallpaper. In retrospect, they could be considered hideous now if your mind has been biased with the contemporary designs we have today.

However, we still find homes and even kitchens with those vintage platters and decorative trays hanging from the walls.

wThese platters give your kitchen such a quaint and calming atmosphere of home and welcome. Some people favour intricate floral designs while others who still care to keep their décor on the contemporary or monochrome side of things would go for polished silver trays. If you decide to go the long haul, do not stick with just one tray hanging, create a gallery of sorts with your trays and shake up the designs with burnished copper, gold, silver and vintage floral on your wall. Knock yourself out with whatever appeals to you, after all, where décor and personality issues are concerned in your home, you either go big or go home!

GET A

I have marriage problems

I have been married for four years to a bank security head. He is a mommy’s boy. I have to do everything for him. He does not like to keep a job. Most of the time, I feel quite lonely and sexually frustrated.

When I try to talk to him, he turns it all around on me, calling me all sorts of unprintable names. I want to save my marriage and be faithful but I find myself tempted to stray outside of the marriage to get my sexual desires fulfilled and also meet the financial needs of the family Franca Lagos I can’t stand my mother in law

My mother in law is the most negative, rude, fake person I know.

She disrespected me on three different occasions: the first day her son brought me to their home for introduction, our wedding day and the few days she stayed with us after the wedding. She has a way of sideling me in talks with her son and instead of asking me about things in my home, she will go straight to my husband and ask and this upsets me a lot. I’ve tried to tell my husband how I feel, but he thinks I just don’t like his mother and so avoids any form of confrontation or correction. I also tried to approach her on the subject,

SOULMATE

Send SMS only to 07057201814 or vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

instead of understanding that this is now my home; she picked serious offence and called her other children, who all came to my home and talked with my husband on the issue and it actually blew out of proportion. I’m done with her. She told my husband vile things about me a couple months ago, and he told me to apologise without even asking my own side of the story.

We saw her again over the weekend so now he acts like everything is all good again. I try to be cordial.

She needs to apologise but she won’t. I understand that’s his mother, but none of her kids have ever been close to her. She doesn’t really have a relationship with my husband, but he wants me to have a relationship with her. I feel like my husband wants to take his mother’s side over mine. He also likes to please a people. This situation frustrates me a lot and I need help please!

Uchechi, Owerri No good wife material for me

I’m a young man in my mid-thirties and desperate to get married. For the past three years, I’ve been in four failed relationships. You would think that I’m being too choosey but I found out that ladies of these days don’t know what marriage is all about. You will see a good looking girl and want to make her your wife but when her character and attitude to life disqualifies her out rightly. I met a girl recently and she was demanding I move from my one bedroom apartment to a flat before she will agree to marry me.

What has happened to the notion of building our life together? I’m hear broken and in serious need of a good girl for marriage. So if there is such a person, please contact me through this medium, thank you!

Ebuka, Lagos

My name is Chizoba, 37 years old widow from Imo State. I need a responsible Christian Igbo man. A businessman or self-employed man between 40-55 years old for relationship-08174764371 My name is James. I am 35 years old.

I live and work in Lagos. I need a God fearing girl between 18-34 years for a relationship that will lead to marriage-08160125532 Jeff is my name. I am 43 years old. I live and work in Lagos. I need a lady between 33-35 years old for marriage.

She must God fearing, plump and busty-08180788351 My name is Arafat. I want to hook up with an educated Muslim lady that is rich between 40-50 years old- 08037604903 My name is Godwin Edet, I’m 25 years old. I’m a 300 level student of University of Uyo and also an artist. I need an average height lady with bust between 18-23 years for a serious relationship.

She must be a devoted Christian08132819233 My name is Ethan, I’m 50 years old.

I’m a masters degree holder from the south south part of the country. I need a matured lady that is ready for marriage within six months- 07056584366 I’m Kris, 29 years old. I’m a Corper serving in Imo State but from Abia State and based in Abuja. I need wonderful friends from all over the country and may even find love in the process-08187691176 I am Itunu, 33 years old widow and single mother. I am based in Lagos and a Christian. I need a caring, God fearing man that is ready to take care of me for a serious relationship-08181970578

38

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Y

Is your partner being unfaithful?

ou’ve suspected for days, maybe weeks. Something is wrong between you and your partner and you’re beginning to wonder if maybe they might be cheating on you. ‘NO! That’s not possible’, your mind tells you. You feel it may happen to other people but not you.

In your cocksure mood, you can bet a million dollars that you have cheat-proof your relationship and nothing could make your partner to cheat on you.

Then again, there was that thing that happened last week; you caught him at the balcony talking on the phone with his voice lowered and when he saw you coming in from the kitchen, he quickly ended the call with a funny look on his face and not able to look you in the eye while trying to explain that it was one of his buddies from the office. Again, there was this time he left his laptop on the bed to use the bathroom and you came into the bedroom and saw he was doing a video chat with a pretty girl and when you brought it up, your spouse twisted it around as if YOU were the one with the jealousy issue! “You’re just being paranoid–you’re crazy to think like that!” they said. Still, there’s that nagging doubt in your mind.

Cheating is not exclusive to the male.

Females also indulge in extra marital affairs or cheat on their boyfriend too.

Though on a percentage, you can say that the male tend to indulge more in extra martial affairs and most of the time, they let the devil take the blame for their monkey business. Anyway, that is story for another day.

Understandably, most people do not

T

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com know how to investigate a spouse. This is because nobody enters a beautiful relationship with the mindset that their lover will ever cheat on them. Also, it can be very difficult to catch a cheating partner because some people are very good at coding their life. Some individuals can successfully compartmentalize their lives or are such brilliant liars that their partner never finds out. Well, it will do you good to have this at the back of your mind: A cheating partner will not always leave signs behind them.

Majority of affairs are never detected.

So the best way to actually find out if your partner is cheating on you is not to live in a fool’s paradise. Sometimes, consciously remove the cloak of loving words and care they shower on you and observe your partner as you would do a stranger. Suddenly pay them a visit at the office if you can squeeze out the time, do odd things at home that you don’t ordinarily do to see if you can catch your spouse off guard. That way, some of their hidden character may show up.

If you think your partner is pulling some shady pranks on you, chances are you may not be too far from the truth.

When you start feeling that something is not right, then something is wrong!

When in doubt, it’s safer to investigate to see if they’re indulging in any shenanigans.

If you suspect that your partner is being unfaithful, look for a combination of tell-tale signs and clues to back up your claim. Remember that everyone is presumed innocent in the court of law until proven guilty. Also keep in mind that there is no more definitive sign of cheating other than catching your partner in the act. So, pay attention to the signs and your instinct but, be careful and don’t confuse signs with proof.

Number one on the signs of infidelity is when a spouse becomes emotionally distant, withdrawn or depressed. When you notice your partner stops confiding in you and seeking advice from you or your intuition (gut feeling) tells you that something is not right, then its time you sit up and pay close attention to that relationship. Something has gone wrong and the earlier you checkmate, the faster you can salvage the fragile relationship.

Here are a few other signs that can indi-

cate that your partner is cheating on you: • When they break their established routine at work and home for no apparent or logical reason; erratic behavior.

• Your loved one suddenly deletes all emails from the computer where they used to accumulate. Same goes for calls on the cell phone or caller ID and You can’t access his/her computer or mobile phone.

• When they appear distant, show a lack of interest, or develop an unexplained aloofness that wasn’t there before.

• When they stay up to ‘work’ or ‘play a game’ on the computer after you go to bed. Excessive internet usage, especially late at night, is a red flag.

• When your spouse will not allow you access to their computer or they suddenly shut down the computer when you walk into the room.

• The unfaithful spouse became angry, critical and even at times cruel.

He/she becomes just plain rude, impatient, angry and aggressive and constantly picking fights and disrespectful.

• Your mate stops complimenting you on your looks.

• Your mate stops saying, ‘I love you.’

• When they suddenly have to work late and have all kinds of new obligations that take them away from you repeatedly or for long periods of time.

• You find a diaphragm, condom, birth control, etc. hiding in their pockets or handbags.

Pulpit as the new drama stage

heatre has evolved. It has moved away from the stage of the main street theatres and can now be found in churches and other miracle centres and crusades. People are declaring that they are receiving miracles, are dancing from feet to feet to praise the “work of God” in their life and sing testimonies. However, there is a problem. We have no way of verifying their stories and the events of this week in Enugu has further cast a doubt on the multiple declaration of miracles that I see and hear of in churches that dot the streets of Nigeria.

For those who do not know, the Enugu State division of the Nigerian Police Force paraded a syndicate of miracle actors led

by Obi EJike. The police nabbed them when they were arguing over how to share the payment from a pastor for whom they just performed in his church. Apparently, a syndicate member, Mary Kuku, had acted being possessed by Holy Spirit and her act was so believable that she felt she should be remunerated more. A routine intervention by the police turned into a criminal arrest.

Now, some of the things that they revealed only show how low we have sunk as a society when we are looking for solutions to our problems.

Personally, I have wondered why Nigeria still ranks so high on the corruption index when almost every street in Nigeria can boast of an average of three churches of different denominations. They sing and pray and dance for the spirit of God to possess and bless them. However, it seems what we have are a set of people who practice religion as a routine without imbibing the message of the holy book they carry. And do you blame the people? They languish in poverty and penury and pray so hard

for the miracle of wealth that matches their pastor’s. The same pastor who dines on the choicest of food while his flock cannot even afford Garri. The pastor who rides in the best of cars when his flock comes to church on foot because they cannot afford bicycle. The pastor who flies and rides in jets when his flock are sweating in the heat of a Lagos traffic jam. Now, I wonder no more. It is all fake. The sermon, the preaching, the miracles. Obi Ejike actually told the police that they are hired by pastors trying to grow their churches or the ones trying to stem the slide away by the members they have. You will be mistaken to think that their acting ends in churches. They take

their show to crusades and jump out of the crowd to claim they were blind, crippled or lame and the ministering and prayers of the pastor healed them. And people rejoiced. Not surprising, the people are a set of miracle hunters.

I am shocked that this kind of practice still happens amongst so called men of God. I wonder which God they serve because it certainly is not the true God. No God will ask his servants to fake miracles in order to grow. Elijah actually asked that waters be poured on wood before asking for fire from heaven. There are religious leaders all over Nigeria and some prominent ones in this title. Now is the time to call them to order.

I am shocked that this kind of practice still happens amongst so called men of God. I wonder which God they serve because it certainly is not the true God. No God will ask his servants to fake miracles in order to grow. Elijah actually asked that waters be poured on wood before asking for fire from heaven. There are religious leaders all over Nigeria and some prominent ones in this title.

Regulate miracles if need be.

However, the simple law of economics states that the supply is influenced by the demand, then if my people will stop being miracle hunters, then there will be no need for actors to come and act out miracles. It seems this is the sad part of the economic downturn. The people are now so frustrated with their present life, their only solution lies in the afterlife. So, they question nothing when even the Bible in 1 John 4:1 and 2 encourages a critical mind that test out every spirit because of false prophets who stage miracles. I hope the police will not relent on their efforts until all the other actors in this celestial drama are brought to book. Cheating and stealing from the poor is bad, but to do so in the name of God is criminally bad on a celestial level.

RE: When the flames go out A reader wrote me on last week’s piece to complain about why I said nothing on the ‘shame of an entry’ that marked our opening ceremony march past. He went on to enumerate everything wrong with Nigeria marching out in track suites as opposed to a traditional attire. The cultural activist in me agrees with some of his arguments even though I find some of them lacking originality as I have read them all on social media. Truth be told, I felt that the subject has received enough attention and only formed part of the larger tumor that is troubling our sporting infrastructures and administration that the piece addressed.

However, on the subject of the opening ceremony attire, I have just one position; the Olympics is a sporting event and as such, wearing a sporting outfit at the opening ceremony is not out of place.

8, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

39

z ne

out your s to cover ime stay

cy to a litpropriate nsembles, look cool i. Howlonger ng any s solely u style it. extra on e for your d height. ries, you classy to

Baking soda spa Biwom Iklaki

B

aking soda is one of the most useful yet under estimated and undervalued ingredient in the pantry. Many a pack of baking soda does not see the light of day until you need to bake a cookie or bread. However, while Nigeria is facing one of its harshest economic depressions in a while, many a spoiled lady has to rise up to the occasion of cutting as much cost as possible. You can begin to paint your nails yourself, learn to wash, to condition and style your hair all by yourself as well as give yourself the spa treatment you once received. Who says you cannot pamper yourself all by yourself?

Body scrub This is pretty easy and the results can be more than amazing. All you need is three parts baking soda to one part water. Mix into a paste and scrub all over your body. Leave on for at least 5- 10 minutes then rinse off in the shower. If you have sensitive skin, rinse off when the tingle burns.

Calluses and discoloured nails The three parts baking soda to one part water works for most of the spa treatments. Soak your feet in this solution, scrub off and watch how easy it is to clean and soften calluses. The same solution works when you need to clean discoloured nails during manicures.

To whiten teeth Add a little water to baking soda to form a paste and use as your toothpaste.

It whitens your teeth and is much pocket friendlier.

Relaxing soak After a hard day of hustle, add ½ cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralise acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration while you soak. When combined with water, baking soda goes to work softening and soothing skin while calming irritants that the body brings to its surface as a result of a bite, skin irritation or mild sunburn. Add 2 drops of lavender oil in the bath for a more relaxing experience.

40

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

dude

Walk tall in boots

Vanessa Okwara

B

oots had once faded out in style but was recently introduced into the fashion world with new range of designs to suit every individual who is a fan of the boot life. The good thing about boots is that it goes with just about anything you have in your wardrobe.

Boots makes one feel on top of the world more like a man in uniform.

It can be worn with a T-shirt and chinos, or jeans, or with long sleeve shirt with a chinos or jeans. Despite how silly it can be, boots can also be worn while you are suited up.

It doesn’t matter what it is, be rest assured that it is going to give you that trendy look you seek.

Men’s boots are more popular than ever, they tend to be higher in cost than other items in your wardrobe and which styles work best for certain occasions.

The best thing about any pair of boots is that, with few exceptions, they’re versatile enough to enhance any outfit, no matter the situation.

There are different types of boots for every occasion. There are dress boots, work boots and fashion casual boots that will fit into any style you want to project.

From suede, desert boot and leather looks to chukka and dress boots, you’ll find both warmth and style in a pair of kicks from some of your favourite brands and designers when you want to dress up any ensemble.

From suits to casual dress

OF THE WEEK

shirts, you’ll love the way these fashionable shoes can coordinate with your workplace ensembles.

If it’s casual shoes you’re in search of, a comfortable chukka boot is just what you want. Features like leather upper and lining are both comfortable and fashionable. You’ll complete any outfit with subtle sophistication when you opt for a classic pair of dress boots.

Nothing goes better with jeans than a classic pair of black boots.

Varying style options give you a wide range of choices for coordinating with your trousers and socks.

Details like a buckle strap around t h e ankle area add an extra touch of style and roguish refinement.

Denola Grey King of slay

Judith Onyebuchi

D

enola Adeptun fondly known as Denola Grey is a fashion blogger and a media personality mainly focused on men’s fashion and life style. He derived the name Denola Grey from the combination of Adenola and E.L Jone’s bestselling novel ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’.

Denola holds a degree in Media Business from Baylor University. Grey worked briefly in fashion PR in New York City and also as a fashion journalist for Genevieve Magazine among other freelance projects.

Grey started his blog in June 2014 and was

chosen as one of the ten dressed men in Nigeria

by L’uomo Vogue in the ‘Nigerian Extravaganza’ and he pays great attention to detail from his bow tie to his shoes.

Denola Grey is one guy who knows how to get people talking with his fitted suits, skinny jeans and overalls. His fashion styles can best be described as fashion forward, modern and eccentric. The style enthusiast is very experimental, dresses to kill and he always comes out looking like a mannequin. You always see him with his signature haircut and that side part that suits him perfectly. He is the king of slay and he never fails to wow.

41

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

RazzleDazzle

Body&Soul Abiola Alaba Peters

with

08062622328 abiolaalabapeters@rockmail.com

My mother saved me from I’m outspoken about what I stand wrong path –Bryan Okwara for –Chika Ike I

C

hika Ike is unpretentiously beautiful. One gets a little edgy trying to paint a perfect picture of this superstar actress. “Aside from the beautiful actress you see on screen, I’m fabulous, unique, a go-getter, a lady who never gives up and never takes no for an answer. I know what I want and I go for it. Aside from that, I am a very good person, I’m outspoken about what I stand for, focused and determined” she boasted. On secret to her success, “the true secret of my success has always been God, prayers and loads of hard work. I can comfortably say I put 110% into my job and in everything I do. In addition, my fans have been wonderful. You can buy anything but you can’t buy acceptance.

My fans are interested in me and they want to see more of me, they want to watch me in movies and that is how I get more jobs. Some nights, when I look back and see how far I have come in life, I just sit, cry and thank God” she expressed.

Also highlighting some of her business activities apart from movies, “I do a lot of other things, but I will mention a few.

I run a jewelry outfit called ‘Fancy Nancy Collections’ and I also run the Chika Ike Foundation. In my foundation, I do one major give away every year and conduct several visits to schools and hospitals. The goal, as for the children is to give them a better life for tomorrow” She highlighted.

mo State born Bryan Okwara became a household name shortly after winning the keenly contested Mr. Nigeria pageant in 2007. In an exclusive chat with RazzleDazzle, the super stunning model and actor who has featured in several Nollywood movies says he’s just a regular guy off the screen, “I am just a regular guy that cooks noodles, bakes a lot, loves his father, goes to the movies, eats popcorn and goes to church on Sundays; that’s Bryan Okwara for you”, he said. On handling his female fans and experiences while growing up, “I take my female fans as they come; I just appreciate a lot of people that appreciate me. It is the right thing to do because when they come out to show me some love, I try to pay back by smiling along. I’m really grateful that the ladies appreciate me; it’s not by my power. While growing up, I was a stone headed boy, I used to break everything in the house, jump the fence, etc. My mum had to pin and tie me down to a chair to teach and bring me up properly. I was a kid that was very adventurous, and I had too much energy. In fact, I started walking when I was seven months old; I was growing with a lot of energy. I am really grateful to God for my up-bringing; I thank God for my mum, who saved me from the wrong way of life. May God grant her soul eternal rest and I really thank God for my friends and my wonderful fans” He appreciates.

I’m bringing new innovation into Nigerian music - Dera Allison

D

Alibaba, M.I, others to perform at ‘Senator Most Distinguished’ Nigerian comedian, Bethel Njoku, better known as Senator, is set to host the first edition of his show tagged ‘Senator Most Distinguished’. Nigerian music stars such as Ali Baba, MI, Ice Prince, Falz, Sound Sultan, Ras Kimono and African China will be headliners at the show.

Hosted by comedienne, Chigul and packaged by Bunmi Davies, the event will hold on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Muson Centre, Onikan.

Speaking exclusively to Razzle Dazzle, the comedian and actor said attendance is strictly by invitation. “It’s going to be a strictly by invitation event. I’m not selling tickets because this is a special kind of show. You know, most people believe that we comedians only fix events when we have one or two expenses to settle, and I want to prove them wrong because I’m doing this to celebrate some special people in my life and those that have supported my brand in time past. It’s not a regular kind of show because whoever climbs that stage is highly talented and more so, there’s going to be a cocktail section which will be followed by red carpet at 5pm” he boasted.

Other stars expected to be at the event include: Gordons, Okey Bakassi, FunnyBone, Daniel the Humorous, Omo Baba, Yemi Alade, Bez and Skales.

era Allison is the newest kid on the block poised to do great exploits within the Nigerian music scene.

Born and bred in Owerri, Imo State, Dera as he is fondly called started off as a On Air Personality (OAP) in Imo State before he discovered his talent for music which he has pursued with vigour.

Now signed on to Curtis Music International Label, a Lagos State based music outfit, Dera disclosed he’s poised to make the much needed impact in music so as to carve out a niche for himself; a task he believes is achievable through divine grace and uncommon elevation.

Born Chidera John Allison 22 years ago to parents from Nkwere in Imo State, this aspiring artiste who is into Afro Hip Hop recently revealed that his foray into music wasn’t by chance but a divine call. It was to make him fulfill a career in music which grew when he started out in his church choir, dishing out soulful tunes to the glory of God as a much younger kid.

After his recent signing to Curtis Music International Record Label based in Lekki, Lagos, Dera says he is bringing a whole lot of new flavour to his brand of music. This involves a blend of indigenous music, high life and street hip hop. He is ready to drop his first set of songs into the music circuit in the coming weeks.

He also debunked news making rounds that his kind of music sounds like Phyno; saying that Phyno created the way for most of them to be where they are today just like Mc Loaf and Nigga Raw blazed the trail before Phyno. He said music should be seen as being dynamic and not the other way round.

As he gets set to add his voice to long list of stars in the music scene in Nigeria, Dera reveals that he is praying for divine elevation in his career, not just in Nigeria but globally as an international artiste who would bring pride and accolades to his fatherland.

American Varsity hosts Nollywood filmmaker, Doris Ariole

S

ince her movie,’Benevolence’ was nominated for ‘Most Inspirational Feature Film’ at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, Doris Chinasa Ariole, has been attracting recognition from Hollywood enthusiasts.

She was recently invited to speak to students of Full Sail Film University, Orlando, one of the top five film schools in the US on traits needed to produce good films.

Addressing Full Sail students in an interactive session, Doris said ‘Benevolence’ is gaining recognition because of expertise and ingenuity displayed in the work. Even though the movie reinvents biblical story using today’s analogy, it boasts of artistic production with a mix of comedy, romance and thriller.

Benevolence is currently enjoying smooth screening, with impressive attendance in Orlando Florida since August 12th.

It was premiered at the 3-in-1 Christian Cafe and Lounge. It also had a second screening on the 13th and for three consecutive days, 19th-21st August at the 3-Mast African Art Centre, Orlando.

It features top acts in Nollywood including Kalu Ikeagwu, Ijeoma Peters, Emeka Smith (the comedian), Tim Godfrey (award winning gospel artist), Patrick Doyle, Chioma Nwosu and model-singer, Fragrance Kayoh.

Sensational artiste, Kilo One, drops ‘Our Love’

‘K

ulele’ crooner, Lawrence Uwaifo, popularly known as Kilo One, is out to thrill his teeming fans with his latest single.

The multi-talented artiste and songwriter has just dropped a mind blowing banger titled ‘Our Love’ produced by 2Jo. The sensational R&B singer disclosed that his latest work, ‘Our Love’, was inspired by happenings in the country today, which prompted him to educate the people on the need to show love towards one another. ‘Our love’ is a beautiful song with highlife tunes, containing words of inspiration that will encourage everyone to show love to one another.

“My dream is to inspire the world through my song which contains motivational words to help people grow above hardship, poverty and molestation” the award winning artiste said.

The Edo State born artiste also has a word of advice for those in government. According to him, “this country is blessed with so many talented artistes from different genres. I will like to see government invest in the entertainment industry so that these talented youths can achieve their dreams and take their mind off corruption, hooliganism and all forms of evil vices in the society,” he disclosed.

Kilo One has other songs like ‘Number one girl’, ‘Kulele’ and other singles currently ruling the air-waves.

42

Ebony beauty, Adekemi Taofeek, is a Nollywood actress in the Yoruba genre. Kemi has featured in notable Yoruba films including ‘Adefarati’, ‘Agilinti’ and ‘Ibaje’. She has also produced her own movie, ‘Tibi Tire’. ABIOLA ALABA PETERS had a chat with the pretty actress who made a buzz on social media recently when she said she must sleep with her man before marriage to ascertain his sexual skills

Tell us about yourself and what has been happening to you in recent times?

I’m an actress and a producer. I’m from Abeokuta in Ogun State, the first born of a family of five and a 2015 Business Administration graduate of Lagos State University.

Currently, I’m done with post production of my recent job titled ‘Babymama’.

How is the movie business going for you?

Movie business is doing pretty fine. We are working, but as you know, we all wish and pray that God blesses the works of our hands.

Can you say movies have paid you well?

Yes, movie business has paid me real good; I really can’t specify how much, but I will sound ungrateful to God if I say movies have been unfair to me. The successes I have recorded so far are from the movies.

I have shelved my degree; movies have opened great doors for me, it has given me great opportunities.

Can you recount your journey into the movie industry?

It all started while I was in school.

I have passion for acting and my friends know that. So a friend invited me for an audition and after the audition, I was given a script with production date. That was how it all started and I acted alongside Francis Duru, Chika Ike, Ali Nuhu, Majid Michel and many others.

Why the cross over from English to Yoruba movies?

First of all, I started acting in 2008 under Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) but joined the Yoruba sector in 2012. The reason why I crossed over was because I left the industry for a while and when I decided to come back, I felt I needed to do something different from where I stopped.

As an actress, what were the challenges you faced coming up?

There were lots of challenges; I cannot say much. All I can say is that my success is a product of my challenges. Raw gold must pass through fire in order to come out well. I am grateful I faced those challenges and overcame. It was never a smooth journey to be candid.

Tell us about your self-produced movies?

I have produced two movies ‘Tibi-Tire’ directed by Kayode Adebayo and ‘Babymama’ directed by Tokunbo Awoga. ‘Babymama’ is a story of love and betrayal. It’s

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

I can date below my status –Adekemi Taofeek a film you cannot afford to miss with the likes of Murphy Afolabi, Okele, Lekan Olatunji, Tokunbo Awoga, Leye Adesile-Kuti, Biola Adebayo Eyin-oka, Basira Badia and many others.

Is the movie based on a true life story?

Yes, it was inspired by a friend while he was telling me about his past experience in marriage. ‘Babymama’ is actually a true life story.

How do you raise capital for your selfproduced movies and do you recoup your capital?

Apart from being an actress, I am also into buying and selling of hair and cosmetics. So I get my capital from my profit.

What was the reaction of your parents when they first realised entertainment was what you have chosen to do?

My dad was never in support of it at first but my

mum has always been in support ever since I joined the industry.

Can you tell us your worst and best moments?

My worst moment was when I had to go to location with my costumes and on getting there, it was given to someone else. My best moment happens to be the day I was picked from a large crowd for a sub-lead and you know what that means.

Who is your Nigerian celebrity crush?

None, I love and respect their creativity because I understand it is not easy.

Considering your status, would you date or marry a younger man, someone below your status?

Of course yes! I can date someone below my status as far he is educated and I have feelings for him.

Who is your ideal man?

He must be Godfearing, hardworking and humble. I detest a man who is lazy and unfocused.

Can you marry a celebrity?

Are they not humans? I can marry from any circle so long as

he’s all I want in a man. Some celebrities make good marriages; it all depends on how one decides to run his or her home.

We have quite a number of them that have happy homes. No matter what, celebrities are human; it is what you make out of your home that matters.

You recently granted an interview stating your ideology on sex before marriage, what do you mean exactly?

Well, I really can’t place it right now, but I think the reporter asked me my candid opinion on marriage before sex and I replied him by saying, I can’t get married to a man when I don’t know his sexual skills and he went further to ask if I realise a man is not good enough, will I try another one, and I said not at all. I can’t leave my man because of that; if he is not good enough, we’ll talk about it and how best to improve.

Most of your colleagues are fair or light in complexion, don’t you consider that a threat?

Why should I? There are actresses who are dark in complexion in the same industry and they are successful. So why would I consider that a threat? Well I don’t! I am proud of my skin colour.

What do you consider as the most cherished part of your body?

My face, I cherish my face a lot, I can say it is one of my valuable assets.

Who are those persons in the industry you would love to work with?

I believe everybody is good in his or her own style. You can’t compare A’s style to that of B. I wouldn’t say this is the list of people I want or wish to work with. I believe with time, if I have reasons to want to work with any actor or actress, of course, I will. Until then, I am open to working with any good act.

If you weren’t in entertainment, what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t in entertainment, I would be a Caterer.

Share with us one of your favourite quotes and why?

That will be ‘I have a dream’ by the great Martin Luther king. I like it because it is powerful and inspiring.

What are your favourite perfumes and jewellery?

My favourite perfumes are Polo and Givenchy. I’m not the jewellery type, but sometimes if I’m to shop for wrist watches, I go for Bvlgari and Michael kors.

Describe your style when it comes to fashion My fashion style is classic. Taking it too seriously ruins it for me. Good taste never goes out of style and every day is a fashion show; I do my best to look great.

What are your words to your fans and followers?

To my fans and followers, they should continue to be there for me, I promise never to let them down in anyway. I appreciate their love, support and prayers. Without them, I won’t be where I am today. They should also watch out for my latest movie, ‘Babymama’.

43

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

NEWS

INTERVIEW

AUTO BEAT

More sugar in beverages, not necessary – Experts p.44

No limit to rising price of bread – Prince Adejorin

Dodge Durango: A family vehicle with attitude

p.45

p.47

BUSINESS

PAUL OGBUOKIRI HEAD, BUSINESS

paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

‘Peak Milk Wazobia is pocket friendly’

M

L-R: Deputy Corps Marshal Operations, Adei Abu; Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi; World Bank Country Director, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud and Chief Bayo Awosemusi, during a capacity review visit to FRSC, by the World Bank

Recession: Stakeholders want incentives to boost manufacturing T Paul Ogbuokiri

he administration of President Muhammadu Buhari must go beyond mouthing diversifying the economy away from its present mono-cultural status as its cardinal objective and start to give the necessary incentives to the real sector in order to revive the ailing sector.

This was the highlight of a recent forum of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Abuja.

They wondered how government could be saying that it is diversifying the economy and encouraging manufacturing to reduce imports while all its policies are fashioned to discourage manufacturing in the country.

The President had during his trip to China early in the year said his administration would take urgent steps to restructure Nigeria’s economy by encouraging new investments in mining, agriculture and manufacturing.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah at the recent Conference of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, restated the government’s position, saying the administration was determined to ensure the long-over-

due fundamental restructuring of the Nigerian economy.

However, according to OPS, to encourage manufacturing, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must review its policy on the 41 items restricted from official foreign exchange market. They said that the decision is hurting the sector in such a way that could no longer be ignored, having led to the closure of many companies and relocation of others from Nigeria to Ghana and other neighbouring countries. It has also led to the refusal by Nigerian exporters of manufactured and agricultural goods from repatriating over $10 billion held offshore by those Nigerian businesses.

These views were expressed by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, LCCI, at a ‘Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the Manufacturing Sector in Nigeria’, organised by NOIPolls and the Centre for the Study of the Economics of Africa (CSEA).

MAN, NASME, LCCI and NOIPolls stated that about 272 manufactures are either ailing or have closed shop over the last couple of months, while thousands of jobs are being cut on a daily basis.

Director, Research and Advocacy, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Vincent Nwani, alleged that the chamber has made several representations to the apex bank without the desired results, saying there must be an urgent review of the policy on the restriction of access to foreign exchange placed on the 41 items, as about 16 of the total items in the list, serve as critical raw materials for intermediate goods produced in Nigeria, especially as the country lacks the capacity for optimal production of the items.”

Specifically, he said the ban on oil palm has led to the loss of about 100,000 jobs over the last couple of months, with major blue chip companies in Nigeria relocating to neighbouring countries; while the ban on glass and glassware has led to the loss of 80,000 jobs mainly in

Specifically, he said the ban on oil palm has led to the loss of about 100,000 jobs over the last couple of months, with major blue chip companies in Nigeria relocating to neighbouring countries; while the ban on glass and glassware has led to the loss of 80,000 jobs

the pharmaceutical industry, as companies in this sector now find it difficult to package their products.

He said local production of oil palm is put at about 600 metric tonnes annually, but the total demand of the country is put at about 1.8 million metric tones, adding that a company like Presco Oil has orders of up to December 2017 to fill. “Listing oil palms among the restricted items meant that we have a shortfall of about 1.2 million metric tones,” he said.

He stated that there is urgent need for government to remove some items from the list of the 41 items restriction by the CBN until the country develops the capacity to produce them locally.

According to him, some of the items need a period of between three and seven years for the country to develop self-sufficiency in their production.

“For instance, it takes a minimum of five years for oil palm to be planted and for harvest.

The CBN should have given us more time.”

He disclosed that the manufacturing and industrial sectors lost about N1.4 trillion as a result of the foreign exchange policy, while about 780 raw materials needed by the sector were CO N T I N U ED O N PAGE 44

ost consumers of ‘Peak Milk Wazobia’ across the country have said that the product is the most sought after and pocket friendly.

The consumers noted that since introduction of the product, it has continued to receive widespread acceptance across all demographic settings due to its pocket friendly status.

According to the product manufacturer, the ‘Peak Milk Wazobia’ is aimed at bringing nutrition to different classes of consumers at affordable price.

Meanwhile, when Peak Milk celebrated its 60 years anniversary in Nigeria, the company gave reasons behind the success of the brand despite market challenges in the country. Among the things said include the product’s focus on consistently nourishing the life of Nigerians with quality dairy nutrition in order to reach their chosen peak.

The other reason remains the product’s resolve to continually explore various ways to stand out on the crowded shelf and creating different touch points for its esteemed consumers.

Managing Director, New Diplomat Multimedia Limited, Ifeanyi Hamilton, said: “I can’t leave my house in the morning without a cup of tea and Peak Wazobia Milk always comes in handy just for that. With the prices of different dairy products generally shooting through the roof, the affordability of the Peak Wazobia milk is always a welcomed development. It remains widely accepted Peak milk with international quality that every Nigerian has come to love.”

Also, Opeyemi Adeyinka, another consumer of several years also shared his reasons Peak Wazobia milk has continued to lead the pack in the dairy marketplace.

FXTM hold workshop for Nigeria forex traders

F

XTM, a global forex broker, is reinforcing its position as a leader in the provision of world-class education, with the announcement of an extensive series of educational and networking events for Nigerian traders.

The educational events will be led by one of the world’s most highly respected FX experts, Andreas Thalassinos, with the programme tailored specifically to the needs of Nigerian traders.

Taking place in Abuja and Lagos from August to October, the series will culminate in a grand Gala Dinner, with industry guest speakers and an exclusive entertainment programme.

The FXTM event series started on Saturday at the Chelsea Hotel in Abuja with an advanced 1-day free seminar titled ‘The Ultimate Trading Formula’.

Hosting a large audience of 300 people, the seminar will see Thalassinos, a professor, share trading tips to elevate participants’ trading to new levels.

This will be followed by a 3-day afternoon workshop from August 30 to September 1 at FXTM’s Abuja office.

Suitable for beginners, the workshop will be open to a total of 50 participants, allowing for more personal, face to face interaction with FXTM’s local team and Professor Thalassinos.

44

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS

Nigeria cocoa midcrop yield at 25-year low

N

L-R: Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem; Editor, THISDAY Style, Ruth Osime; CEO, Artelier Lifestyle Consultants, Mrs. Ngozi Princewill-Utchay and Senior Brand Manager, Amstel Malta, Chidike Oluaoha, at the official launching of Amstel Malta’s new campaign, ‘Why Add More’, which held in Lagos… recently

More sugar in beverages, not necessary – Experts

I

t has been affirmed that high sugar content in a beverage does not guarantee it’s superiority over similar products with lower sugar content.

This is the assertion of Senior Brand Manager Amstel Malta, Mr. Chidike Oluaoha who also said more sugar content in beverages reduce the quality of the product and cause harm to the body.

Oluaoha disclosed this at a campaign against unnecessary sugar consumption put together by the Nigerian Breweries PLC. Tagged “Why Add More”, the campaign re-enforces the lower sugar positioning of Amstel Malta compared

to other mainstream malt brands, whilst emphasising the importance of not adding more unnecessarily.

Knowing the right balance is a vital fact of life as is the case in fashion, style, wedding, sports, etc.” he added.

Corporate Affairs Adviser of NBL, Kufre Ekanem pointed out that the target of the new Amstel Malta ‘Why Add More’ campaign is to inspire consumers towards enhancing their overall wellbeing.

Consumers are therefore advised to look beyond the packaging of products and concentrate more on the content of the product and knowing the right balance is a vital fact of life as is the

case in fashion, style, wedding, sports, etc.

Through this campaign, Amstel Malta educates consumers on the delicate balance of its original malt formulation, which contains less sugar but with all the full taste they can enjoy. It also strengthens the brand’s positioning, of “Being the Best One Can Be”, in unique and truly distinctive way.

The campaign is introduced to re-inforce the brand’s positioning as the premium malt drink, with an original formulation that contains less sugar and is enriched with essential vitamins and minerals.

The campaign leverages

relatable metaphors and humour to portray the idea that adding more unnecessarily, could spoil the balance.

In referencing the campaign, The Portfolio Manager - Non Alcoholic Drinks, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Olayinka Bakare said: “The Why Add More campaign, touches on a fundamental truth about our esteemed consumers and the Amstel Malta Brand.

The campaign is truly world class and will further re-enforce Amstel Malta’s place as the Premium Malt Drink, with an Original formulation that contains Less Sugar and is enriched with vitamins and minerals.”

2013, only sent home a paltry $5 billion last year. “This year it is going to be less than $3 billion. This is what negative confidence can do to an economy,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of NASME, Mr. Eke Ubiji, also added that recently, about 222 of its members have either collapsed or are ailing, while he blamed lack of access to credit, foreign exchange challenges, high interest rate, multiple taxation and poor infrastructure, among others, for their woes.

Director, Economics and Statistics, MAN, Mr. Ambrose Oruche, lamented that the unavailability of productive inputs is the major challenge confronting manufacturers, stating that this was as a result of the restriction placed by the CBN on certain items.

According to him, the current operating environment in the country is harsh for many manufacturers to continue to operate, disclosing that some economic policies churned out by the Federal Government and the CBN

are conflicting and are retarding the growth of the manufacturing sector, noting that many of the products under foreign exchange restrictions are raw materials needed by manufacturers.

He said: “Presently, about 50 manufacturers have closed shop, while some have downsized. Some manufacturers are still producing due to their love for this country. Government policy on cement should have been adopted in this case. “In the case of cement, Nigeria used to be a net importer of cement, but the government set up a policy over a fiveyear period, which made it possible for us to be a net exporter of the commodity.”

He further faulted the decision of the CBN to increase the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 14 per cent, stating that it has made it difficult for manufacturers to access funds to finance their operations. Oruche stated that the fact that the economy is in recession, the CBN’s effort should have been directed towards expanding the economy rather than con-

tracting it. He also listed high interest rates, poor patronage of local manufactured products, poor supporting infrastructure, such as poor power supply, policy somersault and policy inconsistency, among others, as the challenges confronting manufacturers.

To address the declining fortunes of the manufacturers, Oruche called for the resuscitation of domestic refining, as this would ensure that certain chemicals imported into the country, can now be sourced locally.

He also stated that attention should be paid to developing the infrastructure base of the economy and also on energy generation and distribution, while the Federal Government should also grant incentives and concessions to businesses.

The Chief Executive Officer of NOIPolls, Mr. Bell Ihua, said that the organisation’s survey covered all six geopolitical zones of the country and that urgent actions were needed by the Federal Government to save the sector.

igeria’s cocoa midcrop output is seen falling by as much as 70 per cent this year from the previous season after unfavourable weather took a toll on the crop earlier in 2016, farmers said.

“This season’s midcrop harvest is the worst we have witnessed in the last 25 years,” Rufus Orosundafosi, a cocoa farmer, said cocoa-growing hub of Idanre that accounts for about 25 per cent of the country’s production. “We will not get up to 30 per cent of last year’s midcrop yield.”

Output for the midcrop from Orosundafosi’s 120 hectare farm in Idanre fell to 60 tons this year from its average of 370 tons in previous years. A similar trend is being reported across Nigeria’s southwest, which produces about twothirds of the country’s cocoa, according to Raimi Adetunji, President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s two cocoa harvests include the smaller midcrop from April to June, and the main crop from October to December. The midcrop normally accounts for about a third of the country’s output. A prolonged dry spell early this year hurt the development of buds for the midcrop, according to farmers.

Nigeria is the world’s biggest cocoa producer after Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia, with a government-estimated output of 350,000 tons in the 2013-14 season. The International Cocoa Organisation estimates Nigeria’s output at 240,000 tons for the same period.

Year-on-year exports declined continually through the midcrop season, according to figures compiled by ports and shipping companies’ agents in the country’s main port of Lagos. Shipments fell 12 per cent in April, 31 per cent in May and 65 per cent in June, the figures showed.

L-R: Chairman, Tenaui Africa Limited, Yasser Al-Farra; Sales Manager, Canon Central and North Africa, Fady Abinader; Chairman, Information, Security and Strategy, Hon. Tunde Braimoh; Mr. Jegede Omotosho and Marketing Manager, Canon Professional Solutions, Ayman Aly, at the inauguration of one of the Canon’s largest B2B showrooms in Africa in Lagos…on friday

LG unveils gas cooker with unique features Tobiloba Adenekan G Electronics, has unveiled its newly designed gas cooker for easy use and slow consumption of gas, saying it is affordable to all class of customers.

According to the manufacturer, the product is designed with a cooling fan which circulates cool air and blows out hot air to lower the temperature of the door surface as well as the knobs.

Speaking on the product, the General Manager, Home Appliances division, LG Electronics West Africa, Mr. Jiung Park, said, the cooker is an indispensable appliance in contemporary kitchens, adding that it provides better controlled environment for cooking meals.

He said: “It offers users more flexibility when cooking.

It comes with ‘dual heater’ that enables the grill and oven to work concurrently. This allows food to cook faster with no issues. This unique feature also makes food decoration remains same during and after cooking.”

He noted that the cooker has an ‘easy cleaning’ feature which distinguishes from other products, stating that the cooker comes with a removable glass.

“Users do not require any tool to take off the inner glass as this can be achieved by simply pulling the glass a little bit against the body and lifting it off.

Regarding safety of the new product, he said: “LG cooker comes with Flame Failure Device (FFD), a device to stop flammable gas going to the burner of the gas if the flame is extinguished due to overflow of food on the burner, temporary interruption of gas supplydans gas under-pressure or wind. “This unique feature addresses worries stemming from the concern that gas leakage might cause a fire in the house. It guarantees the safety of user’s house from the fire.

It also has close door grilling as well as safe touch. Close door grilling function makes it possible to emit the smoke and odour so that the hood could suck them in easily.”

Other key features of the Cooker include Auto Ignition.

Users can easily ignite burner by pushing the knob slightly and turning it to the left. It has high power burner which

Stakeholders want incentives to boost manufacturing L CONTINUED F R O M PAGE 43

affected by the restrictions placed by the CBN. “I have talked about palm oil, I have talked about glass and glassware, I have talked about rubber and rubber ware. Glass and glassware, rubber and rubber wares you need about three year gestation period. The palm oil, we need five years gestation period before we can have the local capacity to be able to supply the 1.2 million metric tons that is in deficit as we speak. I will not be able to remember all the items off hand but we have the list and I can simply make it available,” he said.

He also said that business confidence, manufacturing confidence and industrial confidence is negative in the country now, saying until something is done to boost this confidence all of the money earned by Nigerians which are offshore will remain there. Added that even Nigerians that are living in the Diaspora that were able to bring in $23 billion in

is super-efficient.

45

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28 2016

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

No limit to rising price of bread – Prince Adejorin Prince Jacob Adejorin is the Chairman, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter. He is also the Vice President of South West chapter of the association. In this interview with PAUL OGBUOKIRI and STANLEY IHEDIGBO, he says there is no end to the rising price of bread unless the Federal Government intervenes and provides foreign exchange to the flour millers, at concessionary rates. Excerpts; The price of bread in the country is increasing rapidly, what is the cause?

The price of bread is rising rapidly; even we cannot cope with it now because as at today (Friday), the price of flour has been increased again after the last increase we announced, it means that within a month the price has been increased almost four times. So, we bakers cannot cope again and we are looking at the present government which promised us change because we don’t want to revolt, and they will see it as sabotage against the government if we do. We want the Federal Government to please consider the millers because the bakers are the second largest employer of labour in the country.

In my bakery, I have 16 people working with me, and in Lagos State, we have no fewer than 500,000 registered and all of them have employees. If you add up the retailers or the sellers, you will agree with me that the people that make their living through this business are enormous.

Meanwhile, the increase in the cost of the inputs that go into the making of bread is not only in flour, but other things like sugar price is high. Although, flour is the major input in bread and we appeal that government should remove VAT and make available forex to the millers. Actually, we know that the Federal Government is trying, even though they said that they are planting wheat somewhere, but the wheat has not been harvested and we are depending on imported wheat, they should please give enough forex to the millers.

What do you think will be a lasting solution to the problem?

To give enough forex to the millers so that the price of flour will not be going up every now and then because just yesterday (Friday), August 25, the millers have increased price from N6,000 a month ago to N11,200 in the market today. We bought it N6, 200 just last month and within a month, it’s selling at N11, 200 and it is not the fault of the millers. They are telling us that they are buying forex from the black market and it is as they buy, that they are selling.

It is affecting us the end users, which includes the bakers and consumers, and as I said earlier sugar is monopolized by one person. A bag of sugar is N16, 000 for the distributors; all these are problems in the sector which if care is not taken, will affect the country. We voted for change, in fact we suspended work on the Election Day to vote, because we believe in Buhari.

I know that the expected change will take time, but not withstanding, the president should consider we the bakers. Anybody who wants change should be patient but our people are running out of patience.

We learnt that the foreigners are taking

over bakery business in Nigeria, are you people not worried?

It is happening because we have not had good governments and I am not blaming the foreigners as such. There is no control in the bakery industry and that is why we are sponsoring a bill in the Lagos State House of Assembly that the bakery industry should be curtail and monitored by the Lagos government. So that anybody that wants to go into the business, will pass through the master bakers, so that it can be streamlined. It should not an all comer’s affairs. The over 500,000 bakers in this state I talked about are our members; some people are baking in their houses using unapproved inputs. Because of the high cost of the inputs we are using, anybody that sells bread less than the new prices we have approved, the person is definitely using unapproved materials.

We also learnt that some of the bread bakers in the country are adding potassium bromate in bread, which is no longer in use in the country after all the sensitization efforts of Dr Dora Akunyiri?

Anybody that does not sell at the new prices approved by the association in Lagos State, it means that person is going against the laid down rules. That person is most likely using potassium bromate or Saccharin because it is cheap. If you are using Saccharin, you spend less, but those ingredients are not safe for human consumption.

So, anybody selling bread that the prices approved by the association, is cutting corners and most likely using inputs not approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

How can consumers know that the bread they buying contains potassium bromate or Saccharin?

When consumers taste the bread, they will know that it is not good and we as an association know the difference when we see it. We control ourselves in the 20 local government areas of Lagos State where we operate; we have a task force that ensures that members play by the rules.

What is your relationship with the regulatory authorities?

Very cordial, but it is very difficult for the authorities to locate all the bakeries in the country or the state. Many are not our members who are baking bread in their shops, rooms and other very unhygienic places. Some bread bakers are saying that it is not compulsory for them to join the association but we think it is compulsory so that we can monitor what everybody is doing, because the bread is consumed without further cooking. We can as a group monitors bakers very well because

Adejorin

we know where they are and who are in the business. And in developed countries, every baker belongs to a group that helps government to guide and regulate its members. But only in Nigeria, you see anybody becoming a baker without proper training or knowledge.

There was a time in this country government was promoting cassava flour bread, what has become of it?

We bakers are law abiding citizens and the cassava flour bread project was government policy. We were trained on how to add 10 per cent cassava flour to the wheat flour to bake bread, and we were doing so, that is those who were trained. Some of our members were trained and empowered by the Federal Government, four bakers from each state of the federation. So, the others cannot do anything about the policy because the local baking machines they have cannot do the cassava bread and we are looking forward for more empowerment towards the project. It may not be as much support like before but little effort on the part of government will go a long way.

Talking about empowerment of your members on the cassava bread policy, what happened to the N1billion intervention fund made available by the immediate past administration in the support of the project?

I cannot say anything about the intervention fund because there was committee set

up by the national body then to monitor the fund. Only the committee can answer the question.

How is Lagos State government supporting the Lagos chapter of the association?

Bakers in Lagos State have never been recognized by the government unlike our members in other states. As the leader, I can talk to anywhere for the interest of our association business. During the Babatunde Fashola administration, we were invited by the government, with the governor saying that he intended to empower us, so that we can provide job to the unemployed youths. It was their own programme not ours, a committee was set up in that regard headed by the state deputy governor then, with the Commissioner for Agriculture and my executives as members. They took us to some bakeries in the state, so that they will know the one they will chose for empowerment and after doing that, nothing happened. We wrote almost 30 reminder letters, but nothing happened. But during the campaign for the 2015 elections, Fashola came to our secretariat to campaign that anything we want from the state government, we will get. However, this present governor, Mr. Ambode, has not given us the recognition we are asking for. We have written to him, and nothing has happened. But we enjoyed a good relationship with former governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and he recognised us when he was in power.

46

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS NEWS

H

otel and gaming group Sun International has become the latest South African business to pull out of Nigeria because of weak economic growth and clashes with regulators and shareholders.

In January, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a probe into Sun International’s initial investment in the Tourist Company of Nigeria (TCN), which owns and operates the 5-star Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.

Sun International, which also reported on Monday a 20 per cent fall in diluted adjusted headline earnings per share (AHEPS) to 628 cents for the year to June, said The Federal Palace had been hit by slow economic growth, low oil prices, the threat from militant group Boko Haram and a weakening naira.

“The board has decided to exit Nigeria and steps will be taken to achieve this in a manner that does not erode further value,” the company said in a statement.

“Continued setbacks in Nigeria as well as the ongoing shareholder dispute have frustrated all attempts to develop and improve the property,” it added.

Sun Int’l joins South African exodus from Nigeria Sun International bought a 49 per cent stake of the Nigerian Stock Exchangelisted TCN in 2006, becoming the largest single shareholder. In recent years, Sun has been drawn into a dispute within its fellow shareholder, the Ibru family.

The company’s decision to exit Nigeria follows food and clothing retailer Woolworths and Tiger Brands, which sold its loss-making Nigerian arm to Dangote Industries.

Nigeria, is suffering its worst financial crisis in decades as a slump in oil revenues hammers public finances and the naira.

Analysts said Sun International’s dispute with fellow investors was at least as important in its decision to leave.

“They are in a way stuck in a problematic arrangement on the property and it’s been very difficult for them to create value there.

It certainly makes sense for them to reduce exposure to Nigeria,” said Avior Capi-

ForexTime App now offers‘one-stop’ trading solution for clients lNigerians among top users of the app

F

orex broker FXTM has updated its popular ForexTime App to offer fast and easy access to the trading world, saying it was a response to traders’ demand for even more convenience.

The App, it was disclosed, now seamlessly integrates users’ ability to manage and access trading accounts quickly and easily while staying on top of financial market movements, onthe-go.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that since the launch of the first version of the ForexTime App in October 2015, it has gained enormous popularity among traders and investors from across the globe, with more than 15 per cent of its users originating from Nigeria. These latest features are sure to provide traders with complete flexibility and control over their trading experience – anywhere, anytime.

While functionality of account management is often separated from the monitoring of the financial markets, the new ForexTime App has been specifically designed to integrate the two, bringing a 360-degree view of the trading environment in one place. The app allows users to receive on-the-spot up-

dates on the financial markets, open and fully verify a trading account, deposit and withdraw their funds and download the trading platform of their choice.

The advanced app also offers access to an extremely wide range of products and services, including FXTM Invest – which allows clients to subscribe to experienced traders’ strategies or the PAMM program where clients can invest in portfolios or provide strategies.

FXTM’s clients also benefit from access to FXTM Signals and Trading Central via the app and can easily sign up for FXTM’s contests or get information about upcoming local seminars.

Commenting on the launch, Jameel Ahmad, VP of Corporate Development and Market Research, said, “Today’s traders are seeking innovative, mobile solutions which will meet their entire trading needs.

Offering our clients the latest technology is a key priority for FXTM, and we are extremely pleased to unveil the latest version of the ForexTime App which offers traders fast, easy and full command over their trading accounts and funds, while keeping them up to date with the markets”.

tal Markets analyst De Wet Schutte.

“Nigeria is a difficult place to build a business.”

CEO Graeme Stephens said the exit could take a year or two, and the company was no longer committed to expanding in Africa.

“We’ve been strategically exiting Africa for a couple of

years and what was left was Nigeria. We’re not looking anywhere else in Africa,” Stephens told Reuters, adding the company would focus on growing its Latin America business.

In June, Sun said it was disposing its remaining minority interests in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia,

Lesotho and Swaziland to Minor International Public Company.

Share in Sun International were down 0.47 per cent by 1139 GMT. Reporting its results, the company said poor economic conditions in South Africa resulted in revenue growth at casinos of only

0.8 per cent to 7 billion rand ($515 million).

“In South Africa, the economic environment remains a serious concern.

We do not anticipate any meaningful growth in gaming revenue until there is a recovery in the economy and renewed consumer confidence,” Stephens said.

L-R: Senior consultant CapPlus, Funmi Sodipo; Digital Financial Services consultant MFX partners, Kwame Oppong; Chief Executive Ofiicer EFInA, Chidinma Lawanson; and Technical officer, Impact Insurance facility International Labour Organization, Miguel Solana, at the launch of EFInA’s Request For Proposals round 7 event in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Oil ends longest gain in four years on Nigeria, Iraq supply boost

O

Oil retreated, halting the longest run of gains in four years, as Iraq sought to increase exports amid a global oversupply and Nigerian militants called an end to hostilities.

Futures fell 3 per cent in New York after climbing 16 per cent the previous seven sessions. Iraq will boost crude shipments by about 5 per cent in the next few days following an agreement to resume exports from three oil fields in Kirkuk.

The Niger Delta Avengers declared an end to attacks on oil infrastructure and will conduct talks with the government, according to a statement on a website that says it represents the group.

Oil entered a bull market last week, having climbed more than 20 per cent since sliding below $40 (U.S.) a barrel earlier in August.

Speculation that informal OPEC talks in September may lead to action to stabilize the market had pushed prices higher. A meeting in Doha, Qatar, in April between the world’s biggest producers ended with no

agreement.

“Certainly, the news out of Nigeria, Iraq was a catalyst to get this market a bit lower,” Bart Melek, head of global commodity strategy at TD Securities Inc. in Toronto, said by telephone. “We had a nice, robust rally into bull market territory. With that, I think the market is somewhat uncomfortable to take it much higher.”

West Texas intermediate for September delivery, which expired Monday, declined by $1.45 to $47.07 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The more-active October contract fell by $1.44 to $47.67 a barrel.

Iraq will increase exports by about 150,000 barrels a day as shipments resume from the Baba Gorgor, Jambour and Khabbaz fields, Fouad

Hussein, a member of the oil and energy committee of the Kirkuk provincial council, said by phone Sunday. The nation is the second-biggest OPEC producer, pumping 4.36 million barrels a day last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Nigerian militants said they will cease hostilities in the Niger Delta “against all interest of the multinational oil corporations,” to support talks with the government, according to the statement.

“If they do get a ceasefire that does hold, that will definitely put downward pressure on the market,” Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago, said by telephone.

If Iraq starts resuming exports from fields in Kirkuk, “that could mean more sup-

ply on the marketplace.”

U.S. producers have brought 76 oil rigs back online over the past eight weeks, the biggest and longest increase since April, 2014, according to Baker Hughes Inc. data on Friday. They added 10 rigs last week. Oil drillers began to return rigs to service this summer after prices surged from a 12-year low in February.

Rigs need to come online in the United States and crude production needs to increase otherwise the market will be too tight next year, according to Francisco Blanch, head of commodities research at Merrill Lynch. The global oil market will be moving into the fourth quarter “with pretty sizable deficits,” he said in an interview.

N45.85 billion worth of the 91-day bills, N62 billion of the 182-day paper and N105 billion of the 1-year debt.

Payment for the purchase will be effected on Thursday, the bank said in a pub-

lic notice.

Nigeria, Africa’s top crude producer, issues treasury bills to raise cash to fund the government budget deficit, help manage banking system liquidity and curb rising inflation.

CBN sells N213bn treasury bills

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Friday that it plans to offer 212.85 billion naira ($675 million) in Treasury bills maturing between 91-days and 1-year on August 31.

The bank said it will sell

47

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28 2016

Dodge Durango: A family vehicle with attitude

AUTO BEAT Motoring briefs

Lagos commences electronic billing of vehicle particulars

T

he Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) Lagos State Ministry of Transportation will commence the usage of Electronic Billing System to dictate expired vehicle particulars. The minimum fine is now N20,000 for one offence without a reduction unlike when manual billing system was in operation. The E-Billing System commenced Monday.

Requirements by VIS are: Updated License (2) Road worthiness certificate (3) Insurance Certificate (4) Valid driver’s licence (5) Fire Extinguisher (6) No cracked windscreen, Broken head lamp, rear light/traffickator lights. It is therefore imperative to sensitise church members, friends, relations and even doctors probably during meetings to ensure their vehicle papers are Uprated and must be kept in the vehicle…A company/school missionary/commercial driver must be certified by Lagos State Driving Institute@LASMA Yard, Oshodi.

All the papers must not be forged/ fake because such attract N20, 000 each.

If your driver’s licence is under process please don’t drive until you have been captured

2016-Dodge-Durango

Paul Ogbuokiri,

T

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

he 2016 Dodge Durango is back with more aggressive styling than any other modern SUV. It packs a full-size punch with state-of-the art features that would make any home entertainment system jealous. This is the most technologically advanced SUV in its class.

The Durango offers three rows of seating, a range of 3.6-Liter V6 24-Valve VVT and 5.7-Liter V8 HEMI MDS VVT engines and a choice of rear-wheel drive or Allwheel drive. Over the years, the Durango has been known for its confident handling and composed, comfortable ride.

Inside, the Durango offers an attractive and upscale design, with class-competitive quality and features. The second and third rows offer enough room for most families.

This seven-seater comes with more space than any other vehicle including the bestin-class UConnect info entertainment system.

The available Uconnect 8.4 features a Class-Exclusive 8.4-inch touchscreen, along with available Uconnect Access.

A happy backseat makes everyone happy. Pop in an available Blu-ray disc for your backseat passengers with the available Class-Exclusive 9-inch dual-screen Blu-ray and DVD Entertainment System with High-Definition Media Interface (if requested).

The class-exclusive seven-inch driver information digital cluster display and unconnect system to the speed control feature and even your iPhone mobile device and other compatible smartphones.

The Keyless enter “n” go entry as well as the standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters give you complete control of the eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Durango features a Class-Exclusive LED racetrack tail lamp that consists of 192 individual LEDs blended to form one seamless ribbon of glowing red light.

Projector headlamps with available LED daytime running lamps light up the road

like a red carpet. Available auto-leveling technology adjusts the headlamp beams’ aim for slight changes in road surface elevation so you’ll know what’s coming.

Available Automatic High-Beam Control Headlamps switch from high-to-lowbeams and back again when oncoming light is sensed, while available low-beam 3headlamps enhance nighttime visibility.

The Citadel trim adds mostly appearance-based features to the Limited, including larger alloy wheels, dual exhaust (which raises the V6’s output by two horsepower), and Nappa leather upholstery. A power sunroof and navigation are also standard.

The performance-oriented R/T trim

comes with a 360-horsepower V8 engine, a sport-tuned suspension, ventilated front seats, and perforated leather upholstery.

A major standard feature for the Dodge Durango is the 18” aluminum wheels (with optional 20” wheels), fog lights, optional integrated roof rail crossbars as well as available heated side mirrors.

With over 60 safety and security features, the dodge Durango is a trusted bodyguard that’s always on duty. Some key features include the adaptive cruise control with stop function, forward collision warning with active brake assist, electronic stability control, optional blind spot monitoring, Parkview ™ Rear-Backup camera and park assist with stop function.

France denies it omitted elements in Renault emissions report

F

rance’s Environment Ministry denied it had omitted key elements concerning some Renault cars in a report on vehicle pollution it commissioned following the Volkswagen emissions-rigging scandal.

It was reported on August 22 that three members of the French commission said the report did not include full details of their findings, including some discrepancies in Renault’s Captur subcompact SUV. The members also suggested the government might have been soft on Renault because of its 20 per cent stake in the carmaker.

“The ministry wishes to formally deny Financial Times’ affirmations in the story on the commission’s report on car emissions,” it said in a statement. “France is the only country that has set up an open and independent commission following revelations in the Volkswagen case, and tested all car brands in the French market,” it said.

In January Renault recalled 15,800 Capturs to fix pollution-control systems. The

automaker also offered voluntary emissions-system updates for about 700,000 vehicles with the latest Euro 6 generation of diesel engines.

Renault reiterated on Wednesday that it strictly complied with regulations and its cars were not equipped with emissions falsifying software.

The company it had sent all required technical explanations to the French commission and other authorities carrying out similar investigations.

France’s environmental regulator began randomly testing vehicles to check differences between lab results and real-world emissions after the Volkswagen scandal erupted. French officials said in April that some cars it tested had higher CO2 and NOx emissions on the road than in laboratory tests but found no “cheat” devices.

The Environment Ministry said on Wednesday it has published results of all 86 vehicles that have been tested. It said the state body in charge of competition, consumer affairs and fraud has launched an investigation into all anomalies detected during the tests.

Top 10 costsaving tips for motorists

Control use of the car’s air conditioner: Although an air conditioning system is great for keeping cool and fights driver fatigue on blistering summer days, it does impact on fuel consumption. Depending on the size of your car’s engine and the power used by the air conditioner, constant use can push up fuel consumption by between 13 per cent and 21 per cent say the experts.

Keeping windows closed while you drive: This ensures that wind resistance is not increased and savings in fuel costs are the result. The higher the speed with windows open, the more fuel you burn.

Being aware that roof racks and other additions to a car increase wind drag, unless you are using a roof rack, leaving it on the car permanently will result in increased running costs.

Minimising vehicle idling: Gone are the days when engines needed to idle for several minutes to reach the point where they were ‘warm’. Today’s cars do not require this step as they warm up quickly and reach operating temperatures easily.

Driving in the highest gear is possible: Driving at high speeds guzzles fuel.

Changing gear when the appropriate rev levels are reached means smoother driving. The sooner you get into top gear, the less stress on the engine and the more money you will save.

Avoiding short journeys: Driving short distances are less fuel efficient than long journeys. Every time a vehicle is turned on, fuel is used.

Knowing what you are buying: Taking time to examine the ‘hidden costs’, when buying a car can save you significant amounts of money. For example, a car may have a low price tag, but parts for services could be expensive. In the event of an accident, the replacement of body panels’ costs could be steep. These costs are hidden as they impact on insurance rates and people often take out insurance without thinking about enquiring what rates are for different vehicles in a similar category.

48

BUSINESS

T

Adenekan Tobiloba he naira on Friday, appreciated by 3.52 per cent to close at N315.93 to a dollar at the interbank market, prompting calls for foreign investors to take advantage of the appreciation, however, the naira suffered a loss in value as it depreciated at the parallel market to trade at N412 per dollar, weaker than N397 it traded at its previous session as dollar shortages gripped the official market.

The naira, which hit fresh record low since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) floated the currency on the official inter-bank market in June, first touched N400 on the black market this month. On the inter-bank market on Friday, no trade was posted until three minutes before the end of the session, when the Central Bank which has been reducing its dollar sales, intervened, traders said. Only three deals worth $0.75 million were traded at 305.50 per dollar, a level the market has closed at since Monday.

Specifically, according to Bloomberg, in the last two weeks, Exotix Partners LLP and Standard Bank Group Ltd. have told clients; most of who fled after the country started imposing capital controls from late 2014, that they should start buying naira assets again.

The naira which has been the worst-performing currency this year among more than 150 globally has depreciated 37 per cent against the dollar since CBN abandoned its peg on June 20, while bond yields have jumped to more than 20 per cent.

The naira strengthened 4.6 per cent to 315 per dollar on Tuesday after falling to a record 350.25 on August 19, 2016.

“The cheap naira is attracting foreign investors,” said Lutz Roehmeyer, a money manager at Landesbank Berlin Investment, which oversees about $12 billion of assets.

“At 325 per dollar, the naira is too weak” and Landesbank anticipates a rebound, he said. Roehmeyer’s funds have doubled their holdings of naira debt, albeit in the form of bonds issued by the World Bank’s International Finance Corp. rather than the Nigerian government, to the equivalent of around $9.2

Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

O

n Wednesday, the 24th day of August, 2016, a day before I wrote this piece, I heard my brothers arguing. It was an interesting argument.

Two of the three of them had a common stance, whereas one was a lone ranger, as it were. The two argued that it is wrong to refer to all Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) as jeeps; that the name ‘Jeep’ is for a particular brand of SUV. Similarly, they argued that it was wrong to refer to every sausage roll as ‘Gala’. They argued that Gala is just a brand of sausage roll which is popular, and that, as a result of its popularity, people ironically referred every sausage roll as ‘Gala’.

As is customary with me, I picked a lesson from that session of argument.

It is that lesson that I intend sharing with you in this week’s edition of Success Nuggets.

I subscribe to the argument that Gala is only a brand of sausage roll; that it is wrong to refer to every sausage roll as Gala. The point to take from it, however, is that Gala has so dominated the market place such that it has ‘swallowed’ the identity of

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Naira appreciates to N315.93/dollar lAs foreign investors move to take advantage In the last two weeks, Exotix Partners LLP and Standard Bank Group Ltd. have told clients; most of who fled after the country started imposing capital controls from late 2014, that they should start buying naira assets again

Godwin-Emefiele

million this month, he said.

The CBN fixed the currency in February 2015 at 197-199 per dollar to stop it plunging amid the decline in the price of oil, on which Nigeria depends for 90 per cent of exports and the bulk of government revenue.

It relented after 16 months as the country stumbled toward a recession and foreign reserves fell to their lowest level in 11 years.

The naira has now weakened more than any

other major oil currency since mid-2014, when crude prices started retreating.

It’s lost almost half its value against the dollar in that period, compared with 46 per cent for Kazakhstan’s tenge and 35 per cent for the Colombian peso. That makes it a good time to buy Nigerian one-year Treasury bills with yields of about 22 per cent, Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist at Exotix in London, wrote in an August 9 note. The potential return is more than 33 per cent if the naira strengthens to its fair value of 290 against the greenback, he said. In April, one-year T-bills yielded just 10 per cent.

The economy will shrink 1.8 per cent this year, its first contraction since at least 1991, the International Monetary Fund forecasts. Oil production has sunk to a near three-decade low of about 1.5 million barrels a day as militants attack pipelines and export terminals in the south of the country.

While Landesbank Berlin and Exotix say the currency has fallen enough, others aren’t convinced. The naira will weaken to 396 by year-end and 515 by the second quarter of 2017, according to Access Bank Plc, Nigeria’s fourth-biggest lender. Forward prices also predict worse to come. Three-month non-deliverable forwards trade at 357 to the dollar, and one-year contracts at 394. The me-

Impact its competitors. To me, that is impact.

Think about this: When you hear the name ‘Lionel Messi,’ what comes to mind is football. When you hear the name ‘Mohammed Ali,’ what comes to mind is boxing. When you hear the name ‘Serena Williams,’ what comes to mind is tennis. When you hear the name ‘Tiger Woods,’ what comes to mind is golf. When you hear the name ‘Nelson Mandela,’ what comes to mind is the fight against an apartheid regime.

Let’s look at it the other way.

When you think football, a name that readily comes to mind is Lionel Messi. When you think of the history of boxing, a name that readily comes to mind is ‘Mohammed Ali’.

When you think tennis, a name that readily comes to mind is Serena Williams. When you think golf, a name that readily comes to mind is Tiger Woods. When you think of the fight for freedom and equality, a name that readily comes to mind is Nelson Mandela. I know of no better way to explain the word ‘impact’ than these

Gala has so dominated the market place such that it has ‘swallowed’ the identity of its competitors.

To me, that is impact

instances.

Friend, strive to come to the point that you become a reference point (if not THE reference point) in your chosen field. Blaze the trail. Take the lead. Show the way. Be a step ahead of the game (if not steps ahead).

It is, however, important to note that leadership in your chosen field does not come by chance. It does not come by wishful thinking. If wishes were horses, they say, beggars will ride.

Staying ahead requires that you run faster. That means working harder; being on top of your game. If you work in an establishment, it means going to work earlier and being willing to work overtime, if need be.

Friend, if no one points to you as a positive reference, you are yet to make a great impact. If you have not become a notable brand in your field, it means there is still much to be done. It is true that there are silent achievers, but it is also true that achievements speak for themselves.

I, therefore, challenge you today to determine to be not just the best you can be, but the best there is. Just like Winston Churchill charged men of his clime many years ago, I charge you to so give life your best that in years to come your country men will look back at your generation and, for your sake, refer to it and say, “This was our finest hour.”

You will succeed.

Please follow me on Twitter @ VictorOkwudiri

dian forecast of economists in a Bloomberg survey is for the currency to stabilize at 344 this year.

However, Managing Director at Los Angeles-based TCW Group Inc, Brett Rowley, which oversees $195 billion of assets, said in an e-mailed response to questions on August 16, said: “The combination of a cheaper naira and higher yields on naira paper are tempting, but we remain comfortable on the sidelines. Restoring oil output would help assuage our concerns.”

Investors are also yet to be convinced that the naira truly floats. The Central Bank sold dollars at 309 last week and may be trying to keep the rate stronger than 320, according to Craig Thompson of Continental Capital Markets SA, based in Nyon, Switzerland.

The naira trades at 410 on the black market, 25 per cent weaker than the official rate.

“The exchange rate is closer to fair value in the eyes of most investors,” said Andrew Howell, a New York-based frontier-markets analyst at Citigroup Inc., the world’s biggest foreign-exchange trader. “But there still aren’t many inflows. You can’t really call it a normally-functioning exchange rate yet.”

Mitigating Risk Bottom of Form Still, bond investors are closer to pulling the trigger than they have been in more than a year.

They’d be even more confident if they were able to mitigate the risk of further depreciation by buying the naira-settled futures that Nigeria introduced in June, according to Stephen Bailey-Smith, senior economist at Copenhagen-based Denmark’s Global Evolution Fonds A/S, which manages $3.2 billion of assets.

Nigerian local-currency bonds have lost 17 per cent in dollar terms this quarter, through Friday, compared with the 3 per cent average return for 31 developing nations monitored

by Bloomberg indexes.

The yield on benchmark government naira notes due January 2026 has climbed 226 basis points since June to 15.08 per cent. “We haven’t come back in to the local market yet, but we’re looking at it closely,” Bailey-Smith said. “If you can get a yield above 20 per cent and hedge the FX risk, it’s not a bad trade at all. The futures market is intended to help you do that, but it’s difficult to buy them.”

Nigeria’s distributable revenues fell to 494bn in July

N

igeria’s distributable revenues to the three tiers of government fell in July to around N494 billion ($1.57 billion) after N559 billion in June as militant attacks hit oil revenues, the finance ministry said.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and an OPEC member which relies on crude sales for about 70 per cent of national income, has been hit hard by the fall in global crude prices since mid-2014.

Militants have carried out a series of attacks on oil facilities in the southern Niger Delta energy hub in the last few months, reducing oil output by 700,000 barrels a day, according to state oil firm NNPC. “Crude oil export volume decreased... partly because of a subsisting force majeure declared at (Shell’s) Forcados Terminal,” said Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, permanent secretary of the ministry of finance.

“Also, shut-in and shut-down of pipelines at other terminals due to the activities of vandals and maintenance impacted negatively on production,” he said.

The distributable revenues include value-added tax payments of N64.308 billion, the ministry said.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Market Mood Stays Frail

49

… as NSEASI Pegs at -4.16% YtD

T

here were mixed reactions in the equities market this week, as the NSEASI appreciated on three (3) out of five (5) trading days. Consequently, the index pared by 0.72% WoW to peg the YtD return at -4.16%. Ex-DANGCEM however, the index gained 1.41% WoW. Volume of transactions contracted by 18.71% WoW, while value of transactions appreciated by 6.76% from the prior week. We attribute the poor performance of the Equities market to profit taking activities on large cap stocks, as well as sell-offs of some banking stocks, following the CBN’s ban on nine (9) banks from trading in the FX market on Tuesday, 23rd August, 2016.

There were twenty-nine (29) gainers and twenty-five (25) decliners during the week, thus pegging Market breadth at (1.16x). NEWGOLD led the gainers chart again this week, after gaining 15.56% WoW to close at NGN4,850.00. SEPLAT (+14.58% ), FO (+10.56%), TRANSCORP (+10.48% ), and CAP (+10.22% ) followed successively. Conversely, FCMB, AGLEVENT, ACADEMY, SKYEBANK and UNITYBNK steered the losers chart after their share prices pared by 14.96%, 10.10%, 9.52%, 7.81% and 7.69% accordingly.

During the week, United Bank for Africa Plc. (UBA) released its audited H1:2016 result, which showed that the bank recorded decline in Gross earnings of 0.10% and growth in Profit-Before-Tax and Profit-After-Tax of 3.13% and 1.94% YoY respectively. The bank also declared an interim dividend of NGN0.20/share, which represents a dividend yield of 4.50% based on today’s price of NGN4.44.

Fixed income: Naira Appreciates Marginally at the Interbank Market The domestic currency appreciated in value against the US dollar during the week’s trading activities as the interbank mid-spot rate pegged at NGN314.95/ USD, implying a 0.51% WoW gain. Conversely, at the parallel market, the Naira closed at NGN412/USD, having declined by 3.64% from prior week’s close of NGN397/USD. Expectedly, there were no significant movements in liquidity level during the week, given the absence of auctions.

However, OBB and OVN rates declined by 4.83% and 6.66% respectively, to peg average money market rate at 18.55 % at the close of the week.

Activities in the Nigerian bond market seemed bearish, as indicated by a 0.04% WoW change in average bond yield to 16.14%. Conversely, average yields declined in the T-bills space across all tenors to peg at 17.16% as at Thursday, 26th August, 2016.

We anticipate increased activities in the fixed income space in the coming week, on the back of the scheduled auction of T-bill instruments worth NGN212.85bn Agric Sector: PRESCO gained 9.55% WoW Agricultural sector performance, as measured by the MERI-AGRI index, appreciated by 4.65% WoW to settle the YtD return at 20.77% at the end of the week.

Market breadth was at equilibrium, after equal number (1) of stock appreciated and declined in value.

PRESCO was the sector’s lone gainer, after appreciating by 9.55% WoW to close at NGN40.49. On the flip side, OKOMUOIL pared by 0.69% WoW to settle at NGN36.00.

Considering the extended bust of positive investor sentiments towards the Agric sector in recent times, we anticipate trickles of profit taking in the coming weeks. Nonetheless, we underscore that

during the week, as indicated by the sector breadth (1.5x).

CAP led the gainers list with a 10.22% change in share price, followed by WAPCO and CCNN with respective price gains of 3.57% and 3.27%. On the other hand, DANGCEM and CUTIX recorded losses of 5.19%, and 4.07% respectively.

While we expect a mix of activities in the coming week, we believe that the influx of news on government spending towards infrastructural development will continue to guide the direction of sentiments towards the sector.

the sector remains a viable investment opportunity.

Banking Sector: UBA proposes NGN0.20k Interim The banking sector performance, as measured by the NSEBNK10 Index, showed that the sector advanced by 1.05% WoW, bringing the YtD return to 13.13%. Sector breadth (0.50x), reflected four (4) advancers as against eight (8) decliners.

GUARANTY (4.12%), UBN (5.13%) and WEMABANK (3.23%) dominated the gainers list this week, while FCMB (-14.96%), SKYEBANK (-7.81%) and UNITYBNK (-7.69%) were the top laggards.

United Bank for Africa Plc. (UBA) released its audited H1:2016 result during the week, reporting year on year decline in Gross earnings (+0.10%); while Profit-Before-Tax and Profit-After-Tax grew by 3.13% and 1.94% respectively.

The bank also proposed an interim dividend of NGN0.20/share, implying a dividend yield of 4.49%, as at the closed price on the declaration date (25th August, 2016).

Following the relatively impressive H1:2016 earnings releases by most of the Tier 1 banks, investors’ sentiments towards the banking stocks was somewhat bullish during the week, evident from the WoW appreciation of the sectors index. We anticipate pockets of profit taking activities on counters that recorded significant appreciations during the week, although we do not rule out the possibilities of bargain hunting activities at the start of the week. Overall, we anticipate a moderation in positive investors’ sentiments towards the Banking sector in the coming week.

Consumer Goods: Sector returns 0.91% WoW Consolidating on gains recorded in the previous week, the Consumer Goods sector recorded a positive WoW performance of 0.91%, pushing the year-todate return to -4.55% as measured by the MERI-CMG10 index. There were seven (7)

gainers against six (6) decliners indicating a sector breadth of 1.67x.

In the week concluded, INTBREW led the gainers’ chart after recording gains of 7.45% WtD. The counter was followed by UNILEVER, VITAFOAM, FLOURMILL and NB, with respective WtD returns of +3.03%, +2.71%, +2.09% and +1.48%. The decliners’ chart on the contrary featured DANGFLOUR, CHAMPION, NASCON, 7UP and HONYFLOUR with respective WtD returns of -6.99%, -5.43%, -1.84%, -1.27% and -0.73%.

We attribute the sector’s performance, during the week, to bargain hunting activities on specific counters which were perceived to be trading lower than their intrinsic values. We believe that the mood in the market is still frail and therefore advise investors to trade cautiously.

Healthcare Sector: FIDSON rebounds partially, closes at NGN1.70 After advancing on two (2) out of the five (5) trading days of the week, the MERIHLTH sector index returned 0.05% WoW, pegging the YtD return at -45.04%. Sector breadth of 2.00x implied two (2) gainers as against a lone decliner in the week.

FIDSON and GLAXOSMITH steered the advancement of the Healthcare sector index in the week, with respective share price appreciations of 6.92% and 0.05% to close at NGN1.70 and NGN18.51 respectively.

MAYBAKER on the other hand, witnessed a decline of 7.34% WoW to settle at NGN1.01.

As anticipated, the sector witnessed a stint of bargain hunting activities on counters trading at somewhat depressed values. Although we expect the current sentiments to persist, we urge investors to trade cautiously.

Industrial Goods: CAP tops gainers list, advances by 10.22% WoW The Industrial goods sector took a dip this week, shedding 4.57% Wow to drive the YtD return down to -1.62%. There were three (3) gainers and two (2) laggards

Insurance Sector: NEM emerges as lone gainer Insurance sector performance, as measured by the NSEINS10, showed a 0.04% week on week decline, which dragged the year to date return to -9.94%. Sector breadth (1.00x), reflected a lone advancer and decliner apiece NEM emerged as the lone gainer for the second consecutive week, after the counter appreciated by 2.27% WoW to close at NGN0.90. Conversely, AIICO emerged as the sector’s only price loser, having pared by 1.59% WoW to close at NGN0.62. All other counters traded flat.

We expect the sector’s performance in the coming week to be dictated by the general market mood, in the absence of positive news inflow.

Oil & Gas Sector: Positive momentum re-emerges Following weeks of persistent bearish sentiments, the sector recorded a week of gain after advancing in four (4) out of the five (5) trading days of the week. The NSEOILG5 index surged by 6.74% WoW, settling the Ytd return at -16.25%. There were three (3) gainers against two (2) decliners in the week, indicating a market breadth of 1.5x.

Topping the gainer’s chart, SEPLAT appreciated by 14.58% WoW to close at NGN275. FO (+10.56%) and ETERNA (+1.85%) also featured on the gainers’ chart. Contrarily, TOTAL (-0.85% WoW) and OANDO (-2.15% WoW) declined at the end of the trading week.

Crude oil prices, proxied by Brent crude price, settled lower at USD49.57 as at Friday 26th August 2016, owing to the perceived increase in Iraq’s exports and anticipated rise in oil supply from Nigeria.

We attribute the gains in the week to bargain hunting activities on some stocks that traded low in previous weeks as investors took advantage of the attractive pricing. In the dearth of positive news inflow to drive market movement, we anticipate profit taking activities on selected counters in the coming week.

Services Sector: AIRSERVICE sheds 5.48% The services sector recorded a negative outing this week, following a WoW decline of 0.30%, as measured by the MERISERV Index. Consequently, YtD return settled at -5.34%. Sector breadth pegged at 0.33x, representing three (3) decliners as against one (1) advancer in the week, further highlighted the bearish sentiments which clouded the sectors performance.

IKEJAHOTEL was the sole advancer in the sector WoW, after appreciating by 4.09% WoW to close at NGN1.78. On the flip side, ACADEMY, AIRSERVICE and NAHCO depreciated in value by 9.52%, 5.48% and 1.16% respectively.

Profit taking activities were dominant in the sector this week as indicated by share price declines across some active stocks.

We expect the general market mood to dictate the performance of the sector in the coming week.

50

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

FAITH

Insight

Rev. Femi Akinola www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

The giving grace

O

ne of the secrets of great business people all over the world is giving. Great givers prosper even in times of economic crisis because they operate supernatural principle. If you understand how to operate the principle of giving, you can prosper and live above struggle irrespective of happenings in the world.

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 While others were keeping and holding back what they had in order to survive, these people were giving. They didn’t allow their men of God or people around them to suffer lack. Even when they refused to accept their gifts, they forced it into their hands. This was nothing but the giving grace.

Rockefeller was one of the greatest givers of all times. He was the businessman who was to insure the Titanic but God told him not to. People mocked him because he seemed to be throwing away such a juicy opportunity. God had seen that all of his investments would have gone down with the giant ship. The ship eventually sank and took away many lives and investments of course. He didn’t only give to people; he invested greatly in God’s Kingdom. Today his name has been immortalised. People who give to God never go down.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” John 10:17 You provoke the love of God upon your life and business when you lay it down for His Kingdom.

Every Kingdom businessperson must desire grace to lay all their belongings before their Maker.

The blessing of God is in levels. Many are praying for God’s abundance when what they currently have with them is actually their seed to unlock their next level. Whenever you cry ‘God, bless me,’ look around you, most times He already has. He’s only awaiting you to release it back to Him in faith so He could multiply it back to you.

The more you give the more you receive to give.

Givers never run out of supply. When you grow from the level of receiving to giving, you stop waiting to receive as it no longer matters whether you receive or not. So many in the Kingdom are still at the level of receiving, hence, they give because they want something in return from God. Real Kingdom people continue to give until they have given all after which God gives them in return.

Abraham gave God the only most valuable thing in his life, Isaac. The interesting thing about this transaction is that, even though they both knew that was the only valuable thing in the life of Abraham, still He freely, though painfully, gave it up. When God said move, off he went. Were it to be men of today, they would simply tell God to ask for something else.

Benefits of the Giving Grace 1. Isaiah55:10 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.”

As a giver, you never lack what to give, also God will increase the fruit of your righteousness.

2. You’ll bear more fruit. Your giving doesn’t reduce you, instead, it increases you. The reason we still hear the names of many givers today is because even though they are dead, their seeds have reproduced and multiplied in the earth writing their names on the sands of history.

3. Eternal life is sure Matthew 19:29 “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

God sent Peter for the salvation of Cornelius because of his giving grace and lifestyle. The giving grace is one of the virtues that will make the first the last and the last the first.

You provoke the love of God upon your life and business when you lay it down for His Kingdom

Turn the table on mammon

O

ur conversation this week will touch on the crux of the topic we’ve been treating this past three weeks, the Laws of Money. Here I wish to begin to give you some appetizer on the laws of money. Let’s start the journey: 1. The First Law of Money that I wish to expound with you today is – Money is not meant to be spent. The first instinct of uninformed men when it comes to money is to spend it and that is the proof that they are uninformed. It is also a proof of why they will never really become wealthy. Some people even say: what is money meant for, if not to be spent?

People who understand money and its laws will tell you that when you are given a hundred naira, you are only permitted to spend a hundred naira when the original hundred naira has made at least three times its original value. So if you have not found a way to multiply it or put it to work, such that it will produce for you three hundred naira, you are not entitled to spend the original hundred. If you do that and indiscriminately spend the money that comes to your hand, it shows that you will never really become wealthy.

Many people tell me, how then do I pay my bills and meet my needs? To the informed that is easy; out of the hundred naira that came to your hand, put thirty naira to work such that in the next few months, maybe a year or

The Purpose of Nations

Pastor Sunday Adelaja pastor@godembassy.org

more, that thirty percent keeps on working for you.

Because as that hundred keeps on working for you, it is returning the original hundred and more to your pocket. I am talking about increase and multiplication.

The mistake poor people make is that they see rich people buy and use flashy stuff and want to copy them. The poor man only sees the luxury of the rich, not the laws that brought him there. Since the poor does not know or is aware of the mechanism that is working for the rich, he is not aware that the rich man is only spending after many returns have come back on his naira.

Rich people don’t spend the original capital they have, they only spend the overflow.

On the other hand, the poor man sees the luxury of the rich and rushes to become like him and throws away the initial meager amount of money in his hands. Some people even do worse, they don’t just spend the little money in their hands, they go ahead and borrow or spend in installment what they have not yet made.

That way these people perpetually not only become poor, they turn slaves to the rich people since they have to keep on going to work for them

so as to pay for their debt.

Meanwhile, those rich men that the poor men are copying already built companies, factories, stores, where the poor man eventually goes to spend the little money he has in his hands. So as soon as the rich men pay their poor workers their salaries, they have already built outlets where the poor men immediately rush to go spend this money, returning this money to the pocket of the rich.

A good help in the service of the rich is the advertisement industry.

This becomes an effective manipulator of the poor man to go and part with his hard earned money, back to the pocket of the rich; thereby, leaving the poor poorer and the rich richer. (More on this in my book,“Money Won’t Make You Rich”) 2. The Second Law of Money that I am sharing with you today is that – Money must be retained.

The ability to retain money that comes to your hand is one of the greatest qualities of a future millionaire. What does that mean? What I mean is that whenever you are given a hundred naira, money acts like God. Money dictates to you its wishes. Once the hundred naira comes to your pocket, money

begins to dish out to you instruction on how you must obey its command by going to spend it. This is what made Jesus to call money a god – Mammon.

Because money acts like God. God gives out commandments. God commands.

God orders. Money does the same things. Money desires to be obeyed just like God desires to be obeyed. So when money comes to your hand, immediately, the spirit of mammon begins to exact its authority and claim its authority over you. By retaining the money in your hand however, you are declaring your liberty and freedom over the God of mammon. You are thereby proclaiming your own independence over the spirit of greed, anxiety and lust.

If you could take a hold of the money and put it down, not looking at it and not obeying its dictates by running out to spend it, you have just turned the table on the god of mammon. You are telling money that it is no more your Lord. You’re asserting your authority over the power of money by telling him, “I can have you here and not spend you because I am the one in charge. I tell you money what I want to do with you, you don’t dictate to me. I only obey the dictates of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ.” That is how you break through from the power of money.

Remember that money is a good servant, but a bad master.

(To be continued next week.)

Stop killing of Christians, cleric tells govt

F

Chidinma Nwagbara ederal and states’ governments have been told to do everything possible to stop unwarranted attacks and killings of Christians by Fulani herdsmen.

The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church (AG), Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, made the appeal while hosting the Conference of AG Ministers and Deacons, at Evangel Camp, Opkoto, Ebonyi State.

He was reacting to the recent invasion of Attakwu Village in Nkanu LG A of Enugu State where another Fulani herdsmen violence resulted to the killings of a 26-year-old Seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor and a woman simply identified as Mrs. Nwarum.

The GS condemned unchecked killings of Christians by the Fulani herdsmen in strong terms, describing it as genocide, barbaric, ungodly and an unholy act that should not be condoned by every peace loving person.

His words: “The Federal Government and state governments should help stop this genocide and systemic killing of our people. The Nigeria Constitution is against intentionally depriving a person of his life.”

He added: “The Nigeria Police should wake up to combat this crime and protect the lives of citizens from this incessant attack.”

Okoroafor, however, enjoined all Christians in the country not to stop praying for God’s intervention, adding: “Nigeria needs divine intervention.”

Dr. Okoroafor also consoled the families of the victims of the attack

and prayed that God would console the families.

Similarly, the GS sympathized with the affected Catholic Mission saying: “I share the pain and horror of this absurd violence. Killing of a priest is horrific and barbaric violence. It is a sacrilegious act which must be condemned in strong terms and even the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria condemns it.”

51

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016

NEWS

Ex-militants urge FG to probe amnesty office

L

eaders of the Association of Third Phase Ex-Militants yesterday, urged the Federal Government to probe the Amnesty Office over allegations of non-payment of some of their allowances.

The ex-militant leaders, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, alleged that the Amnesty Office did not document all members of the Third Phase; a development, which they claimed was causing agitation among those allegedly left out.

In a statement signed by one Comrade Wisdome Ibene Rufus, who claimed to be the chairman, the Association claimed that, some of the undertakings

made by the Federal Government, have yet to be made.

They listed some of the alleged undertakings to include, disarmament allowances, housing allowances, and proper documentation.

Consequently, the Association called on the government to “carry out an immediate probe on the operations of the Amnesty Office.”

The group also said “the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency call for an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Third Phase Ex-Militants for the purpose of addressing the issues raised.”

‘Deliberate parenting crucial for nation building’

T

Vanessa Okwara

he 2nd National Character-Parenting Summit has called for deliberate parenting as the only solution to building a nation devoid of corruption, terrorism and fraudsters.

The summit, which held yesterday, at SBLS Hall, Oregun, Lagos, was converged by 1st Royal Character and Values Limited, a social capital development and management company.

The Summit was converged to discuss and proffer solutions to issues relating to

character building for children, using parents as the launch pad.

Mrs. Bosede OlusolaObasa, the host of the National Character- Parenting Summit and the CEO of 1st Royal Character and Values Limited, in her keynote address, stressed the need to instilling the right character in children.

“Parents are crucial to the quality of nation that we build. But how well do parents recognise their importance and the huge responsibility for nation building that rests on their shoulders?

This year’s summit stresses

the need for parents to be deliberate about this great responsibility. Deliberate parenting is more thoughtful, intentional, strategic and wise parenting style however, deliberate parenting remains incomplete without parents modelling what we preach,” she emphasised.

She called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to stir every Nigerian to turn a new leaf and for character orientation to begin at home, then the offices, government, schools and all sector of the economy.

The summit paraded a rich line of discussants from vari-

ous sectors of the economy.

They are women, who have had several years of experience as both career women and mothers, entrusted with the challenges of growing a career as well as raising godly children.

They are: Mrs. Yinka Ogunde, CEO Edumark Consult, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, COO, 141 Worldwide and Mrs. Olabisi Deji-Folutile.

Editor, Saturday Punch.

They all stressed the need for team work between parents to ensure they raised their children deliberately with good character development.

Serve God with your talents, Church leader urges youths Stanley Ihedigbo

P

resident, Youth Chapel of Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Memorial Anglican Church, Ajao Estate, Lagos State, Brother Martins Okeagu, has called on the youths of the church to use their talents in the service of God. Speaking yesterday at the fourth edition of the church’s annual youth programme, HYPSOO, Okeagu, who urged the young people to use their talents in the service of God, implored them to express themselves through praises and worship.

According to the youth leader, the platform is aimed at developing talents and encouraging the youth to also use their gifts in the service of mankind, noting that when the young people worship and praise the name of the Lord in truth and in Spirit, He draws men unto Himself.

He furthered that the programme was a platform used by the church to signal the youth that Anglican Church of Nigeria is still the same and has not changed from what it used to be, saying that the communion understands the time that they (youth) are into.

He added that such concept will bring back the people, who have left the church because of the proliferation of new generation churches, noting that the new generation churches started from the Anglican Church.

“In this church, the youth will equally get what they are looking for in those churches. People thought that the Anglican church, is strict, but Anglican Church is a place where youth will experience everything according to the standard of God,” he assured.

He advised the parents to involve their children in everything they do, saying that service to God starts from the home. He urged the parents to groom their children in the fear of God for quality worship, urging the youth to emulate the good works of their parents.

Chairman, Organising Committee of the HYSOO, Brother Oluwaseyi Dairo, said in the midst of challenges in the country, it is always right for the people to make out time for God, especially coming together of the youth in worship of the King of kings.

He said, “It is not just our tradition as a church but we are created to give worship to God always. This is a way to celebrate God in ourlives on yearly basis. We pray that the programme will be bigger than what we have today in line with what God is planning for the youth.”

He assured the youth that every good and perfect gift comes from God, but devil is always on the lookout to contaminate the good gift and use it for evil work.

Ordained Samuel Idown, the youth to live their lives according to the standard of Christ, assuring them that the prevalent suffering in the country is for a moment and for a reason.

He urged the youth to keep praising God just as the Israelite praised God and the wall of Jericho fell in the time of old, adding that not situation in Nigeria is above God. He stated that every wall of Jericho in the life of every young person will collapse when the youth returns to God. In attendance at the all night event were the Curate, Revd N.P. Nwosu; Ord. Idowu; wife of former Vicar, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina and many others.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Edumark Consult, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde; Chief Executive Officer, 1st Royal Character and Values Limited, Bosede Olusola-Obasa, Chief Operations Officer, 141 Worldwide, Bunmi Oke and Editor, Saturday Punch, Olabisi Deji-Folutile, during the National Character Parenting Summit 2016, in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

The big difference a small bus-stop makes

I

Eniola Ajayi

left my office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos by about quarter to 6pm on Thursday, August 23 and by 6pm, I was already at the base of the bridge at Iyana-Oworo.

I was pleasantly surprised again that we could descend Third Mainland Bridge at such a record time. When this started happening a couple of weeks back, I thought it was a fluke but alas, it has happened over and over again.

Ayo my musician/driver and I started analysing the new phenomenon on Third Mainland Bridge traffic. We initially thought it might also be due to the fact that children were on holiday but the truth is how many children live on the Mainland and school on the Island? It finally dawned on us that it must be this bus stop at the base of the bridge.

This definitely makes sense, with about four lanes of different categories of vehicles veering off to discharge passengers thus leaving the road free for free flowing vehicular movement. I began to wonder

why no one ever thought of it. Of course, it is common in Nigeria to refer to so many places on the road as bus stops without actually making allowances for the bus to stop.

In many cases, where there are allowances, the vehicles did not use them. Some brazen drivers even discharged passengers on express roads.

In fact, it is assumed that bus stops are for commercial vehicles only by many of us. Thus, discharging passengers along the road became the norm. It did not stop there, off course our LATSMA Official and police were on hand to ensure compliance. I am very delighted to see many of this sort of development going on all over Lagos State.

I see a lot of pedestrian bridges springing up at Berger, Anthony Oke, Mile 12 and so on as well. I was quite happy to see the construction for traffic diversion at Berger Bus Stop too. Ayo tells me about the massive construction going on in Abule-egba area. I am really happy and grateful. This is surely an answer to my prayers. You would wonder why I prayed. Well, after we were robbed of our victory

at the polls in my home state of Ekiti and the signs of impunity began to emerge, I prayed that the setback we were experiencing in Ekiti after four years of progress under Fayemi would not befall Lagos.

After all, Lagos is my second home. I prayed earnestly that Lagos State would remain under the leadership of a progressive governor having seen the gains we made starting with Tinubu and through the Fashola years.

I must admit that I was initially put off by Ambode when it seemed as though he wasn’t going to continue to build on the sterling legacies of his predecessors. I felt they had laid such a solid foundation for him that all he needed was to build on it. I am glad to say that he’s doing just that now.

With the street lights coming up, new and expanded bus stops, pedestrian bridges and roads progress is for sure. With a free flow of traffic, commerce will improve in Lagos. The quality of life will improve. Our vehicles will last longer. Our environment will suffer less pollution. Thieves will find it more difficult to operate.

The benefits are countless.

The important thing is that if we all try to contribute in small ways to add value to our daily existence in our small areas of influence, life will be so much better for all of us.

The change we need starts with each one contributing what will make life easier for everyone. Life is much better lived when it embraces consideration for others.

Little things make a difference. I will never forget the difference in traffic flow we experienced with that little diversion under the bridge in between Muson Centre and the Nigerian Army Officers Mess in the TBS area leading to Ikoyi/ Victoria Island during the time of Fashola. How can I forget Allen Avenue traffic until it was demarcated during the time of Tinubu?

The point I am making is, let this little value additions continue - they add up. No city or country can be built in a day. The important thing is that we must keep building and making progress. Brick by brick a house is built.

Traffic reduction with expanded or new bus stops would not have been noticeable with roads riddled with potholes.

52

SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Italy mourns 290 earthquake victims

I

L-R: Mrs. Bene Obiwulu; Mrs. Chinwe Onyekwuluje; Rev. Father Gabriel Osu; Daughter of late slain banker, Kaosisochukwu Emmanuel Nwakoby and her mother, Mrs. Adaeze Obiwulu Nwakoby, during the Christian Wake-for late Olisaemeka Emmanuel Nwakoby, in Lagos…at the weekend.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

China expresses concern over economic challenges

C

Stanley Ihedigbo

hinese government has expressed concerned over economic challenges facing Nigeria and other developing countries in the world, but it is hopeful that these will soon be a thing of the past.

Speaking on the G20 Summit in China, tagged: The Light at the End of Tunnel, Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Chao Xiaoliang, said that, the event is the first ever G20 Summit to be hosted in China.

He added that, leaders of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chad, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, United Nations, the European Union, IMF, World Bank

and WTO, etc. will attend the summit.

According to him, with the highly-expected event approaching, China has got everything ready to welcome its most distinguished guests and partner with all other parties to work out a solution that can lead the world out of the dark tunnel of mired economy.

“Since 2008, the world has never fully recovered from the global financial crisis, and even worse, falling oil and commodity price since 2014 has given a heavy blow to some developing countries such as Nigeria. The mediocre economy features rising unemployment, soaring debt, sluggish trade and investment and turbulent financial and commodity markets.

Many countries, including both developed and developing countries resort their solutions to the fiscal stimulus and monetary easing, which to some extent is working but with serious side-effect.

Ortom scores security agencies high in crime control

N EWS I N BRIEF

Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, says criminals would have taken over the state if not for the commitment and dexterity shown by security agencies.

Ortom, who spoke on the occasion of the wedding of Michael Pius Imabele and Blessing Sesugh Vaatse, at the NKST Church, Iortyer in Makurdi yesterday explained that security agencies have been able to control assassination, abduction, cultism and other crimes in the state.

He urged Benue people to encourage security agencies, stressing that, his administration was working towards recovering the N107 billion allegedly diverted by the immediate past administration.

Governor Ortom said he would continue to encourage boys and girls to get married, adding that, he graced the occasion because of his conviction that night outing should be discouraged among youths.

He congratulated the newly wedded couple and noted that, Mr. Imabele has built bridges of unity between the north and south by moving from Edo to Benue to get a wife of his choice.

Ortom asked Nigerians to continue to pray for their leaders, assuring that President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors would work hard to improve the economic situation through diversification of the economy.

“For some developing countries, the use of fiscal policies is severely constrained by their high debt level. Added to the already complicated global political and economic situation, Brexit, trade protectionism and terrorism are exacerbating the problem. Now, the world is calling for an effective solution,” he added.

He explained that with two third of the world’s population and more than 80 per cent of global economic output, G20 nations deserve, and are expected, to play a bigger role in managing the world economy.

“The upcoming summit is, undoubtedly a prime opportunity, and has the potential to play a significant role in the rebooting of global growth.

The focus of the summit will be sustained global growth.

As the host nation, China will use the conference to spur dialogue among developed and developing countries around the potential to foster growth through reforms and

innovation.

“The G20 summit will also have some reference for the economic development of Nigeria. China and Nigeria share so many similarities; we are both largest economies and populous countries in our respective regions. As developing countries, the difficulties we meet in the process of development are quite similar. With the absorption of Chinese wisdom, the solution proposed by G20 summit will be of reference significance for all developing countries including Nigeria.

“The G20 summit also offers a golden opportunity to express voices from developing countries.

As one of China’s most important partners in Africa, Nigeria’s voice and opinions would be carefully listened to and cherished by China. China will announce concerns and proposals in the summit on behalf of developing countries including Nigeria,” he said.

Yobo promises to bail some HECADF commends Borno youth awaiting trial inmates at Ikoyi Prisons on volunteer services Chief Joseph Yobo, a former Captain of the Super Eagles, says the Joseph Yobo Foundation would work to release as many inmates of Ikoyi Prisons, especially those awaiting trial.

Yobo spoke at the inauguration of Ikoyi Prisons Football Academy on Saturday in Lagos. ``I have never been to the prisons before but on getting to Ikoyi Prisons, I realised the need to give hope to someone. ` `The Joseph Yobo Foundation is ready to do everything within its means to grant bail to as many as possible that are awaiting trial, especially those in the facility’s football academy. ``I am happy with what is going on in this facility.

I have never been here before but when I got here, what I saw jolted me,’’ he said. ``I thought I will see inmates looking very sad, rushing to go out but rather, I saw them very happy, cheerful and looking very hopeful. ``I must indeed commend the authorities of the Nigerian Prisons Service because from what I have seen on ground, the service is in the right track.’’

Yobo said that it was in this light that his foundation would seek to secure the bail for some of the inmates, train them and support them in the academy. ` `We in our little way will want to give back to the society by giving hope to our brothers here behind the bars and give them a second chance because no one is above mistake.

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) under the aegis of Peace Club formed

by Healthcare Development Focus Initiatives (HECADF), in collaboration with Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), has been commended for voluntarily embarking upon sweeping of mosques and churches, sand-filling of swampy areas and evacuation of refuge dumps in various wards in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Project Coordinator of HECADF in Borno, Mrs. Agnes Bashir, made the commendation yesterday in an interview shortly after monitoring activities of the Peace Club in the state.

The NGO started with 100 Peace Club members in March this year by HECADF after which hundreds of Muslim/ Christian youths in Maduganari, Musari, Hausari, Bolori, Dubai, Makers, and London City communities of the metropolis have joined the club in rendering humanitarian services and peace building in the state on weekly basis.

Speaking with newsmen, Mrs. Bashir said she was delighted that peace has gradually returned to the state, and expressed satisfaction with efforts of the Peace Club.

Gado

taly’s national day of mourning following Wednesday’s deadly earthquake kicked off Saturday morning with an increase in the death toll to 290 and a series of aftershocks that rattled the already-frayed nerves of shaken residents.

Italy’s Civil Protection agency said late Saturday morning that the death toll increased to 290 from 281 as bodies continued to be recovered. The number of injured is 387.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the aftershock struck at 4:50 a.m. local time with a magnitude of 4.2. The Italian Geophysics Institute measure the aftershock at 4.0.

The day of mourning will include a state funeral for some victims in the town of Ascoli Piceno. Premier Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella are slated to attend.

On Saturday morning, Mattarella toured Ama-

trice, a town devastated in the earthquake that has the highest death toll. Guided by town mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, Mattarella was taken only to the edge of the town, because it is too dangerous to enter the heart of the medieval town due to the extent of the destruction.

Ahead of the funeral, flower-topped caskets filled a gym where mourners are paying their respects to victims of the 6.2 magnitude quake.

More than 200 people were pulled alive from the devastation, including a 10-year-old girl rescued after spending 17 hours buried in a collapsed building.

She was reported to be in stable condition after undergoing surgery.

Renzi has declared a state of emergency and authorized 50 million euros to fund the recovery.

More than 2,000 people, left homeless by the quake, have been spending their nights in tent cities.

Oduah loses son

T

he Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Stella Oduah, on Friday lost her son, Maxwell Chinedu Etoromi.

The 28-year-old graduate of Guildford College in the UK, was said to have died at a private hospital in Abuja in the early hours of Friday.

Oduah, who was a Minister of Aviation in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, sounded distressed on the phone when one of our correspondents contacted her on Friday afternoon.

In a barely audible voice, she confirmed the report, saying her son died after a brief illness.

One of Oduah’s col-

leagues, Senator Uche Ekwunife, who represents Anambra Central in the Senate, also confirmed the incident to one of our correspondents, saying she had been with Oduah to console her just like few other senators who heard about the “unfortunate incident.”

Ekwunife said, “It is very unfortunate. It has shown that death and life belong to God and it is only Him who controls our life. It is a trying moment for her and all of us. I know how it feels as a mother. It is only God who can console her.”

Unconfirmed reports have it that the former minister’s son may have died as a result of wrong prescription by a doctor at the Abuja hospital.

APC chieftain cautions leaders on Ondo poll

A

head of November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Olu Ologbese, has advised the party leadership to put their home in order for APC to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the poll.

Ologbese, the Life Patron of Nigeria Union of Journalist Ondo/Ekiti chapter said Ondo people had all along proved themselves as people who cannot be bought by any wealthy politician or party and therefore APC should present the best candidate during the election.

He also warned the APC leadership not to impose

any candidate on the people for the party not to lose the November 26 election the way defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lost during the 2012 gubernatorial poll to the incumbent Governor Segun Mimiko of PDP due to imposition of candidate.

The APC chieftain also implored the leadership of his party to allow the most popular and experienced personality among the arrays of aspirants in the race to fly the APC flag in the November 26 governorship election.

“In all the candidates that has collected the nomination form; only two out of them are hot cake.

SUNDAY

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Moses scores in Chelsea win

Siasia quits Dream Team

p.55

Warri Wolves’ GM clears air on misappropriating

p.55

p.55

SPORTS Adekunle Salami Rio

A

thletes have different things that motivate them.

Nigerian wrestler and two-time African champion, Odunayo Adekuoroye, is just 22 years old but her exploits in the last two years have shot her to limelight as an international athlete of repute. Little or nothing was known about Adekuoroye, a 53kg wrestler at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games before 2014.

After winning the African title twice and grabbing the silver medal at the World Championship, the Nigerian wrestler was rated number three in the 53kg class for the Rio Games. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, United Kingdom, the Ondo State-born wrestler stunned everyone to win gold. She also announced her arrival with brilliant dance steps. It was clear at that point that she had the potential to rule the world.

A year later at the World Championship in Spain, the freestyle wrestler won a bronze medal in Spain after fighting against other top wrestlers in her category.

And so it was a shock that Adekuoroye did not make it to the medals range at the just concluded 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. It was a rude shock to her and many Nigerians that have followed her progress. The Technical Director and Wrestling Federation boss, Dr. Daniel Igali, was also disappointed.

“Odunayo has worked so hard and she deserves a better result. Same goes for other wrestlers. The people they lost to here are those they have beaten before. It is really unfortunate,” Igali said.

In her exclusive chat with Sunday Telegraph, Adekuoroye was almost in tears as she poured her mind out. She noted that she competed with an injury and that affected her movement and general competitive ability.

More importantly, the wrestler said her pain was her inability to clinch a medal, stressing that, any monetary gift or donation were secondary to her.

Her stand was contrary to some other athletes who clamoured for daily allowances, equipment allowance and even return tickets.

She said: “All those money issues always distract me. I don’t do it, I face my task and do my best possible to get desired results. This time I did all I could but I guess it was just not my time.

I had injury but I was still competing as if my fitness was one h u n d re d percent.

“In the quarterfinal that I needed most, things did not just go my way.

G o d knows best, I cannot question Him but it’s really painful when I look back to my preparations.

“I was weighing 60kg and I was to compete in 53kg, so the coach told me to shed ate weight. I eat once a day and only take a small

53

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu daposotu@yahoo.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Adekuoroye: I fought with injury in Rio

bottle of bottled water in a day for over three months in a bid to reduce and come down to the 53kg level I would compete in. This was a big task for me and don’t let us also talk about the rigorous training schedule and session to become a champion in the wrestling event of the Olympics.”

Adekuoroye, however, has a word of advice for the authorities over preparation for competitions as big as the Olympic Games.

She noted that the general poor preparation of athletes for the 31st Olympiad affected her negatively.

Adekuoroye went further: “We competed with athletes who have been training for the past three to four years with programme lined out for them.

We trained only for about two to three months and we never went on tour.

T h e

Sports Ministry compounded our woes ahead of the Olympics when the minister refused to approve the trip of our sparring partners to travel with the wrestling team to the Rio Olympics. This was a great setback. In wrestling sparring partners are the ones who you can train with properly to get into the mood for competition.

“When I went to Spain for the World Championship, it was my pastor, Dr. D.K Olukoya, who sponsored my trip.

I can also confirm that I spent my own money to develop myself and put myself in shape for competitions.

“It is always frustrating when we compare notes with other wrestlers in other countries but I will continue to work hard to get better in the sport.

“It is not easy to compete against other top people in the world and in doing so; one must be extra ready especially at the Olympics which is the biggest stage. I have really learnt and will be better in future competitions.”

Seven wrestlers represented Nigeria at the Games and they all crashed out in the last eight stages which is the last step before getting to the medals zone. Five female wrestlers were bundled out earlier while the two male wrestlers competed on the last day of event but also lost in their respective categories.

Adekuoroye was the first Nigerian wrestler to qualify for the Games after winning bronze at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas in September.

The Nigerian freestyle wrestler and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist had in January 2016 promised to win a gold medal for Nigeria at the Rio Olympics Games. “I will be at the Rio 2016 Games to do my best. Any medal God gives me I will take. I am not sacred at all. All that I have in mind to do at the Games is to make Nigerians proud.”

But this was never to be despite being rated by the International Wrestling Federation to be good enough to pick the bronze at the Rio Olympics, Odunayo fought with an injury and she lost her fight 5-0t.

Like a great athlete, she has put the Rio Olympics disappointment behind and her focus now is on the next edition of the IWF World Championship, the 2019 All Africa Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she hopes to impress.

54

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sport

Ikorodu Utd targets three points against El-Kanemi Dapo Sotuminu

I

n a frantic battle to escape relegation, Lagos-based Ikorodu United Football Club have assured their teeming fans to come out to watch the team pick yet another three points against ElKanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the Nigeria Professional Football League scheduled for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

Team’s Media Officer, Babatunde Ayoola, said the players are charged up after the 1-0 win against Niger Tornadoes at the

I will play at Tokyo 2020 Olympics, says Toriola Dapo Sotuminu

S

even-time Olympian and world table tennis star, Segun Toriola, has told whoever cares to listen that he will be good to play in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics which would be his eighth going by his current form in the sport.

Toriola, who was celebrated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Table Tennis Federation at the Rio Olympics as one the greatest players in the sport of table tennis, believes strongly that he is still on top of his game and it will be very difficult for younger Nigerian players to send him to retirement before the Tokyo Olympics.

“I am still one of the best in my sport despite my age and my consistency in table tennis which sees me playing in two top regular clubs in Europe would remain an added advantage for me as I continue to play in world class competitions.

“Being 42 years old is one thing being fit enough to continue playing top table tennis is another. I am very disci-

plined and I religiously follow the things that will continue to aid my fitness in the game.

Come Tokyo 2020, I will still be good to represent Nigeria in top grade international competitions until after the Tokyo Olympics. At the moment I have my eyes on the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 2019 All Africa Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After these will I start thinking of my final retirement.”

He added: “My recognition by the IOC at the Rio Olympics was a very good one and recognition of my achievements. This serves as a motivation for the youthful table tennis players and a boost for them to work hard and do well in their career. They now know that when they distinguish themselves, they would be recognized by the international sports federations.

“The achievement of Aruna Quadri at the Rio Olympics is laudable for him to make it to the quarter final of the Men’s singles event as the African to do so in the history of the continent’s participation if the Olympics. This is also a bigger encouragement for me to start planning my retirement.

“The fear of not having any top rated Nigerian player doing well at the international circuit for a long time was one of the reasons I prolonged my playing career in table tennis.

I was scared not having any quality players to hand over to when I retire. But with the emergence of Aruna Quadri, I can now retire peacefully with the rest of mind that, there is somebody worth the salt who can continue from where I stop, but this won’t happen until after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I am still very active and even the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation have asked me to continue. I am still doing well in the French League. Some countries approached me in Rio to take up the full-time job as national team coach, but I turned all the requests down as I am not ready to quit. But I have given my words to some of the countries where I have already scheduled to help them out in a two-week intensive training programme. This will be regular, to teach players of the countries involved the rudiments of playing good and standard table tennis.”

MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, and are ready to give their best to ensure victory that would continue to give them hope of escaping relegation with seven matches to go in the season.

The league debutants were banished to Abeokuta by the League Management Company after the club’s supporters engaged Shooting Stars of Ibadan supporters in a free for all fight at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

“Our players know they have to keep fighting to the last to swim out of the relegation waters. We expect nothing but outright victory against El-Kanemi and in the other remaining matches in the season,” said Ayoola.

Meanwhile, El-Kanemi Warriors’ acting chairman, Usman Kwajafa, has a contrary view as he believes that his boys have the potential to pick a continental club championship ticket and this would be strengthened when the team records victory against Ikorodu United. He said, he expects the team to win their next three Nigeria league matches. ElKanemi is 14th on the table with 42 points from 31 matches.

Today, El-Kanemi will be guests of bottom team Ikorodu United before home games against Niger Tornadoes and Heartland.

Shooting Stars will shine against Pillars –Ojukwu

S

hooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) striker, Ifegwu Ojukwu, has said that the Oluyole warriors would shine against visiting Kano Pillars in today’s NPFL league cracker.

Shooting Stars are on revenge mission against the Kano Pillars team that walloped them 6-0 in one of the opening games of the 2016 season at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

Ojukwu, is optimistic that, with the current form of Shooting Stars, under the tutelage of coach Gbenga Ogunbote, Kano Pillars will fall like a pack of cards at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

He said: “We are ready to challenge Kano Pillars for the

maximum points on Sunday in Ibadan. We dropped points in two straight matches against El Kanemi Warriors and Heartland in Owerri. We cannot afford to lose further points in the remaining matches if we are to avoid going down on relegation.

“I believe God will grant us our heart’s desire to claim the three points at stake in the encounter more so as we are on a revenge mission after Pillars defeated us so badly in Kano when we were just starting the league season. We don’t care abo ut the goal margin, we just want to win.”

Shooting Stars are 13th on the league table with 41 points.

Nasarawa vows to nail Rangers

N

asarawa United have vowed to nail their opponent in today’s NPFL League, Rangers International of Enugu, when they host the Flying Antelope in a crucial league game at the Aper Aku Stadium, in Makurdi.

Nasarawa defender, Samson Gbadebo, said his side is ready for the match-up against Enugu Rangers. “The NPFL matchday 33 clash against Enugu Rangers is just

one of the games on the season’s calendar and we are going about the preparation the normal way we prepare for other matches.

“However, I think we are ready for a difficult match. Rangers will pay for the questionable loss we suffered at neighbours Plateau United in Jos last weekend. We need the points to further open opportunities for us to grab one of the Africa’s tickets in the on-going top-flight.

55

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Sport

s e s o M n i s e sc o r a e s l e Ch win S

uper Eagles’ striker, Victor Moses, opened his goal account for the new English Premier League season as Chelsea defeated newlypromoted side Burnley 3-0 on Saturday.

Stamford Bridge witnessed a threegoal thriller which earned Chelsea their third win on the trot in the new season.

New manager Antonio Conte seems to have belief in the Nigerian, who has

Siasia quits Dream Team

D

spent the last two seasons away on loan at other clubs.

Moses, who scored in the League Cup in midweek, has enjoyed resurgence under the Italian, and seems to be getting back to his best form.

Chelsea took the lead at Stamford Bridge on nine minutes through Belgian international Eden Hazard.

Willian, who recently returned from

NPFL: Appeal Court takes over Giwa reinstatement case

Sadiq Umar joins Bologna from AS Roma

R

io Olympics star, Sadiq Umar, will join Bologna FC from fellow Italian Serie A side AS Roma on a permanent basis it has been agreed.

An official of Sadiq Umar’s academy, the Abuja Football College, disclosed that the striker will be sold permanently by Roma to Bologna with a special proviso that Roma could buy him back at a specially discounted price.

“Discussions over Sadiq’s future have begun and it has now been decided he will be sold on a permanently basis to Bologna, but Roma could have him back at a special price should they want to re-sign him at some point,” the official specially disclosed.

In June, Roma announced that after of a season-long loan spell from Serie B side Spezia, they have signed the lanky striker for 2.5 million Euros on a four-year contract.

Last season, he scored two goals after making six appear-

injury, added another just before the break to give the former champions a cushion going into half-time.

Moses wrapped up the game with his first Premiership goal of the season in added time as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory.

The victory sees Chelsea maintain their 100 percent record to the start of the season, to Conte’s delight.

T Sadiq

ances in Serie A. Umar scored four goals as Nigeria won bronze medal at the football event of the recent Rio Olympics - a brace against Honduras in the bronze medal match as well as a goal against Japan and Sweden.

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Spurs 1 – 1 Liverpool Chelsea

2 – 0 Burnley

C.Palace

1-1

B’mouth

Everton

1-0

Stoke

Leicester

2-1

Swansea

S’ton

1-1

Sun’land

Watford

1-3

Arsenal

Hull City

0-1

Man Utd

Solution to Cross Word Puzzle

he legal battle seeking to compel the League Management Company (LMC) to reinstate Giwa FC into the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has shifted to the Court of Appeal, Jos Division which has enrolled the suit.

LMC’s appeal is against the interim order granted

by Mr. Justice I.I. Kunda of the Plateau State High Court, Bukuru on August 12, 2016 in a case filed by one Mustapha Abubakar seeking to reinstate Giwa FC into the NPFL and also reschedule all the games the club was excluded from playing following its expulsion in May. Abubakar claims to be the Chairman of Giwa FC Supporters Club and that his fundamental human rights has been violated.

The LMC through its lawyer, Olumide Olujinmi is asking the Court of Ap-

peal to grant a stay of execution of the lower court’s order and an application for departure from the rules of court to allow for the appeal to be heard as a matter of urgency.

In one of its grounds of appeal, the LMC argued that the said Abubakar has not been shown to have any connection or relationship whatsoever with the LMC or the NPFL and that there was no urgency as required by law for the judge to make the interim order on August 12, 2016, which is nearly three months after the expulsion of Giwa FC from the NPFL on May 22, 2016.

NPFL Today ‘s Fixtures Ikorodu Utd vs El-Kanemi Sunshine Stars vs Heartland 3SC vs Kano Pillars Rivers United vs Plateau United Nasarawa vs Rangers Int’l FC IfeanyiUbah vs Wikki Tourists MFM FC vs Abia Warriors Enyimba Int’l vs Akwa United Tornadoes vs Lobi Stars

ream Team VI chief coach, Samson Siasia, has announced his resignation from the team on ground of what he called a disrespectful system.

He said: “I have reached that point where I have to say I have had. I’ve gone several months without getting paid, years of being derided and disrespected by the sports authorities in Nigeria but I am done already.

“It’s sad that after all we went through to get to Brazil and end up winning a bronze medal, the players, coaching and backroom staff never received a ‘thank you’ in appreciation despite a turbulent time at the Olympics,” Sisasia added.

Before arriving in Rio, Nigeria’s ‘Dream Team VI’ were held up in Atlanta, USA, because of a problem with the payment for their flight, and they only landed in Brazil just hours before their opening 5-4 win over Japan.

“First we had the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, deride us

for camping in Atlanta and even denied our existence as a group before the flight problems.

Players had to embark on a strike to be heard, then the boys kept a good spirit to win an incredible medal, only to be publicly criticised for speaking to a Japanese surgeon who supported and rewarded the team for their brave spirit.

“I’ve taken a deep look at everything and concluded that things need to change for us to progress as a country not just in football but our general lives.I have fulfilled my obligations as a citizen, footballer and coach; right now I do not want to be involved in the Nigerian football system anymore,” said Siasia.

Siasia

Twitter Premier League begins Sept 3 with Lotus, Tokio

T

he 8th edition of the Twitter Premier League (TPL) promises to be more exciting as two new teams have joined the league.

According to a Director of the League, Ori-Jesu Efeoghene, the approval of two more teams was in the spirit of ensuring that more people get the opportunity to experience the excitement and fun that the TPL brings

while also increasing the competitiveness of the league.

The two teams are Lotus FC and Tokio FC bringing the league to a total of eight semi-professional teams from the previous six teams.

The new teams will play in the 8th edition of the Twitter Premier League which has been scheduled to kick-off from September 3 and run till December 24.

Warri Wolves’ GM clears air on misappropriating Dapo Sotuminu

T

he General Manager of Nigeria Professional Football League club, Warri Wolves Football Club, Etu Moses, has cleared the air on the accusation of financial misappropriation leveled against him by a former of-

Etu

ficial of the club, Mr. Timi Ebikagboro, who went on social media to raise the alarm.

Etu, spoke with Sunday Telegraph at the weekend and promptly defended himself putting the record straight. He told our reporter that, the claims made by the former club official were frivolous and does not hold water.

The official had said that, after collecting N70million from the Delta State Government, Warri Wolves’ management does not have the justification not to pay salaries of the players and officials up to date. The players are being owed five months’ salary arrears and several weeks of unpaid allowances.

The Warri Wolves General Manager revealed that, the Delta state

government had so far released N60million to the club out of the expected N300million with only seven matches to go the season.

“With the N60million, we have played 31 matches this season and for every match we spent a little over N1milion. That is N31million plus. I have paid three months’ salary with each month gulping slightly above N14million for January, February and March. This amounted to N42million. And I have also paid 12 match bonuses with each bonus at the rate of N1million this equals N12million.

“I took Warri Wolves on a continental match against El Merreikh in Sudan and also hosted the Sudanese team in the second leg in Warri,” he said.

BUSINESS

Recession: Stakeholders want incentives to boost manufacturing

}43

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

SUNDAY

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

N150

Adekuoroye: I fought with injury in Rio

}53

Nigeria’s dire need for restructuring (part 6) ENCORE This week, we continue our discourse on the urgent need for Nigeria to restructure now before it is too late.

One of God’s anointed servants and a revered preacher of the word of God, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, in an interview granted to Daily Sun newspaper, on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, gave us his wise counsel, when asked on his take on the call to restructure Nigeria, “ … I think at this time now we should listen to everybody… put everything on the table and without any selfish interest or ulterior motive, and then as a whole nation we might have a kind of panel, to make a choice on what will move the nation forward and what will keep the nation as an entity. Restructuring should not lead us to a kind of division into fragments where a southerner will have to get visa before he can go to the north and northerners have to get visa before they can come to the south. I don’t think we should come that way. But as we put everything on the table and we dialogue, I believe we will reach the best solution.” Restructuring does not refer to balkanization or dismemberment. It is the exact opposite.

Legal juggernaut and one of the influencers in the legal profession in Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN), had this to say on the way forward for Nigeria, during an interview at the United States Consul General’s residence in Ikoyi, on the 4th of July, 2016, “everybody is saying we are in a world where we have to discuss. Look at what happened in Britain, that is democracy in action. The centre in Nigeria is overbearing and selfish, that is why states are poor. What we are running now is dictatorship, we are being ruled by force, Nigeria does not belong to a particular individual but to all of us, the more reason why we have to discuss, and it is out of love, out of patriotism that we are saying let us discuss Nigeria…if we don’t do it now our children will have problems in the future.” I agree with my egbon.

Paul K. Feyerabend (1924 - 1994) German philosopher, in his essay “Against Method” puts it succinctly, “Unanimity of opinion may be fitting for a church, for the frightened or greedy victims of some (ancient or modern) myth, or for the weak and willing followers of some tyrant. Variety of opinion is necessary for objective knowledge.”

If we are to make progress as a nation, the confidence of the people must be obtained and one of such ways is to give the people a voice and make the masses part of the remolding process of the country.

This is the solution to breaking the vicious cycle of going back and forth as a nation, with no meaningful progress. Or as captured by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870 1924), Russian revolutionary leader, “One step forward, two steps back...It happens in the lives of individuals, and it happens in the history of nations and in the development of parties.” Nigerians must take the bull by the horns and break away from this jinx, this fixation, this stereotype.

Nigerians must make conscious sacrifices for the unity of this nation to remain intact. We cannot continue to hold on to old beliefs and attitudes towards one another to the detriment of our nation and expect a new consciousness to develop

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) within our people. We cannot build a unified country with segregated policies and mindsets.

Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (1917 - 1984), once said during a press conference in New Delhi, India, “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

In order to carry out the task of restructuring this country, it is necessary to organizationally unite all people who love this nation, irrespective of status, religious affiliation and ethnic background and bind them as a single rallying force.

Winning over the masses and firmly rallying them organizationally is one of the vital forces that can propel the successful cohesion and remolding of Nigeria.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917 - 1963) former U.S. president, in his Inaugural address as president of the United States said, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.” This is the ideal time for our leaders to negotiate with the people on the way forward for Nigeria.

A People’s Committee should be set up to organize and mobilize the broad mass of the people in carrying out the wishes and aspirations of the generality of Nigerians. The People’s Committee should be established in all parts of the country, thereby laying the political basis and mass foundation for the solution of restructuring our Nigeria. The local People’s Committee are to be autonomous in exercising administrative powers in their respective localities to perform administrative work in political, economic, cultural and all other spheres.

The People’s Committee are to be organized by electing members at the meetings of the representatives of residents, with the intention to unite strongly, the workers, peasants, intellectuals, clergy and every other group in the society.

If we must bring a sweeping victory to what the vast majority of Nigerians truly want for Nigeria, we must quickly train young personnel that will represent the new face of Nigeria. They would be drawn from workers, peasants and other toiling people. Steps must be taken to set up training centers across the country to

Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. This is the ideal time for our leaders to negotiate with the people on the way forward for Nigeria

improve their political qualifications to enhance their role and function so as to hasten the rebuilding process of Nigeria.

The trainings should emphasize on the following areas: Empathy, Emotional Awareness, Building Bonds, Communication skills, Self- assessment, Self-regulation, Creativity, Leveraging Diversity, Leadership, Change Catalyst, Conflict Management, Service Orientation, Collaboration and Corporation, Social Etiquettes. These are the linchpins to a successful transformation, the restructuring of Nigeria.

The clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria is not against any group, tribe or section of the country, but against poverty, corruption, insecurity, injustice chaos, nepotism, tribalism, cronysm, oppression, repression, marginalization and unitarism.

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), The third president of the United States had this to say during the heydays of slavery in America, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; and that his justice cannot sleep forever...an exchange of situation is among possible events; that it may become probable by supernatural interference.” The fact that some people presently occupy govern-

ment in Nigeria does not necessarily mean they would remain so forever. Soldiers come and go, but the barracks remain.

Dale Carnegie, the architect of human capital development once said,” If there is only one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get other persons point of view.

And see things from that person’s angle as well as from yours. People who can put themselves in the place of other people, who can understand the workings of their mind, need not worry what the future holds in store for them.” For Nigerians to enjoy unity, peace and progress, each section of the country need to think from the perspective of the other sections of the country. We need to put ourselves in the shoes of others. The idea that some life matter less is the root of all that is wrong with Nigeria.

Nelson Mandela (1918 -2015), South African President and Lawyer, in his book, 'The Struggle is My Life' said, “To overthrow oppression has been sanctioned by humanity and is the highest aspiration of every free man.”

Nigeria does not need a palliative remedy to its unending woes but a total cure.

Nigerians are already wearied out living in a state of uncertainty and despair since time immemorial. Restructuring this country would bring about the much needed lease on life that Nigerians earnestly crave for. To be continued.

LAST LINE Are Nigerians, PMB, avid readers et al, awaiting the next tranche of Nigeria’s dire need of restructuring even as you read today’s sermon on the “Mount of Nigerian Project” by Chief Mike A.A. Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb? • Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

Cross Word Puzzle

with Olulana Kayode 08023183727 Instructions on how to play the game •With reference to the ‘clues across’ and ‘clues down’ below, you shall try to provide answers to the clues, by writing the answer in the puzzle box provided on the left side.

•The number in parenthesis indicates the total number of letters making up the solution or answer you will provide.

•Keep on answering all the questions until all the spaces in the puzzle box are completely filled up.

Good luck!

Clues Across 1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

Abia state capital city, (7).

A young child, (3).

Weapon that fires bullets, (3).

University, abbr. (3).

Packing displaying live animal, (3).

Previously owned, (4).

One in collection, (4).

State, abbr. (2).

Americium symbol, (2).

'Father' in Yoruba, (4).

Of wings, (4).

Gases from atmosphere, (3).

Drink made by infusion, (3).

Pen's writing tip, (3).

Unit of currency in Albania, (3).

LGA in Nassarawa state, (7).

Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 19 20 21

Community in Abia state, (7).

Combined into one, (6).

Particles in atmosphere, (4).

Tropical rodent, (6).

Middle joint of human leg, (4).

Shell that does not explode, (3).

LGA in Oyo state, (7).

Gov. Darius Ishaku state, (6).

Cardboard box, (6).

Part of chain, (4).

Forehead, (4).

Delete, abbr. (3).

Turn to page 55 for solution

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488), Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: JULIET BUMAH.