Sunday, may 22, 2016 sunday telegraph by Newtelegraphonline

Tompolo warns NigerDelta Avengers: Enough of the attacks }7

Buhari teaching Nigerians to be lawless 窶的POB }4

SUNDAY Sunday, MAY 22, 2016 Vol. 3 No. 823

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

PDP CONVENTION

confusion as PDP sacks sheriff, nwc lAppoints Makarfi Ag chairman lDelegates tear-gassed, phone snatchers on rampage lJournalists injured in stampede lWe want BoT, not caretaker -Gana group }4

ECONOMIC MELTDOWN

...more hardship for Nigerians as budget failure looms

lFuel scarcity to persist lQueues for food, medicine imminent }5

I have no man in my life -Zeal }42

NEWS

Residents flee as herdsmen kill farmer in Ekiti $115m Campaign fund:

EFCC quizzes ex-Zamfara Gov, Senator }6

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 22.05.16 BODY & SOUL

Love beyond borders Renowned Yoruba film maker, Yomi Fabiyi, opens up on his marriage to his British wife and other issues

}20&21

POLITICS

Ohazene Ndigbo's fate The leadership crisis in Ohaneze Ndigbo will not abate until governors of the zone look beyond their party affiliations

}23

BUSINESS

Worsening inflation Nigeria’s economy worst in years as inflation rises 13.7 per cent in April, from 12.8 per cent the month before while prices rose 1.6 per cent

}43

FAITH

Trail blazers As the Apapa Family of RCCG marks 25th anniversary in June, it’s been a journey of exceeding greatness, say Pastor Iluyomade

}31

SPORT

Pinnick will crash The factional president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Giwa, is optimistic that he will soon take over affairs fully at the GlassHouse

}53

Magazine

Miracle of Old Trafford The near disaster where 80,000 soccer fans were peacefully evacuated from the Manchester United Stadium on May 15 stand out as the 'Miracle of Old Trafford'

}8&9

SUNDAY

Editorial

Yekini deserves recognition

atriotism ran in the blood of legendary footballer Rashidi Yekini who drank from the dictum ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country as expoused by former American President John Kennedy. The gangling striker is the nation’s all time leading scorer with 37 goals from 58 matches. It is four years since Yekini died in uncanny circumstances and not much has been done to unravel what actually transpired between him , his family and those who claimed to be close to the star. There appears to be no attempt in that direction , therefore his numerous fans have been forced to accept his death without getting any answers. The heartbreak comes from the bitter fact that the country so much loved by Yekini has done virtually nothing to honour him even in death. What an irony, here was a man who was willing to die playing for Nigeria and when he passed on soccer officials and government are playing deaf and dumb. Yekini was an unknown vehicle mechanic, what in pidgin English is called ‘spray painter’, assisting an uncle in Kaduna before joining local club side United Nigeria Textiles Limited [UNTL] in the first years of the 1980s. In 1982, Shooting Stars grabbed the young hitman. It was from the Ibadan side that he made his national team debut in 1984. His first outing with the Eagles yielded not only the needed exposure under coach Adegboye Onigbinde, the team won silver at the Cote d’Ivoire ’84 Nations Cup. That same year , Shooting Stars worked so hard to win the then elusive Africa Champions Cup [now CAF Champions Cup] but it ended so poorly when they lost home and away to Zamalek of Egypt. Oyo state governor Oladayo Popoola sacked the entire team thereafter forcing Yekini to move on to Abiola Babes, Abeokuta. That move opened doors even if some were laced with controversy. Ivorian clubs fell in love with the deadly striker and were ready to fight to get him. Africa Sports and ASEC Mimosas did not want to give in. Eventually, the former signed him. That sojourn in Abidjan was rewarding for Yekini punished the fellow West Africans at the Algiers ’90 Nations Cup when the Eagles and the Elephants met. Algiers earned Yekini another Nations Cup silver. There was a boost. Portu-

guese club, Vitoria Setubal offered a contract which saw him rising to the zenith. Two seasons later his goals helped the club gain promotion to the Premeira Liga. During the 1993-94 season, Yekini emerged as the Portuguese top division’s leading scorer with 21 goals. That feat was not for individual alone . Nigeria also gained when CAF named him African Footballer of the year 1993, the first compatriot to win that prize. In 1994, the Eagles won a second Nations Cup trophy. Yekini was named player of the tournament. He also advanced to score Nigeria’s first World Cup goal later in the year in the United States when The Eagles thrashed Bulgaria 3-0. Yekini did play against a Nigerian team and did his job as a professional. That was in a CAF Champions Cup duel between Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Africa Sports. His club chairman offered him 24, 000 US dollars for every goal scored against the Naze millionaires. In the first leg, taken to Seguela far away from Abidjan, the Nigerian struck in the 18th minute. Africa Sports held on to that lead until Ifeanyi Aghenu’s last minute equalizer. The Owerri side took the return leg to Benin City. Yekini scored again in the 18th minute. The homers were lucky to earn a slim 3-2 victory. There are many more things to write about Yekini. He was a great player who loved his country so much. It is so sad that four years after his demise, there is nothing to remind posterity that the first Nigeria to top African soccer was not just a player, he was a patriot. No monument anywhere from Lagos to Abuja in memory of the great player who made us all happy with goals. Sports Minister Solomon Lalong has a lot of work to do. Doing honour to our heroes past will push those who are toiling for the nation to do even more. It is unacceptable that the only memorial this year came from FIFA. The NFF has never thought of what the country can do for Yekini. Four years after his passage, Glass House is under siege as members continue to throw stones. There is no shying away from responsibility. Comrade Lalong does not have to wait for the Kwara state government or Yekini’s home town Ira. The Fedral Government should lead the way. Yekini must not be forgotten by the country he so much believed in. Let a national monument be named after him.

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

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

SUNDAY 22 MAY, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Confusion as PDP sacks Sheriff, NWC

•Appoints Makarfi Ag Chairman •Gana’s faction holds non-elective convention in Abuja •Delegates tear-gassed, phone snatchers on rampage •Journalists injured in stampede Onyekachi Eze and Emmanuel Masha

ontrary to expectations, the much awaited national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic twist yesterday as the party chieftains tactically sacked the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and appointed a former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, as the acting chairman of the party. Makarfi is to lead the newly appointed caretaker committee of the party for the next three months, after which another national convention will be conducted to elect a substantive leadership for the party. The interim leadership has Senator Ben Obi as secretary. The appointment of the caretaker committee came on the heels of an announcement by the former National Chairman (Sheriff) that the convention had been postponed due to a court order restraining the party from holding elections into some positions including that of the national chairman and secretary. The emergence of Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the PDP a few months ago, generated a lot of discontentment within the party, with some of the founding fathers threatening to leave the party unless he was dethroned. This disagreement led to the emergence of a group known as the Concerned PDP, led by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, and supported by majority of the members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party. Sunday Telegraph gathered that some former governors

and other top party stalwarts deliberated on the removal of Modu-Sheriff throughout Friday night, where they resolved that the best way to re-unite the party was to sack him and his team. Apparently aware of the game plan, Sheriff chose to play a surprise card by postponing the national convention till all the legal matters restraining it were resolved. The drama began when Sheriff addressed a press conference stating that the NWC was faced with court cases, and that the postponement of the convention would enable them sort the issues out as a law-abiding party. Sheriff, who was flanked by a former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, and Sen. Hope Uzodinma, said that the ÑWC of the party would inform party members and the public of the new date for the convention. “The members of my working committee and I have been meeting since morning concerning the issues of our convention. Our party is responsible and law-abiding. We are suspending the convention until all our cases are resolved. We don’t want to disregard the law,” he said. However, a mild confusion arose as his directive was countered shortly after by a former Deputy National Chairman (SouthSouth), Chief Uche Secondus, who announced that the convention would go on as scheduled. This later development culminated in the appointment of the caretaker committee of the party. The new leader of the party, Senator Makarfi, was presented to the party delegates at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt venue of the convention, by all the serving PDP governors. Makarfi promised to work

L-R: Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, at the 2016 PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

towards uniting the party and wooing back aggrieved members into the fold. He disclosed that he never expected to be appointed the chairman, having come to Port Harcourt as a delegate from Kaduna State. “I just arrived Port Harcourt...and people started approaching me, asking if I was willing to serve. I said I would serve once it is a legitimate task. I humbly accept this challenge on behalf of other members of the committee. I assure you that you will have no cause to worry. We are going to serve our party. I call on all aggrieved members to give our party a chance to do the country proud,” he said. However, the Concerned PDP Stakeholders’ Forum led by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana held a parallel convention in Abuja but refrained from going into any election. The group insisted that the PDP remained one family, adding

that it was discussing with the other PDP leaders who were in Port Harcourt, with a view to resolving the differences between them. Those at the Abuja convention were mainly former ministers, founding members and former governors. The convention, which started by 10a.m, lasted for only two hours and ended abruptly without much ceremony. The group said it decided to hold non-elective convention in deference to a court order stopping the party from electing new National Working Committee (NWC) members. However, a 57- member steering committee cochaired by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, and former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, was set up to oversee the affairs of the forum until the court order is set aside and a proper convention held. Mantu, in a speech, said the stakeholders “resolved

Buhari teaching Nigerians to be lawless – IPOB Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has decried the seeming flagrant disregard of court orders by the Federal Government, stressing that a sustained attitude of disdain to the rule of law by the Federal Government will foster lawlessness among the populace. The spokesman for IPOB, Emma Powerful, made the assertion while speaking on the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the IPOB.

“The courts of the land has granted Nnamdi Kanu bail, but the Federal Government is still detaining him. In the same way, the court granted Dasuki bail but Buhari thinks he should not be bailed because according to him, his offence is ‘grievous’, thus making himself the judge and jury in his own case,” Powerful said. He also made veiled references to Femi Fani Kayode, who is still being detained after he had met bail conditions and Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), an Igbo

son who has been held is DSS detention facility for more than 25 days without being charged. He also accused the FG of not telling the public Ugochinenyere’s crime. Commenting on the injunction obtained by the Federal Government to stop the NLC strike, Powerful said, “That is an underhand, black market injunction. If the judiciary knows what it stands for, it should not be entertaining any government case or application, what more granting them such doubtful injunctions. Why would it even grant

audience to the government that hold the courts in contempt? However, it must be noted that if the FG continues to refuse to obey court orders, it would be gradually but surely enthroning lawlessness at every level in Nigeria.” He added that, “Where there is no law, anarchy sets in. The FG, with the present spate of impunity, is setting the stage for anarchy in the country and in the light of the foregoing, the NLC or any other group is not obligated to obey such injunctions as recently obtained by the Federal Government.

to rebuild, renew and rebrand” the party to anchor the dreams of the founding fathers. “This becomes a non-elective convention in respect of court order, and also to enable us have a tete a tete with our brothers in Port Harcourt,” Mantu added. He reiterated that the decision to choose Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as chairman of the party was in gross violation of the established procedure for the selection. Apparently giving reasons for the opposition to Sheriff, a member of the steering committee, Hajia Inna Ciroma, noted that PDP in Borno State suffered for 16 years under Ali Sheriff. “We won election and he scuttled it. Is it a way to pay us back by imposing him on us?” she asked. Former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Communications, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in an interview added, “We are not ruling out reconciliation, we are open to setting up a caretaker committee. Speakers from the six geopolitical zones who addressed the convention called for justice and level playing ground, and kicked against imposition of candidates. Among party leaders at the convention were Prof. Gana; former National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed; outgoing PDP National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; former Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mrs. Esther Audu; former governors of Imo, Adamawa and Taraba State, Achike Udenwa, Ahmadu Finitiri and Garba Umar.

Meanwhile, delegates at the Port Harcourt Convention were tear-gassed by security operatives, who struggled to maintain order at the gate set aside for delegates. Hundreds of delegates had massed at the rear end of the Sharks Stadium, waiting for their turn to enter the stadium and locate the stands for the various states, but found it extremely difficult to gain entry due to the delay in security checks. It was during one of the surges by the delegates who were on different queues that policemen fired tear gas repeatedly into the air and succeeded in dispersing the delegates, and others that wanted to enter the stadium. Some of the fleeing delegates ran into a team of delegates from Osun State, who were on their way to the entry point of the stadium. Both teams joined others in making a U-turn from the convention ground. Two journalists sustained injuries during the convention. While one of them, a male TV journalist, was beaten up by civilians working with an acting local government chairman, the other, a female journalist, fell and hit her head on a concrete while running from the tear gas. They were subsequently rushed to the hospital for treatment. Also, some hoodlums had a field day, snatching mobile phones from delegates milling around the entrance to the stadium. Some of the miscreants moved in twos, targeting delegates with expensive phones, which they stole and passed around themselves to escape being caught. But one of them ran out of luck as he was caught and almost lynched.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 22 MAY, 2016

NEWS

Paul Ogbuokiri

he announcement, on Wednesday, by President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria is broke could have taken many Nigerians by surprise, but the realities on ground indicate that what the president said may not be far-fetched as the nation’s recent economic fundamentals show that it is headed to recession. The rapid deterioration of the nation’s economic woos to a total crisis seems clearly overwhelming the economy as the 2016 budget, which the Federal Government intends to use to bolster activities in the system, is facing a threat of not being implemented. Sunday Telegraph checks show that the 2016 Budget Act revenue targets could no longer be met, no thanks to the resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta. Nigeria’s expected oil receipts is predicated on 2.2 million barrels per day and at a benchmark price of $38 a barrel. Though the prices of crude has appreciated to about $48 a barrel in the international market, the nation’s daily output has shrank to a 27 years low of 1.4 million barrels a day, due to vandalism and sabotage by the Niger-Delta Avengers, an alleged new militant group in the oil rich region. This is even as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Quarterly Report released on Friday indicates that the economy contracted in the first three months of the 2016 posting the worst negative result of 0.36 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. With the Nigerian inflation rate expected to hit the 15 per cent mark by the end of this month, the economy is set to record zero per cent growth, according to experts. The inflation rate rose to 13.7 per cent in April from 12.8 per cent the month before, the same median estimate of 14 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Prices equally rose 1.6 per cent during the review month. Rising fuel and electricity prices “were the largest contributors,” NBS said on Monday. “These items as well as other imported items continued to have ripple effects across many divisions.” Food inflation rose to an annualized 13.2 per cent from 12.7 per cent in March. The contraction “shows that Nigerians and particularly the CBN should now reconsider the tightening stance they have embarked upon,” Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates Ltd., an advisory firm, told Sunday Telegraph phone in Lagos. The last time the economy contracted was the second quarter of 2004, according to data on the Central Bank

Economic meltdown …more hardship as budget failure looms •Fuel scarcity to persist •Queues for food, medicine imminent of Nigeria (CBN’s) website. The inflation rate “may make the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) members vote in support of an increase in interest rates,” Babajide Solanke, an analyst at Lagos-based FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd., said. The committee, which will announce its next decision on Tuesday, increased its benchmark rate by 100 basic points to 12 per cent in March. Bloomberg analysts say the economy risks falling into recession after it shrank in the first quarter as oil output slumped and the manufacturing, financial and real estate industries declined. The foreign-exchange trading restrictions and import curbs have led to shortages of goods from petrol to essential drugs and contributed to the contraction in factory output in the quarter. The situation is expected to worsen in this second quarter with the basic necessities of life, which are mainly imported; becoming more and more scarce. The currency control which pegged the naira at N197-199 per dollar since March last year and restricted on trading in foreign exchange has made imports more costly for a nation that is a net importer of food and refined fuel. Importers struggle to access the unavailable foreign exchange at the official rate, with the naira falling to about N360 per dollar on the black market. The government’s new policy which has asked fuel importers to source their foreign exchange from the secondary market (parallel market) is already increasing the pressure on the naira, a development that is expected to cause further crashing of the naira value. Also, NBS had in a separate report disclosed that unemployment rose to 12.1 per cent in the first quarter from 10.4 per cent in the previous three months. “It’s inevitable that we’ll go into recession,” Pabina Yinkere, an analyst at Vetiva Capital Management Ltd. and the only contributor to Bloomberg’s survey who predicted a contraction, told Sunday Telegraph phone from Lagos on Friday. “I expect the second quarter to be even worse. “Nigerians might have to contend with scarcity of most essential items like

medicines, food and fuel,” he said. According him, manufacturing, which is the worst hit by Central Bank policy of no foreign exchange for 40 categories of items, would have reprieve in this quarter as the ones who managed to remain

in production might close shop due to lack of foreign exchange. “It is now likely that Nigeria’s economy will contract over the year as a whole,” John Ashbourne, a Londonbased Africa Economist at Capital Economics Ltd., said in an e-mailed note

to clients. “We have long warned of a slow-burning crisis in Nigeria. It now seems that this view was too optimistic: the country is headed into a full-blown crisis.” Chief Executive Officer of Financil Dirovatives Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane,

in a telephone interview said,’ “We’ve had strikes, petrol queues, and disruption of oil production, all showing we’re headed to another negative quarter.” The International Monetary Fund forecast Nigeria’s economic growth rate will drop to 2.3 per cent this year.

Former Vice President and founder of Rico Gado Nutrition, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (left), with Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, at the ground breaking ceremony of Rico Gado Animal Feeds plant at Abuja…yesterday

Chibok: Parents of kidnapped school girls nurse hope, fear Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

eventy-two hours after the rescue of Amina Ali, one of the school girls kidnapped two years ago by the terror group, Boko Haram, there is a mixture of hope and fear in the Chibok community as parents of the remaining missing girls have become anxious about the fate of their daughters. Many of the parents are torn between happiness and sadness because they are not sure if their daughters would return alive or be declared dead at the end of the day. So far, only two out of the 219 of the missing girls have been found and Amina, the first to be rescued from the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, had in the course of preliminary interrogation, disclosed

that six of her colleagues died while in captivity. A member of the Strategic Committee of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement, Olatunji Olanrewaju, said that the return of the first girl has renewed hopes in the hearts of the parents of the Chibok girls, despite the news of the death of six girls under captivity. “The mood among parents of the Chibok girls is a mixture of hope and apprehension. The news of the rescue has re-fired hopes in these parents, hopes of seeing their daughters again. Even though they heard the news of the death of six of the girls, many parents know that the chances of their daughters being among the dead is slim because of the sheer number. It is really low; by the time you spread the risk across all of them, it will be

like in the ratio of 10:100 and this has re- fired their hopes and expectations. Their hope is now renewed that at least almost all the girls are still alive and held up in Sambisa Forest. Now they are looking up to the government to now go all out to rescue the remaining girls,” he said. Olanrewaju disclosed that the daily sit-out at the Unity Fountain, Abuja on Thursday was very exciting because of the news that one of the girls have been rescued after two years. He described the return of Amina as a validation of all that the BBOG had stood for all the past months. “It has been mad excitement since the news was broken. However, finding the girl is one thing, rehabilitating her is another thing. Two years in captivity and of

continuous abuse is too horrifying to capture in words. You can now imagine what it would take to put that girl back in a proper shape mentally, physically and emotionally. Right now, what we expect is for the government to create a ring around her; ensure that she is with her mother and siblings and move them as a family to somewhere for rehabilitation. Another member of the BBOG , Mohammed Keana, also told Sunday Telegraph that the rescue of Amina has brought a big relief to the movement which has been seriously castigated for its campaigns demanding the release of the girls. The rescue of Amina, he said, has put paid to all the mockery members of the group had been subjected to over the last two months.

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

$115m campaign fund: EFCC quizzes ex-Zamfara Gov, Senator Emmanuel Onani

O Abuja

peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have quizzed a former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi, a former Senator, Hassan

Muhammed Nasiha and the state Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Sources at the EFCC confided in Sunday Telegraph, that Shinkafi and others were interrogated at the Kano Zonal office of the EFCC. The EFCC has been investigating the $115 mil-

lion said to have been lodged in Fidelity Bank Plc., by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani-Alison Madueke. Since the discovery, operatives of the anti-graft agency, have quizzed a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), an-

other Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad (Jigawa State), former Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and Ntufam John Okon (Cross River State), and retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Akwa Ibom). Other suspects interrogated are: former Minister

of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Zamfara), an ex-Minister of Mines and Steel, Arch. Musa Muhammad Sada (Katsina), as well as a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger). This is even as the Commission had earlier quizzed an erstwhile Dep-

uty Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen as well as former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fidelity Bank Plc. Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, has since been interrogated over the lodgement in his bank.

Obasanjo, Alaafin, others to grace Summit on female genital mutilation Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

L-R: Pastor Emmanuel Appiah of Redeemed Baptist Church, Oyarifa, Ghana; Elder Statesman, Dr. Christopher Kolade and founding Pastor, Christ Chapel International Churches (CCIC), Rev. Tunde Joda, at 2016 Kingdom Men’s Summit in Lagos recently.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

Atiku sets up livestock feed factory to address Herdsmen/farmers clash Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ormer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday in Abuja laid the foundation stone of a livestock feed factory that would address the clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers all over the country. According to him, the factory, Rico Gado Nutrition Limited, located at the Idu Industrial area in Abuja has the capacity to turn out 50 tonnes per hour of animal feed and which will feed about 90 million cows when completed in 32 weeks. Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony, the former Vice President said: “When we set up Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria, we decided to invest in advanced state-of-the-art facilities because we wanted to be in a position to meet farmers’ needs and also have the capacity and flexibility to quickly respond to the needs

of the market. “We agreed that, if we wanted to succeed, we would have to offer our customers the best possible product at the best possible price, in the quickest possible time. And because we want farming to once more, become profitable. “We are contributing to job creation, technology transfer and progressive change in farming culture. We believe there is a future in farming. We went against the usual way of doing business in Nigeria because we did not just want to build a factory; we wanted to build a value chain. “We wanted to ensure that the bulk of the value added stayed with the farmers who do the hard work of growing the grains and seeds we buy, process, and market. We want more people to engage in and profit from the cultivation of the seeds and grains we buy and process, and to have a long-term per-

spective on farming. “It is in its early days, but I think we’re on the right track. I’m very proud of Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria’s first plant and the agricultural cluster that is growing along its supply lines and that extends well beyond Adamawa state. “I’m immensely pleased that, today, we are gathered here in Abuja to break ground for our second, even bigger plant, which will create an even longer value chain. This plant, on this five hectare land in Idu Industrial Layout, is expected to be completed in 32 weeks. It will initially have an installed capacity of 50 tonnes per hour and will enable us serve a wider market as we prepare to build another plant in a third location soon. “Despite the doubts about our economy because of current challenges, we are confident about Nigeria’s future and about our future. I think I speak for my partners

in this joint venture when I say: We know what we are getting into, and we’re doing it because we believe in Nigeria, because we believe that Nigeria will overcome its current difficulties, we believe our nation will change for the better. “We break ground today because we know we can complete this plant on time and on budget; and because we can count on our management team and on our construction crew, because we know we can trust each other, and because we know we have the experience and the expertise to work around the obstacles we will face”. In his opening remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the company, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Song, disclosed that the company established in partnership with some Portuguese investors, have the potential to change the face of livestock production in Nigeria.

he Circumcision Descendants Association of Nigeria has concluded every necessary arrangement to receive former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi at a oneday international summit on female genital mutilation and circumcision schedule to hold tomorrow (Monday) in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. The duo is part of outstanding personalities that are expected to contribute meaningfully to the success of the programme that will take place at the Mapo Hall in the city. The event, which was organised by the Association in conjunction with the Oyo State government and the U.K. Guardian News and Media, will also attract the presence of other dignitaries like the first ladies of Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, Al-

haja Serifat Aregbesola and Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, respectively. Speaking on the programme, the grand patron and co-ordinator of the Association, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, explained that, part of the reasons and belief for the programme was to keep the girl-child, naturally insulated from the pressures of sexual excitement. According to him: “The summit will be addressed by experts from United Kingdom and some traditional rulers and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representatives and spokespersons from other international organisations.” He added that, it was the challenges posed by female circumcision that brought forth the Circumcision Descendants Association of Nigeria (OLOOLA) a registered body to organise this summit, to discuss the socio-cultural and medical issues connected with this age long practice.

Fulani herdsmen: We kidnapped Kaduna pastors, others

group of suspected Fulani Herdsmen have been arrested in connection with the kidnap of some pastors in Kaduna state. Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase’s Special Intelligence Response Team (SIRT), reportedly rounded up the suspects: Kashimu Shehu, aka Baliago, the gang Leader; Aliyu Mato Haruna, aka, Yellow; Muhammedu Mamman; Hassan Bello; Bala Mohammed and Ishiaku Kabiru, from their hideouts in Kaduna. The suspects were alleged to be behind the March 21, 2016, abduction of the President and Vice President of the United Church of Christ

in Nigeria, Rev Emmanuel Dziggan and Rev Illiya Anthony respectively and another pastor of the church, Rev Yakubu Dzarmaý, at Dutse village in Kaduna State. The gang was also said to have kidnapped a staff at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and many others. Confessing to the crime, members of the gang reportedly said after picking their victims, they would make them trek for hours in a deep forest off the Abuja-Kaduna Road, before arriving their camp close to Tapher Village Kaduna State. The alleged gang leader, 27-year-old Kashimu Shehu, aka Baliago, in his confession, denied being the leader.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

News

Two FGC students kidnapped in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he families, kinsmen, friends and well-wishers of Tochukwu Eneh and Chukwuemeka Ugwu, JSS III students of the Federal Government College, Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, are currently fraught with apprehension and anxiety over their sons’ whereabouts. Tochukwu, who hails from Obioma and Chukwuemeka from Nsude, both in Udi LGA of Enugu State were abducted around the school premises on that fateful Thursday, May 12, 2016. According to family sources, the JSS students, who had just finished their final examinations that same day, were in a happy mood because they will be going home the next day, Friday, May 13. But in that evening, as the story goes, a group of schoolboys, including Tochukwu and Chukwuemeka, decided to get their hair cut

outside the school. They had done so, and were on their way back to the school, when they were accosted by some suspected kidnappers who loudly ordered them to stop. It was gathered that all the other students, except Tochukwu and Chukwuemeka, made it safely back to school. They were forcefully taken away by their abductors. However, the frightened boys did not raise the alarm at once, maybe out of fear for the consequences of breaching school regulations, so the incident did not become known to the authorities until Friday, May 13, when Tochukwu’s guardian did not see him as they had earlier scheduled. The said guardian, a lady, who is a staff of FGC, Okposi, had some items which she wanted Tochukwu to convey to his mum in Enugu when she learnt what had happened. She then notified the school authorities and the parents of the victims of the abduction about the incident.

Enough of those attacks, Tompolo warns Niger-Delta Avengers

Paul Ogbuokiri mbattled ex-militants’ leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, (aka Tompolo) has thrown his weight behind the call by the Nigerian Ex-militants Forum, on the Niger-Delta Avengers to put a stop to their attacks on Nigeria’s oil and gas facilities and installations. This is even as the group of former agitators, who spoke under aegis of Nigerian Ex-Militants Forum, has lamented that the attacks by the new militant group is hurting Nigeria’s already struggling economy. Tompolo, who spoke to Sunday Telegraph, yester-

day, through his spokesman, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, said that he will continue to call on the new group to stop the attacks as the Nigerian economy is in a critical state, saying the economy can ill afford having its main source of revenue paralyzed. “I have said it again and again that destruction of oil facilities as it being done now by the group cannot help the economy and I am reiterating my call on them to stop to save the Nigerian economy from collapse,” he said. Tompolo, who was regarded as the main leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of NigerDelta (MEND), said that he has committed a lot of his energy to protecting those

facilities in the interest of the nation’s economy and will not want them destroyed. Meanwhile, the former militants have said that the resurgence of attacks on oil and gas facilities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, is an unnecessary distraction for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. According to Reuters, the group of ex-militants, who were former members of MEND, made the call in a statement late on Friday. President Buhari said on Friday that he had heightened the military presence in the region where attacks in the last few weeks – mostly claimed by a group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers – have driven the

country’s oil output to a more than 20-year low. “We should give President Buhari the opportunity to fulfill his promises to the Niger Delta people by maintaining peace in the region,” former MEND members said in the statement. Nigeria, which relies on oil sales for 70 per cent of national income, is going through its worst economic crisis in decades caused by low crude prices. Former members of MEND, many of whom secured lucrative contracts to protect pipelines under an amnesty agreement, are influential, although whether this extends to those responsible for the recent attacks is not clear.

Saraki commiserates with Alasoadura on wife’s death Chukwu David Abuja

resident of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has commiserated with the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Tayo Alasoadura on the death of his wife, Mrs. Adetayo Alasoadura, which sad event occurred on Thursday. According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Senator Saraki said the Senator’s wife left at a time her services as a mother and dutiful wife were needed most. The President of the Senate had led a Senate delegation, including the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume on a condolence visit to Alasoadura’s residence in Akure, on Friday. He stated that the sudden death was both a huge shock and a big loss to the

entire Senate and urged the Senator and his entire family to take solace in the exemplary character of the deceased while she was alive. “For the short time which our colleague has spent in the Senate, we feel his leadership roles and know that this is a big shock to him and the Senate at large. We all desire that she be alive even now to continue to play her supportive and motherly role in this family, but we cannot question God for calling her home because He alone knows and owns all things. “However her life of exemplary service to this family in particular and humanity in general will remain indelible in our hearts and I want this to be your consolation,” Saraki said. The Senate President prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and the bereaved Senator and his entire family the grace to bear the painful loss.

L-R: Co-Founder, African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Erelu Bisi Fayemi; former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen; American Civil Rights Activist, Ms Xernona Clayton; and former Vice- President of Zimbabwe, Dr. Joyce Mujuru, at the International Sheroes Forum in Dubai... on Friday.

‘Buhari’s economic policies lack direction’ Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

ormer member of the House of Representatives in the second republic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s management of the economy as confused and completely without any

sense of direction. Mohammed, who is also a social critic, noted that Buhari spent a long time before constituting his cabinet but ended up creating meaningless ministries like Ministry of Power, Works and Housing as well as Ministry of Petroleum Resources. According to the Russian-trained medical doc-

Fire destroys valuables at Mrs Ajimobi’s ICT centre

aluables worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire at the Florence Ajimobi ICT Centre in Ibadan. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre is the brain child of the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, and was inaugurated in De-

cember, 2011. The smoke from the fire, according to sources, was first sighted by personnel of Murhi Television which has an office opposite Mrs Ajimobi’s office. The fire, which started at about 11.30am from the server in the office, was a result of power surge.

When the smoke being emitted was confirmed, a distress call was put through to officers of the Oyo State Fire Service. An eyewitness said that before the state fire service team arrived the scene, four fire extinguishers from the office were put to use.

Senior Fire Superintendent, Omotayo Paul, who led the team to the scene, told newsmen that they responded three minutes after the distress call. “We had a distress call about the incident around 11.30am and got here three minutes later.

tor, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is a bundle of contradictions because “it has added no value to the sectors that it is supposed to superintend.” “The power sector is in the worst crisis in the last 25 years. The public works department is in complete shambles. The renewed emphasis on housing is a way for the minister and his cronies to make money. It will not solve the lingering housing crisis in Nigeria,’’ he added. The former legislator also took a swipe at the president over the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. “There is the additional scandalous conundrum, whereby one individual is the de facto CEO of NNPC, which is a civil service appointment. The same person is also the Minister of State

for Petroleum Resources, which is a political appointment,’’ he pointed out. Mohammed further said that Buhari is the Minister of Petroleum Resources only in name “because he doesn’t run the ministry on a day to day basis, which is the job of a Minister and GMD of NNPC.” According to him, Buhari’s perception about how to run the ministry and the petroleum sector generally is “so rustic that he has no value to add to that important sector of national life.” The social critic, however, gave kudos to the president’s war on corruption, adding that: “Before the coming of this administration, corruption was and still is the number one problem of the country.”

The Sunday Magazine

Stadium disasters and Dapo Sotuminu and Tunde Sulaiman

ith an estimated death of about 1,442 people, since the first documented football stadium disaster in 1902 at Ibrox Park, Glasgow 25 when the West Stand collapsed during an international game between England and Scotland, there have been a lot of disasters in the history of the sport. This is probably due to the fact that football is the most popular sport in the world. In fact, it is often due to the sheer number of fans in the stadium during football games that often make effect management very difficult, which perhaps explains the high casualty rates often associated with the ‘beautiful game’ when things do go awry. With an estimated 3.5 billion fans, football is the world’s most popular sport. Stadiums like FC Barcelona's Camp Nou sometimes house over 100,000 fans and often exceed maximum capacity. Combined with the charged environment, it's a recipe that can lead to riots and stampedes. Often, police forces present at the matches aren’t equipped or prepared for these situations; even in the event that they are, a long list of incidents attests to their general inability to control large crowds of football fans across board. Of history’s 35 deadliest sporting disasters, 22 which amount to 63 per cent, occurred at football matches - easily outplaying the second deadliest sport for spectators across the world. Last Sunday, May 15, a near disaster was averted in England, at the Old Trafford, the home ground of Manchester United as the team prepared for the kick-off of the final 2016 English Premier League season’s game against visiting Bournemouth FC, with the 75,635 capacity stadium filled with supporters of the two teams already seated. Old Trafford is the largest club stadium of any football team in the United Kingdom, the third-largest stadium and the second-largest football stadium in the United Kingdom, and the eleventh-largest in Europe. Nicknamed “The Theatre of Dreams” by Bobby Charlton, Old Trafford has been United's home ground since 1910. Old Trafford underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, including the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East Stands, almost returning the stadium to its original capacity of 80,000. Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to around 95,000. Before the match kick-off, there was a bomb scare alert from some persons that went to one of the stadium’s toilets. A later statement by police said the device had been inadvertently left in a toilet during an earlier training exercise involving sniffer dogs. The scare was set off after Manchester United staff found a suspicious device in a toilet in the northwest corner of one of the stands. Especially as the series of events came amid tightened security at Premier League stadiums following last year's Paris attacks that targeted the Stade de France sports stadium as well as cafes, bars and a concert hall. It also followed the British government's announcement three days earlier that it was raising the nation's threat level due to intelligence indicating the "strong possibility" of attacks in Britain by factions of the outlawed Irish Republican Army. Ordinarily an announcement of a possible bomb in the stadium over the loudspeaker system should have been enough

to trigger off the human’s natural instinct for survival with a mad surge by the spectators to get as far away as possible from the danger. However, the situation at Old Trafford on that day was magical and also miraculous. Despite the scary situation, which caused massive inconvenience to both supporters and the players, who were already on the pitch lumbering up getting ready for kick off, large numbers of stewards, police officers and the army's bomb squad, setting aside their own personal safety, started evacuating the over 70,000 football fans from the huge edifice with utmost precision. After the evacuation of the fans, the professionalism of the police and stewards responsible for getting the fans out, and the calmness and cooperation of the supporters during the exercise, was described as the Miracle of Old Trafford, as the English Football Association and football federations across the world have been saying it is unacceptable that the miraculous evacuation of 80,000 spectators with no stampede or any form of casualties really happened in the first place. The evacuation - the first of its type in the UK - was a

complete success. The Premier League rescheduled the match for Tuesday. United said it was investigating the incident. Incidentally, the May 15 match was the first Premier League game ever to be postponed because of a bomb threat. The last major deadly football stadium stampede in England happened in 1989 on April 15, at the Hillborough Stadium, with 96 deaths and 766 non-fatal injuries. The Hillsborough disaster, a human crush at Hillsborough football stadium remains the worst disaster in British sporting history. It remains one of the world's worst football disasters. It happened during the 1988 - 89 FA Cup semi-final game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, played at the neutral venue of Hillsborough, home ground of Sheffield Wednesday. The stampede happened when the gates were opened, thousands of fans entered a narrow tunnel leading to the rear of the terrace into two overcrowded central pens creating pressure at the front. Hundreds of people were pressed against one another and the fencing by the weight of the crowd behind them. People entering were un-

aware of the problems at the fence; police or stewards usually stood at the entrance to the tunnel and, when the central pens reached capacity, directed fans to the side pens, but on this occasion, for reasons not fully explained, did not. The referee, Ray Lewis, on the advice of the police, stopped the match after fans climbed the fence in an effort to escape the crush and went onto the track. By this time, a small gate in the fence had been forced open and some fans escaped via this route, as others continued to climb over the fencing. The police attempted to stop fans from spilling onto the pitch. Other fans were pulled to safety by fans in the West Stand. The intensity of the crush broke the crush barriers on the terraces. Holes in the perimeter fencing were made by fans desperately attempting to rescue others. Those trapped were packed so tightly in the pens that many victims died of compressive asphyxia while standing. The crowd in the Leppings Lane Stand overspilled onto the pitch, where many injured and traumatised fans congregated who had climbed to safety. Police, stewards and members of the St John Ambulance service were overwhelmed. Many uninjured fans assisted the injured; several attempted CPR and others tore down advertising hoardings to use as stretchers. But soccer disasters are not limited to the western world alone Nigeria and indeed the African continent also had their own share of the unfortunate eventualities. The first football stadium disaster in Nigeria occurred in 1977 at the National Stadium, Lagos, during an FA Cup semi-final match between two traditional rival clubsides - Enugu Rangers and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan. The Lagos National Stadium in SuruLere was filled beyond its 45,000 capacity before the kick-off of the match. And to send hundreds of soccer fans still wanting to gain entry into the already filled stadium, the stadium authority ordered one of the main gate shut. Those assigned to shut three out of the five gates forgot to open it when the match started and it remained shut even after the match. The

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

Sunday Magazine

the miracle of Old Trafford surging crowd after the match, unaware that the gates were shut, headed towards the direction in their hundreds. A stampede ensued as fans started climbing over those who fell to the ground. The very heavy gate was forced opened and it fell on some other supporters who were already outside. At the end of the day, nine soccer fans were confirmed dead while hundreds were fatally injured. The slow response of rescue workers increased the number of injuries. Nigeria’s second soccer stadium disaster happened two years after the first one. In this, five fans were crushed to death and more than a dozen were hospitalised when, following Nigeria's 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Egypt, the crowd of 40,000 headed for exits only to find three of the five main gates locked. Nigeria’s third soccer stadium disaster which happened in August 1979 was more fatal than the first two as 24 fans died and 27 were injured in a stampede following floodlight issues in a match involving IICC Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance. Another stadium disaster only happened in Nigeria 20 years after the Lagos National Stadium stampede, incidentally it happened again at the same venue in 1997 in a World Cup qualifiers match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Syli Nationale of Guinea. The match was played under the floodlights, soon after the game which Nigeria won, the stadium authority decided to switch off the lights as a measure to decongest the stadium. This led to stampede as the 40,000 football fans started looking for escape routes to leave the stadium. Five fans were crushed to death as 40,000 try to leave National Stadium in Lagos after Nigeria/Guinea World Cup qualifier.

On November 7, 2014, two persons died and 20 others injured in a stampede that happened at the entrance of Akwa Ibom International Stadium during the inauguration of the stadium. Crowd control was a difficult task in spite of the road blocks mounted some kilometres away from the stadium. Although the spectators got tickets to enable them access the 30, 000 capacity stadium, close to 100,000 fans thronged to the stadium about five hours ahead of the scheduled time for the match between the Home-based Super Eagles and Ghana’s Under-23 team, the Black Meteors. The security operatives at some check points used horse whips and teargas to control the crowd. In March 2014, at least 15 job seekers died while many more sustained varying degrees of injury during a stampede at the

National Stadium in Abuja, the venue of a recruitment test by the Nigeria Immigrations Service (NIS). Several thousands of job-seekers thronged the stadium to take the test, but Immigration officials made available only one entrance to the 60,000-capacity stadium. An applicant who turned back after seeing the crowd said it was clear that the applicants were more than 60,000. At least 40 of the injured were admitted at the National Hospital in Abuja, a source at the hospital said, several others were referred to other hospitals due to lack of capacity to admit and treat all those injured. A source at the hospital said he expected the death toll to rise. In April 2016, what would have been the most fatal football stadium disaster in Africa was averted as an estimated 40,000 supporters packed into the 16,000 capacity Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna to

‘How I survived 1979 Sports City stampede’ Sunday Telegraph spoke with one of the eyewitnesses of the 1979 National Stadium stampede who said only God saved him from the stampede. Thirty seven years ago, Nigeria witnessed one of its darkest days in sports when 24 fans died and another 27 were injured in a stampede following floodlight incident at the National Stadium, Surelere, Lagos. The match played that balmy August day was the Challenge Cup semi-final game between some of the nation’s biggest football teams - IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Bendel Insurance. Unlike the present day when the influx of satellite television has kept fans away from the stadia because they can now watch their favourite stars from the comfort of their living rooms, back then, football fans flocked to the stadium in droves to watch their much-loved teams in the flesh. And there was no bigger match-up in domestic football then than between the rivals from the West in the shape of IICC and their foes from the then Mid-west in Bendel Insurance and thus, the stage was set for a mammoth crowd at the nation’s top sports venue – the National Stadium, Surulere. In order to be able to get tickets to watch the epic match, which was seen as a revenge mission by IICC supporters, having seen their team beaten in the semifinal stage of the same competition the preceding year; at the ‘Sports City’ as the venue was also fondly called, was already

bubbling with humanity as fans milled about more than eight hours to the official kick off, which was scheduled for 6pm. The game kicked off as scheduled without any premonition of the tragedy that was to unfold after, with the Ibadan outfit getting her pound of flesh beating the Bendel Insurance 2-1 to the utter delight of IICC fans. However, whatever joy they had at the sound of the referee’s whistle signalling the end of the pulsating encounter was soon to be cut short when without warning the flood lights went off, plunging the huge edifice with over 60,000 fans into total darkness while fans were still making their way out of the stands. This unforeseen incident immediately caused a surge with frightened fans rushing towards the exit gates, which for some yet-to-be explained reason were not opened. The mass of humanity behind on the staircases leaving the terraces crushed those pushed up against the giant unopened gates with tragic consequences. “Luckily for me, being smallish in size, as soon as I found leaving difficult, I backtracked with much difficulty, as I was fighting against the crush of fans going in the opposite direction trying to leave the pitch dark stadium. But perhaps God still had something for me to look forward to, so somehow, I was given some superhuman power, which enabled me, despite my small size, to fight against the tide going the other way and returned to the stands where I decided to tarry a while.

“And so after about half an hour of waiting (not really sure about how long now because it happened so long ago), I again decided to leave the terrace after noticing that the surge had drastically reduced. Lo and behold, this time around, I was able to leave but walking down the ramp I noticed shoes, bags, wristwatches and other personal effects strewn across the floor. Little did I realise I was to see even more by the time I got to the bottom of the ramp, when I came across people who appeared to be sleeping on the floor! Little did I know that they were actually dead! “Back in the day, there was no social media to broadcast instant news and so it was only when I got home that I heard, courtesy of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) (which was the only television outfit at the time), that 11 people actually died and those people I saw ‘sleeping’ were some of the dead. It was very much later that I even learnt that of the 24 people that died, sadly, three of them were students of Mayflower School, Ikenne. “One can only thank the Almighty for sparing the life of a young innocent football fan on that fateful and deadly night. It was later discovered that the stadium lights had been switched off because at that time, whenever they were on, it affected power supply to the neighbouring areas around the ‘Sports City’. Thus they were switched off abruptly in order to free up electricity for households in the vicinity!”

watch Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Egypt. This frenzied atmosphere was caused by a decision by the Kaduna State government to open the gates free to fans to attend the crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Hours before kick-off supporters started arriving, with some scaling fences to find their way in. Some were even pictured clambering up floodlight scaffolding to gain a vantage point. Thousands of the supporters sat on the tartan tracks round the pitch as there was no space to sit in the stand again. The Accra Sport Stadium disaster stood out as the most fatal soccer stadium disaster in Africa with 127 people dead. This occurred at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, Ghana on May 9, 2001, during a match between Ghana's two most successful football teams, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club and Asante Kotoko. Trouble had been anticipated, and extra security measures had been taken. The home side scored two late goals to defeat Kotoko 2-1 which led to disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch. The response to this crowd disturbance from the police was to fire tear gas into the crowd. Panic ensued and a resulting stampede led to the deaths from compressive asphyxia of 127 people. An official inquiry blamed police for over-reacting with reckless behaviour and indiscriminate firing of plastic bullets and tear gas. It also accused some officers of dishonesty and indefensible laxity. Reports claim that medical staff had already left the stadium, as the incident happened near the end of the match. Some gates were locked, preventing escape. Six police officers were charged with 127 counts of manslaughter afterwards, but the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to make a case. Ghanaian football fans remember the disaster on May 9 each year. Various incidences of football stadium disaster happened across Africa. In April 2001, 43 people were killed during a match at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, when several thousand fans tried to force their way into the packed stadium. Several of those killed were crushed to death inside the stadium as they were trying to create space for people who had made their way onto the packed terraces. Once officials realised the seriousness of the situation, the game was called off and the field was used to treat the injured. The Ellis Park disaster was not the first time that a game between the two clubs had resulted in lives being lost. Ten years earlier, 41people were crushed to death in a stampede during a pre-season friendly match in the small mining town of Orkney. Just over two weeks later, at least seven people were killed when police fired tear-gas at a rioting crowd in a stadium in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the ensuing stampede, 50 were injured. Last year, 12 Zimbabweans were killed during a World Cup qualifier between Zimbabwe and South Africa. Bafana had taken a two-goal lead shortly before the end of the match and Zimbabwean fans started throwing bottles and other objects onto the field. In an attempt to control the situation, police fired tear gas into the stands and in the ensuing stampede, the victims were killed. Zimbabwean authorities at first blamed the political opposition for organising protest, but later the police reaction was criticised. The world governing body FIFA temporarily prohibited international matches to take place in the arena.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Fayemi to UK Parliamentarians: Nigeria open for investment

inister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has urged Britain to take advantage of the abundant minerals deposits in Nigeria and the enabling environment being created by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to invest in the country’s mining sector. Fayemi, who addressed British parliamentarians and investors at a session organised by the All-Party Parliamentarian Group (APPG) on Nigeria at the Parliament, Westminster, London, urged them to shun negative views about the country, which according to him are usually unduly exaggerated. He said the perception about Nigeria is often skewed in favour of neg-

ative stereotypes that are contrary to the reality on ground. The Minister, who also presented copies of the Mining Roadmap recently developed by the ministry to the parliamentarians, said President Muhammadu Buhari, is at the forefront of the efforts to convince investors that Nigeria is open for investment. He added that the President’s strategic diplomatic engagement, has helped in giving the country a new image as a worthwhile investment destination. Specifically, Fayemi urged the British investors to consider the country’s mining sector for investment, even as he categorised the country’s mineral deposits into five groups, vis: industrial

minerals (such as barite, kaolin, limestone); energy minerals (such as bitumen and uranium); metallic ore minerals (gold, iron ore , copper), Construction minerals (granite, gravel) and precious stones (sapphire, emerald, topaz). He reinstated the commitment of the administration to making solid minerals a major revenue earner and a vehicle for job creation in the country. “In 2015, the sector contributed approximately 0.33% to the gross domestic product of the country. This contribution is a reversal from historically higher percentages (about 4-5% in the 1960s70s). Our policy goal is to return to a contribution level of 5% - 7% over the

next 10 – 15 years, and the recently approved Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) is very supportive of this aspiration.” Fayemi said. The Minister, who noted Britain’s involvement in the development of mining in Jos and Enugu dating back to 1902, also urged the country to invest in Nigeria’s steel sector, which current market size is $3.3 billion per annum. The Minister who spoke on ‘Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Sector: Alternative investment opportunities’, however, emphasised that environmental justice and transparency are two of the critical factors that would not be compromised in the sector.

Lagos declares traffic diversions as Buhari pays working visit on campaign promises Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Government yesterday said that there will be traffic diversion in some parts of the state as President Muhammadu Buhari pays a two-day working visit to the state on Monday. Hence, the state government urged residents to bear with law enforcement agents and traffic control authorities who will effect road diversions in some of the routes that the President’s motorcade will pass through during the visit. In a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the state government formally welcomes the President , saying it will be Buhari’s first official visit to the state since he assumed office about a year ago. The government, which said the visit which is the

first time in about 15years that a sitting President will be visiting the state on a working visit, also described president’s visit as a testimony to the landmark achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as well as the good working relationship between Lagos State and the Federal Government. Ayorinde added that, Buhari during the visit, would formally commission the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Rescue Unit in Cappa Oshodi, built by the state government to ensure prompt and swift response to emergency situations in the state. He said the President will thereafter commission the newly constructed Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo after which he will pay homage to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Rilwanu Aremu Akiolu, at Iga Iduganran, Lagos Island.

S’West NANS backs Buhari over fuel subsidy removal Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

L-R: Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council Of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Kankarofi; Chairman, Board of Association, Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Ayo Owoborode and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, at the 43rd Annual General Meeting of AAAN in Uyo…yesterday PHOTO:NAN

OoniofIfe,GTBankboss,DabiriErewatospeakinCanada

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; GTBank boss, Segun Agbaje; Honourable Abike DabiriErewa and other top personalities in Nigeria will be speaking at ‘The Change Leadership’ series at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Toronto, Canada. Speaking with journalists ahead of the conference, billed to hold July 6-8, the convener, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta, said the survival of organisations in Nigeria required leaders who would successfully lead change and innovations. “Leaders must be responsive to change, mobilise and motivate employees. We are putting together the ‘Change Leadership Executive Roundtable’ to provide a forum to help and equip leaders to successfully lead change in times of economic uncertainties.” While insisting that Nigerian companies understood the philosophy of change, she said most fell in the struggle to remain relevant and successful. She stated: “This roundtable is an opportunity to bolster our effectiveness in leading change to drive higher returns on investment and collectively move the Nigerian economy forward. And one of the ways this can be done is through effective change leadership.” The CEO of Olive Blue informed that the conference was an annual Pan-African corporate and entrepreneurial sequence of events aimed at driving positive change by empowering leaders, entrepreneurs and corporations to become effective change leaders and to lead transformational change.

No plans to re-register members, says Plateau PDP

The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked reports making the round in the state that the party is embarking on re-registration of its members. The party also said it has discovered that some misguided elements have been going about deceiving members that they will conduct re-registration of members. In a statement signed by the newly elected state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. John Akans and made available to newsmen in Jos, the party stated: “It has come to the notice of the newly elected executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau state that some misguided elements are going about deceiving citizens of the state by re-registering members of our great party PDP. “The party wishes to debunk the rumour that there is nothing of such organised by the new exco of the party. “The party wishes to put it on record that congresses from wards, local governments, states and zonal levels have been successfully conducted on the 30th of April, 5th of May and 14th of May respectfully.”

ntel announces data offer, outlets in Abuja ntel, Nigeria’s 4G/LTE network provider, has announced a new offer with unlimited data for three months as well as the opening of new outlets in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The new outlets will serve as SIM redemption and purchase points for Abuja residents as the company continues to spread its coverage in the capital city. The new centres are Zeph Associates Limited, Suite 003, Plot 139, 4th Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja; Correspondence Limited, Suite AA6, Kirmu Plaza, Plot 710, I.T. Igbani street, Jabi, Abuja; Gaddison Phone Com. Limited, No. 40, Ladoke Akintola Crescent, opposite Garki II market, Abuja and Alennsar Infinity Com Nigeria Limited, Plot 1221, opposite Banex Plaza, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Under the terms of the ‘Smart Phone data weekly’ and ‘Smart phone data monthly’ offers, subscribers who pay N3,000 or N10,000 for one week or one month bundle respectively will enjoy unlimited data for three months so long as they recharge. Speaking on the new offer and outlets, Kamar Abass, CEO of ntel said his company will “gradually but consistently open outlets across the cities where we will have coverage in order to bring our unique service closer to the people while providing them with unbeatable offers that provide them access to superfast internet and unlimited data.”

s controversy continued to trail the removal of fuel subsidy, the South West zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday said the decision was one of the sacrifices Nigerians must make to move the country forward. The students’ body said fuel subsidy had over the years stifled the growth of the nation’s economy, pointing out that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to deregulate the downstream oil sector and remove subsidy was in order. Addressing a news conference in Abeokuta, the NANS South West Coordinator, Comrade Okikiola

Ogunsola, called on Nigerians to support Buhari’s current efforts to stamp out corruption in the oil and gas industry. Ogunsola, who was flanked by other NANS leaders from the six states in the zone, however, urged the Federal Government to provide necessary palliatives and increase the minimum wage of workers in order to immediately ease the burden of fuel subsidy removal on the Nigerian masses. He commended Buhari for taking the bold step after due consultations with necessary stakeholders. He said NANS did not support the immediate past administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 because the then government was not trusted.

Four FUTA students die in auto crash Babatope Okeowo

Akure

our students of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) were confirmed dead while others were injured in a motor accident that occurred along the Akure/Ilesha road in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Sources said the students were travelling to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to attend a religious function. Witnesses gave different accounts of the accident but all of them agreed

that four students died instantly while others sustained various degrees of injuries. According to one of the witnesses, the students who were members of the Redeem Campus Fellowship just ended a vigil at the school premises and 15 of them said they had missionary activities in Ibadan, which made them to travel. It was shortly after they left the perimeter fence of the campus that the accident happened claiming the lives of four of them instantly.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

OPINION

Nimbo attack and Ugwuanyi’s responsible leadership Uwakwe Abugu

n the wake of the mindless killings at Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State last month, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi literally put on the apparels of a stoic philosopher. And he capped that stance with his usual steadfast clinging to invocation of God when grisly circumstances tend to violate the sanctity of his well-ordered administrative style, as the Nimbo attack really did. There is no gainsaying the fact that within this trying period as the incident proved to be, the governor proved himself a good leader who knows the way, goes the way and clearly shows the way, just as philosopher John Maxwell postulates. It was a period when all manner of perceived and imagined enemies turned social commentators overnight using various platforms to throw unwarranted jabs at Governor Ugwuanyi on the propriety, the efficacy or otherwise of his strategic handling of the very delicate situation he had at hand as the chief security officer of the state. His hint at Nimbo on April 26 on how he did all that were humanly possible to nip the bloody incident in the bud did not really matter to the studied traducers. However, always running his mind back to the saying that caution is the eldest child of wisdom, the state chief executive, after weeping on coming face-to-face with the mangled remains of a headmaster of a school in the community who was felled by the marauding Fulani herdsmen, he quickly rallied his elements back to the daunting challenge at hand in line with the wise counsel of another wise saying – “catch not the shadow and lose the substance”. Hence, when some called for irrational measures like reprisals or deportation of herdsmen from Enugu, even from Igbo land as a whole, the pacifist governor called for prayers and fasting while engaging Mr. President shortly at Aso Rock Villa for a more fundamental na-

tional salvage action to tame the dangerous scourge that has been literally scooping blood and visiting destruction on parts of the country. At the end of his various shuttle diplomatic moves in Abuja and within Enugu State, the present outpouring of commendations on the governor from very critical stakeholders for showing astute leadership in his handling of the crisis so far has profusely vindicated him. And they came from individuals and groups, including even the Fulani and Shuwa Arab leaders in the state. Again, it is clear that his handling of the Nimbo attack has undoubtedly changed the federal official stance on the menace of herdsmen in parts of the country. Thus, the amiable Enugu governor has paved the way for a national road map on taming the scourge of Fulani herdsmen attacks on farmers and members of their host communities. Those who came calling in sympathy with the governor and the people of the state included representatives of forum of governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who is chairman of the forum of APC governors, led the delegation to Enugu on May3, 2016, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for showing maturity and for not allowing the matter to escalate despite its level of provo-

cation. Also speaking on the occasion, chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and the governor of Borno State and member of the delegation, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, commended Ugwuanyi for all the steps taken since the Nimbo incident broke out. Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some stakeholders visited twice and, through their spokesman and Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, declared on their behalf on each occasion that the governor had done them proud by his resilient leadership in the handling of the matter. Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State had also come calling along with an entourage to show solidarity with the Enugu governor over the Nimbo killings, saying his government and the people of Anambra State were solidly behind their sister state in this crisis. Obiano had come just moments after a delegation of the South East Traditional Rulers’ Council departed Government House Enugu after their own sympathy visit. Both group of visitors on solidarity visits on May 13, 2016, commended the governor for the caliber of leadership he exhibited that worked to stave off further bloody crisis in the wake of the Nimbo attack. And the monarchs led by His Royal Majesty, Eze Eberechi N. Dick particularly held

Again, it is clear that his handling of the Nimbo attack has undoubtedly changed the federal official stance on the menace of herdsmen in parts of the country. Thus, the amiable Enugu governor has paved the way for a national road map on taming the scourge of Fulani herdsmen attacks on farmers and members of their host communities

the governor in high esteem as one their sons in position of authority with a very clear level head for the arduous task of governing Enugu, the capital of the South East region. On the day the Enugu State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to show solidarity with the governor, the spokesmen of the group were clearly on the same page with the governor in seeking the recourse to the path of peace and seeking God’s intervention in the herdsmen crisis. State chairman of CAN, Rt. Rev. Christian Obiefuna, came along with other notable clergymen like the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Enugu (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Christopher Ede among others. They commended Ugwuanyi for his stewardship, peaceful disposition and recourse to God through prayers, especially during the period of the Nimbo crisis, stressing that the governor “did not abandon his people”. Also from Governor Ugwuanyi’s kinsmen, who came under Nsukka General Assembly made up of people of the Nsukka cultural zone of Enugu State, came a verdict of commendation. Led by Emeritus Professor, Lawrence Ocho, and former Information Minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the group commended the governor for the effective way he handled the sad incident which has remained a rude shock to the people of the zone. Beholding the turn of events, that is, from the hectic time of mindless release of abuses when the incident broke out, to a situation where the presidency is wielding the big stick against the herdsmen for the first time at his prompting, and now being inundated with accolades for show of astute leadership, Governor Ugwuanyi now laughs last. And he keeps telling the people of Enugu that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal, and that neither heat nor cold abides always in the sky. Abugu, wrote from Abuja

The war on JAMB’s CBT: The perpetrators Peter Quil

et’s do a little experiment. Note what comes to mind when you read the following acronyms for international exams: SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, CIPFA, MCAT. Are you there yet? Having traced this picture, try and think of the processes involved. The mode of examination. How results are collated, analyzed and reported. Now let’s try the same thing with this new acronym: UTME. You blinked, admit it. And of course, you have every right to. The easiest comparisons still place international examination standards light years ahead of anything Nigeria has pulled off. And it is no secret. You didn’t have to be a seasoned educator or a highly trained analyst to know that we really need to up the ante if our education system is going to survive the dire need for better trained professionals in the future. It has become common knowledge. It is therefore incredibly ironic that we would battle and refute the logic of a professor in Testing and Measurement, with over thirty years of experience at various points in the education system, when he says we need to embrace the technological age. What amazes more is that many of these protests are being led by young people, and

their rants are loudest on social media!! Why would there be a protest against technology by children of the technological age? Why would there be staunch opposition to getting results via text when these days our phones need to be surgically removed from us and our thumbs have evolved into delicate communication devices rather than grasping tools? It does not, therefore, take a genius intellect or a talent in clairvoyance to reveal that those behind the protests against adopting the CBT are people who simply stand more to gain over a well-oiled system of manipulation via pen and paper. Yes, exam centre “manag-

ers”, we are talking about you. As Professor Ojerinde said: “The organisers of the protest did not do it in the interest of the candidates but done as a result of their frustration due to their inability to perpetuate their planned acts of irregularities. Majority of these people who are frustrated collected huge sums of money from the candidates, they were the organisers of the protest, and we have adequate information to prove it.” With the CBT’s capabilities curbing the power that these malevolent meddling middlemen had over candidates, and the very reality of it becoming a nationwide staple,

Had the youths, who were deceived into following these protests knew of the safeguards being put in place for their own interest, they would have questioned much that was reported to them by these vanguards of vice. However, their first point of call remained the test centres, and it was from there that they were misdirected and fed lies about the CBT process

there were more than a few who soon came to realize their opportunities for leeching fast money off of young hopefuls would cease to exist. JAMB wanted to deal closely with its candidates from now on, and would see that their exams were written properly! That their scores would be recorded without manipulation! That no one would use extortion to withhold results! Had the youths, who were deceived into following these protests knew of the safeguards being put in place for their own interest, they would have questioned much that was reported to them by these vanguards of vice. However, their first point of call remained the test centres, and it was from there that they were misdirected and fed lies about the CBT process. The new approach by JAMB is not centred on rumour or the inclinations of a single individual. Rather it is the hard work of an organisation that has been careful, patient and strategic in the fulfilling of its mandate, a fact that can be attested to by the large amount of statistics that JAMB collates on a regular basis. It is a scientific approach, responsive to the needs of the education sector and the country at large. Quil, wrote from the United Kingdom

Sunday Mail

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

thesundayletters@gmail. com and sundayletters@ newtelegraphonline.com

Pastoral terrorists on the rampage Dear Editor, Cows are cantankerous animals with cankerworms in their brains! Cows can go mad and destroy any living or non-living things in sight! If dogs, goats, fowls, and other domestic animals are prohibited by law from being let loose in the communities, why should the Federal Government play dead to the menace of cows which roam peaceful communities dangerously? Apart from the health hazards and dangers posed by loose cows that deposit dung and scabies anyhow in their trail, the herdsmen have turned to murderers and farms destroyers, kidnappers in recent time! Cattle rearers now carry unlicensed arms and ammunition to terrorise and victimise agrarian communities provocatively! Their cows on major roads at times break cars’ windscreens and mirrors with horns! Why do the Fulani herdsmen engage in impunity and act dangerously as if Nigeria were a jungle and lawless society? If anyone desires to rear cattle, why not confine the herds to their kraals and ranches instead of constituting nuisance and danger in this modern society! Let the Federal Government act in the national interest and enforce the law against these pastoral terrorists on rampage! Kunle Rotimi, Lagos.

Road to job creation, mass production Dear Editor, 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

MAIL BAG

* Letters to the Editor

The Sunday Telegraph

(

SMS

08037613380 Normal message fees apply

ICC and what the world expects Dear Editor,

Judge Silvia Fernandez, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), delivered a speech at the opening of the permanent headquarters of the ICC, in The Hague, with the title: ‘The International Criminal Court is here to stay’. This speech was published in The Guardian of Tuesday, April 19, 2016, as International Criminal Court of last resort. The idea of the ICC seems one of the good things to happen to the world after the establishment of the police and the construction of prisons, ever since money was invented. Man is destructive without control and reproach. Human beings, by their nature, especially the powerful and the influential people, are Olorunsogo market traders, protesting over the planned demolition of the market by the Lagos State Government generally oppressive which sometimes lead to callous PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE ness. Man’s inhumanity to man, world over, is greater economy to corporate or compitiable economic plight of Force officers, Nigerian than man’s wickedness to mercial economy. the Nigerian people, which Navy, Nigeria Police Force, animals and the environment An economy of formal enneeded to be changed for the Civil Defence, Immigration combined. No other animals terprises and not of informal good of all. As we at June 12 Officers, Prison Service, can match this record. It enterprises. Formal economy Coalition celebrate the exit of Federal Road Safety, is heart warming that as and not informal economy. this legend of democracy, it is Nigeria Customs officers, Dear Editor, at today, 124 states have Edevbie, as a former commisour fervent prayer and wish Vigilante groups or even The June 12 Coalition ratified the Rome Statute on sioner of finance and current that the Almighty grant Man O War, the story of Democratic Formations ICC and subscribed to the commissioner of finance of him eternal rest, give the is the same and in Fela’s (J12CODEF) celebrates the tenets of this judicial body. Delta State should know family, friends and associwords – “they leave sorrow, life and time of an indeAll rational states should that charity begins at home tears and blood as their ates the fortitude to bear the fatigable, consistent, dogged, be involved in this laudable (Delta State). regular trademark”. irreparable loss and the comfiery activist, lawyer, politiproject. Yes, a permanent In Ibori’s eight years There seems to be a spirit mitment to carry on from cian, humanist, welfarist, international court that in office as governor, he that comes upon security where he handed over in the statesman, nationalist per could prosecute individuals created more than 50,000 officers the moment they struggle for good governance excellence, and unwavering irrespective of their former informal enterprises, all put on their uniforms. That Trojan of democratic struggle in Nigeria. or current official position have died. Billions of naira same spirit instantly makes in Nigeria, the late Dr. Tunji is a revolutionary idea. was wasted. Ibori did not Alfred Ilenre and Nelson them serial oppressors; they Braithwaite who transited ICC needs more advocacy, revive the economy of Delta suddenly become super-huEkujumi, Lagos. unto higher service on March State - Bendel Glass was not mans and from then on their efficiency and effectiveness 28, 2016. Braithwaite left in order to impact the world revived, Bendel Steel was not relationship with civilians his footprints in the political and to be seen as a revolurevived, Asaba Textiles was is a prey/predator situation. history of Nigeria because tionary idea. not revived, Sapele Plywood Take our highways as a case, of his focused and resolute The court needs more Industry was not revived, if you are pulled over by the commitments to the welfare advocacies to embrace those just to mention a few. police, military officers or of the Nigerian masses to Former Governor Emany security agent, you have states, that due to stubDear Editor, whom he dedicated his life manuel Uduaghan created to in your best interest act as bornness and lack of vision Let us revisit the alleged and professional practice as of their leaders, have not 112,000 informal enterprises a mannequin; one cannot as assault on a female member a lawyer of repute till his last signed the Rome Statute. in his eight years in office, much as argue his own date of the House of Representabreath. This is the way we can best all are dead. Billions of of birth, complexion or even tives, Mrs. Onyemaechi At about age 30, Dr. ensure together that the new naira wasted. He did not what you had for breakfast if Mrakpor. While totally Braithwaite as a young lawbuilding of the Court berevive Bendel Glass, Bendel you are avoiding battery. condemning the alleged act, yer stamped his feet in the comes a true icon of justice Steel, Asaba Textiles, Sapele In Benin City, it is almost I am moved to question, political and legal lexicon of for future generations. Most Plywood Industry and other why the anger, interest, total an abomination to drive a Nigeria as one of the defence national courts are weak moribund enterprises. It is flashy car when you are or condemnation and summon counsels of the late Premier and ineffective because of shameful! look below 35. The police of the Minister of Interior of Western Region, Chief corruption and impunity of Today, Governor Okowa will pull you over and and Nigerian Prison boss? Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo the leaders. has promised to create 6,000 charge you with ‘driving Are these lawmakers even during his trial for treason informal enterprises every while young’ (IDWY). This in Nigeria? Are they aware in 1963. Braithwaite’s Olufemi Oyedele, Lagos six months instead of revivI have not only witnessed of the treatment the rest of indomitable commitment to ing Bendel Glass, Bendel but experienced. In their us are subjected to on daily the welfare of the people was YOU HAVE A RIGHT Steel, Asaba Textiles, Sapele wisdom and in my view, basis? I momentarily took made manifest by his foray Plywood Industry and other their lack of it, young people TO BE HEARD! SEND myself on a mental excurinto active politics which moribund enterprises. Doing driving flashy cars must sion to previous events YOUR LETTERS AND culminated in his forming the same thing all over again? have engaged in dishonest I have either witnessed, the Nigeria Advance Party PHOTOGRAPHS TO What a shame! Formal enterventures to afford such cars. experienced and, or read/ (NAP), a welfarist centred THESUNDAYLETTERS@ prises are the solution and not Our national leaders heard about; the encounter political party, under whose GMAIL.COM. LETTERS informal enterprises. Only should know that what goes of the lawmaker does not platform he contested for the formal enterprises can bring around may take a long time. SHOULD NOT BE MORE even sufficiently define the Presidency in 1983. about decent jobs and mass In the end, it would come magnitude of terrible treatTHAN 200 WORDS AND His contribution to the production. around. ments other Nigerians face struggle against military MUST HAVE THE NAME every time from security rule and mis-governance in AND ADDRESS OF THE Omohakpor Enaye, Emmanuel Onofua, Nigeria drew attention to the officers. Be it Army or Air SENDER Delta State Abuja, FCT

Braithwaite, a symbol of the struggle

The Honourable assault and the rest of us

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

news

Abducted Kwara APC Chair, Scribe freed Biodun Oyeleye

T Ilorin

he abducted Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, AlhajiIshola BalogunFulani and the party’s secretary, Chief Bode Adekanye have been released. The APC chiefs were said to have been rescued by men of the Kogi State Police Command at about 6.30pm yesterday. The Kwara State APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Suly-

man Buhari, who broke the news of the release by telephone, said the duo were rescued by men of the Kogi State Police Command. He said no ransom was paid for their release. He added that the freed men will pass the night in Lokoja and return to Ilorin today (Sunday). Balogun-Fulani and Adekanye were kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Okene-Lokoja road while returning from Abuja on Friday. The kidnappers subsequently made a N50million

demand before they would be released. Efforts to speak with the duo proved abortive as calls put to their mobile lines were not answered. The men, who kidnapped the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani and the party’s secretary, Chief Bode Adekanye, had earlier demanded a N50 million ransom for their release. It was learnt that the abductors made the demand Friday night when they al-

lowed the APC chieftains to speak with their family members. A close aide of Adekanye, who spoke with newsmen in confidence, confirmed the development and claimed the abductors were told to accept N10 million and that they agreed. “In fact, our people are on their way to Okene-Lokoja axis for a possible location of the abductors’ hideout with a view to paying the ransom and securing the release of our chairman, and secretary,” he said.

Ambode to inaugurate projects worth N1bn in LASU Mojeed Alabi

he Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, is set to hold its 20th Convocation ceremony with eight out of the total number of 17, 695 graduating students to bag First Class degree certificates in various programmes. This is as the university has promised to offer automatic employment to the eight First Class graduates upon the completion of the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme. This was revealed by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, while addressing the media ahead of the Convocation ceremony. Fagbohun was full of appreciation to the visitors to the university and Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for what he described as the massive financial and moral support his administration has continued to offer the institution.

The VC, who also announced that the institution will be inaugurating major projects worth more than N1 billion including the new Faculty of Science Building and the university’s radio station, also revealed that the new Chancellor for the university, Justice George Oguntade, will be formally installed. As part of activities lined up to mark the Convocation ceremony, the VC announced that the traditional coconut breaking festival will hold on Monday, May 23, while the Convocation lecture with the theme; “Empowering African Languages for Socio-Cultural and Economic Development in the 21st Century: A case for our Languages at Home and Abroad,” is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, May 24. The lecture, according to the VC will be delivered by a Professor of Comparative Literature and Director, African Studies Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, Akinloye Ojo.

Amb Kwande hails Buhari’s anti-corruption fight Musa Pam JOS L-R: Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund, Alhaji Habu Gumel; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal; representative of the Vice President, Dr. Chris Ngige and Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung and others, inspecting sports equipment, during the official unveiling, commissioning and distribution of sports equipment to 2000 PHOTO: NAN primary schools nationwide, in Abuja at the…weekend.

Catholic bishop appeals for release of kidnapped Rev. Father, two Sisters

he Most Rev. Fr. Felix Ajakaye, the Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, has called for the release of two Reverend Sisters and a Reverend Father who were kidnapped while on official assignment. Ajakaye, in a statement sent to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday, said that Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, the Vicar-General of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, had been in captiv-

ity since Sunday, April 24. The bishop said that two Sisters of St Louis, Rev. Sr. Perpetua Apo and Rev. Sr. Bukola Familade, and their driver, Mr Zwugwa Zibai, were also kidnapped on Thursday, May 12. For over three weeks, Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, the Vicar-General of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, has been in captivity. According to the report, the humble Parish Priest of

St Bernard Catholic Church, Okpoka, Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue state, was kidnapped on a highway. He was returning from an outstation of the parish, where he had gone to celebrate the Holy Eucharist (Mass). He is the first Catholic priest from Otukpa,’’ he said. Ajakaye said that since the abduction of Adeyi, there had been no informa-

tion concerning his whereabouts. Last week, Thursday, May 12, two Sisters of St Louis, Reverend Sisters Perpetua Apo and Bukola Familade, and their driver, Mr Zwugwa Zibai, were also abducted. The three of them were travelling from Kaduna to Ijebu-Itele in Ogun State for a programme when their vehicle broke down at Kajola on Ore-Lagos road.

Navy hands over four suspected vandals to NSCDC Flora Onwudiwe

he Nigerian Navy on Friday handed over four suspected pipeline vandals with 218x25 litres of jerry cans filled with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for further investigation. The suspected vandals are: Francis Agbaje (20) from Nigeria; Erum Jack

(24), Matthew Apaton (23) and John Honfo (24) from the Republic of Benin. The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Abraham Adaji, handed over the suspects to the Commandant NSCDC Lagos State, Commandant Tajudeen Balogun. Commodore Adaji said that the Nigerian Army of the 9 brigade attached to the OP-MESA

arrested them at the Suntan Beach in Igbologun Community in Badagry, Lagos State. He said: “The suspects were arrested with 218 jerry cans of 25litres each of petrol by the soldiers of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army attached to the OP-MESA, following a tip-off. “When they noticed they were under observation, they ran the boat

against the beach and the boats were destroyed but the products were recovered and some men ran away but these ones were apprehended.” The Commodore said that the Nigerian Navy was responsible for maritime security including areas of pipeline protection and vandalism, but added that prosecution could not be carried out without the NSCDC.

he former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Amb Yahaya Kwande, has given Kudos to the President Muhammad Buhari anti-corruption fight and called for the rebranding of Nigeria. Kwande, one of the remaining old guards of the North said until the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government of President Muhammadu Buhari came on board last years, he didn’t know the level of corruption in the country.

According to him, the fight against corruption has become a major battle the APC government must fight to restore the lost glory of Nigeria, saying that the country was on the verge of collapsing when the APC took over the government last year. Kwande noted that to develop, the Nigerian Government needs money to carry out developmental projects, lamenting that the money needed to bring about the desired developments have found their ways into pockets of some few individuals.

Akwa Ibom monarch’s wife gives birth to a baby in kidnappers’ den

rs. Ubong Assam, the wife of the traditional ruler of Esit Eket in Akwa Ibom, was delivered, of a baby girl, on Friday, May 13, while in custody of her kidnappers. A family source, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Esit Eket, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, on Saturday that the monarch’s wife gave birth to the baby in an unknown hideout of her abductors The kidnappers abducted the traditional ruler’s wife and her four children in the Akpautong neighbourhood of Esit Eket on April 29. The source said that the

kidnappers quickly released the woman and her four children due to the birth of the baby in their den. Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said that the command expressed appreciation to God for the safe delivery of the monarch’s wife. She, nonetheless, said that the command is yet to receive any information about the release of the kidnapped woman and her four children. NAN, however, reports that the traditional ruler’s wife and her four children were released on May 14.

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

Zamfara: Inconclusive Congress caused by Chairman – PDP Chieftain Idris Salisu Gusau

chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State, Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, has accused the Congress Committee Chairman, Hon. Akinlade Abiodun, for the congress’ inability to conduct free and fair election in the state. He was also blamed for the introduction of fake delegates list to the venue, which brought about confusion among party members, and eventually led to indefinite suspension of the congress. According to the Senator, the congress chairman has to be blamed for the whole crisis that occurred during the congress, saying that, his involvement in the possession of the fake delegates list at the venue of

the congress was the cause of the crisis that rocked the congress. Speaking to Sunday Telegraph in an interview, Senator Sahabi faulted the chairman for not continuing the election with the authentic list of delegates, stressing that, the chairman knew the authentic list, but insisted on using the fake list which put the whole congress into crisis. “The authentic list signed by the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigerian Police Force and Civil Defence is available from each of the local governments but it wasn’t used,” he said. While berating the committee for their dirty game, he also called on PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene and allow free and fair election in Zamfara State Congress.

Residents flee as herdsmen kill farmer in Ekiti Sulaiman Salawudeen

Ado-Ekiti

esidents of Oke Ako, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, yesterday started fleeing the community in the aftermath of a killing Friday of one of its residents, named Lekan Arosanyin, by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. The herdsmen are said to have attacked the community at about 8 pm on the day. The residents, who are reportedly moving into neighbouring Irele, Ipao and Ikole Township, the headquarters of the council area, said they feared the attackers might return to unleash more terror. According to a resident, who identified herself as Mrs Grace Olofinre in a telephone interview with journalists in AdoEkiti, the state capital, the herdsmen swooped on the community in their num-

bers, shooting sporadically and with bows, arrows, sword, machetes and other dangerous weapons. Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen via phone: “This is a bad development. People are leaving the town in droves. Some are even packing their belongings because of the fear that they could stage more ferocious attacks. “We have been cohabiting peacefully with Fulani herdsmen for long. We didn’t know when things went awry. The security agencies must rise to the occasion. This is a serious threat to Ekiti,” he warned. The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, on his visit to the town yesterday, said the state government would institute all measures to forestall a recurrence of the ugly incident. “We won’t allow strangers to destroy our lives and properties at

will. This is a sad development that we must tackle to ensure justice and peace reign in the state,” he said. According to eye witnesses, residents, who were caught unawares, fled for their lives, but Arosanyin was allegedly hit by one of the several shots fired by the invaders, killing him instantly. Four others who sustained injuries were said to be receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ado-Ekiti, while Ibiteye Olomi, also a victim, was said to be receiving treatment in a hospital in Ikole-Ekiti. But another witness, Adebayo Ajayi, saw the incident as a reprisal attack, noting the herdsmen had previously had issues with villagers concerning their grazing activities in the community. He said the villagers had been voicing their worries regarding the use of their farmlands for grazing by the herdsmen, a situation which

did not find favour with the herdsmen. The Divisional Police Officer, who also spoke by telephone, confirmed the incident noting that he could not ascertain whether the mayhem was foisted by armed robbers or Fulani herdsmen. Meanwhile, the residents of the town have blamed the police for what happened insisting that they refused to act on time when they were informed about the attack. One of them, Muyiwa Olukosi, whose wife sustained machete cuts, told reporters the case was reported to police in the area on time but no response came until it was too late. His words: “We reported the matter immediately the Fulani people came but the police surprisingly said we should bring N12,000 to buy fuel before they could come because their vehicle had no fuel.”

Idoma nation condemns assassination of Ortom’s aide Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he Idoma nation of Benue South Senatorial District has condemned the gruesome assassination of the Governor Samuel Ortom’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, retired Police Inspector, Denen Igbana, by yet to be identified gunmen. The people, in a statement, yesterday, through its body, Opiatoha K’ Idoma who commiserated with the governor over the loss of his aide, whom they said, made useful contributions to the amnesty programme in the state. The Secretary General of Opiatoha K’ Idomawho, Mr. Adoka Adaji, who signed the statement on behalf of the group, said the murder of Mr. Igbana further confirmed the insecurity pervading the state, and called for decisive action on the matter to nip the ugly situation in the bud. The group also tasked security agencies in the state to evolve all strategies within the capabilities to bring murderers of the deceased and those behind other heinous crimes to book. They further called on the security operatives to make concerted efforts to rescue Rev. Father John Adeyi, who was abducted four

weeks ago, adding that, the intractable captivity of the Catholic Priest, has indeed, thrown the entire Idoma nation into confusion. Meanwhile, Governor Ortom has expressed optimism that prayers of reputable men of God would make his administration succeed in the face of many challenges plaguing his state and country at large. Ortom, who spoke at the end of day-three of the two weeks prayers for the state, said God, who lifted him up would not let him down. He urged people of the state to join him in executing the mandate God gave him. He said the prayers being offered by Benue people would uproot the evil forces causing their setbacks. Earlier in his address, Benue State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Augustine Akpen Leva, called on people of the state to pray for the unity of Benue State. Also, the state chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Mike Angough, said the two-week prayer ordered by Governor Ortom has set the tone for a revival. He expressed hope that in three years time, Benue would witness full revival and blossoming of God’s work.

L-R: Prof. Grace Alile Williams; groom, Jude Awani; his newly wedded wife former Miss Ose Ibru; bride’s Mother and Chairman, Guardian Newspapers, Mrs. Maiden Ibru; Mrs. Cecilia Ibru; Mrs. Victoria Gowon and former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon at a wedding ceremony in Lagos…yesterday

Idris Salisu

T Gusau

owards the Democracy Day celebration, President Mohammadu Buhari, Sultan of Sokoto, Ahmad Abubakar 111, the National Leader, All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, are among

Democracy Day: Buhari, Sultan, Tinubu to commission projects in Zamfara the dignitaries expected to commission projects in Zamfara State. The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Umar Bukkuyum, who made this disclosure while briefing newsmen in his office in Gusau, said the Zamfara state government, under the leadership of Governor,

Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, has achieved a lot worthy of commissioning. Bukkuyum noted that the state government has gone far in its preparation to host the dignitaries, explaining that, Yari’s administration is ready to showcase its achievements. He added that, the state is always open to the

world. Speaking on the cattle rustling security challenge facing the state, the Commissioner said the issue is now being put to rest. According to him, the combined forces of the military and the police have achieved tremendous success in crushing the menace.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

SUNDAY

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

Chic denim overalls

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

SUND AY

GRAP

Contents 22.05.2016

COVER

TELE

H SU

NDAY , 22

MAY 20

Bod

y S oul

FASHION

SUN

DAY

A fan paid for my ticket to London just because she felt I needed rest and could visit her in her office in London bridge. She then gave me 1,000 pounds for her seeing me live

In wearing overall, fit is key. If you have a longer or shorter torso, try and find a pair of overalls with adjustable straps so there is no pulling in the crotch area

he big chop is for people who want to go natural and they can either cut off all chemically processed hair or “transition”

Chic

MY PASSION I’m not focusing on marriage for now, I am hopeful. I am focusing on work and being the best mother to my child

GLAM DUDES But as for me, He, Allah, is my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord.

}40

deni

m ov SUND AY

Y 2 2,

e ra l l

H SU

NDAY , 15

MAY 20

Bod

y S oul

“You are what? Pregnant? Er....er... er...I mean, you you mean you are pregnant?” Richie stuttered into the phone and sat down, hard, on his table. He was in his office. He managed to say the right words and waited for her. She had told him she was coming to his office. “Patra pregnant? By whom? Me? Are the doctors wrong? Are Ruth’s children mine?

DAY

A Y,

Y 1 5, 20

St y lish mu male sici ans

}22

School, Chibok irls Secondary G t the en nm er in the middle of r against were abducted rise of the dolla us ho w uo in nt el co fu e in Th se 14. scarcity, increa night in April 20 llantry of the Nigerian the naira, fuel ga fuel subsidy e of th lt te su lu re sa a e W Girls campaign pump price as with threat of labour Bring Back Our of the Chibok e th y, d le rm A up co , looming removal the parents rious quarters e good ordinators and strikes from va looks as if the nation’s co We wait patiently to hear mor ally it . y; fin rls e tr gi ar un rls co over the ducted gi ws that all the ab ilies; after two years ding. ne en un t e es ar s rk oe da w r fam is said that the united with thei it’s long overdue. All the same, it st before the ink ju th I es g, m co tin t ai w gh d, of this week with hour of the ni e extremely ba d Soul is packed your Sunday ar an gs dy in th Bo n he t t to ge dawn. W to make at they are abou inating stories s will it may signal th good news that broke fasc joyable one. Our fashion page yles e st en g Th an in r. az tte much be embers of u with am last week that m finitely thrill yo ndy. Go over to these on Wednesday Task Force operating in de tre u yo ep ke t at will the Civilian Join ernment Area of Borno th ur eyes. aker, ges and feed yo Gov l pa ca Lo a ed bo ct du am amiable film m our D ab e e th th yi of bi e Fa on i d m g ue in Yo sc ac re gr ve is actor State ha like a sign er and seasoned w he mina Ali, looks Chibok girls, A en that we should just writ this week and he recounts ho tit g r in ve st co re te , in from heav ere is hope lywood and his inhold on; that th orst of cir- came into Nol ad Re . ife w British even in the w bits about his ver pages. tions on our co zle page, la ve re l cumstances. tfu gh si az D ue le sc zz re Ra our Amina’s This week, on whose music w ns ne ia ic us us m s g lin give s we are profi dance away at parties but hope and offer e us . ad m ce on aves as before a unique op nger making w usic artistes lo no e ar portunity to Read more about these m fore. nger shine as be er go vital informahose stars no lo th w ra ll ‘I’ ill s, w e rie se Sh g tion. mind blowin e ney on Th ur jo e to lif be able uring Patra’s at fe is ll’ he ue to ge contin s th give insight ork and Life pa don’t want to W d, Be ue to the tr sure you week and I’m state of over miss it. 200 of her es at m ol ho sc essa Enjoy! Van in the Gov-

SUN

BED, WORK & LIFE

te o n s ’ r o t Edi

TELE

GRAP

}42

}39

A Y,

}18&39

}20-21

BEAUTY ZONE

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

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Here Beyond

Body&Soul

Cannes Film Festival glam Vanessa Okwara

he Cannes Film festival is undoubtedly the most fabulous film festival of the year. Yes, it is a film festival, but the Cannes red carpet has become a place of dazzling looks that sometimes outshines the movies that the stars are there to promote. It’s a one stop shop where fashion designers also showcase

their best couture on the bodies of these celebrities. There’s something about the unpredictable mix of models, celebrities and Hollywood big hitters that makes Cannes Film Festival, an irresistible event to watch. Each year, the Cannes Film Festival sneaks up on us in post-Met Gala haze, providing yet another reason to praise the best fashion of the season. Between the models, celebrities, and cinema folk, it makes for a lot of dresses to be documented. This year’s offering of ready-towear, couture, didn’t disappoint. Film festivals are very important and play a major role in promoting movies premiered for that year. It provides the world an opportunity to know the mov-

ies that will be making it big at the cinemas and also the stars that made those movies a big hit. Unfortunately, we don’t have film festivals of such magnitude unlike what’s seen in Hollywood and Bollywood. It will be great if Nigeria film industry and Nollywood borrow a leaf from this type of festival to promote Nigeria movies and also our fashion designers. The 69th Cannes film festival got off to a fashionable start. Here’s our favourite red carpet looks so far. Everyone from Kendall Jenner, Victoria Beckam to Lily-Rose Depp brought their sartorial A-game, posing in ball gowns, jumpsuits, dresses and suits.

Body&Soul 18

SUNDAY, 22 MAY SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Chic den Vanessa Okwara

he ‘90s are having a great time in the fashion world this season and overalls are back in full force! The denim overalls also known as dungarees, is making its way back on scene. This year, designers sent a plethora of denim down the spring runways, remixed with cool fabrics, colours, and silhouettes. While the latest versions are significantly more chic than their ‘90s predecessors, they still remain true to their tomboyish, ultra-comfortable roots. There was a time when the idea of a lady over the age of six in overalls was ludicrous. But these days, fashionable ladies are seriously rocking

Editor’s current obsession

ove It do ner, nee the Yo tren as t with ove dres them day ove Al for

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Wine & Dine

Refreshing Whites... Ibukunoluwa Kayode

e all drink wine for different purposes, either for personal relaxation or party refreshment with family and friends. Wine is inevitably one of the drinks both the high and low in the society cannot do without to make the occasion refreshingly memorable. Whenever the need arise to choose a kind of wine to refresh the palate, various options come to mind: red, white and pinks. Whenever there is a call for soft palate rejuvenation, white wine is one of the best options to choose. The white grape wine is savoury palate friendly, lashing the taste bud with crispy and clean lingering undertone natural flavour of green apple, pear and lime. White grapes offer pleasing mineral qualities that give optimum balance and

smooth finish on the palate. Also it is structured with an in-depth honey flavour and attractive rich aromas. White grapes are mostly grown in Germany, the Alsace region in France, the finger lake of New York alongside some parts of Australia and Washington State. The white grape wine can be served both at formal and informal occasion such as dinners, cocktails, birthdays, pool and beach party. The whites usually have a flexible undertone of 11-15 per cent ABV, which makes it a healthy balance palate friendly for moderate alcohol drinkers. It can also be sighted in any wine market across Nigeria in different brands from wine makers. This perfect indulgence hold good weight for variety of dishes ranging from continental to locals: spicy foods, barbeque grill, poultry and pork, sausage and meatier pastas.

Shitor Ghanaian pepper sauce Biwom Iklaki The average Nigerian loves some heat in their meals from asun to peppered snails, sauces, etc. Shitor, a popular black pepper sauce of Ghanaian origin fits nicely into this need for heat in meals. It can come as an accompaniment for most soups and carbohydrates like yam, potatoes, etc. it can also act as a marinade for meats and seafood for barbecue. Ingredients 2 cups ground red bonnet pepper (blended) Â˝ cup ground black pepper (Cameroon) 3 cups vegetable oil 2 cups ground dried shrimp/crayfish 1 Â˝ cups onion puree 2 medium tomatoes

(blended) 1 cup tomato paste salt to taste 2 stock cubes Preparation In a large wok, heat up your oil and add the onions and tomatoes and let fry for about 10 minutes. Keep stirring the sauce at all times to prevent burning. Add your dry ingredients including your pepper, stock cubes and salt to taste. Cover the paste and let it cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You should have a reddish brown paste with a thick paste consistency. When it cools, pour into a glass jar or bowl making sure that the oil covers the paste by at least an inch. This sauce can keep either in the fridge or on the shelf .

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Why my wife and I live Prolific screen writer, actor and film maker, Yomi Fabiyi, is not just a face in Nollywood. The learned thespian is a force to reckon with majorly in the Yoruba movies genre. He has been around for a while, having left the Lagos State House of Assembly for movies a decade ago. Yomi has produced successful movies that have featured some of the biggest names in the Nigerian world of make-believe. In this exclusive interview with ABIOLA ALABA PETERS, the Ogun State born speaks on his journey so far, challenges and marriage to his British wife How was growing up for you? ‘I grew up in Lagos, Shomolu to be precise. In the course of my growing up, I will say, it’s mixed with the usual Christian life and education. It’s just you doing education and go to church. It went on and on like that. There wasn’t really much of a social life, and despite the level of criminality that engulfed the community where I grew up, my parents, being Christians, were able to fashion out our lives in such a positive way. I grew up learning, studying and going to church. How has 2016 been for you so far? Well, to God be the glory. I started with the release of my movie, ‘Metomi’. I want to say God has been awesome. I started on a very good note; because the moment the film dropped, I was receiving overwhelming positive comments that at a point, I was scared. I was like, what is happening? Everywhere was buzzing! I got loads of phone calls, social media praises and all, I thought it was end time, but in all, I give glory to God. What inspired that movie? The point is this, when you are trying to write a script, produce a movie and

all, different ideas and concepts do come in but you have to look at the present state of the nation and the kind of script you want to go for. You have to take out time to channel your intention and creativity, so I am able to come up with a concept that is very domestic because the end product of our films is the consumers at home. That

was why I decided to get something that will be general to the audience. As an emotional person, I just wanted to tell people what love is all about and the dynamism of love; tolerance is what matters most in love. How emotional are you? It’s going be funny if I tell you. The role I played is something I can find myself doing. I can do it because I have done it before, but I believe that love is the first religion, that is how emotional I am. I believe in love and loyalty. If you have those two, it’s enough for you to live and you can excel in life, so that is how deeply emotional I am. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done for love? That should be when I left my house without telling my parents, went to see my then girlfriend in Kwara State, in a very thick forest. With just a P.O. Box address, I knew it was going to be a hectic journey. If I had died in the middle of the road, that would have been the end. I had wanted to supp o r t

her, because she needed English to pass her exams. So because of my knowledge in English, I believed if I ‘injected’ it into her, she would make it, so I embarked on the journey without a specific address, all in the name of going to help the woman I loved. Indeed it was a very funny and crazy experience for me. Did you finally settle down with her? No, not at all, you know this life is very funny. Immediately she came back, passed the exam and gained admission into the university, she went very far from me without any means of communication and no phones then. Like the saying goes, out of sight is out of mind, I can’t say if she actually forgot me, but basically, there was no means of communication for us. So are you married? Yes, I’m happily married. How would you describe married life? Marriage is God’s institution. I’ve heard people say that marriage isn’t a bed of roses; it’s filled with ups and down. By and large, it’s cool; my wife and I live apart. She’s outside the shores of this country. She is in the UK, while I’m

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Body&Soul

apart –Yomi Fabiyi here. We meet once in a while but we speak constantly; communication in marriage is vital. I just hope that one day, we will reach a compromise as to where we will stay. How do you cope when she is not around? I am not an idle person, I am always very busy, the only time I remember I am alone is when I am about to sleep, and in most cases, I call her. By the time I wake up, I am busy with what I know how to do best. Communication, I believe, is key in marriage or any relationship. What is it most people don’t know about you? So many people that are not close to me have the wrong perception about me; I want to believe it’s destiny. People tend to have an opposite impression of what I represent. The only thing I can tell people is that, the worst I can ever do is to see someone I call my friend or brother going down and turn my back on him or her. I can never do that; I am a very supportive guy. A lot of people don’t know how much I value loyalty. Can you recall the movie that launched you into limelight? S o far so good, there are breakout movies and there are breakthrough movies. I want to believe that every of my movies have been able to increase my profile. Basically, I will pick ‘Ona Abayo’ as that movie that actually brought me out. Perhaps, the breakthrough movie is ‘Metomi’ or another one that is coming. The breakthrough movies keep renewing you, making you look glossy. Check out Geneiveve Nnaji for instance, when she did ‘Ije’, it was more or less ‘she is just starting’. When Funke Akindele did ‘Jenifa’, it was more or less ‘she is just starting’, even now, they are still looking for that movie that will keep them on that pedestal. What are your biggest challenges as a film maker and as an actor? I believe these challenges are revolving; they keep coming until you stop filming. Just as everyday challenges, they will continue to be There. To interpret every movie script is a challenge, so there are no specific challenges, just the regular ones. Which actors do you look forward to working with? Every actor wants to work with an actor that is up there, perhaps, that is ahead of you, and a good role interpreter. But the best you can work with is somebody you can flow with, somebody you have a good talking and work relationship with. There’s no point working with someone you regard as an enemy, somebody you are keeping malice with, there’s no way the acting will flow, so the best person you

can work with is a friend and a colleague. The moment I’m on a set and I’m with an actor who poses as a friend and a good colleague, I would love to work with you. Five years from now, where do you see yourself? If I work harder with my management team, because they have a target and a very strong plan, if we follow our blue print religiously, I should be able to dish out quality films that will touch lives, not just my immediate communities, but the globe at large. Your taste in fashion? I like African attires, especially Agbada with beads and Aso Oke with cap. It clearly makes me need no introduction of who I am.

feel what he has done so far. I hope he is also able to put his emotions and temperament in check as the leader of a developing country like Nigeria. He pledged to protect our honour and glory. He should shun speaking like General Buhari but the President. Racism is rampant in UK; we see it in football matches and the government there is trying to curb it but it will be wrong for the leader of another nation to tag the entire Britons racist, let alone the UK PM admitting Britons are indeed pathetic racists. We all must be guided. Is General Buhari corrupt? Is he not a Nigerian? He should be swift to hear words and calmer to respond. With some brilliant technocrats in his team, he should deliver a bit if he listens to them and allow them free hand to operate.

Where do you see the Nigerian movie industry in five years time? What is your favourite Africa dish? As it is now, there is lack of political will I like Lafun popularly known as Amala to harness the full potentials of the movie and Ila Alasepo, Okro soup. industry. And if this is not addressed, the What inspired the move for featuring a industry will continue to battle for survival legendary football star, Mutiu Adepoju, at the intensive care unit. It is on life supin your ‘Ona Abayo’ movie? port and already nose diving. It needs As a creative producer, having such a new and proper legislation that will give national hero and legend in your movie it a semblance of professionalism that will is a plus. Perhaps the first time such will forestall descent in growth. happen. I am a fan of Mutiu Adepoju. Why the choice of a British woman for a wife? What’s the most outrageous thing a fan I am a frequent traveller to the UK. I was has ever done for you? A fan paid for my ticket to London just down emotionally when I met this woman. because she felt I needed rest and could Aside the fact that she is very decent, she visit her in her office in London bridge. She is gainfully employed and very humble. then gave me 1,000 pounds for her seeing She laughs at my jokes even when they are me live. not funny. She showed me almost immediately that she cherishes me. She did some What is your relationship with Ini Edo, other things and said so many things that especially, regarding the picture that sur- made the decision to marry her so easy. faced online few months ago about you I never thought about the age difference both being joined as man and wife? because that is not in fashion in UK and it is not up to 10 years. Moreover, I hate Ini Edo is a colleague and she featured when someone close ask, ‘What will in my movie ‘Father Moses’. The wedding people say’? Since I don’t live my life pictures are from the movie set. on public opinion, I went public with the wedding plans. I have silenced It was reported in the media that you are some people spreading gibberish then. back in The Movie Ambassadors (TMA) I have wasted two invitations to apply and also settled your rift with Saheed and live in the UK. I decided to utilise Balogun. How true is that ? her invitation in 2015 when she agreed to Yes, they have reconciled both of us. With change it to just my normal and usual or without TMA, Saheed Balogun deserves visit visa. British passport or her my respect. We are in good terms. money is never in my Any plan to delve into politics in the nearest future? I have had a taste of politics before. I was Personal Assistant/Legislative Aide to Hon. Omogoriola Ogbara(2003 - 2007 ) at the Lagos State House of Assembly. I was combining this with my film career then. I always love to give back and do something but I doubt if I can give myself out for elective position. What’s your take on the present government? I am not a fan of past military rulers coming back to rule under democracy and I don’t see myself as a fan of General Buhari as a democratic leader, but he has my full respect, admiration as an exservice man and elder statesman. I only hope he is able to bring good tidings to the people of this country as promised because time is of the essence and only some in self deceit will claim to understand or

mind, though as partners, we will support each other where necessary but trust me, four years going now and on my honour, I don’t think she has any record of her sending a Kobo to me in Nigeria via whatever means. People just spend their quality time discussing why two adults date or marry. I think it is backwardness and a waste of time. Nigerians should start minding their business and ensure what truly engages our thinking, mind and time has positive impact on us. I don’t do it, I can’t even remember the last time such thought crept into my mind. No time. What exactly is Odunfa Caucus about and who are those that make up the executive? Odunfa Caucus is a group of film makers who decided to do the filming business in tandem with a collective opinion, orientation and output. Fortunately, this forum birth when home video was just emerging. Their efforts are seen as part of the pioneering experiments that was widely accepted. The Board of Trustees includes Yinka Quadri as Chairman, Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) as Vice Chairman, Abiodun Olanrewaju as Secretary, Jamiu Kakawa as member, Rasak Ajao (Araosan) as member too. Each of these BOT members has actors who came to join the caucus to understudy each of these leaders and invariably learn from all others. This makes their products always well bred and successful; hence the overall idea that the caucus is a mini Yoruba movie industry.

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

Patra’s dilemma 4 Juliet Bumah

ius was in Lagos! Patra was beside herself with joy. She had him lodged somewhere between her home and office. She would dash there and back during lunch break and look in on her way home in the evening. She had a perfect alibi for getting home late -been away from office for one week and had a backlog of work! Richie didn’t notice a thing. He was too preoccupied with his worries to notice that his wife came home with flushed face. He avoided her at nights, claiming he was working on a project. In actual fact, he didn’t want a repeat of that unmanly show the night Patra returned from Abuja. His man rarely got excited anymore. It was even a good thing his wife was working so late and getting home tired. They kept to their separate rooms. That arrangement suited Patra. She could talk with Pius on the phone for hours every night. She didn’t even notice that her husband never looked in as he used to do. ********* Pius left for Abuja after four nights in Lagos and had to travel to the US for business. He would be gone for two months as he would spend some time in his Texas home where his mum was holidaying with his kids. The two lovebirds kept in touch through the phone. *** Life, somehow, returned to normal in Richie’s home. They communicated better. Richie apologised once again for his misdemeanor and promised that no woman would usurp on Patra’s rights in his home. However, the nights were a disaster. He could hardly will his man to stand. They blamed it on the fact that he was working too hard. Of course, Richie knew that the worry over his ‘infertile status’ was the cause. Patra was secretly relieved. She really didn’t want to tango with him and encouraged him to see the doctor and rest more. Mating with him had become an anticlimax. She longed for Pius each night. **** About a month after Pius left for the US, Patra went for her regular medical check up. That Thursday morning, after the tests, her doctor called her into his office and offered her a seat. He observed her with solemn eyes and Patra’s mind flew in one million directions. “Mrs. Williams,” he began slowly, “going by the result of the tests,” he flashed the paper, his eyes twinkling with smiles, “you are six weeks pregnant!” Patra sat, stunned. “Me? Pregnant? Impossible, er...I mean, unbelievable,” she stammered. “Doctor, please I don’t like such jokes. Cut it out, what exactly do you want to tell me?” She fought to keep her feet on the ground, she felt them sailing under her. “Congratulations ma’am. I’ll advise you register for anti-natal immediately so that we keep a tab on your progress,” the doctor said, pushing the papers towards her. She mumbled something, picked the ‘result’ and walked out of the doctor’s office in a daze. The doctor shook his head in joy. “Thank you Lord for putting joy in her home,” he said. When Patra got into her car, she brought out the paper and scanned through it and screamed. “Me pregnant? Oh my God! Where’s Richie?” She picked her phone and dialed his number; it was busy. She kept redialing it. This great news would not wait. She dialed Pius’ number but it didn’t go through. *** Richie was on the phone with Ruth. She had just been delivered of a baby boy. Whose baby? He was confused. He didn’t know what to think. She sounded very weak. A call kept interrupting them. It was his wife. He told Ruth that he would call back and picked Patra’s call. “Darling, darling, guess what?” Patra was breathless. Richie couldn’t remember the last time his wife was this excited. It reminded him of their lives before February 14. Joy flooded through him. “Tell me, my jewel,” he said. “The doctor just confirmed that I’m pregnant. Where are you? I have the result,” she screamed excitedly. “You are what? Pregnant? Er....er...er...I mean, you you mean you are pregnant?” Richie stuttered into the phone and sat down, hard, on his table. He was in his office. He managed to say the right words and waited for her. She had told him she

was coming to his office. “Patra pregnant? By whom? Me? Are the doctors wrong? Are Ruth’s children mine? Oh! That I may wake up from this dream!” His head ached and he held it with both hands. *** Patra was in Richie’s office in minutes. She was so excited. “Me pregnant? OMG! But how come I wasn’t feeling sick and having all the signs of pregnancy? Six weeks gone? God really loves me!” She glanced at the rear mirror, looking for tale tale signs of pregnancy and could find none. She laughed. “The doctor can’t be wrong. I’m pregnant. That is as certain as morning coming after night.” She came out of her car, locked the door carefully, and walked quickly into the building. **** Richie sat, his hands clutching his head. Dr. KC ‘s voice boomed in his ears, “You cannot father a child. You can seek second, third...fifth opinion Richie.” He shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off the ugly thought. His head ached instead. “I must be feeling the way mad men feel,” he told himself, not feeling any saner. “God! I’m sure Christian’s load in John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s progress’ is child’s play compared to mine right now.” The door opened and his wife sailed in, holding a piece of paper which she handed to him excitedly. “Read it darling. That’s the test result. Six weeks gone! Lord, I can’t believe it,” Patra said as she navigated the table to give him a kiss. He drew her closer as he stood up and returned her kiss. As he held her, he felt a flicker of life between his legs. He was so happy. Life was back to normal at last. “Darling, I’m so happy,” he whispered into her ears as he caressed her back. He raised her face with his right hand as he felt something warm on his chest. Tears streamed down Patra’s cheek. They were tears of joy. He kissed them away, tasting salt, as Patra’s shoulders heaved. She was sobbing. He allowed her. As he held her, rocking her ever so gently, he felt a bulge between his legs. “Let’s go home, darling. We’ll call your office,” he said huskily. Patra nodded. She felt light headed. The news of her pregnancy had flooded her body with sweetener. Richie told his secretary to handle all his correspondents and refer only very urgent and important ones to him. They drove in Richie’s car. The driver would come back to pick Patra’s car. Richie walked awkwardly, the bulge hindering his movement. As he closed the door in their house, he turned and drew his wife into his arms. His man throbbed. Patra felt like jelly. Her bones could hardly hold her up. She could not think of anything else. Her brain sang, “I’m pregnant, I’m pregnant, I’m pregnant,

I’m....” She felt very warm. By the time they got to the living room, Richie’s man was knocking so hard to be let out. He guided Patra to the couch and shed his clothing. As he stepped out of his boxers, his man slowly unfurled. He knelt in front of his wife and felt like a young boy going on this expedition for the first time. Patra watched him, a smile on her face as he fiddled with her clothing. She sat, her legs slightly apart. Patra’s body would make a monk forget his oath of celibacy! He contemplated the meal before him before running his fingers through the contours. Two mountains beckoned. They looked swollen and so tempting. He fastened on them as the first course. Then his mouth travelled up to her mouth, further up to her ear lobes... back...to the twin mountains, down the belly button, skirted the centre of the valley and travelled down one leg to the ankle, went up again, avoiding that melting point again and down the second leg to the ankle. His mouth then moved up and couldn’t avoid the honey pot where he tasted the pleasing juice. He had forgotten it tasted so great. Patra was moaning softly. He burrowed his face in there while his tongue travelled in, out and around the wetland. Patra massaged his head ever so lovingly. He raised his head to take in air but she pushed him back to her now swollen valley. It was no good, his man should be in charge. He pulled her out a bit to give his man clear passage. As he hit the spot, she gasped. “Gently, am pregnant,” she moaned. He nodded and rode her ever so gently. He remembered the first day he embarked on such a journey. After two embarrassing misses, he found the way and rode so slowly, afraid he might miss the way. He did slip out many times but his very young man simply slipped back in. He had held on to the body tightly, afraid that he might fall off. That was one sport no one needed tutelage on. Immediately his man connected, his body and mind did the needful. That day, as the twin mounds bobbed, he thought they were meal for only sucklings. Today, he fed on them at intervals as he rode through the wetland. He sighted a furnace and rode towards it. As he got close, the furnace blew very cool air. Patra felt velvety. She closed her eyes and was transported into a golden island where the breeze blew gently between her thighs and further up, gathering everything good and desirable. The cool breeze swooshed in and took over her entire body and she shivered. As she screamed, Richie rode into the cool furnace and spurted, releasing the pilgrim’s burden. It felt so good and they slept afterwards. ********** It certainly never rains but pours! The series continues next Sunday. Join me! •Send your observations to: julietbumah@gmail.com

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Buhari should invest recovered loot in infrastructure –Shuluwa p.25

The Sunday Interview

Ojuigboh: PDP needs visionary leadership now p.27

Some privatisation decisions political, selfish – DG, BPE p.28-29

Politics

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

Power tussle among S’East govs stifling Ohanaeze Ndigbo Kenneth Ofoma Enugu

f there is one socio-cultural organisation at the crossroads in the country today, it is the Ohaneze Ndigbo. The apex Igbo organisation which once commanded great respect throughout the country and especially in the South-East is now a ghost of its old self, following a leadership crisis that has robbed it of its voice. The problem became more defined with the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election. Before that election, majority of political leaders in the South-East belonged to the PDP and supported the presidential candidate of that party, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Even Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which serves as the conscience of the Igbo was drawn into the politics of the time to the extent that the leadership even refused to receive the then presidential candidate of APC, Muhammadu Buhari, who later worn the election. Many had criticised the refusal of Ohanaeze to receive Buhari, blaming the political leaders in the zone for “putting their eggs in one basket.” Recent developments within the SouthEast Governors’ Forum (SEGF) and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, two bodies that should be playing complementary roles in articulating and projecting Igbo unity and interests are giving well meaning observers cause for concern. For instance, for two consecutive times, a meeting of the South-East Governors’ Forum and some political leaders was fixed for Enugu recently to possibly make a statement following the invasion of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government area of Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen. But only governors of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states were in attendance for the two meetings. In fact, at the last meeting on Sunday May 8, 2016, only the three governors elected on the PDP platform in the zone were in attendance. Like the previous meeting, only the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as well as Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia were in attendance. It also had in attendance the former governors of Anambra and Imo states, Peter Obi and Ikedi Ohakim. Senator Ekweremadu who addressed the media after the meeting explained that all the governors were invited along with some former governors. However, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (APC) and his Anambra counterpart, Chief Willy Obiano (APGA) were conspicuously absent, thereby providing room for speculations of possible divisions among governors and political leaders in the zone. Some former governors of PDP stock

Okorocha

including Chief Martin Elechi, (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Senator Theodore Orji of Abia who were said to have been invited to the meeting were also absent. No reason was given for their inability to attend. Ekweremadu after the meeting appraised developments in the last herdsmen attack in Enugu and exprssed their resolve to find ways of ensuring that such attack did not take place either in Enugu or any other place in the south-east zone. They also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the budget and as well as thanked the National Assembly for their efforts in resolving the budget impasse with the presidency. Ekweremadu, however, urged that the budget as it affects the South-East should be implemented thoroughly especially in the area of roads. He said that efforts would be made to ensure that the governors who did not attend the meeting would attend the next one. The atmosphere in the zone is already charged with rumours and speculations that the problem besetting the Forum arose over who should be chairman of the Forum. Since the last Forum headed by former Governor of Abia State, now Senator Theodore Orji, it is yet to hold an election to elect new chairman. The Forum met

Igariwey

only once, after which Governor, Okorocha briefed the press on the outcome. However other governors took turns to respond to questions from journalists. But when Governor Okorocha was specifically asked when the Forum would formally elect a new chairman, he parried the question by saying that they didn’t have issues with leadership of the Forum, with or without election. Observers noted that if chairmanship of the Forum is based on seniority, then Okorocha should be the natural chairman, followed by Obiano. But if it is by election, then PDP governors who are in the majority will always elect one of their own to lead the Forum, which Okorocha or Obiano may not be comfortable with. It is believed that the inability of the governors to come together and speak with one voice on so many national issues has spilled over to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The leadership crisis in Ohanaeze actually started from the election of the present executive of the body in 2012. Their election was challenged by some people, and as if that was not enough, the executive was accused of extending its tenure to four years as against two. Presently, it is believed that its tenure has elapsed, hence the emergence of a caretaker

committee led by Chief Ralph Obioha in a meeting held with the two factions by Governor Okorocha in Owerri. But the former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Richard Ozobu described the caretaker committee as illegal, having no foundation in the constitution of Ohanaeze. For Ozobu, the crisis in Ohanaeze would have been resolved by a united South-East Governors’ Forum. Conversely, the leadership impasse in the Governors’ Forum could have been resolved also by a healthy Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So it has become the old Igbo saying that mma di nko ewero isi, nke nwe isi adiro nko, “the knife that has handle is blunt and the blunt knife has no handle.” Recently, the caretaker committee of Ohanaeze, led by Chief Ralph Obioha met and issued a statement in Enugu, precisely on Friday 6, May 2016. The group had after their meeting alleged that the truce brokered recently by Okorocha in the leadership crisis rocking the organisation was threatened by the meddlesome role of the Chief Garry Enwo Igariwey-led executive is the work of the electoral and constitution committee of the body. They alleged that the operations of the Constitution and Electoral Committee, which was part of the agreements reached CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

‘Why Benue federal lawmakers won’t support Grazing Reserves Bill’

The removal of subsidy and subsequent hike in the price of petroleum products is currently generating ripples in the polity; a section of labour is on strike and is insisting that the decision be reversed since Nigerians are groaning under hardship. Is this action by the government timely and necessary? It is very important that Nigerians appreciate efforts of the present government in addressing problems especially in the oil and gas sector. But I must say government has taken the right decision by removing subsidy on the PMS (Petroleum Motor Spirit). So, I want to appeal to Labour (NLC), my colleagues in the National Assembly, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), ASUU and the Civil Society that nobody is trying to be insensitive to the plight of Nigerians. Labour should not be on the wrong side of history because the subsidy policy in anti-people; it does not impact on the lives of common Nigerians. The only thing labour and indeed all of us need to do is to hold government accountable, now that subsidy is removed, so that it can do the right thing. No country’s economic development is hinged on subsidizing PMS to be affordable to the people but on substantial investment and creation of jobs which will increase the quality of life and purchasing power of the average Nigerian. We cannot invest in other sectors of the economy or fix refineries as labor is requesting when trillions are spent on subsidies. When you remove subsidy and fully deregulate the sector there will be huge investments in refineries with the creation of ancillary industries that Nigerians will benefit immensely from. I want to appeal to the NLC not be on the wrong side of the people by embarking on a strike that could cripple the economy, and in the long run not be beneficial to Nigerians. Unfortunately there is a lot of ignorance out there about deregulation and removal of subsidy. The present government has made the same mistake the past governments made by not engaging the Nigerian people at the grassroots in plain simple language through Town Hall meetings and other fora where issues concerning the sector will properly be articulated; however, why do we prevent development in our country because of one product called PMS? Nigeria is too big and important for us to continue to pursue a subsidy policy.

There should exist a robust communication between the executive and the legislature so that we could have firsthand information on government policies. The House is currently hosting a sectoral debate on diversification of the economy and oil and gas is one of the key areas to be discussed. But setting up refineries should be easy and without hassles. And of course, that is one of the ways to go. If our refineries are functional, we would not be in the mess we have found ourselves today.

The government said part of the measures put in place is to revamp the existing refineries and built new ones. Do you think this is feasible because we have been talking about turn around maintenance of refineries since the military days? We are yet to be briefed properly on this. This is where we talk of communication.

There are reports indicating that government will soon begin drilling oil in the northern part of the country. Is the government serious about this? There is no budget to drill oil in the north. Where would they get money to drill oil in the north? It is a critical matter that government has to approach from the grassroots. But as I

Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah is the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream). He represents Gwer West/Gwer East Federal Constituency of Benue State. In this interview with PHILIP NYAM, he speaks on the recent hike in pump price of fuel and the herdsmen attacks on farmers and communities in the country

Gbillah

said before, the President and his team has to take the National Assembly in confidence to be able to implement its policies. The herdsmen are wrecking havoc on the people of Benue and other parts of the country but the proposed Grazing Routes and Reserves Bill is being opposed by many. What do you think should be done to end this carnage by herdsmen? The bill before the House has to do with ranches. And if you recall, at a recent press conference by the Benue caucus in the House, we came out very clearly to state that we are not ready to cede one inch of our land for grazing routes. No part of Benue State is going to be given to herdsmen. If they earn their living by rearing cattle, they should develop modern means of rearing it. Grazing routes or grazing reserves are archaic means of rearing cattle and what they should do now is to

develop ranches in their areas. It is a shame that the Federal Government is yet to prosecute anybody over this attack on farmers and communities across the country by the suspected Fulani herdsmen. I want to make it clear that the Benue people are not weak, and have always been law abiding. Yet we do not want to go barbaric. My constituents have been at the receiving end of the inhuman attitude of these Fulani herdsmen for years. I have always asked if these are not the Fulani’s we have lived together with for years and suddenly, our hospitality and generosity has been misconstrued for weakness and foolishness. Go to Benue and see the level of destruction and the number of people that have been killed by these ravaging herdsmen. But it is unfortunate that the northern governors are saying some of these herdsmen are Tuaregs. It appears there is a grand design to cause infiltration of the nation with nefarious intentions. If the President does not rise up now, we may have something worse than Boko Haram in the near future. Again, we are talking about the reconstruction of the North-East but nobody talks about the reconstruction of the North-Central. This is what gives me the impression that we are being disenfranchised in the North-Central. There are IDPs in Benue just like you have in the North-East. The herdsmen have killed many, destroyed properties and displaced several communities. As I talk to you, the herdsmen are still on rampage killing and maiming. The security agencies appear helpless, whether it is conspiracy or inefficiency or lack of capacity. So, if we are talking of a North-East Development Commission we should also have a North-Central Development Commission too. I want to say that no grazing route will be allowed in Benue. Brazil, Argentina have more cattle than what we have in Nigeria but they do not have these issues. Must we shed blood before we learn? As members of House from Benue, we have clearly articulated this issue and our position is unambiguous. We will not support any bill on grazing routes or grazing reserves. Ranches are the modern way of rearing cattle and we must embrace it now. And the Federal Government must be proactive and show enough commitment towards protecting the lives and property of Nigerian people against these herdsmen.

Politics among S’East govs stifling Ohanaeze Ndigbo CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

by both parties, when Okorocha brokered peace in the leadership of Ohanaeze, on February 15,2016 had been hijacked. The meeting appointed Senator Offia Nwali to act in the place of and to deputise for the chairman of the Caretaker Committee Obioha. But while Chief Igariwey and the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu declined to respond, another chieftain of the body said to be the chairman, Peace and Harmonisation Committee, Chief Onwuka Ukwa declared that there was no bickering in Ohanaeze.

He described as “untrue” reports that crisis have once again enveloped the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. “What Ndigbo are now reading on pages of national dailies alleging breakdown of the Ohanaeze leadership peace accord is totally false. Those who attended a recent meeting of the defunct caretaker committee were just used as pawns for personal grievances against Governor Rochas Okorocha, for allegedly refusing to pay for phantom request on his government for a contract he knows nothing about.” Ukwa, who is the deputy to Obioha in the Electoral and Constitution Committee accused Obioha of “deliberately trying

to instigate a new crisis in the leadership of Ohanaeze, using some people as his stooges, while he has embarked on oversea trips”. However, former Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Chief Richard Ozobu blamed the absence of unity among the SouthEast governors for the lingering crisis in Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Ozobu dismissed the two factions currently struggling for the soul of Ohanaeze as fake and illegitimate. He stressed that the only way peace could return to Ohanaeze was for the governors to summon all the stakeholders and set the processes in motion towards implementa-

tion of the reports of Sen Ben Obi’s reconciliation committee, set up by the South-East Governors’ Forum in the last dispensation. Ozobu advised the governors to put their acts together and speak with one voice for the interest of Ndigbo. Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has elected to build a befitting ultra-modern secretary for Ohanaeze at its national secretariat in Enugu. The building project which has since commenced is said to be a three-storey building. The earlier the governors unite and rebuild Ohaneze Ndigbo, observers believe, the better for the zone- irrespective of political affiliations.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

politics

Buhari should invest recovered loot in infrastructure –Shuluwa

Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Benue State, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, in this interview with CEPHAS IORHEMEN, speaks about President Muhammadu Buhari’s one year in office, his anti-corruption war and submits that there is need for him to pause to attend to the needs of the generality of Nigerians who are now grappling with harsh economic conditions

Shuluwa

How would you assess Buhari’s one year in office and his fight against corruption? This country is very difficult to govern. Many of us Nigerians are not patriotic at all. The way we are; we have the Igbos, Youbas, Hausas, Tivs, Idomas, Itsekiris, Fulanis and so on. And everybody is so much concerned about his own people, unlike Americans who come from different places but are very patriotic about being Americans. That is why no matter what part he comes from. An American will tell you he is an American, but here in Nigeria what you here is, ‘I am Igbo, I am Yoruba, I am Tiv and so on and we seem to also be divided by religion. Everything we do, we talk about whether we are Christians or Muslims. We are very tribalistic and religious bigots and we always think ethnicity. That is why we have the situation that we have in this country. And corruption has eaten deep into our bones. Everybody is corrupt. Even the market women are corrupt. Look at what is happening now where fuel is being sold at N300 per litre. And the fuel on the streets is more than the fuel at the filling stations. So, the people in the fuel marketers now prefer to sell in the night to black marketers than to sell to the general public. The woman who sells grains hit the measure under reduces the quantity and make more gain. That is corruption. So many things are happening. And Buhari has come with the sole aim of wiping out corruption. Buhari is crying because we have not seen the level of corruption that he has seen in this country. People in this country have packed our money in billions of dollars, outside this country. In South Africa, Dubai, USA, UK, in Asian countries and so on. Our money has been stacked in other countries where they are currently being traded with by those countries. It will be very difficult for them to release these monies easily because they are using it. This is because when they release it, it will affect their economy. It will therefore, take very strong diplomatic ties to make sure that these monies come back. And it may take up to four to five years or even more before these monies can be released. That is why Buhari keeps travelling out and by the time he gets these monies back into this country, he may not even be there

as President. And if he is not there, the next President may not want to fight corruption and may not even care to bring back the money. There is hunger in the land presently and people are beginning to feel that they are in chains. What do you think can be done to alleviate this level of suffering? It is difficult for Nigerians to accept that Buhari is fighting corruption because every rich person in this country is being touched. Those who are urging Buhari on to fight corruption are mostly those who don’t have money. Worst still is the judiciary. They will frustrate Buhari to a level that he cannot do anything about corruption. And that is why most people are saying Buhari is slow. One thing that some of us think he (Buhari) should do is that, when the Sani Abacha loot was recovered, nothing was done with it to show that this project was proceed from Abacha loot until some other persons came and stole it again. Abdulsalami Abubakar got some back and Obasanjo brought some back too. And these loots have been ‘chopped’ by some people in this country again. Let Buhari put the loot he has recovered so far into projects that would be seen by all Nigerians. The looted monies should be used to sponsor those projects. And the looted money recovered at the federal level should be used to sponsor federal projects while those recovered from the states should be given to the state government with a specific instruction that such money which is not captured in the budget should put into special projects in that particular state. Instead of keeping it with the EFCC and then the man at the helm of affairs at the EFCC would one day run away with the money just like the last EFCC boss has done. So far, as far as I am concerned, I am against corruption and I want Buhari to fight corruption despite the hardship being faced by all Nigerians now.

Besides, the corruption war seems to be one sided. What do you think of this? The corruption that we are fighting now was worst with the government in power then. It was the PDP that was in power for 16 years. But most of those in APC today were in the PDP before now where they made their money… Yes, they were in PDP. But the issue is that the corruption in government was just too much. People in government were in authority; they were in power; they could do anything. Take example of the Minister of Petroleum, Deziani Alison Madueke who returned several billions of dollars. If she returned such money, you can only imagine how much she has kept for herself. .... Yes, most people in the APC today were in the PDP government where they corrupted themselves before coming into APC. I hope Buhari will not leave them alone because they are now in APC. If he is fighting corruption, he should also fight those who were in the PDP and got themselves corrupted and then moved out into APC. Salaries are not paid, taxes are increasing, school fees are being increased and the general living standard of every Nigerian is plummeting. What is the way out? The fact that everybody’s crying like the children of Israel in the wilderness is all because the system was corrupted. Buhari has come into a system that is very corrupt. How can you salvage a situation that is so corrupt in one day? People are expecting these things to be done in one day or one week or one month or even one year. It can’t be done like that. For now, we will suffer because the system was corrupted systematically for so many years. Buhari will need to systematically fight that corruption too so that he can work. It’s like a woman who has breast cancer feeding her baby on the cancerous breast. Definitely, the baby would soon contract the cancer too. We should know that we must suffer if we must get to the Promised Land. If not, the rich will continue to get richer and the poor becomes poorer.

From 1999 till date, how many governors have been jailed? Only one governor has been jailed in 16 years. Does that mean it is only that governor that has stolen our common wealth?

Those who have access to steal money will continue to steal. What I expect Buhari to do is to share that money that he had gotten so far rather than put in lying idle with EFCC or Central Bank of Nigeria. The little he has acquired so far should be shared and given to states instead of asking states to go and borrow money. If they borrow money how will they repay when the oil prices have dwindled so much? Anyway, I sympathise with Buhari in his fight against corruption but there is a level to which he can go. He has shown us that Nigerians are very corrupt. He has shown us that some people have stolen so much money. Let him not go further. He should stop at that level because if he says he will continue to fight corruption, he cannot finish the fight even if he stays for eight years. Let me ask you one question. From 1999 till date, how many governors have been jailed? Only one governor has been jailed in 16 years. Does that mean it is only that governor that has stolen our common wealth? No. There is no way you can pass through this system and say you are not corrupt. No way. Even if he wants to, he cannot finish the fight even in his second tenure because investigation will continue for many years. But something should be done about those who are too corrupt. Again this is democracy where due process has to be followed. And those handling due process are very slow. It’s not Buhari. EFCC will investigate everything and then take to court where lawyers will come with their arguments here and there and the case will continue delaying while the suspect will be enjoying the money. At a point, their visas will be given back to them and they will continue to fly out to further enjoy the stolen money outside. The outsiders will not freeze those accounts because they plough the money into their economy and they are using it. Repatriating that kind of money is not easy. How can they repatriate that money and allow their own economy go down again? That is it. Recently, you held a PDP meeting. What was it all about? The meeting held in my house was not a zonal meeting but a meeting of concerned members of the PDP. Those who attended were people who are very concerned about what is going on in the PDP. Some of us elders of the party and other concerned stakeholders are looking for away forward.

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

Buhari’s fuel price hike a bitter pill Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

Anule Emmanuel

hen the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu promised Nigerians and the international community that the long fuel queues experienced across the country before now would end in May, he knew exactly what was in the offing. Indeed, one could see the level of confidence he exuded as he addressed State House Correspondence precisely on March 23, after leading the leaderships of the Nigerian Union of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Although, not many Nigerians believed him, Kachikwu’s promise today, appears a reality, as the queues continue to disappear across the country. Majority of Nigerians who had gone through an agonising period, were daily sleeping at petrol stations just to get a drop of fuel for their cars and generators. In fact, no one found it funny. Even the minister himself, who doubles as the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had cause to explain that together with his team, he was having sleepless nights in trying to tackle the problem which lingered for months. Obviously, the very essence of government which is the general well being of the people as well as the security of lives and property was fast been eroded with most citizens losing confidence in the present administration that had promised them

improved living conditions during the electioneering campaigns. Until this moment, not even those close to the NNPC boss knew that the only option left to government to eliminate the long queues that permeated several states of the federation, was a hike in the pump price of petrol also called premium motor spirit (PMS). Like the proposed naira devaluation policy which President Buhari has since rejected, what Kachikwu and his team did was to convince Buhari into accepting this hard choice, now biting on the poor with skyrocketing prices of consumable items. It is no picnic at all. Government’s argument for hiking the price of petrol is paucity of forex and not removal of subsidy as a result of significant decline in its foreign earnings following 60 per cent drop in global crude oil price compared to 2014. According to Kachikwu, NNPC’s supply dynamics had crumbled leaving the organisation straining to supply over 90 per cent of the local demand for PMS from the 48 per cent it was designed to originally supply. But, aside making the product available, it is feared that government may have only succeeded in taking Nigerians off the ‘fry pan, to fire’. President Buhari remains firm against devaluation of the naira, but agrees to a policy that has reduced the value of the nation’s currency. The naira all time high is experiencing pressure and has dived in value against the US dollar and the British Pounds Sterling (GBP) among other global currencies significantly. At present, government consciously or not is encouraging speculation in the black market, haven systematically created an artificial high demand for forex at the parallel market. Owners of Bureaux de Change who before

now were accused of waging a war against the naira by the CBN governor, Godwin Emiefele are rather having a field day. With the option left to fuel importers by government to search for dollars from autonomous sources for import, the BDC’s commodity which is forex is now a scarce commodity. The dollar sells for as high as N340 to the naira as against CBN’s official rate of N197. Unfortunately too, government seems backward in perfecting agreement with International Oil Companies, (IOC) as an alternate window to provide foreign exchange at official rate to private oil companies to import the commodity. In the absence of this arrangement therefore, Nigerians have been left at the mercy of mercantile oil marketers. The marketers have simply been given a leeway in determining fuel prices within a ceiling of be-

Buhari

tween N135 and N145 per litre as spelt out by the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). This is dependent on what rate and how they get forex. This singular decision has also subjected Nigerians to the vagaries in the international crude oil market which will now be consistently at risk over low value of the naira against major international currencies. What has happened today over the fuel price increase, sadly shows a strange departure from the early days posture of President Buhari’s who rebuffed calls for fuel price increase, vowing not to increase the hardship of Nigerians, especially with the challenges faced by the petroleum industry and the economy in general. One is sincerely skeptical despite Federal Government’s assurances that things will soon improve, as the hope of easing the pains of ordinary Nigerians who are already paying heavily for commodities like tomatoes, rice might be a mirage. The burden of increase in pump prices would continue to linger until deliberate efforts are made to strengthen the economy, build more refineries, fix and secure pipeline networks, repair existing refineries and most importantly, strengthen the value of the nation’s currency. The CBN needs to explain to Nigerians why it has become near impossible for it to check mate speculators at the parallel market who have consistently exerted undue pressure on the naira leaving the country with numerous exchange rates far from approved rate by the Monetary Policy Committee. In the prevailing realities, many fear that government may soon be forced to devalue the naira, as round tripping is likely to persist in the days ahead. This is why President Buhari must immediately demand an explanation from Emefiele, if he is really interested in remaining resolute on his firm position against devaluation of the naira.

Renaming university after patriot J.S. Tarka From the

Green Chamber ternyam@gmail.com

Philip Nyam

he House of Representatives last Wednesday passed through Second Reading a Bill Seeking to Rename the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi after an illustrious son of Benue and a renowned pre and post-independence Nigerian politician, Late Dr. Joseph Sarwuan Tarka. The bill was sponsored by Hon. John Dyegh, representing Gboko/ Tarka Federal Constituency of Benue State. It is disheartening that in spite of his enormous contributions to nation building, Tarka has not been immortalised by the federal government 36 years after his death. Who is J.S. Tarka and why should the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi be renamed after him? Born in 1932, Tarka was an unusual politician with an uncommon vision and undying love for his people and patriotism for country. A founding leader of the defunct United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), one-time minister under the regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, he was also a senator in the Second Republic and a foremost advocate for the rights of the minorities in Nigeria. Unlike the negative divisions being propagated by Nigerians today by political, ethnic and religious leaders, Tarka’s vision for one indivis-

ible, united and prosperous Nigeria was never in doubt. If only our politicians and leaders would exude the tolerance and love Tarka had for Nigerians outside his ethnic group or part of the country, the mutual suspicion that exists today among Nigerians would have been history. It is a well-known fact that Tarka “imported” Alhaji Ibrahim Imam from Borno to contest and win a parliamentary seat in Benue. Alhaji Ibrahim Imam was the leader of Borno Youth Movement (BYM) which was also a political party. Due to the threat the BYM posed to the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) in the then Borno Province, it was proscribed because if it were allowed to feature in elections, prominent Borno politicians such as Sir Kashim Ibrahim who was the governor of northern Nigeria would have lost their constituencies. But Ibrahim, who had been a member of the Northern House of Assembly on the platform of the BYM, needed a constituency to return to the house. Being a true democrat and a man of peace, a man who believes in the unity of the country, J.S Tarka went to Maiduguri and smuggled Alhaji Imam to Gboko, where he offered him a seat to represent Jemgbagh Constituency in the present Gboko, Tarka and Buruku local governments in Benue State. Imam won the seat by land slide and returned to the Northern House of Assembly. Tarka did not stop there, in the appointments of Principal Officers in the House,

he chose Ibrahim Imam ahead of kinsmen and his old political allies such as Hon. Isaac Shaahu and Hon Ugba Uye. Once again, Tarka displayed his love for unity when he was stepping aside to face trial for treasonable felony alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo; unlike some of our tribal and ethnocentric leaders, he did not choose a Tiv man or even a northerner to stand in as the head of the UMBC. He picked Chief Morphy from Ogoja as the leader of the party as against Hon. Isaac Shaahu, Mr. Macdonald Zugwenen Iorkyaa, Chief J.S. Olawoyin or Chief Gaius Gilama. Apart from these, there were uncountable instances where Tarka sought relentlessly to unite Nigerians through various alliances. For example, as soon as he became the leader of the UMBC in 1957, he allied with other ethnic groups to form a mega party that would work to achieve Nigeria’s independence and fight for the 1959 elections that would form the first post-independence government in 1960. Tarka went into alliance with the Action Group which was led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and consequently swept the Middle Belt at the polls winning all the seats in Benue, Plateau, parts of Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, as well as parts of Niger and kwara. Unfortunately, these seats including that of the Action Group which won what is now South-West, Edo and Delta states which are now South- South were not enough to defeat the NPC, which had enough seats to form the federal government under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Undaunted, Tarka contracted an alli-

ance with the NCNC which was led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in preparation for the1964 federal elections. The presence of J.S Tarka in this alliance also drew the minorities of the then eastern Nigeria into NCNC under such leaders like Chief I.I. Morphy from Ogoja, Dr. Okoi Arikpo from the Calabar area, Dr. Waniko Briggs and Chief Harold Dappabiriye of the present Rivers State. Again this alliance could not surmount enough to defeat the NPC and Tarka extended his coast reaching out to Mallam Aminu Kano of Northern Elements Progressive Union to form the UMBC/ NEPU alliance. This alliance was, however, truncated with the military coup of 1966. Tarka contributed immensely to the development of the country locally and nationally, thereby laying a solid foundation for some of our leaders today such as Senator George Akume who has also traversed the political landscape of Benue, North central and Nigeria as a colossus. Akume, a direct descendant of the J.S Tarka dynasty is known amongst other achievements to have single handedly brought ACN (APC) to Benue and facilitated the dislodgement of PDP in all North Central states except Plateau. A humble, focused and conscientious leader, Tarka was a master strategist with a knack for human capital development. He surely deserved to be honoured. Renaming the university after him is not out of place and very deserving of his exploits and legacies. J.S. Tarka is indeed worthy of immortalisation.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 22 MAY 2016

politics

Former presidential adviser and immediate past National ViceChairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojuigboh, in this interview with BIYI ADEGOROYE talks about the leadership the party needs at this crucial time and its plans for the governorship election in Edo State

Ojuigboh: PDP needs visionary leadership now

convention? No, it is not the National Executive Committee that conducted the convention, rather the Convention Planning Committee set up by the NEC whose tenure has expired. But the interesting thing is that the committee was set up before the expiration of NEC’s tenure. That is the rule of the party and in any case NEC has the power to extend its tenure in the absence of a convention. But there are dissenting voices. Some are saying that Ali Modu Sheriff is not qualified, while some former ministers are kicking against his emergence Anyone who is eligible should come out to contest and let the delegates decide who becomes the national chairman. You can see what happened in the United States. Some party leaders in the Republican Party were opposed to the aspiration of Donald Trump. But the delegates say they want him and he has won the primaries. So our people should let the delegates decide who should lead the party. That is the beauty of democracy.

How did it go at the party congresses in your zone, the South-South? The congresses went well in the SouthSouth from Delta to Cross River states; they were 100 per cent successful, and in Rivers and Bayelsa states too. You know Edo has already conducted theirs. All protests and disagreements were settled and all interests accommodated and as the National Vice Chairman during the congresses, we ensured that all these things were carried out peacefully. I can tell you that I am very excited about the results. The next plan of action is to win back Edo State whose governorship election is holding very soon. The difficulties and disagreements that led to the loss of the state in 2012 are being put behind us. Right now, all party chieftains that left the party in Edo State have returned and we are all working together. God willing, we know that we are going to win Edo State. The only challenge we have is that the Independent National Electoral Commission may be partisan, playing the cards of the All Progressives Congress. But the whole world is watching them, because we do not want inconclusive election in Edo State, rather we want to win the election in the first ballot. But you will recall that PDP was said to have sold out to pave the way for the candidate of the APC then, Adams Oshiomhole, to defeat Prof. Osarheimen Osunbor at the Court of Appeal That is what I am saying now. That was in the past and as it is now, we are all on the same page, working for the interest of the party. The PDP has put its house in order and all its leaders are now working together in the overall interest of the party. Giving the fact that PDP had ruled the state before with minimal development, how does it intend to convince the electorate in the state now, who have seen infrastructural development by the APC? You know that when PDP was in power in the state, the resources at its disposal was very poor and the price of oil was low in the international market. But during the tenure of Oshiomhole, the resources which accrued to the state rose astronomically. If you compare the resources available to us then to the level of development you will agree that PDP did very well. If you look at level of development today in Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, you will be impressed and these are what we want of replicate in Edo State. We are going to tackle the various infrastructural deficiencies in Edo State. We are looking at the erosion problem which is endemic in the state; we are going to look at education and infrastructure and address human capital such that young men and women in Edo State will channel their energy towards productive

Giving the fact that PDP is now in the opposition, what kind of leadership do you think the party needs at this particular time? One, we need a honest and purposeful leadership; leadership that is not corrupt, that will not embezzle party fund. The party needs a leadership that is ready to work hard and is capable of uniting all members and give the party a kind of rebirth. We don’t need a leader that is docile, who will go to bed or become incommunicado while the party goes rudderless. But we need a leader that is mobile and bold, ready to go to the entire country to address issues and mobilize voters for the party at short notice, such that when people present him at the convention, there will be no dissenting voices.

Ojuigboh

means. We are looking at promoting industrial development too in order to provide employment opportunities. What do you make of the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly even when the APC is in the majority? We plead with the APC not to turn the state into a theatre of war, but to start packing their luggage such that the PDP will move to protect the interest of the people. The APC should put their house in order and avoid hostile pre-election activities. We do not need that in Edo State and the time to preempt that is now before and during the primaries. The people do not deserve these crises and possible violence that may ensure there from. Very shortly, the governorship primaries will hold in Edo State. What should the aspirants and their supporters expect? I am an advocate of free and fair election and transparency and as far as I’m concerned, Edo State should not expect anything less. All the governorship aspirants should conduct themselves within the rules and avoid running campaign of calumny, but address the delegates on the needs of the state to sell their manifestos. They should all be committed to a free and fair election, knowing that there will be no imposition of candidate. After the primaries, they should be ready to support whoever emerges the party’s candi-

date and work with him in the election. The party’s interest and cohesion should be uppermost in the minds of the aspirants. What basis do you have to think that INEC will be bias against the PDP? Of course, it happened in Bayelsa when the election was called off when it was apparent that the PDP was coasting to victory. Also in Rivers you can recall what happened and up till now the elections have not been concluded so that our senators can go back to the National Assembly. You also know what happened during the elections. APC leaders connived with INEC to obstruct the elections. That is why today we are shouting to the whole world to pay attention to the trends and forestall a reoccurrence in Edo State. In some parts of the country, PDP congresses ended in crises, like in Ogun State where three executives emerge. What does this portend for the party? The PDP is a great party, a large one for that matter. So as it is, we shall all meet, lock ourselves in one room, resolve the matter with the various factions and move ahead. These issues can be resolved and they will be resolved. What is your view on the position that the current executive of the party should have left since March and hence it lacks legal basis to conduct a national

What is your reaction to the recent British Prime Minister’s comment that Nigeria is a fantastically corrupt country? (Laughs). You know I am an advocate of anti-corruption and I agree that the country needs to tackle corruption headlong, otherwise, there will be no development. This calls for the government to be more proactive. The fact is that what the British government is saying is that the anti-corruption war in Nigeria is onesided, that there are some people who are doing what they like and they are never touched. So we want the government to also probe its own members who are corrupt instead of fighting a selective war. As a party leader in the Niger Delta, is the current spate of pipeline vandalisation not of concern to you? Of course it is and we call on the militants and all to desist from destroying government and people’s property and investments because these are the nation’s sources of revenue. Such vandalisation will take the nation many years backward in terms resources available for development. I also call on the APC government to dialogue with them and do all things humanly possible to stop these activities. We also call on our youths not to vandalise these property, and if they have grievances, they should go to the police and court of law to address them. We are not in support of this, because we don’t support brigandry and terrorism, we condemn it in all entireties.

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

The Sunday

Some privatisation decisions

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was once a hot spot in Nigeria’s economic reforms and development, but in recent years, not m NZESHI, ISA ABDULWAHAB and NNAMDI AMADI that the BPE remains focused on its mandate of generating great ideas for the Feder What is the progress report on the companies sold to investors in the last one decade? Historically, you know the Federal Government invested in almost every sector of this economy because we didn’t have much of a private sector at the beginning. The early banks, hotels, newspapers and even factories were set up and owned by the government at that time. The private sector we had were mere importers of finished goods from overseas. The Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC) was the progenitor of the BPE. The TCPC years saw the transformation of the banks from government ownership to private ownership. Agreed that a lot of subsequent reforms have gone into it, but if the framework was not effective, subsequent reforms would have been useless. So the banks are working. You can see that the likes of FirstBank and UBA are still there and are doing very well. They are paying huge taxes; they are employing very large number of people. So that sector is doing fine. Secondly, we did very well in the privatisation of the hotel chains. NICON NOGA Hilton was privatised and became Transcorp Hilton, the old FESTAC 77 Hotel was privatised, Ikoyi Hotel is now Southern Sun and they are all doing very well. So indeed, we did a very good job in the hospitality sector. We have also done well in quite a number of other sectors. Take the reform in the communication sector for instance; the BPE created the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); the NCC Act was drafted here and it is a single feat for which the BPE should be commended for setting it up. When we had issues with our pension system, we proposed the setting up of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM). Today you are talking of trillions and trillions of naira in reserves and assets. The Debt Management Office (DMO) was created by us. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) started in one room downstairs here. In the cement industry, we are the progenitors of the Dangotes of today. I can go on and on, but I think those are even enough to encourage us to go and do more and do it better. These are the areas in which we have made some impacts and we made those impacts not because privatisation suddenly wore a new cap, but because global macro-economical indices for those sectors were right after the privatisation and that helped to build and grow the activities of those operators. What happened to the privatisation of the big industries particularly the steel sector? Coming to the big industries, we privatised Delta Steel Company (DSC) Ovwian- Aladja. The process itself was heavily politicised and to a large extent one could say that up till very recently, a lot of litigations were still going on in respect of Delta Steel. We didn’t privatise Ajaokuta Steel Company and Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) but the Ministry of Mines and Steel did engage in some forms of arrangements that gave those companies out to private investors to run. I know that we also privatised the steel rolling mills in Jos, Katsina and Oshogbo, but they could not survive when the parent companies died. The problem is that these companies were actually comatose by the time they were privatised. If you actually ask me, I would tell you that probably, the strategy adopted in handling those companies was not the best.

Maybe, they should have been taken through a higher level of analysis before they were sold off. But then there is no way of knowing the end from the beginning. Ajaokuta was down and out and we needed to do a core investor sale. The kind of resources needed to run that place is not resource you can pick from the shelf. So one probably would say today that the kind of core investors we should have asked for in Delta Steel for example should have been not just a single investor, probably multiple investors, who would have had to come together by way of shareholders’ agreement to provide the kind of capacity investment required to turn that establishment around. Maybe, if you ask me with the benefit of hindsight that is what I would now propose today. I wasn’t here when it was done but I know those who did it, did it in good faith, giving the information available at that time. Their hope was that the investors would also act in good faith. If you didn’t do a core investor’s sale in a big industry like Delta Steel that was not running, that was grounded, you needed somebody who can bring investments into it and operationalise it before you can think of taking it to the stock market. So anybody who tells you that we should not have done core investor sale might also not be telling the whole truth. It was either we did a core investor sale or we liquidated the firm. But that was not what government wanted. The problem with the big industries is that they are capital intensive. I must tell you, that based on hindsight the model adopted could have been modified in a way that may have gotten us a bit of more success. But I also know that a couple of them were political decisions. What about the sea ports? BPE also worked on the ports and the operators in the ports system today have brought in billions of dollars in investment. The kind of equipment you see in our ports today could never have been acquired by the Federal Government in the last 10 years. Today the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is rebranding because of incomes from the operations in the ports. So if there were no profits NPA would not be rebranding. They were in that dingy office in Lagos for many years, but if you go there now you won’t even recognise the whole place. They are remodeling because of the success of what BPE had done over the years through the port reforms. Nigerians expected that privatization of power would at least improve the supply of electricity but here we are today having a worse power situation. Where did BPE get it wrong with the privatisation of the power sector? I don’t know whether it is a fair assessment to say that BPE got it wrong. Honestly I don’t think so. It is not a fair assessment in the sense that a two-year trajectory of development in the sector after privatisation is not enough to define success in the operations of the sector. We moved the entire sector from a government monopoly to a segregated private sector value chain and in doing that we also exposed the rot in the system. My take also, is that Nigerians were not better served in the days of PHCN and NEPA than they are served today. I don’t think power availability was better in 2011 or 2010 than it is now. I don t think so. What you will tell me probably is that we have not moved much further.

Akpotaire

I recall during the administration of Late President Umaru Yar’adua, who gave a mandate to his Minister of Power (Remi Babalola) to generate 3,500 megawatts of power, within two years. Babalola failed woefully to generate 3500MW and he either resigned or he was removed. But in two years Nigeria is doing between 4500 and 5000MW at peak periods. Naturally, there are fluctuations, but it has been established that at peak periods today we are actually generating about 2400MW. For the purpose of argument, let’s even assume that every year Nigeria is adding 1000MW to its generation capacity, not much of new investment has come on stream to move from the 2500MW that we were in 2013 to 4500mw/5000Mw that we are as at today. It is not as a result of brand new plants.

The NIPP plants are not yet on stream substantially because of gas issues but the old plants that we sold and the hydro- plants that we sold are going into them and they are increasing their capacity generation. For me that is a plus. They are buying gas to generate this power and so their peak operation is defined by the availability of gas. Gas infrastructure is often vandalized, that is not the fault of privatisation. The oil majors are hesitating to invest in gas gathering projects because the local cost is not up to 50 per cent of the international price of gas. So who is going to do the investment? Is it privatisation that will do it? The joy I have is that the problems are now on the table. In the past they were under the table and nobody saw them and that was why we suffered for forty years. We are growing

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 22 MAY 2016

y Interview

s political, selfish – DG, BPE

much has been heard about its operations. In this interview, the Director-General of the agency, Dr. Vincent Akpotaire tells ONWUKA ral Government to enhance reforms in the various sectors of the economy were done and they were done in the 70s. We need to have consistent investment over a period of time, if we have done this investment profiling for a 10-year period and we are still where we are, then we can begin to say let’s re-evaluate. But the good news about what is going on is that it puts everybody on their toes, because I also believe that Nigerians have learnt from the many years of inaction. The media too have grown; knowledge base within the society has also expanded considerably. So, to a large extent the issues are getting talked about. For me, that is what will help to focus attention on the issues, put pressure on those who have to make the investments and make sure that the investments get made.

our population, we are expanding our city, but the last power plant built in this country was Egbin and that was about 1979 until Chief Olusegun Obasanjo came with NIPP. You can see the NIPP has taken a long time, because infrastructures to power them were not built side by side with the plants. So if you ask me, I am speaking very frankly here, I am not speaking like an alien here. I am a Nigerian. I grew up in this system, we are like a bridge between the old and the new. The last transmission lines constructed ever to my knowledge before the NDPHC ones were when I was a little boy growing up in the village in my state. They are still there. Some of them were vandalised too. The towers were brought down and melted to do all kinds of things. Those were the major investments that

With the benefit of hindsight, were there things done during the power sector privatisation that should not have been done or were there things that were not done at all that should have been done to give us the kind of result we expected? One option we could have proposed was to give government a 10-year period, to make concerted investments in the sector, under the old system and at the end of that period we now restructure the sector. I don’t know whether that would have been a good option. That is my worry. Furthermore, Transmission Company in Nigeria is still owned 100 per cent by the Federal Government. Now tell me today, what level of investment and capacity has been invested in that organisation up till date to enable it raise anything above 5000MW? None. It is easy to sit down and do a critique, but it is not easy to think through the process. Some of the best brains went into it but I‘ll say it again and again, I am not justifying the process, I am not saying the process was fool proof, but I am saying that the process has been acclaimed globally as a fine process. The World Bank itself and several other international agencies gave Nigeria an award at some fora for the privatisation process. Now managing the outcome is where we are and there you need to look at the good faith of the operators. But then there are loose knots that we all need to come together to tie. The situation as I met it appears to be that the power sector reforms has been substantially done, the restructuring has been done, privatisation is done. The new investors are making efforts to bring in the necessary investments but let us agree these guys don’t have tons of money they are bringing from their bedrooms to put into the system. They have to borrow and today’s business requires a model that is bankable to be able to borrow the kind of money you want to borrow. If a bank sees your model, your revenue stream and your assets base and it cannot scrutinise what you are asking for, they will not grant you that fund you are seeking from them. So there are issues and these are post- privatisation management issues and I can tell you that the administration of Mr. President today will not spare anybody if the process itself is flawed. The Minister of Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola is a man who is well known for what he has done in Lagos, in terms of running the second largest economy in Nigeria. I believe too that if it was a process issue all of these people will speak up against the process. So for me it is not a privatisation issue, it is a post privatisation crises management. Those things emerge as you go along and you must deal with it. Those who said they are going to

bring investments; we need to sit them down, one by one. Where are the investments? What are the terms and conditions on the basis of which you said you will bring investment? Why are you not bringing them? Let me give you an example. The metering between transmission and some distribution companies has not been installed, yet Nigerians are talking about being not metered at home. The power that probably Abuja or Ikeja Distribution Company usually receives from transmission, there is no meter measuring what transmission is giving. So transmission is charging them on estimate. That is the truth. So at several points between TCN and some of the DisCos you find out that the metering is not yet in place. Why on earth is it not? Yet somebody wants the DisCos to give you 100 per cent payment for power, when some of them don’t have an idea of the quantity they have supplied. Do you think BPE has done enough in terms of post-privatisation monitoring of former public enterprises? Generally, we have done some good measure of monitoring and that is why I could mention to you that long list and some other sectors that have been successful. So that extent I will say yes. We have done substantial monitoring of previously privatised firms and in the power sector, we have also commenced monitoring. Let me make it clear that as part of the strategy for the sector, we are not into financial management, corporate restructuring, sector reforms etc. The monitoring of the financial aspect is a very technical work and requires engineers, valuers, surveyors and other technicians. The best we are doing is to gather data on the problems, the investments and all the things that are creating glitches in the system. That is what we are doing and we are also providing this report to our principals at different levels. But in order for this data to be effectively analysed, in order for us to be able to double check on whether the data they are even supplying us is authentic, we need technical teams, consortium of consultants that will go into the field and ascertain the veracity of information acquired and report back to BPE with full analysis that enables us to hold the investors to account. Now part of the proposal is to procure this consulting consortium that will be able to work with us over a period of five years to do this monitoring and review of data on compliance. As we speak, we are in the process of obtaining the approval to procure these consultants. Naturally, the process dragged a bit because of the changes in administration. So we have been able to push the idea to our bosses and we are in the process of obtaining that approval so that we can procure this technical people to work with our in-house Post-Privatisation Monitoring Department to get the kind of technical data that we need to keep Nigerians informed of their performance. If they are not doing well, there are consequences. We want to be able to get clear data that they cannot challenge. The only way we can do that is to procure this technical audit firms that can work with us and recover this information and that is going to happen really soon. Why is BPE lenient on some core investors like NICON Insurance and Nigerian Re- Insurance despite apparent cases of violation of the vital provisions of share purchase agreements? Are we lenient? Ok, let me also tell you that

issues relating to monitoring those two companies are still in court and of course when somebody chooses to take the litigation option, you can’t stop him, and it is a constitutional right. So we have made the efforts to actually monitor but you also find out that those two companies were also bought by the same investors many years back and the initial monitoring went on for about five years and we found out that they have not complied with the terms and conditions that were laid down in their post acquisition plans. So we sent the reports to the appropriate quarters then and the decisions was that until there was compliance, the monitoring should continue and then we must find a way to get them to comply. However, in the contract, there was a five year lock-in period which means after five years, you can no longer monitor. So the investors went to court saying that they won’t open the gates for us again because five years have gone. We are still defending that matter in court. So people walk through some of these loopholes, using the legal framework to create confusion, but at the end of the day what we have for investors like that is that if you ride on the back of your own country, posterity is there. We also believe that at the end the legal system, we will also define whether what you have done is right or wrong and the facts as they are will not change because if you are actually doing well, by now it would have been obvious. So why are using court to blindfold the people? The truth is that the matter is in court and it is still been adjudicated upon. It is not because BPE was lenient, but because of the fact that our monitoring report were adverse and that is why the investors went to court. There are insinuations that some of the problems we encountered in this privatisation exercise in the automobile and steel sectors were the handiwork of some persons, foreign powers who didn’t want Nigeria to develop these critical sectors. Have you ever heard or thought of it? Well conspiracy theory is everywhere in the world today. One point we must also bear in mind is that until Dangote Group broke the jinx on cement we also believed that the conspiracy theories were in place for cement. Today, it is a different story. When Dangote bought Benue Cement, I didn’t think he had the ability to build the factories the way he is building them now. He is citing cement factories today like somebody buying a book. So he broke the jinx. That is what we are expecting to see coming from other investors. In refineries you will recall, we sold the refineries then for about $500 million to the same Dangote and Otedola. Today, Dangote is building a refinery worth billions of dollars in Lagos. In fact, I would say that if the sale of the refinery at that time was done within the right framework, we probably would have moved beyond where we are now many years ago. But here we are, the refineries in the last 10 years have not changed their configuration, Nigeria has spent billions of dollars in turnaround maintenance. Today nobody is talking about turnaround maintenance because it has become an abused cliché. Now in terms of value, your guess is as good as mine. So who has lost? Consider the billions of dollars that have gone into petroleum products importation within the last number of years and then post that against the sale of the refineries for $500m and look at the depreciation today and compute the loss. We are taking of trillions

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Crossword puzzle

Lenny the inventor

fter Rudy rolled around on the ground laughing for about a minute, he got up and asked Lenny if he was Ok. “Yeah, Yeah, real funny,” said Lenny. “I guess they may have been a little weak, but I know the shape is just right. I will just go back to the workshop and make them out of another material. Something not as heavy as the scrap metal and not as light as the tissue paper.” “Sounds like a good idea to me,” said Rudy as he rolled his eyes. A couple of weeks later Lenny called up Rudy. “I’ve really done it this time,” said Lenny. “You’ve done what?” asked Rudy. “I reworked the wings. I made them out of wax and balsa wood. These things look just like bird’s wings. Meet me at Kill Devil Hill, I need a witness,” said Lenny. “I’m on the way,” said Rudy. When Rudy arrived, he saw the wings. They did look good! “I need you to help me strap them on,” said Lenny. Rudy helped him strap on the wings. They fit real snug. There was a handle under each wing out near the tip for Lenny to use to move the wings up and down and a belt that went around his waste so that they would not fall off. “Here we go,” yelled Lenny as he backed up and began running towards the crest of the hill. He didn’t slow down and just as he got to the edge

of the hill, he started to lift up into the air. He was flying! YAHOOO! Yelled Lenny. He flew and flew just laughing and hooting. He flew higher and higher. He was really getting high now, and he started to worry. “How do I land these things?” he asked himself. That question was about to be answered. All of a sudden, he noticed that his wings were starting to melt. He had risen so high, that the sun was starting to melt the wax he used to make the wings. Pretty soon he had little tiny wings and he was flying about a hundred miles an hour down towards the woods. “Boy this is going hurt again,” said Lenny to himself. He crashed into the trees. Rudy ran up, “Are you all right?” he asked. “Yeah, I think so, but I am definitely going to quit trying to fly. This is too rough on the body,” said Lenny. To this day, no one believes Rudy when he tells the story of how Lenny flew like a bird. It may be good that they do not believe him, because others would probably get hurt, as did Lenny. Lenny also made a commitment not to invent anything that cannot be used while standing firmly on the ground. He often tells people, “If people were meant to fly, they would have wings!”

Colour by numbers

Gags: What lies on its back, one hundred feet in the air? Ans: A dead centipede. What did the rug say to the floor? Ans: Don’t move, I’ve got you covered. Where do fortune tellers dance? Ans: At the crystal ball.

Why were the teacher’s eyes crossed? Ans: She couldn’t control her pupils. What do bees do with their honey? Ans: They cell it. What clothes does a house wear? Ans: Address.

Math pix

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

News PFN says no to grazing bill

Interview

Akinadewo: People love this government but... p.33

p.32

FAITH

Iluyomade: Our journey of exceeding greatness

Tai Anyanwu bout 25 years back, a paradigm change, which was envisaged by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, gave birth to the nucleus of what has become RCCG’s model church – Apapa Family. Then the erudite man of God mandated a group of about 50 professionals, including Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, current Head of RCCG’s Apapa Family and Vice President Yemi Oshibajo, to start up a church and attract their like into Christendom. The group swung into action but was almost misunderstood; because their perceptions and mode of reaching out to up-beat people, who are yet in the world, were considered not conventional especially by classical Christians. “When we started Apapa Family, we were having churches in night clubs; people did not understand. If you say some people are in a club, of course naturally if you don’t have understanding of what they are doing, you will say that they are backslidden,” Iluyomade popularly known as ‘Pastor ID’ explained. The group, who are usually professionals, working class and businesses owners and who do not get paid by the church, are not full timers “although we spend most of our time doing the work of God, held unto their vision. “Of course God is not static it; you are the church; anywhere you go to becomes the church. We had that vision then, we are trail-blazers, we set the standards but in all that we do we never deviate from the life style of holiness,” he explained. Twenty five years down the line, the elated leader of Apapa Family, told Sunday Telegraph that the RCCG’s model church now occupies a large place within and outside the shores of Nigerian. The hallmark of the Family’s success lies on its commitment to community social responsibility projects and exemplary service to humanity devoid of bias to religion or tribe. “If you came in from Ligali Ayorinde, the dual carriage way that connects the road to our church was done by us. We also contributed to the alternative route that comes into Anywhere Apapa Family Church is planted, we impact in that society, because we believe that if your church has to close down and people rejoice that you have gone, that means that you did not impact in that society

Iluyomade

the church through Lekki axis. “Anywhere Apapa Family Church is planted, we impact in that society, because we believe that if your church has to close down and people rejoice that you have gone, that means that you did not impact in that society. But if they miss you, it means that you touched lives there. So, anywhere that we are, it’s either we sink boreholes, clean the gutters, do roads or put street lights. We leave our footprints anywhere we go,” iluyomade explained. Some of the community projects executed by the family include installations of traffic lights in different locations in Lagos State, solarpowered lights along the whole of Kirikiri Street; free feeding of 60,000 people every Sunday, free medical treatment for all and skill acquisition programmes which is part of their effort to give indigent members of the society a means of livelihood. Beyond these, the Apapa Family is respected for its signature projects such as provision of hospital facilities, mobile clinics, a cancer screening centre and educational support programmes. Pastor ID explained: “We realise that about 30million Nigerians

were in need of dialysis intervention and the nation needs about 12,000 machines but has less than 200 operational ones presently. So we established a hospital that has 10 dialysis machines to contribute our own quota to the improvement of healthcare system in the country. Every month, we offer 30 free dialysis sessions. We have partnered with some hospitals and foreign partners and we have done about six kidney transplants.” As the family marks its 25th anniversary starting on Saturday, June 4, Iluyomade explained that they have plans to equip about 500 public primary school libraries in Lagos State in partnership with the state government. “It started last year and we have so far equipped about 300 schools. We also partnered with our General Overseer, Pastor E.A Adeboye, and endowed a Professorial Chair in mathematics in his name in five universities in Nigeria at the sum of N250million; and we do it every year. The fifth one was done last year and it is called Pastor E.A Adeboye Professorial chair in Mathematics,” he added. CO N T I N U E D O N PAGE 34

sermon

Weapon of boldness p.50 Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph © Daily Telegraph Publishing

Lagos CAN intercedes for Nigeria Tai Anyanwu

In view of the hardship, which many years of wasteful management of Nigeria’s resources has plunged her citizens, the Lagos State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) organised a special prayer session to ask for God’s intervention in the nation’s dwindling economic fortunes. The intercessory session held at the Chapel of Christ, the Saviour, Ikeja Lagos, witnessed a fairly good attendance by Christian leaders from various denominations, which lifted our national leaders at all levels of Governance unto God as they cried earnestly for divine help. Speaking with the press at the occasion, CAN Secretary, Lagos State, Elder Israel Akinadewo, likened Nigeria to the State of Israel whom God loved so much but often attracted damnation to herself due to Israeli’s propensity to sin and forget the Almighty God. His words: “Every nation that God loves must face HIS fury, whenever it departs from His commandments. The people of Israel are still loved till today, but they were punished severally for disobedience, but whenever they sought His face, He will hearken unto them.” Akinadewo explained that the reason for the prayers is that Nigeria has neglected her creator, relished in all manners of sin, squandered her God given natural resources selfishly and exposed her citizens to Satanic agenda against the will of God. “Majority of us go after earthly goodies, in place of heavenly things. Most people neglect the downtrodden and accumulate massive and unjustifiable wealth for their unborn children to the detriment of their beloved country. “In spite of our fantastic religiosity, we hate one another; hate our nation, by bringing it closer and closer to the desires of Satan. Majority of us are selfcentred, we care for ourselves alone, and we are building empires, promoting our individual names, as against the name of God the Son,” he added.

Kumuyi takes revival to Somolu

he Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Somolu Group, has announced a one-day revival programme tagged ‘Somolu Great Revival Crusade’.

A statement signed by Adeniyi Ojebisi, Group Pastor, Somolu Group, stated that the revival programme, which would be addressed by Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of the Church, would feature miraculous encounter “with the Great and Mighty God.” “We strongly believe that the Almighty will meet you at the point of your need as you make it to the venue. It promises to be an evening of great encounter. You must not miss it,” Ojebisi said. According to him, the event will hold on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Shepherd Hill Baptist Crusade Ground, Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro, Lagos. Time is 5pm.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

faith

Insight

Rev. Femi Akinola www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

Ten right steps to take in business

he steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; not the confessions, the wishes or the sleeping of a lazy man. A great future is a product of taking the right steps in life. It is important to always enquire from the Lord on what steps to take so as to avoid unnecessary accidents in business and destiny. Great people focus on result, while small people are always too busy giving attention to problems. The truly great people in business are achieving their results through the secret they understand and practice that others don’t. Steps to take 1. Find a quiet place. Isa 30:15. Always find a quiet place where you can retreat to and pray so you can hear from God. Jesus always separated himself to a quiet place where He can pray; and His disciples would always come to tell Him that ‘all men seek thee’. There’s no way all men will not seek you out for solutions if you are always with the Lord. You can’t always get the kind of result you’ll get when you separate yourself in a place far from your house when you stay at home. 2. Go through your life thoroughly. Are you happy with the life you’re living? Find out from the Lord if you have missed your chances in life. Don’t deceive yourself; there are times you look back, there are times you look around and there are times you look into the future. 3. Allow someone else to access you. Bury your pride and allow neutral people to tell you the truth about yourself and where you are in life. Let people you trust access you and be a little bit in your face to tell you what you are not doing rightly. Don’t look for people who will access you with sentiment and lie to you, that can keep you making mistakes for too long. 4. Write down your vision. Habakkuk 2:2-3. God delights in talking with you. He wants to tell you about His plans for your life. Always carry writing pad along with you wherever you are going, because God 5. Write down the route to your destiny as revealed to you by God. Always have a blueprint of what

God wants you to do and where He wants you to go. Find out the When, Who, Where and How of your vision. 6. Have alternative route to your destiny. God is not a God of just one plan; He is a God of many plans. No man has more than one destiny; a person might have many gifts and talents and have series of plans on how to achieve their destiny. To fulfil destiny you must have plan B to Z. 7. Put your information where it is easily accessible. Don’t put the information God has communicated to you far, put them close for reminder. Some people are very bad at keeping information record. They can’t write anything down because of lack of foresight. 8. Save towards your Visions/projects. Proverbs 6:6-7. Save towards that thing God has told you. If you don’t save you are not safe. Plan based on what you have. Stop expecting miracle money. If you want God to use people to help you, you must have at least helped yourself to a level. if you want to meet a person and ask for help; for instance if you have a project of N200,000 at hand to execute you should have at least saved 40 to 50 per cent of the money before approaching anybody for assistance. That way, you can easily get help. But approaching people for help when you have not done anything about the matter yourself, will only irritate them and cause setback for the person in question. Too many people are living a fake life and that’s why they can’t save. The clothe that some people wear can start a great business. A lady told me her sunshade cost N150,000. And I told her that’s the cost of a plot of land somewhere in Ogun State. In other words, some people are wearing a plot of land on their body. 9. Speak it out always. Don’t stop talking and confessing what God has shown you. Psalm 81:10 Keep talking about the future. Don’t keep quiet because things seem slower than you expect. When you open your mouth God will fill it with the power of creation. So the more you speak, the more your words are creating your world for you.

My TURNING P

INT

I don port to Jesus – Samantha

s. Samantha Wilson, a professional banker, got into smoking addiction very early in life. Eventually, she fell into deep depression. Until recently, Samantha never believed in the things of God or the efficacy of God’s words in providing succour for problems of life. “I am a banker by profession and a sceptic at that. I never believed in all of these, but I stand here to testify that the morning water is a big solution to so many problems. I learnt to smoke at age 14. As a university student, when I go for classes I will hide to smoke,” Samantha said. When her family found out about her problems and talked about it, everybody became an enemy. “I will become so aggressive so that they will just leave me alone. Even when I went into depression, the matter worsened; because I used it as a pacifier. When I get in from work, the first thing I do, I say hello to my children, run to my room, lock the door and smoke. My daughter will say mother open the door; I won’t open it because I don’t want her to see me doing it. I can stay there for like three hours, consoling myself with it,” Samantha explained. For twenty years, the young baker struggled with smoking addiction, depression and accompanying emotional imbalance, without any power of her own to escape. She became aggressive to friends and family and was only calm when she takes her regular smoke. At the peak of her emotional challenge, she could no longer give or get her best at the work place. But a glimmer of light began to appear at the dark tunnel of her life when her loving sister introduced her to Prophet TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV; and she began to listen to the refreshing word of God. “I started watching it Christmas last year; and the man of God always talk about getting rid of deep hurts, getting rid of offenses. There was something he said in particular that we have no right to hold offenses because God has forgiven us why are we holding offense against someone else. So, gradually the matter of depression was leaving me; gradually as I was watch-

Samantha

ing the programme, it was was a deliverance session. leaving me,” Samantha I remembered that he desaid while testifying at livered me in that dream.” the Synagogue Church reIn real life, Samantha said cently. that she fellowshipped at With depression out of the Synagogue Church the way, Samantha still last Easter Sunday; but had her smoking addic- unknown to her, that day tion to deal with: “I tried marked a turning point in on my own to stop; there her spiritual life. was no way to stop. All “I joined in the prayer. through my school day, in I was like let the man see my work, I have been do- me O! But on a second ing this thing.” thought, I said this man So Samantha planned to visit Synagogue hoping she would be Nothing delivered if she did. concerns me with She said fursmoking, I don’t want it, ther: “But I don’t like it, I don’t want to before I remember it and the smell is came here, offensive, I hate it. There is no a strange thing hapsign of depression, now my joy pened in my is in Christ, as people pot from dream. I saw phone to phone network, Senior Prophet me I don’t port to T B Joshua; I had Jesus never met him before. I only used to see him on TV. And then there

doesn’t have to see me, as long as I have set my foot here I am delivered,” she said. And that was how she contacted the miraculous power through faith. On getting home, Samathan said she observed her prayer session and after that day, she now finds smoke smells offensive. “I said let me watch, one day, two days, three days, one week, two weeks three weeks and to the glory of God, I stand here to testify that smoking is a thing of the past. “Nothing concerns me with smoking, I don’t want it, I don’t like it, I don’t want to remember it and the smell is offensive, I hate it. There is no sign of depression, now my joy is in Christ, as people pot from phone to phone network, me I don’t port to Jesus Christ though Emmanuel TV,” Samantha testified.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

In view of the excesses of men of God, do you think that government should regulate religious practices in Nigeria? The church is not independent of the society. It is part of society and when we preach the gospel to people, we make them to become better. Where you see counterfeit, you must have also the real thing. And it is all over the world that you see people who want to do some things different from the original thing. God himself will expose anybody who hides to do wrong things in the church of Christ, because God is coming to purge his church. If God wants to regulate the church, it can come in but government must make sure that they don’t stifle the gospel; because people outside need the gospel. It is the gospel that has changed a lot of people who have been trapped by the devil and has transformed their lives.

Akinadewo: People love this government but...

faith

The presiding minister of Motailatu Church, Lagos Area Headquarters, Rev. James Akinadewo, shares his views on current national issues in this interview with Tai Anyanwu. Excerpts:

So, how to you assess the executive bill on public preaching now before the Kaduna State House of Assembly? I will just say that God liveth forever and he will never change. The church is there because the Bible says government will be on our shoulder as a lasting church. Any governor anywhere in the world will think that anything they want to do will be for the progress of their community, country or their nation. So, if the government is doing anything that is anti, it will have to think again; because the governor is governor for everybody. He is not a governor for one section, so he will have to look at it again. And ask; will this thing help my government? Will it help the country? The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir ElRufai, has to look at it again because everything a governor is doing he must do it help the humanity and help the country. I believe that the church exists to help humanity and help the people become better. So the governor must ensure that whatever he does must help humanity, the government and the country because then the church will begin to pray for the governor and he needs the prayer of the church before he can succeed. I believe that he wants to succeed and without divine backing he will not succeed. Could you comment on the politicking that has trailed the process of electing a new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)? God has the final say concerning CAN and his church that is sent to bless the world. And I believe he will do it the right way himself. It is bad that people have now brought politics into the church and it shouldn’t be because we are called to preach the gospel. And I will just say this that in the later days, people in government, princes would come the priests for advice, for help; and it is even the priest that anoint kings then because priests are the mouthpiece of God. It is a sad commentary that it is leaders of the church that are now running after politicians, bringing dishonour into the church of God which shouldn’t be. It is not helping the body of Christ. The Bible says we are in the world to do His will but we are not of the world. Now people are bringing politics of the world into the church and heaven is not happy with this. What are your thoughts about the menace of Fulani herdsmen which has gone on unchecked for a long time? The president has to speak out and condemn this issue. It is only recently that he directed the security agencies to arrest herdsmen who are involved in this wicked activity. But I believe that President Buhari must do more than that. He must be seen doing it because people are beginning to feel that it is Boko Haram that are parading as Fulani herdsmen because people say they have guns. Who gave them gun? Where did herdsmen get guns from and when did they begin to carry such sophisticated weapons? That means they have

Akinadewo

backers, sponsors. Government has to investigate and stop this thing because the President has all the powers, as Commander-in-Chief to stop this. So that it won’t snowball and hinder the refreshing governance that is just happening in the country now. Our President has to step in and stop this immediately; because the souls that are being lost are precious souls. It has to stop and the buck stops at table of Mr. President. He has to act fast and do things so that this craze will stop immediately. As a Christian leader, how do you feel about adoption of under-aged Christian girls who are forceful converted to Islam and given into marriage without the consent of their parents? It is very disturbing. I think that the government has to do something very

The people love and want the best for this government; but all these things that are happening is shaking people’s confidence in this government

fast to stop things so that it won’t affect the confidence that people have in this government. The people love and want the best for this government; but all these things that are happening is shaking people’s confidence in this government. And I believe that leaders of thought and people who love this country must speak out, all of us must speak out and condemn these things intact. Government has to stop this because it is an outrage against humanity because they invade people’s privacy, destroy the future of those young people and they are the future of the country. When you now destroy their future by doing things that affect their future that means something is wrong and it is a sign of breakdown of law and order. As I always say, we can do things right. Things are not right today because we have left doing well. We are doing the exact opposite of good things. And we know the truth; the Bible says we should know the truth and it shall set us free. But if you know the truth and you are not doing the truth, you are doing the exact opposite of truth and so thing cannot work. And God will never bless a country where His laws are broken with impunity. A lot of impunity is in this country, and it has to stop. Mr. President has to act very fast and stop these things. You can’t just kidnap people from one place to another and convert them into other things against their wish. It is wrong. The Chibok girls issue is still there.

After two years, the families of those girls are still crying every day. The government has to do something so that things can become better in this country that is so blessed by God and people are suffering in the mist of plenty. All these impunity and wasting of innocent lives has to stop. Bad leadership is our bane in Nigeria. It exists from the top down to the people at the lowest level, our leaders have not been doing things right. But this government must get it right so that we can enjoy the grace of God. What if this government fails to get it right in spite of all the high expectations? I believe that President Buhari will get it right because this is divine mandate. He must get it right; because God put him there. God knows he can do it. He must be ready to show that he can do it because God will use him to solve this problem. I believe he can get it right; and he must get it right. What if he doesn’t get it right? That shows that he did not even get God’s investment in his life right. God invested in his life to solve this problem; because God knows that Nigerians are suffering and God now brought him with the ability to put things right. That is why I said that God has invested in his life. God spared his life till this hour, so he has to get it right. And everybody that wants to do something different must step on toes.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

faith

PFN says no to grazing bill

Tai Anyanwu

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has vehemently expressed its disapproval of the proposed grassing bill currently at the second reading stage in the Federal House of representative. Rising from its statutory quarterly meeting of the National Executive Council of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria held at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the PFN urged caution and vigilance on the proposed grazing bill saying: “We oppose any bill that seeks to put at a disadvantage others to cater for the needs or economic pursuit of only a few.” The Christian body noted that in this day and age, raising cattle need not necessarily be nomadic. “We urge the government of states, where cattle rearing is a part and parcel of their culture, to build ranches and develop reserves where cattle owners

can husband their animals without travelling long distances where they stray into farms, destroy crops and constitute nuisance and threat to others,” PFN said. It therefore advised that state governments could also explore opportunities for co-operation with other states to develop ranches and reserves for their own farmers; but warned that the needless clash between herdsmen and others which often result in waste of lives and other resources has to stop. In a statement issued after the meeting, PFN also noted that in recent times, more reports of rampant killings and decimation of communities have come from many states across the country; and to express concern about the activities of armed herdsmen repeatedly reported to have maimed, raped and murdered people, burnt churches and destroyed communities, unchallenged. “We mourn the loss of

every Nigerian life lost as a result of these heinous activities, and it is indeed worrisome that these bandits have seemingly continued to evade the net of the security forces, unleashing terror and disappearing after the act,” the PFN further noted. It condemned the government’s seeming inaction, over time, which it said appears to have emboldened the perpetrators. In the same vein, PFN frowned at the pattern of abduction of under-aged Christian girls, their forceful conversion to Islam and then being give out in marriage without the consent of their parents and urged an immediate stop pointing out that such acts is capable of instigating a breakdown of law and order. PFN insisted that religion should not be used to divide the nation. On the change in the educational curriculum, PFN said: “We see no wisdom in merging Christian Religious Studies with other

religions under the broad subject known as Religion and National Values (RNV) in the curriculum. We reject this change which we consider unnecessary and uncalled for. We are not convinced that NERDC has put sufficient thought to its proposition. The PFN calls on those concerned to engage more with all stakeholders and ensure that all areas of conflict are addressed to avoid a needless tension and suspicion over the curriculum change.” The body also noted that the country is passing through difficult economic times and calls on Nigerians to show greater understanding. However, PFN urged the government to take steps to reduce the pains and sufferings of Nigerians. “We call for a speedy resolution of these issues with a view to creating a more conducive enabling environment for life and economic activities in the country,” PFN said.

This govt can’t afford to fail – Prophet Chris How long have you been in the ministry? I’ve been in ministry for some time now but precisely I went into full time ministry 12 years now. Twelve years seem like 12 months to me because of how dynamic the ministry has become.

The General Overseer of “The Spoken Word End time Ministry Prophet Nmezi Christopher Chijioke, talks about his ministry and politics in his interview. Excerpts I don’t weep over the past, I move on, though there are things I felt I should have done better but now regret. No. I don’t live in the past because anyone who lives in the past will pass away with the past. God has been faithful.

What is your ministry focused on? My focus is to raise a word-based congregation of believers, a people who are going back to the teachings of the Apostle of Christ and re-enacting Acts of the Apostles in our days.

Where do you see your ministry in the next five years? In the next five years I see my ministry touching life’s and bring the restored truth of the end time message. I see the ministry becoming a source of inspiration to those who truly want to serve God.

Apart from the work of God what else do you do? I am a full time pastor. If the work of God fails you, what will you do? Well, let me borrow the words of King David in Psalms 37:25: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” God hasn’t failed, He will not fail. So there is no thought of failure, God has been gracious to me. What is your source of inspiration? The Bible; when you study the Bible you are spiritually and physical fired up to achieve your God given mandate. Other books inform but the bible transforms.

Chijioke

What has life taught you over the years? Life has taught me to be patient; impatience is a negative spirit that makes you rush into adulterated destiny. Life has taught me to

be visionary because it takes seeing ahead to be ahead, one cannot be on top until you’re a seer. So it takes an SEER to be an OVERSEER. Do you have any regret about life?

How do you access this present administration? The present administration needs to embrace a robust economic plan towards poverty alleviation. These are trying times for Nigerians so the administration should introduce palliatives to keep the economy going. Like I said I know Mr. President means well for this nation, he needs our support and prayers. I pray for Nigeria and its leadership to receive divine direction from God and make Nigeria a better place for all in Jesus name.

Our journey of exceeding greatness CO NTINUED F R O M PAGE 31

Pastor ID explained that this year’s anniversary will begin with a musical conference featuring some members who were in the music department and choir when at the idea of the Apapa Family begin. Some of them are Nathaniel Bassey, Chioma Jesus, Wale Adenuga, Cobhams Asuquo and many other guest artistes. The main celebration - which is the Excel Celebration Service to be ministered by Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, is slated for Sunday, June 5, at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, by 7.00am. “We are expecting some of our members… for example, I think last

year; we had both the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, who is a member of Apapa Family and the governor of Lagos State. We are expecting them to be there with various other dignitaries and members from all over the globe because we are now all over the globe. “We will be having the grand finale of this talent hunt and the winner will go home with N5million. It doesn’t stop there; we also encourage them, mentor them and the musical piece that they do, we wax them and it carries our record label,” Iluyomade added. He explained that the Celebration is very significant because God has kept and sustained the family, the work and the vision for the past 25 years.

Be patient with govt, Cleric urges Nigerians Tai Anyanwu

he Centre for Righteous Living (CRIC), a faith-based non-governmental agency, has called on the organised labour and Nigerians in general to show a bit more understanding with the government of the day even as the controversy over withdrawal of fuel subsidy rages.

The president of the Christian body, Rev. Solomon Adegbolagun, made the call at a press briefing held in Lagos, primarily to discourage any action that could be inimical or derail what he described as the transformation agenda of the present dispensation led by President Muhammadu Buhari. Adegbolagun, however, noted that the removal of fuel subsidy and the increase in the price of petrol has brought hardship on the good people of Nigeria, with its uncontrollable inflationary effects on all other essential commodities like food, transportation and increase in the cost of living. But he called on the parties concerned to see reasons and allow peace to reign, particularly now that the President Buhari-led APC government is settling down to its business of governance. “We wish to appeal to the good people of Nigeria, especially the leadership of organised labour to show a

little more understanding and be patient with the government to make sure that we all benefit in the disbursement and distribution of dividends of democracy as promised by the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Professor Yemi Oshibajo.” Adgbolagun regretted that the fuel subsidy regime was marred by atrocities and high level corruption and pointed out that removal of the subsidy and liberalisation policy of the present government would do more good than harm. He urged the Buhari administration to ensure that proceeds would be utilized for people oriented programmes for the benefit the masses. “We also want to take advantage of this platform to appeal to the government to utilize the financial gains made from the removal of petroleum on those things that would benefit the good people of Nigeria. “We want to especially appeal to all that are part of this government at the national level to appreciate the measure of trust, belief and support reposed in them by Nigerians, they should live up to expectations, ensure transparency in governance and work hard to see that all the funds realized are used to alleviate poverty across every sector of the Nigerian people and system,” he said.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Oba Oyewunmi in double celebration T hose who are in the know of happenings in the ancient town of Ogbomosho in Oyo State will readily testify to the fact that there is an air of celebration in the town. This is expected to climax come 27th of this month when sons and daughters of the town, as well as guests from all works of life will converge on the town to celebrate no person other than the respected aged traditional ruler of Ogbomosho land, Oba Dr. Oladunni Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III, Soun of Ogbomoso. He will be celebrating his 90th birthday and 42nd year on the throne. Efforts are in top gear to have a flamboyant and historic celebration for modest, self-made Oba Oyewunmi, who is the Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, as a three-day event has been packaged in his honour. The event, which will kick off on 25th, will climax on the May 27, with an elegant reception at his Ogbomosho palace ground where the King of world beat, King Sunny Ade, will lead other singers like Abolore Akande, 9ice and other fuji musicians to spice up the day. Born to Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewunmi II and Ayaba Seliat in 1926, young Oladunni started elementary studies at St. Patrick Primary School, Oke–Padre, Ibadan, before moving to Ogbomoso Peoples Institution (Now Ogbomoso Grammar School) for his secondary education. He had to

cut short his educational pursuit for lack of sponsorship and delved into trading in woven textiles which was his stepping stone in business after which he enrolled in evening classes to further his education. Fortune would soon smile on him as he stepped up his business by founding a limited liability company, where he dealt in wholesale and retail trading before he became more successful to berth in hospitality and real estate business. Oyewunmi, to the admiration and acceptance of all and sundry, in 1973 at age 47, ascended the throne of his forefathers as the Soun of Ogbomoso, Ajagungbade III. While he has impacted his domain greatly, his contribution to national development is also not quantifiable. From just three secondary schools in Ogbomosho when he ascended the throne, the town now boasts of about 150 private and public secondary schools. His role in founding Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, as well as his efforts in making the town economically viable cannot be overemphasised. In recognition of his contribution to national development, Oba Oyewunmi was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) as well as Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR). He was also given a honourary doctorate degree by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.

Lucky Igbinedion honours mum at 80

All for Shina Peller at 40

ased on his background that he’s an offspring of late popular magician, Alhaji Moshood Abiola, just like his siblings, there were tendencies that his activities would be of interest to the public but Shina, like a few of his siblings, has been able to consolidate on the fame of their late father, even as he’s gone ahead to create a brand for himself. The light skinned graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University cut his teeth as a socialite with so much money to throw around. He invested in the night club business and entertainment industry. This has no doubt solidified his feet and endeared him to many. The slim built dude recently clocked the age 40 and to prove his worth and clout, Shina Peller, who is better known as Acquilla, deployed all within his reach in making a statement with his carnival-like birthday celebration. The three-day event started with a novelty match that featured entertainment personalities after which visits to less privileged homes was next. After a well-attended dinner, there was the after party held at the birthday boy’s fun spot, Quilox. With all the trappings of an A list event to bear, array of stars in attendance as well as important personalities that thronged the venues, it would amount to stating the obvious that the event will linger in the minds of many.

A Coco engages Caleb in grandstyle

hat Deji, who hails from the prominent and noble family of Adeleke in Ede, Osun State, has done very well for himself and that he’s a role model of a kind in the society is without a doubt. His status as a billionaire businessman as well as his easy going nature speaks volumes of his amiable personality. Although, it was not a very pleasant tale last time he was in the news on account of his wave making musician son, Davido, but this time, the Chairman of Pacific Holdings, Deji Adeleke, is making the news for a very inspiring reason as a daughter of his just quit the spinsters’ club. In an elaborate traditional engagement ceremony, Adeleke’s daughter, Davido’s elder sister, Coco, became one with her heartthrob, Caleb Odaji. The superlative all blue affair, which was held at Lekki area of Lagos, ended up like a carnival as family, friends and well-wishers were on hand to celebrate with the lovers and their families.

side the fact that what readily comes to the mind of many when the name, Igbinedion, is mentioned, is wealth and deep pocket, another thing the noble family is also known for is celebrating feats to the fullest. It’s in this vein that the heir of Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, in the person of the former governor of Edo State, Lucky, who has since after his reign as the number one indigene of his state been off and on the public space, recently turned up. His name recently returned to the public space when he was mentioned among PDP stalwarts who are members of a faction of the same party. Aside political reason, the dark skinned former governor was all out for a worthy course as he celebrated his mother who hit age 80 recently. His mother of course has not been in the spotlight like his father but as a child who values his mother, Lucky went all out to celebrate her on her birthday. On the invitation of one of their own, Lucky, politicians of note as well as privileged society big wigs converged on Benin City to thank God and celebrate with the birthday girl, Madam Oredola Igbinedion. The event was done in a low key manner but it sure reflected the status of those involved.

Wole Madariola’s fresh move Aisha Falode over the moon

oing by what has been observed of him, renowned investor cum diplomacy scholar, Olumide Wole Madariola, has for a while been off the stage. However, Celeb Lounge can reveal the dude is back in the picture, even as he has a few things up his sleeves to impact humanity. The respected defense and national security expert, who is equally president, Nigeria Shooting Federation (NSF), will officially unveil Asthma Care Africa, a

non-governmental outfit that cares about smooth breathing. This outfit with outlets in Lagos, Abuja and Port Hacourt will care for asthmatic patients by giving free drugs and consultations. It was further learnt, the philanthropist and one of the biggest shoes and allied leather material manufacturers in the world, Wole Madariola, also has, in his kitty, a couple of initiatives to keep youths off the streets that will be rolled out in due time.

o different people, frontline female sports presenter, Aisha Falode, represents different things and for various reasons, she’s admired by different folks. While her great looks and carriage is why she melts the hearts of some, her style of presentation is why some will forever remain her fans and to others, the fact that she’s a factor in a male dominated field is the attraction. Losing her only son to the cold hands of death in a controversial manner in faraway United Arab Emirates, Dubai, several months back, was sure

a devastating blow for her and many who shared in the pain of a mother. Graciously, the delectable woman has been able to put the bad incident behind her and move ahead. Meanwhile, the CAF official, in the last few days, has been basking in the euphoria of an event that has taken her over the moon and everyone who has heard the good news has been full of happiness for her. It’s already known in some quarters but for the benefit of those missing out, her daughter, Tolu, days ago, completed her master’s degree in a foreign university.

Execut ve What solutions would you proffer in light of the current economic situation in the country and how did it get to this point? Business environment in Nigeria has been a bit hostile. Delay in the passing of the budget is not helping matters. It compounds our problem and businesses are affected. The bottom line is control. When you over control, it strangulates the economy but economy will grow better if you deregulate. When government deregulates, competition will drive down prices and economy picks up. There is no doubt that the government has good intentions for the country but good intentions will not give us food. It will not take us to our destination but direction will. As good intentioned as this administration is, it does not have economic direction. The government should understand that fighting corruption to the exclusion of other sectors is causing more harm to the economy. Also, I have seen an attempt to look inward. It’s very good but I pray that the government continues with it. If we can look inward to produce rice to feed ourselves and stop importing wheat and petroleum, a lot of things will take shape. We need to set up modular refineries and co-opt so called illegal refineries into the system. We don’t have enough why don’t we encourage them? Let them register and pay for the crude. Just regularise them and give them guidelines. By so doing, we have created a cream of refined products. The same method applies to power sector. We need to change the law so that people can have local power generating units. If we have an estate, we should be encouraged to have a power plant. Power system should be decentralised. Encourage clusters of local Independent Power Plant (IPP) and that will take some bites off national grid. By the time you have done that, the economy will grow. And jobs will be created. We need to allow people own modular refineries by creating incentives. If we do this, within the space of two to three years, you will be amazed by the level of power people have generated. Could you tell us more about your family background? I’m from Owo in Ondo State. I come from a large family. I was born to the family of late Olateru Olagbegi and late Chief Florence Olateru-Olagbegi. My father was the Olowo of Owo and one of my brothers is the current Olowo of Owo. My mother was an educationist. I have brothers and sisters numbering over hundred. I don’t even know the position of my mother, just as I don’t know my own position in the family. I can’t say I’m number six or my mother is the 10th wife. My father had about 40 wives. Where did you start your educational pursuit? I attended Government Primary School, Owo in Ondo State and from there, I PROFILE Current position: MD, Asher Lodre Limited, MD Automated Informational Services Limited, Previous position: Partner, Akintola Williams Chartered Accounts State of Origin: Ondo Religion: Christianity Profession: Accountant

Marital status: Married

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

I pretended to buy Computer to woo my wife -Olateru-Olagbegi Bowo Olateru-Olagbegi is the Chief Executive Officer, Asher Lodre Limited and Automated Informational Services Limited, a third party credit and debit card processor. Bowo is one of the over hundred children of the late Olowo of Owo in Ondo State, who married 40 wives. He speaks to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on his experiences growing up moved for my high school in Ibadan, Lagelu Grammar School. From there, I went to Ibadan Polytechnic for my basic studies. Thereafter, I went to the University of Lagos, where I studied accounting. I did my ICAN and of course, I have done some other courses abroad. But the best education is the one you invest in yourself in continuous learning. How was growing up like? Well, we all grew up together in the palace. We grew up in age groups. So, you find out that somebody from another mother will be closer to you than your brother from your mother because we grew up in the age grade. I mean, those of the same age grew up together. My father was a very ingenious man and he was able to bring us up together as one even when we were in an untypical polygamous family. You will find out that there was so much love amongst us that you don’t even know who is from which mother. We lived as children of one woman and one man. And that helped in our development within the family. It was an interesting aspect of my life, growing up together. How did you get to where you are now? After my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I joined Akintola Williams, a charted accounting firm now Deloitte. I worked with the firm for a number of years and I setup my own, Bowo Olagbegi and Co., but I do not run it again. I had to travel abroad and when I came back, I got involved in quite a number of things. Currently, I have a company that does information technology services. We provide value added services to computer industry. I have a company that does fire prevention services, Asher Lodre limited. We do fire pre-

vention services for Access Bank, Aero Contractors, and Leventis among others. We have a company that is into hiring of heavy equipment, caterpillars and excavators. Also, Card Technology is the company involved in printing of debit and credit cards but it’s going through some reorganisation now. It was said that an Ondo man will not get married to a woman that doesn’t know how to pound yam. Does it apply to you too? Like I said, I don’t have sentiment for food. Not that I don’t eat pounded yam in my house. It doesn’t make any difference. I didn’t marry my wife because of pounded yam, and I won’t marry any woman because of it. I feel sorry for the people who do that. How do you get married because the woman knows how to cook? You marry a woman for her intellect and other qualities. I mean, any person can pound yam, so why should I go and marry a woman because she knows how to pound yam? It’s a misplacement of priority. A cook can pound yam so why would you now invest your life in such. If I can pay someo n e to do

something, why don’t I free myself and concentrate on higher priorities? So, if your wife has a master’s degree and instead of using her brain for more meaningful things, you confine her in the kitchen to be pounding yam, when you can employ somebody at a cheaper rate to pound yam for you. She will be wasting her talent and that is how I look at it. It’s just like you insisting on driving yourself when you can employ somebody to drive you and concentrate on other things. How did you meet your wife? That was a long time ago. Hahaha. So, how did it happen? Hahahaha, it just happened. Well, she was working with an IT firm. So, one day, I was driving and it happened that she came out to repark her car. So, I saw this lady…wow! This is beautiful. I quickly parked and went to her office and pretended to be interested in the purchase of computers and I struck a conversation with her and that was it. What was her reaction then? I said that I pretended to be buying computer, of course, she let down her guard. It was easy to strike off the conversation. And like they say, one thing led to another and by the time you know it, it happened. How did you propose when convinced? I can’t even remember and that is the truth. I have been married for over 27 years with three children, two boys and a girl. Do you have time for her? Oh yes, sometimes after church service, I go out with her. Cooking is a hobby for some men. Do you know how to cook? Yeah, very well! But I have a cook, so I don’t need to cook. What is your favourite meal? Do I have a favourite meal? I don’t know. For me, food is fuel. So, I’m not the kind of person that pays much attention to the colour of food. It’s just a fuel. How do you unwind? I play tennis at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club on the Island. I do that two times a week. Tennis is something I love and something I recommend to people to be doing. I also swim.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

KITCHEN DECOR

Cute menu boards Biwom Iklaki

he menu in a household is a very vital part of the home and if this is not handled or planned thoughtfully, chances are that the family will be lacking in many important nutrients. So many homes plan and try to adhere to their menu and so they create lovely platforms to showcase this important part of their lives. As homes differ, so also are their menu displays unique. Here are a few menu board ideas for you to design yours. You can make a choice of fixed menus which do not need to be changed or boards where you can wipe off a meal when you get tired of it, or if you change your menus weekly. There is also the option of paper clips on a board and you only change the paper pads with each meal you need to change. Be creative in this project and bring your personal preference into the mix.

I’m in love with my boss I’ve been plucking up courage to write to you for a long time but today I decided to tell my story and probably to find somebody who can give me a piece of advice or just listen to what I have to say. The problem is that I’m in love with my boss and I can’t admit my feelings to him. Everybody will think that this is just a pretext for getting a promotion or for keeping my job. They can’t understand that this is love actually. And what if he refuses me flatly? I will look like an absolute fool. How will I look him in the eyes? I’ll have to quit my job although I really like it and need it, especially in this economic crisis the country is currently facing. He is also married and seems to have a good marriage going by the way he reacts anytime his wife comes to the office for a short visit. I can feel that his attitude towards me is different but sometimes he acts in the same way with the other ladies in the office and that gets me confused. I don’t know if I’m reading the wrong signal from him though. It’s really hard for me to hide my love but it’s even harder to admit it. Do you think I should let him know how I feel? Tobore, Port Harcourt My husband’s cold attitude towards me Hi, my story might sound

GET A

HEARTTHROB

Send SMS only to 07057201814 or vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

commonplace to you, but I don’t know whom to turn to for advice. Our marriage is almost 10 years old. The last two years I sense a change in my husband’s behaviour, but I don’t know where it comes from. His cold attitude towards me is making me nervous. He never gave me reasons to be jealous of him so far, but I have certain doubts that he wants his freedom and whenever I try to question about the way his behavior towards me, he gets even more irritated. He usually doesn’t go out alone, sometimes with friends, as far as I know. But I can’t explain why he doesn’t share with me and doesn’t want to talk to me like with other women. He doesn’t show any feelings towards me. I often talk about my feelings and constantly repeat how much I care about this marriage. When I see him talk and laugh with another woman I feel painfully jealousy. How can I make him treat me as he treats others, feel his desire

to be with me? He wants to be interesting and catching for the others, but as far as I am concerned, he acts as if he doesn’t care. I can’t seem to decide why love disappears after so many years of marriage. I feel very bad when I see him talking to another woman. I have often thought I should also find someone, but I won’t be happy, I want only him. And I know divorce is not the right decision. I ended all my contacts with friends and family, I only want to go out with him.This has to change, but it is so difficult. Trust me, I am helpless. I even searched through his phone, just to prove my doubts, but I found nothing. He is either very discreet or I have no reason to doubt him. I don’t even have the strength to be with another man, I feel so deeply hurt and disappointed. Please advise on the best way to handle this. Tope, Lagos

Vivian is my name, 20 years old, single and a model. I need a God-fearing guy, tall, educated, rich and working-class that can take care of me; from Igbo or Delta, between 20 and 28 years old, for a serious relationship -08129292092. My name is Stephen from Lagos State. I am 24 years old and I am looking for a sincere girl for as serious relationship-09094296078 Nifemi by name, 36 years Engineer by profession 5.7ft tall chocolate in complexion Christian from Lagos. I need a God fearing lady that is ready to settle down for marriage-08166770572, 08025330742 My name is Olawemimo Johnson Benson, 43 years old businessman residing in Ajah Lagos. I need a decent and working class lady between 27-30 years old for a serious relationship-08168848723 I am Alex, 38 years old I am from Ghana living in Lagos. I need a God fearing lady that is serious for a relationship that will lead to marriage-07034964949, 08093105010 Samson Ayobami is my name. I am 24 years old residing in Ibadan. I need a girl between 18-22 years-07063491337 I am Edward, 43 years old single father, tall dark. I need a lady between 25-35 years old for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage-08034204414 My name is Bebe from Imo State. I am 24 years old. I live in Lagos. I need a mature and serious man for a relationship-08144433178 Ify is my name, 34 years old residing in Owerri. I need a rich lady from any part of the country for a relationship-08108545690 I am Martins, 24 years old from Abuja. I need a lady between 25-35 years old for a relationship that will lead to marriage-08149938843

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

How to know if you are in love

oving and being loved in return gives off a thrilling feeling of walking on cloud nine. You smile at the mention of your partner’s name. When your phone rings, you wish the call is from your love even before you see the name of the caller. You yearn to spend every special moment of your life with him or her. Love brings new meaning and excitement into your life, you go around with this sheepish smile on your face and people close to you wonder why you have this glow of happiness all around you. This feeling is even headier when your love is reciprocated by the subject of your desire. Love does make the world go round. We cannot help but need to be loved at every stage in our life. Nature has wired the human heart to yearn for the love of another human being. It is a magic word that catches our attention anytime, any day. The heart of everyone yearns to love and be loved back in return. For the sake of love, we do incredible things and go through unimaginable heartaches; yet we still go back seeking for love and have our hearts broken all over again. At a point it becomes a vicious circle because you find out that you keep falling in and out of love like a tennis ball. As exciting as the feelings I have described above depicts when one falls in love, I will say here that there’s no hard and fast rule that says you must have these feelings registered in your life before you know that you are actually in love. In fact some have argued with me that when they married their partner, they didn’t have all those feelings which romance novels have fed our heads with while growing up, yet they are truly in love and happy with their partner.

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com The mere fact that your heart beats fast when you see your partner does not mean he/she is the one. Most times, these feelings can only be just pure lust or mere infatuation and as such deceptive and misleading. That is why much emphasis should be laid on how you truly feel about this individual and not necessarily how fast the heart beats when they walk through the door. Falling in love is a heady feeling that is often mistaken with infatuation and lust. Because of the excitement of meeting someone interesting who make the adrenalin pump faster and increases the sexual tension in the relationship, we neglect to do what is most needful and that is - ask questions!

If you can sit down and take a quick inventory of your love life, you will realise you must have fallen in and out of love with quite a number of people in your lifetime. The question is: where you really in love with all of them? Oftentimes we allow lust and infatuation to overrule our thinking and we fail to ask the right kind of questions that will help us to know if this person fits the criteria of the kind of person we wish to spend the rest of our lives with or not. Our personalities or what psychologists call temperaments often play a part in the way we approach the issues of love. Some approach it in a standoffish formal way, while others get all romantic and fairy tale like when dealing with matters

For the sake of love, we do incredible things and go through unimaginable heartaches; yet we still go back seeking for love and have our hearts broken all over again. At a point it becomes a vicious circle because you find out that you keep falling in and out of love.

of the heart. So how do you see love? Do you believe in fairy tale kind of love? Are you the type that looks at issues logically? The way you see love determines your approach to it and what you also get in return. If you can truthfully answer these questions about yourself then you are half way finding out if you are in love with your partner or not. One of the litmus tests I always tell people to use to discover if they are truly in love or not is to first of all rid their partner of every paraphernalia they may have around them such as the kind of job they do, wealth, their beauty, properties and every other thing that may look like physical attributes. The reason for this is for you to know for sure that the real reason you love that person has got nothing to do with what they have but you love them for who they are. True love lasts forever and does not look at the physical attributes but it is based on finding that person who fits or compliments you in every way. So my advice to all those who have been writing e-mails asking: How they will know if they are really in love or not, I’ll just say: FOLLOW YOUR HEART. If you are the type that rationalise and analyse, find out if that person meets with the criteria of the kind of personality you wish to spend the rest of your life with and also gauge if romance and chemistry (which I call the oils of love) can be felt in that relationship. Once you have been able to identify these major things about yourself and the kind person you want to be with, then go ahead and enjoy the exhilarating feelings only love can bring into your life. After all, you only live once!

Engaging mental health issues through literature and films

ast week, we started the open discussion on mental health disorders and issues and the response from readers has been overwhelming. Everyone realises that our attitude and perception must change from silence to speaking openly about the disorders. Today, we also need to discuss the attitude of the society towards those afflicted by the disorder. I am hoping that we can explore ways of talking about mental health issues without being derogatory, overly conscious or excessively prone to taking offence should we falter in the language we used when discussing the subject of mental health. I will also examine closely the major art forms that are available and how they contribute rather than aid our perception of mental health disorders. There are no two ways around it. Mental health is a health matter, one that must be tackled just like malaria, cancer and any other ailment. It is here and so there is no need for anyone to feel stigmatised to the point of not seeking help. According to World Health Organisation, Mental Health Disorders, ranging from depression to bipolar to schizophrenia, have become the biggest silent killers in the world as sufferers refuse to get help due to the stigma. Sadly, it may even be that we do not have the language register to discuss such matters and we do not have any literary or visual reference in the form of films to help build such a register. I struggled in my search for a literary text that actually discussed issues of Mental Health. Ola Rotimi’s ‘Our Husbands Have Gone Mad Again’ is really the case of a deluded politician and his antics with his three wives. There is no direct refer-

ence to the fact that he suffers from any mental disorder and that his actions are a result of the disorder. In the collection of short stories by Chinua Achebe, there is the opening story of Nwibe in a piece aptly titled ‘The Madman.’ Nwibe is punished with madness for flouting traditional values even though he intends to benefit from such values. There is also the madman in another one of the stories ‘Angwa Tanda’. Despite this book thematically focused on the period covering the Nigerian civil war, there is no mention of the trauma and stress that can lead to mental health disorders. Then there is the odd mention of stray mad men by Ben Okri in “The Famished Road”. Perhaps, the most telling and incisive liter-

ary text on mental health remains Biyi Bandele’s text, ‘The Sympathetic Undertaker and other Dreams’ in which inanity, bipolar issues and mental disorders are found in the book right from the first page. But here lies the problem, it took me a trip to Goethe Institute to find that book about twenty years ago and it is not on any recommended list, hence there is no discussion around mental health. Where such discussions exist or are represented either in literature or film, it is to hold it up as a punishment for some evil done either in the spiritual realm or in generations past by the ancestors of the sufferers. What this promotes is more stigma and silence rather than an open discussion

Mental health disorders and sickness are not the result of personal weakness, spiritual affliction or character flaw of the sufferer. It is not a punishment for some ills committed by the forefathers, it is sadly a sickness like any other and we must be willing to talk about it freely

that encourages patients and sufferers to get help. The same is true in the film genre. Insanity and other mental health disorders are used as punishment and I can go on a long list here. In ‘Agbejoro’, a Yoruba Film, popular actor Odunlade Adekola plays a corrupt legal practitioner who is struck by insanity for defrauding an innocent client. I can’t count the number of times that I have heard the phrase, the “Gods have made him mad” in the English language genre of Nigerian films. Hardly is there a film that examines the subject around mental health without resorting to providing a supernatural cause and effect slant. It is not necessary. I recall the film ‘Ayo Ni Mofe’ by Mainframe big wig, Tunde Kelani. It tells the story of trauma a jilted lover sufferers and the effect of being sexually abused by greedy traditional miracle hunters who take advantage of the mental state of victims. That film, in two parts should be a classic and in fact is dedicated to the plight of people suffering from mental health disorders. I checked the website of Tunde Kelani’s Mainframe and this film is not there. Perhaps, it is not considered in the same high calibre as the other films from this stable. Perhaps, to give our discussion a perspective, I must make a declaration: Mental Health disorders and sickness are not the result of personal weakness, spiritual affliction or character flaw of the sufferer. It is not a punishment for some ills committed by the forefathers, it is sadly a sickness like any other and we must be willing to talk about it freely, developing new vocabulary to make the discourse easier so that the sufferers can be encouraged to get help.

Y 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016

The big chop theory Biwom Iklaki

nim overalls

eralls in a really fierce way as a fashion item. oesn’t have to be in a saggy unflattering man, you can make overalls really stylish. You just ed to know how to put your outfit together right way. ou don’t have to look like a farmer to rock this nd. Take for instance; Short overalls look cute they show off your lovely legs. Wear them h a ladylike bag and nude sandals. Denim eralls don’t have to have legs; pinafore-style ss is adorable, but still sophisticated. Wear m with your sneakers and step out for the y out with friends. It’s all about the ankles; an erall should always flash a bit of skin. lso wear crop tops with one handed overalls a sexy appearance. Overall-style jumpsuits

z ne

39 19

have a hint of idyllic charm, but are polished enough to wear out. In wearing overall, fit is key. If you have a longer or shorter torso, try and find a pair of overalls with adjustable straps so there is no pulling in the crotch area. If you’re going for a pair of roomy, slouchy denim overalls, opt for an ultra-feminine shirt underneath. Lace tops, crop tops, frilly details and off-the-shoulder shirts will help balance out the more masculine silhouette. Choose grown-up accessories. To avoid looking like a toddler in overalls, leave the bows, backpacks and pigtails at home. Instead, go for structured bags, sleek gold jewelry and a topknot to finish your look.

ook around you and tell me you have not noticed how many more African women are shirking the use of chemicals to relax or soften the texture of their hair. Many cosmetic shop owners would tell you that the sale of relaxers and texturisers have dropped drastically. This is no surprise as the “nappy” haired ladies and gentlemen have forsaken the relaxers. More and more people prefer their natural manes just as there are more saloons that boast the ability to care for the curly hair textures. The big chop is for people who want to go natural and they can either cut off all chemically processed hair or “transition”, a process where you gradually trim off the chemically processed hair while allowing the virgin hair grow out. Here are a few pros and cons of the two theories and there isn’t a “best” way to go, it depends rather on your personal decision.

Big chop Pros · You have the same consistency in hair texture as opposed to transitioning where you have to deal with two hair textures; relaxed and virgin hair. · You do not have to wait for months to become or “go natural”, your hair is natural as soon as your relaxed hair is chopped off. · With big chop, you have a fresh start without chemically processed hair and no split ends. Cons · Waiting to grow your hair longer · Learning to deal with an entirely new texture instantly, and · Coming up with new short natural hairstyles

Transitioning Pros · You have more time to get to know and learn about the natural hair and your hair texture in particular (2, 3, 4, a, b, or c) · For those who are not comfortable with short or cropped hair, you get to avoid the adjustment period and the wait of growing your hair out.

· You have time to perfect your selfstyling skills which is a treasure when you are a naturalista. Cons · The process of transitioning takes a much longer time than those who go for the big chop · You will have to deal with two different textures of hair during transitioning

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

dude

Hot hip style looks

Vanessa Okwara

ip-Hop and fashion go hand in hand. Since its humble beginnings in the Bronx, HipHop has been the gateway drug for fashion trends from generation to generation. Starting with Adidas track suits and matching Adidas shell toes rocked by legendary rap group Run DMC to the current pants sagging of Lil’ Wayne and jazzy styles of Kanye West; whether you like it or not Hip-Hop celebrities not only create the music, but they often times start trends. Our Nigerian stars are not left out in creating these hip styles for the young generation to follow. From Wizkid to Davido and other rap stars in the country, the hipster style has indeed come to stay for the youth. The hipster trend denotes natural fibres and a carefree demeanour, so do not dress too formal. Keep colour tones simple such as blue, brown, grey, and white and black. Men’s hipster fashion has seen quite a rise in the recent years but can sometimes be mistaken for other styles. If you want to look young and hip, here are a fashion tips to follow to go with this trend. Tops Hipster style tops for men actual cover quite a range. From V-Neck jumpers, to shirts and denim jackets, this fashion is vast. For the

smart but casual hipster male, tops such as checked, flannel or cotton shirts and t-shirts will ooze naturalism as well as provide a broader and more masculine chest shape. T-shirts in this style should ideally have a graphic or band or logo print on them. Add a denim jacket to this for extra volume and a touch of street flair, an all-round accepted garment in the eyes of fashion. Bottoms Trouser styles for the modern, hipster male includes the very well renowned skinny jeans. These are great accompaniment for any outfit and are also brilliant for bringing the glorious transition from street into hipster. Use skinny jeans to your advantage as they can destroy a look if not used correctly. If skinny jeans are not your thing and you prefer a more loose fit why not go for straight leg jeans with turned up hems? This will add a natural and carefree flair as well as give you comfort and style. Accessories Sunglasses and belts are great accessories for breaking up block colours. Use these to their full potential but make sure colours are flowing and work together. Too much colour contrast will kill an outfit and will stray away from your hipster look. A few jewelries like rings and neck chains thrown in gives you that edgy rock star look that is so hip!

OF THE WEEK

Yul Edochie

Cute chip off the old block

ul Edochie, born Yul Chibuike Daniel Edochie is a Nigerian actor. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, from where he graduated in 2003. He is the son of Nigerian actor Pete Edochie. He was raised both in Lagos and Enugu. He is the last of six children. Yul joined Nollywood in 2005 in his first film titled ‘The Exquires’ alongside the Late Justus Esiri and Enebeli Elebuwa. He got his break in 2007 after featuring alongside Genevieve Nnaji and Desmond Elliot in the movie ‘Wind of Glory.’ Some of the movies which Yul Edochie has featured in include The Lamb, Two Can Play The Game, Pleasure and Crime, Innocent Pain, Testimonies of Pain, Beautiful Soul, Lonely in Paradise, and Shadows of Dust. Despite being the son of popular actor Pete Edocie, Yul did his best to carve a niche for himself without relying on the clout of his father in the movie industry and today he is celebrated as much as his father. He has won several awards including City People’s Award, Best Actor twice. Yul, named after popular Russian actor Yul Brynner got married at the age of 22. He is married to May Aligwe and has 2 sons and a daughter. His career has grown beyond bounds and has his own fan base and today Yul Edochie is ranked as one of the most sort after and highest paid actors in Nollywood. He is loved, respected and appreciated by many all over the world. In 2011 he founded the Yul Edochie foundation which aims at giving back to the society and helping the less privileged. Yul has a good sense of style and always look on the red carpet. His handsome face covers most fashion magazines and he loves to get all dressed up in suit. He has also bragged on social media that most actresses look forward to kissing him on movie sets.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

RazzleDazzle Over the years, Nigeria music industry has grown to a point that it has made a statement in the global market. Great acts such as Eedris Abdukareem, Sound Sultan, 2face Idibia, Blackface, Faze, Majek Fashek, Eldee the Don and many others have paved the way for the new generation artistes. However, many of them couldn’t continue on the new path the industry has taken despite their great songs. Below are some of the many Nigerian superstars who no longer dominate the airwaves, ABIOLA ALABA PETER reports

Weird MC

gun-State born Adesola Adesimbo Idowu, aka Weird MC, gave the Nigerian hip-hop a new phase with her Don Jazzy and JJC produced single, ‘Ijoya’ off her second studio album, After Da Storm. Until recently, Sola has never backed down from her music even when her parents put forth heavy opposition to her ambitions in show business. The lady with the male look, who is in her late 40s, is still gearing towards staging a comeback into an industry she has been a part of. After studying Music Technology, having abandoned studying Law in England, she dropped the game changing single ‘Allen Avenue’ in 1996. The following year, she released her debut album ‘Simply Weird’ which got her the Best Hip Hop album at the AMEN awards. Weird MC’s second album was released in 2006 and was titled ‘After The Storm’. The album featured the smash hit ‘Ijoya’ produced by Don Jazzy and JJC. The album was and still is her best till date.

Konga

awal Olalekan Olumo, fondly called Konga, came into prominence after the release of his controversial single, ‘Baby Konga’, which was eventually hit with the big hammer of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. According to the musician, who accused the NBC of running his music down and forcing him into unplanned and emergency ‘holiday’ from the music industry, the song was banned from the Nigerian airwaves due to the use of a vulgar language. But Konga explained that after the song was yanked off broadcast stations in Nigeria, he went back to the drawing board to retrace his steps. Since then, his fans have continued to wait.

opular hangout, Nostrovia, recently celebrated top Nigerian hip hop singers for their contribution and involvement in the growth of the entertainment industry. Among the artistes celebrated are Ruggedman, Seriki, Klever J, Rayce Joe El, Kennis Music, among others. The chief operating officer of Nostrovia, Mr. Emeka Williams, popularly

Abiola Alaba Peters

with

08062622328 abiolaalabapeters@rockmail.com

Music talents that faded into oblivion too early Kel

emember the charttopping single, ‘Waa Wa Alright’? Kelechi Ohia, a.k.a Kel, was the emcee behind it. Doing an impressive 16 bars on a track wasn’t the only feat she achieved. The cataclysmic reception her jam got earned her a couple of nominations and awards for that year. The song was on rotations on radio, clubs and mobile playing devices and to think that Kel only got involved with rap for want of a hobby, but we fell in love with her. Her powerful swag and confidence caught the ears of music lovers across the country and that of her ex-label, Capital Hills, where she released the debut hit single.

GT Da Guitar Man

ince his emergence in the Nigerian music industry, Ex-Storm record singer, GT Da Guitarman, is a Nigerian urban artiste with a calm, innocent look. The singer is best known for his voice and unique style of handling the guitar. After several failed attempts at a comeback, nothing has been heard from the newly married singer. Though still working in the studio recording several songs along with some of his artistes in Ember Entertainment record label, the singer seems not to be in a rush to dish out all his tunes, which according to him, is due to the poor structure of the industry.

Djinee

inger, Djinee is not a new name in the ever busy Nigerian entertainment industry. During his reign, the dark, handsome guy was able to achieve a track record of hit songs from the very first single he dropped. His then monster hit, ‘Ego’ was a pleasant and sweet surprise to the Nigerian audience. With just one song, albeit intense, Djinee stamped his authority on the music scene, embellishing our music thirst with sweet lyrics and amazing vocals. Until recently, he has been trying to stage a comeback but good music lovers are almost running out of patience.

Nostrovia hangout celebrates Hip-hop artistes Edwin Usoboh

Body&Soul

known as ‘Emwill’, said, “We at Nostrovia appreciate the importance of music in the hospitality business. That is one of the major reasons we dedicated Friday nights to celebrate and appreciate our artistes for the tremendous contribution to the growth of the entertainment industry.” He added, “The hangout has invested heavily in latest musical and culinary equipment as well as experienced staff. “We are poised to make fun lovers within

and around the axis feel comfortable without travelling far from their locality and we also bring aspiring music stars closer to our customers,” Emwill added. Nostrovia wine bar which commenced operations few months ago has been giving major clubs, hangouts, and lounges around its environs a run for their money as its standard of operation is top notch. The hangout which in Abule-Egba area of Lagos, is now a place where the crème de la crème of the society unwind.

African China

ew reports suggest that Chinagorom Onuoha, aka African China, has delved into a new business -hairstyling precisely. Apparently for the ghetto singer, music isn’t paying the bills anymore. While the light skinned act has failed to entertain his fans with quality songs, it was gathered that the father of many children is now the proprietor of a hair salon located at Festac town, Lagos. African China, who hails from Southeastern Nigeria, was raised in the slum of the ghetto, Ajegunle, Lagos. Onuoha started his journey into music and steadily became famous. He’s responsible for producing hits such as ‘London Fever’ ‘Love Sombody’ ft Faze and many others.

Bigiano

‘

Shayo’ crooner, Bigiano, who recently made a comeback to the music scene after a long absence, is a singer and song writer. The tattooed singer, who recently revealed that he deliberately took a break from music in a bid to rebrand himself, is also on the list of Nigerian music acts whose stars have stopped shining as he has not been able to feed his waiting fans with more hit songs. Born Babalola Gabriel Olugbenga, Bigiano began his journey into music as one of the members of the defunct musical group, Triple B, which comprised of himself and a set of identical twins. Bigiano, who became an instant celebrity in 2009 with the release of his monster hit, ‘Shayo’, is staging a comeback with two new singles ‘Tonight’ and ‘I Be Somebody’.

Durella

ing of the Zanga, Oluwadamilare Okulaja, popularly known as Durella, is a Nigerian recording artiste, performer, songwriter and businessman. With his notable hit singles like ‘Enu Ose’, ‘Shayo’ ‘Wizkolo Wiska’ ‘Club Rock’ and ‘GaGa’ featuring Wizkid. Durella is no doubt a part of the Nigerian music industry. He has also featured with prominent stars and performed on same stage with both local and international music acts. The energetic performer, who is the first Nigerian music act to own a shoe line, dropped his debut album, ‘King Of The Zanga’ and second album, ‘Reconfigurated’, under TC- Record Label.

Jodie

‘K

uchi Kuchi’ crooner and Nigerian Idol runner up, Jodie’s name might not ring a bell but J’odie would. She is the dark complexioned lady whose popular hit song, ‘Kuchi Kuchi’, inspired by a baby lullaby, once ruled the Nigerian airwaves. The song, just like its writer, exudes innocence and artistry. Shy, quiet and with a personality that exudes a calmness not often seen in the music industry, J’odie, whose real name is Joy Odiete, recently welcomed a baby with her manager and Nollywood actor husband, David Nnaji, after they both tied the knot last year. Although she has spiced the listening ears of her teeming fans with good music, J’ odie is yet to give them the ‘Kuchi kuchi’ groove.

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

I don’t have a man in my life –Zeal Talented Nigerian singer, Zeal, whose real name is Elizabeth Abidemi Akinlabi, is not just tall and sexy, the curvy and physically endowed queen, who in the last few years has had her fair share of stardom, has remained true to her craft. ABIOLA ALABA PETERS had a chat with the hard working, creative and focused mother of one where she opened up on her long absence from music, her sex life and the experience of being a mother Zeal, why the sudden move to become an introvert, considering your celebrity status? I’ve always been an introvert. I’m comfortable in my house and I’m happy. God help me, I’m back to work now, I’m here now. You have been off the scene for a while, what have you been up to? Yes I have been. I love good work. I have been taking my time, until it is on a proper level, a quality that I’m proud of but I would release this year. What do you think of the industry today compared to the industry back then? Wow! It’s changed for the better, more opportunities. The industry is wider now; we have more players in the industry, more creativity, I like where we are now, I really like it. How soon are you planning to come back and how ready for the industry? Oh yeah! I am fully ready. Like I said earlier, I will be dropping something hopefully this year. So I would say, for my fans to be able to see how ready I am, they should keep their fingers crossed, as I will be whetting their listening ear with the very best of me musically. All the while you were away, what have you been doing? I became a mother, I went back to school, I am a professional fashion designer. I am also an artist; I draw, I sketch, and that’s another aspect of who I am. I just want to show my level of creativity but I can’t leave music for too long, I’m back here now. Talking about you being a mother, how would you describe the experience? Oh yeah, it was such a wonderful experience for me. I enjoyed every bit of it, although, you can’t rule out the human aspect of it, but I am still grateful to God for giving me such a sweet experience. My daughter is actually a gift from God to me, I love her so much. What are your plans for marriage? I don’t know, but I am not married. As much as I’m not focusing on marriage for now, I am hopeful. I am focusing on my work and being the best mother to my child. Are you in a relationship? No, not at all, I am very much single. I have been single for a very long time. I don’t have a man in my life for now. My focus right now is work. So how then do you cope? How do I cope? Wait! We need to sit down for this; like seriously, you want me to tell you? Yes! As a beautiful mother of one, how have you been coping? Well, that’s a beautiful thing for you to say, but I don’t think you need a man in your life for you to stay beautiful and happy. There are other things you can do to be happy. I have my job, it makes me happy, and being a mother makes me happy too. I pursue my passions that make me happy. Considering the present heat in the industry, do you think you can stand it? I don’t see life as a competition. I am an artiste, I am single, what I bring to the table is only singular to me. My creativity was given to me, it is not make-believe, it is not for the fame or money; it’s inside and I do hope that those that believe in me as a person and in what I am trying to say, can listen to my music and enjoy it; that is why I do music. Has anything changed about your music? I think it’s gotten better, but you would get to find that out soon. Are you on any music label? No! I have always been an independent artiste, it gives me room to create as I please, but I do have a team I’m working with.

Any collaborations? Yes! You mind giving us names? No, let me do my work first. You have a foundation, tell us about it? Oh yeah! It’s called Solace Foundation. It is the voice of the movement of the sisterhood. We are the voice of the Solace Foundation and we are out to inspire women. We want women to wake up and understand that they are more than what everybody tells them they are. We have so much potential. We had countless situations where women would unknowingly box themselves in; saying they can’t do this or that. It is time we make them understand that we can make them whoever they want to be. That is what it is and that is what we are working on. How is your fashion business doing? I made what I am wearing. I have a couple of clients that order for my wears. Sometimes I travel and people walk up to me, admire my wears and propose to buy them and I think it’s awesome, so it’s really doing well. And I thank God for the creative instincts. As a fashion stakeholder in Nigeria, do you think the fashion industry is growing? Yes, rapidly, it is growing. I think it’s one of the strongest industries as well. It’s a vibrant market to tap into at this very point. We have over one hundred and seventy million Nigerians; definitely, they need clothes, you understand what I mean. So if you clothe just a thousand out of these people, how wonderful can that be, and if your brand is tight and solid, you get a lot more loyalty and followership, which is crucial to keeping a business going. So fashion is a lucrative business to go into and believe me when I say the industry is growing. What do you think are the present challenges confronting fashion stakeholders in Nigeria? Resources I’ll say because when you want to manufacture, I will love every part of my garment, especially the products to come from Nigeria; but unfortunately, we don’t have that here. So we have to purchase some of these products from outside Nigeria and I think that’s sad with many people not being able to produce the basic products that make a garment. It’s a growing industry like I said, and it is going to get better. What’s your fashion style? Eclectic. I think it’s classy, cleaner lines, more matured. Do you see any of the successful female acts, such as Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage as a threat? Not at all, Tiwa Savage is doing amazing music, Yemi Alade is doing the same, I think they are progressing. The more people, the merrier and the more people to come. If we have a viable industry and a lot more opportunities to tap into, why should there be a threat. I am not threatened by anybody, not even the successful female singers. The sky is big enough for everybody, that’s how I see life. What do you spend your money on? I like to make clothes and shoes. I get the fabrics and put it together. That’s one of the things I have been doing.

A quick recap of your background? My name is Elizabeth Abidemi Akinlabi, aka Zeal. I am a native of Ondo State, and my father is Yoruba while my mother is a beautiful Ghanaian. I was born in Lagos and I have travelled a lot.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

News

Innoson tackles bank over N15bn judgment debt p.44

Interview

News

Bayelsa has a lot of potential – Igrubia

Winners emerge in Nissan/UEFA Champions bonanza p.47

p.45

Business

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business

paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph

2015: Unity Bank grosses N78.8bn earnings

L-R: Registrar of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi; President Advertisers Association Of Nigerian[ADVAN], Mr. David Okeme; Hon Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and General Manager Marketing, UAC Foods Nigeria, Mrs. Johan Ihekwaba, at the 2016 Advertisers Association of Nigeria[ADVAN] Marketers Conference in Lagos…recently

Nigeria inflation rising at fastest pace in six years

Kemi Adeosun

Paul Ogbuokiri

igeria might be passing through its worst economic crisis in decades, as all economic indicators point south even as the 2016 budget which was expected to rekindle the economy faces threat of financing. The increase in the oil prices to six months peak of $48.8 would have been a good news for the economy but the activities of the militants in the Nigeria’s delta region has reported slashed the country’s daily output by about 50 per

cent.That would be the lowest production level in more than 27 years, but according to traders’ estimates production might be even lower at below 1.2 million barrels per day. Nigeria’s budget is predicated on 2.2 million barrels per day at $38 a barrel. This is even as the country relies on crude sales for around 70 per cent of national income. The country’s Gross Domestic Product growth was just 2.8 per cent last year, its lowest rate since 1999, and speculation of a devaluation of the naira is growing despite a currency swap deal the government signed with the China’s biggest lender, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, last month. March inflation was 12.8 per cent. The National Bureau of Statistic (NBC) said the country’s inflation accelerated for a sixth consecutive month in April and at the highest pace since August 2010, after an increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and electricity tariff. PMS (also known as petrol, was increased by 67 per cent while electricity price was raised by 46 per cent).

The inflation rate rose to 13.7 per cent in April from 12.8 per cent the month before, the NBS said in a recent statement, the same median estimate of 14 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Prices rose 1.6 per cent in the month. In March, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tightened monetary policy, raising the benchmark interest rate to 12 per cent from 11 per cent to try to curb the galloping inflation - a surprise reversal that came just four months after rates were cut. “The focus inevitably shifts to what sort of monetary policy reaction to anticipate,” said Razia Khan, chief economist, Africa at Standard Chartered bank, looking

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast Nigeria’s economic growth rate will drop to 2.3 per cent this year as falling crude prices hit the West African country

ahead to the monetary policy committee meeting due tomorrow and Tuesday. “With the CBN governor previously stating that a headline inflation rate in excess of the MPR Benchmark Interest Rate (MPR) is undesirable, expectations of tightening are likely to build,” she said. The inflation rate “may make the MPC members vote in support of an increase in interest rates,” Babajide Solanke, an analyst at FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd., Lagos, said in an e-mailed statement. The committee, which will announce its next decision on Tuesday, increased its benchmark rate by 100 basis points to 12 per cent in March. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast Nigeria’s economic growth rate will drop to 2.3 per cent this year as falling crude prices hit the West African country. NBS said petrol prices and electricity tariffs were major factors in the inflation rise. Last week, the Federal Government announced that it was scrapping the fuel subsidy scheme and increasing CO N T I N U E D O N PAGE 44

nity Bank Plc has announced its audited financial result for the year ended December 31, 2015. The bank posted gross earnings of N78.8 billion and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N4.6 billion compared to gross earnings of N77 billion and PAT of N10.6 billion in the year 2014. The 2015 performance was achieved inspite of the challenging operating environment characterized by a continued lull in the economic activities in the country as well as major regulatory headwinds that impacted earnings during the year especially the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The bank’s performance is attributed to its repositioning strategy, in which, its assets were critically stressed-tested resulting in major impairment charges of N27 billion for 2015 as against N17 billion in 2014 representing a growth of N10 billion on asset charge over the previous year 2014. The new management inherited huge legacy NPLs from the general commerce and manufacturing subsectors and believes that the impairment charge in 2015 was necessary in order to give new breath of life to the institution. The enormous tasks embarked upon by the new management is to position the bank for proper clean-up and de-risking of its balance sheet, thus paving way for sustainable business in its overall transformation initiatives. The bank also grew its assets by 7 per cent from N413 billion in 2014 to N443 billion in 2015, amid shrinking economic indicators, measurement and regulatory policies that affected deposit portfolio during the year under review. Commenting on the result, the Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun said: “With the bank’s repositioning efforts and consistent focus to tap into the emerging opportunities in the enlarged economic space within Nigeria, Unity Bank is poised to deliver quality banking service to emerging sectors in Retail/SME, commercial and the agricultural value chain. “The bank is building strong infrastructure for retail banking and attracting youths for its sustainable banking business by developing customer-centric products to meet the needs of its esteemed customers and build new clientele base. With the bank’s capital raising exercise, the year ahead is bright as the effects of the on-going transformation initiatives will surely consolidate Unity Bank as a retail bank of choice, culminating in superior financial performance and values to all stakeholders,”

Oluwatomi

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business Orange opens shop in Nigeria

L-R: Director Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Abdullahi Maikano; Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Pro. Umar Dambatta and Director Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, during the Telecom Consumer Parliament Programme in Abuja… recently

Innoson tackles bank over N15bn judgment debt

range SA’s business-services unit has opened its first sales office in Nigeria as local companies seek to expand outside their domestic market and cut technology costs amid an economic slowdown fueled by the fall in crude-oil prices. Orange Business Services is aiming for annual double-digit sales growth from its office in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, Giorgio Heiman, Vice President in charge of Africa, told reporters this week in Lagos. The unit of Paris-based Orange, which provides about 3,000 customers worldwide with services such as video conferencing that reduce travel budgets, will target banks, oil companies and government departments. “In Lagos, there is a big potential for companies going global,” Heiman said. “There are companies like banks that go abroad and offer services in many countries without relying exclusively on the Nigerian economy. “The Nigerian economy is not only oil,” Heiman said. “We are confident that the Nigerian economy is going to grow strong again.” Some Nigerian banks, including Orange clients Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., have accelerated their regional expansion in recent years. United Bank for Africa Plc said earlier this month it plans to grow its African footprint from to 25 countries from 18 “in the near-to-medium term.” The oil and gas industry still remains a major target for Orange as companies seek to boost efficiency and cut costs, said Ababacar Mbaye, sales manager for West and Central Africa. The company is also targeting the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 88 missions worldwide, the executive said. The Lagos office will be Orange Business Services’ second in Africa after Johannesburg.

•Says it has no pending forgery case

Paul Ogbuokiri

he Innoson Group, has denied a news report published by various online platforms last week that a Federal High Court in Lagos authorised the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute the chairman of the company, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, his company, and four others over alleged forgery. It alleged that the charge was sponsored by a tier one bank in the country to blackmail Innoson Group into forgoing a N15 billion judgment it obtained against the bank In a statement by the Public Relations and Media Consultant, Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, the company said: “There is no charge pending

against Innoson Nigeria Ltd,” adding that the alleged charge was trumped up. “To this end, the police have through its letter of February 17, 2016 discontinued the charge in order to further investigate the matter. Also, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation through paragraph 10 of its opinion referenced DPPF 30/03/2016 contained in the policy file of the Ministry of Justice directed that the charge be discontinued and the file sent back to the police to further investigate the matter.” The statement said that the court never ordered or directed the Attorney General of the Federation to take over the case since and more importantly no court in Nigeria has such power over the AGF. It further said that In-

noson Group has a N15 billion judgment against GTB, in suit no FHC/ AWK/CS/139/2012, suit no FHC/L/CS/603/2006 and Appeal no CA/I/258/2011 and Appeal no CA/E/288/2014, saying it is for the reason that the bank it sponsoring the charge It stated that the futility of the charge and the fact that it was trumped up was demonstrated by the following: a)the bank kept and continues to keep a register where all its customers sign for every bill of lading it collected from it. b)also, Innoson signed for all the bills of lading it collected from the bank, including the ones in dispute in the bank’s register. During the investigation and till date, the bank failed and refused

to produce the register on the ground that it was destroyed by fire that gutted its office; c) in suit no FHC/AWK/ CS/139/2012 which was on excess and unlawful charges the bank imposed on Innoson’s current account with it, the lender raised the issue of forged bills of lading but could not establish that and Innoson got a judgment in excess of N4.7 billion against GTB therein; d) the bills of lading which the bank is parading as forged is not more than five and the goods imported with them is not up to N100 million. The question therefore is, how did the sum become N2.4 billion? what are contained in the containers evidenced by the bills of lading in issue that is worth N2.4 billion?

Nigeria inflation rising at fastest pace in six years CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 43

petrol prices by up to 67 per cent which will affect many of Nigeria’s 180 million people who rely on petrol to power electricity generators as well as transport. The new prices have yet to feed into the inflation figures, but NBS data suggests fuel was already generally sold at a higher price than the new official

ceiling throughout much of April, meaning more inflationary pressure could be building. Increase of fuel price, “were the largest contributors,” NBC said. “These items as well as other imported items continued to have ripple effects across many divisions.” Food inflation rose to an annualized 13.2 per cent from 12.7 per cent in March.

While the official price for petrol was N86 last month “people were paying much more for fuel,” John Ashbourne, a London-based economist at Capital Economics Ltd., told Bloomberg. “Now that it’s been increased that will add more inflation pressure and more and more pressure on the central bank to increase interest rates, which I think it will do

next week.” Food prices, which account for the bulk of the inflation basket, rose 13.2 per cent in April, up 0.4 percentage points from March, the NBS said on its website. Inflation has also been fuelled by pressure on the naira, which last Friday slipped to its weakest level in months against the dollar in the non-deliverable forward market.

L-R: Chief Okongor Bachot; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ndarake Neji (rtd); General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigerian Foundation (BATNF), Abimbola Okoya; Hon. Lawrence Takor and Chief Jumbo Takon, at the inauguration/ handover ceremony of the Solar Powered Borehole at Akparabong Community, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State …recently

Intels 5-star hotel opens in Onne

108 ultra-modern five-star hotel, Orland Residence, which is part of Onne Port Mutli-Center (OPMC), has opened for customers in Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone (OGFZ), Onne, Rivers State.

The state-of-the-art facility built in the tradition of Oland Invest, the parent company of Intels Logistics, is positioned within OGFZ, supporting oil operating companies in their accommodation needs, meetings, seminars/conferences, exhibition etc. The Deputy General Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Orland Invest, Chief David Alagoa, who took journalists round the facility on Thursday, said that the hotel complex is part of the key investments the Intels is making to provide a one stop shop for oil and gas investors who have business to do in Nigeria. “Because of our confidence in Nigeria and our believe that the current slowdown in the global oil industry will soon be a thing of the past and that investors will come back we are making the necessary investments that will make to come here and transact their business seamlessly in a world class atmosphere. “In addition to the new hotel facility, we have built a fully furnished 891-room housing facility. For the construction of our airstrip, we have secured land from the Eteo and Sime clans in the Eleme, for the construction is being delayed because of the rain which has returned,” he said. He said that the Orland Residence rooms are of different sizes including two Presidential Suits and five corner piece chalets.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

Business/ INTERVIEW

Bayelsa has a lot of potential – Igrubia What is the Bayelsa Young Entrepreneurship Roundtable all about? Bayelsa Young Entrepreneurship Roundtable Cooperative is a reaction that is based on one of our primary intervention efforts after conducting extensive research. And that one is called Bayelsa Restoration Accelerated ICT Development Scheme. We were purely intervening and preventing ICT illiteracy in every home in Bayelsa State and our mission statement is to wage and win the war against ICT illiteracy in every home in the state and ensuring that every individual gets equipped with ICT knowledge and those that have already been equipped can be upgraded to a point where they can produce projects that are commercially viable. By virtue of us intervening for about three years now, we found out that majority of the beneficiaries of our scheme were not able to convert those skills into wealth because to me as ICT development and empowerment activist, I look at the issue of youth empowerment or development as a value. It is the responsibility of those receiving the training to convert it from value to wealth. So we found out that after three years, most of the people we empowered had taken that ability into redundancy and idleness. We started brainstorming on how we can come up with a comprehensive action plan that would the beneficial the ability to convert it wealth. That was how the Bayelsa Young Entrepreneurship Roundtable Cooperative was formed. We are trying to set a standard in youth empowerment and development within the state so that our youths can get value and help to create job and create wealth in the state. You said they gained the training but they didn’t utilize it. Which means that the initial plan was not actualized? You know revolution is progressive. As a youth empowerment and development activist, that exercise was born out of my divine purpose to the youth community in Bayelsa State. As you are aware, purpose breeds passion and passion breeds principle. From all indication, it was not like the target was not met. If the target had been met at that material time, maybe it would not have been sustainable. Can that empowerment given over time sustain the youths to be self actualized? Those were very important issues. Why did you decide to make it a free for all comers and how were you able to make your selection? We didn’t just take action based on surface value. We always conduct extensive and in-depth research. Our action was born out of a research conducted by the Ministry of Manpower, Science and Technology in 2013 in which the youths were invited to do a need assessment in other to categorize them into various areas of needs. Some of them volunteered that they wanted scholarship, some wanted additional skill in catering, while others expressed their interest in ICT. So after a cognitive appraisal of that need assessment that was carried out, ICT was one of the highly prioritized skills that were direly needed by Bayelsa youths. It was from that background information that I took a preventive action in order to intervene in that regard. That is why we said that it is a preventive and interventional action. How do you derive your funding? The issue of funding has been a personal responsibility. As a member of then Bayelsa Youth Development Committee, appointed by the governor which was an equivalent of a senior special assistant, we had to look for an option. By virtue of my being the number one youth of the state by implication the chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, I was under an oath not to hold a public office but it was an issue of necessity

Bright Influence Igrubia is a young entrepreneur and heads the Bayelsa Young Entrepreneurship Roundtable. He spoke to PAULINE ONYIBE on how to grow a business, putting in one’s strength and time. Excerpts: and after due consultation with the Congress, they accepted that I should hold the position. When we saw the activities of the committee move from a talking zone to an action zone I decided to use my salary as a guarantee to work out a memorandum of understanding between me and Adams Computers. The company came in to sign an agreement with me to use my salary as collateral in order to fund this exercise, so they gave me systems. We started with about 18 computers, photocopiers and every needed apparatus in other to set up a comfortable center. It was from that salary that I was able to off-set the bill. But we had another challenge which was operational challenge - the day to day running of the place. It was a challenge, but as a leader, you must train yourself to see the opportunity in the challenges. What of the issue of sustainability? God gave us an internal design. We call it BYRAID design strategy. It is a system that services itself. What we do is we try to ensure that people don’t abuse or misuse the opportunity for free ICT training. So we try to make them to have some commitment for their course ware, their certification and their branded learning materials. So by the time they come in, the center is there, the equipments are there. They don’t get easily spoilt so long as you have a good maintenance culture. This is our internal way of keeping the centre running. But I will also use this medium to make an appeal with the level of impact the organisation has made, we are looking at expanding ourselves for collaboration. We would not mind if we get collaboration from the Bayelsa State government because the center already has kicked off. How do you make your selection? As a youth mobilizer, we have what people call youth ‘oil wells’; we are able to attract the needed traffic to the place. For instance we can collaborate with office holders like the House of Assembly members, Senators or House of Representative members. We can collaborate with Churches, organisations, voluntary youth organistaions etc. All these are youths’ ‘oil wells’. We can collaborate with the apex body of the Ijaw National Congress. The issue of having traffic is not a problem. We have been internally scrutinizing the system to know that we are not giving the right skill to the wrong individual and the wrong individual is not receiving the right skill. We break them into categories and train them in line with their professional advantage. There are lots of fac-

Igrubia

tors we look at.

the business is a living person.

Considering the country’s present economic downturn, how do you think the youths of Bayelsa can be self reliant and self employed? We are looking at the point where the youths are able to maximize their potentials. Where they will be able to use their latent power to bring about socio economic and political change and that is why we developed the idea of self concept. It calls for the youths participating, being included, being engaged, socially, economically and politically. It is a comprehensive and clear model of what we want the Bayelsa youth to be.

What are the challenges you met along the line in your business? I have trained myself to see the good in the bad and to see the opportunity in the challenges. It is very worrisome to see how we Nigerians go about our business. We must have a sense of longevity. We must look beyond the present and see that we are impacting on our tomorrow by virtue of our daily activities. People must realize that short cuts don’t pay much. In a society where there are no generally acceptable standard, that society is as good as not having a legal, moral and ethical society. There is also the issue of cash, market development, power and others.

Most businesses even the smallest is capital intensive, how do you think they can start? The number one requirement of any entrepreneurship is not cash. Cash is the last thing you need to implement your business idea. You need to know how to get the necessary training, capacity building and exposure to become an entrepreneur. Every business is done out of purpose. The only area where you need cash is at the point

What is your driving force? I’m purpose driven. I’m driven by a factor called leadership. I have the complete passion to see that we provide that leadership that is exceptional. What is your advice to the state on how to diversify? There must be a planned action. People must develop the culture of research. I tell people that we need to build a multiple system by virtue of research and development. Bayelsa has a lot of potentials. We can have a glass industry. How are we going to build our agric system? We are very high in rice production. Our cassava is very good. Our plantains are very good. Can we develop markets for them? We have a local apple that can be multiplied for exports. Are we developing export competence through our youths? The basic component of producing glass is sand which is in abundance in Bayelsa state.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

FG, States, LGs shared N5.5trn in 12 months Abdulwhab Isa

T Abuja

he Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), has disbursed a total sum of N5.5 trillion from the federation account to the three tiers of government between January and December 2015, document exclusively obtained from the Office of Accountant General of Federation (OAGF) by Sunday Telegraph has shown. The amount covered 12 months of the 2015 fiscal year and it comprised of what went to the Federal Government, states, the 774 local government councils, including the 13 per cent oil and gas derivation funds paid to the oil producing states. Of the figure the Federal Government with the highest revenue formula of 52.68 per cent got the highest allocation totalling N2,133.433 trillion followed by the states with 26.72 per cent revenue formula getting N1,082.029 trillion , the 774 local government councils in the country with 20.60 per cent formula collected N833.989 billion during the 12 months under review while the 13 per cent paid to the oil producing states as derivation funds for the 12 months (January 2015 to December 2015) amounted to N315.489 billion. The grand total of N6.1 trillion shared by the Federal Government, states and local government councils comprised of all revenue flows to the federation account - the statutory allocations, Value Added Tax (VAT), refunds to the federation account by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and exchange gain deferential for past 12 months. The revenue sum available for sharing to the beneficiaries of federation account has been experiencing consistent steep fall occasioned by the fall in crude oil prices at the international market. Nigeria’s revenue is about 85 per cent depended on the proceeds from oil and gas sales. The continuous drop in prices of crude oil has seen a deep cut back in revenue accruals to the federation account. The amount shared to three tiers of government in the Ember months - September, October, November and December 2015 - witnessed consistent drop, a trend reflecting the persistent and unstable prices of crude oil at the global market. For instance gross revenue of N369.140 billion was received in month of September, an amount lower than the N433.584 billion received in previous month by N64.444 billion.

The drop was attributed to drastic drop in crude oil export and shut down and shut-in of production for the maintenance at different times and terminals during the period. In the month of October, the gross revenue also dropped. Sum total revenue of N321.996 billion was received during the month, an amount lower than N369.140 billion received in previous month by N47.144 billion. FAAC officials cited impact of drop in oil prices at the global market. However, the month of November saw a marginal increase in allocation shared to three tiers of government. That month FAAC allocated total sum of N473.83 billion to the three tiers of government. The allocation represents an increase of N83.89 billion when compared to the N389.93 billion distributed in previous month. In December , the allocation available to the three tiers of government recorded a sharp drop by N103.950 billion from a previous allocation of N473.832 billion . The sum N369.882 billion was shared last week as grand total allocation to Federal, states and Local government for month of April. Minister of Finance and Chairman, Federation Accounts Allocation Commission (FAAC) Mrs. Kemi Adeosun while confirming the figures last week in Abuja, attributed the sharp drop to persistent drop in crude oil sales on the global market. Details on month by month break down of grand total of FAAC allocations in the last 12 months are as follows: January N580.378 billion, February N500.130 billion, march N522.052 billion, April N435.061 billion, May N388.339 billion; June N418.452 billion, July N539.242 billion, August N511.799 billion, Sept. N442.606 billion, October N389.936 billion , November N473.83 billion while grand total for December was N369.882 billion. Further breakdown of statutory allocation indicates, that in the January allocation, the Federal Government got N220.484 billion, collected N10.579 billion being its share of VAT, states collected N 111.832 billion as statutory allocation , VAT N35.264 billion , LGs collected N86.228 billion and N24.684 billion as VAT for January allocation while the oil producing states collected N 47.221 representing 13 per cent derivation fund. In February, for statutory, the Federal Government got N194.349 billion, VAT N9.207 billion, states got N98.576 billion, VAT N30.689 billion, LGs N75.998 billion and VAT N21.483 billion while 13 per cent to oil producing states

amounted to N39.450 billion. The statutory for March allocation , FG N186.603 billion, VAT N8.389 billion, states got N94.647 billion, its VAT component was N27.963 billion , LGs N72.969 billion and VAT stood at N19.574 billion and 13 per cent derivation for oil producing states for March was N39.571 billion. In April, FG statutory N146.486 billion, VAT N 10.252 billion, states’ portion N74.299 billion, VAT N34.175 billion , LGs N57.282 billion , VAT N23.922 billion while 13 per cent derivation for the month stood at N29.378 billion. In May, FG got N132.118 billion as its share from statutory revenue, VAT N10.823 billion, states collected N67.012 billion, VAT N36.077 billion, LGs collected N51.663 billion, VAT N25.254 billion while 13 per cent derivation stood at N23.109 bil-

lion. In June allocation, FG shares are, N151.805 billion, VAT N8.182 billion; states got N76.998 billion, VAT N27.274 billion while the share of LGs stood at N59.362 billion, VAT N27.2742 billion while 13 per cent derivation was N29.071 billion. In July, FG got N 218.928 billion, VAT N9.359 billion, states got N111.043 billion while its VAT component stood at N31.196 billion; LGs’ was N85.610 billion and VAT N 21.837 billion while oil producing states got N34.104 billion as their 13 per cent derivation . The August allocation was as follows: FG N 202.111 billion, VAT N10.792 billion, states N102.513 billion and VAT totalling N35.974 billion; LGs N79.033 billion, VAT N25.181 billion and 13 per cent derivation total of N28.209 billion paid to oil producing states. Similarly, in the month of September, FG got N168.623 billion, VAT N8.953 billion,

states got N 85.528 billion, VAT N29.845 billion; LGs got N65.948 billion, VAT N20.891 billion and sum of N27.870 billion paid out to oil producing states being 13 per cent derivation. In October allocation FG got N151.343 billion, VAT N8.121 billion, states got N 76.763 billion, VAT N27.072 billion; LGs got N59.181 billion, VAT N18.950 billion while N27.505 billion was paid to the oil producing states as their share of 13% derivation. Of November statutory allocation, Federal Government received the sum of N191.99 billion, states N97.38 billion, and local government N75.07 billion. Similarly, the sum of N24.14 billion was allocated to the oil producing states based on the 13 per cent derivation principle. For VAT, the FG received N8.66 billion, states N28.89 billion and local government N20.22 billion. In December, FG statu-

tory stood N139.501 billion, VAT N8.810 billion, states got N70.757 billion and VAT component in the sum of N 29.367 billion; LGs got N 54.551 billion, VAT N20.557 billion and sum of N 25.611 billion paid out to oil producing states as 13 per cent share of derivation fund. To stave off the vagaries of oil prices, the minister said government has shifted her revenue focus from oil and gas sources to the non-oil such as taxes and VAT and revenue generated by income generating MDAs. Aside, taxes and revenue by MDAs, Mrs. Adeosun said that priority was also being given to the solid mineral sector, a sector she said the present government has identified as money spinning sector. Meanwhile, with less than three days to the end of the 2015 fiscal year, the amount left as balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) is $2.58 billion.

L-R: Regional Manager, Ondo/Ekiti Region, Skye Bank Plc. Rasheed Yusuf; Acting Zonal Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Akure Zone, Mrs. Seyi Audu; a past Winner in the N250,000 category; a trader, Mr. Adewunmi Omoniyi; Group Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank, Nkolika Okoli and Branch Manager, Akungba Branch, Skye Bank Plc., Mr. Kehinde Fayemidupe at the bank’s promo held in Ondo State…on Thursday

OGFZ attracts $60bn investment to Nigeria Paul Ogbuokiri

he Managing Director Nigeria Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority (NOGFA), Mr. Victor Alabo has described Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone as the fastest growing in the world, adding that it has attracted foreign direct investment in excess of $60billion to Nigeria since its inception in 1978. Speaking with journalists on Friday in Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he said that not only has the zone provided Nigerians with over 30,000 direct and indirect employment, it has also attracted about 200 foreign companies which are rending specialized services to the Nigeria oil and gas industry.

According to him, the presence of these companies in Nigeria has led to the transfer of technology to the country. Alabo, who said that the key incentives which attracting the foreign investors to the OGFZ are, no restriction on expatriate quota, easy repatriation of profit and withholding tax. He stated that Nigerians have benefitted from training from the foreign companies as the authority insists on recruitment of Nigerians as condition for renewal of investors licences. He said: “One the most important things the government has gained from the investments is infrastructure, because the in-

vestors cannot carry their infrastructure away when they are leaving. Also, most of them, who started with a full staff of expatriates, today do have an all Nigerian staff.” He regretted that despite the huge successes recorded by the OGFZ in terms of investment and local content, some government agencies, especially the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is interfering in the free zone by way of coming to force the companies to pay the withholding tax which government had exempted them from paying. He condemned the alleged practice by some unscrupulous businessmen in Nigerian to engage in midstream discharge of

cargo, saying is an offence in the country to do that. “It is prohibited and the Nigerian Customs Service is aware of that. So anybody doing that is committing a crime,” he said. He also regretted that despite the fact that the free zone is less than two miles away from the gas pipeline, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is yet to extend the pipeline to the free zone to enable it build a power plant to power the free zone. Earlier, the Deputy General Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Intels, Mr. David Alagoa had told Sunday Telegraph that the company used over 100,000 litres of diesel daily to power the enter facility.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016

Auto beat Motoring tips

Safer speed

L-R: Sales Manager, Stallion NMN, Lawal Moroof; Director, Nigeria Project, Nissan SSA, Sorin Profir; Winners of UCL campaign, Linda and Valentine Onyeka Ojije and Head, Sales and Marketing, Stallion NMN, Amitkumar Sharma, at the presentation of tickets to winners of the Nissan/UEFA Championship bonanza at Stallion NMN showroom Victoria Island Lagos...recently

Winners emerge in Nissan/ UEFA Champions bonanza

Paul Ogbuokiri rdent football enthusiast, Valentine Ojijie has won an allexpense paid trip to watch Nissan partly sponsored UEFA Champions League Final in Milan-Italy on May 28. Ojijie had posted his selfie with passionate UEFA Champions League shots on #NissanNigeria Face book page, using #NissanChampion and #NissanNigeria in a keen competition that attracted tens of thousands of entries. Ojijie, who is also a Real Madrid fan, will be joining hundreds of thousands of football fans around the world to experience the excitement of walking the pitch

ord Motor Company Fund on Tuesday announced the creation of a new job training and entrepreneurial development centre that will assist approximately 200 people a year, part of a fiveyear, $4 million investment in community building across the African continent. The new Ford Resource and Engagement Centre, slated to open in October, will be located near Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant outside of Pretoria, South Africa. It is the second resource centre of its kind created by Ford Fund, the philanthropic branch of Ford Motor Company, and is modelled after the original Ford Resource and Engagement Centre in Southwest Detroit. The new centre marks the first international expansion of the highly successful project Ford Fund launched to bring nonprofit community services together in a collaborative environment. Ford will invest more than 2 million rand (R 2 million) annually in job training there. “Ford Fund has a proud tradition of strengthening the communities that are home to our employees, dealers, suppliers and customers,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “As our company expands throughout the African continent, we are bringing our innovative community investment programs to new regions to create a better world.” Ford is joining with Future Families, a South Africa-based nonprofit that provides services to families and orphans affected by HIV and AIDS, in operating the

as a Centre Circle Carrier during the UEFA final. Receiving the dummy ticket at the Stallion NMN showroom Lagos, the Photo Security Company Limited Operations Manager said: “I participated in this competition upon visiting my cousin’s Face book page and discovered the glowing passion of several other football fans around Africa. “I least imagined I could win among millions of entries that partook in the competition and surprisingly, here I am a winner. This is my first major win though, but I had in the past, won in some competitions when I was working at MTN.” He said: “Nissan has placed me on the spotlight and personified my image as envisaged in her tagline – innovation that

excites, and I’m innovation personified.” Ojijie, who will be travelling to Milan with his wife Linda, said: “I will celebrate this milestone all my life and continue to give kudos to Nissan for doing me proud.” Nissan is the official partner of the UEFA Champions League through 2017/2018 season and the UEFA Super Cups 2016 and 2017. Nissan brings a whole load of innovation and creativity to the UEFA Champions League partnership, bringing her forwardthinking approach that’s employed in everything they do. The coming together of Nissan and the UEFA Champions League also comes with innovative excitement, genius football and a pitch full of fun.

Ford to open entrepreneurial dev centre in S’Africa •To invest $4m in four years new centre. The organisation will create a range of training packages designed to prepare clients for finding jobs after graduating from Ford Resource and Engagement Centre. Courses will include career guidance and presentation skills, financial literacy, business and entrepreneurial skills, as well as training for vocational and technical jobs such as plumbing, care giving, computer and office work. Since opening in Detroit three years ago, the original Ford Resource and Engagement Centre has assisted more than 80,000

local residents through a range of social and cultural services, including providing 1.2 million pounds of food and helping to complete 6,100 tax returns. In total, the Detroit Resource and Engagement Centre has returned $3 in services to local community members for every $1 invested by Ford and nonprofits. Ford Fund works globally by making strategic investments focused on building communities, improving education and promoting driving safety as part of its Operation Better World initiative.

peed is a key factor in crashes and road trauma. Exceeding the speed limit increases the likelihood of a crash. As your speed increases, your ability to react to emergencies and stopping distances increase. Other road users also find it more difficult to judge how fast you are travelling. The speed limit is the maximum allowable speed, but sometimes it is necessary to travel below the speed limit to stay safe. The faster you drive, the harder you hit. At higher speeds there is a greater likelihood of severe injury or death. Even small increases in travel speed can cause disproportionately large increases in the likelihood of a crash that causes death or serious injury. In a crash your body will keep moving at the travel speed of the vehicle. For vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, small differences in travelling speed can mean the difference between life and death. If you collide with a pedestrian, death or serious injury is likely even at relatively low speeds. Research shows if you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone, your chances of being involved in a crash double with every 5 km/h increase in speed. Travelling at 65 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, you are twice as likely to be involved in a crash. A car braking from 65 km/h will still be travelling at 32 km/h at the point where a vehicle braking from 60 km/h has stopped. There are two components to stopping distance: The distance travelled by the vehicle during the time it takes for the driver to react The distance travelled once the brakes have been applied.

Fatigue

atigue is often ranked as a major factor in causing road crashes although its contribution to individual cases is hard to measure and is often not reported as a cause of crash. Driver fatigue is particularly dangerous because one of the symptoms is decreased ability to judge your own level of tiredness. Fatigue is more likely to be a factor in crashes in rural areas as they can involve long trips and extensive periods of continuous driving, however anyone can be affected by fatigue. If you don’t get enough sleep you go in to sleep debt and you owe yourself more sleep. The only way to repay this debt is by sleeping. Until you catch up on your sleep, you will have a greater risk of having a fatigue related crash. Research has shown that not sleeping for more than 17 hours has an effect on driving ability the same as a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.05. Not sleeping for 24 hours has the same effect of having a BAC of 0.10, double the legal limit.

What causes fatigue?

here are a range of factors that can cause fatigue. Lack of quality sleep Time of day driving when you would normally be sleeping (eg 1am-6am) or in the afternoon period (eg 2pm-4pm) when our biological time clock makes us feel tired Length of time performing the task Sleeping disorders such as sleep apnoea.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

Why is salt added to processed foods? Clinical Consultant pharmacist EMMANUEL A.NWANKWO agmerendis@yahoo.com

08148877648 (SMS only) WHY IS SALT ADDED TO PROCESSED FOODS? Answer: salt is preservation, salt is added to these foods to increase their storage life and makes them to taste better. So whenever you are consuming processed food you remember that you are taking too much salt, therefore if you eat a lot of fast food you are putting a to much salt in your body. Some processed food are Canned beef, Canned soup, frozen food, convenience food, soy sauce, white bread, instant noodles-, Ketchup, baked beans, snacks, canned fish , canned tomatoes, canned drinks, canned vegetables, canned fruits etc. You have the right to know that the content of salt in this processed food is extremely high in salt. Researchers at the University of Washington USA, in 2013 found that too much salt is among the things that cause the highest death for men in 188 countries of the world. Smoking, High blood pressure, Obesity (Being too fat or High Body Mass Index (BMI), Diet High in salt, Diabetes (High Fasting plasma glucose), Poor Diet, High Cholesterol, Low Physical Exercise, High Alcohol use and Diet low in fruits and Vegetable. According to the same research also in 2013, for women the risk associated with High Blood Pressure, Smoking, Obesity (Body Mass index), High salt Intake, Diabetes, High cholesterol, Lack of Exercise, Poor Kidney, Low Fruit and low vegetable intake and Cancer. The diseases we are now having more in Nigeria are High Blood Pressure which

causes (Stroke, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease and Stomach cancer), Diabetes and Cancer. All these Diseases require us to change our life styles and the way we approach our eating habits. In 2013 High Blood pressure alone killed 10.4 million people in the world. Collectively High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Smoking and Obesity killed 30.9 million. People have Right to know that more people are dying every year from high blood pressure, Diabetes, Obesity and smoking than the year before. Patient has the right to know the amount of salt in the processed food before they buy. Canned fish, canned corn beef, canned milk, Tin Food and Tin Tomatoes etc Compare with salt daily requirement. So when you are buying canned, processed food, you should read the label for salt or ask for salt content of what you are buying.

DO WE EAT TOO MUCH SALT? Answer: Yes. The average American eats about 15 Ibs (Fifteen Pounds) 6.8kg of salt every year. Most studies show that salt plays a major role in cases of high blood pressure, heart burn, ulcer and gastric cancer. Studies also show that too much salt causes osteoporosis (detrimental to your bone density) (bone problem).Too much salt can hinder calcium absorption in your body causing your bone to be weak, because calcium helps the bone to be strong. What do you do if you feel like adding more salt to your food? Answer: Do not add more salt, instead add Garlic, Carrot, Vitamin C (citrus), Pepper, Spinach, and Herbs Spices. Any of these or combination of then to your meal because Most food has enough naturally occurring salt

in them to make them taste good and palatable. Patients have the right to know the meaning of all these on their processed food label to enable you make a wise decision 1. Lightly salted means 50% less salt 2. Light in salt means 50% less salt 3. Low in salt means 140mg or less salt 4. Very low salt means 35mg salt 5. Salt free means less than 5mg of salt 6. Reduced salt means 25% less salt But if you have very strong and extreme salt craving, it may be symptoms of Addison Diseases (Abdominal hormonal disease) and Barrters Syndrome (a rare Kidney disease), always talk to your personal physician. According to National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute and Research from New York Times. Most people don’t need more than 2.4gm on (2.4gm) of sodium (salt) per day, equivalent of one teaspoonful of salt per day, with latest Medical advice about high salt intake, it is probably a good health advice to pay attention to how much salt you eat and no more than one teaspoonful of salt daily. Patient need to know types of salt which are Table salt and Sea salt FDA (American Food and Drug administration) requires each of the two salts to have 97.5% of sodium chloride, therefore salt you buy must have 97.5% sodium chloride according to FDA/NAFDAC. We need to know that Table Salt must have iodine. Iodine was added to table salt to prevent the Enlargement of our thyroid Gland which is caused by hormone imbalance. So iodized salt is better than non Iodized salt especially in country like Nigeria. Iodized salt will help combat hyperthyroidism, which can stunt the physical and mental growth of our children.

Money matters (2) Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

ast week, I argued against the admonition by some financial counsellors to operate a savings account without the use of an ATM card as a way of promoting a savings culture. In pressing my argument, I said that saving is firstly a ‘wisdom’ and secondly a discipline, though one can argue that discipline is itself wisdom. I promised to tell you this week the major reason I think it is okay to have an ATM card for every account, notwithstanding the drive to save. Here we go. In my article ‘WHAT YOUR BANKER WISH YOU NEVER KNEW,’ published sometime ago in this column (please read it), I brought to the fore a major hidden perspective on the issue, which is what I’ll discuss here today, albeit in a more concise form. We pray to live long. However, the truth is that death is natural. As such, I’ll go ahead to talk about it in a way here. In the event of the death of a person, his bankers or some other persons become beneficiaries of his deposits, which in some cases are almost all of his life’s sweat. If no one has a proof of legal entitlement to the funds, the bank uses the money to do business and make more money thereby. If,

The bank will trade with the money, pending when family members of the deceased owner of the money sort themselves out. That is one dimension to it however, anyone or set of persons have a proof of legal entitlement, the question that arises is: Did the deceased owner of the deposits die testate (having written a will) or intestate (without a will)? If he died testate, and actually willed his bank deposits to any person or set of persons, those deposits will devolve to that person or set of persons, as the case may be. If he died intestate, the laws of intestate succession will apply. Whatever the case, however, obtaining probate (in the case of a testate succession) or letters of administration (in the case of an intestate succession) may take a while, in the process of which there might be currency devaluation. Even if there is no currency devaluation, the money tied down in the bank could have been used by the deceased’s family to invest in a business that would have yielded profit, instead of lying dormant in the bank. In any case, the money will not be lying dormant in the bank, as the bank will be too smart to let that happen. The bank will trade with the money, pending when family members of the deceased owner of the money sort themselves out. That is one dimension to it. Engaging the services of a lawyer for that purpose may cause members of the deceased

family to incur some more expenses, which, if viewed in a sense, would have occasioned a depletion of the deposit of the deceased contended for. That sounds like being penny wise and pounds foolish. All the foregoing would have been averted by the use of an ATM card. How does it work? Please read the next paragraph. A way out of the ugly picture painted above is this: operate an ATM card for every account and let one or two members of your immediate family know the PIN, especially your spouse. If everybody does this, there will hardly be a case of someone’s money lost to a bank on account of death. This is because, all the deceased’s immediate family need do is use his ATM card to withdraw what is left in his account. That way, families will be more stable after the death of their bread winners, and hostility by extended family members against immediate family members of the deceased in the quest for the deceased wealth will be minimised, if not outrightly avoided. Now, the issue of trust may come in, and my take is this: if you cannot give your spouse the benefit of doubt, why are you still married to him or her? It is like giving your very life to someone, but withholding your money from the person. It, therefore, becomes tempting to ask: between your money and your life, which is more important? Think about it. You will succeed. Please follow me on Twitter @VictorOkwudiri

Interbank rate rises on low liquidity

igeria’s overnight interbank rate rose marginally on Friday to an average of nine per cent, up from 8.5 per cent at last week’s close, due to lower banking system liquidity and expectations of a possible hike in the benchmark interest rate next week. Nigeria’s rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to take a decision on benchmark interest rates and other financial tools to curb accelerating inflation in the West African country. Annual inflation in Nigeria quickened to a near six-year high of 13.7 per cent in April, up from 12.8 per cent the previous month, in part due to rising petrol and electricity prices, the National Bureau of Statistics said, stoking expectations of another rate hike. “We now expect the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to tighten its policy rate by 100 bps to 13 per cent at the May meeting,” Razia Khan, chief economist at Standard Chartered Bank, said in an email to Reuters. With the level of banking system liquidity at around N141.7 billion on Friday, down from N183.59 billion last week, dealers said, interbank rates are expected to square up with the expected benchmark rate hike at the end of the MPC meeting on Tuesday. Even though the central bank sold N110.93 billion in short-dated treasury bills at an auction mid-week no cash left the system because the same amount of treasury bills also matured, resulting in a rollover.

L-R: Product Manager , OTC, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Femi Ajala; April star winner of the Astymin Get Alert Promo, Miss Shakirat Akanni, and Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Oladimeji Oduyebo, during Astymin Get Alert Promo cheque presentation in Lagos…on Thursday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Oil prices trade at $48.79

lobal benchmark Brent crude prices LCOc1 traded down two cents at $48.79 a barrel by 11:28 a.m. on Friday (1528 GMT), while U.S. crude CLc1 fell two cents to $48.14 per barrel. Oil was still headed for their second straight week of gains, boosted by growing supply disruptions in oil producing countries like Nigeria, Canada and Libya. “The overall market sentiment remains biased to the upside as a growing contingency of market participants are of the view that the market is already in a rebalancing pattern and the current round of unscheduled production cuts are starting to accelerate the process,” said Dominick Chirichella, senior partner at the Energy Management Institute. In Nigeria, militant activity has cut oil exports to a more than 22-year low of less than 1.4 million bpd. In Canada, production has also been cut as wildfires forced closures of around 1 million bpd, although output is gradually returning. Libyan output has also been hit by internal conflict. By some estimates, these outages should undoubtedly lead to a swifter market rebalancing, but ones like in Nigeria are just the start. “The risks are mounting and Venezuela could be the next shoe to drop,” said Michael Tran, director of energy strategy at RBC Capital Markets in New York. Other analysts, however, expect oil prices to come further off recent highs, correcting their recent upwards trend. Prices have risen for six out the last seven weeks, buoyed by the supply disruptions. “We feel that markets have moved too high, too far, too soon,” Harry Tchilinguirian, lead oil and commodities strategist at French bank BNP Paribas in London, told Reuters’ Global Oil Forum. “The combination of a stronger dollar, still excess supply over demand and ongoing overhang of inventories can be expected to put strong downward pressure on prices.”

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Market Sentiments Remain Bullish I

nvestors sentiments remained strong during the week ended as the the Equities market All Share Index (NSEASI) closed the week 2.55% up, having gained on four (4) out of five (5) trading days, to drive the Year-to-Date (YtD) return up to -5.33%. The positive momentum observed during the week may be related to renewed bargain hunting activities by investors following the signing of the 2016 appropraition bill, and anticipation of a subsequent increase in government spending. Consequent on these increased activities, the volume of transactions for the week increased by 33.95%, while value traded declined slightly by 9.14% from the previous week. Market breadth for the week however indicated relatively stronger sell sentiments, as it pegged at 0.81x, representing forty-three (43) losers against thirty-five (35) gainers. Top gainers for the week were UBA, CONOIL, OANDO, TRANSEXPR and ACCESS, with respective gains of 22.59%, 20.67%, 13.42%, 12.71% and 10.77%. Conversely, VITAFOAM topped the underperformers chart with a 20.85% loss in value. Other top losers for the week were TIGERBRANDS, NCR, UNILEVER, and IKEJAHOTEL which recorded losses of 19.87%, 14.14%, 13.89% and 13.88% accordingly. Given the spate of positive investor activities in the market lately, a number of stocks are now trading close to their intrinsic values. Nonetheless, we expect the recent rally of stock prices to persist into the coming week, as more investors return to the market to join the rising wave. We also opine that the outcome of the MPC meeting scheduled for the 23rd and 24th of May, 2016 will impact the direction of trading activities in the coming week. 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. Economic Update: Headwinds persists. To hike MPR or devalue? The upcoming MPC meeting is coming up ahead of releases of downbeat economic data and news flows, such as the spiraling inflation rate at 13.7% in April (vs. 9.6% in January 2016), as well as a 67.63% jump in fuel prices to a NGN135 - NGN145 band, as pronounced by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, and published by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) respectively. In addition, the Committee is convening at a time when macroeconomic pressures are mounting, amidst persistent badgering from the international community regarding the country’s exchange rate policy. It is quite apparent that there are several risks on the horizon - pressured naira (9% decline in 1 week after months of stability at c.NGN320/USD) unanchored inflation expectations, slowing growth, rising unemployment, slow credit growth – which pose monetary policy dilemmas. In this light, we expect the MPC to make the following decisions: • Increase the MPR given the replay of the factors that warranted the latest rate hike and statements by the CBN governor regarding the possibility of same. Although the MPC expressed concerns that the ‘policy rate had become negative in real terms’, we believe the focus was actually on the yield environment on domestic instruments. Average bond yield has been elastic in recent times, and at 12% MPR is currently at c.14%. Thus, with a 50-100 basis points hike in the policy rate, we expect the average bond yield to expand to c.15%, which, in our view, is adequate to effectively hedge inflation risk in the shortterm. Thus, we do not expect the MPC to

…ahead of MPC Meeting Sentiments seem to have switched, as investors’ attentions have turned to most of the sector’s stocks. However, we do not expect gains to be as marked in the next week, as investors’ attention turns towards the MPC meeting at the start of the week, after which the direction for the rest of the week will be directed by the expected impact of policy decisions.

initiate more than a 100 basis point hike in the MPR. • Initiate a comprehensive reform to the foreign exchange market, which might witness the transition to a dual trading system. • Maintain liquidity ratio at 30%. • Maintain the asymmetric corridor at +200bp/-500bp. • Maintain the CRR at 22.5%. Fixed Income: Bearish Sentiments Pervades Bond Market Following the contraction of system liquidity in the week (-19.81% to c.NGN146bn), money market rates hiked across instruments by 1.00% Week-on-Week (WoW) to peg at 8.71%. Also, the Apex bank auctioned NGN110.94bn worth of Treasury bill instruments during the week. As expected, the auction was oversubscribed, with bid to cover ratio pegged at 1.95x, just as the stop rates on all instruments auctioned closed higher than at the previous PMA (on the 4th of May, 2016) . The stop rates for the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day instruments pegged at 8.10%, 9.20%, and 12.48% accordingly. The bearish sentiments towards Treasury bond instruments were sustained in the week, as yields trended northwards across all instruments by 0.25% to peg the average bond yield at 13.45%, as at week ended. In the coming week, we expect the decision of the MPC as regards the MPR to determine the direction of trading activities. The value of the Naira against the US Dollar at the interbank market was sustained in the week, exchanging at NGN197.38/ USD. However, the local currency weakened against the USD in the parallel market, paring in value by 8.36% to close at NGN350/USD.

Agric. Sector: PRESCO Drives Marginal Gains The Agric sector recorded a marginal week-on-week gain of 1.10%, as measured by the performance of our MERI-AGRIC Index. This development is primarily attributed to the 1.97% WoW rise in the share price of PRESCO, which resulted in the year-to-date return for the sector pegging at 0.50%. Sector breadth stood at 1.00x, reflecting equal number (one) of gainers and decliners. LIVESTOCK was the only decliner in the sector this week, after the share price pared by 4.00% WoW to settle at NGN0.96. ELLAHLAKES (NGN4.26), FTNCOCOA (NGN0.50) and OKOMUOIL (NGN29.01) stayed flat week-on-week. Considering the dearth of sector specific news capable of spurring investors’ sentiments, we opine that the Agric sector might record sideways performance in the coming week. However, over the medium to long term, we anticipate that the sector will drive value for investors, as it is positioned to benefit from incentives geared towards increasing participation in the sector. Banking Sector: Advances 7.30% to Record 2nd Consecutive Week of Gains The banking sector advanced for the second consecutive week, appreciating by 7.30% WoW to peg the YtD return at 4.83%, on the back of good gains by sector heavyweights amongst others. There were eleven (11) gainers and three (3) decliners to peg the sector’s breadth at 3.67x. UBA led the gainers after recording a price appreciation of 22.59%. The ticker was followed by ACCESS, ZENITHBANK, GUARANTY, and FCMB which recorded respective gains of 22.59%, 10.77%, 8.50% and 7.75%. On the flip side, STERLNBNK (-10.29%), DIAMONDBNK (-5.45%), FIDELITYBK (-3.88%), and SKYEBANK (-2.50%) populated the decliners list.

Consumer Goods: Sector Gains 1.76% WoW Accumulating on gains recorded in the previous week, the Consumer Goods sector, as measured by the NSEFBT10 index, advanced by 1.76% WoW to push the YtD return to -10.38%. The sector breadth for the week pegged at 0.50x, reflecting five (5) advancers and ten (10) decliners. NB, DANGSUGAR, NASCON, NESTLE and GUINNESS populated the advancers’ list, after recording gains of 6.82%, 4.13%, 2.47%, 1.45% and 0.11% accordingly. On the other side, the decliners’ list featured VITAFOAM, TIGERBRANDS, UNILEVER, CHAMPION and AGLEVENT, which recorded respective WoW returns of -20.85%, -19.87%, -13.89%, -5.08% and -4.76%. Despite the largely negative performance of some sector stocks during the week, gains recorded on sector heavyweights were adequate to sway the overall sector performance to the positive region. We anticipate that the current trend in trading will be maintained in the coming week. Health Sector: Sector Performance Downbeat The sector breadth settled at 0.50x in the week, as a lone stock appreciated against two (2) decliners. Performance for the sector settled at -0.05% WoW, as measured by the MERI-HLTH index. MAYBAKER (+0.99% WoW) was the only advancer, with the share price pegged at NGN1.02 at the end of the week, while FIDSON (-11.11%) and NEIMETH (-5.00%) were the laggards, settling at NGN2.00 and NGN0.95 respectively. We envisage sustenance of the current cautious mood of investors to the sector counters, barring any news inflow capable of spurring buy sentiments amongst Investors. Industrial Goods: Improved Investor Perception Drive Gains The Industrial goods sector made a strong showing during the week ended, as the Meri-Ind index closed the week 1.73% up to peg the YtD return at -3.76%. There were five (5) advancers and two (2) decliners to peg the sector’s breadth at 2.50x. WAPCO was the top gainer for the week, having gained 8.71% WoW to drive its share price to NGN77.40. CCNN, DNMEYER, CAP and DANGCEM were the other advancers for the week, with respective gains of 6.36%, 4.29%, 3.90% and 1.27%. BERGER (3.82%) and ASHAKACEM (1.70%) were the only price losers. We believe the renewed interest in the industrial goods segment may be related to the recent signing of the 2016 appropriation bill. We expect investors’ perception of the building materials segment to continue to improve as we proceed further into the year, as the federal government increases funds disbursements towards infrastructure development. Insurance Sector: Sector Returns Lone Gainer The bullish run of the insurance sector was halted in the week, as the index pared by 1.73% WoW to peg the YtD return at -8.08%, as measured by the NSEINS10 index. Sector breadth (0.25x) signaled the direction of activities, as four (4) counters declined in value, as against a lone advancer.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

faith

Weapon of boldness

ne day, I was confused. There were lots of threats. A community sent some prominent youth leaders to me and told the principal of the school I was teaching to warn me or work for my transfer otherwise, I could be dead. I was with the Principal when they came and I pretended as if I was not the teacher they came to report. I could not tell if the delegates knew me or not. The attack was physical as well as spiritual. I felt I was no safer but I was born-again Christian of about 6 or 7 years by then. I went home that day to tell my parents but I noted that they went to my parents first to threaten me before they came to the school. My faith was almost overwhelmed by fear. I thank God, my faith did not collapse. When a hall or upstairs filled with people collapses you can imagine the magnitude of damage that would be recorded. When fears and discouragement set into one’s life, and faith collapses, it affects a lot of persons negatively, and an ambulance and rescue workers come in to save the situation but there are people that cannot be

Word of Life Bishop. Moses Kattey moseskatteyabp@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

saved except to be taken to mortuary. So my faith nearly collapsed. One day, the depression, the pressure, the level of fears was beyond my control so I did something, which served me well till today. What did I do? I took a Bible to represent my Lord Jesus Christ and kept it on the table. I dropped a knife beside Bible to represent cult or secret society. Finally I kept a pen and sheet of paper to represent security from the police and government ( if I had to write petition and report the matter to police). As for joining a cult or secret society, it was easy because my principal than, and some other prominent men in my community were known members and would be very happy to receive me into cults if I met them. I stood up looking at these 3 objects representing 3 options. Which would I choose? Which action would I take? Should I

continue to follow my Lord Jesus Christ? Can He save me from all the attacks and pending death and threats? Or should I go to a secret society to protect any life? Would it not be better to drop my Lord Jesus Christ whom I gave my life to in 1971 and seek for protection of my life in occult? The last object was to write petition to Commissioner of Police and take the matter to count? Can that favour me because the threat was more of spiritual? I did not have the money to do this because those boys and their community were just paid compensation by Federal Government of Nigeria. Those my students would walk up to me their teacher and say “sir, teacher how much is your annual salary? I want to pay you now” What was my offence? As my students, why I should ask rich and wealthy students to go out for compound works?

why should I attempt to discipline them? I do not know what they told their parents and community leaders. I had 3 options. Suddenly, I boldly and consciously, picked the Bible as the best option! I said, whether life or death I must not leave my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I said God forbid for me to choose secret society or cults. I said these children cannot make me to backslide I was S.U. (Scripture Union) President in my Secondary School 1973/74. I formed S.U. in my Local Government in 1975, and was the first President after I formed it. Extra-ordinary boldness came into my life. I sensed that was how David felt when he ran to meet Goliath in the Bible to fight him. It was then I discovered that BOLDNESS IS A POWERFUL WEAPON. “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident of perdition, but to you of salvation; and that of God. (Philippians 1:28) “Stand until, and singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the message, the good news not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition.

Speaking to your spouse while angry

certain woman felt frustrated at her only daughter when the girl was not agreeing to what she wanted her to do and she lashed out at her daughter with bitter words. She said words like; “from the day I birthed you, I knew you would never bring me pride. You are a disgrace like your father.” This bitter mother let out ‘the steam’ she had been keeping and said the most hurtful words to her daughter. The young daughter who had previously never had cause to disobey her mother was so hurt by her mother’s words she felt like a letdown and she felt unloved. She said to her mother, “why did you give birth to me if you knew I would bring shame to you? You should have killed me as a child.” The young lady packed her things and left her mother’s house. Everyday her mother lived to regret her words. She kept wishing she could take back her words but the damage had been done. Her daughter did not return home until after three years. The Bible says life and death are in the power of the tongue, Proverbs

Marriage & Family Intimacy

Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521 18:21. You can tear down with your words and also raise up with your words. A wise person once said, “Words uttered can never be withdrawn.” We must therefore weigh whatsoever we want to say before saying them. Put yourself in the shoes of the hearer of the words you want to release and see if they will sound well to the hearer and speak well of the speaker. Any word that wants to proceed from you and is not going to add to someone’s life or make someone feel better should not be allowed to come forth. Do not speak while angry and do not let anger dictate the words that should come out of your mouth.Whenever you speak with anger, there is bound to be regrets later on. You will surely say something that you never intended to say which can never be withdrawn. So many people have destroyed their marriages with the choice of words

that proceeded from their mouth to their spouses. There are certain words that will cut off trust or kill love. Some words destroy morale while others destroy self-worth. Your will is fundamental in deciding the time, place and person your words can be said to. Allow every word that proceeds from your mouth to be weighed by your will. So many people speak without thinking whenever they are angry. That is not a sign of maturity. Learn to be in charge of your speeches and thoughts even while angry. It can be learnt.Some people always say things like; “I never meant to say that” and I ask, “so why did you?” You can control your words even in anger. Remember that any word you have released to your spouse and others has been registered in the person’s mind. Most times such word keeps reechoing to the person even while apologies have been

said. That is why it is important not to say those negative words at all. Do not let the situation you are passing through to direct your mood and set the tempo of your home. When a family is challenged financially, it does not mean their language of love should disappear while frustration and negative words would take over. At those moments, you should deliberately work on yourself and on members of your family to consciously allow their choice of words to be seasoned. Job, in his suffering and anguish never cursed God; that is great height of self-control. It was deliberately done and he did not allow momentary situations to override his sense of judgment. He did not allow his state to make him change his trust level in God. He did not allow what happened to him to be the determinant of his fate thereby making his language (words) to change towards his wife. Despite what he was passing through, he remained focused and did not waiver even in words. We can do likewise in order to have better homes and marriages.

Mystery of Anxiety Bishop John Ogbansiegbe 0803 341 6327 (SMS Only)

Attributes of God’s vessel

herefore every vessel whose service shall honour and glorify God must have been washed, cleansed, purified, sanctified and consecrated for the master’s use. This is that regeneration, renewal and conversion which is the initial experience that comes by believing and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior. That vessel must have the experience of baptism of the Holy Ghost which endows the vessel with power, boldness and unction for the service of the Lord. The fullness of the spirit makes the vessel spiritual champion void of any spiritual error. The Bible says in Romans 8:14 “They that are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God.” The vessel must carry, exude and radiate the manifestations of the fruits of the Holy Ghost as enshrined in Galatians5:22-26, “Which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self control). “ The vessel must have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. This is because by their fruits you shall know them – Matthew7”22. The said vessel must have a clear Holy Ghost commissioning. That is a genuine testimony of calling into service. This should form the platform of the vessels vision and mission in the service of God. That is why the Bible says that in the house a king there are many vessels; some of honour and some of dishonor. There is a purpose for every vessel. Spiritually speaking, there is a purpose for every calling and election. Therefore, if you are desiring to be a vessel in the hands of God, pray and discover the purpose for your life, calling and ministry so that you may not be carried away by every wing of doctrine. Stick to your calling and a life worthy of your calling. The vessel must have a motivating force, a revitalized inner life, a sharp inner eyes and ears and have the ability tio discern, or the gifts of discernment. The said vessel must be disciplined, honest, transparent, pure, full of credibility and integrity. Their

lives must be such that they command respect in the immediate environment where they are. The must possess a bridled tongue, void of unnecessary babblings, gossip, vulgarity, arguments or backbiting. The must have the ability to keep people’s secret. They should not allow double tongue, lies and tale-bearing to perforate their personality. They should not allow foolish indebtedness and bankruptcy borne out of unguided greediness and covetousness. They must live a life of contentment and faith in God for all their needs and wants. They should learn like Saint Paul to be abased and abound. This can only be possible by maintaining a simple standard of living or living within their income. They must avoid worldliness, compromise and conformity with the things of this world. They must be husbands of one wife or have only one life partner. They must also have a good home, void of nagging, fighting and quarreling. Their children must be disciplined and trained up in the fear of the Lord. They must be obedient to the Holy Spirit and elders or parents in the Lord. Their queit time and communion with the Lord must be constantly continuous and qualitative. The word of must be their greatest companion. For them to be prosperous, “They must not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful, but h shall always delight in the law of his God and His word shall he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the side of the river that bringeth forth its fruits in hs season, his leaves shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” They must be prayerful and fast as often as possible in order to always triumph over stubborn situations, because the prayerless vessel is a powerless vessel. ”Remember, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.” –

SUNDAY MAY 22 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News extra

Gana’s group rejects PDP caretaker committee Onyekachi Eze

T ABUJA

here is confusion within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as founding fathers of the party rejected the setting up of a seven-man caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party. Following the court order, which restrained the party from conducting elections into the vacant positions in the party’s leadership, PDP members who assembled in Port Harcourt on Saturday to elect new national leadership of the party, in obedience to the court order, decided to appoint a caretaker committee. The caretaker committee headed by former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Markfi with Senator Ben Obi as Secretary, was given 90 days to run the affairs of the party, conduct a congress and handover to an elected national leadership. But members of Concern

PDP Stakeholders led by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who earlier in the day opted a non-elective national convention, said the decision fell short of their expectation. Co-chairman of the forum, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who addressed the press Saturday night said: ”There is a body that is constitutional mandated to take over the affairs of the party. And that body is the conscience of the party called BoT. “At this point in time, the only legal organ body conditionally empowered to actually takeover the affairs of the party is the BoT.” The Concern PDP Stakeholders had already set up a 57-member steering committee to run the affairs until the court order is vacated and proper convention conducted to elected officials of the party. According to Mantu: “After watching events at Port Harcourt convention,

it necessary for us to react to some of the things we saw there. “First and foremost, we want to thank our members throughout the nation for given us support that has actually led us to achieve some of the goals we have set for ourselves. “We were opposed to the zoning and indeed the zoning has been cancelled or set aside. “We also opposed to the Convention taking place and the convention did not take place courtesy of the court. “Again, we were opposed to the way the Congresses have been conducted, that they fell short of our expectations, now these Congresses and Conventions have been set aside, “This group can confidently say that we have achieved all the targets we set out to achieve.” Chairman of the former Ministers’ Forum, Tanimu Turaki, who was present at the press briefing, added that the group had re-

APC seeks Wike explanation on alleged N700m poll bribery scam

viewed what happened in Port Harcourt and the decisions taken there, which vindicated their position which is based on principles. “We had taken a position that things were done wrongly and unconstitutionally. Things have been done without due regards to processes and procedures. “They have sat down and deliberated on what has happened but we are also amazed at the way and manner the party has been further fractionalised. ”Coming out of the Port Harcourt meeting, with two groups now instead of one, we have examined that very cautiously. “We had also had some of the statements coming from the two groups and we are here trying to carefully study them to look at the implementations for the future and progress of our party. “We will at appropriate time come out with a clear position on them.

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has urged Governor Nyesom Wike to explain his role in the alleged N700 million poll bribery scam in which his name is mentioned. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Chris Finebone, APC Publicity Secretary in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The APC alleged that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled, Mr Johnson Okpoko, the state PDP Secretary, for collecting N700 million from the controversial $115 million lodged with Fidelity Bank. It alleged that the money was lodged by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and used to bribe Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Rivers. The statement said the aim was to influence INEC officials to change results to favour the PDP during the 2015 general elections across Nigeria. ``It is almost a week since the news came out of the EFCC that the detained PDP Secretary told the anti-graft agency that he collected N700 million from Fidelity Bank on the instruction of Wike.

``However, Governor Wike has kept sealed lips about the revelation by the PDP State Secretary who is about to be charged to court soon by the anti-graft agency. ``The APC notes that whereas the anti-graft agency might put the invitation of the governor on hold because of constitutional immunity, he is already being investigated,’’ the statement alleged. The statement said this was because immunity did not prevent the EFCC from investigating the allegation against the governor and keeping vital information for his trial after his tenure. ``The APC wishes to call on Wike to clear the air about this obviously damaging revelation which has painted the image of his office and that of the state in opprobrious light. ``It is the conviction of the APC that the governor owes it as a duty to Rivers people to confirm or deny with facts and figures the accusation,’’ the statement said. The APC alleged that it observed the sneaky happenings at the 2015 general elections in Rivers and the nation but would like to keep its conclusions about what happened to itself.

Expert calls for policy framework to address negative GDP growth

A L-R: Vice President, Association of Professional Women Builders in Nigeria (PWBD), Mrs. Aderonke Said; Secretary-General, PWBD, Mrs. Florence Akinyoade and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, during the visit of members of the association to the governor at the weekend

Christian charity president funds ‘sex addiction’

he president of a Christian charity in Iowa, US, Jon S. Petersen, is facing prison time after he admitted to embezzling nearly a half-million dollars in donations and using the money to fund his “sex addiction.” Jon S. Petersen is the longtime president of World Ambassadors, Ltd., a nonprofit he founded with his wife, Catherine Peterson, in 1993 to provide a “Christian outreach to international students on college campuses.” On Monday, the 55-yearold admitted to struggling

with a “sex addiction” from 2005-2015, and would pay for this addiction through his credit cards, home equity lines of credit, and World Ambassadors’ donations. Prosecutors said Peterson drained nearly all of the charity’s funding: From January 2010 through December 2014, the nonprofit received total deposits of $476,466. Of those deposits, $475,555 was deposited into Petersen’s personal checking account either by bank transfers or checks payable to himself from that account.

The AP notes that his guilty plea concerned his “personal 2013 tax filing, when he failed to report $114,000 diverted from the group as taxable income.” In addition to facing a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison, Petersen may be required to pay restitution to the group’s donors. Back in 2010, the IRS reportedly revoked the charity’s tax-exempt status after it “repeatedly failed to file a required annual disclosure on its income and spending.” However, World Am-

bassadors, Ltd. was still registered as a nonprofit corporation and in good standing with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. Pornography and sexual sin are becoming more and more common, according to watchdog organisation Covenant Eyes, which found that the porn industry generates $13 billion each year in the US - more than the collective revenue of the top technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Apple, EarthLink and Netflix.

n economist, Dr Aminu Usman, has advised the Federal Government to evolve a policy framework to address the negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the economy. Usman, a lecturer in the Department of Economics, Kaduna State University, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday. The don, while reacting to the Nigerian GDP Report for 1st quarter of 2016 recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said that the economy needed urgent attention. According to the report, GDP slowed by -0.36 per cent year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2016. The Bureau said that the GDP was lower by 2.47 per cent points from the growth recorded in the preceding quarter. It said it was also lower by 4.32 per cent points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

The don, however, said that the economy, which is going through recession, would be moving toward depression if appropriate actions were not taken to address the economic crisis. The report said that quarter on quarter, real GDP slowed by 13.71 per cent during the quarter, while aggregate GDP stood at N22,262,575.97 million (in nominal terms) at basic prices. ``Compared to the First Quarter 2015 value of N21, 041,701. 10 million, nominal GDP was 5.80 per cent higher. ``Nominal GDP growth was, however, lower relative to levels recorded in 4th quarter of 2015 by 14.15 per cent points,’’ it said. According to the report, the Nigerian economy could be better understood according to the oil and non-oil sector classifications. The report said that in the First Quarter of 2016, oil production stood at 2.11million barrels per day (mbpd), 0.05mbpd lower from production in Q4 of 2015.

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS EXTRA

Ambode’s quiet revolution in Lagos

Gbolahan Akintunde

n the heat of the campaigns for the gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State, in 2015, I had no doubt that Ambode, who was endorsed by Asiwaju Tinubu, would emerge and this came to pass. I voted for Ambode during the April gubernatorial general elections for the simple reason that, when Tinubu preferred his then Chief of Staff, little known Babatunde Fashola to other candidates in 2007, there was disquiet from many quarters because the ability of Fashola to perform was in doubt, but we later discovered that Asiwaju saw what the rest of us did not see in Fashola. The rest is history today. Fashola performed beyond the imagination of many Lagosians including cynics, in fact, Lagos State became a reference point of what good governance should be. So when Akinwumi Ambode got the endorsement of Asiwaju Tinubu, I got a de javu feeling and I remembered that just like Fashola, another performer may have emerged. Like many Lagos residents, I was a bit apprehensive in the first few months of Ambode in the saddle as everything seemed to be turning upside down in the state. In less than two weeks in office, about four major fire outbreaks caused by fuel tankers were recorded in different parts of Lagos State; there was upsurge in armed robbery, kidnapping and other sundry crimes. As if these were not enough, there was water shortage in the state for about one month due to a major fault in the equipment of the Lagos State Water Corporation and as the government was battling this, the traffic gridlock in the state became horrific while traffic robbers had a field day. There were complaints in almost all sectors and Ambode received bashing left and right while he was accused of ineptitude and incompetence. Like a workman ready with his tools, Ambode set to work and instead of being disillusioned with the myriad of problems and bashing, they became the tonic he needed to confront the problems headlong. He gave succour to the victims of tanker fire incidents and took steps to prevent reoccurrence. He tackled the security problem of the state by purchasing and handing over security equipment worth N4.8 billion to the security agencies. These include, 100 4-door salon

Ambode

cars, 55 Ford Ranger pickups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser pick-ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gun boats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, revolving lights, sirens and public address systems, vehicular radio communicators, security gadgets including bullet proof vests, helmets, handcuffs, etc, uniforms, kits and improved insurance and death benefit schemes for officers. Ambode’s effort yielded immediate results as crime was reduced to the barest minimum. One robbery incident that Lagosian will never forget in a hurry is the Ikorodu bank robbery where the robbers escaped through the waterways with a speedboat but were apprehended a few weeks after the incident. Similarly, the prompt and professional rescue of the abducted Ikorodu school girls six days after was unprecedented. The kidnappers were apprehended and the girls were unhurt. This drew a lot of applause from Nigerians home and abroad. He also adequately tackled the problem of cultism and land grabbing which had become menace to Lagos residents. The traffic gridlock in the state was tackled with all seriousness with the governor himself apprehending traffic offenders. The Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASMA) was overhauled and the officers re-orientated with a view to making the agency have a human face and at the same time, ensure free flow of traffic. Major stakeholders such as members of various transport unions were incorporated as members of the task force. Recently, mobile courts were inaugurated in the state to summarily try recalcitrant drivers and this has made the traffic situation in the state better. Tackling the Apapa traffic bottleneck holistically, a task

force was set up to ensure free flow of traffic while the governor personally monitored this. He called on the Federal Government to mobilise the contractor awarded the Apapa road network to return to site. Ambode, a civil servant of 27 years, wasted no time in re-organising the civil service for more effective service delivery by realigning some ministries and scrapping others while appointing 19 new Permanent Secretaries. In the area of infrastructure, about 600 kilometres of roads have either been rehabilitated or reconstructed across the 57 Local Council Development Areas including two new roads per LCDA under the ‘Ambode Road Revolution’. Under his “Operation Light Up Lagos State”, Ambode had rehabilitated and erected streetlights in 366 locations across the state while 37 rural communities around Seme border are to be electrified immediately. In the health sector, Ambode commissioned 20 Mobile Intensive Care Units Ambulances and 26 Transport Ambulances deployed across the various General Hospitals and 24 hour primary healthcare centres in the state. While more paramedic staff and medical coordinators were recruited, the General Hospitals were upgraded with manpower and equipment with standby generators purchased for each of them. In August 2015, Ambode approved N11 billion to offset arrears of pensions owed since 2010 thus bringing smiles to the faces of the retirees of parastatals, state and local governments. Recently, N64 billion has been contributed by the government into the pensions account. The Operation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has tremendously improved the internally generated revenue (IGR) in

Women should step up to leadership positions –Aisha Buhari Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

the state with the state saving N3billion monthly. In his bid to attract investors to the state and make it the foremost investors’ destination, he received the President of Namibia, Dr Hage Geingob the second day he was sworn in, whom he had fruitful discussions with about the desirability of Lagos State as investors’ destination. Since then, the Governor had met several groups of local and foreign investors including President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, investors from Dubai, United States of America, as well as envoys from several European and Middle East countries. The government has received approximately $43 billion investment propositions in the last one year. To stem the tide of sexual and domestic violence in the state, the Governor convey a meeting with the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) with a charge to intensify sensitization against the dastardly act to give a voice to the victims and also bring perpetrators to justice. The Governor approved the use of the 112 toll free line report cases of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, maltreatment and other sexual assaults. What has worked for Lagos State in the last 17 years of Nigeria’s democratic experience is continuity in government. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was the trail blazer as governor of Lagos State in the third republic laid a good foundation on which his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola built. The unbroken chain of progressive governments in Lagos State made Ambode keyed in to the State Development Plan spanning 2012-2025. The plan is structured under four pillars: (1) Social Development and Security; (2) Infrastructural Development; (3) Economic Development and (4) Sustainable Environment. There is no doubt that the choice of Akinwunmi Ambode, a man of few words as Governor of Lagos State, may not have been misplaced considering his background and history of sound financial management. Lagosians should expect more stellar performance from the Ambode administration in the remaining three years more so, that Lagos has now joined the enviable league of Nigeria’s oil producing states. Akintude, a Public Affairs Analyst wrote from Iyana Ipaja, Lagos

he wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday stressed the need for women to step up to higher callings of leadership in the governance and in the private sector. She gave the charge as the All Progressives Congress,(APC) Organised a one-day Summit on Entrepreneurship and Leadership for South-East Women held at Nondon Hotel, Enugu. The summit, which was convened by the South- East Zonal Women Leader, Rev. Mrs Sally William Chinedu and other women leaders from the zone, had the ob-

jective of providing certain essential tools that would help women to develop their leadership potentials. In a goodwill message delivered at the summit, Mrs. Buhari, who was represented at the occasion by the wife of the Chief of Army staff, Mrs Umra Buratai, said she was honoured to be invited to the first summit on Leadership and Entrepreneurship organized by the APC, South-East Zone. She noted that Women Entrepreneurship had been recognised as an important source of growth, adding that women entrepreneurship could make a particularly strong contribution to the economic well-being of the family and communities.

CAN election: TEKAN/ECWA bloc yet to decide Gado’s fate Musa Pam

T Jos

he TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came out of a fivehour meeting yesterday unable to decide on whether Rev. Jeremiah Gado, who won the election held by the block on March 29, should represent the bloc in the upcoming national CAN Presidential election.

New Telegraph had reported that Gado was declared winner of the TEKAN/ECWA primary election held in March, but his emergence was marred by controversy with the allegation that the current CAN leadership and some loyal members within ECWA and TEKAN had

been induced to prevent a strong northern candidate participating in the poll. The meeting, which held at bloc headquarters according to leaders of the block, was aimed at settling the matter once and for all on whether Rev. Gado who is also the National President of ECWA will represent the block in the election or not despite winning the primary earlier conducted by the bloc. Nonetheless, the meeting was distracted by youths, who said that the meeting was a cover for the block President, Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau to call for another election which they claimed may not favour the already nominated candidate, Rev. Gado.

Revive OoduaTelco in Yoruba’s interest – APC guber candidate Babatope Okeowo Akure

n order to shore up the earnings of the southwest geo-political zone, a governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Niran Sule-Akinsuyi yesterday asked the governors of the zone to revive the Oodua Telecommunications industry. Sule-Akinsuyi, who

was the immediate past commissioner for Special Duties in the state, asked the governors of the zone to put political differences aside and work on the ways to develop the company in the interest of the people. He regretted that over five years after the Federal Government issued telecommunications license to the Yoruba speaking states, the company is yet to fully take off.

LG boss to gives out soft loans to graduates

he chairman of Mikang Local Government of Plateau State Hon. Ezekiel Pabuet has said his administration has concluded arrangement to gives out soft loans to youths who are graduates in his locality for them to be involved in active in farming so as to build themselves.

According to him, the local government through the state govern-

ment had made arrangement for fertilizers to be given out to farmers at subsidized prices to boost agricultural activities in the Local Government Area. The council boss stated this yesterday in Jos during a Plateau Radio programme Good Morning Plateau featuring the 17 local government chairman of the state.

SUNDAY

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Flying Eagles win “Battle of Bujumbura”

Musa grabs Russian League with CSKA p.55

p.55

Manchester United reportedly hires Mourinho

SPORTS

p.55

What you don’t know about Vincent Enyeama

Dapo Sotuminu

Enyeama

incent Enyeama, is well known by the country’s football lovers as the reigning highest Nigerian national team capped player living or dead. And only recently voted as the sixth best goalkeeper in the world beating the legendary Gianluigi Buffon in ranking. But there are things attributed to one of Nigeria’s best goalkeepers in history that are not common knowledge to football lovers. As a player of Nigeria Premier League giants, Enyimba International FC of Aba, which he joined in 2001 from Heartland FC of Owerri, Enyeama was always substituted before penalty shootouts by the team’s chief coach, Kadiri Ikhana. This unique tactics worked perfectly for Enyimba, leading them to win the once elusive CAF Champions League twice, as Enyeama joined players who took the kicks. Enyeama, was voted as the Player of the Year even as a goalkeeper in the Isreali Premier League, first time in the

history o f the count r y ’ s footb a l l league. His choice was also a big surprise as he was not a member of the championship-winning team. This happened in the 2008-2009 season while he was playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League. This was quite unusual, as goalkeepers rarely receive the award, more so when his club Hapoel did not win the league title that season.

As a player of French Ligue club Lille OSC, for the first 11 matches, Enyeama kept a clean sheet for 1,062 minutes in his first Ligue 1 season. He eventually let in a goal on December 8, 2013, against Bordeaux. His 1,062 minutes of clean sheet, was just 114 minutes shot of the 1,176-minute goalkeeping record over 13 games without conceding a goal, held by Huard, who played 357 Ligue 1 matches for RC Lens and he retired at age 34 years. Vincent, was involved in a fatal car crash in 2004 as a passenger in a car in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The car he was in hit two motorcycle riders who died and the driver of the car was in critical condition. Enyeama came out of the accident with several bruises, which was amazing, as the car somersaulted twice while trying to avoid the motorbike. In 2014, Vincent Enyeama was named on the five-man shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year award, alongside great African talents like Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gervinho, and Yaya Touré. Vincent who was then at French club Lille OSC is known as one of the best goalkeepers in the game. This shortlist gave him the unusual shot at the Footballer of the Year award, which is rarely given to goalkeepers. He has played for the Super Eagles for more than a decade, debuting for the Nigerian national team in 2002 and had a meritorious career until his retirement in 2015. He served as the national team captain from 2013 until his retirement forced by the former coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, who was bent on reducing the Eagles to a squad of minnows, ending his international career with 101 caps. He has played in three FIFA World Cup tournaments (2002, 2010, and 2014), and several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including the 2013 edition in which he was captain and helped secure Nigeria’s championship win. He won his 100th cap for Nigeria on 26 March 2015, in a 1-0 loss to Uganda. He retired from international football on October 8, 2015 At the South Africa 2010 World Cup, which was Enyeama’s second FIFA World Cup appearance after debuting at the Korea/Japan 2002 and Nigeria missing out at Germany 2006, Vincent was a stumbling block to Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s efforts to score a goal in a World Cup opener. This feat earned the Nigerian a Man of the Match award in the cracker against the two-time world champion Argentina. Despite Argentina winning the match 1-0, Enyeama made six spectacular saves, four from

Lionel Messi. After the match, Argentinian manager Diego Maradona said Enyeama was the reason Messi was unable to score a goal, giving Nigeria the victory despite the country losing the three points at stake. The goalkeeper abhors tribal sentiments. Often times when he is criticized for not doing well in the national team he always attribute such criticism as words coming from people who are hard on him due to his ethnicity, as he is from the minority Ibibio clan of Akwa Ibom. He once said: “My critics will remain as long I am still with the national team. I am criticized because I am not Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo but I am not worried… Critics make the game sweet so why should I be angry? When they criticize me, they only make me stronger so I give them thanks. I also thank God for giving me strength.” Enyeama is sensitive to the protection of the African people. He exhibited his sensibility before the kick-off of the 2013 African Nations Cup in South Africa and the Nations Cup qualifiers in 2015. In 2013, he advised the Confederation of African Football to cancel that edition of the Nations Cup due to the wide spread Ebola disease, which he said would make the Africa Cup of Nations too risky. After agreeing to play in the competition despite his position, he told all those who cared to listen that: “I really wish it doesn’t happen with all the people that will be moving around. But I’m not CAF. I’m not the one who calls the shots…It’s risky for everyone because you go to Africa and then everyone is hugging you and shaking you, and what can you do? You’re at risk…But if it happens I will play, if we qualify.” In 2015, ahead of a Nations Cup qualifying match, he warned the Super Eagles to take the international match out of the northern Nigeria state of Kaduna to avoid a possible terrorist attack following the scourge of the Boko Haram militants. He was reprimanded by the Nigeria Football Federation and the team’s chief coach, Stephen Keshi. Sometimes he may not be a promise keeper, as he reneged on a promise he made before the 2013 Nations Cup, when he said he would strip naked if the Super Eagles win the title. But when the Nigerian team eventually won the title, Enyeama changed the tune saying: “I never said I would strip but I remember I did say I would take off my jersey but would celebrate with my underpants on, but I was advised by well-meaning people against doing so and I changed my mind!”

Nigeria premier football league update

Sport

SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Kano Pillars’ Shobowale delighted with Al Hilal’s deal

ano Pillars star p l a y e r, Azeez Shobowale, has expressed delight signing a deal to play in the Sudanese Premier League in the colours of one of the top clubs in the African continent, Al Hilal. Shobowale, who just agreed to a two-year deal, rejected offers from two North African teams before pitching his tent

with one of the two top clubs in Sudan. A happy Shobowale said: “I am happy to have signed a deal with Al Hilal because what I saw on ground was satisfactory to me and my representatives. Al Hilal are a very good side because they have a lot of good players and a large following here in Sudan so I’m happy to sign here.”

He added that: “I was warmly welcomed and I hope to do my best for the team to win games and titles for Al Hilal and the fans.” Azeez joins a long list of Nigerians to play in the Sudanese league. This includes the late Endurance Idahor, Kelechi Osunwa, Mohammed Yusuf and Stephen Worgu.

Accumulated cards keep Eduwo, Okpotu out of Rivers Utd’s cracker

obi Stars of Makurdi would not be firing on all cylinders when they host matchday 19 opponents, Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, as two of their top players have been kept in the cooler by accumulated yellow cards garnered from series of infringements in earlier games played in the ongoing season. Lobi Stars reliable players Kingsley Eduwo

NPFL Fixtures May 22, 2016 Plateau United

Kano Pillars

Rangers Int’l

Heartland

Warri Wolves

El-Kanemi

Wikki Tourists

Ikorodu United

Abia Warriors

Sunshine Stars

Akwa United

3SC

Lobi Stars

Rivers United Nasarawa

Enyimba

MFM

Giwa FC

FC IfeanyiUbah

Tornadoes

Dapo Sotuminu

n Friday the League Management Company (LMC) announced that Nigeria Premier Football League club, Giwa FC of Jos, have been expelled from the NPFL for multiple infractions of the ramework and rules of the League, for violation of B13.28 which prescribes expulsion from the league for any club that fails to honour three matches cumulatively within a season with no acceptable reason to the League Management Company (LMC). The LMC in addition to ordering a forfeiture of all funds due Giwa FC from the LMC, it also invoked Rule B13.66 to make pronouncements protecting the players of the club by granting them waiver to terminate their

Giwa

and Anthony Okpotu, will both miss the game that comes up today at the Aper Aku, Stadium, Makurdi. Eduwo’s cautions were recorded on match days four, five, 11, 14 and 18 while Okpotu was ticked off on match days one, six, seven, 11 and 18. The two players have proved to be important members of Godwin Uwua’s Lobi Stars with

Okpotu in top goal-scoring form this season. Okpotu has scored nine league goals this season and his presence is sure to be missed by Lobi on Sunday, while Eduwo has netted four league goals. Lobi Stars currently sit in sixth place on the NPFL standings with 28 points from 18 matches while Rivers United are in second with 31 points from 18 games.

Nobody can expel Giwa FC from Nigerian League, says Chris Giwa contracts with the club for ‘just cause’ or ‘sporting just cause’ and releasing them for contracts with other clubs during the on-going season. The LMC recalled that Giwa appealed the decision but failed to appear before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee for hearing, following which the decisions of the LMC were upheld. But in a swift reaction to the notice of expulsion from the league served Giwa FC by the LMC, the chairman of the club and the factional president of the NFF Ambassador Chris Giwa, has said it loud and clear that, nobody

in Nigeria has the powers to expel his club from the country’s league. “The truth of the matter is that nobody can ban Giwa FC from the Nigeria Premier League. After our match against Rangers in Jos Township Stadium, the LMC who have been saddled with responsibility to run the league transferred the matter to the Amaju-led NFF board which in all senses is illegal. “Giwa FC did not obey the banishment placed on it by an illegal body to avoid being charged for contempt. It is not the first time that Giwa FC was banished, we have been banished twice in the past to Bauchi and Kaduna and we obeyed and played all our home games in the new home grounds and won all the games. We also decided to exploit the loophole in the LMC ruling which said that, if Giwa FC does not agree with it, we could appeal and ofcourse we capitalized on this and appealed. If the LMC has said that, the decision was final, we would not have had any option than to obey. “I am just privileged to be a vessel in the hand of God at this time to lead a cause, we can’t keep doing the wrong things all the time.

For instance if you have gonorrhea and you keep going to a woman with this disease, no matter the treatment you get, you will continue to have gonorrhea. We cannot pretend that everything is alright when it is not. I am not desperate of becoming the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, I love the game and I am contributing and I will continue to contribute immensely to the development of Nigerian football by the grace of God. But I am just opportuned by the grace of God to be where I am today. “The LMC cannot ban Giwa FC, because there is a litigation and the NFF which is at the middle of the litigation was allowed to take a decision which affected Giwa FC. So, it is either the LMC waits for the end of the litigation before any concrete decision can be taken. Again I have written all the 20 clubs in the Premier League about the court judgment which favoured my board. LMC are the licensed body to run the league in Nigeria and there was no reason to transfer decisions to an illegal Amaju Pinnick-led board. On the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, his face off with the Pinnick-led board, Giwa said: “Yes, the decision to

withdraw the case in the court was reached when President Jonathan sent for me, when I got to the president, he said I should allow him to intervene to reach some truce and agreements. At that point, I went back to the court in Jos and told them that the president has decided to intervene and if the intervention did not work we shall return. The records are there and we went back. When the case was withdrawn in accordance with the provision of FIFA, the provisional suspended ban on Nigeria was lifted. But where everything turned sour was on the side of President Goodluck Jonathan who promised after the first meeting that he would get back after the desired intervention. The president never called us again until after he left office, and so as we promised before the case was earlier withdrawn, we went back to court, the records are there in the court. So, my board is in order.” He said he would prefer to surrender everything instead of anybody telling him to take the post of the LMC chairman “which makes me a vice president. I have a mandate that God has given to me, I think the person that came after me should be asked to step down. Amaju got his mandate on Septem-

ber 30, I got my own on August 26, so I came first. People should stop saying I am a troublesome person, those who know me well knows I am not troublesome, I don’t have any problem with Amaju, I am only protecting my mandate. The moment we don’t respect our Statutes, constitution and our courts there won’t be peace. “Let us just deceiving ourselves, FIFA is an institution that respects people. FIFA cannot tell us what to do, we should tell them what we want as a people and they will oblige us as Nigerians. The moment you begin to disobey the law of your land it is dangerous. “This struggle is not all about me, I have a board. It is not about somebody surrendering a mandate, it is about what the law says. I am sure FIFA will not say we should go and disobey the laws of our land, they will not say that. We must learn to do the right thing. “This FIFA ban scare started since the era of Ibrahim Galadima, it continued to Sani Lulu, Aminu Maigari and now. If anything happens to Nigeria, we can sent a delegation to FIFA and they will listen to us. I put my money in the game and if there is anybody that should be protected it should be me.”

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016

Sport

Musa grabs Russian League with CSKA

Agor Chukwudi scored F/Eagles’ goal against Burundi

Flying Eagles win “Battle of Bujumbura” Dapo Sotuminu

he Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday made a winning start to the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying series, beating hosts Burundi 1-0 in Bujumbura. The first half ended scoreless, but this scoreline changed when the Coach Emmanuel Amuneketutored Flying Eagles grabbed the winning goal in the 64th minute of play through ex-Golden Eaglets star, Agor Chukwudi, who broke the deadlock of the contest at the Prince Louis Rwa-

gasore Stadium. Burundi had thrown the gates opened for U-20 AFCON qualifier so as to get massive support, as they aimed to upset the favourites Nigerian team in front of their home fans. The host team, the Young Swallows, had also hoped that the high altitude would work against a team who last year won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in style. Despite its high altitude, which places additional demands on physical exercises like playing football, Bujumbura has an average weather temperature of about 29 degrees, which is warm.

Both teams did not kick a ball to reach the second round of the U20 AFCON qualifiers after Burundi walked over DR Congo and defending champions Nigeria drew bye. Nigeria are the defending champions of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after beating Senegal in the 2015 final and had won the title for a record seven times. The second leg will be played in the southern coastal town of Calabar next month with the overall winners squaring up with Sudan for a place in the tournament proper in Zambia next year.

Manchester United reportedly hires Mourinho

here is the possibility that Jose Mourinho will take over as the manager of Manchester United after Saturday’s FA Cup final. After months of speculation about where he would end up we now know where Jose Mourinho will manage next season. According to reports, Manchester United will name Mourinho as the club’s manager after months of back-and-forth speculation. According to reports, the former Real Madrid manager

will sign a three-year deal to replace Louis Van Gaal. This is a pretty huge deal. Literally as Mourinho can earn as much as €15 million per season with Manchester United and he’s expected to oversee a roster transformation that could see the club in the mix for some of the high-priced transfers over the course of the summer. It’s unsure what the hiring of Mourinho would mean for midfielder Juan Mata’s future with the club.

Usain Bolt wins Ostrava 100m title

sain Bolt ran hard to win a 100metres in a “slow” 9.98 seconds in Ostrava, Czech Republic, but didn’t grimace as he did last Saturday in his first race since August. 29. “My first 40 meters, maybe 50 meters, was kind of sluggish,” Bolt, who shook his head left to

Bolt

right afterward, told media on the track. “That’s always needed to get up to speed quickly, so I thought that’s why I run so slow.” The six-time Olympic champion and world-record holder at 9.58 seconds, faced a 100m field that included zero other men who have broken 10 seconds for the first time since 2009. Bolt has now run 10.05 and 9.98 seconds in his first two races this season, seeing a German doctor to treat a minor hamstring injury in between. Bolt also reportedly dealt with an ankle injury in winter training. He said before Friday’s race that he would be happy with a 9.8. Bolt is next scheduled to race the Olympic silver medalist Blake and former world-record holder Asafa Powell in a 100m in Kingston, Jamaica, on June 11, according to meet organizers.

Mourinho

Barca sign ‘record’ €155m Nike deal

arcelona have officially extended their sponsorship agreement with Nike and Mundo Deportivo claims it is the most lucrative in football history. Barca announced the news on their official website in the early hours of Friday morning, and the newspaper reports a 10-year deal has been struck, which could earn the club as much as €155m each season. “Through this new agreement with Nike we are extending a strategic alliance for the club, while also reinforcing our global position, hand in hand with the leading global sports brand,” President Josep Maria Bartomeu told the club’s official website. “We are excited by this new agreement and are confident that we’ll be able to celebrate continued sporting successes together.”

uper Eagles top striker, Ahmed Musa, on Saturday won the 2015/16 Russia Premier League title with CSKA Moscow. CSKA beat Rubin Kazan 1-0 on the final day of the season to claim their 13th league title. Alan Dzagoev scored the decisive goal on 19 minutes in the tense game decided at Kazan Arena. Musa who took part in the contest was eventually substituted in the third minute of second half stoppage time with Alexei Berezutski taking his place. The Nigerian star player has

enjoyed a hugely-successful season with CSKA as he netted 13 times in the league and 18 goals in all competitions for the club. He also helped them reach the Russian Cup final where they eventually suffered defeat to Zenit St Petersburg as well as the group stages of the Uefa Champions League. He has now won three league titles with CSKA since he joined the Army Club from former Eredivisie outfit, VVV-Venlo. CSKA Moscow also have another Nigerian, Samuel Aaron Olanare, in the team.

Man Utd win first FA Cup since 2004

esse Lingard struck a stunning extra-time winner as 10-man Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the FA Cup final since they last did in 2004. Palace were on course for a shock victory after local hero and substitute Jason Puncheon fired them ahead with just 12 minutes remaining but Wayne Rooney set up an immediate Juan Mata equaliser. United lost defender Chris Smalling in extra time after he hauled back Yannick Bolasie to incur a second booking but United snatched victory with a fine volley from substitute Lingard after 110 minutes. Defeat was harsh on valiant Palace, who were frustrated by a series of decisions by referee Mark Clattenburg in the first half and fought to the end.

A touchline dance from Alan Pardew after Puncheon struck suggested they sensed history and revenge for defeat in the 1990 final, but their jubilation was shortlived. United could argue, after hitting the post twice and bossing large spells, they deserved victory and a first trophy since the retirement of Alex Ferguson. But no matter how it came, it may do little to end continuing speculation over the future of their manager Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman again woke on the morning of the match to fresh reports linking former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with his job and such stories may only intensify. They match kicked off late following a jazzed-up opening ceremony that did not run to time - or plan, with national anthem singer Karen Harding missing her cue.

Solution to Cross Word Puzzle

SPORT

What you don't know about Vincent Enyeama }53

FAITH

Sanctity of Truth

SUNDAY

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

N150

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016

Iluyomade: Our journey of exceeding greatness }31

Who Will Change The Change?

ne Indian, Satya Sai Baba, was an unlikely messiah after Jesus Christ. But Lyal Watson, in chapter 19 of his book, “The Romeo Error”, dealing with “Miracles and Realities,” recounts the great works of Sai Baba: Tall and slim with a bushy black afro hair style. Moved slowly through the crowds that usually gathered around his Ashram, near Bangalore, always dressed in a long red silk, dispensing health and wealth indiscriminately. He turned rock into sweets, changed flowers into jewels, produced showers of sacred ash from the air in quantities sufficient to fill huge drums, and he healed by the touch and a distance. Close observers say no sleight of hand or deception was involved in his healings. Hundreds of thousands of Indians who had seen Sai Baba believed that he was the earthly incarnation of a deity. During PMB's campaign, the phrase “Sai Baba” was prominent, only second to “change.” Was it perhaps borrowed from this Indian miracle worker? Did Nigerians not expect PMB to be one? Didn’t I humbly warn PMB in my earlier writes up in Sunday Telegraph last year that he was not just expected to be a mere miracle worker, but that Nigerians expected him to don the twin togas of both the miracle worker in Pastor Chris Oyakhilomen and the magician in Professor Peller, simultaneously? To thousands of ordinary Nigerians, PMB was the Sai Baba of our time and clime, sent from heaven, to redeem his people and wipe away their tears. He was perceived to be the only present day Nigerian leader concerned with the plight of poor Nigerians, which constituted the vast majority of his supporters. Not a few Nigerians regarded him as the new “Lamb of God” that taketh away all the sins and travails of Nigerians. I am afraid, that perception about the President is fast dwindling. And there are serious consequences attached to that ugly perception. This piece is not intended to x-ray the myriads of undoubted challenges faced by this administration, for this is common knowledge to all and sundry. But poor Nigerians have known no joy or peace since this PMB administration came into office. It has been grinding and whining, crying and gnashing of teeth; buckets of tears in the eyes of the already marginalized and repressed Nigerians, living in palpable desperation and abject penury. Even the middle class is not left in this state of anomie; it has literally been wiped out. PMB himself acknowledged this state of confusion when a fortnight ago, in the course of passing the 2016 budget, retorted, ”…I know your pains , I see your tears, I hear your cries.…” The intent of this piece, is to foreshadow the grave consequences that accompany such state of desperation of a total helplessness and hopelessness, on the part of ordinary Nigerians. The story of Nero (AD37-68), 5th emperor of Rome and the last of the Julio-Claudian line, is quite instructive and helpful under the present context: In July 64, two-thirds of Rome burned while Nero was at Antium. In ancient times, he was charged with being the incendiary, but most modern scholars doubt the truth of that accusation. According to some accounts (now considered spurious), he laid the blame on the Christians—few at that time—and persecuted them. Thus, the saying, “It isn't evil that is ruining the earth, but mediocrity. The crime is not that Nero

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) played while Rome burned, but that he played badly.” Simply put, Nero allowed Rome destroyed because of mediocrity and lack of proper attention. Before the French revolution, King Louis XVI was their leader, a good but weak king. Economic recession in the 1770s during Louis XVI’s reign, may have frustrated some bourgeois in their rise to power and wealth, and rising bread prices just before the Revolution gravely increased discontent among workers and peasants. Yet, it is now commonly believed that the revolutionary process started with a crisis in the French state. The rest is now history. Louis, was however, unlike his predecessor, Louis XIV (1685-1715), who once imperiously declared, “L’etat cest moi”, (I am the state). His undoubted absolutism as a monarch from the house of Bourbon made him clash with papacy and the Huguenots, with ricocheting repercussions. As Irish writer and statesman, Edmund Burke, counseled: “I am not one of those who think that as a monarch from the people are never in the wrong. They have been so, frequently and outrageously, both in other countries and in this. But I do say, that in all disputes between them and their rulers, the presumption is at least upon a par in favour of the people. The voice of the people is the voice of God.” If the leadership of PMB administration cannot be kept in honour, it is no longer leadership; it becomes autocracy or dictatorship. Autocracy or dictatorship the world over, festers discontent and anarchy. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945), once echoed this notion, when he theorized: “Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.” To a leader, no circumstance, however, trifling, is too minute. Each counts. The PMB administration is fast unwittingly becoming an enemy of the people. It is fast becoming “they” (those in power) versus “us” (those in the vast majority who are not in government). Every critic of the government (no matter how objective and genuine the criticism is), is termed an enemy of the PMB government. Such a critic is immediately stigmatized and tarred with the paint brush of being part and parcel of odious corruption. Indeed, the pet phrase of government and its agencies for this is that “corruption is fighting back”. PMB and his APC members (90% of who, for the records, are actually the reverse side of the PDP coin), cannot be the only clean Nigerians. A president reflects his country. So, PMB cannot hope to cut the image of an incorruptibly varnished and lacquered Nigerian in the eyes of the international community, whilst labeling his country men and

women that he leads, as corrupt and villainous. It will be tantamount to the paradox of the “chichidodo” bird in Ayi Kwei Armah’s epic novel, ”The beautiful ones are not yet born.” The bird hates human excreta with all its soul, but feeds on maggots that wriggle out of decaying faeces. It is akin to hating beans, but relishing on its by products, akara and moin-moin. The assessment of British Prime Minister, David Cameron of Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt”, is only but a reflection of the actual mindset of the western world. It was not a Freudian slip. Good Leaders must have that sense of trusteeship, that they are only temporarily in charge of the destinies of their people and that their duty is to discharge that trust. Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution says that security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. The centrifugal signs are too ominous. The judiciary now feels disparaged by PMB. Lawyers, especially SANS, are being humiliated wantonly and brazenly; the National Assembly is demeaned; business men are frustrated out of their businesses. The international community with the “fantastically corrupt nation” appellation, has wittingly expressed utmost derision with

the vindictive modus operandi employed by this administration in its anti corruption fight. Now, the mother of all: the generality of poor Nigerians are livid and morbid, gathering steam for the worse, brimming with hatred and indignation, after the just introduced increase in PMS. Yes, the die is cast. The chicken has come home to roost If PMB is merely content in becoming a narcissistic prima donna, working in Robinson Cousoe’s Treasure Island, it will lead this administration into self-implosion. Nigerians do not want their nation to experience a ruin, similar to Rome, under Nero as a consequence of his indolence; nor do our people want our children’s blood reddened on our streets, as was the case during the French revolution under King Louis XVI. Nigerians want “something” to change for the better. They urgently desire change to change. During President Buhari’s inauguration speech, he had impressed many when he quoted the great William Shakespeare: “There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.” He was greatly applauded. I was one of them. Sadly, under the watch of PMB, Nigerians are now “bound in shallows and in miseries”, and in “such full sea are we now afloat”. Unless something drastic is done and done very quickly too, we are about to “lose our (common) ventures” as a nation. Like Antoine de Lèvre said,: 'If you are not willing to be a comformist, if you have a soul to save, renounce the empire.” The question on the lips of Nigerians is, who will save the saved? Who will change the change? • 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

Something new, (7). Unit of Japanese currency, (3). Female sheep, (3). Thick greasy liquid, (3). Rocky peak, (3). Not in use, (4). To other side of, (4). Electromagnetic, abbr. (2). Through, (2). Area in Lagos Mainland, (4). Star that flares and fades, (4). Dead on arrival, abbr. (3). Employ for a purpose, (3). World's most powerful country, (3). Transgression of God's laws, (3). Former Enugu State Governor, (7).

Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 13 14 15 19 20 21

Ex Anambra state Governor, (7). Missiles fired, (6). Musical instrument, (4). Ex Zamfara State Governor, (6). Shout loudly, (4). Edible kernel, (3). Ex Benue state MILAD, (7). Largest city in Nigeria, (6). Gov. Nasir el-Rufai state, (6). Yoruba god of iron, (4). 'One' in Hausa language, (4). Fossil fuel, (3). Turn to page 55 for solution

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488), Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: JULIET BUMAH.