Sunday, july 10, 2016

md NNPC: Why New Telegraph’s Kachikwu was MD, Egbemode, removed emerges Acting •Kyari should be replaced -APC chieftain }3, 4

President, NGE

SUNDAY Sunday, JULY 10, 2016 Vol. 3 No. 872

}5

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

okorocha, we’re coming for you

Ruth Kadiri

}4

–militants

...Brig-Gen. Ishyaku too

I love to be real

lWe’ll teach Imo State a lesson, shock Nigeria with our next attacks – Niger Delta Red Squad lDon’t move Maritime Varsity, Ijaw warns FG

}41

‘It’s EASIER to sleep, make babies with mad people’ }8, 9, 13

lThree arrested with human head

NEWS Scrap 36 states, says Okunrounmu

}28,29

•PDP crisis: It’s Sheriff or nothing –Ojougboh }5 2018 pOLL WILL BE APC’S NIGHTMARE –FAYOSE }4

2

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 10.07.16 BODY & SOUL

Lady of the masses Driven by her passion to help the poor, Barrister Ugochi Nnanna Okoro, two-time commissioner in Imo State, went into politics to reach out to the masses

}20&21

POLITICS

Soul of PDP Despite three court judgments which upheld his sack as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff still seems set to bury the party

}23

BUSINESS

Multiple taxation Tax, which is 33 per cent of SMEs operating revenues and 20 per cent of profit, is the biggest killer of businesses in Nigeria, says World Bank

}43

FAITH

Ramadan Maintaining ideals of Ramadan, not only during Ramadan but at all times, is the way to make the Nigerian nation to progress –Adeboye

}31

SPORT

Done with soccer Former Super Eagles Captain, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, says he's paid his dues and has retired from active football after 18 years on the field

}53

MAGAZINE

Newborn sacrifices Ritual killers impregnate mad women, pound their babies into paste as sacrifice to their gods

}8&9

SUNDAY

Editorial

T

Russia 2018: Time to act

he leadership crisis in Nigerian football started even before the Amaju Pinnick-led board members were elected. The Aminu Maigari board had its share of the crisis and eventually staged the election in crisis.

A club owner, Christopher Giwa, was part of the main characters in the Maigari regime crisis and now he is the leader of the factional group that believes the leadership of the Nigeria Football federation belongs to Giwa.

The Giwa group have been in and out of courts since Pinnick assumed office. Interestingly, the same case was thrown out by the Court Of Arbitration for Sports in 2014 yet Giwa and his group ‘exhumed’ the case at a Jos High Court three months ago. Ever since then there has been one issue or the other between the NFF leadership many Nigerian known under Pinnick and the factional group led by Giwa.

Under Maigari, we can recall that the crisis contributed to the ouster of Nigeria from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and under Pinnick, the board was also distracted as the country again lost the ticket to Gabon 2015 Africa Nations Cup, The back-to-back Nations Cup miss is a strange development in the country’s football history and regrettably the crisis persist.

Pinnick seems to have been consumed in the crisis sure that giving direction to get results and do the right thing for the development of the game is tough for him and his board to handle, rather, the board is channelling its energy into fighting Giwa to retain its position.

Twice last month the House of representatives committee on sports engaged the Giwa group and Pinnick board in a dialogue. After the second meeting the committee urged both parties to embrace peace to enable Nigerians to get the best results possible in the round leather game. Just 24 hours after the second meeting, Giwa group broke into the NFF office threatening to take over operations and physically fighting the staff members present over legitimacy of the federation.

We condemn in totality all acts of violence especially from people who should know better, those who are supposed to administer the game. The youth who are the main actors in the game are actually watching and observing the various scenarios in the unfortunate crisis we are witnessing today.

We make bold to say the two parties should be ready to shift to allow peace reign and move football forward.

Pinnick is the one recognised by the Federation of International Football, the

Nigerian government, the players and the entire world. One way to solve the crisis is for Giwa to wait for the next elections and plan better to win. If he continues in his violence conduct, this could further reduce his chances of realising his ambition to head Nigerian football.

The Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, we believe is in best position to resolve the crisis by using all the government apparatus at his disposal to guarantee peace but funny enough the meeting he arranged between Giwa and Pinnick was not only deadlocked, the two men almost exchanged blows even in the presence of the minister. The situation cast doubt on the neutrality of Dalung and since then he has been quiet while football is suffering the more.

We believe the time is ripe to put a stop to this ‘madness’ in the country’s football before more damage is done. The Russia 2018 ticket is at stake because the qualifying draw will take place very soon. Nigeria’s position in FIFA ranking is so poor such that the country was not seeded for the draw, The implication is that the Super Eagles will be drawn against one of the top five ranked countries on the continent.

To qualify ahead of seeded teams won’t be easy. Sad enough we also note that since the resignation of former international, Sunday Oliseh, as the Super Eagles Head coach in February, the NFF is yet to name a substantive coach. There is need to take the qualifiers seriously.

Pinnick should realise that his regime will be judged by the results posted and not many people will remember the crisis or whatever distraction the body is facing.

We advise the federation to be well focused on getting Nigeria a ticket to Russia, This is the best way to compensate for the back-toback Nations Cup no show which followers of football are yet to come to terms with.

All logistics involving the Super eagles including payment of all outstanding bonuses and salaries of stand-in coaches should be handled urgently because it is important to play the qualifiers with a clear mind and 100 per cent motivation.

We make bold to say Nigeria is blessed with huge talents in all parts of the world such that some of them are even in the colours of European teams at the ongoing European Nations Cup in France. The onus is on the federation however to put its acts together, get a credible coach to raise a solid team for Nigeria to regain its pride on the continental and global football stage.

This is important especially because football brings positive image for the country.

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

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 10 JULY, 2016

NEWS

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu’s visits to former Heads of State, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalam Abubakar, in Minna on Friday, captured in pictures

NNPC: Why Kachikwu was removed as GMD

•Lawyers condemn Buhari’s board appointments •Say it’s against federal character principles Onwuka Nzeshi and Tunde Oyesina

F Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu with former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his residence during the Sallah visit in Minna

Dr. Kalu in a hand shake with Gen. Abdulsalami at his residence

Dr. Kalu being received by former first lady, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar, at the residence of General Abdulsalami

Dr. Kalu fielding questions from journalists shortly after meeting with IBB

resh facts have emerged as to the underlying reasons the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, was removed as the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), after serving in that capacity for a period of 11 months.

Before his appointment as GMD of NNPC last August, he was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel for Exxon Mobil (Africa). Armed with private sector experience, Kachikwu, on assumption of office, introduced some swift reforms geared towards the restructuring of the NNPC, the resuscitation of the refineries, and deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. He also sought to introduce transparency and accountability in the huge oil corporation in such a way that each subsidiary would be required to render profit and loss accounts at the end of each fiscal year.

There have been speculations that Kachikwu came under attacks from various quarters and interest groups who felt threatened by these reforms.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that Kachikwu had to give way because, apart from the abnormality in one person holding the two strategic positions, he was too fast and reform-minded for the NNPC and ruffled not a few feathers while he held sway as the NNPC boss.

An oil industry source told Sunday Telegraph that the first factor that led to his exit was that it was not legal for one person to be the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of NNPC, at the same time.

“It was an anomaly and supposed to be a temporary arrangement. It was not supposed have lasted that long.

In addition, he brought private sector initiatives into a largely conservative and bureaucratic system. Normally, reforms will be resisted by those used to the old system. But one of the things he didn’t do well was not carrying the people along.

“There was a lot of disenchantment in the system because of the sweeping reforms Kachikwu tried to introduce. The ‘indigenous NNPC staff’ said they were not carried along. He brought in a lot of strange people, a lot of new ideas and these were coming a bit

too fast. Civil servants are usually conservative people, so when they do not understand what you are doing or where you are going, they will ask all sorts of questions.

What is this man doing? You want to destroy the system?

You want to destroy our NNPC? How can he make this man a General Manager when he just finished school 10 years ago? All those things are bound to be there.

“He ought to have been a bit gradual in introducing those reforms, but he was working on timelines that were too fast for the system. He was in a hurry because he knew that he was not supposed to occupy those two positions for a long time,” our source said.

Although Kachikwu remains the boss of the oil industry, there are indications that his current position as Minister of State may not give him the full powers to drive the series of reforms he introduced into the system.

His successor, the newly appointed Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, has assumed office and pledged to carry on with the reforms of his predecessor.

Baru has, however, unfolded a 12-point agenda for the corporation but said he will run an all inclusive system for better results.

According to Baru, his administration will set up an all-inclusive internal advisory council on security comprising representatives from NNPC, the international oil corporations(IOCs), the Unions and Security Operatives to brainstorm and address host community agitations to complement efforts of the Government Security Team. The new helmsman also pledged to implement the new business models and grant the needed autonomy to the strategic business units; provide relevant directions and control that will ensure their growth and profitability, continue to explore ways of relieving government from the burden of cash calls obligation, defray the agreed cash call arrears of the IOCs, restore oil and gas production and grow the reserve portfolio.

Meanwhile, some lawyers, yesterday, kicked against the various appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari into boards and parastatals, stating that such is against the provisions of federal character.

The President had, last week, appointed members into the board of NNPC, with his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari,

making the list.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph, an Abuja based lawyer, Wahab Olatoye, noted that the appointments of Buhari since he was sworn in, has been lopsided, as only his allies from the North are always being considered for appointments.

“Like people have been saying all along, appointment under Buhari’s administration has been tailored towards CPC members who are in APC and the CPC members are the ones from the North alone and it does not cut across nationwide.

“The lopsidedness is against the Federal Character law and it is not cognizance of that. The Chief of staff is not a constitutional appointment, he is private secretary to the president, and he has so many things to do for the President as the private secretary. Making him a board member of NNPC shows that the President has not really open doors for outsiders to come closer to him to move the nation forward.

“The government is a year old, the people he has appointed so far have really not been able to turn things around. Although the appointment of the Chief of Staff to the board has no constitutional inhibition,” he added.

Another lawyer and law lecturer, Dr. Abass Ambali, noted that there is set rules and regulations guiding the appointment of individuals into offices as far the country is concerned.

“If one should look at the appointments in recent time, one can really say that the set rules have not been followed, but, however, one cannot completely blame the President because his prerogative cannot be denied.

“For the appointment of his Chief of Staff to the board, there is no constitutional provision that stopped him from doing so. The appointment of the Chief of Staff is on personal recommendation and not based on any rule,” he added.

Another lawyer, Dr. Thompson Emanoibe, said the recent appointment into the NNPC board is a violation of the NNPC Act 2014.

Emanoibe noted that “the NNPC Act 2004, specifies that three of the members are to be appointed by the National Council of Ministers, who by reason of their ability, experience or specialised knowledge of the oil industry or of business or professional attainments, are capable of making useful contributions to the work of the Corporation”.

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SUNDAY 10 JULY, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Niger Delta Red Devil declares:

Our next attacks’ll shock Nigeria Steve Uzoechi

T OWERRI

he Niger Delta Red Squad, the militant group operating from the Ohaji Egbema axis of Imo State, has alerted the Imo State Government and law enforcement agencies in the state of the expiration of their two weeks cease fire, add-

ing that, the next phase of their operation would take the state by storm.

The group, which earlier said their agitation was against the inordinate exploitation and marginalisation of the oil bearing communities in the state, warned that Imo State and Nigeria will be shocked by their next attack.

A terse statement posted

2018 poll will be APC’s nightmare – Fayose Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

T

he embattled Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has declared the plan by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to wrest the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election coming up in 2018 was the cause of his current travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fayose said the Ekiti electorate would still queue behind their favoured candidate again in the (2018) election just as they did in the last (2014) election, which saw him winning across all the 16 councils of the state.

EFCC is investigating Fayose over his alleged complicity in the N4.7 billion arms scam from which he was accused of having received N1.3billion to prosecute the 2014 election.

He warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to use EFCC to settle political scores, noting that so far, the Federal Government had shown that what is sauce for the goose had not been sauce for the gander.

His words: “Somebody from Ekiti gave President Buhari N1.5billion for his campaign, but today, he is being seen as a saint. When you want to campaign or do marriage, people will give you money and my own can’t be an exemption. I am not afraid of incarceration or death. APC’s problem is 2018 and as the God liveth, they are going nowhere. We will stand up and defend our state.”

The governor spoke at Ojumose in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, venue of a well-attended rally convened by the newly formed Council of Ekiti State Private (Informal) Sector Unions, comprising 40 trade groups including artisans, drivers, Okada riders, mechanics, tailors, barbers and hair-dressers among others.

The crowd, which gathered at the Ojumose junction,

expressed solidarity with the governor in his current travails with the anti-graft agency.

The rally was a direct reaction to the alleged APC-propped anti-Fayose protest held last Thursday, commending the Federal Government for its anti-corruption war and for freezing Fayose’s accounts.

However, speaking further Fayose said: “They said I collected a sum of N1.3 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki to fund my election. Some even said I collected it through Mr Musiliu Obanikoro. Let me put it on records that I do not know if either Col Dasuki or Obanikoro have come out openly to indict me, because he (Obanikoro) has not returned from abroad.

“They said similar things in 2006. It was all about second term then, because they didn’t want me to contest for a second term. They said the N1.3billion project which I initiated was a scam, but God brought me back. The APC and their EFCC conspirators took me before a judge and I got justice.”

“When God says yes, nobody can say no. God has given me uncommon favour over my enemies. I am presently using the mandate of God and Ekiti people and they are ready to defend the mandate and that is why you proudly came out today to express support for me.

“Nigerians have never had it so bad like this. People are suffering and hungry and President Buhari says he is fighting corruption. How can the Federal Government increase fuel from N86 to N145? The price of kerosene is now over N200. No act of intimidation and harassment will shut my mouth. I will continue to talk about national issues.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the new union, who is also the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Clement Adekola while addressing the crowd, revealed their membership strength was over 80,000.

...Okorocha, get ready, we’re coming •Brig-Gen Ishyaku, wait for us

on their Facebook page read, “Our two weeks seize-fire is almost coming to an end, and then we will start full operations.

Imo State and Nigeria will be shocked at what we are going to do in our forthcoming attacks.”

The group seemed particularly peeved by comments made to the news media by the Brigade Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze in Imo State, Brigadier-General Kay Ishyaku, though they did not specify

the exact statement that got their attention.

According to another post on their Facebook wall, the group said, “Since the Brigade Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, thinks he can talk to media, let him wait for us at Owerri, we will teach Imo State lessons they will never forget as soon as our two weeks cease-fire elapses. Rochas Okorocha and Army General Ishyaku should get ready. We are coming.”

In an earlier statement issued by the group last month, they had vowed to cripple the activities of oil companies operating in their area for allegedly exploiting the community without living up to their responsibilities to their hosts.

The statement read in part, “Oil companies started operations in our community since 1957 but till date, we have nothing to show as benefit and for the Imo State government, we

will make sure you make no further gains from Ohaji Egbema.”

Continuing it read, “Since the creation of Imo State in 1976, neither Imo State Government nor oil companies have remembered us, we have been neglected and abandoned. No electricity, no tarred roads, no drinking water, no hospital, no youth employment or empowerment. We shall destroy everything in Imo State that was built with our oil money.”

New Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru (left) and the out-going GMD, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, during the hand-over ceremony, in Abuja…at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

I

jaws in the Niger Delta, yesterday, warned the Federal Government and its allies to desist forthwith all plans to frustrate the commencement of academic activities in the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, noting that any further plot to continuously deny the Ijaws of their right to education will be met with the strongest resistance, whatsoever.

The Ijaws, through the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (FHACC), said the plan by Federal Government to upgrade the Navy College, Ibusa, to a maritime university is the height of injustice.

Speaking through the Diaspora Coordinator, Jerry Otuaro in a statement, the Ijaws noted that section 18 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ni-

Ijaw warns FG against plans to frustrate Maritime Varsity geria (as amended), clearly envisaged the need for government to direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels; and that government should strive at all times to eradicate illiteracy.

The statement reads: “These Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined under Chapter Two the Constitution has not been judicially and fairly invoked until the immediate past administration sought to do justice in that regard by establishing a federal university in each of the geopolitical zones of the country which precipitated the establishment of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State.

“Sadly, in the Nigerian style,

the incumbent government has deemed it expedient to perpetually shackle a certain section of our country, particularly the Ijaws, to educational starvation and marginalization.”

The statement further read: “We are not unaware of the Federal Government’s plot to completely unbundle the Maritime University at Okerenkoko but the recent step is one taken just too far. The plan of the Federal Government to convert the Navy College in Ibusa, Oshimili North Council of Delta State to a Maritime University, through the instrumentality of the Nigerian Navy, is a clandestine move to completely lock the door against the Maritime University at Okerenkoko.

“Why should the Navy present itself as the conduit pipe through which this injustice should be perpetrated? In recent times, the Chief of Naval Staff proposed to establish a Naval Maritime University in the Lake Chad Basin of the North Eastern region. In a twinkle of the eyes, he has again proposed to indulge in the above subject matter in Ibusa in utter disregard of the already established Maritime University Okerenkoko, the implication of which will mean that he has put the final nail in the coffin to achieve the political bias that has trailed the Maritime University Okerenkoko since the birth of the Buhari-led administration.”

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 10 JULY, 2016

NEWS

It’s Sheriff or nothing –Ojoughoh Biyi Adegoroye

T

he fate of the Peoples Democratic Party now hangs precariously in the balance as the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi’s factions exchanged tantrums, indicating a collapse of last week’s peace talks.

While the former insisted that it would stop at nothing to ensure Sheriff’s leadership is respected by the party, the latter described the former’s moves as grandstanding and rabble rousing.

It also warned governors elected on the platform of the party, especially “the emperor of Ikwere,’ a veiled allusion to Rivers State Governor Mr. Nyesom Wike to face governance and leave the party leadership alone.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has declared that former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi is legally appointed by the National Convention and that the National Caretaker Committee, CTC, is the authentic Executive of the party,.

But the group says that much as it is committed to the unity of the party, it would stop at nothing to ensure that Sen. Sheriff remains the Chairman of the party in tandem with extant laws and court verdicts.

Speaking to Sunday Telegraph, former PDP National Vice Chairman, South and deputy to Sheriff’s faction, Dr. Cairo Ojoughoh, said that in the interest of the party, and in order to ensure its success in the governorship election in Ondo and Edo states, it is imperative for the party to close ranks.

“The way out is as simple as abc. The leadership of the party should recognize Sheriff; NEC should meet and review the ward, state and local government congresses, organise a national convention of the party where Sheriff will give a valedictory speech after which a new the national leadership of the party will be elected and everybody will be at peace.

“And Sheriff is not ready to handover the party to one or two emperors within the party. That is what brought us to where we were and we are not ready to accede to that. The party belongs to all of us,” he said.

Asked who were the emperors, he said: “You know the emperor of Ikwere sitting in Port Harcourt. You know he goes looking for judges here

and there to get verdict.

All this must stop. He should sit down and face the cultism in his place and also address governance so as to allow the party to run itself.

“You know that this party is close to the hearts of many Nigerians. And what we are appealing to our leaders is that they should allow internal democracy to take place in the party. They should allow Sheriff, who is the Messiah for now rebuild the party and reposition it,” he said.

Asked why Sheriff remains in office after several court decisions to the contrary, he said : “Sheriff has five court judgements in his favour while Makarfi’s group has two, and those verdicts in favour of Sheriff say that he remains the only chairman.”

He lamented that one of the reasons the former leadership of the PDP should take the back seat was its inability to account for the sum of N11billion, a “case the EFCC is currently looking at. These are the things we want to avoid because the party can fund itself. We don’t want interference from the governors so that the PDP can face the business of politicking and winning election than all this bickering” Asked whether the bickering will not jeopardize the interest of the party in the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, he said that was why his faction is appealing to the governors to call Markarfi and his group to order so that they can forge a common front.

But in a statement at the weekend, the PDP National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi discredited Dr. Ojougboh is seeking for relevance.

The statement signed

by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, a member of the committee in charge of publicity described the former National Vice Chairman (South-South) as a rabble rouser.

“Cairo was one of those party stakeholders in Abuja that vehemently opposed Sheriff’s appointment by the National Executive Committee (NEC), but now he claims to be his ardent supporter. Where in lies his credibility?” the statement queried.

Ojougboh said all the courts which have ruled so far on the issues were court of concurrent jurisdiction, but he is optimistic that no court in the country will nullify the leadership of his group.

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi (sitting) flanked by the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe; Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Prof.

Benard Odoh; Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Odefa Obasi Obasi and the Clerk of the House, Patricia Anasi, while signing a bill into law at the Government House in Abakaliki ...on Friday.

New Telegraph MD, Egbemode, now Acting President, NGE

M

anaging Director/Editor-inChief of New Te l e g r a p h newspaper, Funke Egbemode, is now the Acting President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

The celebrated columnist emerged the acting president of the NGE in the early hours of Saturday, at the second quarterly meeting of the association’s Standing Committee held in Abuja.

Egbemode’s emergence followed the vacancy created by the exit of the President of the Guild, Alhaji Garba Deen Muhammad, Pamela Eboh Awka

T

he Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnay Onu yesterday said that the Federal Government is developing a draft action for the phasing out of mud houses across the country.

Speaking during his visit to the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute in Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state, Onu noted that the task would be made possible through research that would bring about cheap building materials that would enable Nigerians have affordable decent houses.

He maintained that it is the desire of the government led by President

who was recently appointed as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Muhammad’s predecessor, Femi Adesina, was appointed the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity.

Before joining the New Telegraph, Egbemode had worked in notable Nigerian newspapers.

She started her career as a Staff writer in the defunct Prime People Magazine.

She moved to The Punch in 1993, where she rose to be-

come the Deputy Feature Editor. In 2000, she was appointed Editor of The Post Express on Saturday.

She was the pioneer Editor of the Saturday Independent and a former Editor of The Sunday Sun before she was promoted to the position of the General Editor of The Sun Newspapers, an office she held until her appointment as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the New Telegraph Newspapers.

Egbemode has also served in the public sector as Assistant Press Secretary at the Nigerian Tourism Develop-

ment Corporation, NTDC, and Special Adviser (Media) to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh.

Egbemode was born in Ijabe, Osun State. She attended Baptist Practising Primary School, Iwo and Baptist Girls High School, Osogbo. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. She graduated in 1988.

Egbemode also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos.

FG to phase out mud houses across the country Muhammadu Buhari to give Nigerians decent living conditions adding that is the reason why NBRRI is being charged to go into research that would be felt at the grassroots.

Onu said: “A research that would enhance employment opportunities; decent houses and decent lives for Nigerians. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to make a positive difference in these areas”.

While noting that the phasing out of mud houses may not be achieved immediately, Onu described it as an ideal thing to do.

He assured staffers of the NBRRI, Nnewi of more commitment of his ministry to boost their activities and welfare and tasked them to be committed in researches that would enhance use of local materials.

“We can’t continue to import; because to do so is to export jobs”, he noted.

Onu stressed that efforts were being made to revise school curricular in the country to encourage skills in constructions, saying that the trend whereby most construction works in the country were done by foreigners was unac-

ceptable.

At the National Foundry Development and Training Centre, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, the minister regretted that foundry tools brought to the institute 18 years ago had not been put to use.

In his words: “This is not acceptable to this government. We must make use of this place under this administration”.

He also assured that the erosion problems in Anambra State would be handled, saying that was one of the reasons for trying to reinforce NBBRI.

6

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

News

Ali-Monguno buried in Maiduguri

F

ormer Minister of Petroleum Resources, Shettima Ali-Monguno, who died on Friday, was buried at the Gwange Cemetery in Maiduguri on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the burial was preceded by a funeral prayer led by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim, at the palace of the Shehu of Borno in Maiuguri.

Thousands of sympathisers, including Governor Kashim Shettima, former governors of the state as well as former ministers and heads of parastatal agencies attended the event held under tight security at the palace.

Ali-Monguno, an elder statesman, who was also Minister of Mines and Power, Internal Affairs and Education, died at his residence in Maiduguri at 95.

Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Saturday, condoled Borno

Government and people on the death of former Petroleum Minister, Alhaji Shettima Monguno, saying he was a ``courageous citizen”. ‘’He risked his life to speak the truth both to those in power and deviant non-state actors like Boko Haram,’’ Tambuwal, said in Sokoto, in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Imam Imam.

He noted that when many were afraid to speak against the Boko Haram insurgents, the deceased was prominent in expressing displeasure on the decimation of ``his beloved Borno’’. ‘’Monguno was a patriotic citizen, also renowned for his philanthropy, especially his contributions to the development of female education in Borno in particular, and the NorthEast,’’ he said.

Tambuwal condoled with his family and prayed God to give the family members the strength to bear the loss.

Army Commandants trade places, challenge officers on professionalism

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Flora Onwudiwe he out-going Commandant of the 9 Brigade Ikeja, Brigadier General Bulama Biu has handed over to the Commandant, Brigadier General Sani Mohammed with a call on officers and men to rededicate themselves to the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.

The two Generals swapped positions as Gen. Biu moved to 13 Brigade Calabar, Cross River State while Gen. Mohammed heads the 9 Brigade in Ikeja, Lagos The hand-over ceremony held at the conference room of the 9 Brigade had in attendance, the Chief of Staff, Principal Staff officers and Commanding Officers in the Army, Air Force and friends in attendance with a military parade.

While speaking with journalists, Biu said that his five months and three week’s stewardship as the Commander 9 Brigade had been very wonderful. “The command has a lot of challenges, but with the commitment of the officers and men under me we have lived up to the challenges.

“I am leaving 9 Brigade for my new assignment. I am a very happy person with high sense of fulfillment. Above all, I am leaving troops that are highly disciplined and committed to duty. I am sure they will extend same to the new commandant. I am sure the Brigade will go places.”

He highlighted some of the challenges as combating the pipeline vandals, miscreants and other vices, saying with the Operation Awatse have recorded alot of successes.

“We have been able to tame the activities of the

vandals to a very comfortable point. It is not an issue that can be completely eradicated within a short period, but we have made a lot of successes. With what we are doing I am very sure that those challenges will be a thing of the past.”

Recalling his knowledge of his successor, Biu said: “He is an infantry officer, dogged, rugged, dedicated, but a gentleman that I have for long operated with in different units, did several courses with, we met at the Nigerian Institute Strategy policy in Kuru, Jos.” On his advice to the new commandant, he said: “I have advised him to remain committed, not to take chances, and to ensure that the troops remained very professional He said the brigade slogan, “Fit to Fight” he initiated, “It has come to stay. The facility to drive

that vision cannot be say is completely on ground, I am very sure the new commandant will take off from there at the end of the day we will have sufficient facilities to work with.

The Commander of 9 Brigades, Gen. Mohammed said: “Just like the outgoing commandant of the 9 Brigade now 13 Brigade Commander has said, we are closely related we are almost like brothers, we have come a long way like brothers.

“Also we met in Liberia.

We did courses together in Jaji College in Jos .The challenging situation of this country is not palatable and I want all of us to work very hard and eextend the same maximum cooperation in his tenure in order to move the command forward.

On the security challenge, he sought the cooperation of the officers and men to ensure success of he Brigade.

... he was an icon of uprightness – Atiku F ormer Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has mourned the demise of a former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum, Shettima Ali Monguno, describing him as an icon of uprightness.

A message of condolence made available by the media office of the former Vice-President on Saturday, July 9, 2016 said that one of the most indelible public records of the late Shettima Ali Monguno were his uprightness and remarkable honesty, qualities for which the former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum would be

remembered.

The Turaki Adamawa noted that “the late Monguno devoted his life to honest service rather than obsession with personal accumulation of wealth.”

According to Atiku, Monguno’s greatest asset in life was his integrity, recalling that the late elder statesman from Borno State was one of the most credible and respectable parliamentarians of the First Republic.

Atiku said further that he and the late elder statesman from Borno State had always toyed with the utopian idea of a world government because of their beliefs in universal unity.

Abdulsalami, Mrs. Buhari visit Shinkafi’s family T he Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday in Sokoto, condoled with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the family of late Marafan Sokoto, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi.

Speaking at the palace of the Sultan, Mrs. Buhari described the death of Shinkafi as a great loss to Nigeria. She further prayed God to repose the soul of the deceased.

Responding, the Sultan thanked the president’s wife for the visit and for assisting the less privileged ones in the country.

Similarly, the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam

Abubakar, paid similar condolence visit to the Shinkafi family in Sokoto and prayed God to grant him Aljanna Firdaus.

He also prayed that Allah would grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Other personalities who paid condolence visit to the family include former Defence Minister, Gen. Aliyu Gusau and PDP National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State and Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo were also among those who paid condolence visit to the late Shinkafi family.

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal with his Kebbi State counterpart, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, at the residence of the Shinkafi’s in Sokoto…yesterday

Umahi signs three bills, moves to empower 2,400 women, youths

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overnor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has said his administration will next month spend over N600 million to empower at least 2,400 women and youths in the state.

Umahi, who disclosed this on Friday while assenting to three bills recently passed into law

by Ebonyi State House of Assembly, said he would soon send a letter to the lawmakers requesting for approval of part of the sum.

He explained that the plan was part of his ad-

ministration’s effort to ensure that women and youths were made to engage in productive activities to fend for their families and contribute to the development of the state.

“The administration wants to deploy N600 million in the month of August towards ensuring that at least 2,400 of our youths and women have something doing in this state. So the request will be coming to you,” the governor told the Assembly members who were present as he signed the bills.

Umahi commended the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the bills which he said would enhance development of the state.

The new laws are the Ebonyi State Primary Healthcare Development law, Ebonyi State Law on Telecommunication Infrastructure Compliance and Maintenance Agency and Ebonyi State Property Enumeration and Registration Agency.

The governor said: “I want to thank the House of Assembly very dearly for the passage of these laws and for their deep

appreciation and partnership with us.

“I am very excited for their patience and understanding and their zeal for Ebonyi projects. For me and other members of the state Executive Council and of course, together with you and the Judiciary, it has been how to secure the future of our children; it has been how to lift up this state because, no matter how much you pretend, if we are not updated, we cannot compete with others when we go beyond Ebonyi State.

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Nasarawa to replace striking workers with fresh graduates

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assarawa State Governor, Tanko AlMakura, on Saturday, threatened to recruit fresh graduates to replace workers in the state currently on strike over non-payment of their salary.

The governor issued the threat in Nassarawa Eggon at the celebration of the 35th coronation anniversary of Aren Eggon, Dr Bala Angbazo.

He, however, appealed to the workers to return to work, recalling that the state was among the first in the country to implement the N18,000 minimum wage in 2011.

He commended the Aren Eggon for his contributions toward the sustenance of peace in the state and urged the people to support the government and the traditional rulers in their effort, regardless of religious and political affiliations.

“I want to appeal to the striking workers to go back to work as the decision by the state government to review their salary downward was as a result of dwindling economy. ``It is also caused by the fall in the price of crude oil and declining allocation from the Federation Account.

“The state government

will take stock of attendance of striking workers that return to work and invite applications from graduates in order to replace those still on strike,” the governor said.

He explained that the downward review of the workers’ salary was to accommodate other sectors of the economy as well as develop infrastructure in the state.

In his good will message, Mr James Ali-Manza, the National President of Eggon Cultural and Development Association (ECDA), said the association would continue to support government policies.

Earlier, the Sole Adminis-

trator of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area, Mr Akolo Success, said that the anniversary was organised to thank God for his protection and guidance for the monarch in his 35 years on the throne.

He said that the council would continue to partner traditional institutions to promote peace in the state, adding that without peace, no nation could achieve development.

In his remarks, the monarch thanked God for good health, long life and prosperous reign and pledged to continue to promote peace and harmonious coexistence of all people in his domain.

NEWS

APC chieftain chides Buhari over Kyari’s NNPC post Hassan Jirgi DAMATURU

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member of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Jirgi has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari as a member of the newly reconstituted board of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), saying the appointment is not only embarrassing but is also a sign of corruption.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to Sunday Telegraph yesterday that the chief of staff has no business being on that board because he is already saddled with the huge responsibility of the office of chief of staff

to the president. “He cannot combine the office of the chief of staff to the president with the responsibilities of a member of the board of NNPC if must be effective in his task at the presidency,” he stated.

Jirgi further urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review the appointments in NNPC with view to dropping his Chief of Staff and replace with another party member.

According to him, the office of the Chief of Staff has enormous responsibilities that it cannot be combined with any other task.

He, however, lauded the appointment of Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru as Group Managing Director of NNPC, saying it is one of the best steps taken so far by the Buhari administration.

Explore business opportunities in S’ Africa, says Consul General

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People of Enugu West Senatorial Zone displaying placards during their solidarity rally for Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Awgu, Enugu State… yesterday

Forgery: Enugu West leaders rally round Ekweremadu, accuse FG of persecution Kenneth Ofoma

ENUGU

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he people and leaders of Enugu West Senatorial district, yesterday, condemned the trial of deputy Senate President (DSP), Ike Ekweremadu by the Federal Government for alleged forgery of the Senate’s Standing Order and Rules, saying it is an act of political persecution.

The people spoke during a solidarity rally for Ekweremadu at the Enugu West senatorial headquarters, Awgu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

More than 3,000 youths, old men, women traditional rulers and the political class gathered at the council’s mini-stadium where they accused the Federal Government of persecuting their son, Senator Ekweremadu, who represents the senatorial district in the Senate.

The people marched round the local government

secretariat from where they moved to the constituency office of the member, representing Awgu-Aninri-OjiRiver federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu to formally present their grievances.

The leaders and people of the senatorial district, who carried placards and sang solidarity songs, marched back to the local government field where a prominent traditional ruler from Okpanku in Aninri Local Government Area and former Director General of the Nigeria Defence Academy, HRH (Prof.) Sam Ukpabi presented an address on behalf of the people.

Some of the placards carried inscriptions such as: “The livewire of Igbo should not be harassed by the Buhari-led Federal Government enough is enough”, “The Enugu West people will resist any attack against Ikeoha” and

“Dictatorship of the executive - let separation of power prevail.”

Prof. Ukpabi in his address stated that the stakeholders in the senatorial zone had reviewed the state of the nation, especially the “political bitterness, nepotism, hate and crushing economic hardship, with a narrow cabal in the All Progressives Congress, (APC),” and resolved to condemn the “politically motivated persecution” of the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on trumped up charges of forgery.

“While the current political persecution has not come to us as a surprise, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is yet to tell the world how he generated the names of Senators Ekweremadu and Bukola Saraki for trial, when the petitioners, all senators and National Assembly bureaucrats interrogated by the police, and indeed

the police report itself did not mention or indict Senator Ekweremadu or Saraki in any way?”

While calling on the APCled Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, refrain from the alleged culture of political persecution, the people declared that Ekweremadu was elected with an overwhelming mandate both as a senator and Deputy Senate President and his election did not violate known conventions, practice or the nation’s constitution.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reign in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Attorney General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami, describing the trial of the presiding officers of the Senate as a “kangaroo” exercise, even when, according to them, a Federal High Court had dismissed the exercise as “abuse of court process”.

igeria`s Consul General in South Africa, Ambassador Uche AjuluOkeke, has urged Nigerians resident in that country to explore the many business opportunities available there.

Ajulu-Okeke made the call on Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa, after receiving an award of Grand Patron of the Order of Nigerian Union South Africa and a certificate for exceptional service to Nigerians in South Africa.

The consul general said the consulate would facilitate genuine businesses and investments between Nigeria and South Africa. `` You should bring business to Nigeria. There is no business that is brought here that I do not facilitate. `` I write recommendation letters at cost to the consulate for those that have brought their investments to me.

`` We have done similar letters for Imo and Anambra state governments and will do for other states when they come,” she said.

Ajulu-Okeke also urged the Nigerian community to encourage their state governments and business community to come and exploit the business potentials in South Africa. “Encourage your governors and business community to come here. What we do here is to broker businesses and check the companies. ``If they are genuine, we bring the Nigerian government or business community and put them across the table. `` But before you bring anybody to us, make sure you have signed the Memorandum of Understanding. `` So, I urge all of you, identify businesses, a lot of businesses opportunities are in this country, take them to Nigeria,” she said.

Soldiers killed in S’Sudan

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t least 115 soldiers from South Sudan’s rival factions were killed in gunbattles in the capital Juba, a military spokesman for the opposition said on Saturday, amid fears for a fragile peace process in a country still reeling from a two-year war.

Gunfire erupted on Friday evening near the state house where President Salva Kiir and vice president Riek Machar, former rivals, were meeting for talks.

Both men said they did not know what had triggered the latest fighting between their factions and called for calm.

William Gatjiath Deng,

spokesman for Machar’s military faction, said the fighting had occurred near the state house and in army barracks.

“In the morning we collected and counted 35 (dead) from the SPLM-IO (Machar’s faction) and 80 people from the government forces,” he said.

Deng said the death toll could rise on Machar’s side “because there are some soldiers seriously wounded”.

The government side had no immediate comment on the situation in Juba.

At least five soldiers were killed on Thursday in similar clashes between the two sides.

The Sunday Magazine

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'It's more convenient sleeping, making babies Indeed, weird things are happening in Nigeria, which many people know little or nothing about. Sunday Telegraph’s investigations reveal that some Nigerians feel more comfortable sleeping with mad men and women for different reasons and that ritual killers impregnate mad women to ensure uninterrupted supply of newborn babies for their sacrificial needs. CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reveals more

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here is my baby, where is my baby? They have taken my baby, I will kill everybody!” Those were the verbal frustrations expressed by a mad woman whose girl child was taken away from her by sympathisers to stop her from feeding the newborn with contaminated food and water at Mazamaza in Lagos.

Sunday Telegraph’s investigation reveals that the mad woman, who had been there for years, was impregnated by an unknown person. Eventually, she was delivered of a baby girl, who feed on her dirty breasts.

The mad woman also fed the newborn dirty food and water and sympathisers, who couldn’t stand it, took the baby from her and she fought for the custody of her baby.

That is just one of several of such cases.

It’s mind boggling that while native doctors and other ritualists tell their clients to sleep with mad people for transfer of spirits, some other 'sane' individuals prefer making babies with mad people for other reasons. Of course, they ensure that they take custody of such children immediately after birth.

According to Sunday Telegraph’s investigation, such people fear that accomplices of such practice might rise tomorrow to claim the ownership of the baby or demand lifetime settlement. So, in order to avoid such embarrassment, demand or blackmail for ransom, they choose lunatics over sound men and women as the most convenient for the exercise.

The decision or preference for lunatics over normal people in this practice, may have, perhaps, been buoyed by confirmation by medical health workers that a lunatic can give birth to a normal, healthy and intelligent offspring.

Recently, a married woman, Titi, divorced her husband, Rafiu for impregnating a mad woman, who died out of the complications of pregnancy in Ikotun Egbe area of Lagos State. Titi knew about the ugly development when her husband was arrested and charged with murder.

Thus, the 13-year-old marriage clashed when Titi filed a suit before a Customary Court sitting in Ejigbo and seeking dissolution of the marriage. The mother of four noted that she could no longer cope with the behaviour of the man and prayed court to disolve he marriage.

Sequel to this, the Magistrate, Akano, who presided over the matter said the relationship has been irretrievably broken and dissolved the marriage. He ruled that both Titi and Rafiu should take care of the children, two children, each.

Also, a certain relationship between the lunatics and native doctors, whereby some mad people aid the work of native doctors, was discovered in this investigation.

They seem to work as traditional medicine manufacturers in most cases, may be their involvement in the spiritual affairs makes it possible.

This implies that some of them have not really lost their senses; their insanity may be considered ‘an encounter with the spirit’ for a specific assignment.

Recently, a lunatic turned native doctor in Anambra State was said to have discovered herbs for the treatment of stroke and diabetics. There was also the case of Chief Hilary Eduogu, a native of Umugama Village in Umuchu town, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, whose stint of temporal madness, sent him back home.

It was said that the gods of his forefathers cast a spell of madness on him in order to bring him back to the village to serve them.

According to Kayode Adekanla, a spiritualist, there are a number of reasons native doctors ask their clients to sleep with lunatics after performing certain rituals for them.

He told Sunday Telegraph, “One of my aunties is a native doctor and she taught me a lot of things, and I have heard her say a number of deep things.

“There is an understanding that mad people live with spirits, which one can’t see. So, for you to be able to commune with the spirits, they will ask you to sleep with a mad person, and in that case, there will be transfer of spirits and possibilities, which makes one to see in the spirit.

“Again, it’s believed that charm doesn’t work against them and if there is a transfer of the spirits, the persons will have the same protection and liberty that the mad persons have to eat even poisoned food and get away with it. Do you know why people, who are strong in the spirit, always appear in dream in form of mad people, or in the spirit of mad people?

“Some of them, when you call them in a native doctor’s monitoring mirrors or water, they come out very violent in the spirit or in likeness of mad men or women.

This is what I can tell you for now. There

is more to it that I can explain to you but you should also know that it’s not easy to get anything from Satan without paying dearly for it. You know the rest.”

In the same vein, Pastor Victor Okafor of Vision of God Bible Church, considers why native doctors may tell their clients to sleep with lunatics. He described such as a price to be paid for getting wealth or protection from Satan, adding that Satan gives with left hand and collects back with right hand.

He said, “It’s a punishment for getting certain things from Satan. It’s a price that you must pay. In most cases, when the clients, those seeking spiritual solutions from the native doctors, didn’t do what they were asked to do by their gods, their gods would take away everything given to them.

“Having said this, a mad man is made up two spirits. The spirits enable him to commune with man and spirits. You can’t see the spirit but when you go into a mad person, you will begin to see the spirits that work in him. Again, they want to put forgettable torture in you that each time you remember that you slept with mad persons, it sends some disgusting signals all over your body.

“So, it’s a punishment and at the same time, it’s a seal for their covenant. That means, they have covenanted themselves to the spirit of madness and when they breach the covenant, they will automatically go insane because they are in covenant with madness.”

Offspring of insane people are usually healthy and sound Also, demystifying the mysteries behind making babies with mad people, Dr. Alabi Adeleja, said, “Medically, pregnant women are supposed to be given anti tetanus injections three times before delivery, including mad women but only God understands what happens in their own case that they go through normal gestation period without any form of treatment and still have healthy children.

“It’s only God that understands why the pregnant mad women are healthy throughout the period, even when they don’t access regular antenatal care, or take routine drugs, which normal women are subjected

to. Yet, they give birth to healthy babies.

To me, it’s a mystery of God rather than medical.

“They go through the pregnancy, have their babies safely and even take care of their babies. If not God, how can one explain the fact that they fed their babies dirty water and still breastfeed them with the same dirty breasts? When you see them, they cover their babies with dirty clothes and protect them in their own little way.

“On several occasions, when they give birth, their children are healthy without any medical issue. But to take care of the children properly, we try to take the babies away for proper medical care. Medically, we drug them to be able take their babies.

It’s very risky to take their babies away while they are awake because they go violent in order to recover their babies, and their mental disabilities get worse.

“They go violent because they are glued to them. I experienced one on the Lagos Island, precisely, at CSM under bridge. As I was coming back from work that fateful evening, I saw some workers of a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), who picked up a mad woman’s baby while the woman was asleep.

“It was the same week the baby was born.

They had been monitoring the woman.

Eventually, she fell asleep but as they tried to pick the baby, she woke up, maybe due to the noise that she heard when they were about taking the baby, and you need to see how she scattered everybody in anger. The madness doubled, she went really violent and at this point, one couldn’t get close at all.”

Speaking on the increasing rates of pregnancies among mad women in the society, a volunteer social health worker and a medical doctor with Havana Hospital, Lagos Island, Dr. Ngozi Obiora, said: “Some childless men, sometimes in agreement with their wives and in most cases solitarily, sleep with mad women in a bid to make babies.

“I speak to you from experience. I have been in this job for years and I can authoritatively tell you that it’s more convenient for these men and women to sleep with mad people and make babies. Some of them said that they prefer to make babies

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with mad people' with mad people than get a friend or relatives that will blackmail them for life. These are both rich and well-educated Nigerians. A lot are happening in this country, yet those, who have, can’t honour God for the gift.

“It’s convenient in the sense that nobody comes to claim the ownership of the babies in the future. It’s quite disgusting but they prefer to dispel that initial abhorrence to sleep with them for children. How do they do this, you might want to know? Sometimes, they pretend to be nice to these mad people by giving them money, food and all manner of things. So, when the mad women, likewise the men, get accustomed to them, they will sleep with them easily.

“Sometimes, they behave like mad people to be able to sleep with them. On the other hand, they might even drug them and take them to a safe place and clean them up.

After the intercourse, they will begin to monitor the woman and the pregnancy.

When it gets to nine months, they will inform certain NGOs that will go and 'catch' them for rehabilitation and possible birth.

Afterwards, they adopt them.

“But if they allow the mad woman to give birth to the baby in the dirty environment, they dispossess her of the baby in a very swift manner and run to the hospital, where the baby will be cleaned up and taken to the intensive care unit, where it will be given antibiotics drip to clear its system. Medically, we drug their food and even their water to dispossess them of their babies.”

Speaking on their immune system and why they find it difficult to get infected by the things they eat, she said, “Most of them have infections and eventually die of the infections. But it all boils down to immune system of the mad person to fight the infections. Even as we think that they have stronger immune system than normal persons, you will be surprised that if you eat what they eat, you may not get any infection when your immune system is high. It’s just that you won’t have the courage to do it.

“Apart from the mystery of God in preserving them, ignorant is another key factor that preserves them because they do not know what they do. To them, they are not dirty and that’s why a mad person will come and tell normal person that he or she is insane. What an irony. However, they get sick and in some cases, die of infections. It’s all about immunity. They can die of AIDS even when they do not have HIV.” Corroborating her, Mrs. Udechukwu Uka noted that it was a tug of war and a battle to recover what belongs to her that made a mad woman to destroy people’s goods and property, when her newborn was taken away from her at Mazamaza, on the Old Ojo Road, along Mile 2-Badagry Road, Lagos.

She said: “I felt for that mad woman because I can imagine what she was going through. She was weeping and fighting.

She charged at the sympathisers who took her baby away, saying, ‘they have taken my baby, I will kill everybody.’

“The mad woman was scooping dirty water on the baby but the sympathisers, who lacked the skills, forcedly dispossessed her of her baby and she went gaga and started destroying people’s goods in a bid to get her back baby.”

Why we stopped giving out newborns– NGO A popular NGO, which works on the mental health of the mad people and take care of their children, Okota-based So-Said Charity Home, said they have stopped giving out their babies because ritualists go about picking babies from NGOs for their

wicked acts.

Speaking on the welfare of the lunatics and their children in their care, the Chief Executive Officer, So-Said Charity Home, Mrs. Felicia Martins, said they are also into the care of vulnerable people.

“But in the process of doing that, we entered into mental health as we will not leave out the mental needs of these people.

For now, we have a handful of them and cannot take more,” she added.

However, one of the Volunteer Workers at the centre, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “We discover that some people who come to adopt babies have ulterior motives and some of them are ritualists. And guess what they do with these babies? They sacrifice some of these babies to their gods and pound them in paste for their concoctions.

“Also, intelligence reaching us is that most of the pregnant mad people are being impregnated by these cultists to enable them have access to newborn babies for their sacrifices.

A psychiatrist nurse with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Happiness Mbonu, said a number of things can make a sound person go mad within a second. Some of the things she pointed out include the use of hard drugs for men and women, abuse of alcoholic drinks, shocks, depression, emotional trauma and evil forces, among others.

However, a close surveillance of these people will convince one that some of them are really not completely insane, as they still talk sense but what they cannot stop is regular speaking to themselves which is associated with the mental disabilities.

A particular calm lunatic, Malam Gabi Setimo, as he is nicknamed, is often seen speaking big grammar, which made people conclude that he had brain fatigue due to excessive reading. He knows virtually everything and everybody around by name but he’s mad. He is obviously very intelligent and tells hidden truths.

Another one is always begging for N10 for food. 'Abeg give me N10 make I take chop,' he would say. These are among the calm mad people within the vicinities visited, while few others are violent.∆8 More so, the psychiatrist stated that those violent ones are still new in their madness, while the calm ones have been insane for long. They are calm and can stay for long without talking. They beg with calmness of the spirit and the insanity that has entered their body fully.

However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Opeyemi Badmus, has warned the ritual killers to desist from such act, saying that any person found guilty of such act will be prosecuted.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

Why my father missed my meeting with Ambode –One-day Gov

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inner of the 2016 Spelling Bee Competition, Master Olaseinde Olufemi Joshua on Friday explained why his father, Mr. Olaseinde, missed his meeting with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and members of the State Executive Council.

Joshua, a student of Shasha Community Senior High School in Alimosho area of Lagos, who spoke at the Lagos House in Ikeja while being hosted as the 16th Oneday Governor of the state, said his father would have loved to be present at the event but was unable to attend due to some health challenges.

Besides, Joshua described Governor Ambode as the most labour-friendly governor in Nigeria.

He said despite the dwindling allocation from the Federal Government, Ambode has remained committed to the prompt payment of workers’ salary.

He said: "While over 29 states of the federation cannot afford to pay their workers, I really commend the governor's hard work and determination to take Lagos State to the highest level."

Joshua added that so far, Governor Ambode had lived up to the true meaning of the acronym of his name which he described as "AMBODE - Ambassadors of Meritorious, Brilliant, Organised and Dedicated Entity."

Responding, the governor ordered that

Joshua's father be treated at the medical facilities of the state government.

A deeply touched Governor Ambode said: "It is unfortunate that his father could not make it for this very special occasion in the life of his child but will be attended to in the health facilities of the state government."

For coming tops in the competition, Joshua was given a laptop, printer and generating set courtesy of the Governor's Office while other winners of the competition were given tablets each.

Bauchi NGO trains women on friendly cooking Alhassan Yusuf BAUCHI

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s part of efforts to check the devastating effect of global warming, a Bauchi-based NGO has introduced friendly cooking stoves to about 400 women in Lafia-Lamurde Local Government Area in neighbouring Adamawa State.

The Development Exchange Centre (DEC), with headquarter in the Bauchi State capital, through its programme manager in charge of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Lewis Abwadab, said the project was also initiated to curtail increasing rate of tree felling which is responsible for desertification.

Demonstrating the use of the new innovation, Abwadab said what the rural women required for effective cooking includes: a piece of firewood and sawdust or sugarcane dust, saying this will help to promote environmental sustainability.

He expressed worry over excessive use of firewood by households, noting that this was responsible for cancer of the lungs, eye ailment and other fire related disasters particularly in the rural areas.

The DEC WASH programme manager advised the women of Lafia-Lamurdi to educate their colleagues in the sur-

rounding communities like Mansurmi and Kupte about the friendly cooking stoves which will serve as alternative source of energy.

“The new local technology will save cost, regulate tree felling, encourage afforestation and help in recycling saw dust and sugarcane dust,” says Lewis Abwadab.

In his remarks, the district head of Lafia in Lafia-Lamurde LGA of Adamawa State, Chief Clement Minakaro urged women in the community to key into the new project in order to protect the environment already devastated by activities of firewood sellers and users.

Chief Minakaro, while commending DEC management for its people-oriented rural based programs in Lafia district, assured that his chiefdom would partner Savanah Sugar Company management with a view to sourcing for sugarcane dust that was in abundance in the area for ease of use by households.

Women, who thronged the venue where the use of the friendly cooking stove was demonstrated, believed that time often wasted in the bush to source for firewood or buy the products would be drastically reduced by about 50 to 70 per cent daily.

Fayemi Centre to distribute food items to children, nursing mothers

T

he John Kayode Fayemi Centre (JKFC) will distribute various food items to nursing mothers and children as its contributions to cushioning the effects of the economic crunch pervading the state.

The organisation is a pet project of the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the Director of the JKF Centre, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, explained that the items will be donated as a stop-gap measure to cushion the effects of the food crisis arising from the non-payment of salaries in the last six months.

The non-payment of salaries and emoluments in a state that is wholly dependent on government staffers has greatly affected the standard of living in the state.

“The food items, which were targeted mainly at nursing mothers and children who are the worst hit by the current economic crunch, are to mitigate the effects of the crushing hunger in the state.

“It is also an extension of the JKF Food Bank Scheme while he was governor of the state, whereby raw and cooked food items were distributed to the old, weak and vulnerable in the society.”

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

News

Zamfara: Buhari to launch war against cattle rustling Idris Salisu Gusau

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resident Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday, launch aggressive operations against cattle rustlers in Zamfara State.

The operation will be embarked upon by a Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising Nigerian Police, the Army and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among other relevant agencies.

Briefing newsmen at the state secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),

the state Commissioner of Information, Tourism and Culture, Alhaji Umar Jibo Bukkuyum, said the governments arrived at the measure of ‘enough is enough’ to the dangerous armed bandits, terrorising the state and its environs.

Bukkuyum, who noted that deployed batches of troops have started mapping out strategies to end killing of innocent people on their arrival, said that cattle rustling as well as kidnapping of people for ransom across the state will be taken care of by the troops.

Politics should be a call to service – Olatoye Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

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he lawmaker representing Lagelu/ Akinyele Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Temitope Olatoye (a.k.a. Sugar), has appealed to his fellow politicians to see their opportunity of representing their people as a call to service for the advancement of humanity rather than avenue to amass wealth for selfish purposes.

Olatoye said this yesterday in Ibadan in his address at the official commissioning of an ultra modern palace he built and donated to the Baale of Ile Igbon, Chief Kelani Oloyede, in the Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, The lawmaker built the modern palace for the community leader who he asked to abandon the old one which he said was not befitting his status.

According to the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, for any impact to be felt in their constituencies, the current economic crisis in Nigeria demands

that only those who have means of livelihood should be elected into political offices and not those who would see the opportunity to line their pockets and amass wealth to the detriment of the people that voted them in.

He said, “With the current situation in the country, Nigerians should begin to see politics as a call to service, rather than an avenue to accumulate wealth.

I have been spending money realized from my personal businesses to embark on series of developmental and welfare projects in Oyo State. It will not be wise to entrust commonwealth in the hands of greedy and selfish politicians in this period of economic hardship”, he said.

He said one of the ways to put smiles on the faces of millions of Nigerian masses at this time when over 27 states of the federation are currently not financially viable and could not pay salaries of their workers, is for those who have in abundance to begin to think of how to give back to the society.

Ugwuanyi appoints woman activist as waste mgt boss

overnor Ifeanyi UgG wuanyi of Enugu State has appointed a

woman activist, philanthropist, politician and graduate of political science, Mrs. Amaka M. Anajemba, as the new Managing Director of Enugu Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA).

A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, stated that the appointment took effect from July 4, 2016, and requested

that “all handing and taking over exercise must be completed on or before close of work on Friday, July 8, 2016.”

Mrs. Anajemba, until her appointment was the Chairperson of Door-to-Door 4 Gburugburu (Women Wing), a support group and Non-Governmental Organisation that promotes good governance in the state and works for the emancipation of indigent women and the underprivileged in the society.

Army kill 16 Boko Haram suspects Emmanuel Onani

T Abuja

he Nigerian Army yesterday said its troops have killed 16 Boko Haram suspects during a fierce gun battle at the former’s location, in Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said the fierce battle ensued when Boko Haram elements attacked the troops’ aforesaid location.

It further noted that

one of the fighters’ suicide bomber blew himself up at a gun truck, thereby killing the driver and the gunner.

While the truck and the mounted weapon were damaged beyond repairs, five soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“Friday evening, remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their numbers attacked our troops location at Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

“The terrorists came with Motorcycles Borne

Improvised Explosive Devices (MCBIED), Anti-Aircraft Guns and other weapons at about 5.00pm and the exchange of fire lasted for some hours before they were overwhelmed by the troops firepower.

“Unfortunately, one of the terrorists’ suicide bomber detonated himself at a gun truck killing the driver and the gunner. The truck and the mounted weapon were also damaged beyond repairs. In addition, two soldiers were wounded in action while three others sustained minor

injuries.

“The troops killed seven of the attackers instantly while quite a number escaped with gun shot wounds. During clearance operations this morning, the troops discovered nine more Boko Haram terrorist’s dead bodies in the surrounding areas. Therefore the total number of terrorists killed was 16.

“The troops also recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun, Rocket Propelled Grenade, ammunitions and captured two of the terrorists alive,” the statement said.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (middle); his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, (left) cutting the tape to mark the official opening of Elim Estate where the state government acquired 100 housing units for civil servants at Abakpa Nike, Enugu State, yesterday

Blame past govts for nation’s woes – VON DG Charles Onyekwere

ENUGU

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he Director-General (DG), Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said Nigerians should blame the various challenges facing the country on previous governments that ruled the country in the past and not the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The VON’s DG, who spoke during his party, All Progressives Congress’s rally at Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Friday, said previous regimes enthroned ethnicity, poverty and other vices in the country.

He urged the Niger Delta Avengers and other secessionist groups not to misplace their anger but to join President Buhari’s war against corruption.

Okechukwu appealed to Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Ijaw National Congress, and by extension, all the agitators for restructuring or separation of the country to negotiate for critical physical and social infrastructure with the President, rather than the current feverish agitation for restructuring or outright secession.

He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, one is not against the trimming of the Exclusive Legislative List in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so as to shed some federal powers to the states and local government councils.

“I am on the same page with the age long adage of our great ancestors, which states inter-alia: ‘If you don’t know where the rain

started, you may not find a solution to the drench.’ Therefore, with hindsight, the causative factor, which regrettably simulated the current heightened agitation for restructuring or secession, is crass and unbridled corruption.

“Let’s join Mr. President to kill corruption.

Let’s not forget the common knowledge that if the successive regimes had revamped our decayed physical and social infrastructure, if they had not squandered our commonwealth and if they had not promoted ethnicity and religion. Today, no Nigerian could have been bothered on who is Chief of Army Staff or Inspector General of Police.

“To be specific, if the erstwhile president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, and ex-president and Chief

Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, had utilised the unprecedented Oil Windfall to fix our power sector, erect modern rail lines, build or update our refineries 2nd Niger Bridge and our school and health institutions; nobody today will have anything to avenge.

“The painful wind of hunger, despair, despondency and gross unemployment is blowing in the North-West, SouthWest, South- South, North-Central, SouthEast and North-East. No ethnic or religious group is immune to hunger ravaging the land “Accordingly, it is more sane and pragmatic that Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Ijaw National Congress and indeed all and sundry separatist groups to channel their agitation to total war against corruption.”

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

OPINION 11

Fayose, EFCC and rule of law Chukwudi Enekwechi

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t is an established fact that those who seek for equity must come with clean hands. What this age long maxim teaches is that we must be above board in our dealings with others. To bring home the point, if we dwell on the unfolding development where the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed that his Zenith Bank account has been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) some issues may require clarification.

First and foremost, what the commission has commenced is an investigation and not a trial which Governor Fayose enjoys immunity under section 308 of the Nigerian constitution. Going by the law, every state governor and his deputy have immunity from being tried for any civil or criminal offence while still in office.

However, in the case of the ongoing controversy, the EFCC has clarified that it is acting within the law by freezing Fayose’s bank account for the purpose of investigation. Furthermore, information filtering out from some sources in the agency indicated that about N1.2bilion being part of the looted security funds has been traced to the governor’s account, hence the need to freeze and investigate it.

Therefore, it will appear diversionary for Mr. Fayose rather than cooperate with investigators and prove his innocence to resort to inanities by dragging the name of Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of Mr. President into the Halliburton scandal.

Already, the former Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde has cleared Mrs Buhari as not being the same Aisha that was involved in the scandal. What remains is for Governor Fayose to take things in his

stride instead of adopting the “pull him down” stratagem, as in the recent case of maligning the wife of the president.

As to whether it is appropriate to investigate an incumbent governor, we must realise that there is a difference between investigation and trial. While the constitution protects an incumbent governor from trial while still in office, it does not preclude him from being investigated.

In the case between the Inspector General of Police versus Gani Fawehinmi, Nigeria Weekly Law Report 2002, the Supreme Court had ruled that a sitting Governor can actually be investigated while in office. We have also seen cases where former governors like Joshua Dariye, Rasheed Ladoja, DSP Alamieyeseigha and others were investigated while still serving as governors of their respective states.

Going by Governor Ayo Fayose’s strident reference to his immunity protection, it seems that he deliberately undertook the task of haranguing Mr. President in order to portray himself ultimately as a victim. Notwithstanding, with the revelations, if Fayose has breached the law, then obviously he will face the music.

As a governor, it is expected that he will continue to discharge his responsibilities to the good people of Ekiti State, rather than meddling in the affairs of federal organs, and swimming in the murky waters of politics.

Presently, his inability to pay Ekiti workers over five months salaries has not only become a concern, but totally embarrassing even to non-Ekiti people.

Additionally, the mind-boggling revelation of a part of over N4billion ONSA fund traced to his account raises eyebrows, and he will do well to clear the air.

Governor Ayo Fayose ought to have

emulated his other colleagues across the country by identifying with the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Patriotism demands that he recognises the fact that corruption has dealt a big blow to the ability of successive administrations to bring development nearer to the people, and for the very first time we have a committed president who means well and is bent on ridding the country of corruption.

So far, the anti-graft commission has justified its mandate by helping the Buhari administration to curtail corruption.

The huge recoveries it has made will no doubt help the Federal Government to deliver on its programmes. It is expected that much of the recovered funds will be used to pay newly recruited teachers, provide palliatives to the needy and the most vulnerable in the society, as well as provide needed infrastructure across Nigeria.

Therefore, people in high positions like Governor Ayo Fayose can play a role in helping the Federal Government deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians rather than playing adversarial roles.

The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is on a salvage mission and the need arose because of the alarming rate corrupt people were greedily helping themselves to the national till. Already, most Nigerians are bearing the brunt of the sleaze in high places under the PDP watch.

For the purpose of clarity let me quote section 34(1) of the EFCC Act: “Freezing order on Banks or other Financial Institutions” provides that: “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment or law, the Chairman of the Commission or any officer authorised by him

may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this act, and or any of the enactments specified under section 7(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court ex-parte for power to issue an order as specified in Form B of the schedule to this Act, addressed to the manager of the Bank or any person in control of the Financial Institutions where the account is or believed by him to be or the head office of the bank, other financial institutions or designated non-financial institutions to freeze the account.”

From the above, it has been established that the EFCC Chairman or any authorised personnel can compel a bank or any financial institution to freeze any person’s account, if he/she is under investigation. Secondly, an ex-parte court order can be obtained by the EFCC without first notifying the owner of the account and in the case of Governor Fayose, the anti-graft body has complied with the laws of the land.

Considering the nature of the investigation which borders on corruption, the EFCC retains the power to freeze the account of the individual or organisation being investigated. The principle of equity and justice as always advocated by Mr. Fayose presupposes that it is a two way traffic, which implies that both the governors and the governed, rich and poor, high and low must subject themselves to the laws of the land. Therefore, Mr. Fayose ought to avail the anti-graft body the opportunity to carry out its assigned responsibilities.

Chukwudi Enekwechi, a Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja

Trade Unions Should Apologise To Discos Bisiriyu Akewusola

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he saying that you cannot eat your cake and still have it can be used very correctly to describe the relationship between Nigerian trade unions and power distribution companies called discos. This is because the trade unions have always accused the discos of exploiting the Nigerian consumers by not supplying them electricity when in fact the unions know that these discos have serious problems not of their own making in not being able to distribute electricity in their various areas of power distribution all over the nation. Which again is like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. But that is quite unfortunate as it is unfair and that is why many Nigerians in the know of this sad state of affairs, have called on some of the union leaders, both privately and in public to apologise to the discos or at least refrain from whipping public and consumer hostility against them for an offence they have not committed in any way.

Aside from the well known fact of pipeline vandalisation which has crip-

pled gas supplies turbines fuelled by gas nationally, the number of such sources of power have been dwindling drastically since the so called terrorist group called the Avengers have stepped up their attacks in the Niger Delta creeks.

The number of gas powered turbines decreased from 140 last year to 78 by April this year and is now 50 according to the Ministry of Power. In addition the power sector was reported to be losing N2billion daily to gas shortage.

Thus electricity generation has taken a negative nose dive in terms of availability of power and electricity nation wide .If electricity is not available what then are the discos supposed to distribute to Nigerian consumers?

Yet in spite of this apparent road block against the route of regular electricity supply the Nigerian trade unions mounted a road block of its own against fellow Nigerians who have put their money and energy into the discos to distribute electricity to Nigerians. Of course the discos and their management could not have foreseen the pipelines vandalisation in the Niger Delta. Neither could they have imagined a situation

when they would have literally nothing to distribute in virtually all the 11 designated spheres of their capacities all over the nation.

I do not think any of the disco management team especially the highly qualified expatriates would have come to work in the power distribution sector in Nigeria if they knew that electricity generation would simply dry up right before our eyes as it has done so painfully in the last few months.

This is made more embarrassing by the fact that the discos in Nigeria have adopted global best practices in their strategy for distribution of electricity in Nigeria. They have recruited the best hands and brains globally in technology, engineering, and human capital. In terms of distribution capacities these discos have brought in the best in the world and have remunerated them highly to motivate them for excellent performance in terms of electricity service delivery in Nigeria.

Now they have run against a stonewall of a dry well in power generation and transmission and they deservethe sympathy and understanding of all Nigerians who expect them to be the ultimate panacea

and cure for our black history of poor and irregular electricity as a nation.

Most importantly they deserve the cooperation of the average Nigerian especially workers and their leaders in the trade unions. That is why educated and enlightened Nigerians were furious that the unions were inciting Nigerian electricity consumers against these discos and were asking that workers should strike against the new tariffs of the discos approved for them by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which itself is run by equally patriotic Nigerians like the discos, their Nigerian workers and staff who earn their living in the discos all over Nigeria. It is imperative therefore after the failed strike that the unions should mend fences with the discos management and apologise to them to gain their trust. This is the only way the unions can save their honor and face. At least to show that they are not trying to destroy the discos for nothing as the terrorists are doing to our pipelines and throwing a whole nation into utter and avoidable darkness. *Akewusola, an engineer, writes from Sokoto

12

Sunday Mail

SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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MAIL BAG

* Letters to the Editor

The Sunday Telegraph

Economic crunch: What should Okonjo-Iweala have done?

Dear Editor,

There is nothing dialectically new in the present economic hardship the country is facing that we were not warned of.

Actions must come with corresponding consequences, like Newton once postulated in his third Law of Motion that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When we were warned, unlike the good Pharaoh, we ignored Joseph’s advice. Who then should we blame? The truth is that there was the issue of falling oil prices when Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala held sway as Minister of Finance as well as Coordinating Minister of the Economy. But how was she able to handle the economy in a professional manner?

The difference has always been in the level of expertise and years of experience in economic management.

In the United States’ Federal Reserve Board, we can mention great persons like William M. Martin Jr. who served as chairman between 1951 and 1970, serving under five different political administrations, both Democrats and Republicans.

Also, we have Allan Greenspan who was appointed chairman in 1987 and served under four different Presidents, including Bill Clinton, even though he himself was a Republican. Do you still wonder why we are called a Third World country?

To demonstrate her professionalism and excellence, Okonjo-Iweala warned us all on the need to save for the rainy day. She told us that the days ahead will be tough. Instead of saving, state governors blackmailed, lampooned, even politicised the whole matter, asking if it was her private money she was saving. The powerful Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), ably led by Rotimi Amaechim did not spare the poor woman. People like Raji Fashola went as far as the Supreme Court to force her to “share the money.”

What could she have done in the light of these circumstances? To make matters worse, no one was reasoning with her.

The present leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) went on the international media in a wellcoordinated propaganda effort inspired by the present Minister for Information, Lai Muhammed, to blackmail the MIT-trained economist.

In the heat of the economic crunch, what could OkonjoIweala have done? Therefore, we should direct our anger to the right channel and spare this great woman from further unnecessary condemnation.

(

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08037613380 Normal message fees apply

Road to job creation, mass production Dear Editor,

Looking for daily bread despite the rain.

One year after Dear Editor, It’s been a year of steering the ship of state by President Muhammadu Buhari. The emergence of the administration was birthed on the premise of “change.” This was one word that drove the populace to frenzy no matter what side of the divide they stood during the run off to the presidential elections of 2015. It may be pertinent to ask whether Nigerians are now experiencing “change” in its real or elusive essence.

An attempt to answer this poser may be an exercise in futility, if certain indices or parameters are not taken into consideration. Prior to the present dispensation, it seemed Nigeria and Nigerians had been living a “lie” so to say. Our legendary and perpetual consumption and consumerism fuelled by cheap petro dollars that wasn’t supported by any productive base created an illusion in the minds of so many that Nigeria had a “real economy” or was prosperous in real terms.

It was this illusion fueled by pervasive corruption that cascaded into a “micro economy” and made many who were not discerning to live lives they could hardly sustain once the corruption bubble bursts and order is introduced coupled with strict compliance with established public service rules and financial regulations.

The history of nations that were on the same level of development with Nigeria in the 50s and 60s but are now exemplars of modernity and

development, shows that they adopted this order and strict compliance with established public service rules and financial regulations early enough in addition to dealing with corruption frontally. This we have failed to do over the years, at the altar of nepotism, prebendalism, tribalism and religious intolerance. Thus it is not so surprising that many Nigerians are finding it difficult to adjust to the current realities by seeing the glass cup as half empty rather than half full.

But it’s often said, it may be pointless crying over spilt milk, but to rather embrace the reality of the current era by re-ordering priorities and to also remember that while there may be enough for every one’s need there might not be enough for every one’s greed.

There is an urgent need to start doing things right or in the right way if Nigeria is to succeed as a Nation State.

That seems to be the frame work which the present administration is trying to lay within the last 365 days, and one which needs to be supported by all and sundry, albeit with the temporary pains that accompanies a move to make a tectonic shift from a familiar but dangerous path to a path that isn’t familiar but promises to lead to a favourable destination in the longer term. There still seems to be a lot to do and of course there have been mistakes and hiccups along the line, but to give the current dispensation a chance to stop the drift and lay the foundation for the economic and social prosper-

ity of the Nigerian state and her people is an imperative for her citizens.

Babs Iwalewa,

Fayose’s overrated immunity Dear Editor, If Nigeria must survive as a sovereign entity governed by internationally acceptable best practices, Nigerians from all walks of life must agree to certain irreducible minimum on the issue of governance. There comes a time in a trajectory of a nation when its citizens must discountenance cleavages of primordial propensities, political dichotomy and sectional irredentism and seek a patriotic middle ground. With the incestuous amount allegedly traced to the account of the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, one is nonplussed that some Nigerians could still bellyache on the clause of immunity to frustrate the investigation efforts of the anti-graft agency. In other climes, this type of heinous discovery is enough to provoke legislative activism on constitutional amendment or civil disobedience seeking the removal of any impediment to the investigation of government officials, particularly the right of police or any investigating agency to freeze their accounts without violating prosecutorial immunity. If governors are constitutionally protected from prosecution, are they also insulated from investigation? Does the constitution interminably absolve them

PHOTO: QUADRI IKUDAISI

of any wrongdoing irrespective of the right of the injured party, which are citizens over which they exercise a term of office? Wouldn’t the rights of injured citizens be violated when investigation is delayed till the end of the term of the suspect governor? And wouldn’t it be logical to infer that any account under investigation be subject to some sort of restrictions? The civil society, the organised labour, students’ union and all lovers of propriety should rise in support of the Federal Government in the last ditch attempt to wean Nigeria from the cliffhanger of governors and other assailants using immunity to obstruct the development of Nigeria.

For political rabble-rousers, I think the government has chosen to use Fayose as an archetype in sending a message to all the governors – incidentally who are more of APC in majority – that immunity against prosecution is not the same as immunity against investigation, whilst this remains another veritable money-spinning prospect for permissive lawyers across the spectrum. It ought to represent a sad commentary in the annals of our nationhood and should generate sober reflection from counsels who can see beyond immediate gratification to contemplate a country envisioned for the next generation. President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen a path, which may not be politically correct as he has demonstrated patriotism on a bipartisan cadence not minding how governors in his party would be affected.

Bukola Ajisola, Lagos.

Olorogun David Edevbie in his article titled “Stabilising Naira through fiscal/monetary policies” in The Guardian, Wednesday and Thursday, April 6 and 7 advised that a devalued naira and implementing monetary and fiscal policies, which will enhance local production and curtail importation is the solution to our economic woes. This is the same argument made by IMF, World Bank and Ibrahim Babangida in 1986 when the naira was devalued. For the past 30 years (1986 – 2016), we have had a weak or cheap naira.

What have we gained from it?

After devaluation in 1986, we got Stagnation. We have had enough of naira devaluation. We have had enough of fiscal and monetary policies that do not work. Let us go for structural policy, that is, a move away from subsistence economy to corporate or commercial economy.

An economy of formal enterprises and not of informal enterprises. Formal economy and not informal economy. Edevbie, as a former Commissioner of Finance and current Commissioner of Finance of Delta State should know that charity begins at home (Delta State). In Ibori’s eight years in office as governor, he created more than 50,000 informal enterprises, all have died. Billions of naira were wasted. Ibori did not revive the economy of Delta State: Bendel Glass was not revived, Bendel Steel was not revived, was not revived, just to mention a few.

Former Gov. Uduaghan created 112,000 informal enterprises in his eight years in office, all are dead. Billions of naira wasted.

He did not revive Bendel Glass, Bendel Steel, Asaba Textiles, Sapele Plywood Industry and other moribund enterprises. It is shameful! Today, Governor Okowa has promised to create 6,000 informal enterprises every six months instead of reviving Bendel Glass, Bendel Steel, Asaba Textiles, and other moribund enterprises. Doing the same thing all over again? What a shame!

Formal enterprises are the solution and not informal enterprises.

Only formal enterprises can bring about decent jobs and mass production.

Omohakpor Enaye, Delta State.

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13

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

Court dismisses Sheriff’s motion to set aside judgment As PDP calls for his prosecution

A

Foluso Ogunmodede n Abuja High Court has struck out a motion filed by the embattled former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff seeking to set aside the court’s judgment, which nullified the process that produced him as the party’s chairman.

In the judgment, Justice Valentine Ashi, dismissed Sheriff’s motion, describing it as lacking in merit and an abuse of court process and

thereby, nullified the appointment of Senator Sheriff by the 68th National Executive Committee Meeting of the PDP. Justice Ashi’s ruling came barely seven days after he nullified the Amendment of Article 47 (6) of the Constitution of the PDP 2014, which Sheriff claimed to have taken effect at the December Special National Convention that produced his predecessor, Amadu Adamu Muazu.

However, Justice Ashi urged politicians to learn to accept defeat and not to

attempt to use the court to achieve goals they failed to score in the political field.

The purported Amendment of Article 47(6) amongst others of the PDP’s Constitution in the 2014 Special National Convention of the party has been a source of contention and the party had brought the matter before the court.

Responding to the Judgment, the party’s Chief Spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said, “The party welcomed the development and reisterated the call by the PDP to the In-

spector General of Police (IGP), to immediately effect the arrest and prosecution of Sheriff, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and their co-travelers for Contempt of Court.”

Besides, the party called on its members nationwide to remain steadfast and continue to support the PDP National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, who had been confirmed by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on July 4, as the only authentic and legal Working Committee of the party.

NEWS

I’m leaving police with my head high, says Mbu Musa Pam, JOS

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etired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Joseph Mbu, yesterday, said he is retiring from the Police as a fulfilled officer as he was given the privilege to head a number of formations and commands in the force, even as he urged the Police officers to shun petty jealousy and witch hunt in Nigerian Police Force.

Mbu, who also stated that he is leaving the Police with his shoulders and head high, said: “I am proud to be a policeman, to retire as a policeman, and if there is reincarnation, I make bold to say, I will still be a policeman.”

He noted this while delivering his speech at a pulling out ceremony held in his honour at the Police Staff College, Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He added: “In December 1985, we passed out from this Police Staff College as Cadets before the establishment of the Police Academy permanent site Kano, today is the time to dance, a day of fulfillment for me because we started the journey in January 1985 with 96 officers, and as at June 30, 2016, we

were 48 left. Some are presently Assistant Commissioners of Police, some Deputy Commissioners of Police and others Commissioners of Police. By God’s grace and mercy, I’m retiring in the IGP category in good health.

“I am leaving the Police Staff College Jos; 10 times better than I met it on October 5, 2015. I want to appreciate my bosses, IGPs Ogbonnaya Onovo and Mohammed Abubakar for their mentorship and continuous support throughout my career.

“I also urge senior officers to take the welfare of their subordinates seriously. Give them words of encouragement. I urge Police officers all over Nigeria to love one another. Avoid petty jealously and witch-hunt. There is difference between being strict and being wicked. Superiors should look for the best in their subordinates and use it. Today, I am retiring from the service with much to enumerate as my contributions.”

Mbu also called on the media to stop visiting the sins of an erring officer, urging the media to see police as partners in progress and encourage them to carry out their duties effectively.

Political appointments: Be fair, Northern CAN tells Buhari Musa Pam,

JOS

Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, during the offertory procession at the priestly ordination at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Anambra State… yesterday

Niger State: NSCDC apprehends OPC faction tackles Gani Adams over comment on militant attacks 3 suspects with human head Dan Atori

MINNA

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday, paraded three suspects in possession of a human head in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, Philip Ayuba, told journalists in Minna that the suspects were arrested on Thursday in Mokwa by officers of the NSCDC, while they were looking for a buyer for the head.

Ayuba noted that the suspects Abdulmumuni Aliyu (alias Danjuma), Jubrinsha Aba and Salihu Usman, aged 34, 35 and 24 respectively hail from Ekpa village in Mokwa, saying the suspects confessed to the crime after the arrest.

According to the NSCDC boss, NSCDC personnel pretended to be bargaining with them on how much to pay before they were arrested.

The Commandant stated that the suspects have made confessional statements in writing, adding that they would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

The principal suspect, Abdulmumuni Aliyu, told journalists that his brother Salihu Usman invited him to his house to see the human head and assist in getting a buyer. He said: “I looked for a buyer and couldn’t see. So, when I approached one Isah, to buy the head, he agreed and said that he has a buyer in Mokwa town. When the buyer came, we started negotiating the price with him and it was in that process that we were arrested.”

Similarly, Salihu Usman, the third suspect said that it was during a hunting expedition with Jubrinsha Aba in Ekpa bush that they saw a decomposing body of a woman in the bush and both of them decided to cut off the head and sell it to make money.

Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

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faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has declared as false, the threat by Otunba Gani Adams to use the Congress to attack militants operating in the Ijaw area of the country.

Adams, who has been under criticisms by a faction of the group and has been allegedly expelled from leading OPC, was reported in a section of the media as saying he would lead the OPC against any attack on Yoruba land.

But the anti-Adams group, in a statement by the Kwara State coordinator of the group, Salam Maruff Olarewaju, asked Nigerians not to believe Adams because he is on record to have promised not to attack the Ijaw nation as a result of the relationship between himself and former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

At best, they argued that

Adams’ latest pronouncements are mere propaganda to secure another pipeline surveillance project from the Federal Government.

Part of the statement reads: “It has come to our notice, the statement of Mr. Gani Adams (the former leader of OPC) on pipeline vandalism and killing of innocent people in the part of Ogun and Lagos states.

“It is worth, of notice that Mr. Adams is no more in charge of OPC, he has been removed as the leader of OPC since February 2016.

So, he can’t speak for OPC anymore. Gani Adams can’t and will never fight Ijaw people come what may, because he has an alliance with Ijaw militants and Ijaw people during the President Goodluck Jonathan, regime.

“You will all recall that during subsidy removal crisis in 2013, Gani Adams ran away to London in order to avoid been involved in the said rally against then President Jonathan.”

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hairman of 19 Northern states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair in his political appointments, saying northern Christians are crying of marginalisation.

Rev. Pam, in a press statement, issued in Jos, yesterday, noted with great concern the exclusion of qualified Christians in the appointment in to strategic

positions under the present administration even with the numerous competent Christians from all states in the north that merited certain responsibilities.

The Northern CAN lamented that while there are volumes of allegations from the South that the appointment made so far were in favour of the north, facts on the ground reveals that these appointments were lopsided in favour of Muslim core northerners to the detriment of northern Christian community.

Bible in Plateau dialects: Lalong commends NBTT Musa Pam

JOS

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lateau State Governor, Barrister Simon Lalong has commended the effort of the Management and Staff of the Nigerian Bible Translation Trust (NBTT) in translating the Holy Bible into various Plateau indigenous languages.

Lalong, who commended the organisation on Friday, during the 40th anniversary celebration of NBTT held in Jos, described it as an unquantifiable effort made by the NBTT to contribute meaningfully to peaceful coexistence of the state.

Governor Lalong, who was represented by the Commissioner for Urban Development Arch. Samuel Galadima at the occasion, reiterated the determination of his administration to continuously identify with NBTT in her effort to improve the life and quality of human race.

He said: “On behalf of the government and good people of Plateau State, I commend the Board of Trustees, management, staff and everyone that has identified with NBTT in the last four decades and for keeping the ideas of the founding fathers alive.”

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Execut ve A new President and Board members of your club will be installed today. What’s your take on the journey so far?

In every Rotary Club, we contribute to the welfare of the people. Just as we are installing the new President of the Club, with the new Board members today, at Villa Park, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, we call on philanthropists, friends and well-wishers to support our charity work by donating to the projects we have for the next Rotary year. Usually, we combine the installation ceremony with fund raising to enable us generate the required funds needed for the projects.

My club covers Amuwo Odofin, Festac, Okota and Satellite Town among other places. We try to empower some indigent women through the funds we raise. We have given them sewing machines. This is the way we start our Rotary year. Also, we are working towards equipping a community nursery school in Festac, where pupils sit on the ground.

On this installation day, we solicit for public funds; we gather resources within and outside the club for such projects.

And this is what we will be doing today.

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

I saw hunger during June 12 saga –Usman Aguda Usman Aguda is the President, Rotary Club of Lagos West, District 9110 and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Chiele Global Investments Limited, an accredited Multichoice Super Dealer.

He speaks on his projects as the Club’s President and his early life struggles in this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA people at will. So, that was how I found myself in the Multichoice business.

How did you meet your wife?

My wife then was a corper friend of another corper that served in my office when I was with NNB. So, my wife would always come around to visit her and from there, we knew each other. We met within a couple of months and got married. It wasn’t even up to a year. But the relationship continued like that until I took her out for a dinner where I proposed to her.

So, how did you propose to her?

Well, I wrote on a paper, ‘Am I good enough to be your husband?’ and she replied in writing too, ‘Am I good enough to be your wife?’ and we said ‘yes’ and that was how we put a date for the court registry. Today, we have been married for 14 years and the marriage is blessed with three children.

Usually, every Rotary Club’s President has a specific project to the host communities. As the outgoing President, what have you been able to do for the club and the communities?

Like I said earlier, we impacted some widows in the communities and we gave them sewing machines to be able to fend for their families. We have also given drugs, clothing materials and toiletries to the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria at Amuwo Odofin. The last one we want to do is to equip the nursery classroom of a community school in Festac. As I speak, the pupils sit on the bare floor to receive lessons. The school approached us to help them to put desk and chairs in the classrooms.

'Gift of life’ is typical of Rotary Club. Do you have any for these communities?

Well, what we have in the place of that is giving reading glasses to people that have eye problems. We, also conduct certain medical tests, especially blood sugar test, with a view to reducing the rate of diabetes among the residents of the communities. What we have now is a kind of vehicle that would help us get help from outside and use it for the needs of these communities. We, therefore, call on all our friends to join us as we install the new exco. We are looking at raising, at least, N5million for the next Rotary year, which the incoming President will work with. We have started having invitations from certain schools to help them to equip their science laboratories and dilapidated structures.

So, for the sake of those meeting you for the first time, which kindred is Usman Aguda from?

I’m from Igala in Kogi State, born to the family of Mr and Mrs Momoh Aguda many years ago. My father is dead but my mother is still alive and lives in Kogi.

How memorable was your growing up with your parents and siblings? How did you feel about those corrective beatings as a child?

Well, my own story is a bit different in the sense that I didn’t grow up with my own parents. That motherly and fatherly care was not there for me. Though I lived with my uncle, yet I was never subjected to such beatings but there were words stronger than being beaten up. Those words affected my attitude to life. I grew up to be very tolerant and patient. Those

words that would remind you where you were coming from meant nothing to me anymore because I got used to them. Again, yelling at me was nothing to bother myself about too. Those words made me understand where I was coming from; they made me feel that we were not the same. Those words were what you get when you are not with your parents.

At the same time, they also helped me because, getting angry is a very difficult thing for me as well as yelling on me. I grew up with them and they have mastered me for real.

So what was the experience like, not growing up in your parents' home?

It wasn’t easy but I thank God for everything. Basically, it wasn’t easy growing up without my other siblings. That closeness was not there. We are nine in number, but I was taken away from them at a very tender age. It wasn’t deliberate though but that was what I couldn’t afford. It also made me to be independent of my family members early in life.

Were you able to go to school without your parents?

Yes, I’m a product of public free education. I had my primary school education on the Island at Bonny Camp and we lived at 1004 because my uncle was a civil servant. From there, I went to Federal College Maroko. Like I said earlier, I’m a product of free education. The most expensive money I paid during my edu-

cation was about N69, which was meant for my West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE). After that, I had my ‘A’ levels at Federal Collage of Arts and Sciences, Victoria Island. From there, I entered Lagos State University (LASU), where I studied economics. All my primary and secondary school educations were on the island. While I didn’t feel it then, my tertiary education was so tough because I was all alone.

After your education, where were you deployed for the one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)?

I served in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. It was fun because we got to travel round as CLOs in the area. I was even given an award for an outstanding project during my service year. Apart from being a CLO at the local government, I was teaching in a private school, also in Ore. So, where did you start your career journey?

After my NYSC, I got my first job with the defunct Equatorial Trust Bank (ETB) as a cashier. I was there for about two years before I moved on to the New Nigerian Bank (NNB). I was with NNB for a while and moved to Platinum Bank, which became Bank PHB and eventually Keystone Bank. I left banking when there was so much uncertainty in the industry.

I left because the banking business was no longer stable and they were sacking

What do you consider your most trying time in life?

I would say that my tertiary education at LASU was the most trying time in my life because I was on my own. It wasn’t easy, I saw hunger, especially during MKO Abiola’s June 12 saga but I thank God for everything. I was down, things were very tough. When I look at my life now and where I was coming from, I would add that such were trying moments for me. I managed to survive. It wasn’t easy for me at all, but those experiences structured my life and affected my attitude to life. Even when I got a job, I still went in search of cheap coats at Broad Street on the Island because I didn’t have money to look for good suits. Such life was not easy. When I was sick during that Abiola saga, it was a lady that managed to give me food once a week. It wasn’t easy, but I must say, it affected my life.

Your hobbies are what?

I like listening to jazz music, reading and watching football.

What sporting activities do you engage in?

I play football with my mates, not as a professional footballer but coming together on Saturdays to play football. The club I support is English Premier League side, Manchester City.

Do you have any favourite meal?

Yes, I like pounded yam with Egwusi soup or vegetable soup but I prefer Egwusi soup.

Do you like swimming?

I’m like a stone in the water. I don’t know how to swim.

What type of perfume do you go for?

I wear mild perfumes. I love Polo Explorer, especially.

How do you unwind?

I have calm and moderate life styles. I hang out with my friends and take some bottles of beer. Star is my brand. I like to go to the places, where I would be allowed to play my kind of music.

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Body Soul S U N D AY, J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

I’m known as Lady of the masses –Barr. Okoro

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Body&Soul

SUND AY

GRAP

Contents 10.07.2016

COVER

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GLAM DUDES Ripped jeans are not just trendy but help soften your look with some touch of elegance

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The key to wearing your boyfriend jeans and nailing the look without actually looking like a boy is to double fold the hem of the jeans and wearing a pair of heels

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If you really want to turn up the heat on your next date, there are different makeup looks that will definitely make your date swoon

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FASHION

I will like to be remembered for service to humanity, trying to raise the poor from where they are to a meaningful place that will give meaning to their lives

BEAUTY ZONE

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I’m k of tnown –Bahe maas La rr. O sse dy ko r s o

MY PASSION Comedy has paid me real great, no need to lie or hide words else I will sound ungrateful to God

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Patra ’s dile mma 22 10 Fring e ben efits 18,39 I love my b elly – 42 Lucy

BED, WORK & LIFE Richie, we are alone now.

You wanted to kill me, you have the opportunity now.

For close to nine years, I kept myself for you while you went about taking care of other people’s children. Yes, I’m pregnant for another man. You drove me into the arms of another man. I’m grateful you did because I got to know that am perfectly okay

te o n s ’ r o t Edi

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T h e Te a m Vanessa Okwara (Editor) Wole Adepoju (Snr. Correspondent) Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent) Abiola Alaba Peters Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) Isma’il Akintunde (Graphics) +234 (0) 818 0515840, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com, julietbumah@gmail.com

Associates

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

Body&Soul

Sylvia Edem Emechete

Sexy queen Biwom Iklaki

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his hot and beautiful ex beauty queen who was crowned as Miss Nigeria in 2002 has evolved into a fit and fine wife and mom of two gorgeous kids. Born Sylvia Offiong Edem, now Emechete, her life took a dramatic turn for the better after her crowning. She recently took to her Instagram handle to post pictures of herself to show off her fabulous figure and to remind us all just how much of a queen she still has inside of her. This is immediately following her even more attention grabbing pictures of Valentine’s Day where she spotted a hot all red number and posed by a red sports car. Any red blooded male would be sure to have a hard time picking the sexier; the car or the queen. Her style too has evolved but we can all agree that she has stayed true to her regal status and slays as often as she steps out to whatever event she graces. Here are a few proofs of her ability to dazzle so that you too can be the judge of why we love to stalk her royal majesty, the queen of slay.

Body&Soul

SUNDAY, 10 JULY

18

Ultra feminin

boyfriend jea Biwom Iklaki

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othing says minimalist quite like the boyfriend jeans. They are not super tight like our ever faithful and sexy skinny jeans which fit like a second skin and are twice as hard to wear, not to mention take off. Basically, the boyfriend jeans can be treated in much the same way as our boyfriend blazers/jackets. Don’t fuss over them too much and let them

do the fashion speak, in fact, they less you glitz and glam them, they sexier they look. The key to wearing your boyfriend jeans and nailing the look without actually looking like a boy is to double fold the hem of the jeans and wearing a pair of heels. This is the classic “boyfriend jeans behavior”. Of course there is room for you to work in your brogues with sexy tank, crop or Bardot tops. Remember, these do not necessarily have to be your boyfriend’s jeans. They just have to look

Editor’s current obsession

like a fitted a tank a blaz take y the ru sexy t that v will no where Knock whate from m 80s an

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Wine & Dine

Rich dessert wine Ibukunoluwa Kayode

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ade with the highest quality grapes in an unfortified style, rich, sweet dessert wine is one of the oldest vintage wines for over 50 years. Many of these wines are reserved through this process because sweetness and acidity preserve their fresh flavour. Some of these wines are

historically important like the Hungarian Tokaji loved by the Tzars of Russia; South African Constantia, obsession of the Dutch and English and French Sauternes loved by Americans in the early 1800s.

Rich sweet dessert wines are produced in several ways. Most times, they are late harvested because the longer the grapes hang on the vine in

season, the sweeter they become and more resonated; resulting in a wine that has a higher residual sugar or alcohol-depending on how long you let it ferment.

This choice of richly sweet dessert wine can fit into any occasion and can as well be enjoyed as a table wine even for relaxation with friends or after a hectic day.

Tasty plantain moi moi

It pairs well with both continental and traditional cuisine as it is best enjoyed with roasted poultry feeds and less spicy foods.

In Alsace this style is called “Vendage Tardive” and in Germany it is called “Spätlese”. There are many late harvest wines in the US which are sold as dessert wines and typically have around 15-17% ABV.

Biwom Iklaki One of the ‘weirdest’ and tastiest meals one could have is the plantain moimoi. You would think you have heard or seen it all as far as Nigerian meals are concerned and then one day, pow! Another meal makes its way into your ‘meal-cabulary’. As first most people are skeptical when faced with the daunting task of tasting a new meal, until they do taste it. And then they will wonder where the meal had been all their lives. Here is one that made me feel exactly like that.

An added bonus to this meal is that it is diabetics and weight loss friendly (minding portions of course). Find the recipe below and feel free to try it and tag me in your pictures on instagram @ biwomiklaki.

I hope you enjoyed your holidays?

Ingredients 1 titus fish/eggs/corned beef (Optional. Cook egg and season the fish to add whole to the wraps) 1 cup corn 3 ripe plantains 3 tbsps. palm oil Stock cube, pepper and salt to taste 200ml water Preparation Soak the corn in water for at least 1 hour before blending but if you decide to use canned corn which is soft and sweet, you do not need to presoak. Cut up plantain into smaller pieces and blend with corn into smooth puree, pour into a bowl and add your salt, pepper and other ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust ingredients till you find what suits you. Scoop into enamel bowl, foil, plantain/banana leaf or moimoi wrap, add protein of choice and wrap. Arrange in a deep pot with steaming water (pre lined with sticks or moimoi/plantain leaves and cook for at least 2530 minutes. This would make a perfect breakfast meal with pap, oatmeal or custard. Could be lunch served with vegetables and or sauce.

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Body&Soul

I’m known as Lady of the It is a common notion that the average African woman in position of authority is too engrossed in her job and less concerned about the well being of her immediate family. But such is not the case of accomplished legal practitioner turned politician, Barrister Ugochi Nnanna Okoro. The happy wife, mother and grand-mother, in this interview with ABIOLA ALABA PETERS, shares top secrets of her life, marriage and career Brief background I am a lawyer by profession and a legal practitioner. I have a B. A (Hon) in Education and Management Planning.

I am a politician, I was the state women leader of the PDP in the past. Later, I became the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, still a PDP member until I now decided to join APGA. I was moved from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism then to the newly created baby of the governor, Community Government Council, CGC, which has to do with government going to the grassroots.

So I kick started the ministry and then he moved me again to the Ministry of Industry, and at the same time, I was also the supervising Commissioner for Agriculture. So I was holding two ministries at that time. In this new cabinet, he picked me as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Mobilisation and Empowerment. I am usually called, Lady of the masses.

How was growing up for you?

I was born into an average home; my father was a teacher at the famous Stella Maris School, Port Harcourt. We are seven brothers and two women; that is my elder sister and I. We are all well trained in the university. Having seven brothers behind me made me grow up in a very strong environment. I am also from a good Christian home, my father believed in education. To God be the glory, I got married to a civil engineer who became the director of physical planning in FUTO and he is still serving at FUTO, and I am blessed with five children, my son is also an engineer with a Masters and my daughter is a lawyer and she is married. They got married very young; we believe in early marriage. My twins are studying medicine and the youngest of them read Electrical Electronics in FUTO. Funny enough, I still cook for my husband; I make sure the meals are comfortably cooked by me. I have a very peaceful home and take my family very seriously, although my children are not around, they only come during the holidays.

Why the interest in politics?

Well, I have passion for the

poor. I have a project for the poor for the past 25 years. Even when I was practicing as a lawyer, I was doing most cases for free; especially when it comes to widows. So, I have that passion to help. I have sympathy for the women because I know they are among the vulnerable ones, so that propelled me in seeking for an avenue where I can reach most of these people through service to them.

For instance, I’m giving out forms for loans to women to be in agriculture. So my passion for the poor led me to run for the House of Assembly in 1997. I had to resign from teaching and went into fulltime law. I veered into politics even as a full time student.

Later, I ran for election and won, but Abacha died so the elections were cancelled.

I vied for that elect i o n f r o m Owerri M u nicipal; I don’t come from there, but I w o n that election from another local government because of my popularity as ‘Lady of the masses’.

Then I had nothing, I was just a practicing lawyer and I went into politics at that time, but subsequently, I continued in my struggles and I had a very terrible experience in PDP. Each time I was chosen to go somewhere, they will swap me with another person. At a point, I just wanted to go back to my law profession.

I was practicing when Rochas Okorocha invited me without questions. He called me out to serve and he saw that in each ministry I worked, I left indelible marks, so he continued moving me. When I was the Commissioner for Industry, I resigned voluntarily to run for the Senate, and again, some of my ballot boxes were carried away during the primaries and that annoyed me and they said there would be a rerun, but nothing w a s done

about it, so all these were the challenges I’ve faced as a poli-

tician.

What was the reaction of your family and friends when you told them you were going into politics?

I wish I could scan what my husband told me when we were celebrating our silver jubilee and when I was running for the Senate, which would have been a good way of answering this question.

My husband has been a huge support of it. In fact, the support came from both families; my mother in law was a big politician, she was the zonal women leader for NPP, so I had no issues from there because she was interested in my coming up so that made it easier for me.

My husband has been very supportive, we had a seven year courtship while in the university, so he is not just a husband; we are still friends.

What do you consider your biggest challenge as a legal expert?

My biggest challenge should be the soft spot I have for women. Each time I go to court and see how widows suffer and how they are treated by their in-laws who cart away their properties, that makes me feel bad a lot. The woman activist that I am, sometimes I go to the extreme. But I enjoyed my law practice because I love to mix up with people. I can’t say I had challenges because I have a younger brother who read the same thing, so I had my chamber in my father’s house in Owerri. My brother and I were using the same chamber and even till now, from time to time, I still look into the chamber for some work. So I wouldn’t say I had challenges because I was practicing as a private lawyer.

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Body&Soul

masses –Barr. Okoro As a wife, mother, grandmother and politician, how do you manage these task?

It has been God all the way, believe me.

It is not easy but when you are created strong, God will be with you. And like I said earlier, because of the background I had growing up with men, I think that has also helped in making me strong.

So how much time do you have for yourself?

That’s a very good question, because from time to time, I have been advised by the doctors to rest. That is why I said, if you are called by God to serve, he will give you the strength. Looking at me, with all the stress I go through, you won’t believe I’m up to my age. If you enjoy what you do, you won’t look at the stress, but I must confess that when people see me, they are always shocked.

But I try to rest well; I don’t wake up too early anymore. I wake up by 6am to do my morning devotion and then after, I take my time to go to the office, but sometimes it is a little bit stressful. Aside being the Special Assistant, the governor has made me the taskforce chairman in recovering agricultural loans which people collected and refused to pay and he is giving me another position as the chairman of another taskforce again. So I am trying to really control my time and not my time controlling me.

Do you have your own pet project?

Yes I do. I save the money I have from January till December. I have been doing it for the past 25 years. I do widowhood help; I always reach out to people with poor conditions and help them start a trade and also to those that are very sick.

Last December, I visited all those that are very sick and bedridden in various localities, so that gives me joy a lot. And mind you, I don’t get help from anywhere because I don’t do it as an NGO. I don’t know how to do that NGO thing that attracts funds so I decided to be doing it alone and God has been blessing me because the prayers of those people are key to God. I am selfless in service and the governor has commended me a lot about it. My husband still takes care of the home, he has left me with my decision of reaching out to the poor and the less privileged. When I was a commissioner in the ministry, I was feeding the ministry staff with my money, not too many husbands can understand that but he allowed it. I got a cook that did it. I found out that the money they get is too small and when they come to work, the food sustained them. We start dishing out food by 8am, so if you come late, you won’t get it, so each ministry I go, I cook for them.

What is your take on the present state of the Nigerian judiciary?

Well, I will not say they are doing badly; when a system is corrupt, it affects every aspect of life, that’s what I have found out. That is why it is good to get it right.

I love what President Buhari is doing, we will suffer now, but in the future, Nigeria will get it right. If we want to get it right, the leadership must get it right, even the police on the road are adjusting too, the judiciary are also trying their best, some judges have been relieved of their jobs and you know what that means. I know that as time goes on, they will review our constitution. The world is moving, and as it is moving, certain things will also change, so there is hope in the judiciary.

What’s your take on gender equality that was kicked out by the Senate?

I am a scholar of that, yes I believe, but people misunderstand that this has nothing to do with marriage and the man being the head of the house. In Catholic church, when the priest is joining the couple, there is a place he says, ‘she is your equal’ but when you talk about equality between a man and a woman, people will talk and say no, it’s not in Igbo land, a man and a woman cannot be the same, but what you should be checking is the quality of the person.

That is what I like governor Rochas for.

He supports women, the Commissioner for Works is not an engineer, but he gave her the post because he believes in her, a woman is the Commissioner for Health and Education and all these are sensitive positions. When I served as the Commissioner for Industry, I recovered two famous industries that are making waves which the Chinese have come to take over. Two administrations could not recover it, but I did it as a commissioner then and recovered it. They are the two heavy industries late Mbakwe left when he was the governor.

What is your fashion style?

To me, age is just a number; I love to look g o o d always, no matter what.

What is your favourite Nigerian dish?

I love rice, even though I am trying to cut down on it. I take water a lot too, little wine be-

cause it is good for the body.

What is the best form of exercise for you?

I work out, I jog, and I used to be an athlete.

What would you want to be remembered for?

I will like to be remembered for service to humanity, trying to raise the poor from where they are to a meaningful place that will give meaning to their lives.

Aside politics and law, what else do you do?

I run a fashion house for many years now. I love to see people looking good and stylish. I am an employer of labour, I have what it takes to make one look radiantly gorgeous.

Can you recall the first time your husband kissed you, how was the experience?

Will I be able to remember? That should be during our courtship. I can’t remember the date; it wasn’t immediately, because the relationship did not just start up like that.

What is next for you, at least few years from now?

I am hoping and looking forward to serving in a higher level in politics if I’m given the opportunity because it is not in my hands, so that is my wish. I am mentoring lots of people now, because any politician that is not mentoring anybody and he is trying to grab everything at once is not good, so that is what I wish for myself.

For those looking up to you, what do you have to say?

They should be focused, courageous and have good character, I don’t see why people will look at politics as a dirty game, it is a matter of choice, so believe in yourself and the sky is your starting point.

22

SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

Patra’s dilemma 11 Juliet Bumah

R

ichie’s phone rang, he picked it.

“Hello, Richie. I be Ruth husband, Jim. I no be her uncle.

Na me get her children, na me give her belle...”

Richie sat up on the couch. He opened his mouth and no word came out.

“Hello...hello, you dey hear me? If you like, no answer me. Make you no come Jos again if you like yourself. You no fit give your wife belle for Lagos, you want come take my children. You get money, me I get action...” Richie cut the line and switched off his phone.

He was sweating.

He wasn’t too surprised. Old Jim’s revelation was no news to him, having come to that conclusion himself. But nevertheless, he was fazed by this direct reference to his most concealed secret. He felt like he got a punch on his lower abdomen.

“So Ruth knows I have fertility challenges? How many other people know? So they have been laughing at me while I dole out money to them. So I had been farming the same field with that smelly, rheumy old man?”

He poured a very large drink and tossed it off in two gulps.

He wondered what kind of man his wife was having an affair with and prayed he wouldn’t be a dirty old man.

“I will kill her if she is sleeping with an old man. But really, an old, almost expired man could impregnate a woman and I couldn’t.”

He stood up and shuffled to the loo and back. He knew he had had enough but poured another drink anyway.

“Of what use is sanity to me at this point? Madmen are lucky. They never have to worry about anything,” he muttered and laughed.

He picked the empty glass and stared at it for a while.

He then dropped it, picked the bottle of lognac spirit and swigged from it. ****** Patra didn’t need not to buy anything. Pius bought a lot of baby and mama stuff from the US for her. She had taken some. She would pick the remaining on subsequent visits.

As she drove home, she felt very weary. She wished she had been dreaming and would wake up with either of the men. She loved them both! But unfortunately, she was awake and driving from her lover’s hotel room to her husband’s house -her home.

She wondered if there would be a ‘they lived happily ever after’ for her. The ‘mystery’ phone call troubled her mind and Pius’ words, “If your husband calls you with a hidden number, it means he is suspecting you,” kept ringing in her head.

Her phone rang. It was Betty.

“Babe, I can’t go to the market again. Coming to your house to take some spices for native soup,” she said.

“No problem. I’m expecting you. I’m almost home now,” Patra replied.

She was really worried as she nosed her car towards her house. ******** Pius felt so lonely when the women left. So Patra was that studious student that he wanted so much in the university?

Perhaps, if he had pushed hard enough, if he had tried approaching her directly, she would have given him a chance.

Maybe he would have married her then! He was sure he loved her. He recalled that blessed day that fate brought them together again in his cab and smiled. Now he understood why at a point, he felt she was a ghost that came to hunt him.

It would be difficult for him to let her go. If there was anything he could do to make her husband release her to him, he would gladly do that. Patra never spoke ill of her husband.

This he liked so much.

He wondered the kind of person her husband was and realised they never talked about him. He liked that too. Patra was a mature, well brought up woman. He was glad he was responsible for her happiness now. If she had to make a choice between him and her husband, the life in her womb would give him an edge.

Pius smiled again and muttered, “I won’t lose her. She is love, joy and life to me.” ******* The security man took her shopping in. Patra stood by the door for some seconds before mustering the courage to step in.

Richie was obviously expecting her. She took in the empty

glass and what was left in the cognac bottle on the table before her husband and was alarmed.

“I’ll get you a driver. Where did you go? How long does it take you to do your shopping?” Richie slurred. He was tipsy.

“I went shopping for baby things...” Patra began but that seemed to infuriate Richie. He lurched to his feet.

“Which baby? Whose baby? You think I don’t know you’ve been sleeping with other men? You think I don’t know that the baby in your womb isn’t mine? You must think I’m a fool,” Richie said.

Patra calculated the distance between her and the door and her heart sank. Richie was between her and the door.

The security man had dropped the bags on the dinner table, behind Richie.

Richie came up to her and slapped her hard on her cheeks.

She screamed and the security man rushed and held Richie’s hands. She made to dash to the door but tripped over her handbag and fell.

Richie struggled with the security man. “Leave me. Let me deal with her,” Richie told him.

He said, “No Sir. Please leave her. She is pregnant. You’ve hurt her already...”

“Pregnant? Whose baby? Tell me! You think she’s pregnant for me?”

Patra sat up. She could not stand. Luckily, she landed on her hands; they hurt so much. Her mouth was bleeding. Her blouse was stained with blood. She tasted blood and anger surged through her. Tears stung her eyes.

“Leave him, let him kill me! You knew you were infertile, you never told me. You made me subject myself to all manner of intervention -medical and spiritual alike - all in my bid to give you a child when you knew you were responsible for my childless state. Kill me, but be sure to tell the world the truth.” Patra was past caring. She sobbed as her body ached.

The security man stared in amazement. The alcohol cleared from Richie’s eyes immediately and the fight left him. He stared in horror at Patra, seeing the blood for the first time.

He flinched and his shoulders drooped.

“Leave me,” he said wearily to the security man, adding, “Please get me the driver. I need to get her to the hospital.”

The security man hesitated briefly and stepped out.

He moved to his wife, “Darling, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know what got into me. Forgive me. Please,” he said. He couldn’t believe he hit Patra.

“Richie, we are alone now. You wanted to kill me, you have the opportunity now. For close to nine years, I kept myself for you while you went about taking care of other people’s children. Yes, I’m pregnant for another man. You drove me into the arms of another man. I’m grateful you did because I got to know that am perfectly okay,” she told him, crying.

Richie sighed.

“Let me take you to the hospital first,” he said, worried.

He was shaken. He had never hit a woman in his life. Now he has beaten one, his wife. A woman he loved so much!

He tried to help her up but she spurned his offer.

“Please darling. Let me help you to the couch. It won’t look good if the driver meets you here,” he said.

“What is wrong with anybody seeing me here? Did you not hit me in the presence of your domestic staff? Can it be any worse? Please go away, let the world see me here for all I care,” Patra replied him. Her left elbow hurt so much.

He brush his lips on her forehead and went to look for the driver. He heard a noise outside and stepped out, only to meet the security man arguing with Betty. He felt terrible. Why would Betty chose this inauspicious time to visit? Obviously, the security man didn’t want her to witness what happened just now. He made to duck inside but it was too late.

“Richie, this man has been insulting me here since,” Betty shouted, shoving the securityman aside.

“Leave her,” Richie told the security. It was no use. He needed to look for ways to manage the situation now. He needed allies now.

“There was an accident. Your friend is in pain,” he told Betty as they went inside.

Betty rushed to the still crying Patra.

“What happened? She screamed when she saw the blood on Patra’s face and blouse.

“My wife fell down,” Richie said behind Betty, pleading with his eyes to Patra to play ball.

His heart lurched. Patra had her phone in her hand! Had she made a call? To who? Dr. KC? Police? Her man? **************** How did Richie navigate this tricky situation? Let’s find out on Sunday.

•Send your observations to: julietbumah@gmail.com

23

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

Buhari is repositioning Nigeria –Prof Nguru p.25

‘Proposed ranching policy shouldn’t cause protest’ p.27

The Sunday Interview

Okurounmu: Nigeria doesn’t need multiplicity of states p28-29

Politics

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

Despite three court judgments which upheld his sack as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is unclear how far Senator Ali Modu Sheriff wants to go, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

I

f it were a game of football, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is technically out of the contest for the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With three to one advantage, the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led seven-man National Caretaker Committee set up on May 21 at the National Convention in Port Harcourt, is from all intents and purposes, adjudged the authentic leadership of the party.

But this is not a game of football but politics. And as a typical politician, the former Borno State governor is still laying claim to the position. Although he said he was ready to make peace, the former National Chairman has continued to parade himself as PDP chairman.

Sheriff told journalists last Monday in Abuja after the court in Port Harcourt upheld his sack as PDP Chairman, that he still remains the leader of the party.

“I want you to know that the court that gave judgment in Abuja High Court last week and Federal High Court in Lagos, and today’s (Monday’s) judgment are all court of same coordinate jurisdiction.

“Therefore, the order we have in Abuja is still subsisting. What it means is that unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise, I still remain national chairman of PDP,” he declared.

Two weeks ago, an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang held that Sheriff still remained PDP chairman.

Justice Abang also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accord him the necessary recognition by accepting his nominees for the Edo and Ondo State governorship elections.

Justice Abang’s ground was that the National Caretaker Committee headed

by Senator Makarfi lacks legitimacy and therefore illegal. This was after he had curiously, walked out Makarfi’s lawyers out of the court.

This was, however, the only consolatory judgement the embattled former National Chairman could get out of four judgemnts delivered in the last two weeks.

Justice Valentine Ashi of Court 29, Abuja High Court sitting in Apo, had declared as “unconstitutional, null and void,” the amendment of Article 47 Rule 6 of the PDP Constitution, 2012 on the basis of which Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu was ratified as PDP National Chairman at a special National Convention of the party in Abuja on December 10 and 11, 2014.

Sheriff had relied on the ratification of Mu’azu’s appointment to insist that he remains PDP National Chairman till December 2018, as according to him, he came to

Sheriff

Makarfi

PDP and the battle for survival complete Mu’azu’s tenure not that of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who was elected as PDP chairman in 2012.

But Justice Ashi said there was a default in the amendment of the constitution as it failed to comply with the provisions of Article 66(2) and (3) of the PDP Constitution, which requires that the national secretary should be served with a written copy of the proposed amendment two months before the convention, and who will in turn, is required to circulate among the state party secretaries a copy of the constitution, a month before the convention.

“By reason of the above, the purported amendment introduced to the constitution on the aforesaid date, are hereby set aside.

“All persons, individuals, servants or agents of PDP parading themselves as national officers of the PDP pursuant to the purported amendment, which has now been nullified, are hereby restrained from further parading themselves in these capacities,” the judge said.

The case: FCT/HC/CV/1867/2016, was instituted by Chief Joseph Jero, PDP chieftain from Ondo State. PDP was the only defendant in the suit, which, through its lawyer, Okere Kingdom, argued that the matter was an internal affairs of the party, which precludes court from meddling into its domestic affairs.

Justice Ashi’s judgment was a prelude

to the judgment of Justice Hussein BabaYusuf, which described the former PDP National Chairman as “busy body” in trying to rope in other former National Working Committee (NWC) members in the suit filed before the court in his ambitious tenure elongation.

In the suit, Sheriff had included 17 other former NWC members, and asked the court to recognise him as PDP national chairman. But the judge held that he did not seek the consent of some of the plaintiffs before joining them in the suit.

According to him, from the submission before the court, some of the plaintiffs had no interest in the matter and had not give their consent.

Even before the judgement, Henry Leonard, counsel to the former National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, had asked that his client’s name be struck out of the suit. Sheriff’s lawyer, Alex Izinyon, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had earlier urged the court to strike out the names of other defendants on the ground that they were not properly included.

The judgement that finally nailed Sheriff and group’s coffin was delivered last Monday by Justice Mohammed Liman of Port High Court Federal High Court.

This was the judgement INEC said it was waiting for, to know whom to deal with between the two claimants to the PDP leadership.

Nick Dazang, Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) said the commission was waiting for the Port Harcourt judgment. “...There is a judgement coming up on the 4th of July with respect to the leadership crisis in the PDP, I think it is an appeal court judgement or so. So we are awaiting (for) the judgement to give us a clear idea of what to do,” he disclosed.

Justice Liman held that PDP did not violate any court order in constituting a National Caretaker Committee to steer the ship of the party for a period of time.

He said Sheriff as chairman of the party did not have powers to unilaterally postpone the convention, since there was a caveat in the party’s constitution that he was to preside over the national convention with other national officers of the party.

“The first defendant from undisputable evidence participated from the very initial stage of summoning the convention from the level of national executive council, appointed a national convention organising committee, he filed to contest, was screened but disqualified.

“So from this scenerio, it is logical to assume that he was not prevented from participating in the convention. It will also not come from him that the convention was not properly convened.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

24

SUNDAY 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

When President Buhari is to blame Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

L

Anule Emmanuel

eadership at every level comes with a burden. In fact, in climes where democracy has advanced, where things are done with strict regard to and enforcement of extant rules and regulations, to accept to lead is sacrifice in itself.

The elite in Nigeria, who often find themselves in positions of authority unfortunately, hardly see leadership within this context.

They deliberately choose to ignore the virtues of leadership. But, the truth is that it is a service and service comes with sacrifice.

The sacrifices one person is willing to make for the good of others can take many forms.

The giving of one’s time and energy is certainly a sacrifice. Unlike money, time and energy are non-redeemable. Once spent, there is no getting it back.

Like a parent who feeds their child before themselves, the willingness to put the inter-

ests of others first is a sure sign of good leadership. It is not about, all time sweet or ever rosy. Because of the burden which comes with it, followers are often advised to pray for their leaders especially for good health and wisdom to govern well. When a government succeeds, it is the leader who takes the credit and the opposite is the case.

This is what President Muhammadu Buhari and his handlers need to know at this material time. The economy is not doing well, the poor masses grumble of hardship in the land. In fact, the President at some point have had course to agree that the country was broke. The states can no longer cope with the financial obligations.

They are struggling to pay salaries of workers even with bail out at the center.

While there are still pocket issues of bombings by the Boko Haram in the North-East, the newly formed militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers are destroying oil and gas installation with reckless abandon. President Buhari is indeed taking the blame for all these woos. As father of the nation he naturally should take responsibility not just for posi-

tives, but for the ugly.

It is the reason why, when the accounts of a governor somewhere in Ekiti State is frozen, when the court rules against a member of the opposition party or the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) goes after its chieftain, when crisis break in the parliament, if the Boko Haram or the Niger Delta Avengers strike, all of these is failure on the part of the President.

Even when lawmakers are alleged of forging the Senate Standing Rules 2015 and have been charged to court, accusing fingers go pointing on the President.

With the slightest opportunity, Nigerians would blame their leader without even reason. Agreed, like the popular saying ‘put the blame on something,’ it is feared that this could be a big distraction. But constructive criticism is healthy for the system.

In critically assessing the National Assembly crisis for instance, President Buhari is specifically accused of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that can derail the nation’s democracy. Interestingly however, President Buhari himself has since admitted that Nigeria is a difficult country to govern in view of many interests and the challenges it is plagued with ranging from poverty, poor

infrastructure and insecurity among others.

Although, he had ruled the country in uniform as a military officer, the scenario then and now are different. What is clear is that while he continued expressing the passion to lead Nigeria for the second time, President Buhari was oblivious of the huge challenges on ground. At some point, Buhari even wept.

Those sympathetic to his course fear is whether the President will not be overwhelmed with, and derailed by these facing challenges amidst the array of abuses and criticisms that continue to pour in.

For Buhari, governing Nigeria has only been made difficult following years of misrule, which resulted in the insecurity problems manifested in the form of Boko Haram in the north, militancy in the Niger Delta, youth unemployment and corruption.

This is why the President and his entire team just need to remain focused. If Mr. President is really convinced that he has something in the kitty to turn around the fortunes of the country, he must not be bothered by the bashing coming from all directions. But his government must move the country away from promises to actions which is what Nigerians want to see. No doubt, the change is indeed biting hard.

Obiogbolu: PDP leadership crisis unfortunate Two time governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, speaks on the leadership crisis in the party in this interview with OKEGWU KENECHUKWU It could be recalled that these problem of double candidature and executive started during Chiwonke Mbadinuju administration and it has only affected us as a party in the governorship elections. So the situation can be related to the governorship aspiration of the PDP and I hope and pray that this matter would soon be resolved in a manner that will impact positively in next governorship elections.

What can you make out of the current crisis that has bedeviled your party at the national level?

It is very unfortunate that it is happening, although it was unforeseen because it was the same disrespect for the constitution of the party and persons arrogating themselves powers that led to the party loosen in 2015 general election to All Progressives Party (APC). It is also unfortunate that the same Sheriff who has been a two time governor and senator and erstwhile leader of ANPP will not appropriate the true essence of collective reasoning and consensus. But I strongly believe that whatever they think they are doing will make our party to come out stronger at the end of the day. Just as those who plotted the party’s downfall, either by omission or intent, to move to APC, this crisis will leave our party with those who are truly democrats. In all my years in politics I can assuredly, tell you that PDP remains the only political party that belongs permanently to no one. You can see how leadership in the party evolved from 1999 to date and one can see that most of the crisis was not unconnected to people believing that they can perpetuate themselves in leadership.

So in the interim which of the groups do you have sympathy for?

Well it is not a question of sympathy but a constitutional matter. In APC they believe that Sen. Bola Tinubu is their leader but in PDP it is not so. We have constitutional laid down principle and procedure. We believe in tenure thing. When the tenure expires it goes to the next person. Nigerians will recall vividly how Sheriff and his other northern governors forced then General Muhammadu Buhari out of ANPP and hosted Ibrahim Shekerau as its presidential candidate and Buhari left them and formed another party in line with the Supreme Court judgment that political parties is an association and if you don’t like it you leave.

So how can Sheriff now as a former governor believe that the dish he served as a governor he cannot receive as a former governor when served by incumbent governor. This is an absurdity and if one looks at PDP it has not been a violent political party and in its 16 years, it has never resorted to violence as a means of settling issues or differences and it cannot start from Sheriff.

But to what would you ascribe the situation at the National Headquarters now to since Sheriff and supporters have forcefully ejected the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Working Committee?

I won’t join issues on that ground. All I want to remind Sheriff and his group is for them to remember his own doctrine as governor of Borno State that no one person is bigger than the party. He should also remember that the issue at stake is the dissolution of the National Working Committee by the party’s National Convention held in Port Harcourt, River State in line

You have on several occasions expressed your interest to serve Anambra people as a governor. Are you still interested in the race this time around as some aspirants have indicated interest?

Am not aware of an aspirants or anybody in PDP now who has indicated interest because it is too early and it will be insensitive this time we are trying to heal old wounds and reunite. Senator Andy Uba, myself and a host of others aspired in 2009 and 2013 and whatever aspiration we had at the moment should be directed at how to make our party stronger in Anambra State.

Obiogbolu

with the party’s constitution and all of us have accepted the dissolution of the highest ruling organ of the party. So whatever grievances he may be nursing is immaterial, because he must first and foremost remember that the party honoured him in the first place with national chairmanship of the party and he must reciprocate by not tarnishing the image of the party globally Would you subscribe to the opinion that your party made a mistake in the choice of Sheriff in the first place, as some people believe he is working for APC? I said earlier that I don’t want to join issues with people on that but suffice is to say that PDP did not make any mistake because Sheriff is made of high stuff and has served his people and the country meritoriously. So the leadership made no mistake, instead it seems sheriff is making the mistake of being dishonor to his exulted person.

So how would you relate this to what is obtainable in PDP Anambra State?

No I wish people will understand the situation in Anambra state PDP. However for the clarity, purposes PDP is one of the political parties in Anambra State. The only thing was that there exist two contending executives. We have also seen this exist in the last 10 years and in those years PDP has kept going with elections and in four instances court was used to determine candidates of the party at the instant elections.

So what do you think should be done to re-unite your party once more?

What other advice, than impacting on the highest organs of the party decision. Any law abiding citizen, patriotic Nigerian and passionate PDP member cannot deviate from the PDP National conversion just like lawyers will take the decision of the Supreme Court so do we take the decision of the National Convention as final The Anambra Central Senatorial election has been put on hold for so long. How does your party see the shortfall in the National Assembly representation even as your party is being accused of causing it?

Well, those claiming that PDP is responsible for the shortfall are totally ignorant of the situation or are being mischievous about it. Everybody knew that the Independent Electoral Commission announced the date for the election disqualifying PDP from taking part in the election. PDP did not ask the court to stop the election in line with the constitutional provisions as the court ruled that PDP should be included but INEC rather than hold the election which was just few days ahead of the ruling, postponed the election and said it will appeal against the judgment. However, at the same time, the All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate in the election, Chief Victor Umeh has publicly vowed to stop PDP from taking part in the election. So the question now is who is delaying the election from holding? Why is APGA candidate afraid of the PDP? Is it not a sister political party in Nigeria? Are elections not conducted among candidates? I can tell you assuredly that we are strongly waiting for the election and we are ever ready at the shortest notice to go to the polls

25

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

politics The All Progressives Congress (APC) government is one year in office, what is your appraisal of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government?

First of all, we assess the government from the promises it made, and also we need to consider whether the assessment of Nigerians was even correct in the first place; whether the promises made would have solved the problems. And I think on all course, without any fear of contradiction, that Nigeria has regrets, sadly so because President Muhammadu Buhari is not a new person in government. He was governor of the North-East; he was Petroleum Minister; he was Military Head of State and he has been contesting election to become the President of this country since 2003.

Believe me, when you want to judge people as to whether they have failed or succeeded, the most important thing to do is to judge based on what they promised the people.

President Buhari is a man of honour and honesty. This is what our reminiscence tells us. Every Nigerian can recollect that, he held many exalted and lofty positions in the past, and he still remained an average Nigerian in terms of wealth. He means well to Nigeria with all sincerity. This is why he works tirelessly without relenting any effort. His journeys are in the interest of this country. I am sure he does not mean to enrich himself in anyway, for if he wanted so, he would have done it long ago.

However, to my own opinion, Nigerians, Buhari and his government are aware of the difficult condition we Nigerians are passing through now. It is not the wish of his government to see us in this present condition. No responsible leader will like to see his people suffering. He came to power to rescue our country from the continuous deterioration and backsliding. To achieve such onerous assignment, one needs outmost sacrifice from all and sundry. It should not be left to one person or group of persons. We are all responsible for the decoyed situation of the country. Let everybody do his work and contribute his quota.

Lets us exercise patience support and uphold this team and pray for them.

Moreover, Mr. President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and their government are doing well.

Lets us encourage them, and not dishearten them by negative remarks or comments. the high society and the aristocrats of this country want to do to Buhari what was done to Muhammad Morse in Egypt by people in his government by instigating and inciting the masses by making life difficult for them, since they are ones who control the Economy of the nation locally. it is also pertinent to note that as Mr. Armos from Kaduna put it correctly that, one of the most vicious problem that Buhari is facing is the neo-colonial structure. The international capitalist system will make it difficult for President Muhammadu Buhari or anybody to emancipate the paupers and the poverty stricken nation, as our economy is at the mercy of foreign interest.

What can you say about his anti-corruption war?

Before I go deeply into that, I don’t want to say much about this issue of corruption, because if you want to tell the truth Nigeria is our home when the truth comes, just say it out. in Nigeria today almost everybody is corrupt. Corruption has reached every sector both government and non-governmental organisations. There is corruption in the Army, Police, Customs, Immigration, private sector, institutions of learning and so on. The judiciary must do their jobs, particularly in the cases pertaining to malfeasance, the petroleum marketers should be patriotic, the business tycoons should be honest, merciful and compassionate to their country, the power sector should be nationalists, civil servants must fear Allah, the laities and the people in the street should adequately be informed about the state of the nation. The paramilitaries must vow to serve the country with sincerity. The lecturers at our universities should buckle up to their assignment.

Buhari is repositioning Nigeria –Prof Nguru Prof. Muhammadu Mu’azu Nguru is the Director/ CEO Nigerian Arabic Language Village.

In this interview with HASSAN JIRGI, he speaks extensively on Nigeria’s democracy, corruption, fuel hike and Nigeria Labour Congress’ strike, saying Nigerians should be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government increased 40 per cent of the pump price.

However, I feel it is pertinent to mention at this junction that, the function of the NLC went on strike, why they did not do so when the price of petroleum reached N250 to N300? But now when the government fixed the price at N145, they started out crying and grumbling. I wonder. This makes me astonished and perplexed. Nigerians should know that then we were living on borrowing and our foreign reserve was exhausted by the looters and the plunderers. They extracted to the maximum almost everything to their pockets. It was a real wanton monopoly of our resources.

The issue of financial reports the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has about $700 billion as foreign reserve, while Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa has about $20 billion.

What an ignominy, to my personal view, this is the reason why our Naira is hollow floating like a grass or balloon on water. It has no base to stand. As such nothing will curb or restraint the dollar from jerking up.

Nguru

The police should do their work with dignity.

Nigeria is for us all. We all should be like the Nigerian army who are now working diligently and vigorously with all perseverance to uproot the miscreant and the vicious lots.

In terms of judiciary, you’d find out that, the only problem on the anti-corruption platform is the judiciary because of the way they are going about handling corruption cases in the country. we hope that the judiciary will step up and do the right thing so that we establish proper accountability, so that everybody who is in public office knows that if you abuse public trust, that abuse is going to catch up with you and that unless Nigerians are aware and people in public service are aware that they will continue and we are going to be worse for it. what I like to say on PMB is devoid of all kind of sentiments or passion. But it is ultimately from sheer patriotism and love for the progress of Nigeria.

What is your advice to Nigerians in the midst of the present situation?

My advice is that, Nigerians should give the government a chance. we are paying. I think I will appeal to Nigerians to be patient and give this government a chance. I also want to appreciate Nigerians for the kind of confidence they have shown in this government, particularly in the way the last strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) fizzled out. The action of Nigeria in the last strike sent a message to the government that, yes, we have confidence in you. But you also have to look at the clamouring for the like in

oil price under the pretence of removal of subsidy, while the previous governments, promised to make lives of Nigerians better with the pecuniary by providing infrastructure and necessities of life. But we all knew, no one among them fulfilled the promises, thus the money was squandered, saved for Sani Abacha who initiated Education Trust Fund and placed it under the trust of Muhammadu Buhari, the man of integrity and ability. It is a record on how Buhari used that fund judiciously in the interest of Nigerians.

Therefore, it is expedient for Nigeria to exercise patience and wait to see what President Buhari will do with the removal subsidy.

Furthermore, we should not be oblivious of the fact that, the deregulation of the price is also in the interest of our people, for the scarcity of the product, was created artificially by some unpatriotic oil dealers. Nevertheless, already some of them who are high-minded, patriotic and magnanimous have reduced the price form N 145- 120, even some reduced it drastically to N107. In the light of this, I will say. If we keep patience, all of them will be forced to reduce the price by the market forces.

However, I hail the position of the chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers for rejecting the strike. The pecuniary reward will amount to about $30 billion. Therefore, if it is so, that will enable Nigeria to build about 20 refineries. My fellow Nigerians should notice that, not only our country that increased the pump price. Countries, like Venezuela, Iran, United Arab emirate and Saudi Arabia who

Do you agree that the government is improving the economy through stringent measures?

Everybody is aware that, in a period like this, the country is going through a very tough economic period. nobody expected that the petroleum price will come down from 100 and something dollars per barred to about $29 per barrel or slightly about which this government has come to salvage; we are aware that there is a lot of scarcity and that prices are rising, sometimes it is bewildering why people condone an overlook that, vandalism of the pipelines to undercut the Federal Government and also they are blind to see the drastic and awful dropping of crude oil price internationally, the benchmark price of a barrel was about and 95 and the real price was about and 100 up to 2014 if you compare it to the current price, All these native forces contributed to our present economic predicament. Nigerians should be enlightened that, oil resources can no longer bring the desired change we are looking for.

Another afflictive situation in Nigeria is that, people do not pay their tax. According to same report only two per cent of tax payers pay the tax, while countries like Ghana, Iran, etc. more than seven per cent pay their tax.

Today Ghana enjoys remarkable economic growth because their leaders look for what they can do for their country, but not what they can get from the country. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria is about 27 per cent according to the Finance Minister. Now the Federal Government cannot effect any payment without payment of tax.

By and large, I ask where has the subsidy removed by the previous regimes gone to?

That is why the President said that the inability of the last administration to surmount the Boko Haram was due to the high volume of corruption in the country. Now all the 14 local government in the hands of the hideous and repulsive insurgents are freed. We thank Allah, our President and our army. Buhari’s government is repositioning Nigeria. Let’s us bear with them, I have no iota of doubt that this administration’s policy seems to crunch the economy in order to combat inflation.

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SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

Gov Ikpeazu and incontrovertible truth Bonnie Iwuoha

W

onders are many, and none is more wonderful than man. Sosaid Sophocies, Athenian dramatist.

In the same manner, French author, Emile Zolo, propounded that If you shut up truth and bury it underground, it will but grow and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through, it will blow up everything in its way.

Nigerians are transfixed in shock as events unfold in the macabre drama playing out with respect to the office of Governor of Abia State. On Monday June 27, 2016, a Federal High Court presided over by the Hon. Justice Okon Abang, purportedly sacked the sitting Governor of Abia State on the grounds that he did not collect his tax receipts for 2011, 2012 and 2013 as at when due. Yes, You Heard Me Right. Ikpeazu has been troubled not because he did not pay his tax for the years in question as and when due, which is impossible anyway as the taxes were deducted automatically from his salaries even before he got his pay, but because he did not demand for and collect his receipts for the automatically deducted taxes at the time they were being deducted and remitted.

The offence of Ikpeazu, according to the Federal High Court Judge, was that he waited until 2014 when he needed the tax receipts to apply for them. When officials of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue acted on Ikpeazu’s request therefore, they wrote the receipts for the three years in question on the same day and from the same booklet being used to write taxes for 2014. This same practice affects most civil and public servants in Nigeria, this writer inclusive. It is common knowledge that most of those who ask for their tax clearance certificates regularly are contractors and other business men and women who require them for transactions.

For emphasis, Ikpeazu paid his taxes for 2011, 2012 and 2013 as at when due; it was the receipts for the taxes which were written in 2014. On this ground, Justice Abang accused the governor of fraud and declared his seat vacant. This is unprecedented in the electoral history of Nigeria. In the annals of conspiracies to unlawfully and illegally rob an elected official of a victory he won at the polls in Nigeria, this tops it; this qualifies as the heist of the century.

When Barr. F.N. Nwosu who scored five votes and Mr. Uchechukwu Samson Ogah who scored 103 votes to Dr. Ikpeazu’s 487 votes at the PDP primaries in 2014 went to court on issues bordering on tax documents, no one took the two cases seriously, for many reasons. First, is that, it is impossible for Dr. Ikpeazu not to have paid his taxes for the years in question when he was an employee of the Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest Scheme (ASPIMS) and later the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) where he was GM and DGM respectively. He was a civil/public servant for those years. As such he was a PAYEE (Pay As You Earn Employee). PAYEEs are a special breed. They pay their taxes every month as they receive their salaries unlike many others who pay yearly; even that is not entirely accurate. It is more accurate to say that their taxes are deducted and remitted to the tax authorities automatically every month even before they see their salaries, in fact, they have no choice in the matter. They are not responsible for the assessment, deduction or remittance of their taxes. They only get to know what they pay as taxes when they receive their pay-slips and look at the column where it has been deducted.

When it comes to paying taxes, PAYEEs are the salt of the earth as they are the most compliant. No PAYEE is given his receipts for taxes paid every month it is deducted,

Ikpeazu

neither is it given at the end of every tax year which ends on the 31st of December of each year. Some PAYEES spend all their years in employment, which in the case of civil servants is 35 years, without once seeing their tax receipts.

Many never have need of it and never apply to the tax authorities for it. But if they need their tax receipts for any reasons, they then apply to the tax authorities who will call for their records from the appropriate Agencies and from those records, compute and generate the figures which will now be entered in a receipt and given to the PAYEE. The PAYEE has no role, contribution or input in this process. He has no input in the deduction and remittance of his taxes, so the records also do not have his input nor are they in his possession.

When the tax authorities call for the records and extract what they want from it in order to write his receipts, he is also not involved nor even present. The role of a PAYEE in the matter of tax receipts are only two: (1) to apply to tax authorities for it and (2) to collect it when it is ready. That is all Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D did in this instance and yet he is accused of forging a document he did not make.

The strategy of calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it in Nigeria, is most unfortunate and regrettable. Once a public official is accused of forgery, no matter how unfounded and without merit the accusation is, people go to town shouting “forgery, forgery, forgery”; a majority do not pause, take a breath and examine the allegations to determine its merit. Most citizens are just too anxious to believe the very worst for their elected officials and are not ready to afford them any benefit of doubts whatsoever. In this case, Dr. Ikpeazu is accused of making false entries in a document he was not even present when it was made. The Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) which wrote the receipts, signed, sealed it and delivered to Dr. Ikpeazu, deposed to an affidavit through its officials, explaining the process and procedures followed by them but the honorable Judge ignored them. The process of writing tax receipts is not rocket science and even common sense, which no longer seems to be quite so common these days, makes it easy to understand that the allegations against Ikpeazu are at best spurious, unfounded and entirely without merit.

For instance, his traducers complained about the receipts for his taxes in 2011, 2012 and 2013 because they were “ALL PAID” in 2014 and the serial numbers on the receipts show they are from the same booklet. They said the receipt for 2013 was written before that for 2012 was written. They equally said that in one of the receipts, December 31 of that year fell on a Saturday, a non-working day. Another claim was that for 2011 when

Justice Muhammed

he started his employment with ASPIMS mid-year, he paid more taxes than his six months’ salary for that year could account for. That they called fraud and blamed on Dr. Ikpeazu. This amounts to sheer ignorance. If a tax official is writing tax receipts for taxes already paid in previous years, he will write it on the booklet for the current year starting from where he stopped for the last receipt written. He will not start looking for booklets used in previous years. He does not need to write them serially or in any order.

The receipts for three years or even 20 years of tax already paid previously can be issued in one day and does not amount to fraud.

Every tax year ends on December 31 and is so denoted on tax receipts; the fact that for any one year, December 31 ends on a Saturday or Sunday is moot. With respect to 2011, when Ikpeazu was under PAYEE for only six

months, the tax officials will also take into account his earnings for the previous six months when he was not yet in the employment of ASPIMS to determine his assessable income for the entire year; the tax paid by Ikpeazu in 2011 was for his earnings for the whole of that year not only for the six months he was a PAYEE, so, to say that he paid more tax than his income for six months could accommodate sounds unreasonable.

Dr. Ikpeazu deserves high commendation for surrendering tax that accrued to government from private incomes he made before he joined government employment contrary to most other people who would have denied earning anything at all during the said period. Tax receipts are issued for a year and not in fractions of a year or monthly. A tax official who is writing tax receipts does not know and would not care anyway what the receipts are being used for: whether for purpose of elections, Land Registry transactions, or just for the mere records of the tax payer, etc; he will merely follow established tax protocols. How any perceived error in the actions of a tax official, assuming for purposes of arguments, there exists any, can be blamed on the tax payer really beats the imagination.

In this particular case, it is unprecedented for a sitting governor to be accused of forgery and fraud in respect of a document he did not make, had no input into its contents and on this contrived and trumped up grounds, invalidated his election.

This is a clear assault on our collective national efforts towards achieving egalitarianism and respect for the will of the people in electing their leaders. Nigerians should be worried. Every sane mind and lover of peace should rise and resist this attempt by some fraudulent people to set our hard earned democracy ablaze.

Comrade Iwuoha, is the Commissioner for Information, Culture & Strategy Abia State

PDP and the battle for survival C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

“The first defendant submitted himself for screening, purchased the form for the screening. The screening was widely reported in the media,” he said.

Consequently, the judge held that the dissolution of the national executive committee and the working committee was within the ambits of the article of the party.

“The national convention is the controlling authority of the party, it shall exercise authority to elect and remove the national officers of the party and to appoint such committees it deemed necessary and assign to them such powers it may deem fit,” Justice Liman added.

Sheriff’s argument that he remain PDP National Chairman was on the fact that the Port Harcourt High Court is not an Appeal Court but of coordinate jurisdiction with other high courts. He contended that “any court that is of the same jurisdiction, cannot overrule another court except the Court of Appeal.”

PDP lawyer, Dejo Lamaka (SAN) said the judgement was opposed to any interim or interlocutory order.

“This is a judgement opposed to any interim or interlocutory order.... This judgement overtakes any order from any court, particularly any interlocutory injunction,” he said.

A member of the caretaker committee in charge of publicity, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, also noted that Justice Liman’s judgement is superior to all other court rulings, ex-parte orders or interlocutory injunctions, procured

by Sheriff.

Sheriff is insisting that he would forward

the name of Matthew Iduoriyekwemwen to INEC as PDP candidate for the September 10 governorship election in Edo Stat, arguing: “it is clear that from Abuja High Court INEC is obliged to accept the candidate we are to present.”

INEC refused to monitor the primary that produced Iduoriyekwemwen because it fell short of the statutory 21 days notice political party planning to conduct primary supposed to give the commission.

Apart from that, the commission said it had monitored another PDP primary that produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its candidate for the election.

As far as the contest for the PDP chairmanship is concern, Sheriff is practically on his own. Except for few leaders of the party, including two former NWC members, who like him, are claiming that their tenure has not elapsed, every other PDP member is on the side of Makarfi.

Even PDP establishment staff who ordinarily are expected to not to take sides, have pitched tent with the caretaker committee.

Some party elders are suggesting that relevant provisions of the PDP constitution should be invoked against the former chairman.

Former Deputy National Chairman, Olabode George is suggesting that “those who took the party to court should have been fired.”

The Board of Trustees (BoT) had ordered parties that instituted cases in court to withdraw them immediately and seek internal party mechanism to redress their grievances.

Sheriff has not complied with this order.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 10 JULY 2016

politics Recently, some groups in Plateau State protested against the alleged adoption by the state government of the Grazing Reserves/ Ranching Policy of the Federal Government.

What led to the protests and what is the true position of your government on the issues at stake?

First of all I want to make a clarification here. There is nothing like a grazing reserve policy either at the level of contemplation or implementation by the state government.

What the state government keyed into was the Ranching Policy of the Federal Government, which was initiated by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. A committee of former state governors earlier chaired by ex- Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, had proposed Grazing Reserves or Ranches, but many opted for the latter. Incidentally, the time for its implementation fell under the Muhammadu Buhari administration. States were given the option of keying into either Grazing or Ranching policy and Plateau State opted for ranching.

I think two things were responsible for the protests. One was pure ignorance about the content of the two distinct policies, while the other was sheer political mischief orchestrated by the governor’s political opponents, who saw in the controversy the opportunity to score cheap political points by rubbishing the Lalong government and it’s decision to key into the policy. They did not even take the pain to acquaint themselves with the content of the policy and it’s attendant socioeconomic benefits to the people.

The governor had only set up a 14-man committee chaired by a renowned professor of Agriculture and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Ochapa Onazi, and other experts like Professor Sharubutu, an expert in animal husbandry, Prof John Wade, an expert in fishery, Prof. CJ Dakas, SAN, among others with the mandate to meet with the Minister of Agriculture to get further details about the Ranching Policy prior to its implementation.

Then, suddenly, like a bolt out of the blues, some people were instigated to protest against what they described as “Grazing Reserves Policy.” They did not and some still do not want to understand its component and the difference between ranching and grazing reserve. Now when you are ignorant and you don’t take pain to find out the details and true position about something based on falsehood, then that is where the problem will start and that is where many people initially got it wrong.

The second part was the handwork of opposition political mischief makers, who campaigned vigorously to rubbish the government through lies and falsehood in order to make political capital of the situation. When people hear of grazing reserves what comes to their mind is Fulani herdsmen because Fulani herdsmen are known for grazing and so when they are deceived that the policy is for grazing reserves they assume it is a policy that will lead to the government forcefully taking their lands away from them and giving them to the Fulani who would now graze on them. So ignorance was part of it and mischief makers capitalised on it. The modus operandi of the typical opposition that we have in this part of the world can be best illustrated with the behaviour of the devil. You know the Bible says that the devil moves to and fro, looking for whom to devour. Suddenly the opposition who had been in the cold for over a year ago to lick their bloody wounds of defeat after being thrown out of power had to find something doing. You don’t blame them, many of them are jobless individuals who have been surviving on the crumbs from PDP politicians, so now for lack of something doing, they go about looking for such opportunities to deceive the people by rubbishing the good policies of government by making noise to send wrong signals to the citizens of the state.

Now following the committee’s report and wide consultations with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders, lawmakers at state level and National Assembly, etc, government is now studying the report with a

‘Proposed ranching policy shouldn’t cause protest’ Hon. Mark Longyen is the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State. In this interview with MUSA PAM, he speaks on the recent altercations between Lalong and his predecessor, Senator Jonah Jang, stressing that Jang should apologise to the people of the state for approving a gazette in 2009 for the creation of grazing reserves and grazing routes in the state, among other issues

Longyen

view to implementing the Ranching Policy, not Grazing Reserves. Ranching is completely different from grazing reserves, as Ranching entails getting a piece of land with the funding support from both the Federal and state governments which financially support those who interested in caging their livestock. It does not necessary have to be cows, it can be goats, sheep, pigs, poultry and, perhaps, dogs in future and will be taken care of through the provision of excellent facilities like veterinary services, security, dams for water, etc, with lots of attendant benefits. And this, you know, is part of the empowerment programmes found in the Five Point Policy Thrust of the APC government in the state, which the opposition does not want to hear.

Governor Lalong and Senator Jang have recently been having altercations over the grazing policy and a gazette allegedly earlier published by the Jang administration, which approved grazing routes and the governor also accused Jang of being behind the protests. What’s your reaction to this?

Well, for an executive governor who has security reports at his disposal, I’m sure whatever he said was based on the security report before him. An executive governor is not like an ordinary citizen on the street; he has a lot of security information at his disposal and for him to have pointedly accused his predecessor for being behind the protests. He must have gotten some credible security information for which he cannot be faulted. But even the timing of the protests which commenced barely 24 hours after Jang released a statement which smacked of one who was not speaking from a well-informed position, wantonly condemning the policy, was very suspicious. A keen observer of what happened at that time will definitely point an accusing finger at the senator, devoid of any security information. There is this saying in my place that “the evil bird cries at night and then at dawn the baby is found dead in the house.” So the Senator was a suspect based on the timing of the press release and the political leaning of those who championed the protests. He issued a statement then the next day there were protests all over the state

and they were clearly led by his political allies. On the issue of the Gazette on Grazing Reserves by the past government, I have personally cited the document too, I can tell you authoritatively that it was published in 2009 by the Jang government and even in the 2014 budget money was allocated for the Grazing Reserves in Kanam and Wase. Very soon, we will publish the gazette to expose his hypocrisy. I think Jang should apologise to the people of Plateau State for initiating the Grazing Reserve Gazette in 2009 and turning around to deny it now. He should honourably do that just the way he apologised to his PDP followers for misleading them when he denied the existence of rotational governorship in Plateau and led the party to permanent perdition.

As a matter of fact, Jang lacks patriotism because by virtue of his status as a former Ggvernor of the state, he is a stakeholder in the Plateau project, and he is expected to rally round the young governor to ensure that he succeeds in the best interest of the state, instead of being the one leading an unnecessary distractive opposition attempting to rubbish all the policies of this government for selfish political reasons. And mark you, since Jang got to the National Assembly, where he lost his legislative voice, he has never attended a single stakeholders’ meeting regularly held by this government. The governor has been holding consultative stakeholders’ meetings on virtually all the policies of this administration right from inception. Jang is the only stakeholder, the only former governor of the state and the only National Assembly member who has never attended any stakeholders’ meeting.

Governor Lalong had on assumption of office declared war against corruption and promised to ensure the prosecution of all the officials of the past administration found to have looted the state treasury, but more than one year after, no one seems to have been arrested or prosecuted, why?

These are security issues and you may not be conversant with what has been going on.

There have been invitations extended to alleged treasury looters and there have been

some financial refunds and recoveries too.

Have you not heard of the N2.7 billion that ‘developed wings and flew away’ under the last administration and was traced to an account and recovered? Some ex-officials, including Jang himself have been invited and there have been some quiet arrests. I think the EFCC is just taking its time before commencing their prosecution and may for now be overwhelmed that is why it is taking this long.

However, let me assure you that the governor is not resting on his oars, soon and very soon that a machinery will be put in place by the government to ensure that all those who looted the state funds are brought to book to account for such huge funds, as well as cough them out. We have a quantum of documents indicating some past officials on issues like the SURE-P funds where billions of naira was misappropriated. We also have billions of naira looted in SUBEB, as well as the socalled five kilometers road network and the looting with impunity in the 17 local government areas of the state. So Government is fighting corruption and we have waited for the EFCC all this while and now is the time for the state government to complement the EFCC by taking drastic actions to ensure that funds looted are squeezed out of the big bellies of those who looted them.

Why has the state government not paid its workers’ salaries and pensioners up to date, despite having received about N10 billion bailout funds from the Federal Government?

The problem of the salary arrears is an inherited problem from the immediate past administration, which owed eight months, i.e., almost one year, despite the fact that they were collecting billions of naira monthly from the Federation Account. Sometimes I wonder whether our leaders fear God at all, imagine owing workers for eight months, people whose salaries cannot take them home, yet you were receiving billions. So it was an inherited problem and it took the magnimity of the Federal Government to say, look states that are distressed, come let us assist you with something, which turned out to be the much-talked-about bailout. Now, when you calculate a wage bill of N1.7 billion a month in the state times eight months you know what it means, it is almost N15 billion, so the state applied for N10 billion bailout, but by the last quarter of last year only half of that money was released and the state accessed it and judiciously applied it to clear many months’ arrears. But the CBN never released the balance of about N5.3 billion until just about three weeks ago. So if you owe eight months and they give you half, which cannot pay up to four months, you have no choice other than look for other alternatives like IGR or simply wait. The delay in the clearing of the remaining balance was as result of the delay in the release and the Central Bank of Nigeria is the chief culprit in this matter. I’m very much aware of what happened, but I wouldn’t go into that, but as I’m talking to you now three months’ salary alerts are already hitting the phones of civil servants covering March, April and May, and only June salaries are being owed.

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SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

The Sunday

Okurounmu: Nigeria doesn’ Elder statesman and Afenifere chieftain, Senator Femi Okurounmu, was the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference. In this interview with KUNLE OLAYENI, he speaks on sundry national issues In the light of recent revelation that 15 states are going bankrupt in Nigeria, what do you think could be done to arrest this negative trend of states insolvency?

The first thing is that may be now that the oil is not booming as it used to, Nigerians, especially those in authority, would begin to plan as government should plan.

Those who were in government when all these states were created did so for frivolous reasons. There were not enough good reasons for creating 36 states in Nigeria.

The western states, we were getting along very well. The present Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti – the former Western Region minus Edo and Delta; there was nothing wrong with the western state the way it was. There was no problem; they just decided they wanted to create states.

Of course, there are many people who will always agitate for creation of states because they want to be commissioners, they want to be governors; they want to hold offices.

So, a lot of the agitations were selfishly motivated. But looking at whether there are real concrete reasons why states should be created, there were none. And the same can be said of most of the other states that were created. But because there was money in the country at that time, people didn’t think of the financial implications of multiply-

Okurounmu

ing states. So, we ended up creating far too many states in the country. And not only did we create far too many states, each state began to duplicate all the structures of the previously large state or regions. Instead of regarding the states as minimum centres of government, they became maximum centres of government that if the whole of Western Region used to have maybe 10 ministries, every state now has not even 10 ministries but sometimes they blow it up to 15, 20 ministries. So that they multiply the bureaucracy of each state, so that each of these ministates now has a larger bureaucracy than the whole of Western Region had before.

In the whole of former Western Region, we didn’t have as many ministers as they have in many of the states now.

Under Awolowo when the Western Region even included Edo and Delta, we didn’t have more than 10 or at most 12 ministers running the whole region. But now you go to any of these small states, you will see as much as 20 ministries which means 20 commissioners and then the number of advisers uncountable. And all these people are special advisers, special assistants, all sorts of paraphernalia which were non-existent before. When I was a commissioner in Ogun State which was 1979 to 1983, we had 12 commissioners. Now in Ogun State today,

we have more than 20 commissioners. Not only that, the governor at that time, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, had four advisers. Today, I cannot count how many advisers Governor Ibikunle Amosun has. Now, each of the advisers would then have special assistants and all sorts of subordinate staff which we did not have. Each commissioner would have many vehicles which we did not have.

A commissioner then had only one vehicle and that was all. So, they expanded government and the bureaucracy beyond what was reasonable just because money was available. Now that money is not as readily available as it used to be, the first thing is to start contracting the bureaucracy again.

Each of the present state that we have now frankly does not need more than eight commissioners. And if the governor needs advisers, maybe at most not more than four advisers to advise the governor. So, we would have to diminish or contract the bureaucracy. The second thing is that we must realize that we have too many states in the first place; we don’t need as many as 36 states. Look at the United States of America, it is a whole continent stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. Up till today, they still have only 50 states in the United States of America. Their population is between 350 and 400 million. Look at

Nigeria, we have 36 states, just one country. Nigeria is only about the size of Texas, which is just one state in the United States.

So, why do we need all this multiplicity of states? We don’t. This is where the money goes. When you look at the federal bureaucracy, again you look at the presidency; look at how many ministers you have in the Federal Government. In the United States which as I’ve said it’s a whole continent, their constitution provides for only 15 secretaries. What they call secretary is what we call ministers here. We have 15 secretaries governing the United States. How many ministers do we have here? By the time you have one minister from each state, that’s already 36. Then you have additional ministers representing the zones, maybe six. That is 42. What are they doing? We are over-governed; too much government.

And all these ministries are centres of fraud, centres of frivolous expenditures. Because with each minister, you have a permanent secretary, you have a whole bureaucracy all the way down the line and you have a fleet of vehicles and all sorts of special assistants, principal assistants and so on. So, this is just a way of frittering away money. We can reduce the federal bureaucracy substantially.

We can reduce the Presidency substantially; the staff in the Presidency are over-bloated, we don’t need them. The first is we must reduce size of government before we talk of the cost. When you reduce the size of government, then the cost will go down.

But don’t you think this problem would be addressed if the revenue allocation formula is reviewed in favour of the states?

Of course, that is a different issue. The revenue allocation formula has to be reviewed in favour of states to allow the states to become more autonomous in terms of taking responsibility for more of the functions that the states should take care of in a true federal structure. So, that is a different issue all together. Right now, we don’t have a proper federal structure. What we have is a quasi-unitary structure where all the matters are concentrated at the centre. So, the states are just more or less appendages of the centre. That is not federalism. In a federal structure, each state should more or less in running its own affairs, making its own laws, responsible for its own development programmes without having to be doing the same thing as other states are doing.

Run your own state the way you think is best for your people as you can afford. In a proper federal system, there need not be any uniformity from state to state.

Take the issue of salaries, salaries need not be uniform. What a governor in Ogun State is earning need not be the same as what a governor in Sokoto State is earning. Ogun State should be able to fix salaries for its staff depending on its own resources, how wealthy it is. If it is a very wealthy state, it can have very fat salary for its governor, ministers and so on. If it is not so rich, he can have very small salary; that is what we have in the United States. There is no such thing as saying this is a governor’s salary.

Some states are rich, their governors get more pay than other governors who are not so rich. The same thing all the way down the line; that is what is called federalism.

Each state should be able to develop its own resources, mobilise its own revenue,

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’t need multiplicity of states of course pay to the centre and then retain the rest to develop its own area, so that it’s ability to develop will depend on its innovative capacity to be able to develop sources of revenue within its own region.

So, this is true federalism. If we can afford free education in Ogun State, you go ahead and do it even if they cannot afford in Lagos. You don’t need to wait until Lagos can afford before you go ahead and do what you want to do. So, that is true federalism.

That means that a lot of the powers which is presently retained in the centre must be devolved to the states. The centre should just be in charge of binding the country together so that we know that we are still one country – defence, immigration, etc are all central functions. And things that no state cannot do on their own, these are the things that the centre should concern itself with.

But day-to-day development – agriculture, health and so on – should not concern the centre at all.

Just recently, the United Kingdom held a referendum where the majority voted for the exit of the country from the European Union. What lessons could be drawn from this arrangement by Nigeria?

Well, the most important lesson we can draw is that in any union, everybody in that union has to feel happy; has to feel that he’s getting advantages from that union; that the advantages he is deriving from that union are more than the disadvantages of belonging to it. That is the primary lesson. It is the same lesson that we have to learn from Scotland, for example, in the United Kingdom. There are many European countries like the Basque region of Spain is also trying to be independent of the central government. So, there are a lot of countries where there are all this breakaway movements. The important thing is that for any union to be stable, every component part of it must be happy that it is benefitting from the union, it is not marginalised, it is not in any way handicapped and that it is deriving advantages from it. That is the important lesson we have to learn because in Nigeria, some people say Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable. I’m glad that more and more people are now beginning to say that Nigeria’s unity is negotiable. We have said that as far back as 1990s under NADECO; that we had to sit down and negotiate this unity that we have in Nigeria. Wole Soyinka said it yesterday that Nigeria’s unity is negotiable; Chief Anthony Enahoro had said it several decades back. A unity has to be negotiable because when some people are feeling like they are slaves within that union and some people are the masters, that cannot be a stable unity. When the President makes 10 appointments and nine of them come from a particular region and one comes from the other region, then that cannot make for a stable unity. When the entire defence architecture – Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, anything that has to do with defence is already in the hands of one section of the country, and the others are just there. What are they doing? Are they onlookers? Are they just like conquered people? So, that cannot make for harmony; that will always breed agitations resulting from feelings of marginalization and that’s what lead to separatist movements and as long as we keep having that, we shall not have stability.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar even called for restructuring recently. What would be your take as the head of the presidential advisory committee that midwived

the 2014 National Conference?

Why are they just waking up now?

Those who are now crying for restructuring, why are they just waking up now? Is that not what we have been preaching for more than three decades? Since the June 12 crisis, we in the Yorubaland in particular has been crying for restructuring led by all our leaders – Abraham Adesanya, Bola Tinubu, everybody. Right from Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s time, we’ve been crying for restructuring even before the June 12 crisis. And since Chief Olusegun Obasanjo took over, we’ve been crying for national conference to restructure this country. In fact, when the Alliance for Democracy was taking part in elections in 1999 under the Abdulsalami Abubakar transition programme convocation of a national conference was one of the conditions. And Abdulsalami agreed. He promised us that the very first order of business is to restructure this country. But when Obasanjo got there, he reneged on this promise. So, Obasanjo refused to convene a national conference; Umaru Yar ’Adua refused. It was only Goodluck Jonathan who agreed after a lot of pressure and that is why we believe that this is what we have been asking for more than 40 years, we finally got a President to agree. If we can restructure as everybody now agrees, three-quarter of our problems would be solved. A lot of the problems are caused by over-centralisation. Whoever is in Abuja has everybody by the jugular; has life and death power over you. The centre is too powerful and that is why everybody wants to be at the centre.

If we restructure and every zone of this country is in charge of his own affairs and making its own progress, meeting development at its own pace, there would be less pressure to go and run the centre. That is why people like me voted for Jonathan, not because I’m for corruption. Jonathan was the only President who agreed to have this conference and we had a successful conference where we came out with recommendations. They were not quite what we wanted but at least, it went quite some way to address the problems. If only we have had Jonathan there to implement those recommendations, most of these known problems would not arise. That’s why I said why are they just waking up now because most of the people now crying for restructuring opposed the national conference for selfish reasons, particularly our own people here in Yorubaland who have been one with everybody agitating for national conference for more than 40 years.

All of a sudden when Jonathan called national conference, they said they were opposed. Why? For selfish reasons. The selfish reason is that the North wanted to have power back and they too wanted to have federal power, so there was a coincidence of interest between them and the North, not knowing that their interests are really different. The interest of the Yorubas who wanted power at the centre was not the same as the interest of the Fulanis; very divergent interests. But for selfishness, they went along with these people to oppose the national conference. Of course, you know the Fulanis have never supported the national conference and till tomorrow they would never support it because the present Constitution favours them. The present Constitution was designed by some certain military rulers from there to favour them. So, nobody voluntarily gives up and advantage. What we are operating now – the centralized constitution – is to their advantage. They don’t want to give

Okurounmu

that up without a fight.

If you say the present Constitution favours the North, would demand for restructuring not amount to a fruitless effort?

That is if the rest of us are animals and that is what they assumed. They take the rest of us as part of their cows and they think they can herd us. And honestly, a lot of us behave as if we are part of their cows and sheep. Otherwise, if the rest of us also insist the way they would insist on what we want, then at the very worst there would be a confrontation and everybody will go his own way. That is the worst that would happen. But as long as they always act aggressively as if they are the owners of Nigeria and we always act sheepishly as if they are our masters; once we continue to behave like second class citizens, they will continue to have their way. So, it is left for us to know what we want, to suppress personal interest and work in the interest of our people. It was Tinubu’s personal interest that made him to oppose this national conference under Jonathan. That is why I’m happy he has been let down; he’s not getting what he expected. Because we told him then that look all this change, change, change that they are crying about, it is only the Yorubas who were shouting for change in the sense that they want greater transparency, welfare for the masses and so on. That is what change meant to the Yorubas. Change to the Fulani people simply means change of power, it is our power, you people have had it enough, give us our power back. So, that is what it meant to them. They were all saying change but to them, change meant different things and we analysed all this and made it clear to them but they won’t listen. Now they have their change, the Fulanis have taken over the whole power virtually subjecting Tinubu himself to ridicule.

So, what would be the place of the Afenifere and Yoruba Unity Forum, which you are a part of, in helping the Yoruba regain their lost glory?

Well, we can only regain our lost glory if we begin to, as I’ve said, let each of us suppress his own personal interest. If the group interest is protected, automatically the individual interest will be protected.

And that is why the Fulanis are better than us. They fight first and foremost for the group interest and once they get that group interest, within that group interest, they begin to take care of individual interest.

We do it the other way round. We fight for our personal interest and when we fight for our personal interest, we put the group at a disadvantage and we neither get the advantage for the group nor for ourselves. We lose both ways. Well, ours is to continue to pray that maybe we’d have people who would be clear-eyed and have clearer vision now that we need restructuring. And we have to begin a new crusade for restructuring. I’m glad it has started. Maybe even within the ranks of the APC we can get people to begin the crusade now for restructuring. Unless we have restructuring, this country has no future.

Are you implying that the Afenifere and Yoruba Unity Forum would collaborate or partner some of the elements in APC that are demanding restructuring?

Ours is to fight for the right cause. It is not individuals, it’s the cause. We have both been fighting for the cause of restructuring. Whoever is ready to join us in that cause, we’ll collaborate with him. If Tinubu now today wants to have restructuring, we will work with him. We were working together before for restructuring; he was the one that changed course. If he now retraces his step and comes back, we will work with him. Because it is right. If it is right 30 years ago, it is still right even today. Restructuring is the path to the stability and progress of Nigeria.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

My husband never kept malice –Madam Alarapon

Daddy with children and grandchildren, Okiki Adeyeye, Erinifemi & Obaluwa

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Stanley Ihedigbo ife of the General Apostle of C & S Ona Iwa Mimo, Oke Ayo, Ojota, Lagos late (Dr.) Rufus Olaide Alarapon, Mother in Israel, Madam Cecilia Olomi Alarapon, has said that her husband never kept malice’s with anybody in his life time.

Speaking with Sunday Telegraph on the death of her husband, Madam Cecilia said that she has lost her best friend and burden bearer to death on April 19, 2016.

According to her, the Bible said that two people will be going and suddenly they take one person, adding that God will surely give her strength to overcome the shock of losing her husband.

In her words, “I have a lot of testimonies about my husband because he was a wonderful man since I met him.

I met him when I was in school and I was very active in the sports activities and he too was a good football player in the school. He later traveled aboard and he was writing to me, despite the fact that my parent didn’t know him, until when he said that I should join him. Then, I had to go to his parent and introduce myself to them in early 1963.

“My husband was a very nice man although he was very temperamental but his type, if he was angry, just leave him for some time and around 10 to 15 minutes, that annoyance is over and he would relate to you normally. He didn’t keep malice and didn’t have ‘bad mind’ against anybody, rather, he would speak his mind.

“He might speak in a very harsh tone or say annoying words to any person but he didn’t have to keep it against the person. When we married early , when he was annoyed and said things annoying, I would be asking myself the kind of man I was living with. So later I understood the kind of person he was. I had to abide with it and he didn’t have hard mind towards people,” she said.

On the relationship between the children and the father, Mother in Israel said that it was very cordial because most of the time, when she was annoyed with them, her husband would always take side with them.

According to one of her daughters,

Fadekemi Becky, her dad was a special father and hard to find, adding that she wished he would have stayed forever.

She further said, “Distance is one thing that keeps us apart. But Dad you will always remain in my heart. A special smile, a special face, and a special one I can’t replace. You were special Dad. I love you and always will.

“You filled a space that no one will ever replace, if life is to be a transaction, I will offer to buy and elongate your life once more, but then death is inevitable, which is beyond man.”

Fadekemi added that as tears roll down her cheeks and as she seeks peace to stop the pain, she prays that God will grant her father peace as well.

His son, Banji Alarapon, said,” I can count myself a lucky man to have you as my dad. You were ever so loving, disciplinarian and honest man. You worked tirelessly for your family. Always putting your kids first.

“I will forever cherish those days you played football with my friends. My friends always envy me. They said you are the most accessible dad they have ever seen. Our days of watching wresting every Saturday on NTA 2 Channel 5. Mighty Igor and Dustin Rose were your favourite. We also watched football together whenever Nigeria was playing.”

Banji further noted that his father introduced technology to them at a time when having the basic electronic was common, adding that his father was always ahead of time.

In her words, Mrs. Nike Adebambo, said,” No time to say goodbye. You were gone before I knew it and only God knows why. My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow.

What it meant to lose you, no one will ever know. I miss you dearly”.

Mrs. Adefunmi Shitta said that her father was her mentor, hero, friend, supporter and burden bearer. She added ,” You were there for me at all times, in my seasons of distress and joy, I can never forget your support towards me and my family, especially over my first child, Tessy. In all our trials, you stood by me all the way.

You were a shoulder to lean on, even when people gave up on us, you did not. Your encouragement, prayer and support are immeasurable.”

Daddy on a visit to his daughter Nike and grandchildren in USA

Daddy during Iyabo’s wedding anniversary

Daddy Alarapon, mummy at son’s Banji and Nike wedding in London, 2005

Mr. and Mrs. Alarapon

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

NEWS Christy Idahosa marks 50 in grand style p.32

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NEWS Churches have become drama houses – Kukah

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The purpose of nations(3) p.50

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TAI ANYANWU HEAD, RELIGOUS DESK titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph © Daily Telegraph Publishing

I am fulfilled @ 82 –Prince Odukomaiya Ace journalist and pioneer Managing Director /Editor-in-Chief of Concord Newspaper, Daily Champion, Prince Henry Odukomaiya, reflects on his active days in the pen profession, on the eve of his 82nd birthday in this interview with TAI ANYANWU Could you give us an insight into your background?

I am Henry Olukayode Odukomaiya. I hail from a royal family. So, that gives me the title ‘Prince.’ I am a retired newspaper journalist, retired 22 years ago from the third newspaper enterprise of which I was involved in at age 60. So, the only way somebody can truthfully introduce me is that Prince Henry Odukomaiya is a retired journalist who did nothing else except newspaper journalism throughout his 33 or 35 years of working life.

Could you reflect on your days in active journalism?

You have to be specific. Is there any particular aspect you want me to draw attention as far as my own newspaper experience is concerned.

It is on record that none of the newspapers you nurtured failed…

(Interjects) Thank God for that.

On the contrary, it is believed that journalists are not good journalism manager; what is the secret of your success?

The secret is the good background that I was lucky to have in journalism at the time I went into it. I went into journalism as an act of fortuity. It’s not as if I panned it. No. I was at University College, Legon in Ghana, and was holidaying in Nigeria in 1957. I was on the last year of my threeyear post HSC, undergraduate programme when Daily Times, then undoubtedly the leader in newspaper journalism in Nigeria, put an advertisement asking young university graduates, undergraduates or otherwise educated young men and women to put in their letters and to show interest in being tested and employed as leader writers. So, I did and got invited for the test. From the position of one of 36 applicants who were tested, I became the only one that was appointed. That was how I came into journalism between October/November, 1957, as a writer. And the person through whom that happened was Gab Idigo. He was a Commonwealth Scholar at Fleet Street Institute of Journalism in England; who was then the Editor of the Daily Times. Coming into journalism that way couldn’t have made a good journalist out of me. I was only lucky that the successor to Idigo happened to have been Alhaji Babatunde Jose, who did not like the idea of just anybody walking into newspaper office and pretending to be a journalist and be employed just like that. So, he looked into my file and found out that this is somebody different from the normal run of people working in newspaper office. At that time, the Daily Times was owned largely by the British, the owners of the Daily Mirror of Great Britain. Alhaji Baba Tunde Jose was the Editor and a Director of the newspaper.

So he wrote to his colleagues in Lon-

don and asked them to find a journalism school for me. He told them that here is a young man out of unguided enthusiasm, left his university undergraduate careers and came and work as a writer. He was looking into the future, not immediate. At that time 1959, the British Directors of the Daily Times said that universities in England had not started to offer journalism as a discipline. Only the polytechnics offered instruction in Mass Communication, journalism, advertising and all of that. The Daily Times decided that I should go to Glasgow Royal Polytechnic. That is how I underwent two-year course which culminated in the award of Higher National Certificate which the equivalent of Nigeria’s Higher National Diploma in journalism. At the end of it, the Daily Times Board under the direction of the same Jose said that I should be seconded to a newspaper in Britain to practice what I have just learnt. I did that for six to seven months, at the end of it I was brought back home. For me therefore, the practice of journalism started when I came back from in 1961; then I was appointed Chief Sub-

Editor of the Daily Times.

Why did you leave Daily Times, the clear leader then, to set up the Concord newspapers?

It was when the military junta of Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo of 1975 invaded the Daily Times (not militarily) by ceasing the assets and institution because they saw that Daily Times was so strongly nationalist that if they did not do something to cub it, Daily Times could lead to the overthrow of their regime. They invaded Daily Times and pronounced that government has nationalized the Daily Times. Before February 1976, the year of Murtala’s assassination, he had already drawn up a list of the people they consider the most powerful men in the hierarchy of the Daily Times, about 15 of us and they sent us out in the wilderness, including our Chairman, Alhaji Babatunde Jose.

So, definitely, I had to find something else to do because I was in my prime. I was in that limbo when Chief MKO Abiola sent for me to set up a newspaper for him. That is how I pioneered National Concord newspapers in 1979 as the foundation managing Director and Editorin-Chief. You could say we had an instant sucCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Odukomaiya

Sustain the Lessons of Ramadan, Adeboye enjoins Muslims

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he General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has enjoined Muslims to sustain the lessons of Ramadan in their daily living and relationship with others.

The RCCG, patriarchy conveyed the message while felicitating with Muslims faithful as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, to mark the end of this year’s Ramadan.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odeshola, during a chat with Journalists at the Church’s National Headquarters, Ebute Metta, Adeboye added to keep Nigeria fruitful and peaceful nation Muslims should not only eschew violence during Ramadan but at all times of the year. His words: “As a country we can enjoy divine fruitfulness when we are connected to the source of life, God is the source of Life. During the Ramadan, I tried to listen to what people were saying and few of those things have to do with people getting back to God. “I am very positive that if we are going to be truly fruitful we have to get ourselves connected to God. It is not farfetched from what Jesus said that without me you can do nothing, but with me you can do all things.

“What our Muslim brothers and sisters do during Ramadan, I hope they carry on the spirit through all the days of the year. If this can be done truly we will live in peace and harmony and things will work out well.”

Maintain close relationship with God, Ademowo tells ordainees

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iocesan Bishop of Lagos, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) Most Rev. Ephraim Ademowo recently charged newly ordained deacons and priests to work on God’s agenda, prayerful, maintain closer relationship with God for them to be successful in their ministerial assignment.

Ademowo said this during the Trinity Ordination of seven deacons and eight priests at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.

He urged them to be dedicated to the things of God and avoid what would distract them from doing God’s work: the newly ordained ministers should be prayerful, hardworking, and they should be highly spiritual.

“In the diocese here, we play a very high premium on spirituality. They must be spiritual. There is a difference between them and ordinary people out there. They must stand out in everything they do,” he said.

Encouraging the newly ordained deacons and priests in his sermon titled; “The Good Shepherd”, the Lord Bishop of Diocese of Kwara, Bishop Olusegun Adeyemi told the newly ordained ministers to maintain a cordial relationship with God and His word and also live an exemplary life of a good shepherd, Bishop Adeyemi said a fake shepherd is very risky to the flocks hence the need for the new priests to know their sheep, has an instinct to rescue, restore lost sheep and create a friendly environment for their congregation.

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Odukomaiya @ 82

CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 31

cess. I was there for three and half years till I had course to leave. I decided to leave Concord because I refused to allow the senior wife of my employer to use Concord to siphon her husband money into her account. Until he went into the gamble that led to his death, he respected me for my integrity.

And how did you warm your way into the heart of another money man to set up Champion newspaper?

One of my employees in the Concord, Duro Onabule, who later become the Chief Press Secretary to President Ibrahim Babangida, recommended me to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the publisher of Champion Newspaper while he was at the zenith of his glory as the promoter of Iwuanyanwu National Football Club and visited to the President. He was another money man, and when money men want something they do it now and now. He asked me to accompany him to the United Kingdom to buy the machines. We recruited staff and then went into publishing having found a suitable building which he bought from Bank Anthony along ApapaOshodi Expressway, Lagos. I was there for seven years. It so happened that I found a kind of home in Iwuanyanwu’s newspaper though I told him that I will retire when I am 60 and he should find a successor before then.

What do you think about Abiola and Iwuanyanwu?

One thing that is common about these two capitalists is that they are both younger than I. For instance, MKO Abiola was born in 1937, I was born in 1934, was three years older than him. Chief Iwuanyanwu was born in 1941, which means that I am seven years older than him but we respected each other. When I worked with Chief Iwuanyanwu, he respected me for my integrity and for my sense of honesty.

I will give you a book that was launched on my 80th birthday: Henry Odukomaiya in the eyes of Colleague. Chapter one of that book was a testimonial by Iwuanyanwu because as at the time I was compiling that book, he was the only former employer of me who was alive. Alhaji Babatunde Jose had died; Chief Abiola had been assassinated through a poisoned tea, and Gab Idigo had also died.

What led to your exit from Champion Newspapers?

I just told you that we had an agreement that I would retire when I clock 60. Chief Iwuanyanwu renewed my contract for three years and I served two contracts. Although there was an unfortunate situation arose after 1993 after the (June 12) election which produced Abiola. Because the election result was not announced, it produced a lot of political rioting and other things in the polity.

So, back home at Ilasa House, there was this story that we carried in Champion.

One young man from the North who had joined the newspaper as a reporter and who we have found to be a good person and capable writer; we brought him to Lagos and groomed him to become one of the members of the Editorial Board. His name is Labran Maku who was later to become Minster of Information, wrote the story. Then he was the Political Editor and the editorial hierarchy of the Champion Newspaper had developed confidence in Maku. We sent him to Abuja to cover the aftermath of the non-declaration of the election result. The story that Labran Maku sent to us was what really caused my greatest undoing in my career with the Champion newspaper. After election, the Supreme Military Council pronounced so many decrees and those members of

the council are known to the international community and Nigerians as well. The European Union decided to freeze the accounts of members of the council in Europe and America. Maku got this story and supported it with documents so that there was no question of doubting the authenticity of the story.

In my position as Editor in Chief, I decided that this something worth publishing, and that led to my undoing in Champion newspapers. That was one of the few occasions if not the only occasion that I saw the red eye of Chief Iwuanyanwu. He descended on me, on us at the Champion House. He asked me to summon all the editorial staff to a meeting where he told us that the story had cost him his career as a contractor of the Federal Government; and that Ibrahim Babangida asked him to terminate my appointment and the person who wrote the story. He said he was going to fire me because of the quality of service I rendered to him. Later, I got letter to proceed on indefinite suspension with full pay and allowances, because I refused to sack Maku. I packed my things and came back to my house and wrote a letter to express my feelings for record purposes. That was the only disagreement that we had. It was a very unfortunate disagreement, but we parted as friends.

Would you say that you are a fulfilled man?

Oh yes I am. I don’t know if I would have fared better, because when I studied classics in the university, because I wanted to become a lecturer. Well, if I had followed that up, maybe I would have been fulfilled, ended up at the pinnacle and become a professor. But then, we are going to the unknown, we don’t know whether that would have happened or not. Definitely, I feel very fulfilled in the profession of journalism particularly given the beneficence which I enjoyed during the Babatunde Ajose regime and my first employer that Gab Idigo.

What is the future of journalism in Nigeria?

(Laughs) Am not a soothsayer. It is not different from the future of journalism in another country in the world because in my opinion there is a limit to the number of newspapers or media organizations there can be. Now and again, somebody might have idea to float a newspaper or a magazine. Yes, that will always happen, but look at what is happening with the news vendor under Oshodi Bridge or wherever they may be. The sales they can make are limited by the number of people who are able to buy what they sale. There is a lot of free readers and the vendors don’t send them away. They allow them to read and therefore become better informed.

Therefore newspapers are unable to sell enough to make them viable economically then they are bound to fold. That really is the point of limitation for those newspaper and magazine that can be. But journalists are not meant to only work for newspapers or electronic media. Journalists have education which makes them useful to themselves.

Many of today’s founders of advertising agency like Steve Omojafor, who in 1974 left the University of Lagos with a degree and he worked in Daily Times for about three of four years before he went into advertising agency. Today, he is one of the leaders in the industry; and so many like that. So, the future of a journalist, not being a soothsayer, I cannot say. But I can only conjecture, after all, that as long as Journalism or Mass Communication is a discipline, even when you have a degree in any discipline you are not necessarily have to go into the labour market.

Bishop and Pastor (Mrs.) Idahosa cutting the birthday cake

Christy Idahosa marks 50 in grand style

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Tai Anyanwu t was another exciting moment at the Illumination Assembly Church, Lekki, Lagos, as the wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Mrs. Christy Idahiosa, marked her 50th birthday last Sunday.

Stepping into the auditorium decked in a silky long hair-do that flowed down the shoulder region of her dazzling red gown with a splash of rich creamy embroidery, ‘Pastor Christy’, as she is fondly called, played the perfect host at the event.

Her infectious smiles conveyed her warm disposition she amply demonstrated towards her honoured guest including members of the church, ministers of God, standup comedians, musicians, friends and relations who were on hand to celebrate the woman of God. Looking rather young and elegant at 50, Pastor Christy took time to recount God’s faithfulness, love and blessing upon her life and family over the years.

Thanking God for His mercies, the GO’s wife said that only God’s faithfulness had sustained her all the years. She recalled that she gave her life to Christ many years back.

Fred Agu, a member

of the congregation told ‘New Telegraph’ that Pastor Christy is a teacher who has deep insight of the word of God. “Her devotion to the work of the ministry has remained steadfast for over 20years. She is also an accomplished music minister and teacher with deep insight in to God’s word.

“She has a great passion for woman hood also known for peculiar way of she conducts the affairs of the women folks and yet maintains a her balanced role not just as the GO’s wife but the mother of the entire congregation,” Agu said.

Like her husband, Pastor Christy loves encouraging people to be their best in life, another member of the congregation, simply identified as John, added.

The birthday bash was preceded by a night of praise which featured gospel artists and standup comedians such as Lawrence Adigo aka Sax Mission, Rose Mary Chukwu, Nathan Efe and popular singer and comedian Akpororo.

Sax Mission, Lawrence Adigo opened the night and sparked off a session of electrifying ministrations. Rose Mary, Nathan and other guest artistes took their turns to thrill the

congregation with glorious songs.

Under the atmosphere, a woman who claimed that she had been blind for over two years testified that she regained her sight at the programme; while other testimonies of breakthroughs were heard.

There was also a time for speech making about the celebrant who was showered with lots of complements and accolades.

The events also featured art exhibitions and drama presentations.

On the spur of the moment a member of the congregation, a fine artist jumped onto the stage and drew a quick portrait of the celebrant in just a few minutes, as his gift to Pastor Christy.

In his light hearted way, Akpororo prayed for the celebrant as follows: “Mama, when I tell you say you go fall you think say na lie. Now fall into prosperity, fall into progress, fall into increase, fall into fresh anointing, fall into long life. I go repeat am anybody way day vex say God bless you make he go push plane because no be you bless yourself.”

Bishop and Pastor Mrs. Isaac Idahosa are blessed with two children, Apostle and Christabel Idahosa.

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FAITH

NEWS

Churches have become drama houses – Kukah

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Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah has urged Catholics in the country to engage more in evangelism.

He said the time has come for them to win converts into the Catholic faith as the whole world is sinking deeper into sin.

Bishop Kukah stated this last Sunday at the Catholic Church of the Nativity, Festac Town, Lagos during the 2016 Father’s Day celebration special mass service where he was the guest of honour.

The charismatic Bishop, who prayed for the over 40 men of the parish nominated for different catego-

ries awards by the Catholic Men’s Organisation of Nigeria, said modernity has challenged the basic tenets of Christianity.

“Life has become a transaction. Churches have become theatres and drama houses where the saving of souls for the kingdom of God has been relegated to the background and Jesus Christ conscripted to fight our battles,” he lamented.

He said Catholics must recognise their two thousand years of victorious history and help spread the good news at this point in time to address the dwindling faith in missionary works.

“This is the time when authentic witnesses to Christ

are needed. May all those who defend the faith with vigorous outlook, passionately partake in the evangelical work,” he stressed.

Addressing recipients of the Catholic Men Organisation awards, Bishop Kukah reminded the men that evangelical mission was enormous but added that God will see them through it all.

He advised them to be ready to leave everything behind and follow Jesus Christ, adding that Christ will help them succeed in the tortuous journey they have embarked on.

Parish Priest of the Church Rev. Fr. Simeon Iwu said the call to fatherhood is a call from God to be a

co-creator with Him. The journey, he said, is filled with opportunities to become bearers of God’s goodness.

Chairman of the Parish’s Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Jude Mbama said the father’s day feast is an occasion to celebrate fathers, pray for them and reflect on their roles in the church, family and nation.

According to him: “It has often been said that the family is the basic unit and domestic church of the larger society.

“We as fathers must align our roles as enshrined in the CMO’s constitution and bye laws by promoting evangelism, supporting the Church and clergy.”

Fresh revival breaks out in Europe

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mid the on-going threat of Islamic terror and economic instability, thousands of people in France are giving their lives over to Christ.

People from all over Europe flocked to Nantes, France, last week to seek the Lord at the Grande Conference, reports Breaking Christian news.

The purpose of the conference this year was to call an increasingly secular Europe back to a true relationship with God. The key phrase of the conference was “mercy triumphs over judgment,” a banner declaring God’s ability to heal and restore Europe.

A minister from Bethel Church, California, USA, Chris Gore spoke at the event and posted about it on Facebook. He says hundreds of people encountered the Gospel and surrendered their hearts to Christ.

“The first session of the conference, over 70 percent of over 1,000 people gave their lives to Jesus for the first time,” Gore writes. “The hope of this nation is the Gospel.”

Not only did hundreds

of people give their lives to Christ, thousands more experienced life-changing miracles.

“Europe is alive for Jesus!

What an incredible night in France. We saw tonight around 2,000 miracles and exactly 100 reports of deaf ears opening,” Gore posted along with a video of an auditorium full of people praising God. The revival comes in a time when most news headlines bear grim news about Europe. Gore believes the key to overcoming the darkness surrounding Europe is equipping believers to be the light of the world.

“Jesus said when He was on this earth, ‘I am the light of world.’ When He left He said, ‘Now you are,’” Gore says. “When we shine our light, darkness has no option but to leave!”

The revival is not just staying in France. Gore and other ministers from around the world are also traveling to conferences in Germany and Austria later this month to change the spiritual condition of Europe with the power of the gospel.

Divine Fruitfulness is God’s desire for mankind – Adeboye

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L-R: Exceptional young Christain Women Award winner, Judith Nwabia; Adebisi Olowoyo of Victory Chapel My Father House Magodo, RCCG and Founder, Wise Women Awards, Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, at the 4th Wise women Awards Nigeria in Lagos.

Cleric warns evil leaders of coming wrath

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Tai Anyanwu

he minister in charge of Motailatu Church of God, Lagos headquarters, Rev. James Akinadewo, has warned that God is set to uproot all evil leaders in Nigeria, who mismanaged the country’s resources and thrown the citizenry into hardship.

Akinadewo made the declaration during the Prophetic Summit programme held at the church premises, last Sunday in Lagos.

The cleric had explained that the programme was convened following divine direction to the church, to set in motion the repair of the foundation of the Nigerian nation and actualize God’s plan for the country.

According to the cleric, God has his own plan for

Nigeria but some highly placed people do not want the progress of the country.

“God will take power from them and release peace into Nigeria, because we believe that things will work prophetically in Nigeria. As we go into the spiritual, things must work in the physical.

Nigeria must be blessed and God said we should be praying at vigils that Nigeria will become one of the best countries in the world. We believe that it shall be done,” Akinadewo said.

He continued: “God will deal with our leaders, and those who do not want progress of this country, God almighty will come down Himself ; just a clique of people do not want the progress of this country. As they are getting richer, people are getting poorer; things can’t just continue this way

because we are so blessed in this country.”

Akinadewo recalled that before the discovery of oil, Nigerians enjoyed free education: “Then we are not as rich as we are now and things were working; but now all the government schools are not working; all we have are private schools, and people are not enjoying anything from government.

Why should we be suffering when we have enough?”

He then went into a session of prophetic declaring: “This government has to sit up and do the right things.

God put Buhari there. The President must decide to do it and he must decide to do it the right way; because people must enjoy this country. That is the mind of God for this nation. Prophetically, things must work, those who are against the

progress, God will remove and there will be peace and enjoyment in the country.”

Akinadewo later lifted up the Nigerian flag as he led the church into intercessory prayers for the nation, leaders and people of Nigeria.

“God will repair the foundation of this country because something is wrong.

We have evil people in Nigeria manipulating things.

“This time, God wants good things for Nigeria. So, God will shake evil people in our country; He will silence them, and He will remove them that the foundation of this country God will be repaired.

“And things that are wrong with Nigeria spiritually, God will repair and once it is repaired, physically things will change for the better, Akinadewo summarised.

he General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has described divine fruitfulness as God’s mandate and desire for mankind especially for those who are true children of God, submissive and do God’s will.

Pastor Adeboye made this known while delivering his sermon during the monthly special prayer meeting organised for pregnant women, expectant mothers, youths, singles and their families at the National Headquarters of RCCG, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

Speaking on the theme; “Divine Fruitfulness”, Adeboye said God hates bareness, fruitless efforts hence the need for the participants to ensure that they are divinely fruitful in their physical, career and spiritual life warning that such divine fruitfulness can manifest when they serve God diligently and are obedient to God’s commandments.

In his words: “Fruitfulness is to God, after God made man in His own image, the first thing He said to man after He blessed them is be fruitful and if we are talking about the law of priority that is what is uppermost in your heart is

what will come out of your mouth first and you can see that fruitfulness is very crucial to God. God hates bareness, fruitless efforts, He doesn’t want people to labour and there is nothing to show for it, that is not our God. He doesn’t even like people being stagnant.”

Adeboye told the congregation that RCCG solidly believes and stands on divine fruitfulness and that is why the church emphasised on the church’s growth spiritually and numerically and also the reason the church will not give room for lazy ministers in the church who refused to double their church members.

“A Pastor who says he has the calling of God and his church is not growing the way it should grow, we asked him to go and start his own church because it means we are not sure that God called him. If God calls you and sent you to do something, that thing will grow; our church is a church of growth,” he said.

Enumerating the characteristics of divine children, Adeboye explained that such children are source of joy to their parents; they are obedient, serve and worship God, well taught and accept teaching from their parents.

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FAITH

Until you get to ignition point

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ne day, I woke up frustrated and confused. All the Ministries around me were making it but mine refused to grow. I undertook to read books written by Rev. Oral Robert, Evang. Kenneth Hagin, etc and other prominent men of God in 1970s and 80s to find the secret of their success in Ministry.

I discover that it is the Holy Spirit. I did what I knew to do but there was no significant growth or progress in the Ministry.

I spoke in tongues in prayers more frequently than I had ever done but nothing seemed to happen. Now I know that all those things I did were to take the Ministry to the IGNITION POINT. They were never done in vain.

Ignition point is like when a wet paper is put in the fire to burn, it will not burn immediately but get dried and drier until the temperature of the paper comes up to a level.

The lowest temperature when it begins to burn is called ignition point.

The Ministry is like a wet paper and cannot burn until the temperature rises and dries the paper before it burns. All I did to grow the Ministry was like increasing the “Temperature” of the “wet paper”. They were

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Word of Life

Archbishop. Moses Kattey moseskatteyabp@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

Ignition point is like when a wet paper is put in the fire to burn, it will not burn immediately but get dried and drier until the temperature of the paper comes up to a level

not done in vain. That waiting time was somehow frustrating.

I was in the fellowship Ministering one day and a thought came to my mind, I had an urge, a ministration, or the feeling to announce that the Lord had met with me and told me to tell the congregation that on the following Sunday, they should bring the sick, the needy and those who had one challenge or the other and that God will heal and deliver them. I said it with all boldness and certainty. I told them that the Lord met me that night.

By the time I finished that announcement, I came to reason how I dare said so.

I now knew why.

On the Sunday, people with all types of sicknesses and challenges filled the church and I

ministered to them. I said to myself, “if I pray and nothing happens, they will not arrest me as they did not pay any money to me. If I pray and God answers, very good”.

To my greatest surprise, many persons were healed, much more were delivered and joy filled the place. The Lord did not let me down.

And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen (Mark 16:20).

Since then, the church has been growing. This was in 1990s. That was how the Ministry grew beyond our imagination.

The questions are: Who spoke to me? Did God speak? Did I tell lies by saying that the Lord met me “last night” and told me to tell them to bring the sick and the challenged?

This thing that happened has happened to me several times since then. This is what the Bible calls “spirit of faith” or “gift of faith”.

On one occasion, I stood up in the congregation to announce that a man contesting as Council Chairman would win and that if the man did not win the election they should leave the church.

I said it with all amount of confidence and certainty. At the end of the service I queried myself why I should make such announcement. This happened few more times and to the extent that I set up a committee to plan the Thanksgiving Service for the Chairman in the church before the election.

This was an embarrassment to some members of the church but not to be, I had inner knowledge that God was behind it. Fortunately or unfortunately, some members of the Committee set up to plan the Reception / Thanksgiving Service were of the other Political Party, but I did it as directed.

Gift of faith is not always there. It comes and goes unlike ordinary faith.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit; to another faith by the same spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit (1 Corinth.

12:8, 9).

Never give up on your spouse

woman finds herself married to a man who was a drunk and his drunken state was such that he would be drunk and end up in the gutters. The situation was so embarrassing to her but she learnt to bear with it and did not shout at him.

It deteriorated to the point that whenever she failed to see the man in the house late into the night, she would set out looking from gutter to gutter in search of where he might have fallen. On finding him, she would take him home, clean him up and put him in bed. This situation continued for years and she kept exercising long suffering and praying for him.

She continued being there for him knowing he was not like that before.

Some of her friends saw her as being foolish and probably over-in-love. To them they felt they could not have such patience and could not tolerate that type of husband.

One day, the husband woke up in his usual ‘bed’ and realized he was lying inside gutter. He jumped out and felt so ashamed of himself. On getting home,

Marriage & Family Intimacy

Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521 his wife was preparing to go and look for him as usual and he asked her where she was going. For the first time, she told him she was going out in search of him where he used to lie all nights. The man was shocked to find out that each time he woke up on his bed at home; it was not actually where he slept.

And from that day, he stopped drinking and his love for his wife increased so much. He embraced God. The truth is that the wife won him over to Christ through her virtue of long suffering. Prov. 11:30b She exhibited wisdom and it paid.

Long suffering means suffering that is long (lasting for a very long time) and you still find peace in it. You still manage the situation without blowing alarm, without losing your mind, without getting angry, without counting of-

fenses and without blames.

It is a fruit specially given by the Spirit of God. Your spouse that is having a strong short coming can as well receive strength from you rather than condemnation. The same goes to that child who seems to be a thorn in your flesh.

At one point in time or the other, we were clumsy or careless or disorderly and there were things in our lives that were not pleasing to some people around us and they were able to tolerate us. We had and still have weaknesses which we have been battling with and some of which are not easy to cope with yet people are managing us. It then means that it is also required of us to exhibit some level of patience with people around us and especially to our spouse.

Some of us cannot bear what our spouses are doing.

Some see their spouses as

failing and lacking in certain areas. Some see their children as not measuring up to expectation and so on. But one thing to look at is the fact that we should be patient enough with them because at one point or the other, some people were patient with us.

Patience is a virtue that helps you to never give up on your spouse; and should be coveted by all. It is a beautiful fruit in us that helps to calm us down and give us greater peace in the midst of turbulence. Rather than shout at all times at members of your family or to that child, make out time to teach them what is lacking or what is required to be done in order to brace up. When you add love to patience, it makes your environment, your home, your office, your place of worship, your school, your business better and sweeter. People will see the beauty in you. Lack of patience makes one to exhibit irritability.

Do not muzzle the patience in you. Let it speak. In your time of waiting patiently, anger is not a factor at all.

When your patience comes alive, annoying behavior will no longer make you angry. You are there to help that spouse rise again.

Mystery of Anxiety Bishop John Ogbansiegbe 0803 341 6327 (SMS Only)

Kill that devastating fear (2)

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n the last edition, I was talking to you about a brother in my church, who began to loose grip of his ministry, became paralysed because he allowed fear to put his ministry into jeopardy until I was able to pumped some fait into him.

After that, a great faith rose up within the brother. You know faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Also fear cometh by hearing and hearing of bad new and terrifying stories.

As a child, I dreaded horror films, because the memories of such films as Dracula and Vampires fills my mind and keeps me restless and sleepless for several days and nights until I got to my dad and mum for prayers.

By divine intervention, I directed this brother to another doctor friend of mine. I knew I needed to work more on his faith level and psychology, in order to filter away the ugly impression created in him by the first doctor. I called my doctor friend on phone and informed him that I was sending a patient to him. I implored him to kindly positive in his reply after hearing this brother’s story.

The doctor was a nutritionist and a diet expert he has a peculiar therapeutic style of first placing his patients on certain types of diet or nutrition in order to enhance the percentage of certain necessary vitamins.

Accordingly, he placed the brother on some prescribed regime of diet, for two days.

He also required the brother to daily gaggle, to keep his mouth fresh with salt and water. He encouraged the brother to do all of these with faith.

The brother did all he was asked to do and to our greatest surprise, before the expiration of seven day, the tumour and tonsillitis vanished and dried up; the swollen neck became normal; fever and headache stooped. For over one year, the brother had remained strong, healthy, and more vibrant in preaching.

Till today, our omnipotent God is still seeking for avenues to exhibit his potency and power in every facet of human existence. He wants to prove that nothing is hard for him to do. He is the solution looking for the problem to solve. He wants to prove to you that beyond reasonable doubt that you have no reason whatsoever to be

afraid. To this end, I say unto you fear not.

Since from the heart the mouth speaketh, joy how3ever must be expressed in our speech. A joyful heart praises God directly or indirectly even when there are strong oppositions before him, you will still see him radiating and exuding joy.

The trial of Job came upon him with chains of calamities and tragedies. In one day, he received series of shocking news; all geared towards frightening him and destroying his faith, confidence and relationship with God. He lost his wealth, lost his children, lost his marriage, lost his friends and lost his health. And when the devil used his friends to mock him, castigate and pressurize him, to believe that his case was hopeless, helpless and irredeemable, he resisted them by verbally proclaiming his confidence in God and thus said: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the death: And though after my skin worms destroy this body; yet in my flesh shall I see God –Job19:25.

Fear ultimately destroys one’s destiny and relationship with God. King David was one person that knows the implication of spiritual alienation and the result of a broken relationship with God. To this end therefore, his relationship and intimacy, communion and togetherness with God was a paramount importance to him thus he said: “Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me, restore unto me the joy of my salvation –Psalm 51:11-12. In another verse he said: “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever –Psalm 23:6.

Fear creates a worry which is part of anxiety. And to be worried means the presence of distraction or a preoccupation of the mind with things causing fear, emotional tension, anxiety, stress and pressure.

As a child, I dreaded horror films, because the memories of such films as Dracula and Vampires fills my mind and keeps me restless and sleepless for several days and nights until I got to my dad and mum for prayers

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

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Folorusho Alakija’s gig sets high society agog

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y virtue of her status, woman of substance, Folorunsho Alakija, needs no introduction especially among the high and mighty where she does not only dwell, but is looked up to by many who admire her as a woman of outstanding success. She is the number three on the list of the richest women in Africa and 87th in the world. That being said, high society is presently agog as its members are anxiously waiting and preparing for a special ceremony from the Alakija dynasty as

Taju Adepetu spreads tentacles

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hose who are familiar with the story of the dude called Tajudeen Adepetu will not be surprised to see him in the industry where he’s plying his trade. His romance with the screen started right from his childhood days at the city of Jos, Plateau State, where many television professionals were made. Young Adepetu had from his primary school been exposed to where television productions were made; he caught the bug in the process and before anyone knew it, had snowballed into his passion and something that he’s earning a living from. With SoundCity, many will agree he did set a trend that was followed by many and he’s seen as the master of the game. He has since moved from the platform of “popular music channel” to establishing a television station among many other areas he has dabbled into. One fact no one can deny is that the chairman of Consolidated Media Associates knows his onions as far as media running is concerned.

The man at the centre stage has spread his tentacles and delved into new things. Adepetu, it was learnt just floated two new radio stations, Urban FM and SoundCity FM. Meanwhile, he’s also said to have a perfect arrangement to float a news channel that will take off in a matter of weeks. The channel, it was said will be strictly for news and it’s labelled, Access 24.

they are set to hold a three-in-one event. With invites in circulation, gold and cream picked as the colours and prestigious Oriental Hotel penciled as the venue, fashion icon and philanthropist of note Folorunsho will be celebrating her 65th birthday, presenting inspirational books as well as celebrating 40 years of being happily married to her beau, Modupe Alakija, come 15th of July. The train of events will take off with a thanksgiving service in their church after which it will move to the reception where entertainment of guests and other items will be observed. The event will be the talk of the town as highly placed and well- meaning individuals from captains of industries, to bank chiefs, top government functionaries among others expected to be in attendance as the celebrant is a woman of many parts. Folorunsho, brain behind flourishing business concern, Rose of Sharon Group, was born in 1951 to the family of Chief L.A Ogbara in Ikorodu. She left for the United Kingdom at age seven where she was enrolled in Dinorben School for Girls in Hafoidunos Hall, Wales. She was later enrolled at Muslim High School, Sagamu upon her return to Nigeria. On completion of her High School, she moved back to United Kingdom where she studied Secretarial Studies at Pitman Central College, London. She also studied Fashion Design at the American College, London and Central School of Fashion. Folorunsho eventually started her career in 1974 as a company secretary back in Nigeria from where she moved to the banking Industry. Her break would eventually happen through fashion when she floated Supreme Stitches that became an instant hit.

Married to a lawyer, Modupe Alakija with four sons and grandchildren, Folorunsho, who is much given to philanthropy through her foundation, Rose of Sharon, years back debuted on Forbes List of Richest African Women on which she presently rates third.

Aisha Babangida fills mother’s shoes F

ormer military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida and by extension, his wife, Maryam, may have enjoyed exclusive powers and rights during their days as the number one couple in the country due to the military influence. But one fact about the former first lady is that she was compassionate and knew where the shoe was pinching the less privileged and so floated a programme for rural women, ‘Better Life For RuralWomen’ programme. The late First Lady will not be forgotten in a hurry as her memories are still cherished by her friends, family members and many who benefitted from her good gestures. Her daughter, Aisha, could be said to have stepped into her mother’s shoes as she has since taken over from where her mother stopped to continue to put smiles on the faces of those that are unable to smile for various reasons and she’s getting accolades for the laudable move. Also, insiders revealed to Celeb Lounge that Aisha has also taken over the same position at the home front. She is said to have been the one taking care of her father along with her younger sister; especially at this period their father is not enjoying the best of health.

Ben Bruce finds succour in crisis

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ayelsa born Ben Murray Bruce came from a privileged background which he consolidated on and broke new grounds. It’s also obvious the man would attract kudos and admiration from the members of the public who think he deserves to be celebrated. That image of a corporate player has since changed since Bruce became a politician.

Ben bore the toga of controversy recently when he came under intense fire and criticism as AMCON sealed his business empire over a debt of about N11billion. Of course the seal has since been removed but the president of Silverbird Group, owner of Silverbird Television, Rhythm FM and Silverbird Galleria, Senator Ben Bruce, has since slowed down compared to how he used to fire from all cylinders, criticizing and lending his voice to every topical issue. Meanwhile, the recent ugly incident is considered a dent in the image of the lawmaker. The man according to information reaching Celeb lounge, does not see it so but as a blessing in disguise. We were informed Bruce now sings it like a bird to everyone that the incident has absolved him of the impression in certain quarters that he actually stole when he was head of NTA to establish some of his businesses as it’s now clear that he never stole but borrowed.

Sunmbo Ayodele relishes great moment

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orn and bred in the village to see her grandfather use herbal medicine to cure various illnesses, little Sunmbo had no inkling she was going to do anything that will be related to what her grandfather was doing in the future even though she did not despise the knowledge. From her casual effective prescription to people who wanted reduction in size, she was encouraged and decided to go into herbal slimming many years back. Today, light skinned Sunmbo Ayodele, through her brand, Quincy Herbal, has become a household name as the outfit has grown in leaps. It’s also without doubt that this brand is not regarded as a pathfinder but it has also made the brain behind it bigger in status as she now hobnobs with those who matter in the society. She is also seen as an entrepreneur role model who built a brand from scratch to a popular and successful one. On this heel, the Ogun State born society lady, Sunmbo, has been having a great time because it is 20 years since she has been on the journey. The high point of her joy is not just that she is able to build a brand but that it has been able to stand the test of time and ultimately her United States trained children are fast taking over the running of the business which is a great joy to her as a mother.

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Body&Soul

SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Here Beyond Belles of the ball Vanessa Okwara

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very girl’s’ dream is to have the Cinderella story revisited where she’s the belle of the ball and cynosure of all eyes at that special event. The ball gown definitely has that effect as you waltz into a room in a beautiful ball gown looking every inch a princess.

Ball gowns transform you into a Disney princess in an instant! You ooze class and glamour on the red carpet in a beautiful dress that look like something out of a fairy tale.

Both here and beyond, different stars have stolen the night in beautiful ball gowns that create quite a sensation on the red carpet.

The signature full skirt of the ball gown can be extravagant, streamlined, or shaped to create a silhouette. A ball gown can be embellished with tiered ruffles, gathered tulle or satin, or can even be cut out. Ball gowns are often created to satisfy your desire to stand out.

Attending a special occasion in a ball gown and you will definitely be the belle of the ball. Don’t forget your glass slippers! Compliment your gown with high heeled sandals that will assist in carrying the full skirt of the gown to perfection and at the same time help you strut like a true queen.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

Kitchen towels Biwom Iklaki

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am yet to see a kitchen that lacks what to clean at every point in time. As long as one activity or the other is going on in the kitchen and sometimes even elsewhere in the home, you do need kitchen towels and a support of paper towels to keep the kitchen and home in its entirety clean and dry. Smart home owners keep separate towels for dishes, wiping up messes, hot pads, towel aprons, kitchen mittens and more.

What I want you to know is that you can totally take advantage of the kitchen towels to further inject your personality or décor style into the kitchen and indeed

the home with your choice of towels. As the kitchen towels have evolved from the regular checkered cotton and crochet patterned towels. Choose one that is appealing, speaks to you and could make someone laugh out loud. As we know, laughter is medicine for the soul.

So, wherever you can get your dose of laughter, do. If it comes in the words or style of your kitchen towels, so be it. After all, we design our homes to please us, not the other way around. So, you could research fun kitchen towel styles or create your own version of fun and beautiful towels and also put some thought into the way you display it. It all adds to the stylish appeal.

GET A

My husband met me looking my worst

I first met my husband as a first year student in the university. A friend in my dorm was excited about meeting this cute guy in an early-morning physics lab. She had invited him and his friend over to our room later in the evening. I wasn’t in the mood to receive visitors that day and didn’t bother to even dress up. I looked so unkempt with my hair flying all over the place. When the visitors arrived, I immediately fell for the guy’s friend, and he later said the same about me.

We both gave hints to our respective friends, then three months later, we went out on our first date, and five years later after our graduation, we got married. The original pair broke up in less than a year while my husband and I have been married for over 10 years now and that might be because he met me looking my worst!

Ladies don’t worry too much about your physical appearance. If a guy loves you, even your unkempt look will not keep him away from you.

Susan, Abuja He only wanted sex from me

I broke up with my ex-boyfriend several months ago. I am a young woman with a physical disability and he has a physical disability as well.

We started going out last year and everything was really nice, I loved being with him and for a while I was

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Send SMS only to 07057201814 or vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

on cloud nine so to speak.

Then over time, sex became more important to him than being together.

I was always open with him and told him my views on sex, and to start with he told me he was okay with that. But as the weeks passed, sex became a forced issue. He told me my love for him was fake because I wasn’t ready for a sexual relationship.

He never once saw my love for him if it was outside of the bed and that hurt me so badly. So in the end I broke up with him after several attempts.

Now, months later the hurt is still there but I’m doing my best to get past it. I’d like to think there is someone out there who will accept me for who I am, not what they want me to be. chidinma, Owerri My husband is mentally abusing me.

My husband is mentally abusive to me. He was like this while we were dating. Not at first, of course, but over

time it became apparent. It escalated after I moved in with him. He would come home from work and yell at me about everything and anything. Then later he would act like nothing was wrong. This was confusing to me.

I was always walking on eggshells trying not to upset him. Finally I broke up with him and moved in with a friend. But he talked me into coming back. He said he changed.

He did for a while and we were later married. His abuse is far more subtle now. He has never hit me and I don’t know that he will. He is controlling, however. He makes all decisions affecting both of us without telling me. He never asks for my input. This is very disconcerting. He once told me that since he was the man that it was his job to make the rules and I was to obey them since I am his wife.

He gets frustrated and withholds affection. Once he said he wanted a divorce. I’m terribly confused and don’t know what to do.

Bukky, Akure

I am Esimai, 47 years old and average in height. I need a lady between 35-45 years from any tribe for a relationship-08142562460 My name is Mondson. I need a lady between 24-29 years for a serious relationship- 08037604903 I am Caliph Tyga, I stay in Lagos. I need a lady that wants a handsome guy for a relationship-08103196836 My name is Obiano, based in Cross river state. I need to link up with a caring and loving lady that believes in true love-08024991512 My name is Edith, 24 years old from Lagos. I am a fashion designer.

I need a man who will love me and take care of me and also for marriage-08146524809 I am Shina, 42 years old. I need a working class or self-employed woman between 30- 45 years for a relationship-07046061999 my name is Junior, 35 years old. I need a woman to share my dreams with and give me children-07066763915 I am Chris 37 years old from Benue State. I need a born again and Holy Ghost filled believer for marriage.

She must be between 30 and 37 years old-08176867517 My name is Babalola, single 36 years old. I need a religious single Muslim girl below 30 years for marriage soon-08087074640, 08138856900 My name is Chijioke, 35 years old from Anambra State and a graduate. I need a responsible lady between 24 and 35 years for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage-08030929390

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SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Don’t compromise Compatibility in a relationship

E

ver wondered why two people who were beaming with smiles on their wedding day suddenly want to take a cutlass to each other’s throat barely two years down the lane?

With horrific expletives, couples spin hate words directed at hurting the one person in the world they are supposed to protect.

A visit to a customary court in your locality will give you inkling to what I’m trying to bring out here today. Your ears will fill up with both horrific and hilarious stories of couples who do not want to live together again and want to end their charade of a marriage as soon as possible.

Indeed there are so many reasons why couples head for the divorce court – extra marital affairs, childlessness, all manner of abuses; inability to communicate civilly with each other or the classical ‘we just grew apart’ syndrome.

A critical look at these problems when ex-rayed will reveal to you that there was a fundamental problem right from the onset that should’ve alerted them that they were not well-matched.

For instance, don’t expect a character flaw you noticed in your partner during courtship to suddenly evaporate in marriage. The probability of that person changing after marriage is usually very slim.

Oftentimes, people erroneously mistake sexual chemistry, physical attraction and love at first sight as the main reason to get married, but these are not just enough to sustain a marriage for a long term. What predicts long term success and happiness in any intimate relationship is when two people are well-matched and in tune with each other in every facet of life. In a nutshell, compatibility matters, and matters big time!

T

When I see couples having serious problems in their marriages; it’s glaring that they really don’t have a lot in common.

Different interests, world views, religious beliefs, parenting styles, and divergent goals in life are all common issues that arise among distressed couples that you begin to wonder how they got together in the first place.

When I ventured into finding out the reason why they agreed to marry each other, some will tell you that it was the hot sex that attracted them to their partner; for some it was the financial gains; while for others external factors influenced their decision to take the marriage plunge without really thinking through the long term consequences of living a shared life with someone they are not compatible with.

So what’s the bottom line? How do you know if you’re compatible with your

partner? For a relationship to experience success, then both of you need to be compatible in three basic areas which are all encompassing namely: physical, spiritual and social levels.

From the onset, it is very crucial that you look into these three critical aspects of compatibility if you want to take your relationship to a more serious level. These levels are interwoven and require that you take time to look exclusively at each of them to decipher if you and your partner is deficient in any of them.

The most obvious level of compatibility exists at the physical level. This is usually called sexual chemistry. If it doesn’t exist then the two of you will probably just pass each other without a second glance.

Physical attraction is often the start for a potential relationship. You must have that spark, that chemistry that draws you

The most obvious level of compatibility exists at the physical level. This is usually called sexual chemistry.

If it doesn’t exist then the two of you will probably just pass each other without a second glance

to the person like a magnet. There must be “something” in the way that person looks, moves, laughs, speaks, or smiles; something that compels you to want to be with him or her. All great relationships have some element of chemistry, and you either have it or you don’t; but it does not end there. You must be compatible in other important areas of life as well.

It is this physical bond that can take the two of you to the ‘best friend’ circle. One place where your chances of remaining best friends can be seen is in the area of what you value in life. And this brings us to the spiritual and social level of which only best friends can meet on these levels and value each other the more because there are similarities both of them can relate with.

You must have a blend of these three levels of compatibility if you desire to have a lasting relationship. Just like one block is not enough to lay a foundation, these three building blocks must be in place to build a strong relationship between couples In all, don’t go for the opposite attract sermon a lot of people erroneously believe in. Similarities between people make life together much simpler. Being together involves a lot of compromise, but it is only compatibility you don’t compromise in relationships. This is because people can only reach compromise more easily when they share common values and interests. Sure, sometimes opposites can attract, but for a stable relationship and strong bonding with your partner, please go for similarities between the two of you.

Rather than partnering with someone you consider to be hot, consider partnering with your best pal with shared world views, interests, life goals, and so forth. I would bet that in the long term you’d be glad you did!

Here come the girls to lead the world

his are interesting times in the world that we live in and if there is anyone who still thinks the place of women should be in the kitchen or women are mere tools that can be counted amongst assets (Yes, I am looking at you, Nigerian lawmakers), then the person had better wake up and face realities. Come November this year, three of the world’s five leading economies may actually have a woman at the helm of affairs, making decisions that shape the political economy of the world.

Like I said, people wake up and be ready to embrace a world shaped and run by women.

In the United Kingdom, the shock of Brexit is still reverberating and the country is in search of a safe pair of hand to help stir the ship through the turbulence of negotiating an amicable exit, if such a thing is possible.

Right now, the two leading candidates are women and as such the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom may likely be a choice between Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom.

The powerful men of British politics have simply fizzled or practically run out of ideas.

Maybe, one of such ill times ideas is calling for a Brexit referendum to start with, but I will leave that analysis to the political correspondents and politicians. However, right now, it will take the level head of a woman to steady the ship and try make Britain great again. The drama is unfolding and the prospects are more tantalising than the ending of a gripping Sydney Sheldon novel or the twists in a Tutuola tome. Whatever happens, a woman will be the next Prime Minister of Britain.

While having a woman as the Prime Minister is a familiar sight in the United Kingdom after the historic and memorable reign

of Margaret Thatcher in the 80s, the United States is about to leap into this terrain for the very first time. Hilary Clinton has already cracked the glass ceiling by becoming the first female nominee of a major party in the USA, but she could go all the way and become the first female President of the country come November. She leads in the polls and looks set to clinch the job. She has managed to secure the endorsement of the current President, Barrack Obama, and her campaign funds seem to be growing in leaps and bounds, a pointer to the fact that there are those who believe in her ability to make the right decision in the hottest political seat

on plane earth.

Now either Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom and Hilary Clinton, if elected, will join forces with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to determine the political direction of the world’s econmy. These women will have an impact on what goes on in the world and the men must listen. I am not just talking of making decisions that affects women’s rights, child poverty and other issues that we have stereotypically attached to the study of women in powerful positions. No, these women are going to hold the codes to nuclear powered weapons, decide the fate of terrorists and how to tackle terror-

I also think that these women are role models for the girl child in Nigeria. You are only limited by your imagination and so dream big and one day, the glass ceiling in the mighty paternalist society of Nigeria will come crashing down. I see a number of such women already in the terrain

ism in the world and above all else, they will become the beacon for females all over the wordl to aspire to be the best that they can be. This also reinforces what I have always argued on this page that segregation against women campaign must be pushed aside for campaign against segregation of any kind.

Make the playing field level and let everyone with the right qualification compete, irrespective of gender or creed.

I also think that these women are role models for the girl child in Nigeria. You are only limited by your imagination and so dream big and one day, the glass ceiling in the mighty paternalist society of Nigeria will come crashing down. I see a number of such women already in the terrain and I do hope that soon, they will cross over from the private sector and academia where they currently hold sway, into the public sector to provide some needed directions.

Whatever happens, I just can’t seem to get the tune of British pop group, Sugababes’ song out of my head: “Here come the girls…”

Two Years on the block This edition marks the second anniversary of my writing this column and what a ride it has been. We have explored everything cultural, cast side glances at Sports and society and made passing observations on sociopolitical issues. Through it all, readers have stuck by me and I say thank you to everyone, especially those who usually take time out to write rejoinders. I wish I could publish them all, but then be rest assured that I read every mail and apply the workable suggestions.

This is a journey that has just begun and I hope I can count on all the loyal readers to continue giving me the positive feedback.

Y 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

ne

ans

man’s, think structured, not and somewhat baggy. With k top or silk chemise under zer, your boyfriend jeans can you to work on Friday. Though ugged shredded ones are very too, do refrain from wearing variety as formal wear, it just not work. No holds are barred e accessorising is concerned. k yourself out and stay true to ever look you aim to represent minimalist to vintage to the nd so on.

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Glitzy date night makeup

Vanessa Okwara

G

ot a hot date tonight? Don’t forget to put your best face forward!

Date night is the time to break out of your usual routine and crank up the romance.

If you really want to turn up the heat on your next date, there are different makeup looks that will definitely make your date swoon. There’s flashy party makeup, and then there’s seductive date-night makeup that glows in the light. In all of this, your focus should be on getting the right makeup for bright lips, big lashes, and smoky eyes.

Evening makeup can be characterized by long and lustrous lashes, glitter and shimmer and dark colours. Dark shades work well for outdoor occasions and you go softer for home parties in the evening.

Check out some date night makeup ideas you can flaunt for a perfect date night.

Subtle Smoky Eye The perfect blend of sexy and sweet, the smoky eye is the ultimate beauty staple and go-to makeup look for date night. For a more dramatic look, extend the top lash liner outwards and a little upwards. You can use black mascara for the upper lashes and deep brown for the lower lashes. To complete the glamorous eye look, blend the colors suitably to conceal lines where colors merge.

Lush Lashes Guys love a flirty flutter of the lashes. Try using volume adding-mascara for that sexy fullness to your lashes.

Fake lashes are another alternative to give your eyes a little lift, but make sure they are subtle and don’t look too overthe-top and fake.

Glossy Lips Draw attention to your luscious lips! A hot red or deep orange is sometimes too aggressive, but you can never go wrong with a light pink gloss. The delicate and dreamy look will give you a whimsical and romantic appeal that he won’t be able to resist.

Lips should be underplayed if you want to achieve dramatic eyes. The appearance can also be reversed where lips assume the focal point and eyes take a more natural appearance. Lip gloss works for both situations to render color and shine to your lips.

Shimmering Cheeks Try to obtain a silky and even complexion by using liquid foundation. You can use powder to soften the entire look.

Use amber coloured blush to highlight your cheeks especially at their temples.

Finally, create a chiseled look by using a hint of blush on the higher contours of your cheeks.

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SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Edgy ripped jeans Vanessa Okwara

R

ipped jeans have been a constant fashion item since the punk era of the 70s and have never really gone out of style. Distressed or ripped jeans have become a wardrobe staple for guys that you don’t have to be a rock star before you can wear one. It’s all about mixing casual style with some formal wear and creating a very classy look and ripped jeans are the easiest way to achieve this.

Ripped jeans are not just trendy but help soften your look with some touch of elegance. Funky and creative, ripped jeans are loved by everyone.

Injecting an element of street wear edge into your casual day wear has never been easier and the ripped jean is probably more versatile than you think.

They’re versatile, easy to wear and add a bit of individuality into your look and that’s why ripped jeans are your new wardrobe staple. Ripped Jeans are the ultimate dressed down casual wear. For maximum effect, we’d suggest pairing with

a simple t-shirt and a pair of sneakers or desert boots.

Notice that ripped jeans already have an edgy look to them, so matching it with clothes with a similar look will help you pull it off successfully. For a more casual setting, pair the jeans with a well-fitted T-shirt and a nice belt. Keeping it simple will help this look stand out. Even go more casual by throwing on some sandals or flip flops.

Distressed denim will give your everyday look an edgier aesthetic, but it’s worth remembering that the jeans should be the focal point of your outfit. Over complicating the look will make your outfit feel very un-natural and over styled.

You can equally take this look from casual to a more dress up appearance. Add a blazer on top of the T-shirt and some sleek dress shoes. Ripped jeans can go with mostly everything.

Ripped jeans are supposed to look effortless, so just pair it with simple items that enhance them and add an effortlessly put-together edge.

IYANYA

Kukere master Ifeoluwa Adeyemo

I

yanya Onoyom Mbuk, known by his first name Iyanya, is a Nigerian artist and performer.

He is best known for winning the MTN Project Fame West Africa maiden edition in 2008. He is the co-owner of Made Men Music Group, a record label. Iyanya sings in English and Efik.

Iyanya released his first studio album ‘my story’ in 2011 together with singles ‘No time’ and ‘Love truly’. ‘Desire’ his second, contained singles like ‘Kukere’ which achieved a global success, ‘Ur waist’, ‘Flavour’, ‘Sexy mama’, ‘Jombolo.

He was born on Palm Street in Calabar, Cross River State. His mother was a head mistress and his father a forester.

Iyanya started singing in the choir and was the children’s choir master at age five. He completed his education in Calabar and he is a graduate of Business Management from the University of Calabar.

Iyanya has signed a lot

of endorsement deals; he’s the ambassador for Solo Phones Nigeria. He also signed a deal with Zinox computers which featured him on Zinox billboards and TV commercials.

Iyanya has won a lot of awards some of which are, City People Entertainment Awards, Musician of the Year, African Muzik Magazine Awards, Best Dance in a Video. He also won World Music Awards, Artist of the Year and has been nominated a couple of times at the Headies Awards. He won the Artist of the Year Award at the Headies Awards in 2013.

When it comes to fashion and style, Iyanya has been an icon, with versatility in his dress sense. He keeps it classic always and we often see him in various styles of designer suits in different shades and colours. Other times, we see him shirtless or with tank tops and he also likes to keep his beads which are well groomed and trimmed.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

RazzleDazzle

Body&Soul Abiola Alaba Peters

with

08062622328 abiolaalabapeters@rockmail.com

I don’t have time for gossip –Harrysong

‘B

Seyi Shay joins UN campaign to empower women

aba for the girls’ crooner, Harrysong, has debunked rumours hovering around his forth coming ‘1Delta Peace Concert’ that is set to hold this July. The Five Star act has been making headlines on various social media about his alleged breakup from his label. Some said his label front man, Kcee and the CEO of Five Star music, Emoney had earlier asked him to put a stop to the concert which he refused and this has brought fracas between them. However, Razzle-dazzle had a brief chat with ‘Mr. Song’ as he is fondly called by fans about it and he said.

“They are in full support, “Five Star Music is in full support. I don’t have time for gossip and I have told you what it is” he told RazzleDazzle. The Delta State born singer has however been busy promoting the concert which is said to be powered by Five Star Music group.

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Seyi Law returns with ‘Fast and Funny’

aving songstress, Seyi Shay, continues waving the Nigerian flag wherever she goes and in her latest project, she joins artists from around the world including Gigi Lamayne and Moneoa from South Africa, Bollywood actress, Jacqueline Fernandez from Sri Lanka, M.O from the UK, Taylor Hatala from Canada and Larsen Thompson from the USA to collaborate on a remake of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe video done 20 years ago. The video called ‘What I Really Really Want’ will be viewed by world leaders in September 2016 during the Global Goals week, telling them what girls and women really want in 2016. Directed by MJ Delaney, ‘What I Really Really Want’ focuses on women empowerment as a means of achieving the Global Goals which are a mighty plan to end poverty, fix climate change and address inequalities over the next 15years. During the next United Nations General Assembly, world leaders will converge to make informed decisions as the film and campaign will call on people to share a picture of ‘What I Really Really Want’ for girls and women and the visual response from around the world will then be presented at the UN General Assembly in September. This demonstration of mass public support for the rights of girls and women will be used to engender new political and financial commitments from governments in support of their pledges to the sustainable development goals.

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Adeniyi Johnson addresses poison rumour, denies affair I love originality –Ruth Kadiri with Seyi Edun N

ollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri, recently covered the front page of House of Maliq July edition with popular OAP, Stephanie Coker. While her fans were excited about how sexy she looked gracing the front page of the popular magazine, the actress seems to be unhappy. On one of the covers, she was wearing just her underwear, which brought out her nicely trimmed waist and belly and many thought that was the new look of the actress. However, the actress took to her page to slam the magazine for photo-shopping her body rather than using her picture the way she is. That was when reality dawned on her fans that it was just Photoshop. In her words: “House of Maliq Magazine has lost its African feel. We are Africans and we should act that way.

I pray that I look like that soon; am working on it but before then, don’t give me the name my mama did not call me’’ she posted. Ruth Kadiri who hails from Edo State is currently promoting her self-produced movie, ‘Memory Lane’ which starred top Nollywood actress, Uche Jumbo and Oke Uzoeshi.

T

insel actor, Adeniyi Johnson, has finally spoken out about the alleged poison rumour and relationship with fellow Nollywood actress, Seyi Edun. Reacting to the controversies hovering around his person, the tall, dark, handsome actor whose marriage to popular light skinned actress, Toyin Aimakhu, broke up months back over allegations of infidelity made it clear that he is not in a relationship with Seyi Edun, neither is the actress carrying his child. On alleged poisoning of his Ex-wife, Toyin, Niyi stated that, it is rather shocking and very untrue. According to him, the said allegations are practically the handiwork of his detractors; he urged them to come forth with any available evidence to aid their claim. While informing his fans that he had not been with Toyin in a long while, he also clarified to the general public on his change of name, “My name is my name, and I choose whatever I like to be known publicly. All my certificates, driver’s license, international passport and more have ‘Adewunmi’ on it, including my marriage certificate which is currently with Toyin Aimakhu. It is appalling when people try to bring out something out of nothing. I simply choose to bear Adeniyi Johnson.”

He clarified.

he massive success that was attributed to Seyi Law’s ‘Fast and Funny’ last year is not just a story for the future, but a boldly written history record craving to be broken. Idileoye Oluwaseyitan Lawrence Aletile, with stage name, Seyi Law, has continued to win the hearts of comedy lovers both locally and internationally since winning the maiden edition of AY’s comedy competition in 2006, winning over 30 awards in a career that has spanned a little over 10years. This year, the prolific comedian has announced 24th July, 2016 as the date for this year’s show in Lagos. Seyi Law’s fast and funny was arguably the biggest comedy and music concert in Nigeria in 2015 with the most social media impact in the country. This year promises to give voice to the female performers and will be filled with loads of surprises beyond fans’ expectations. Comedians billed to perform include: I Go Die, Gordons, Gandoki, AY, Alibaba, Akpororo, Kenny Blaq, Whalemouth, Princewill, Ajele, Chuks D General, Buchi, Elenu and many others.

Dj Neptune, Dj Spinall, Dj Xclusive, Dj Nana, Dj Lambo are the official Dj’s to lock down the event. Music talents confirmed for the event are Olamide, Phyno, Kcee, Ycee, Kiss Daniel, DBanj, Wande Coal, Tekno, Banky W, Seyi Shay, Tjan, Adekunle Gold, Solid Star, Vector, Reekado Banks, Cynthia Morgan, Oritse Femi amongst others.

‘Breathless’ nominated for another award

‘B

reathless’, the movie which debuted at the cinemas on 1 July, has received nomination for another movie award. This time, it is fifth annual Nollywood and African Films Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) also known as the African Oscars, in which Mike Ezuruonye has been nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in ‘Breathless’. The awards ceremony will hold on 17 September at the Orpheus Theatre, Los Angeles, USA. The movie, starring Ezuruonye and Uti Nwachukwu, had already earned nominations at two prestigious African movie awards. Breathless, through Mike Ezuruonye’s role, got a nomination for Best Actor Drama (TV/Series) at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), while Nwachukwu, was nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. ‘Breathless’, a suspense-filled movie, offers a gripping narrative of unspeakable secrets of an unsolved mystery murder, heightened by bitter sibling rivalry. It was directed by Charles Uwagbai. Executive producer of the movie, Jenkins Alumona, said: “We were concerned about producing a film that is world class. From the cast, crew, storyline, directing, equipment, locations and lots more, we ensured we threw in only the best. Our films are our representations and we are trying to tell the world Nigerians have some of the best storytellers,” he said.

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SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

I love beautiful women –Acapella

Comedian and radio host, Benedict Chinedu Daniel, popularly known as Acapella, has been in the funny business for over a decade and continues to keep his audience in stitches across the country and abroad. It is basically his quick wit and unpredictability that make him a natural entertainer. Having won the ‘Ay Open Mic Comedy Competition’, Acapella kickstarted his career professionally in 2006. In this interview with Abiola Alaba Peters, the dark, chubby comedian, who has performed in London, Dubai and Asia, talks about his journey into comedy Why the name Acapella?

Well, I started off as a singer; I used to be a singer way back in 1999. I had an Acapella group and I was the group leader because we were five boys then, so basically, that is where I got the name from. I tried music for a long time and as it didn’t work out, I then tried comedy, and that is how l started.

I never believed comedy will pay me real good. Until the first day I cracked a joke and I got a pay that music never did for me or even for the five of us. That is how the group parted ways, and I don’t even know where the rest of the four are; so tell me why I won’t stick to what worked for me.

What then is your real name?

My real name is Benedict Chinedu Daniel.

How well can you say comedy has paid you?

Wow! Comedy has paid me real great, no need to lie or hide words else I will sound ungrateful to God. Don’t say how well, ask ‘how massively’ comedy has paid me.

Comedy is a good business and it has done me pretty well; super well, if you ask me.

Because of comedy, I don’t even know where my certificate is. Comedy has taken me round the nation, Africa, and even other continents of the world.

I have travelled and met great opportunities through comedy. Comedy is my love, my darling that I cannot afford to cheat on; that is how much I love comedy.

If you were not doing comedy, what else

would you have been doing?

If I wasn’t doing comedy, I would probably be a singer. I wanted to do music at first, but if I was not doing entertainment at all, I would probably be a business man.

Would you later go back to music?

I really cannot say for now, I have intentions to diversify into music someday, but I really do not know when. I could do one or two songs, maybe to entertain my fans, but not for the cash for now.

Can you marry a celebrity?

Are they not humans? I can marry from any circle, so long as she is all I want in a woman. Even celebrities too make good homes, it all depends on how she runs her home. We have quite a number of them that have happy homes no matter what. Celebrity or not, it is what you make out of your home that matters.

What is your choice when it comes to women?

She has to be neat, great sense of humour, lover of God, a woman that will understand and support my efforts, and again, I love them beautiful.

So, have you found her?

I never declared her missing but she has been found.

That’s to say you are in a relationship?

Well, maybe I am, but if I’m not, I am not searching.

Do you help younger comedians?

If you follow Acapella Live in Comedy Goes to Church brand very well, you will agree with me that we have a lot of young guys coming up. I usually balance the show in a way that when we have 10 comedians for instance, f o u r will be established ones, while the remaining six will be those you don’t know. We try as much as possible to grow young guys too; we believe that as we grow, more comedians will be discovered. I promote originality, and when I see young guys, who are really talented, trust me, the platform is for them.

What has fame changed about you?

Fame or comedy has really changed a lot about me. I used to be a person that was quick to react to things, like when I am in a place that I am not comfortable with the happenings at that moment, I would react. It has helped my mind set, but then it’s not something I can’t handle.

Some people have tagged you a gospel comedian. Are you?

I have answered this question over and over again and guess what? I won’t stop answering it because I am not shy to say it.

But you know, it is really very funny when people call me a gospel comedian. I am not just a gospel comedian, I am versatile, and I’m just being me. I have high respect for ladies, I really don’t fancy using vulgar language because I want to crack people up, I love to respect people’s opinion and the ladies, and hey! If you are cool with using them and it is working for you, it’s OK! But I’m just being choosy with my choice of words, maybe that is why people see me as a gospel comedian.

Your favourite sports?

I love football a lot; I’m a Barca fan for that matter.

Favorite perfume?

Hmmm!!! Can’t really tell, I love to mix.

I love people to guess what perfume I’m wearing, and again, it depends on the occasion.

Where are you from?

I’m from Orlu in Imo State, I am the fourth child of seven children.

Aside comedy, what else do you do?

I do strictly comedy for now and radio presenting. I am also into event packaging, I do strictly entertainment. I might decide to go into something else much later, but for now, I am a complete entertainment person.

Because of the huge success of my shows, I get a lot of calls from people to help them package their events, it has been God all the way, I am grateful to God for where he is taking me to, seriously I am.

How long have you been in the comedy business?

I started cracking jokes in 2002, if we go by that calculation, it will be 14 years, but professionally, I started in 2006. So you know the Math already; it’s been a long time coming, but the journey so far has been tremendous.

Your annual comedy show ‘Comedy Goes to Church’, has become a grand success. Why the church?

This is because I still remember my roots; I still remember where I started from. I do not want to forget that God gave me my talent and made me who I am today. My mum taught me to always believe in God and never to forget where I started from, although I intend to do something different from what every other person is doing.

As you know, we do have shows at Eko Hotel, Muson Centre with almost same set of comedians, and sometimes with repetition of jokes; we practically forget where we started from because a lot of us started from the church, so doing it in the church is a way of saying, “God, I still remember where I started from”. So it is always very good to go back to your root. Although, I’m planning something soon, and it might be outside the church, just keep your fingers crossed.

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NEWS

INTERVIEW

Nigeria, Indian firm reach agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company

Tomato chain can generate 5 million jobs –Erisco boss

p.44

AUTO BEAT Ford GT race programme to continue till 2019 p.47

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BUSINESS

PAUL OGBUOKIRI HEAD, BUSINESS

paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Oil steady, Brent set for biggest weekly drop since Jan

C

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Bold Concept and Stanbloss Nigeria Limited, Engr. Aduro Ayodeji; Purchasing Manager, Total Plc, Mrs. Taiwo Onanuga; Managing Director., Total, Mr. Jean-Phillippe Torres and Panar Group of Companies, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Das; during the Total 2016 Suppliers’ Forum on Commitment on Safety, in Lagos.

Multiple taxation bane of SMEs in Nigeria I Paul Ogbuokiri

f taxes do not kill a small and medium scale enterprise in Nigeria, it is arguable that nothing else can kill such a business.

Taxes in Nigeria are enormous and repetitive, as small businesses pay as much as 33 per cent of their operating revenue as taxes, with over 20 per cent of profit also going into taxes.

In context, if a small business operates with revenue of N1 million in a year, the company has to pay as much as over N330, 000 in taxes.

According to the World Bank’s Doing Business report 2016, Nigeria ranks 181 of 189 countries in the rank of nations with tax paying burden.

As much as the report does justice to taxes paid in an “investment-friendly” state like Lagos, the report does not cover all the realities of the Nigerian business climate.

Taxes covered by World Bank Doing Business Report The World Bank says there are only eight countries in the world with a more burdensome tax system than Nigeria. The countries are Bolivia, Central African Republic, Venezuela, Chad, Mauritania, Guinea, Sen-

egal and Congo Republic.

Charges paid by Nigerians on Bank Accounts With burdensome taxes in place, Nigerians and their businesses have to pay fresh charges for bank transactions, which are extremely pivotal to their operations, biting further into their revenues.

Asides these charges, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are mulling additional charges for bank users in Africa’s largest economy.

The apex bank is proposing

a N100-per-month charge on every debit card (your typical ATM card) – separate from the existing N65 charge after the third withdrawal within the same month.

This charge would be N4, 200 for foreign currency dominated accounts.

In a guideline by the Director Financial Policy and Regulation Department, CBN, Kelvin Amugo, the bank apex also proposed a N50 charge on every bank cheque collected in bank and used over the coun-

Taxes payable in Nigeria Tax or mandatory contribution

Payments (number)

Statutory tax rate

Tax base

Total tax rate (% of profit)

Corporate income tax

1

30%

taxable profit

17.88

Social Security Contributions

12

10%

gross salaries

9.87

Tertiary education trust fund contribution

0

2%

taxable profit

2.43

Training Tax

1

1%

Employee Compensation Contribution paid by the employer

12

1%

gross salaries

1.13

Capital gains tax

1

10%

capital gains

0.47

Tax on money market interest

0

10%

interest income

Land Use Charge

1

0.13%

property value

0.2

Stamp duty on checks

1

5%

5/1000 of value

of check 0.18

Road license

1

NGN 5,000 per vehicle

fixed fee depending on type of vehicle

0.04

State business levy

1

NGN 5,000

fixed fee

0.02

Infrastructure Development Tax

1

NGN 100 per employee

fixed fee

Value added tax (VAT)

12

5%

Fuel tax

1

included in fuel price

Employee labour tax

0

8%

National Housing Fund

12

Advertising tax

1

various rates

Stamp duty on contracts

1

0

Totals:

59

33.4

Source: World Bank

2.50%

1.13

value added

0.26

0 0 0 0

gross salaries 0

0

ter. This is not the same as the collection charge on cheques, which is also proposed to be “one per cent of cheque value or Naira equivalent of US $10, whichever is lower”.

Taxes and levies paid by private schools in Lagos For other social businesses like privately-owned school in Lagos, the burden is even heavier.

According to Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN), a UKID-funded programme in Lagos, privatelyowned schools pay as much as 20 different taxes and levies to operate in one of Nigeria’s most investor-friendly states, Lagos.

The taxes and levies as highlighted by DEEPEN are: Waste Management (LAWMA), Radio/TV Charge, PAYE, Business Premises, Land Use Charge, Signage (LASAA), Annual Dues, Name search, Lagos State Education, Management System (LASGEMS), Vehicle documentation – school bus, Development Levy, Safety Pack, Online registration, Tenement Rate, Fumigation Levy, Fire Service, Special Permission Levy, Parking Lot, Exam board, Ministry of Environment charge, Sports Centre levy, Mobile advert and Local government levy.

rude prices steadied in choppy trading on Friday, with Brent on track to its largest weekly drop in six months, as strong U.S. jobs data and bargain hunting by investors pitted against seasonally weak consumption of oil.

The oil market initially rose about 1 per cent or more early on Friday on strong U.S. jobs data and worries about fresh militant attacks on Nigerian oil infrastructure. But the gains faded after concerns over supplies later returned.

“It’s choppy and will likely stay so,” said David Thompson, executive vicepresident at Washington-based commodities broker Powerhouse. “It’ll be a tug of war today between the very strong jobs numbers and the existing bearish oil market fundamentals.”

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were down 8 cents, or 0.2 per cent, at $46.32 per barrel by 10:47 a.m. EDT (1447 GMT), after a session high at $47.23.

U.S. crude futures CLc1 slipped by 11 cents to $45.03 versus a rise earlier to $45.97.

Both crude benchmarks were down nearly 8 per cent for the week - the largest weekly slide for Brent since January.

Crude futures have gyrated of late as a glut of refined products and slowing global economic growth contrasted with supply disruptions and expectations that the world’s overhang of oil would soon begin to recede. Both Brent and U.S. crude hit two-month lows on Thursday.

Interbank rate rises on cash shortage

N

igeria’s interbank overnight lending rate rose sharply on Friday to an average of 15 per cent from 5 per cent a week ago, after central bank debited commercial lenders for treasury bills purchases.

Nigeria sold a total of N190 billion ($670 million) in treasury bills on Friday with maturities ranging from three months to one year, with yields broadly flat.

Market liquidity had opened at N167.26 billion on Friday, but the money market went into repo after the central bank sold treasury bills which significantly reduced level of cash in the banking system, pushing up cost of borrowing among banks.

“The market was trading around 10 per cent for overnight placement prior to the sale of treasury bills, but rose sharply to an average of 15 per cent shortly after the result of the auction was announced,” one dealer said.

Nigeria’s financial market was closed for trading from Tuesday to Thursday for a public holiday.

Traders said interest rate should open next week around same level of 15 per cent but could ease a little with the expectations of injection of about N73 billion in matured treasury bills and payment of debt to government contractors.

44

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS

Gbolaham opens computer village in Lawanson

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L-R: Director, Laboratory Service Directorate, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Mrs. Ganiyat Owoyele; Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar and Director General, SON, Dr. Paul Angya, during the Minister’s visit to SON in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Nigeria, Indian firm reach agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company

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Barring any last minute change in plans, an amicable resolution of the ownership crisis surrounding the Ajaokuta Steel Complex might be reached early August when the Nigerian government and Messrs Global Steel Holdings Limited, an Indian firm, are scheduled to sign terms of settlement.

The signing of the terms of settlement will free Ajaokuta Steel Complex from all contractual encumbrances that had left it uncompleted and non-functional for decades, PREMIUM TIMES has learned.

Negotiations for amicable resolution of the ownership crisis of the foremost steel company have dragged on since 2008, leaving the country’s steel and industrial sectors largely paralysed.

Premium Times reports that those familiar with the negotiations said President Muhammadu Buhari had already given approval for

the execution of the “modified concession agreement with Global Steel Holdings Limited, following reports of the mediation meetings forwarded to him from the Justice ministry.”

The mediation meetings, reliable sources said, recently held in London, United Kingdom.

The London meetings followed months of negotiations between the Federal Government and Global Steel Holdings, coordinated by an international mediator, Phillip Howell-Richardson.

The Nigerian government’s team to the series of meetings was led by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, whose ministry is responsible for the steel sector, our sources said.

The team also comprised top officials of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Ministry of Justice.

The Chairman of GSHL,

Prammod Mittal, led the consortium’s team to the meetings.

Insiders said part of the agreements reached during the last meeting was that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex reverts to the Nigerian government fully, while its sister company, Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) would be retained

by GSHL under existing concession agreement but with Ajaokuta plant gaining priority access to the iron ore from NIOMCO. Mr. Fayemi, who resumed work as Minister of Solid Minerals Development on November 11, 2015, had in many fora restated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex is revitalised.

The multi-billion dollar Ajaokuta Steel Company is regarded as one steel complex with capacity to help trigger the much-needed industrialisation of the country as well as stimulate

growth in the iron and steel sub sector.

Several investors had expressed interest in the completion and running of the plant, including the Russian and Ukranian original builders of the plant; a Chinese consortium and many indigenous steel companies.

Sources at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said once all encumbrances have been removed, government would conduct a transparent bid exercise that would be determined purely by technical competence and financial capacity.

Global Steel could not be reached for comments Friday, but the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development confirmed serious negotiation was apace.

Olayinka Oyebode, the chief press secretary to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development said he was aware of the ongoing negotiation, but that he had no mandate from to divulge its details.

Umuchinemere MFB provides N600.9 micro-credit to 1,890 Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

I

n furtherance of its avowed objective to alleviate poverty in the society through economic evangelization, the Enugu based Umuchinemere Procredit Micro Finance Bank (UPMFB) disbursed credit facility of N600, 860,143 to a total of 1,890 active poor people in Enugu State in the first half of 2016.

Of this total amount disbursed, a total of 357 rural clients benefitted the sum of N77, 639,069 The funds are to help the beneficiaries meet their financial needs, improve their quality of living and lift them out of poverty.

Details of the funds ‘disbursements provided by the bank’s Acting Head of Credit, Mr. Charles Udeani which contained in a press release issued by the bank’s Head of Public/Media Relations, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, indicate that out of the N600,860,143, women were the greater number of the beneficiaries, with a total of 742 females out of the 1,890 beneficiaries.

Mr. Udeani explained that the amount of funds disbursed by the bank in the first half of the year met the bank’s target, with the loans performing above average.

Expressing optimism that there would be economic improvement in the country by the end of the year, he stated

that the bank was focused and determined to achieve its targeted fund disbursals for the year, so as to create jobs and lift many more people out of poverty by the end of 2016.

He charged the micro credit loans’ beneficiaries “to avoid multiple borrowing and use the loan for the purpose they borrowed it and ensure that they repay promptly to sustain their relationship with the bank”, Mr. Udeani also said the loans were aimed at creating maximum wealth for the beneficiaries.

He expressed optimism that “the remaining half of the year will be better, as the anti graft war of government would have started yielding positive dividends on the

economy by then” Meanwhile, the bank has continued the extension of its financial services and products to the rural populace, with the recent opening of an office at the Enugu State Polytechnic, sited at Iwollo in the Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State.

Nnenna Ekete

otable businessman, Gbolahan Lawanson, has open phones and computer village in lawanson, in Surulere, Lagos.

Speaking on the reason for a new venture, he said he went into the business to attend to the yawning of the people.

“Our primary purpose is to have the best products available for consumers at a location they can can access with ease. The environment is vibrant and orderly. Shoppers can take their time to assess whatever products or services they want and be assured of the quality and genuineness”.

He also said, “We all know that Mainland in general is very densely populated while Surulere in particular is a melting pot. There is a teeming young population that is conversant with the nuances of telecommunication and technology. Asides being a location for technology and communication gadgets and equipments, we are also providing infrastructure and support by way of provision and availability of technology base hubs/communities,” he stated.

He further assured that the company would strive to be the beacon for technological advancement in Lagos.

The village was recently opened for business by the former deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ms Funmi Tejuosho who also commended the effort of Gbolahan for this latest development in the area.

L-R: Key Account Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Grace Owolabi; Store Manager, Maryland Usave Shoprite, Mr. Olaniyi Ajiteru, and Sales Service Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Omoniyi Odukoya, at the inauguration of Shoprite Store, Maryland Mall, Lagos.

Arateke partners Center Point Network

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ratek Biometrics Technology Co. Ltd has announced a strategic partnership agreement with Center Point Network Limited, saying the company will be the sole distributor of her biometric products in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

This agreement was signed recently in Abuja by the representatives of the two companies, Arateke said in a recent statement.

Managing Director/CEO, Arateke who disclosed this, said the signing is in furtherance of the relationship between the two companies, the will tap on the comparative advantage of each other to deliver qualitative and effective service to the Nigerian people and sub-Saharan Africa at large.

Mrs. Offor explained that the signing is coming at the right time considering the fact the Center Point Network recently won the best ICT company award in terms of service deliver for the year 2015.

According to her, Center Point Network will move swiftly into the appointment of qualified resellers – nationwide that will market the Aratek Biometric products.

She said that they are committed to meeting the information technology needs of its clients by providing first class and leading-edge technology that differentiates them from others.

She added that the company’s business paradigm begins with the analysis of the clients existing business processes, with the aim of bringing the most efficient workflow solutions.

“We enjoy a broad alliance with established information technology companies and OEM companies which give us the privilege of stress free service delivery to clients at rates that is a premium buy for our customers,” she said.

Meanwhile, Center Point Network is known to be a leading information technology company with its core focus on information technology solutions and deployment, with a growing clientele base ranging from government parastatals, corporate organisations, the oil and gas sector, small scale enterprise (SME), Retail Outlets of Computers & IT equipment and non-governmental organisations (NGO’S).

45

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Tomato chain can generate 5 million jobs –Erisco boss

You have been spoken much on tomatoes recently, how much does Nigeria spends on import of tomato paste annually?

Our country spends over US$1 billion to import tomato paste from China, India and the United States of America, and over UD$25 billion on food imports annually.

It is a shame to say the least that a country with vast arable land like Nigeria is importing food from countries that are in the desert region. We are importing tomatoes from countries that grow it just once in year, while we grow tomatoes here two times in year, for just 105 days from planting to harvesting. Imagine the billions we are losing to India and China and the job we are sustaining there.

The journey for inward looking was six years ago when the Central Bank Governor, told us to go back and start backward integration. Many Nigerian importers and Indians around said we cannot be able to do it, Nigeria’s tomato species is not good enough for processing onto paste, but with the ingenuity of Nigerian engineers, we configured our machine and started to process Nigerian tomatoes in the paste 18 months. But instead of these naysayers closing their faces in shame, they have changed the narrative to need to provide for the shortages.

At the center of the ongoing debate on Nigeria’s capacity to produce her tomato needs is the Sun Manufacturer of the Year award winner, Chief Eric Umeofia, whom his firm, Erisco Foods Nigeria Limited has in the last 18 months been processing fresh tomatoes from Nigerian farms. He said in this interview with PAUL OGBUOKIRI that if government can commit to local production just 7-10 per cent of the over $1 billion the country spends on the import of the product annually, Nigeria will not become self-sufficient but will also become a net exporter of tomato paste in less than three years. Excerpts; (NAFDAC) to close my factory. This one that is acting is still working in that direction. It is a cabal which I have refused to join in the interest of the country not the so called monopoly they are talking about.

Are we going to allow this dumping to continue when tomatoes is the easiest fruit the country can produce, mind you, Nigeria is the highest produce of the fruit in West Africa and one of the biggest producers in the world.

That brings us to the issue of wastages, which is said to be in excess of 75 per cent of the country’s annual production capacity. When will the few of you that have commenced

Considering that just importing without adding any value is very lucrative, so jumping into the tomato industry just six years ago and try to spoil the business of the importers definitely must not have been a tea party. How did you get here?

Yes I joined the business six years ago; I have thriving business in Angola. I disagreed with the argument that Nigeria may not be able to produce the tomato it needs in the nearest feature. I went ahead to set up a big factory in Oregun in Lagos and was able to prove them wrong. I started processing of Nigerian tomatoes 18 months ago. They tried to use the then Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control

Umeofia

processing tomatoes locally, bring this to an end?

We started processing not quiet long ago but last year alone we reduced the wastages caused by lack of storage facilities to 65 per cent, we are looking forward to further reducing that to 30 per cent by next year.

I am not interested in oil block. Tomato is my own oil block. I don’t want government contract or appointment. I don’t have any other office. I will make the difference here. I just want to make a difference for my country in this tomato business I am into. All that I want from the government is to give the manufacturers loan on a digit interest rate, under a backward integration programme that will put a stop to dumping of tomatoes in our country and give us just two years years, and I can assure you that we will become self-sufficient before the end of the third year.

We also start to exporter the product. I will support the Buhari administration because this is a president I know is passionate with the welfare of his people.

My worry is that some of his have been Ministers penetrated by those naysayers, they need to change and stop giving the president wrong advise.

NAFDAC conducted a test of all

the tomato pastes in the country and 91.1 per cent failed the test, the agency had started clamping down on the importers before they became compromised. I have challenged NAFDAC and those importers they are supporting to face me in a public debate with the Nigerian media. I pledge to pick up the bill. Nigerians need to know that the biggest scam in the country is going on in this sub-sector. I want the right thing to be done and let these fake tomatoes to removed from our markets.

How do you source the fresh tomatoes you process?

The tomatoes are brought to our Oregun plant for processing, 15 trucks daily, but for every truck of tomatoes that come here we lose N300, 000. You can see why it costs us US$10 to process a kilogramme of tomatoes; it costs the importers just US$4, which is why what they are doing is dumping. That is why those who have invested continue operate at lose. You can see that 18 months since we started nobody is joining, because it is not profitable.

So, are getting cautious over further investment?

No, this is my country. I am not running away, this is where I want to make my own difference. I know people do not understand what I am saying. I seem I am alone on this effort. But we have acquired vast land in Katsina, God bless that Governor responded very fast to our land request; we have also acquired land in Jigawa, we have in Nassarawa; later we will go back to Anambra State and we have 1650 employees, while we are expecting to hit 6000 when we reach optimum production. We want to change the face of tomato farming in this country. Also, I am sure the industry will absorb not less than five million workforces from farming to processing.

Apart from the three years soft loan you talked about, what other incentives you think should be given to the local manufacturers of tomato to enable them achieve for the country what happened in the cement sector?

The country was able to witness that transformation in the cement sector because the Ex-President Obasanjo connected with Alhaji Aliko Dangote who has the passion to solve a problem for his country. Since the past six years that I started this journey no Minister has come here to see for himself if what I am saying is true, they just depend on what their subordinates in the office are telling them. And what are they saying, ‘we don’t have capacity, we cannot be able to produce what is need in the short run because our tomato species is not good enough for processing. All those are lies. But I am happy that the President Buhari’s wife has come here, and that is giving us enough encouragement to continue.

I can assure you, Nigeria’s tomatoes is among the best in the world, those saying it is not good enough for processing, I challenge them to a debate.

46

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS NEWS

Nigerian print media nets N23.7bn advert revenue in 2015

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Adenekan Tobiloba he Nigerian print media attracted a total of N23.7 billion revenue from advertising in 2015; representing a drop of N2.1 billion compared to N25.8 billion it recorded in 2014.

This information is contained in the just-released 2015 Mediafacts, a key media resource for marketing professionals in West and Central Africa produced annually by mediaReach OMD, a specialist media company that provides media planning, buying, control and inventory management services.

According to Mediafacts: “Lagos accounted for almost 100 per cent of media spend on print medium” last year. Also, quarterly analysis of the total print advertising expenditure, shows that though there is almost an equal dispersion of spend across the four quarters, there is a marginal skew in spend in the fourth quarter with a total value of N4.7 billion. The first, second and third quarters attracted advertising values of N5.7 billion, N6.0 billion and N7.3 billion; respectively.

The 2015 Mediafacts further revealed that the trend of the advertising expenditure over the past 10 years showed that the print media attracted the highest amount of revenue of N25.8 billion in 2014. The figure

for last year was primarily driven by the personal paid, corporate, public service, banking and finance, educational imparting knowledge/skill, communication/ telecommunication, hotel & catering, motor vehicles, transport & travel, building, construction & agriculture, electrical & electronics.

The report also identified religion, paycard, insurance, shopping, broadcast, cable TV, furniture & furnishings, computer & secretariat, as well as generators and others as the top 20 product categories that contributed to the print media revenue during the year under review.

The report stated: “Top 20 categories contribute 96 per cent of the total print media revenue in 2015. Corporate communication ads contributed 19 per cent while personal paid announcements accounted for the bulk (37 per cent).”

According to the report, the top 10 advertisers on print in 2015 include: sundry advertisers (other inform. services) - N12.3 billion; the state government – N2.3 billion; sundry advertisers (Services) – N1.1 billion; university & other higher institutions – N1.0 billion and sundry advertisers (capital goods & equip) – N0.6 billion.

Others are: Guaranty Trust Bank (N0.5 billion), Etisalat (N0.3 billion), Globcom (N0.3 billion), MTN (N0.3

PepsiCo profit beats expectations P

epsiCo Inc reported a better-than-expected profit for the second quarter on Thursday, buoyed by lower raw material costs and higher demand for Frito-Lay snacks and new beverages in North America, lifting shares to a record in early trading.

The maker of Pepsi and Gatorade also boosted its forecast for adjusted profit for the year.

PepsiCo’s shares rose to an all-time high of $109, before giving up some gains to trade at $108.61 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Drinks like Propel flavored water and Naked Cold Pressed juice, Smartfood Popcorn and “Simply” brand snacks helped drive sales, the company said.

PepsiCo and other consumer companies are

spending more to develop new products to meet the changing tastes of consumers who are increasingly seeking healthier options.

PepsiCo doubled its research and development spending over the last 5 years and new products now account for 9 per cent of PepsiCo’s revenue, up from 5 per cent in past years.

“The North American strength is a big driver behind raising guidance for the year because North America really is performing strongly right now,” Hugh Johnston, PepsiCo’s chief financial officer told Reuters.

“Consumers are willing to pay for affordable treats that they find are new and interesting and, frankly, a differentiated product.”

Argus Research Co analyst John Staszak agreed.

billion) and Zenith Bank (N0.3 billion).

Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, Managing Director/CEO of mediaReach OMD, said: “Nigeria’s media is one of the most vibrant in Africa. State radio and TV have near-national coverage and operate at federal and regional levels. All 36 states run at least one radio network and a TV station. There are hundreds of radio stations and terrestrial TV networks, as well as cable and direct-to-home satellite offerings.”

According to him, television viewing in Nigeria is concentrated in urban areas.

“There are more than 100 national and local press titles, some of them are stateowned. They include well-

respected dailies, tabloids and publications which champion ethnic interests.

By 2014, 70.3 million Nigerians were online (Internetworldstats.com). Mobile phones are commonly used to access the web. Most Internet users are young, educated and urban,” he stated.

Ogunkoya noted that Nigeria’s economy is the largest in Africa while its manufacturing sector is the third largest on the continent producing a large proportion of goods and services for the West African sub region.

He said: “The Nigerian environment which is characterised with many investment opportunities seems to be the most attractive for

foreign investors because of its liberal economic climate due to the following reasons: The economy has been liberalised for full open market, 100 per cent foreign participation is now allowed in all sectors, Privatisation programmes and industrial development encouraged, and Profit repatriation allowed.

All laws that inhibit full functioning of a deregulated, free enterprise and market driven economy were removed from stature books.

Following the April 2014 statistical “rebasing” exercise, he stated, Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s largest economy, with 2015 GDP estimated at US$1.1 tril-

lion. Ogunkoya said: “Oil has been a dominant source of income and government revenues since the 1970s.

Following the 2008-2009 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalised and regulation enhanced. Nigeria’s economic growth over the last five years has been driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications and services.”

He said: “the report gives in-depth coverage of Nigeria and Ghana’s media markets. Media practitioners in the West and Central African regions, and companies making inroads into the markets in these regions would find this publication useful.”

L-R: Rotarian, Lateef Bakare; President Rotary Club Ikeja, Bukola Bakare; Chairman Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko; District Governor Rotary Club Ikeja, Otunba Bola Onabadejo, at a dinner event in honour of Dr. Oba Otudeko, at the Rotary Centre, in Lagos…on Friday

Court declares ex-maritime workers union chief wanted

As police arraigns Beninoise; Maurice Fagnon over invasion of union secretariat

Paul Ogbuokiri

A

n Apapa Magistrate Court has declared a former President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) , wanted in connection with May 2016 alleged attempt to invade the national secretariat of the union in Apapa, Lagos.

The ex-labour leader was forced out of office by the Federal Government about 14 years as the union’s President General under controversial circumstances.

His arrest was ordered by Justice Olufolake Oshin of the Magistrate Court in Apapa. The warrant of arrest was dated June 20, 2016, in a suit number MISC|MCA|O17 2016.

It was confirmed that, the

court order was because the accused could not be found by the Police, even after a warrant of arrest was procured for him to be arraigned.

Similarly, the police also last week arraigned a man who was alleged to have collaborated with disgraced labour leader in the alleged invasion of the union secretariat, one Maurice Fangnon.

The ex-union leader was alleged to be the lead mastermind of the mayhem that took place at the union’s secretariat in May, 2016. Four of those who participated in the attack had earlier been arrested and arraigned by the police.

Fangnon, who is reportedly from Benin Republic, was arraigned last week

in the same court on four count charges of conspiracy, disturbance of public peace, unlawful possession of weapons and attempt to attack members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.

According to the police prosecutor, the charges levelled against Fangnon contravened sections 410, 44, 51 and 166d of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The charge sheet, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent further states that: “ You Maurice Fangnon ,M and others at large on the 31st of May 2016 at about 1030hrs, at No. 199 ,Osho Drive, Olodi Apapa, Lagos Magistrate District ,did conspire together to commit misdemeanour to wit: unlawful

assembly and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 410 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria.”

The charge sheet with no: A|47|2016 tag Commissioner of Police Vs Maurice Fangnon, further alleged that the defendants have in their possession offensive weapons without lawful authority- “sixteen brand new cutlasses, two plastic jar containing a liquid substance suspected to be acid and displayed same in such a manner as to cause terror to neighbourhood”.

The court however granted bail to Professor Fangnon in the sum of N300, 000 and two sureties who must be reputable civil servants on level 12 with evidence of three years tax payment.

47

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

Ford GT race programme to continue till 2019

AUTO BEAT Motoring briefs

FRSC arraigns two men for assaulting Marshals

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he Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Sector Command on Friday, July 8, 2016 charged two men who assaulted their marshals to Court.

The two Men: Mr. Nwandu Onyeka (32) and Okechukwu Jackson (35) both allegedly attacked and seriously injured FRSC Officials on their legitimate duty on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The accused and others involved in the incident where given three count charge of conspiracy, assault and obstruction an offence contrary to Sections 172 & 117 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State. They were arraigned before Mrs. AA Famobiwo of Magistrate Court 3, Surulere. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned hearing till July 18, 2016 for mention.

They were however remanded in Ikoyi prison custody as they couldn’t meet the bail conditions.

Ford GT race

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Paul Ogbuokiri ith a dramatic Le Mans 24 hours GTE pro class victory just two weeks ago, Ford Motor Company has announced that its factory-supported Ford GT race programme will run for a minimum of three more years in both IMSA and FIA WEC competition.

“We wanted to make sure everyone knows that we are committed to sports car racing globally with WEC and IMSA,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and chief technical officer. “The stated goal of our Ford GT programme was to win Le Mans, and we’re very proud that we were able to do that in our first year. To commit to a full, four-year assault on both the IMSA and WEC championships shows how serious we are about taking Ford GT racing around the world.

“We are in motorsport to win races and championships, but just as importantly we

are using it to develop our engineering expertise and help develop advancements for production vehicles like EcoBoost engines, advanced aerodynamics and lightweight materials that consumers can use in Ford production vehicles going forward.”

“We’re excited and feel the extension of this Ford GT race programme sends an important message to the industry and to enthusiasts that we are committed to global racing at Ford,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “But we remain committed to doing racing the right way. And the Ford GT programme is a perfect example of how we are using our racing efforts to help improve the products that Ford consumers can drive every day. Developing the GT production car and the race car at the same time has been a challenging task for everyone, but it has also showed how the production vehicle side and racing side of Ford Performance can work together to benefit everyone.”

The first-year programme currently consists of two Ford GT race cars in IMSA Weath-

erTech Sportscar Championship competition, and two Ford GT race cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The programme scored a 1-3-4 GTE Pro class finish at Le Mans on June 19, with France’s Sébastien Bourdais, USA’s Joey Hand and Germany’s Dirk Müller driving the winning No. 68 Ford GT effort.

The IMSA programme also scored Ford GT’s first victory in May at Laguna Seca with Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe taking the victory, while the WEC programme scored its first podium with a second-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps, with Marino Franchitti, Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell driving.

Ford GT drivers Billy Johnson, Olivier Pla and Stefan Mücke also currently lead the WEC GT Drivers’ Cup standings.

The IMSA programme resumes action this weekend with the Sahlen’s 6 hour of the Glen at Watkins Glen, N.Y., while WEC action resumes July 24 at the 6 hours of Nürburgring in Germany.

t’s OK to drive barefoot

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ontrary to what many people believe, it is legal to drive barefoot.

In fact road safety experts would rather you drove barefoot than in thongs or high heels, which can slip off the pedals.

Ideally, however, drive in comfortable shoes with grippy soles.

Check tyre tread wear If your tyre has less than 1.4mm of tread depth (as a guide, the nib of a matchstick), it’s illegal and dangerous. “A lot of people measure the middle of the tyre, but if the edges are worn, it’s deemed unroadworthy. You may also need a wheel alignment to prevent the new tyre from wearing unevenly,” says George Chalazia from Bob Jane T-Marts in Granville, who also warns drivers to check tyres are properly inflated before setting off. “About 30 per cent of tyre wear is due to incorrect tyre pressures,” he says.

FRSC inducts 330 school children into road safety club Ezurike Ugochukwu

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s part of its effort to imbibe safety consciousness in Nigerian children, the Federal Road safety Corps (FRSC) has inducted 330 school children drawn from 13 primary and secondary schools in the Ikotun area of Alimosho Local Government Area, into the Road safety Ambassadors Club.

The children, who took their oath of allegiance in accordance with the FRSC Act, 2007early this week also pledged to be good FRSC Ambassadors, who will always strive to make the highway safe for all road users.

In her address, the Unit commander, Alimosho Unit Command of the FRSC, Assistant Corps Commander Chinwendu Iwuoha, said the inauguration is intended to achieve FRSC mandate of creating safer motoring environment in Nigeria, and as a strategic goal in public education.

She said the programme titled, ‘I pledged to be a Road Safety Ambassador’, is to educate the children to be able to advice and correct adults to do what is necessary. “That is why you are pledging to be a good FRSC Ambassador…,” she adds.

Iwuoha further said that it was owing to insufficient space to accommodation the 451 students selected for the inauguration that the number was reduced to 330 at the very last minute. She stated that the Special Marshals, who are the working class Road Safety members, will take over from here, while the regulars will very often get involved.

The representative of the Sector Commander at the event, Deputy Corps Commander Michael Olakpade (the command’s Head of Operations), said the FRSC vision to go to the schools is to catch the youths young because what they assimilate at that stage sinks into them all their lives.

“To a great extent, Lack of early start is what we are suffering today. Many of our adults have grown without safety culture and ideals in them,” he said.

While recommending a book from the Ikotun Corps unit, titled “The Road safety Ambassador” to the participating schools and the general public, Olakpade encouraged schools, churches and families to lay hands on the book as a veritable tool to safety principles.

The coordinator of the Special Marshals,

FRSC Lagos Command, Benson Babatunde George, said the task of sustainability of the students FRSC Ambassadors relay on the marshals and in collaboration with the regulars.

“It’s our responsibility being volunteers to take care of them. As they are being handed over to us today, we have programmed the way and manner we are going to carry them along…,” he said.

The event featured playlets, recitation, drama and match past by all the Schools.

1st, 2nd and 3rd positions were won by Ronik International School, Crestview International School, and Do-Estdot College all in Ikotun respectively. Certificates were given to all the 13 schools that participated; St Francis Catholic school Idimu, Macvel whyte Private School, Excel collage and others.

School children taking their oath of allegiance as Road Safety club members on Monday

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SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS

How Nigerian Advertising Agencies can survive economic challenges, by Akintunde Wale Akintunde is the incumbent Treasurer of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). He is also the Chief Operating Officer of Centrespread Advertising Limited. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Akintunde is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Institute of Data Processing and Management of Nigeria (IDPMN). He fielded questions from journalists after the swearing-in ceremonies for the new AAAN Exco in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State recently. PAUL OGBUOKIRI brings you the excerpts;

How is the current economic meltdown affecting advertising agencies in the country?

The country is grappling with tough economic challenges currently. All key economic indices show that things are not okay at all. Like all service sectors, the advertising sector naturally feels the pinch more. This is because traditionally, in a situation like we are now, budgets are being reviewed by most organisations and institutions with the marketing budget getting axed and the marketing communications, specifically the advertising component, most often the worse off.

This affects agencies in many ways, from planning, job retention to, even business survival. The first duty of all agencies now is business survival because the economic headwind is very strong and requires maximum planning and dexterous management for businesses to pull through.

How can agencies keep their heads above water during this period of economic storm in Nigeria?

To survive, agencies have to put in place good strategies to regularly facilitate sincere, holistic audit of their brand

Akintunde

health devoid of the flamboyance and razzmatazz the industry is often defined by. As operators in a service sub-sector, agencies need to study the strategies being implemented by the clients to achieve greater efficiency and replicate same.

This means agencies must understand the marriage of economy, efficiency and effectiveness as a strong principle of business management. While it is true that advertising thrives on creativity, we need to accept that advertising agencies are businesses; and like any other business, they have to give central attention to regular business re-engineering which spans financial planning, staff right-sizing and value re-definition.

Agency heads and managers must acquire requisite knowledge and qualification in business management, especially financial management, to be able to steer the ship of the agencies well in this stormy period. It is no longer enough to have experience in advertising or communications alone, if you want your agency to grow and survive.

What do you think AAAN needs to do

to assist agencies in their quest for business survival?

I know that our association has been doing a lot in the past to encourage inter-agency relations and knowledge sharing. Nevertheless, I am sure the new Exco, of which I am a member, will soon be coming up with a couple of fresh ideas in the areas of knowledge sharing, capacity building, business assistance and capitalisation to assist member agencies. There are opportunities in the economy, even as it is now. Once the new AAAN Exco settles down, a strategy roadmap will be developed to help the association harness these opportunities for the purpose of enhancing the business wellbeing of its members.

Specifically, as the new Treasurer of AAAN, what are the major tasks you need to execute in order to keep the association strong?

There is no doubt that the first task before our Exco is the immediate task of house cleaning and mobilisation to get all members focused on the bigger picture of repositioning our association for greater efficiency in order to serve member agencies better than before. Luckily, the president is highly experienced and much loved in the industry. Same goes for the Vice-President. The Secretariat too has a dedicated corps of staff under the dynamic leadership of a very experienced chief executive officer. So, the human resources we need to move are very much available and this makes the task of moving forward less tedious.

The next thing is for us all to sit together, share ideas, map out strategy and seek the buy-in of member agencies for the implementation of agreed deliverables.

Our association has always been strong and vibrant; I am sure that it can only be made stronger and more vibrant in the years to come.

Dealing with rejection Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri

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08037674300 (SMS only)

he story was told in the land of Israel of a certain Jephthah.

He was born out of wedlock. In other words, he was such that would have been described in contemporary times as a bastard.

Simply because of the circumstances of his birth, Jephthah was deprived the inheritance due to him as a son. He was, in fact, rejected.

Because Jephthah was driven from his father’s house, he left home for another land. There, vain men identified with him and he became their leader.

A day came when men of Jephthah’s tribe were confronted by enemies. They were faced with an impending battle.

They needed help. Then Jephthah became useful to them. They approached him for military might and intelligence. Then the tables turned in Jephthah’s favour. They bargained with him and he had the upper hand in the bargain. Because they were in a fix and needed help, they made him their head.

Jephthah helped his kinsmen defeat their foes. Then he became a celebrity among his people. The man who was treated

with SPITE and thrown out of SIGHT became notorious for MIGHT. He who was considered VAIN brought Israel so much FAME. That’s how to deal with rejection.

LESSONS • There are no illegitimate children No child is responsible for the circumstances of his birth. As such, it is unjust to make any child suffer because of the circumstances of his birth.

If only Jephthah’s kinsmen knew this, they would not have treated him the way they did.

Friend, there are no illegitimate children. There are only illegitimate parents.

• Instead of fighting for an inheritance, strive to leave an inheritance.

Jephthah’s brothers deprived him the inheritance due to him. He, however rose to become their head and greater than them.

Friend, success is not the material things you have around you, but an aggregate of the virtues you have cultivated.

If we all are striving for inheritances from our parents, the question I have to ask is “Who left an inheritance for the first man there ever was?” Think about it.

• Your value does not flow from your connection to anyone. It is intrinsic.

Jephthah rose to become great, despite the fact that his brethren expelled him from home. He had the option of feeling bad, thinking he will amount to

nothing because of his disconnection from his brethren. But, no! He knew better. He knew he had value resident in him.

Friend, don’t start thinking your world is crumbling because anyone rejected you. No way! You can survive without any particular person. Say “I hear!”

• A gold fish has no hiding place.

When Jephthah went to another land after he was expelled from his father’s land, vain men identified him, saw a leader in him and submitted to his leadership.

Friend, stars don’t struggle to shine, irrespective of where they are. The point is this: instead of struggling for position and material things, work at developing the potential in you; work at self development (capacity building). That way, people will be attracted to you wherever you are.

• Leadership is a 360 degrees thing So many people’s definition of leadership is being at the top, or in front, or where the action is. That could be leadership, but that is certainly not all there is to leadership. Leadership goes beyond the centre, and can be generated from any point in the cycle.

360 degrees leadership simply means leadership from anywhere and everywhere.

From a strange land, Jephthah offered leadership to men regarded as vain men, and was able to command the leadership of his people, Israel.

Youthpreneur business summit holds in Lagos

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outhpreneur Business Summit, an event which brings together innovative youths to inspire and challenge one another in entrepreneurial approaches to Nigeria’s economy will debut on August 16, 2016.

The event will hold at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Media Centre, National Theatre Complex, Lagos.

The project focuses on learning, sharing of ideas and mentoring for young entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years.

The event is expected to convene 700 entrepreneurs from across the country and will feature seasoned professionals from various non-oil sectors of the economy as speakers and panelists.

Mr. Muda Yusuf, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is expected to deliver the keynote address at the event.

Other speakers include: Mr. Eke Ubiji, Executive Secretary NASME, Mr Gbenga Ogundeji, Coordinator South West SMEDAN, Mrs Adepeju Jaiyeoba, David Lanre Messan, Segun Sega Awosanya, among others.

According to the Convener, Mrs. Abimbola Oligbinde, the project, which aims to enhance enterprise development in Nigeria, will run for ten years.

“The summit will create a platform for young entrepreneurs to also learn from industry experts and successful but young entrepreneurs. It will also create a platform for networking and business-to-business partnerships.

She said that the theme, ‘‘Passion to Wealth: Road to Economic Diversification’’ was chosen to underscore the need for urgent diversification of the nation’s economy, beyond lip-service.

“We hope to impact 20,000 businesses through mentoring, partnerships, capacity development and funding. Women-owned businesses would get 55 per cent of the funding,” she said.

The event will also feature exhibition of products and services by small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

FG may retain maritime university Okerenkoko

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ndications are rife that the Federal Government may not aftrall or scrape the Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko, South-West Warri, Delta State.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has reiterated the determination of his ministry to ensure that controversial citadel of maritime training in Nigeria, comes on stream.

Mr. Kachikwu who said at a recent town hall meeting in Akwa Ibom State, stated; “Any facility in the south-south, we should work towards developing it, I don’t care the circumstance. It is not my business whether land was valued at 19 or 10 million,” he said responding to Amaechi’s claim that land for the university was valued at N13 billion.

“That has nothing to do with development of infrastructure. As far as I know, so much has already gone into that, so much fiscal asset has been developed. We are not going to throw away the baby and the bath water.

“We’ll deal with the issues but the university will be developed. If he (Amaechi) doesn’t want it in Maritime, I will take it in Petroleum,” he stated.

Kachikwu who is leading the Federal Government’s team negotiating with the rampaging militants in the Niger-Delta militants to embrace peace, further assured that when the time for awarding of oil blocks by the Federal Government is ripe, skilled businessmen from the south-south region would be considered. But this will take due process, he said.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has not allocated a single oil block since he came into office, but when he eventually starts, south-south indigenes will have their share.

He also disagreed with the notion that there should not be any negotiation with the militants, saying there is there is no theatre in the world where conflicts are being resolved through battle.

“It doesn’t matter who’s right, who’s wrong. I have so many objectives; present production; generate the revenue, because if we don’t, all the things we are talking about here is just a joke.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

Positive Momentum Sustained

…as NSEASI records +7.01% Year-to-Date return

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he Nigerian equities market sustained the positive momentum from the previous week, recording gains on three (3) out of the five (5) trading days in the week. Consequently, the Nigeria Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSEASI) appreciated by 4.79% week-on-week (WoW), bringing the year-to-date (YtD) return of the index to 7.01%. Volume and value of transactions also advanced by 10.58% and 29.36% respectively.

Forty four (44) counters recorded gains in the week ended, while thirty two (32) stocks recorded price declines. GLAXOSMITH, CHAMPION, NEWGOLD, TRANSCORP, and NEIMETH advanced by 55.56%, 44.35%, 35.28%, 31.58% and 26.67% respectively, thus featuring as the top gainers for the week.

Conversely, NEM, TRANSEXPR, DNMEYER, CCNN, and VITAFOAM led the week’s laggards with declines of 13.76%, 10.19%, 9.09%, 6.88%, and 6.32% in that order.

During the week, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI approved a dividend of USD48.2mn (USD0.02 per share) for FY2015.

The company also informed the market of its decision to consolidate every 20 ordinary shares held into one new ordinary share.

Wapic Insurance Plc. (WAPIC) also announced its establishment of a Non-Capital Raising Global Depository Receipt Program.

The program provides the Company with exposure to the North American and European capital markets. Also, in the course of the week, the Federal Ministry of Agiculture and Rural Development (FMARD) agreed that Union Dicon Salt Plc UNIONDICON will replace Cargill as the core investor in the USD100mn Alape Staple Crop Processing Zone in Kogi State, where UNIONDICON is expected to cultivate cassava on 30,000 hectares of land.

We opine that the sustained positive sentiment in the equities market is triggered by investors’ anticipation of increased foreign participation in the market, following the liberalization of the nation’s FX system. In the coming week, we anticipate pockets of profit taking on counters that recorded significant in this week, hence we advise investors to trade cautiously.

This report reviews events in the current week, with emphasis on different segments of the financial market, while presenting our expectations for the coming week.

Fixed Income: Naira closes at NGN281.14/ USD at the Spot market The new Foreign Exchange trading system opened on Monday, the Naira depreciated by 29.95% during the day’s trading session to close at NGN281.85/USD at the Spot market. The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday sold USD4.02bn to clear the existing backlog through the new Special Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS), settling USD0.532bn at the Spot market and USD3.487bn forwards. Overall, the Naira closed at NGN281.14/USD in the week, representing a year-to-date return of -41.78%.

Similarly the average closing rate at the Forwards market pegged at NGN297.62/USD, implying a 44.13% depreciation WoW. The Naira however sustained prior week closing price, exchanging at NGN345/USD as at 23rd of June, 2016.

Tempered financial system liquidity pressured the Nigerian Interbank Offered Rates and Money Market rates northward at the beginning of the week. However, the release of FAAC allocation and maturity of some instruments improved the liquidity level, thus NIBOR pegged at an average of 22.75% (+13.64% WoW) on Thursday, while the OBB and OVN closed the week at 19.17% (+17.54% WoW) and 21.17% (+18.96% WoW) accordingly.

The Central Bank of Nigeria was scheduled to auction Treasury bills worth

trend in the coming week, as speculative investors may take accumulated profits.

Hence, we advise value seeking investors to trade cautiously, while also considering fundamentally justified stocks.

NGN167.46bn on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, as NGN107.56bn worth of instruments matured, however NGN75.45bn worth was sold. The 91-day, 182-day and 364-day instruments closed at stop rates of 9.99%, 12.30% and 15.00% accordingly.

At the secondary market, the average yield across the Nigerian Treasury Bills opened the week’s trading session at 10.01%, however due to low demand, average yield pegged at 13.13%. Demand was seemingly low for the FGN Bond instruments as average offer yield advanced marginally by 0.64% weekon-week to close the week at 13.88%.

We opine that the reduced system liquidity and weak demand for fixed income instruments is related to resumption of activities at the interbank foreign exchange market. In the coming week, we expect demand to remain weak for fixed income instruments as system liquidity remains pressured amidst the apex bank’s intervention and OMO auctions.

Agric. Sector: Records No Decliner for the Week Measuring the sector’s performance by our MERI-AGRI Index, the Agric sector advanced by 3.45% WoW, resulting in a yearto-date return of +7.48% for the sector. Three (3) of the sector stocks recorded WoW gains, while the other two (2) counters in the sector traded flat week-on-week.

The sector’s gainers were LIVESTOCK, OKOMUOIL and PRESCO recorded respective gains of 1.79%, 5.00%, and 2.24% to settle at NGN1.14, NGN31.50 and NGN36.50 at the close of the week. ELLAHLAKES and FTNCOCOA closed at their previous week prices of NGN4.26 and NGN0.50 in that order.

We believe the sector portends attractive opportunities across the different segments of its value chain. However, we advise that investor participation within the sector should be based on analysis of company strategy and other fundamentals.

Banking Sector: Advances again, as Sentiments Fully Shift

The banking sector closed in the positive region for the 2nd consecutive week, as the positivity surrounding the new FX trading system and the possible impact on the banking system has seemingly shifted sentiments fully. Consequently, the MERI-BNK index advanced by 5.52% to peg the YtD return at 18.47%.

There were seven (7) gainers and eight (8) decliners to peg the sector breadth at 0.88x.

GUARANTY led the gainers after the ticker advanced by 11.75% WoW. The ticker was followed by STANBIC, STERLNBANK, ZENITHBANK, and UBA after the respective tickers advanced by 4.81%, 4.64%, 2.10%, and 2.08%. On the other side, the decliners list was populated by FBNH (-5.69%), WEMABANK (-4.82%), SKYEBANK (-3.51%), FCMB (-3.45%), and UNITYBNK (-3.39%).

The market has rallied strongly in this week on the back of gains on the sector heavyweights. We are expectant of profit taking on a few of the major gainers this week, thus we advise investors to trade cautiously in the coming week.

Consumer Goods: Sector Breadth Pegs at 2.75x The Consumer Goods sector advanced by 3.05% week-on-week (WoW) to return 1.47% year-to-date (YtD). We credit the sector’s peromance in the week to the positive sentiments that ruled the overall equities market during the week. There were eleven (11) advancers against four (4) decliners to peg the sector breadth at 2.75x.

The highest advancers for the week were CHAMPION, HONYFLOUR, AGLEVENT, NESTLE and GUINNESS, with respective week-on-week (WoW) gains of 44.35%, 15.56%, 14.29%, 12.94% and 7.50%. On the flip side, the decliners were VITAFOAM, PZ, NB and DANGSUGAR, with -6.32%, -2.79%, -2.59% and -1.57% WoW returns in that order.

CADBURY, NNFM and PREMBREW however retained the previous week’s close prices.

We do not anticipate a continuation of this

Health Sector: MERI-HLTH Index gains 52.75% WtD The sector closed the week up (after several weeks of decline), advancing by 52.75% to drive the YtD return to -34.66%, as measured by our MERI-HLTH index. Four (4) stocks recorded substantial price appreciations, with no decline recorded in the week.

GLAXOSMITH topped the gainers league, after appreciating by 55.56% to close at NGN22.12. NEIMETH, FIDSON and MAYBAKER trailed with respective price increases of 26.67%, 16.84% and 3.42% to settle at NGN1.14, NGN2.22, and NGN1.21, while other counters closed flat in the week.

During the week, Fidson Healthcare PLC (FIDSON) informed the investing public that a new bio-tech factory, which is three times the company’s current capacity, will commence production operations in Q3:2016.The new factory will enable the company to add a new product line (Intravenous infusion) to its already vast product portfolio.

The whooping gains witnessed by sector companies in the week was as a result of the low levels the stock prices were trading, coupled with the positive news from FIDSON which trickled into the market in the week.

We do expect this optimism to subsist in the coming week, as we expect some investors to take profit on stocks that have recorded substantial price appreciations.

Industrial Goods: Sector Records Strong Performance The Industrial goods sector closed positive for the 2nd consecutive week after recording a 7.91% gain WoW, as measured by our MeriIndustrial Goods Index. Although the sector closed positive overall, the market breadth (0.29x) for the week, showed a prevalence of negative sentiments as seven (7) stocks declined in value versus two (2) gainers.

DANGCEM led the gainers for the second consecutive week, with an 8.92% WoW change in price to close at NGN200.20.

CUTIX, with a 4.43% gain in share price, was the only other advancer. On the other hand, DNMEYER, CCNN, CAP, BERGER, WAPCO, PORTPAINT and ASHAKACEM recorded respective declines of 9.09%, 6.88%, 3.99%, 3.82%, 1.99%, 1.54% and 0.14%.

As highlighted above, the gains recorded this week were largely on the back of DANGCEM’s performance while most of the sector players witnessed sell sentiments. We believe investors are favoring good stocks with the potential of attracting foreign investors. Going forward, we expect fluctuations in sector sentiments as investors take positions and profits intermittently.

Insurance Sector: WAPIC Establishes a Non-Capital Raising GDR The sector recorded gains for the second consecutive week, as the NSEINS10 Index advanced by 2.80% WoW, bringing the sector’s YtD return to -1.77%. The sector’s breadth was at equilibrium, after equal number (3) of counters appreciated and declined in value.

MANSARD topped the gainers chart, having appreciated by 16.36% WoW to close at NGN2.56. The counter was closely followed

by LAWUNION and CUSTODYINS, after the respective counters appreciated by 16.00% and 13.61% WoW. NEM (-13.61% WoW) recorded the worst performance within the sector to settle at NGN0.94, after profit taking activities were triggered on the stock. The counter was trailed by AIICO (-3.57% WoW) and CONTINSURE (-1.75% WoW), while all other counters traded flat.

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SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

FAITH

Insight

Rev. Femi Akinola www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

You can recover all (2)

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nd David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them?

And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. I Sam 30:8 Last week, we were talking about the things you must do to recover all that the enemy has stolen. David, our case study, having returned from a sojourn, found that his land had been raided by the Amalekites; taken their women captive and their city burnt down.

This week, we shall continue with the things you must do in order to recover what the enemy has stolen.

3. You Need a Man. There are angels in heaven, but angels cannot do what God has destined men to do. Don’t take people for a ride; men are the custodians of your inheritance. Man is a powerful entity on this planet; God has put all the answers to our prayers in the hands of man. We give and make sacrifices to God but He gives back to us through people. There are people who are connectors to miracles, may you not miss them in Jesus name.

In this world, no unbeliever owns anything, they are caretakers. This was why God had to take the life of the rich fool (Luke 12:17-20) when he felt he had gathered enough wealth. When God wants to change your story He uses a man.

If men forget or despise you, you need to pray because you must have missed it somewhere.

God only shows you the end from the beginning; He would not show you what you would experience in between. Your character and values are what will determine how fast or slow your journey will be.

When Jesus was born, God sent three men to Him who presented very significant things to Him. But for frankincense, perhaps Jesus would have developed body odour. Myrrh was used as anointing oil; the chemistry behind it is so advanced that it could be used to embalm the dead and keep it from bad smell. Gold represents money and kingship which was symbolic to

ensure Jesus did not run a poor ministry. Jesus was accepted and celebrated from childhood because God planted men in His life to bless Him. In John 6:22, God positioned Peter to present his boat in a time when it was needed. God positions different kinds of people in your life; some are to give you information, some connection, some direction and some are amplifiers, who will advertise and recommend you to your helpers. Be mindful of how you treat various people that come into your life as you don’t know who God has sent to you.

4. Loose your helpers.

The destiny helpers of so many people are tied. The wicked knows that if their helpers are allowed to go, they will help and lift others, so they ensure their helpers remain confined and hidden for as long as possible except they pray.

Mordecai exposed the plot to kill King Ahasuerus yet he remained at the gate because the influence of people like Haman in that kingdom was still very strong.

Until God remembered Mordecai for good, he remained a servant at the gate and at the mercy of Haman.

Many young ladies think marriage is by make-up or make believe (as in faking originality); little do they know that marriage is by recommendation. When the real people in your life who know you recommend you, you become highly esteemed by people who don’t even know you.

When God set a platform for you, your qualities will be exaggerated. God gives you opportunities that are bigger than you and He helps you do it with excellence if you let Him. Prayer Points • Lord, loose my helpers.

• Lord, set a platform for me. … in the name of Jesus.

God has put all the answers to our prayers in the hands of man. We give and make sacrifices to God but He gives back to us through people

The purpose of nations(3)

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n Deu. 32:8 “When the Most High assigned lands to the nations,when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoplesaccording to the number in his heavenly court.” (NLT) There are several things to take note of in this scripture: 1. It is God Almighty whoassigned and divided lands to the nations.

2. Note that lands are divided to nations.

Nations therefore are God’s idea.

3. God gives land to nations as their inheritance. That is, God as a father gives out inheritance to his children, to his heirs.

4. When God divided the lands, he established boundaries for each nation.

5. God is interested in race, hence he had races divided according to their kind.

6. The beauty of the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible is the last part of this verse that says “according to the number in his heavenly court”.

It tells us that the diversity we see here on earth in cultures, traditions, languages and nations, is in conjunction with what and how it is obtainable in heaven.

This passage above, goes a long way to con-

The Purpose of Nations

Pastor Sunday Adelaja pastor@godembassy.org

firm the fact that God is a purposeful God. He does everything with already planned out intentions and purposes. He does nothing by accident. God is an organized God. He has goals and purposes for everything he does or creates. So ladies and gentlemen, God has purpose for your nation.

Which means God has a purpose for your nationality, God has a purpose for your tribe, God has a purpose for your clan, God has a purpose for your lineage, God has a purpose for your household, God has a purpose for your family and God has a purpose for you.

Last week, I affirmed that God had a purpose for us all. Now I want you to know that it is because of these God given purposes for each unit and member of the human race that God in his wisdom distributed lands to nations. Land is important to God. There is an unspeakable significance of the place and role of lands in our lives and destiny. Lands are not just important to God, they are important to us. It is important where people are born.

The land and the environment influence and leave a trace and a mark on them for the rest of their lives. Your place of birth defines you. It leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life. You cannot get rid of your color, you cannot get rid of your look, you cannot get rid of your pigmentation, you cannot get rid of your DNA and, in most cases, you cannot get rid of your accent, etc.

There are a lot of things that influence our lives from our land of birth much more than we could ever think or imagine. For example, the climate of the place where you were born and grew up plays a role in defining you.

The food produce of the land plays a significant role in your formation.

A few years ago, in the depth of River Thames in England, a decomposed body was recovered.

The body was so decomposed that there was no evident sign of recognition that could help in tracing the body to any particular individual or race. As complex as the task of identifying this

corps was, through the help of forensic analysis it was discovered that the body belonged to a young teenager of the black race. However further analysis traced the composition of the bones to the food stuff that made up the content of that bone. After a thorough forensic break down had been done, it was discovered that the composition of the food that is built in the bones could only be traced to one particular square kilometer of earth in the world,which led to a particular people group, nationality and tribe in Nigeria. A horrible homicide was unveiled, thanks to the significance and the role of the land were the person was born and bred.

Ladies and gentlemen, we all carry a part of the land where we were born. In my own case I know for certain that if I had not had the Nigerian DNA in me, there is no way I would be having the same result I am having right now. Dear friends, there is nothing that is in you by accident.

Your parents were not by accident, your culture was not by accident, your nationality is not by accident, your tribe is not by accident, your language or tongue is not by accident. Please don’t despise all the great things God has deposited in you.

•(To be continued next week)

Foundation lifts Lagos widows

A

faith-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Chinwe Bode-Akinwande Foundation (CBA) last week extended helping hands to no fewer than 100 widows in Ikorodu area of Lagos state.

It donated free food stuff, clothes and drugs to the widows in addition to medical check-up.

The gesture was in commemoration of 2016 International Widows’ Day (IWD).

Founder of the organisation, Mrs Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, said the donation was to change the status of the less-privileged widows.

Widows, she said, deserve support from all and sundry, lamenting many of them have been subjected to dehumanising practices and conditions.

According to her: “The death of their husbands does not

mean they should not live again in peace.

Their lives should not die with their husbands.

“They should be helped to remain economically strong and socially relevant. This is why we are supporting them with clothes, drugs and medical care.” Many of the women praised the organisation for com- Newly weds, Mr Ayodeji Odunaro and his pretty wife, Iyadunni, sharing a quiet time toing to their aid. gether after their wedding which took place at the Ikeja Marriage Registry, Lagos recently One of them, Mrs Clara Nwankwo, said she had been helpless since her husband died six years ago.

“I thank them for bringing smiles to my face. It’s been a while since someone looked my way. I am happy that I can feel human again,” she stated.

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NEWS Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

here may be sacrifices to make in the course of any developmental effort; there may be eggs to break in the course of making omelettes but it is fact that the human community has values and worth that weigh far above any omelette or developmental drive.

It is also a notion widely held that the sum total of the goals and aspirations of any government should be centred on the people and not on infrastructure, as infrastructure, no matter the cost, has only as much value as the people it is built for, will place on it.

Jason Stearns may have captured the current scenario in Owerri when he declared that: “As so often happens in politics, what appears to be politically expedient for those in power rarely overlaps with the public interest. The lesser evils of the regime become entrenched, while the greater good is never realized.”

In recent times in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration has commenced what it tries to justify as a city reclamation exercise while the majority of residents have since christened the on-going exercise a ‘demolition campaign’ by the governor.

The groans and wailing of the people seem to have been drowned by the noise of the rampaging bulldozers let loose on the city.

While some structures have visibly run afoul of the Owerri City master plan, some other owners of businesses and landlords of longstanding homesteads, who still have proof of approval of their buildings are still reeling from the shock of losing businesses and dwellings to the invasion of Governor Okorocha’s bulldozers.

It is also possible that the intentions of the governor may logically seem right, but not a few persons are irked by the cold ruthlessness by which properties of residents are crumbling to the ground on a daily basis.

In a distressed economic situation as currently being faced by Nigeria, the least any resident should expect from a responsible government would be palliatives designed to cushion the effect of the economic downturn.

This apparently was why President Muhammadu Buhari had tried to prevail on commercial banks to shelve the recent massive sack of workers in the banking sector.

Same reason it is viewed as insensitive for the Imo State Government to embark on the demolition and destruction of small businesses and ancestral homes in the state capital, in the face of the prevailing harsh economic climate in the state and the country.

While many buildings and structures across the state capital have been marked for demolition, the area presently under the full weight of Governor Okorocha’s bulldozers is the Akwakuma community in Owerri North Council Area of the state.

Small businesses, church properties, schools and ancestral homes have been destroyed in the community by the governor’s demolition party and for all the community has witnessed, there is no human face to the demolition

Okorocha’s bulldozers: Stoking public rage in Owerri of properties sited on ancestral homesteads, some dating over 70 years.

The Akwakuma community feels strongly that their rights as indigenous people living in their ancestral homes have been violated and trampled upon by a government, that did not even as much as bother to engage the community in discussions to enlighten them on that overriding need, for which the demolition became inevitable.

“Some of us heard the radio announcement while others only woke up one morning to see the red markings on their walls ordering them to evacuate in a matter of days. And to think that we are talking about people evacuating businesses which was their meal tickets and homes they had lived most of their lives speaks volume of the insensitivity of the present government in Imo State,” said Obodozie, owner of a destroyed business store.

While the community was still counting their losses, Okorocha said on national television.

“In other states, the on-going demolition work would have triggered agitations and protests but all I have been getting from the affected communities, including Akwakuma and Mbari street, is commendations.”

However, the traditional ruler of Akwakuma, Eze Charles Osuji, who said the elders of the community are still studying the situation, maintained that the people of Akwakuma are not happy over the recent demolitions in their area.

“We had sent emissaries to the governor when this demolition was about to begin, but he insisted that he was executing the Owerri master plan which previous administrations lacked the political will to implement. Like I said, there is little I can say or do now, because leaders of the community are studying the situation.”

For Chief Ray Emeana, an indi-

gene and former member of the Imo State House of Assembly representing Owerri North: “It is only in Imo State that such magnitude of impunity can be visited on a community residing in their ancestral home. For a government to suddenly commence destruction of properties, homes and businesses in an area we draw our history and legacy without any sincere recourse to the community or its leaders, is a vicious assault on our heritage as a people and the highest level of callousness by a government.”

He dismissed as mischief, the insinuation by government that the community was in support of the demolition exercise.

Emeana recalled: “The first time they came to begin the demolition; the reaction of the people had been spontaneous as the youths resisted the demolition party. The demolition was started only when the governor came to our community himself with a detachment of mobile policemen and soldiers. He intimidated our people and personally inaugurated the demolition exercise in Akwakuma.”

The former lawmaker lamented that there was no communication with his community before the demolition.

He said: “They just come to a property and write; ‘3 days. Remove’. How can you evacuate your properties in days and to where? When they started destroying properties, they marked structures and buildings within six metres from the road, without notice, they stretched it to eight metres from the road. The consequence for our people was that; today they will destroy properties marked for demolition, tomorrow they come again and demolish buildings that were never marked and take the owners unaware.”

For Chief Ray Emeana, the most reprehensible aspect of the demolition exercise is the lack of compensation plan for locals whose

properties and businesses have been destroyed.

“There is no documentation and no evaluation of properties destroyed which would have been indicative of a plan to compensate owners of the properties.

No conscience, no feeling whatsoever. People have been rendered homeless and businesses have been destroyed, yet the governor claims our people are cheering his demolition campaign. If wailing and tears have become cheers to his ears, then so be it,” the former legislator lamented.

But reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, described the properties destroyed as ‘kiosks, shanties and illegal structures’ adding that it was erroneous to claim that the governor was on a demolition campaign.

Onwuemeodo said, “The roads affected are MCC/Uratta Road, Orlu/Amakohia Road, Mbari Street and Imo State University Road. In the course of this expansion works there is no doubt that some structures would obviously be affected. The governor once again appeals for understanding on the part of those whose structures have been touched. They should not allow those who do not see anything good in whatever the government is doing to give them the wrong impression about the whole exercise.”

Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, a governorship candidate in the last governorship election in the state recently lashed out at the government for marking his house for demolition. He threatened to resist any plans to demolish his property arguing that his building is located on the same side and distant to the road with a hotel owned by Governor Okorocha, yet the hotel was not marked.

Similarly, the Bar Centre of the Imo State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was also marked for demolition.

The lawyers, who have condemned the exercise, have also offered to represent victims of the demolition in the state capital pro bono.

The lawyers, who made the offer in a public statement by their Chairman, Barr. Lawrence Nwakaeti described the demolition campaign as an insensitive act of lawlessness.

The lawyers noted that by the actions of Governor Rochas Okorocha, it has become clear that the governor was due for impeachment for disregarding the same constitution by which he came into power and which he also swore to obey.

"The structures being demolished have government approvals and many of them existed even before the creation of Imo State. If government is to change its development plans and wants to acquire people’s land, the Constitution, Land Use Act and other relevant laws provide that a notice in writing be served on owners of the property stating reasons for the acquisition which must be for overriding public interest.

Thereafter, development on the property is evaluated and compensations paid accordingly. All these, the government never did but it has continued to arbitrarily destroy people’s homes and businesses unilaterally. The governor should also remember that it is the same constitution that made him governor that he is now disobeying. Since the governor, through his media man, has made it clear that he would not obey laid down constitutional and legal provisions on the demolition exercise, then the governor is openly inviting anarchy in Imo State and it is an impeachable offence,” the NBA chairman said.

The association nevertheless vowed to fight to protect the citizens of the state from Governor Okorocha’s alleged oppressive and unlawful policies.

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SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

SCIENCE

Eggheads converge of Nigeria’s first engineer It was a convergence of who-is-who in science engineering and technology at Princess Alexander Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka where eggheads from different institutions in the country, came for the 16th Biennial Engineering Lecture in memory of Nigeria’s first engineer, Herbert Macaulay. STANLEY CHIBUHEM AMALAHA, who was at the event, reports

A section of award recipients

I

f you ask an average Nigerian “who is Herbert Macaulay?” You are likely to hear, “Herbert Macaulay was a politician whose picture is in front of Nigeria’s one naira coin”. But there is more to Herbert Macaulay than just being a politician.

The truth in the matter is that Herbert Heelas Samuel Olayinka Kitoyi Macaulay, the father of Nigerian nationalism, born 1864, was the first certified engineer in Nigeria. It is because of this that a memorial lecture has been held in his honour biennially, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka since 1980.

This year’s event, which marked the 16th edition of the lecture titled: “Review and gains of the power sector reform in Nigeria”, was delivered by Engr. Michael I. Uzoigwe, FNSE, Group Leader, (Generation), Sahara Power Group, Lagos.

In his lecture, Uzoigwe outlined the gains of the power sector reform in Nigeria and itemised why electric power generation has been problematic in The country.

“Review and gains of the power sector reform in Nigeria, could not have come at a better time than now. There are simple reasons why power has been problematic in Nigeria. First is the issue of dilapidated, obsolete and over stretched infrastructure.

“The second is the non-availability of adequate and trained human capital; coupled with inadequate gas supply, unrealistic energy rates and large metering losses in the electricity market just to mention but a few,” said the distinguished engineer. He further gave recommendations on how to move Nigeria’s power sector forward.

“In order to move the Nigerian power sector forward and achieve the intended goals of the reform, the following are strongly recommended: immediate declaration of a state of emergency in the sector to achieve – relaxation of entry rules; removal of import duties on power equip-

Engr. Edoziem Left With Prof. Obikwelu

ment; tax holidays for new power projects; payment of all government owned bills; introduction of stiff penalty for energy theft among others,”he said.

Herbert Macaulay’s life is characterised with firsts. For example, he studied Civil Engineering at Plymouth, England – the first Nigerian ever to do so. He was the first Nigerian to own and use a car; He formed the first Nigerian political party – the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).

His father, Barbingtion Macaulay, was the first principal of the first secondary school in Nigeria – CMS Grammar School Bariga, Lagos. His maternal grand father – Samuel Ajayi Crowther, was the first to translate the English Bible to Yoruba.

Prof. Enibe

His mother Abigail, was the daughter of Samuel Ajayi Crowther. Macaulay was the first Nigerian to spearhead opposition to British rule.

In all, he was an engineer, architect, surveyor, journalist, musician and politician.

It is with this regard that he is called the father of Nigerian nationalism. He died

Herbert Macaulay’s life is characterised with firsts.

For example, he studied Civil Engineering at Plymouth, England – the first Nigerian ever to do so

in 1946.

Some distinguished personalities present at the event include: Prof. Samuel Enibe, Dean, faculty of Engineering UNN; Engr.

Otis Anyaeji, National President Nigerian Society of Engineers; Prof. Ogbonna U. Oparaku, former Director, Energy Centre, Nsukka; Engr. Louis Edozien, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Abuja; Prof.

Dan Obikwelu, Head Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, UNN; Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, Vice Chancellor, UNN represented by the Deputy Vice chancellor of the university; Dr. C.U Nwoji; Prof. Anyaka, Dept of Electrical Engineering UNN, just to mention but a few. The climax of the lecture witnessed different awards given to distinguished personalities.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

Wimbledon 2016: Serena wins 22nd Grand Slam p.55

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Dapo Sotuminu any several years after quitting active football and delving into business, Nigerian soccer fans still find it difficult to accept that, former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha won’t play for the national team again.

The call for Okocha’s return intensifies whenever the Eagles play international games with a flat midfield formation and whenever the former Bolton Wanderers of England captain dazzles at charity and testimonial games with his trademark scintillating skills. The latest call for Okocha’s return was made in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last month during the Joseph Yobo Testimonial Match.

After the Yobo Testimonial, Okocha kept hearing the voices of Nigerian soccer fans who claimed they had been starved of sensational football artistry, asking him, to stage a return to the Nigerian Professional Football League to help give the league the desired glamour.

In a swift reaction to this call, ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, told Sunday Telegraph in an interview in Lagos that he had finished playing active football and nothing could bring him back no matter how attractive the offers might be, as he had paid his dues during his 20-year career playing for clubs across the world and the national teams of Nigeria where he played for the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles in an international career that lasted for 18 years.

He added: “It will take a fortune to bring me back to football. For me now, that is impossible as there is time for everything. My time as a soccer star has ended and I have moved to the next level of my life. No matter how big the offer is, I won’t come back to active football.

“I am 43 years old now and those calling for my return to football seem not to know my age and the fact that I retired many years ago. If any club in Nigeria decides to buy a 43-year-old player, then they know what they should expect from such a player.”

Okocha, noted that: “The match in Port Harcourt where I performed excellently with some of my trademark dribbling skills was a testimonial game. That was why I could dazzle the way I did. Playing in the Nigerian league is a different ball game. It is competitive at that level where your opponents don’t want to lose games. The tackles at league games won’t be friendly and it is possible I sustain serious injuries the type I never sustained in my entire career before my retirement.

“I hope those who are calling for my return to active football do not wish I get killed on the pitch during real competitive games. At my age, I can’t withstand vicious tackles from younger defenders the way I did at the peak of my career. Right now, I can’t leave everything I am

53 53

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Portugal v France: Le Blues want to repeat of Euro Cup 84 p.54

CAA Grand Prix: Team Nigeria out of Rio 4x100m relay

SPORTS

p.55

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu daposotu@yahoo.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okocha: I’ve finished playing football doing to start training every day to get match fitness to play well. I have a lot I am doing now that I can’t leave for a minute to start playing football again.”

He added: “I left football for a reason when I still had the age to play a little more years more, but the truth is that, I left

the game when the ovation was loudest and I don’t think coming back to football will help me health wise. I have paid my dues as a professional footballer, and fortunately for me it was well appreciated by all Nigerians and the clubs I played in during my career in Germany, France, Turkey and England. It is now left for the younger ones to give their best in the game.

“I am now committed to projects where ex-internationals and less privileged Nigerians would be given better life. Today, I am focused on doing great things for Nigerians through the ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foundation. I am from a very poor home, but football gave me a voice and I will use my voice to bring unity to our people.

As far as I am concerned, Nigerians are divided. I want to be an agent of unity.

“The death of two former Super Eagles chief coaches, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu, within one week was a wake-up call. It could happen to anybody. If I die today, I won’t be satisfied. I believe I am not doing enough to help my people as I have not touched enough lives. Today, I am the Delta State Football Association chair-

man, but this is not enough, that is why I want to give my time to the ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foundation. With this Foundation, we are going to create jobs for my ex-international colleagues who are struggling to survive. It is better to teach people how to fish. We have projects with various state governments in the eastern parts of Nigeria where ex-internationals will be fully engaged.”

The Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foundation was unveiled in Lagos last week.

The former Bolton Wanderers of England captain said, the Foundation was a dream come true as he knew within him that he had not done enough to give back to the country that made him the international figure he is today.

“History will not forgive me if I don’t give back to the people as I believe I have not done enough for them. To get the project going smoothly, we have partnered with I-Naira.com which is the official auctioneer for the ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foundation. This is important in the aspect of raising raise funds for the Foundation. I will be selling my collections of football kits and memorabilia used during my entire career in the clubs and national teams.

“I need the cooperation of Nigerians both home and abroad to make the Foundation a success as the platform may go beyond football," Okocha said.

54

SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Nigeria premier football league update

Sport

Draw in Makurdi gives Ikorodu Utd hope, as they host Ifeanyi Ibah in Lagos T

Abia Warriors battle to keep Chikartara T

he management of Nigeria Professional Football League club, Abia Warriors FC, has classified as untrue the various publications on the official website of Moroccan club, Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca, claiming that the club have completed all transfer formalities of Chisom Chikatara to Wydad Athletic Club.

The chairman of the club, Chief Emeka Inyama, who once made a public presentation of a Wydad club jersey to the Super Eagles home-based player, said to be on behalf of the Moroccan club, came out with a statement that Chisom Chilatara remains a bonafide play-

er of Abia Warriors FC, Umuahia.

Noting that, at the time the publication was posted on the Moroccan club website, Wydad were yet to fulfill the transfer requirements of Chikatara from Abia Warriors FC. He added that, the claim made by the Moroccan club that they transfered money to the account detailes of Abia Warriors to secure his release was also not the true position of things. Inyama stated that: “The whole truth is that Abia Warriors FC uptil now was yet to receive the purported transfer fee and has therefore presented no certificate of transfer to Wydad Athletic in respect of the

player in question. We also wish to confirm that our player has not received any flight ticket to Casablanca or anywhere for that matter from Wydad Board of Directors as claimed by the club’s website.

“We wish to state with all humility that the publications on Wydad website concerning player Chisom Chikatara is to say the least, untrue and very unfortunate. The Board of Abia Warriors FC therefore states unequivocally here that player Chisom Chikatara remains our property regardless of the baseless claims of Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca

Ocheme: Rangers will win the NPFL title

A

fter a sensational return to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League table with the 2-1 home victory against Abia Warriors of Umuahia at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Enugu Rangers central attacker, Edoh Ocheme, has boasted that the Flying Antelopes will remain and finish this season’s league on top despite the tough competition.

Ocheme, however, pleaded for patience with the teeming supporters that his goals will soon

start coming. “People expected me to score in my debut that did not happen but I know for sure that my goals will come shortly and thereafter there will not be anything stopping the goals. I ask for patience to stabilise and gain more confidence as my greatest joy will be to score steadily and win the league title with Enugu Rangers.”

The former Crown FC of Ogbomoso top striker, was full of celebration on Friday when Rangers

staged a return to the top of the table after they defeated regional rivals Abia Warriors 2-1.

Rangers toppled Wikki Tourists at the summit of the table with 43 points from 25 matches, a point more than the Bauchi club.

The home team deserved their win as they were the more positive team particularly in the first half, while Abia Warriors attack despite boasting Chisom Chikatara and Michael Olaha lacked any sharpness.

Boboye: Our best wasn’t good enough A

Boboye

bia Warriors chief coach, Kennedy Boboye, has stated that, his boys tried their best against Enugu Rangers but this wasn’t good enough to give them their desired result planned for the important cracker played at the home ground of Rangers.

Warriors lost the match 2-1 in the NPFL Matchday 26 oriental derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

Boboye said he thought the clash at Rangers would have been a turn-

around for the dwindling fortune of the Umuahia Warriors. “Well this is not the best of times for us going three straight matches without a win we never bargained for it. I thought game at Enugu Rangers would have marked a major turnaround for us sadly it was not to be. We fought hard for a respective result but our effort did not yield the desired result leaving us still without a win in the last three matches,” he said.

he score draw recorded by Ikorodu United Football Club of Lagos at the Aper Aku Stadium, in Makurdi, in the away fixture against Lobi Stars has given the Theodorus De Jongtutored team the confidence that they can escape relegation at the end of the Nigeria Professional Football League season.

At the Makurdi game, former Al Ittihad-Tripoli FC of Libya star, Anthony Okpotu gave Lobi Stars the lead at the tail end of the first half. Okpotu was closed to coring the second goal for Lobi Stars, but he threw away a controversial penalty kick in the 87th minute booting it into the sky. While Kabir Balogun scored the equalizer for Ikorodu United few minutes into the second half.

A result which they held until the end of the match to record their second away draw. The first away draw was recorded by the team’s former coach Sam Okpodu.

Dutchman Theodorus Jacob de Jong took charge of his second game as his mission to save Ikorodu United came under another test after his debut loss at MFM FC last weekend. The former Dutch international gave Paul Dike and Chinedu Onyelonu starts in attack while mid-season signing, Muyiwa Lawal, younger

brother to former Nigeria under-20 midfielder, Dimeji Lawal, started from the bench.

Lobi pinned back Ikorodu United and were reduced to 10 men when Francis got a second booking for a Seven minutes were added for stoppages but Ikorodu United held on for only their second away point in the NPFL. Ahead of today’s game against FC Ifeanyi Ubah, the players of Ikorodu United are determined to grab all the available three points to make it from their desired six points to wriggle out of relegation, says the Team’s Media Officer, Babatunde Ayoola.

Ayoola, noted that, the team picked up after the mid-season transfers which enabled Ikorodu United to sign on some good players whose positive impact is being felt in the team in the last three matches.

“We are hoping that, today’s game against FC Ifeanyi Ubah will be favourable for us to start planning for a great escape from the bottom of the league table.

This is possible this weekend and once we get out of this dangerous spot, the sky is the limit for the team. We have good players in the team now and they are eager to do the club proud,” Ayoola said.

Returnee Adio gives Akwa United confidence against Plateau Utd A

kwa United midfielder, Yusuf Adio, who has been kept out of action by a knee injury, returned on Match Day 25 and afterwards described his return to the team as timely.

Adio, speaking with huge selfbelief declared that his presence in match day squads will be of added advantage to the Federation Cup holders.

Adio, who has been out of action since April, said, ahead of Akwa United’s matchday 26 date away to Plateau United in Jos, that he is looking forward to finishing the season strong with the Promise Keepers.

The former Bridge Boys FC of Lagos player has been an integral part of Akwa United since joining the Uyo side in 2013. While he has enjoyed his key role in Akwa United, the former First Bank and FC Ebiede player also spoke of his frustration for the knee problem that has kept him out for action for months.

“It was against Plateau United,

our opponent this weekend, that I got a knock and at the time, I had thought it was not going to be something serious. But it became worse and I was eventually substituted, being unable to continue the game.

The injury lasted for few days and I got myself back against MFM FC in Lagos.

“The injury, which I thought had completely healed surfaced again in that game at the Agege Stadium.” he said.

TOP GOAL SCORERS 1 . Godwin Obaje 2. Okiki Afolabi 3.Opkotu Anthony 4. Ismaila Gata 5. Ibrahim Mustapha 6. Chisom Egbuchulam 7. Esosa Igbinoba 8. Rabiu Ali 9. Wasiu Jimoh 10. Abdulrahman Bashir

NPFL Fixtures July 10, 2016 Shooting Stars

vs

Nasarawa

Ikorodu United

vs

IfeanyiUbah

El-Kanemi

vs

MFM FC

Heartland

vs

Enyimba FC

Kano Pillars

vs

Lobi Stars

Pleteau United

vs

Akwa United

Rangers Int’l

vs

Abia Warriors

Warri Wolves

vs

Wikki Tourists

Rivers United

vs

Niger Tornadoes

13 13 10 10 9 9 9 9 7 7

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 10 JULY 2016

Sport

CAA Grand Prix: Team Nigeria out of Rio 4x100m relay Charles Ogundiya

T

eam Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the 4x100m relay event of the Olympic Games was dashed on Saturday in Sapele, Delta State, at the just concluded Warri Relay/CAA Grand Prix.

Despite the men’s team winning the race in 40.79secs, it was not enough to qualify the team for the Rio Games.

The women’s team who had already qualified for the Games won their final race in 43.86seconds while the men’s 4x400m team finished their race in 3:04.92 and would now wait to find out if they have done enough to be among the top teams to compete in Brazil.

Paul Dedewo and Olivia Ekpone were the winners of the men’s and women’s 200m finals, while Grace Anigbata, was the winner in the

women’s High Jump scaling the height of 1.65m same as Isa Esther, while Ngozi Nwichi finished in third position at 1.60m.

The one-day event started with the hurdles as Abejoye Oyeniyi won the 110m hurdles title for men in the absence of the National Record holder, Anthon Hicks, while Lindsay Lindsley won the women’s 100m hurdles.

Oyeniyi won his race in a photo finish time of 13.91secs ahead of Martins Ogieriakhi in second position with time of 13.92secs.

Osadolor Samuel was third in 13.96secs. It was a disappointing time for the 2014 winner of the All Nigeria trials, Alex Al-Ameen, who finished fourth in 13.99secs.

In some of the other events competed for on Saturday, Rita Ossai won the women’s 400m in 53.32secs, Funke Ogunbase finished second in 53.85secs and Ekundayo Sogbesan finished third with at 53.99secs.

Wimbledon 2016: Serena wins 22nd Grand Slam

Ronaldo predicts Portugal victory

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ortugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has admitted that France will be favourites for their Euro 2016 final in Paris today, but he still thinks his team will prevail.

After the heartbreak of Euro 2004 - when Ronaldo and Portugal were defeated 1-0 in the final on home soil

by Greece - the Real Madrid man is driven not to let another, potentially his last, opportunity to win silverware with his country slip.

“It would mean a lot. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, to win with the national team,” Ronaldo said.

“I have won everything at club level and the individual level, this would be a great achievement to

win something for the Portuguese team. I believe that this is possible, as do my colleagues and the whole country also believe. We must have positive thinking because I believe that on Sunday will be the first time that Portugal will win a major trophy.

“It was very positive. The team did well, played well, scored two important goals against the goodfeel team of the tournament, Wales.

They are an excellent team with an excellent coach [and they] had a great tournament. Portugal did well, we were better and created more opportunities. We were deserved winners and we are in the final.”

Deschamps wary of Ronaldo threat

F

rance coach, Didier Deschamps, has urged his players to be constantly mindful of Cristiano Ronaldo in today’s Euro 2016 final and insisted that the Ballon d’Or will be a battle between the Portugal captain and Lionel Messi.

Deschamps said he wanted France’s rising star Antoine Griez-

mann to be on the World Player of the Year list but he would have to wait to get the honour.

“Antoine is still a young player, even if he has had a very great season. Ronaldo has been at the summit for seven or eight years. There are two men in for the Ballon d’Or it’s between him and Messi,” said the coach.

Solution to Cross Word Puzzle

xxxxx

W

orld number one, Serena Williams, yesterday beat German fourth seed Angelique Kerber to win a seventh Wimbledon and 22nd Grand Slam title.

The American, 34, coped with a gusty wind on Centre Court to win 7-5 6-3 and equal Steffi Graf’s Open era record of major titles.

Kerber had beaten Williams in the Australian Open final in January but could not produce another shock.

Williams ends a losing run at

Slams stretching back to Wimbledon last year.

Fourteen years since she first won Wimbledon, Williams claimed the title for a seventh time after dropping just one set in all tournaments.

The world number one banished memories of last year, when she fell two matches short of a historic calendar Grand Slam, and of losing in the Australian and French Open finals this year.

“It’s been incredibly difficult not to think about it,” she said of fi-

nally winning number 22.

“It makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked hard for it.

“This court definitely feels like home, I have a match later today in the doubles, so I’ll be back out.”

Williams moves alongside German great Graf in the all-time list of Grand Slam singles champions, and just two behind overall leader Margaret Court, the Australian who won 13 of her 24 major titles before tennis turned professional in 1968.

Portugal v France: Le Blues want a repeat of Euro Cup 84 Dapo Sotuminu

A

fter one month of intense football action, the Le Blues of France will today take on Portugal in the Euro 2016 final with the hope of winning a European Championship on home soil for the second time.

Coach Didier Deschamps’ side are again presented with the opportunity to replicated what Michel Platini and his teammates did at Euro 84, when France last won the European title. It was a competition that saw Platini score a tournament record nine goals on route to lifting the trophy.

They face a Portuguese side looking to win their first major tournament, having lost 1-0 to Greece in their only other appearance in a European Championship final, in 2004.

Portugal have lost their last 10 games against France, who in Antoine Griezmann boast the competition’s top scorer with six goals, but midfielder Joao Mario believes they can spring a surprise at the Stade de France.

“France is playing at home but they haven’t shown their spectacular football,” he said at a pre-match press conference. “We

know we always lose to them but this will motivate us. The French media are sure of the win (for France.) We have lost a final already but this time we can make it. Probability counts for nothing and all the Portuguese bet on us.

There is nothing like playing in a competition like this for our country.”

Pepe has been passed fit for Portugal’s Euro 2016 final clash

against France on Sunday after returning to full training.

The Real Madrid defender missed Wednesday’s semi-final win over Wales with a thigh injury and had been considered a doubt ahead of the Paris showpiece against the hosts.

William Carvalho is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the semi-final through suspension.

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Okocha: I’ve finished playing football }53

Ogah vs Ikpeazu: The aborted Judicial Coup in Abia State (2) ENCORE We conclude today, our analysis of this hot issue that currently puts Nigerians, especially Abians, on tenterhooks.

QUALIFICATION AND DISQUALIFICATION – DO THEY AFFECT IKPEAZU? In the recent case of WAMBAI v DONATUS, (2014) 14 NWLR (pt 1427) 223, the Supreme Court held that after an election, any challenge based on nomination, pre – election matters can only be before an Election Tribunal under section 138(1)(a) Electoral Act. In CHUKWUEGBO v. AGU & ORS (2015) LPELR-25578(CA), the Court of Appeal held that a court faced with two or more conflicting decisions should follow the latest decision of the Supreme Court.

Thus, the latter decisions of the Supreme Court in WAMBAI v DONATUS, DANGANA v USMAN and SALIM v CPC are superior to that in UCHA v ONWE (2011) All FWLR (pt 580) 1227. This means that it is the Election Tribunal and not the FHC that ought to have adjudicated on Ogah’s complaint.

It is respectfully submitted that the possession of a forged tax certificate, or lack of it, is not enough justification for a court to remove a sitting Governor, especially where it was not demonstrated, by evidence, viva voice, that as a civil servant at all material times, who paid his tax under PAYE, he could have falsified his own tax certificate, when he was not the tax officer who issued same.

Note that Section 133(2) of the Electoral Act defines "tribunal” or “court" to mean “(a) in the case of Presidential election, the Court of Appeal and (b) in the case of any other elections, the election tribunal established under the Constitution or by this Act.": This means that Ogah could only have challenged Ikpeazu’s alleged non qualification (if at all), at an election tribunal, not FHC. Further, section 31 (5) (6) of the Electoral Act provides: “A person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by a candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the High Court of a State or Federal High Court against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.

(6) If the Court determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false, the Court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election”.

This simply means that the power and jurisdiction of the Court, whether Federal or State, is limited to suits brought before the holding of the election itself, and not after. The phrase used by the Act is: “the Court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election”; and not “after contesting the election”. The canons of interpretation is trite that the ordinary and literal meaning of a statute must be given to it where the language used by the Legislature and its intention are clear and explicit. See OJOKOLOBO v. ALAMU (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61) 377; GARBA V. FCSC (1988) 1 NWLR (Pt.71) 449; UGWU v. ARARUME (2007) LPELR-3329(SC); NWANKWO & ORS. v. YAR'ADUA & ORS.(2010) LPELR-

The

NIGERIAN PROJECT

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) 2109(SC).

NOW THIS Thus, going by the cases of CHUKWUEGBO v. AGU & ORS (Supra), UGWU V PDP (Supra), OPENE V NJC & ORS (2011) LPELR 4795 (CA), OLUFUNSHO & ORS V GLOBAL SOAP AND DETERGENT INDUSTRIES LTD (2012) LPELR 9822 (CA), it is only the Election tribunal, not the FHC, that had the jurisdiction to have adjudicated on post-election matters, and make post – election pronouncement, as in the instant case, that Ikpeazu vacates his seat as Governor. What is more, section 141 of the Electoral Act provides: “that Election Tribunal or Court SHALL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all the stages of the said election”. This section has effectively nullified the much touted AMAECHI case, where it was held that it is a political party and not a candidate, that owns votes. The FHC now lacks the power to install any other person, as winner, who never took part in all stages of the election, such as Ogah.

In CPC v. INEC (2011) 18 NWLR (pt 1279) 493 (SC), the Supreme Court emphasized that one cannot organize an election between a political party and a human being; that an election is contested and won by human beings who have flesh and blood, not by political parties, and that a political party’s only role at an election is to sponsor a candidate.

In the latter case of CPC v. OMBUGADU (2013) LPELR 21007 (SC), the apex Court expressly overruled AMAECHI v INEC (2008 5 NWLR (pt 1080) 227, when it held: “The implication of section 141 is that while a candidate must be sponsored by a political party, the candidate who stands to win or lose the election is the candidate and not the political party that sponsored him….. parties do not contest, win or lose election directly; they do so by the candidate they sponsored”.

By the way, under what law is the FHC imbued with power to remove a sitting Governor, or to do so on a mere allegation of presenting a forged tax certificate, especially when the entire case was fought by way of mere affidavit evidence? How do you “convict” and punish a person who has not been put through the furnace of a proper adversarial trial, with an opportunity under section 36 of the Constitution to cross examine his adversaries? What forensic expert evidence was advanced in a merely documentary case, without an opportunity for Ikpeazu’s counsel to cross examine such expert? How do you prove a criminal case “beyond reason-

Shaibu, Chukwu, Tobi, Elechi Amadi.

Now, Chief Ojo Maduekwe. Maduekwe had invited me to his twins celebration on 1st July. He even called to remind me. But, death plucked him away two days to his celebration, on 29th June. Why? It was William Shakespeare who wrote: "When beggars die there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes." His death has, without doubt, left a gaping void in the Nigerian polity. A politician, diplomat par excellence, and exemplary public servant, nulli secundus, Madueke bestrode the Nigerian political scene like a matchless titan. Not everybody agreed with his political ideas and philosophy. But, he pursued such convictions with uncommon zeal and patriotic fervor. As he exits this worldly stage, his acts will be forever etched in the memory of patriots. When the history of Nigeria is written by generations to come, his name, policies, and patriotic services will astound them, as Leonardo da Vinci does by the Monalisa, or as Michealangelo, by the Sistine Chapel. I pray for the eternal repose of the soul of this “keke” rider, as he transmigrates from this ephemeral world to higher celestial realm.

Death, hide your hideous visage in shame and odium. Please, death, leave us alone, alone, all alone. Adieu, great patriot.

able doubt” on an affidavit evidence in a mere civil proceeding? How do you issue a certificate to the runner up (Ogah), when section 141 specifically forbids it and prescribes a fresh election? How do you remove a Governor overwhelmingly voted for by his people, by judicial fiat, when his opponent never sought for votes from Abians; when the quarrel was intra – party, and when section clearly warns that “under no circumstances” should a court “declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all stages of the said election”?

Questions !

Questions !!

Questions !!!

The entire judgment was a judicial coup, which has no doubt aborted itself, through self immolation, inherent contradictions, Illogicalities and poor, or lack LAST LINE of, in-depth research and calm analysis.

Are Abians, Legal pundits, Nigerians Surely, there can not be two kings in one and all political parties, reading and dipalace. gesting this concluding part of the Sunday sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian project, by Chief Mike A.A Ozekhome, SAN, AND THIS OFR, FCIArb? OH DEATH, LEAVE US ALONE! I am tired of mourning, of elegies, requiems, dirges. Oba Erediauwa, Keshi, • 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

Thread-like round worm, (7).

Seaside health resort, (3).

Negation of a word, (3).

Experiencing unhappiness, (3).

Kind of person, (3).

Unit of area, (4).

Having come to a conclusion, (4).

Chromium symbol, (2).

Aluminium symbol, (2).

Submerged in a liquid, (4).

Leave undone, (4).

Expose to fresh air, (3).

Month preceding May, (3).

Yoruba king, (3).

Fixed charge for service, (3).

Ex Sokoto state Governor, (7).

Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 19 20 21

Ex Lagos Sate Governor, (7).

Row of unravelled stitches, (6).

Water dropping from the atmosphere, (4).

Kind of Nigerian fabric, (6).

Celestial body of hot gasses, (4).

An overwhelming feeling, (3).

Capital city of Benue State, (7).

Muslim form of salutation, (6).)

Something that overwhelms (6).

Plants with fleshy toothed leaves, (4).

Talk with too much pride, (4).

Conf. of African Football, (3).

Turn to page 55 for solution

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