Sunday october 16, 2016

40 GUNMEN INVADE Police Station, KILL inspector, LOOT ARMOURY }6

We’ll give Aisha Buhari membership card -PDP }3

SUNDAY Sunday, OCTOBER 16, 2016 Vol. 3 No. 970

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

CLAMPDOWN ON JUDICIARY

Corrupt judges must be jailed -MUoka

N150

Queeneth Agbor

}3,22,23

}41 lHow Kogi governorship tussle triggered investigation lI’ve been vindicated -Wada lBVN Why Calabar aided probe lDSS puts total bribery sum at N1.6 girls are most billion lJudiciary has failed us –Gbagi sought after

Justice Ademola: DSS arrested me }14 because of Tinubu, Dasuki, Malami, Kanu

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 16.10.16 BODY & SOUL

Silent pillars We unveil the pretty wives of governors of the North West who work behind the scene, playing pivotal roles of being both wives to the governors and mothers of their states

}17

POLITICS

Judiciary on trial Allegations of corruption in the Nigerian judiciary have put judges who wield the power of life and death on trial

}21

BUSINESS

Diversification The present economic realities have imposed on the telecoms sector, the mandate to provide some level of fortification for the economic diversification opportunities

}43

FAITH

Humility

SPORT

My success story

Serving God without humility is tantamount to missing the point, says Bishop Adebola Ademowo

}50 The fastest man in Asia, Femi Ogunode, said if he had not been frustrated by Nigerian coaches, he wouldn't have been successful today in athletics

}55

Magazine

Cremation Rising cost of burial rites, especially in the wake of economic recession in the country, is pushing some families to think cremation

}8&9

SUNDAY

Editorial

W

Peter Obi’s new deal

hile economists and critics exchange strictures over Nigeria’s disabled economy, a workable way out of the mess or perhaps a layman’s understanding of the real problem with our recession was painted by the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi. Obi is not a layman in the field of administration by any means. A man who was Chairman of Fidelity Bank and governor for eight years and is today equipped with post graduate certificates from Havard and Cambridge should understand more than elementary economics.

Since the Federal Government came out boldly to announce that the economy was battling with harsh weather, there have been contributions from different quarters on how to manage the situation. The most popular word in all this has become diversification. Compatriots have been urged to arise and take to other revenue generating ventures beyond oil.

In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha bandied the weird step of limiting the number of work- free days to five from the usual two, to enable civil servants spend more time in their farms. This, the governor believes, will bring back the palm economy boom of the Michael Okpara years.

The Federal Government, in the bid to save costs banned the printing and distribution of souvenirs during conferences and seminars. Some state governments have also raised their revenue base by introducing multiple taxation which has left many citizens with holes in their products.

Obi has now changed the mode of operation. Last Saturday in Lagos, he opened the eyes of Nigerians to the waste that goes on in public service. In other words, the former governor believes that while it is not criminal to borrow, it is stupid to borrow to service consumption.

In his words: “The only way out of recession is to spend for growth. You can only spend for growth either from savings or borrowing. The question is what are you borrowing for? Are you borrowing for production or for consumption?

When you borrow for consumption you are heading for disaster.”

He is right on course. Some of the governors who rushed cap in hand to Abuja to borrow from the Federal Government ended up using whatever they got to do nothing but pay salaries and service their numerous money guzzling desires. Some of the funds could also have been used to buy exotic vehicles to maintain the Gov-

ernment House fleet which looks more like a car assembly plant.

Obi gave an insight into what it really costs to use these vehicles. He said: “When I became governor in 2006, they said I needed bullet-proof vehicles for security reasons. When I discovered that the state had to part with N150 million to buy two of such vehicles, I stopped the purchase.

At that time, High Court Judges and Permanent Secretaries did not have official vehicles. I used the N150 million to buy almost 50 Peugeot 406 cars at three million naira each, from Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria [PAN], gave out 17 to the judges, 18 to the Permanent Secretaries and left the rest for use by the Government House.

All through my tenure, I did not use bullet–proof vehicles and nobody kidnapped me, no one killed me.”

This is simple economics. Instead of going outside the states to borrow money to pay workers, our governors must look inwards to cut costs. There are so many government buildings that should be sold to the lurking international chain of hotels. The Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi is far bigger than some of the best five-star hotels in the world. For so many years, that national pride has become the home of reptiles and criminals.

State governments should take another look at their so called lodges outside .Some have in Lagos and in Abuja. As Obi rightly pointed out, it does not make economic sense. The money used in maintaining these buildings will be enough to pay salaries. Selling them off or converting them to commercial use will yield more money.

The truth will hurt the governors but they must hear it. There is need to cut costs. It is unthinkable that leaders who cannot pay their workers are busy flying first class. Some of these governors also embark on trips outside the country accompanied by as many as 200 officials.

Some of the officials may include thugs who were busy snatching ballot boxes during elections.

Following the Great Depression of 1929 and beyond, America had to brace up to the challenges. As from the early 1930s, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt initiated programmes aimed at facing the challenge. His New Deal offered the Three Rs: Relief ,Recovery and Reform.

Our leaders should also put on their thinking caps. Peter Obi has offered a New Deal. The money they want to borrow from Europe and America could be saved from within. Government must cut costs.

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

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

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

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

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

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

3

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

NEWS

Onwuka Nzeshi and Tunde Oyesina

T

he recent clamp down on some judges of the High Court and justices of the Supreme Court over allegations of corruption has been linked to the humongous amounts of money allegedly couriered to some of the judges by some senior lawyers involved in the legal battle to confirm Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, upheld the election of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as governor of Kogi State as it dismissed all five appeals lodged against his return at the apex court.

The seven-man Supreme Court panel was led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, one of the two Justices of the Supreme Court arrested in the midnight raid coordinated by operatives of the Department of State Service ( DSS) across several cities in the country.

Others arrested in the raid included Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; and Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court).

The arrest of these big wigs in the temple of justice has been hailed by the former Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, who had

Judiciary: How Kogi governorship tussle triggered clampdown earlier alleged that money played a major role in deciding the outcome the 2015 Governorship Election Petition in the state. Wada said that last week’s arrest of the seven by DSS operatives was a vindication of his earlier position that his successor in office procured his electoral victory.

In a statement signed by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, on the unprecedented arrest of the judges of the High Court through the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, the former governor declared that the episode was a vindication of his earlier call on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate a probe into the conduct of affairs in the Judiciary.

“I have observed with keen interest the raid by men of the Department of State Services and the arrest of judges alleged to have compromised their oath of office and what attracted my attention more, though not surprising, is the fact that the Justices that we had accused of perverting the course of justice in the infamous case of inheritance of a dead candidate’s votes, were among those who will soon be having their day in court for alleged corruption,” Wada said.

Governor Yahaya Bello became the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC)

L-R: National Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Labaran Maku; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Rivers PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, inspecting ongoing work at the Ogbunabali/Nkpogu Land Reclamation project...on Saturday

in the Kogi governorship poll following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, in an election that was declared inconclusive at the first ballot. Bello was later declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) at the conclusion of the polls.

However, he had to contend with a fierce post - election battle because the process of his emergence as candidate was unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.

We’ll give Aisha Buhari membership card -PDP

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

F

ormer Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, has expressed readiness to give membership card to the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, following castigation she received over her recent interview on the British Broadcasting Service.

Jalo also said the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari at a press conference in Germany has put him in the mold of America’s Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

Also, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said those calling for the arrest of President Buhari’s wife, for speaking her mind, belong to the Stone Age. The two PDP chieftains spoke in an interview yesterday in reaction to Aisha Buhari’s interview with BBC Hausa Service on Fri-

day. Jalo said the statement by the President that his wife belongs only to his kitchen and bedroom is costly, which can work against him if he decides to re-contest in 2019.

“Buhari is becoming like a Trump of America whose past time is to scandalise women. That statement is very costly. We are advocating that (Mrs. Hilary) Clinton should be elected to be the first woman to rule America and you are saying that you are turning your wife to be a house maid who has the right (only) to be in your kitchen and in your room.

“That is a costly statement, which will affect his electioneering campaign in 2019 if he decides to contest.

The implication is that he doesn’t like women. He is saying that women should not have right to be politicians,” Jalo stated.

He said Mrs. Buhari has assumed the role of the opposition, adding that if the President said he doesn’t know her party, PDP is

ready to give her a membership card.

“As far as I am concerned, she has done the work of an opposition, and if she decides to join us, she will have a good reception,” he added Jalo warned that should Buhari reject her advice, the consequence could be colossal, which might lead to his popularity being diminished as the nation is approaching the 2019 general elections.

According to him, Islam recognises that three persons who could advice a leader are his parents, his wife and the children, noting that Mrs. Buhari’s interview was in line with Islamic injunction.

“What will affect the integrity of the President will affect her. She is taking cognisance of those that have suffered. People are even abusing her. Anybody that abused her has abused the President, because even if she is a divorcee, she has issues with Mohammed Buhari: she is Buhari and Buhari is she.

He was dragged to court

by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke of the same APC who claimed that Bello was not the rightful candidate but himself who stood in the earlier election with Audu and won majority of the votes cast before his principal died.

On the other hand, Bello’s victory was also challenged by the former governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who wanted to be declared governor based on the fact that he scored the second highest number of votes at the initial election before the death of Abubakar Audu, the then candidate of the APC. While the legal tussle lasted, some civil society groups had alerted the anti-corruption agencies of alleged diversion of funds from the accounts of the Kogi State Government through frivolous contracts for the procurement of security vehicles and renovation of government buildings.

Sunday Telegraph gathered that from that point, security agencies had placed Bello’s legal team as well as the judges under watch to ascertain if the claims of the civil society groups had any modicum of truth.

A security source told one of our correspondents that there had always been suspicion that some judges who superintended over electoral cases in Nigeria were often offered huge sums of money to deliver predetermined judgements.

“It is an open secret that many of these high profile judgements on elections are procured. They say the law is an ass, which means it can go either way depending on

the highest bidder. There has always been bribery and corruption in the judiciary but you know that these days of change, you cannot just do certain things and get away with it,” he said.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that as soon as preliminary investigations showed that there was an unusual movement of funds, the anti-corruption agencies alerted the Presidency, who in turn, ordered that more investigations be conducted and culprits brought to book.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that before the legal battle got to the Appeal and Supreme Courts, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State had been accused of freighting as much as N1.5billion bribe to the judges of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal to secure a favorable judgement. The Kogi Patriotic Front (KPF), which made the allegation claimed that each of the three justices got N500 million to influence verdict, an allegation the state government has denied.

Sunday Telegraph investigations revealed that the total sum recovered from the judges arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) in last weekend’s raids has been put at N1.669, 941,182.10.

Out of the said sum, which is in different currencies, $2million (N960million) was said to be stashed in one of the judge’s house. Also, a judge of the Federal High Court was also said to have been in the possession of about N350 million.

Further breakdown of monies recovered from the judges: Naira– N93,558,000.00; Dollars – $530,087; Pounds – £25,970; Euro – €5,680.

The amount is said to be recovered only from three of the judges.

Meanwhile, a top source in the service told Sunday Telegraph that it has frozen the account of some of the judges.

“Some of the judges accounts have been frozen through an order of the court. Though this does not affect all of them. It is only those that we found huge lodgements that are questionable in their accounts and in addition to that, we also observed the inflow of their salaries over a long period without them making any withdrawal at all.

“The implication is that they don’t live on their salaries at all. Those accounts have been frozen but as I said, not all of the judges are affected,” the source stated.

The service had said that it embarked on the raids and arrest based on allegations of corruptions and other acts of professional misconduct by a few of the suspected Judges. It also noted that its action is in line with its core mandate.

“We have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the judges as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis of amounts of money paid.

“The judges involved were invited, upon which due diligence was exhibited and their premises searched. The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these Judges,” the secret service stated.

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SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, hosted former Minister of Finance, Chief Kalu Idika Kalu, who celebrated his 77th birthday to a dinner party recently. Here are some of the faces at the event. PHOTOS: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Former Minister of Finance, Chief Kalu Idika Kalu, with former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu

L-R: Chief Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Charles Iyare

Chief Kalu Idika Kalu with with Ambassador Ozo Nwobu

L-R: Ambassador Martine Gereng, Dr. Grace Akpan and Dr. Anne Okigbo

Chief Kalu Idika Kalu with Dr. Grace Akpan

Chief Kalu Idika Kalu with Barrister Laura Ajoiyi

Chief Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and other guests at the party

L-R: Dr. Anne Okigbo, Dr. Grace Akpan and Barrister Laura Ajoiyi

5

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

NEWS

Biyi Adegoroye and Chijioke Iremeka

A

gainst the backdrop of reports that about $15billion is required to reflate the economy from recession, Kaduna-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmad Abubakar Gumi and Political Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, have advised the Federal Government to adopt plea-bargaining and utilise looted funds.

In separate interviews, they called on the government to adopt the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo option of plea-bargaining he adopted in the recovery of over N20billion from the likes of former InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun and Mrs. Cecilia Ibru in exchange for minimal sentences.

The Federal Government

Recession: Adopt plea bargaining option -Gumi, Utomi tell Buhari has said billions of dollar stolen from the nation was laundered abroad, especially in property business. Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said that the Federal Government has no exact figure of Nigeria’s looted funds abroad.

Malami who made this known at a Media Roundtable on Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Abuja, said Nigeria would continue to liaise with other countries on the repatriation of looted funds, but the exact figures might be

…Okonjo-Iweala can’t offer quick fix, say CSOs Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

C

oalition of Civil Society Groups, (CCSGs), has come in defence of the Economic Team of the present administration, stating that not even the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala could have pulled Nigeria fast out of recession.

The CCSG, which defended the present economic team led by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also stated that the recession would have been too difficult for the best economists in the world to fix quickly.

The Group, in a statement from its President, Etuk Bassey Williams, also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his “dogged approach in tackling” the hydra-headed Boko Haram terrorists and ‘solving’ the two major challenges of insecurity and corruption that continues to confront the nation.

Also, the group expressed satisfaction over the successful implementation of ‘laudable’ monetary policies such as the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Regulated Forex Regime and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) among others, by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); that are aimed at rebooting the economy.

These policies, CCSG observed, “have no doubt brought discipline and sanity to the system.”

Reacting to the call that the present economic team should be reworked, it stated that it is rather an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians “for those responsible for the present state of our economy have suddenly turned advocates of rapid economic growth

and development through the use of media propaganda and campaign of calumny against your government in a bid to discredit the good work of your economic team.”

It alleged that the nation’s economy had already been set on an ‘auto self-destruct’ before the emergence of Buhari as President of the country.

The Group said: “The current economic recession, which did not come as a surprise to many, has incidentally become the focal point of myopic criticisms by mischief makers with the clandestine motive of further pulling down an already fragile economy through unhealthy narrative to would be investors both locally and internationally.”

Also, Williams said: “Not even the best of renowned economists from reputable ivory towers such as Harvard and Cambridge schools would have been able to halt the imminent recession or develop a quick fix solution when the economy eventually went into a full recession.”

According to him, the best anybody would have been able to achieve under the circumstances the nation found herself would be to devise means of mitigating the harsh impact on Nigerians, which the group acknowledged that the economic team was already doing in the “best approach.”

The group said the successful efforts by the Buhariled administration so far at ensuring that no part of the entire North-eastern part of the country was ceded to the terrorist organisation while fighting the monster of corruption head-on was exceedingly great and should be commended by all.

difficult to ascertain.

The minister said this was because of the nexus of complexity and dynamics of legislations, culture and policies of various countries regarding the repatriation of the funds.

He said: “It is impossible to give a clear figure against the background of complexity, differences of rules, approach and processes, at international communities.”

Gumi said Buhari should adopt the carrot and stick approach used in the fight against terror also in the anti-graft war.

“The situation that we have in Nigeria with regard to Boko Haram is similar to what we have in the war against corruption. In trying to fight corruption, you end up breaking Nigeria.

This is the situation.

“Yes, they (the corrupt people) should be forgiven and forgotten! If the government is bent on jailing these high profile thieves as you call them, the damage that it will cost the administration will be very high. Let me again use the rat analogy. If you want to kill the rat that has entered

your sitting room, you will end up breaking your valuables. Rather, you should aim at making the room uninhabitable so that it will go out by itself.

“Because the looting of the last administration was widespread; it was not confined to just certain people.

It involved Muslim clerics, Christian clergymen, politicians, the military and just about every facet of our society. In such a situation, you should just open a new page and continue from there. If you don’t do that, the war against corruption will consume you.

The President should meet with these alleged looters and I bet you, most of them will repatriate most of the money under cover. The President should be political about this. But once he wants to fight them, they have resources to hire the best lawyers and fight back,” Gumi said.

But Utomi specifically said it doesn’t matter where the money is coming from, whether it’s stolen money or grants or loans, those are the best ways of putting money into circulation.

“If we say there is no

money in the country, the stolen fund is an additional revenue accruing to the country. It doesn’t matter where the money comes from, whether foreign grants, loans and social impact loans. They are revenues but big the question remains, what are the best ways of putting them into circulation?” he said.

In trying to reinvest the money in the economy, he noted that some ways are more effective than others, warning that the government can give some contracts to some of their big cronies and instead of executing the contracts, as they were doing before, they will put it in their pockets.

He noted that the typical way to raise money is through investment and loans. “In trying to stimulate circular flow of income in economy, you will be looking at money flowing between, government, corporate, households, and external sector. Households are significantly without cash. So, consumption is in crisis,” he said.

According to Utomi, what the country needs now is to stimulate consumption so

that when the households spend money, corporate organisations will get money; when corporate orgainsations produce more and households buy, government will get more taxes and the economy is growing.

He harped on the need for the foreign loan, investment and foreign grants, which he called, major sources that make up the circular flow of income within economy, saying that the government needs to facilitate the means of money getting to the households so that they will consume and corporates will have more money to create jobs and workers will pay taxes.

“However, I shouldn’t be talking about everything, let other people talk about that. Let me just focus on what you do and not what you do with recovered loots. Well, I can have an opinion but I don’t think it’s good that I express my opinion on everything. Let there be focus on direction.

If we then say that there is money by spending back the stolen money out of the country, those are also revenue,” he said.

A cross-section of female students at the international Day of the Girl child, organised by the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in Lagos…at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Militants attack NNPC oil pipeline in Delta

V

andals attacked a crude pipeline belonging to Nigeria’s state oil firm NNPC in the restive Niger Delta, a military spokesman said on Friday.

“It was sabotage by vandals,” military spokesman Thomas Otuji said, when asked about a claim by a militant group called Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate of an attack of the NNPC pipeline near Iwhremaro on Thursday night.

The group, which has

claimed previous attacks, said in a statement it had carried out the attack at about 9pm on Thursday and warned “Now you shall know what uprooting of your cherished assets means,” it said to the government and major oil companies that work in joint ventures with NNPC. More to come in the coming days,” the group said.

There was no immediate information on the impact

on Nigeria’s oil production.

The attacks have reduced output by 700,000 barrels per day, around a third of its production, since the start of the year, reports Reuters.

Militants say they want a greater share of Nigeria’s oil wealth to go to the impoverished Delta region.

Crude sales make up about 70 percent of national income and the vast majority of that oil comes from the southern swampland.

Nigeria, an OPEC member, was Africa’s top oil producer until the recent spate of attacks pushed it behind Angola.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the government is trying to negotiate a lasting solution with the militants but there has been no visible progress. The militant scene is splintered into small groups, made up of mostly of unemployed men, which even their leaders struggle to control.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Chibok girls: Release of Boko Haram commanders worries military

T

here are strong indications that troops and security personnel involved in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign against Boko Haram are unhappy overwith Federal Government over with the release of some top Boko Haram commanders in order to secure the freedom of the 21 Chibok School girls on Thursday morning.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, security personnel expressed

their delight at the release of the girls, but unhappy over reports that it was only achieved by exchanging Boko Haram militants.

They expressed their reservations that the move could impact negatively on the campaign to end terrorism in Nigeria.

Investigations, disclosed that older military figures only knew of the release of the girls when the news broke on Thursday.

However, a top government official stressed that

the release of the Chibok girls were meant to have been kept private for their safety and the negotiation was the responsibility of the political leadership.

“You must understand that it is not all information that we release to people. The lives of those girls were at stake. Negotiations securely rest on the shoulders of political leaders, but that does not mean that military operations will not continue. “We must protect the civilian populace from

attacks and build confidence in the citizenry.

“It was a political decision; we are under the political leadership. We derive our mandate from the constitution as provided for by democratic governance.

“The military action must continue and it is going on as planned. We are working round the clock, in concert with other security agencies, to ensure that the remaining girls are also rescued,” the source said.

L-R: Former First Lady, Justice Fati Abubakar; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, during their visit to the governor in his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office...at the weekend

Police Inspector killed as gunmen invade station, loot armoury Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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unmen numbering about 40 Friday night invaded IdoEkiti Divisional Police Station in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a police inspector on duty.

The bandits, some of whom were said to have scaled the station’s perimeter fence, reportedly made straight for the station’s armoury, which they successfully emptied.

According to a detective attached to the station, who spoke in confidence, they also blew off the roof top of the station.

According to him, the hoodlums invaded the station around 7.20pm, ransacked all the rooms in the station and vandalised the doors in the process.

The source added the robbers drove in recklessly through the gate while some had scaled the fence and headed into the main building where the armoury was located.

On gaining entry into the

station, the source said the heavily armed bandits shot the police inspector, killing him instantly.

“They drove in recklessly and took over the entire police station. Some even scaled the fence and took strategic positions. They shot into the air sporadically and destroyed virtually every room.

“Our suspicion was that they came to loot the armoury because that was why they first attacked after demobilising our men.

In fact, they emptied the

entire place,” he said.

When asked whether they came to free a high profile detainee or robbery suspected, the officer noted: “That is not true because nobody was detained in the cell as at the time they incident took place.”

Efforts to reach the Police Spokesperson in the state, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, were unsuccessful, as all his phones were switched off.

But a police source confirmed the PPRO had gone to the station.

Reacting to the develop-

ment, Governor Ayodele Fayose, described it as sad and unfortunate, saying it was disheartening that such an attack happened in the state. He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Etop John James, had briefed him, saying measures were already being put in place to forestall a future occurrence.

He lamented that the state had a dearth of policemen, and noted that this might not be unconnected with the fact that the state’s economy was small.

PDP wants Dariye replaced over defection to APC Musa Pam Jos

T

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Central Senatorial District of Plateau State where Senator Joshua Dariye represents in the National Assembly has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to imme-

diately issue a certificate of return to Nde Alexander Molwus who came second during the PDP primaries that produced Senator Dariye. Chairman of PDP in the North Central Zone of the state, Hon. Benedict Shignuhul, who led a delegation of party officials and stakeholders from five local governments of Mangu, Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam

and Bokkos at a press briefing at the party’s secretariat in Jos passed a vote of no confidence on Senator Dariye.“We have met at all relevant levels of the party in the state and hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Senator Joshua Dariye and, therefore, can no longer have him as our representative in the hallowed Red Chamber.”

More Shiites killed in renewed mob attack in Kaduna As Jos Prisons holds 44 sect members

T

wo more members of the Shiite movement are feared killed and 10 others injured in a renewed mob attack in Kaduna. Awwal Yaro Maikyau, Special Adviser on Youths to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, was attacked and injured while trying to mediate.

Residents said the clash was ignited when the Shiites regrouped to renovate their destroyed school near Zango Road, Tudun Wada in Kaduna South Local Government Area.

Mallam Bala Zango, a shop owner at Zango Road, said: “The issue is getting out of hand because hundreds of youths are advancing towards Ungwan Muazu to hunt for Shiite members.

“We heard that two persons suspected to be members of the Shiite sect were killed at Tudun Wada.

“It’s very scary because at the end of the day, it’s the innocent people that will fall victim.”

Some witnesses said Awwal Yaro Maikyau was attacked by the Shiites in his attempt to mediate and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

“Awwal Yaro Maikyau, the Governor’s SA on Youths whose house is close to the scene of the incident, was also attacked while trying to mediate between them and the irate youths,” a family member said.

Some members of the Shiite sect who spoke on phone to online news portal, News Express, said they were attacked when they came “to

put our school centre in shape.”

One of them said: “Some thugs came to attack us with weapons, insisting that we must be evicted completely from the place.

“Police arrived the scene and went with some of our members and some community members for settlement.”

Samuel Aruwan, Spokesperson to the Governor, when contacted said he is not in town; however, the Police Spokesperson, Aliyu Usman, said they are monitoring the situation.

“Please, be patient. We are monitoring the situation.

We shall get back to you later,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Police in Plateau on Saturday said 44 members of the Shiite Movement, who embarked on a procession that later turned violent on Wednesday, were remanded in prison custody in Jos. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Peter Ogunyanwo, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Jos. The Shiite members had embarked on a procession in defiance of police advice.

Violence erupted when the Shiite members had a clash with non -Shiite members.

Although, no person was reported dead, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the clash.

Ogunyanwo said that 45 Shiite members were arrested by the men of Operation Safe Haven and handed over to the police.

Why peoples’ support counts – Fayose

Assures on Ikere road, other projects

Sulaiman Salawudeen

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Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has reiterated his genuine love and concern for the people of the state, noting that he would never take the love and support he received from them for granted. He said this has always prompted him to give his best to the people despite the economic rating and condition of the state.

He spoke in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Friday at the inauguration of the extended and dualised Ado-Ikere Road.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said he would take the extension and dualisation of the road deep into the centre of Ikere.

Assuring that work would start next January on the further extension of the road project, Fayose promised that no project would be left uncompleted by his administration, adding that the re-

habilitation of the College of Education Road in the town would start next week.

His words: “I am really overwhelmed by the great support of the people for our administration across the state. The turn out today to welcome us to this great occasion is touching and moving.

“This is the reason why my enemies are suffering and lamenting in silence.

They know the people of the state are behind us. The people have given me a rare opportunity to lead them for the second time, the first in the history of the state.

“We are also doing our best by giving you needed amenities and services despite the paucity of funds and the economic recession in the country. People are comparing notes.

“They know and see what goes on in other places that are richer than us and are convinced that we are trying our best. We will not disappoint you.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

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News

Kanu’s detention: 52 groups threaten to join IPOB Charles Onyekwere

A ENUGU

total of 52 groups from the SouthEast and SouthSouth have threatened to merge with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not released unconditionally, in obedience to a high court ruling in December, 2015, which ordered him bail.

The groups, which met in Enugu, under the chairmanship of Bishop Micheal Ibeneme, comprising Christian religious bodies, students as-

sociations, town unions, age grades, traders associations, women’s groups and youth organisations deliberated for several hours over the weekend on the state of the nation and concluded that the Federal Government was steadily making it difficult for the country to remain one.

The group said the Federal Government has done this “through its brazen, oppressive and determined efforts to strike fear into the hearts of citizens in order to foist a fascist reign of ethnic, regional and religious dominance of one region over another,

and vowed to resist such agenda.“ They said capitulation to the agenda would mean sentencing “our progeny to a permanent status of serfs, everything is being done to rub in that we are not part of Nigeria. Buhari is deliberately pushing us out of Nigeria,” they said.

The meeting, which also had in attendance, over a dozen groups from the Niger Delta insisted that the delay to restructure Nigeria into six regions is the source of 99 per cent of the problems afflicting the nation.

Groups in attendance at the meeting include, Igbo Women Assembly, Igbo Youth Movement, SouthEast Christian Network, Igbo Traders Association, Igbo Students Union, CAN, PFN, Umuada Alaigbo, World Igbo Congress and Niger Delta Youth Forum. Others are SouthEast Professionals, Igbo in Academia, Eastern Nigerian Congress, South- South Youth Congress and Igbo Diaspora Organisation; others are Umuigbo United Front, South-South/South-East Coalition, Traditional Healers

Union, United Road Workers Union and Food Stuff Dealers Association, In a two-point communique, the groups declared that six regional structures remain the only formula to salvage and rebuild Nigeria, noting that those opposed to six regional structures were only working towards the eventual disintegration of the country.

They said that all political, economic and social indicators pointed to the self-evident truth that only an early reversal to the six-regional structure will save the country now.

The groups also condemned in no uncertain terms the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu after two courts of the land

granted him unconditional release, maintaining that the over-ruling of the courts, by Mr. President in a television chat with journalists pointed to an unacceptable travesty, where the presidency takes final decision on matters properly handled by the judiciary.

“Therefore, we are giving notice to the world, that if the unjust, provocative and very divisive detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not specially looked into for the sake of peace, equity and justice, we may no longer restrain our members, affiliates, friends and sisters groups who have indicated their resolve to join and merge with the IPOB in solidarity with their persecution and unjust detention of their leader.

FG to generate over 1m jobs from Galma Dam Caleb Onwe Abuja

T L-R: The Archbishop of the Catholic Province of Benin, Most Rev. Augustine Akubueze; Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Akubueze’s Episcopal ordination at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Akili-Ozizo

Wike represents Nigeria’s new generation of leaders, says Maku

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he National Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Mr. Labaran Maku, has declared that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike represents Nigeria’s new generation of leaders driving the country towards prosperity and development.

This is as Governor Wike stated that he is motivated to deliver more pro-people projects across Rivers State by the enthusiastic applause he gets each time he embarks on projects inspection.

Both leaders spoke on Saturday, after they embarked on joint inspection of projects in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Obio/AkMusa Pam Jos

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he Plateau State Police Command, yesterday, paraded 32 suspects including five cases of culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy and armed robbery committed in the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo, while parading the suspects at the Command’s Headquarters in Jos, said in an attempt to arresting the ugly situation in the state, the command within one month of its assumption,

por Local Government Area and Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Maku, a former Minister of Information, said that Governor Wike’s legendary projects delivery was a proof that the people stand to benefit whenever they elect well-equipped leaders.

He said: “This is what we want. A generation of leaders who are committed to making more progress in the direction of prosperity and development. This is what you get when you have the right people in place who have the energy, the intellectual wherewithal and the commitment to drive development.”

The APGA National Secretary noted that the team will be coming back to Rivers State to further understudy the development model of Governor Wike, so as to export same as an example of good governance.

Maku said: “I am not surprised that Governor Wike is performing. At the Federal Executive Council, I knew him to be very serious with a noble heart. As Governor of Rivers State, we have observed with happiness, the kind of seriousness he has brought to governance.”

In an interview, Governor Wike said he insists on timelines for the completion of projects because of the need

to avoid abandoned projects .

He said: “The happiness of the people motivates me to work harder. Their response each time we go out for project inspection is a sign that they are happy with what we are doing. I will continue to work, promote and defend the interest of our state. I will continue to fulfill all promises I made to the people.”

The governor said that never again will funds meant for the development of Rivers State be used to sponsor the election of some persons. The inspection witnessed hundreds of residents trooping out to celebrate Governor Wike during the project inspection.

Police parade 32 suspects in Plateau employed different strategies and workable security measures to curtails ugly events of robbery cases in the state.

According to him, the security has yielded a lot of achievements with the arrest of many suspected criminal elements as well as recovery of property.

Among those suspects that the Police paraded is one Tasiu Mohammed (21) and Saidu Mohammed (18), who on the September 24, 2016 stabbed yet to be identified person, to death and threw

his corpse in a nearby well at Bukuru Jos South Local Government of the state.

Tasiu told Sunday Telegraph that they did it on the influence of drugs. “We use knives to stab him and collected N10, 000 from him after a long heated argument.

This happened when we were all drunk,” he said.

The Police also paraded 32 years old suspect named Stephen Luka, who used cutlass his girl friend’s sister.

The Commissioner said, “On July 27, 2016, one Jus-

tina Dusu Chado and her sister, Simi Dusu, visited one Stephen Luka of Sabon-Gari Tudun Wada in Jos, who is Justina’s sister to inform him about her two weeks pregnancy, which Stephen is responsible for.

“While in Stephen’s room, they had a quarrel and Stephen Luka used a cutlass on Justina but Justina’s cry for help made Simi to come to her rescue but Stephen over powered them. He used the cutlass repeatedly on them and Simi died in the hospital.

he effort of the current administration to tackle the challenges, of unemployment in the country has received another boost with commissioning of the Galma Dam in Kaduna State.

Works started on the project since 2006 and will soon be commissioned.

The project is expected to provide water and other allied services to Kaduna and environs when completed.

Speaking at the project site, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said the completed Galma multipurpose dam in Kaduna State is capable of providing job opportunities for over 1.1 million people living within its environs.

Adamu, while inspecting the project said apart from the irrigation component of the project, the multipurpose dam with a reservoir

capacity of about 186 million could also generate 2.2 megawatt of electricity and supply water to 2.2 million people in the surrounding communities up to the ancient city of Zaria.

He commended the level of job done on the project and charged the company to facilitate the construction of the roads for easy access.

The Minister had earlier commissioned the National Secretariat of the National Water Resources Capacity Building in Kaduna.

He noted that the institute has played a significant role, especially in the collaborative research and capacity building in the sector.

“I am aware of the giant achievements of the Institute since its establishment. I, therefore, want to challenge the Executive Director and students of the institution to double their efforts in achieving its set goals in line with the agenda of the present administration,” he said.

Ekiti Assembly lacks integrity – APC chieftain Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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hieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Dr. Bayo Oriire, insisted that the current State House of Assembly lacks both focus and integrity to be regarded as a law making organ.

Oriire, a medical practitioner and notable cleric, maintained the Assembly had, in its almost two years of existence, allegedly partnered the governor to ‘underdevelop’ the state, assuring APC would regain the leadership of the state in 2018 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), given all that the people

can see.

He spoke in reaction to recent suspension of former Chairman, Ekiti Assembly’s Committee on Information, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, saying, “No one is interested in the drama of that Assembly. They are a pack of Fayose boys.”

Meanwhile, former Chairman, Hospitals Management Board dismissed claims that Governor Ayodele Fayose was popular among the people in the State, noting that his performance so far offered strong assurances that the people would vote his party out of governance in the next election.

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The Sunday Magazine

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'Why we'll instruct our children to Rising cost of burial rites, especially in the wake of economic recession in the country, is pushing some families to think in the line of cremation, a practice which reduces the remains of loved ones to ashes through a high temperature burning.

Many view cremation as unpopular, un-African and evil, CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports

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equel to the economic recession in the country, many people have started thinking of cremation as a panacea to high cost of burial rites in the country. Though the practice is unpopular in the country, yet, few Nigerians want their corpses cremated to avoid extravagant expenses and demands from kinsmen during burial ceremonies.

Cremation, as we all know is the application of high temperature to reduce bodies to basic chemical compounds, and this serves as funeral or post-funeral rites in many countries, especially in Asia.

A freethinker, Tunde Ibrahim, is one of few persons willing to be cremated upon his death to save his children the stress of buying casket, transporting his remains home for burial and spending so much for burial rites.

According to him, there is no need spending huge amount of money to transport his body or buying casket worth millions of Naira that will end up in the ground where it will decay as usual.

Ibrahim, father of two, who was shocked to see a casket worth N30 million, said he wouldn’t put his children through such stress.

His decision may have been influenced by his mother’s modesty, who advised him not to embark on elaborate burial rites when she succumbs to the cold hands of death. “I’m not owing anybody a dime, so I don’t want you to waste or borrow money to bury me,” he said, quoting his mother.

He continued: “I will instruct my children to cremate my corpse. I’m dead already and do not know where I am again. So, whatever my children want to do with my body let them go ahead. Some people cremate their parents and put the ashes in cremation uras within their living rooms. It gives them relief that their parents are within their living rooms.”

He added that, by this procedure, he would have eliminated cost of transportation and purchase of exorbitant casket from the mainstream of the entire burial expenditure.

“People would always say that burial is for the whole family, but the last burial ceremony I was involved in made me to understand that, though they mention family, yet the actual expenditure is borne by the children of the deceased and not the family as touted,” he added.

More so, Rev (Dr.) Candyfidel Onwuraokoye said as a Christian, there is no portion of the Bible that states that the dead should or not be burnt, saying what is important is where the spirit of the man goes and not what happens to the body on earth.

“I do not have any problem with cremation. Yes, my children are free to cremate my body because my soul has gone to the Father.

What happens to my body doesn’t matter to me. What about the Egyptian mummies? Do they return bodies to the ground? I’m really not bothered about cremation. Like I said, my children are free to cremate my body if

that guaranties their financial freedom,” he added.

An African theologian, Rev Stephens Omekara, said, “In an event of death, I’ve informed my children not to take my corpse home if my death occur in the far land. I see what Nigerians go through abroad, paying through their nose just to bring back dead bodies to the country, which can easily be buried in the cemetery or cremated.

“As a matter of fact, I have instructed my children to cremate my body or bury me in a cemetery if I die far away. There is no need for them struggling and spending a fortune just to send my body home. It is not worth the troubles. Most missionaries who brought Christianity to Africa died and buried in cemeteries. They didn’t repatriate their bodies, so why should I insist on my body being buried at home at the expense of my children?”

An academic, Prof. Jimmy Egbokaria has a different opinion about cremation. He said perhaps, such decision should be taken by the living and not the dead. He believes that the living determines the kind of burial given to the dead, saying that, such shouldn’t be a reason for anyone to impose cremation on others.

He noted that once the soul has departed from the body, whatever remains is the carcass. He argued that many people have died of fire accidents while others were burnt intentionally and their cremation was supported by everybody. He recalled the issue of the cremated bodies of the Ebola Virus victims in Lagos, noting that, such cremation was not viewed as anything bad.

Funny enough, those who want their bodies cremated upon death are really not sure if they would like to do such as they still want the wishes and the decisions of the living to determine what happens to their bodies after death.

Despite the passage of the Cremation Bill into law, which may be cited as the Cremation Law 2013, the practice is still very unpopular among Lagosians and Nigerians at large. Tagged, 'Lagos State Cremation Law

2015,' the law, which came to force on June 20, 2013, is still seen as evil and a taboo in Africa. Especially, in a continent where the dead is accorded so much respect.

The Cremation Law is a product of circumstance. This Law was necessitated by the need to free the congested cemeteries and rid the state-owned mortuaries of unclaimed corpses. At a point, the families of the dead were urged to stop building concrete tombs in the cemeteries so as to create space for more burials.

Former Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, signed the Cremation Bill into law, which provides for voluntary burning of corpses and unclaimed corpses in the state.

Fashola, while signing the cremation bill into law, after several months of public debates in his Alausa, Ikeja office, said the Cremation Law was voluntary.

Explaining the content of the new cremation law, the Lagos Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General at that time, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the law only provides for voluntary cremation, whereby a person may signify interest to be cremated when he dies or a deceased’s family members could make such request. Lagosians, who attain the age of 18 years, can decide to have their corpse cremated.

By this Law, it’s legal for the state govern-

ment to cremate unclaimed corpses in its mortuaries after a period of time. According to the Law, if the owners of the corpses failed to collect the ashes after a 14-day notice, it will be disposed by the state government, subject to the consent and approval of the Commissioner for Health.

According to Section 2 of the Law, Sunday Telegraph gathered that no cremation may take place except in a crematorium established by the Ministry of Health or by any other body upon the recommendation of the authority and approval by the Commissioner for Health.

Also, Section 10 of the law states: the Cremator in charge of a crematorium must not dispose of the ashes after a cremation, except in accordance with any reasonable written instructions of the applicant. The cremator in charge may bury the ashes in a burial ground if, within one year after the cremation, the applicant does not give reasonable written instructions for the disposal of the ashes.

But after the era of Fashola, it appears the current administration is not in tune with the decision to cremate human corpses as nothing has been heard of cremation in the state in the last 18 months. This is a deduction from the fact the ministry in charge is not aware that cremation is under its purview.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

Sunday Magazine

cremate our bodies' Conflicting responsibilities by Health and Environment Ministries When contacted, the Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Adeola Salako, said cremation is under the Ministry of Environment and not Ministry of Health.

The Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Tunde Awobiyi, in a conflicting comment, confirmed that cremation in under the purview of the Ministry of Health.

A return call to Mrs. Salako further confused the situation, when she asserted that the Ministry of Health deals with the living not the dead.

“I couldn’t get back to you as I promised to send the number of people in charge.

There was redeployment in the ministry and that was why I have not done that. Let me check and get back but then, the Ministry of Health deals with the living not the dead,” she added.

When all efforts proved abortive, Sunday Telegraph, again visited the state Ministry of Health to further get information on what it costs to cremate a corpse at the state crematorium, one of the staff on duty told our correspondent that the Director went out on official assignment.

But a senior staff of the Ministry of Health told Sunday Telegraph on ground of anonymity that no record of individual cremation has been brought to them. “Apart from the bodies of Ebola Virus victims, which were cremated, no voluntary cremation has been conducted. We respect and do not speak evil about the dead. If you have been expecting Nigerians to cremate their dead, you will wait for eternity.”

According to our source, what obtains in Nigeria is befitting burial and not cremation, wondering how a conscientious Nigerian, after seeing the gory scenes or videos of how people are roasted in a petrol fire accident would subject their loved ones to such horror? “In my own opinion, the exercise is wicked and inhuman,” adding that, only unclaimed and decomposing corpses are sent for mass cremation.

The source noted that, even the law did not suggest the amount to be paid for voluntary cremation because the whole idea of the Cremation Law was to decongest cemeteries and mortuaries in state-owned hospitals.

Sunday Telegraph’s investigations revealed that some teaching hospitals and nursing schools across the country use some of the unclaimed corpses, under the name ‘cadaver’ as practicals for Medical and nursing students. These are buried afterwards or dissolved, in some cases, in high chemicals.

Strange culture in Nigeria borrowed from Asia According to the National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers' Association of Nigeria and former Federal Commissioner of Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission, Emmanuel Onwubiko, Nigeria is home to about 250 diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups all of which pay respect to their revered indigenous African tradition and cultural values.

He identified these respected African cultural values as the sense of community life, good human relations, and sacredness of life, hospitality and religion.

Onwubiko noted: “I, as well as other Nigerians with the deepest regard and consideration to our revered culture and traditions, strongly opposed to cremation for the very fundamental reason that it was devoid of support in the African metaphysics of paying the highest respect to the dead.

“Secondly, we cannot borrow foreign customary practice of cremation as it’s done in India and other Asian cultures and superimpose it on our African tradition, customs and cultures,” he said.

A Philosopher with the Lagos State University (LASU), Dr. Thomas James, said, “The

law of every country reflects its civilisation and often the diversity in legal systems may be attributed to differences in culture, philosophy, and the conditions of social life. So, it’s inconceivable that such law was made in Nigeria to displace our culture and I ask, will any city in India make its law to favour the Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa cultures? No! We have to be wise.”

According to a Lagos-based Tanzanian Theologian, Laurenti Magesa, funeral rites simultaneously mourn for the dead and celebrate life in all its abundance. Funerals are a time for the community to be in solidarity and to regain its identity. In some communities this may include dancing and merriment for all but the immediate family, thus limiting or even denying the destructive powers of death and providing the deceased with "light feet" for the journey to the other world.

“There is absolutely no provision for cremation of the dead under any Nigerian culture, likewise other African countries and we should have a rethink on this cremation in order not to progressively allow foreign practices and customs to override our local peculiarities, which make us unique as Africans,” he said.

Also, Rt. Reverend Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos West said it’s expected that the culture of the people is respected, saying, “Cremation is an imported culture into the country. Nobody would be comfortable to see their beloved being burnt to ashes, because cremation to an ordinary man is sending the person to hell.

This act could be acceptable to some people but it is anti-cultural.” …Cremation against Islamic and Christian faiths While AbdulMojeed AddulKareem, said the practice is a weird culture against Islamic faith and will not only be criticised by all Muslims in the state but will not be recognised by any Muslim. Reverend Peter Diji of the Life Fountain Bible Church, said cremation is not biblical and should not be practiced by Christians.

He added: “It is unimaginable to have the corpse of a beloved one cremated. It is antithetical to our culture, it is retrogressive and unacceptable. Embalmment and burial are biblical and in a situation where there are unclaimed corpses in the mortuaries, then, it is good for the government to embark on mass burial and not cremation.” …Practice against African Traditional Religion (ATR) A spiritualist, Victor Onomeregbor, said it’s a taboo to the society and ATR practice in Nigeria and Africa. “Cremation is evil and shouldn’t be practiced; otherwise, the spirit of the dead will not forgive anybody that takes part in such practice.

He stressed: “It has grave consequences.

The spirit of the cremated man can forever haunt the people who subjected his body to such desecration. If it were to be a wife that subjected her husband’s body to such without the consent of the husband’s people, it’s enough taboo to send her away from her late husband’s house and be banished for life.

“Cremation is not our culture and shouldn’t be practiced when we are not cult members.

In some cases, the remains of a cultist could be burnt. Committing the corpse of a peaceful man to such is sacrilege. The Europeans, with help of our people have destroyed everything good about African culture. If my body is subjected to such, those involved will know no peace.”

He recalled how the corpse of a powerful native doctor from Delta state, Nonso Igbakakwuni, was kept in a morgue in defiance of his advice. His wife disobeyed such warning but quickly adjusted when over seven native doctors offered mortician money to release Nonso’s body to them.

I feel my leg, but can't find it -Onuoha A story was told about a man taking a morning walk on the beach. He saw that hundreds of starfish came in with the tide, and when the tide receded, the starfish were left behind on the beach.

With the sun’s rays they would die. The tide had just gone out and the starfish were still alive. The man took a few steps, picked one up and threw it into the water. He did that repeatedly. Another man came along who couldn’t understand what this man was doing. He asked, “What are you doing? There are hundreds of starfish. How many can you help? What difference does it make?” This man did not reply, took two more steps, picked up another one, threw it into the water and said, “It makes a difference to this one.”

The above story is a typical illustration that little things matters as Mother Theresa will say: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” And before anyone start getting the notion that this write up is becoming another usual ‘boring inspirational piece, hear her story.

The story is about a 26 year old girl whose name is Grace Oge Onuoha. She is a graduate of Agricultural Economics, an Extension from the University of Agriculture, Markudi. Like every Nigerian graduate who goes for the compulsory youth service scheme after graduation, Grace did the same. She did hers at Zamfara State in 2014. And also, just like many youth Corps members who shouted: “God why me”, when they realised that they had been posted to the North Grace also had her fears.

However, life as they said is a mystery. A single mosquito bite eluded Grace during her stay in the North. She bubbled and radiated in beauty and grace. Her chubby cheeks were always surrounded with laughter. Her smile were infectious and it always reveal a perfect set of dentition.

She was doing fine. She also had her own business as well as her primary assignment. That is a multiple income. A typical Igbo girl. And then, the NYSC was over and Grace had to go home like everybody.

And then it happened.

On that fateful day, which was on the third of July 2015, a day that will never be erased from her memory, she was at Ibadan, where she was working, her boss wanted her to go and make some bank transactions. She was usually the one who did that in the office. She went on that journey with two legs but she never came back the same. On her way, a vehicle lost control and veered to her side of the road and hit her from behind. After two surgeries and medical analysis, it dawned on her and her family that she will not be able to use her right knee again. Poor Grace and her family were given a decision to either amputate the leg or allow the problem to spread to other parts of the body and that

may be catastrophic for Grace.

Faced with that situation, they chose life and allowed the leg to be amputated.

When asked how it feels to have an amputated leg she had this to say: “I must confess it hasn’t been easy. It is really a painful ordeal. I was in pains; I was feeling my legs after the amputation. Even till date I still feel my legs, but when I look down, I can’t find it. I will be like, but I felt you inside of me, but I can’t find you. I can’t see you when I look down. It has really not been easy relying on crutches for movement since it has its attendant limitations”.

Grace has refused to give in to depression despite her predicament. She said: “I thank God for the spirit He has given me. He made me strong. He made me not to look at my limitations. Sometimes when I am down, I will be like, what if you have died?

What if you did not wake up from that unconsciousness? I thank God for the accident; I have to be grateful for life because that would have been the end of me. So, when I look at all those things, I realise that I have every reason to be grateful to God. Some people eat and they never stood up from where they ate. Some people even slump and die where they are, but here I am still alive having passed through the trauma and the shock”.

Grace further stated: “Even when I was in the hospital, I saw so many people like me who had very serious cases, who the vehicle crushed their legs right from the feet through the waist region and they never made it because they were depressed.

They passed out. They died. I have always had that strong spirit, ever since the first day it happened. I have always been filled with smiles, happiness, because that is the only way I can overcome whatever that has happened to me. So, I am grateful to God because I know that, He who has kept me alive has something special for me. I am not better or more than those who have died, but I think, He has given me life for a reason. He spared me for a reason and I know that His plans for me would come to actualization by the grace of God. Amen.”

Grace needs help. She has undergone an orthopaedic evaluation where the use of prosthesis was recommended to enable her walk on her own. The cost of that prosthetic leg is N2.5 million.

Her family has been able to raise some amount but the figure is nothing compared to what is required. Thus, she needs help if she is ever going to walk again without the crutches as it is her hope and prayer that she walk again and take a selfie like her mates do without the aid of crutches.

As the famous German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang Goethe puts it: “Knowing is not enough, we must apply.

Wishing is not enough, we must do”.

Grace can be reached on: 07036870905.

Her account details are: Onuoha Grace Oge. 0007546405. Diamond Bank.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

Early detection is only cure for cancer, says Niger gov’s wife Dan Atori

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he wife of the Niger State Governor and founder of Raise Foundation, Dr. Amina Abubakar Sani Bello has called on Nigerians to go for cancer screening, adding that early detection and prevention are the only available cure for cancer disease.

Dr. Amina Bello, who stated this on Saturday during a walk for cancer awareness in Minna, described cancer as one of the biggest causes of death globally, pointing out that late presentation of cancer cases, especially

in the developing world is responsible for high death rate of cancer patients.

He said: “The essence of this walk is to raise awareness about cancer and how it can be prevented. The five-kilometre walk which will be sustained is the best for everyone. We will sustain this walk as the Raise Foundation has opened screening centres across the state in the three senatorial districts.

“I tell you this, before some patients come to the hospital, they are already looking sick such that it will be difficult to perform any surgery on them. Early detection is the best and so,

everyone must go for cancer screening.”

She identified ageing as one of the fundamental factors for the development of cancer and the global burden of cancer continues to increase largely because of the growth of the ageing world population in addition to cancer-causing behaviours such as smoking and alcohol use.

Dr. Amina singled out tobacco smoking as the greatest avoidable factor for cancer mortality worldwide causing an estimated 22 pr cent of all cancer death globally annually.

She suggested among other things, the elimination

of tobacco smoking which accounts for about 70 per cent of all lung cancer, unhealthy lifestyle of the people in third world countries and above all the reduction or elimination of alcohol as some of the best prevention strategies for cancer control.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Professor Musbau Akanji, described the exercise as timely and pledged on behalf of the university to partner with the Foundation adding that, FUT, Minna has lost some of its staff to the dreaded cancer disease in recent time.

Ondo PDP wants Justice Abang probed Babatope Okeowo

T Akure

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, yesterday, alleged ‘unholy alliance’ between Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja and a faction of the party in order to destabilise it ahead of November 26 governorship election in the state.

The Chairman, Clement Faboyede, who said petition has been filed against the Judge alleging that the judgment of the court on the state governorship election was at variance with the matters before the court, wondering if the judge has become ‘Father Christmas’ that gives unsolicited gifts.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, Faboyede said the suit before Justice Abang was to determine the tenure and membership of the State Executive Committee

of PDP in the South West Zone and directions in respect of party primaries for 2019 General Elections and not the 2016 governorship election.

The party Chairman said the case was concluded on June 29 and the reliefs that had to do with election referred to, were tied to 2019 General Election, saying there was no nexus between the suit and 2016 Ondo State Governorship election.

Faboyede said it was during the hearing of a contempt proceedings against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the presiding judge directed INEC to receive the nomination papers of Jimoh Ibrahim from the applicants as State Executive of the PDP against the backdrop of numerous decisions of the Supreme Court that it is the National Executive of a political party that has the responsibility to submit names of Candidates to INEC.

Chibok Girls: Group wants Sunday, Friday as thanksgiving days Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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Wife of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello Bello addressing participants at the 5-kilometre walk to create awareness for cancer screening in Minna...yesterday.

PHOTO BY DAN ATORI

Umahi sets up committees on SDG projects, Abakaliki ring road

N EWS I N BRIEF

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, has inaugurated the Ebonyi State Implementation Committee on Sustainable Development Goals projects and the Steering Committee for the proposed 198-kilometre Ring Road in the state.

Addressing members of the two committees at the Government House, Abakaliki, Umahi directed them to work assiduously to ensure that the rural electrification projects embarked upon by his administration in six local government areas are ready for inauguration on November 15.

He also ordered that those of the remaining seven LGAs be ready for inauguration on November 30, 2016. The governor said “through the SDG, we have embarked on the implementation of a number of projects in six Local Government Areas but very significant among them is the rural electrification project, especially street light. I am directing that job must be inaugurated by November. So you have to write it down and the other job for the remaining seven LGAs must be ready by November 30th.”

He advised the LG caretaker chairmen to do everything within their powers to ensure that the projects sited in their areas were protected.

We operate under series of challenges —NIMC

Residents of Potiskum Local Government in Yobe State have appealed to the Director-General National Identity Management Commission, Mr. Aliyu Abdul-Aziz, to provide equipment to enable the citizens register before the stipulated dateline.

Sparking to Sunday Telegraph yesterday in Potiskum town. Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, who is one of the concerned citizens, said “We want the DG NIMC to come to the aid of the Commission’s office in Potiskum by providing all the needed equipment for registration, He added “ I spent more than a week on the queue before I was registered. During the registration we observed that their facilities were over-stretched. We are many here waiting for them. Some of us decided to go because they could not wait.”

Our reporter who visited the office learnt that they have only two sets of computers, two thumb printers, two signature scanners and two cameras but were not effective. The office has no air conditioner and its PHCN bills unsettled.

A staff of the commission who spoke on the condition of anonymity said “we are operating under serious challenges. We have only two sets of computers, no air conditioner, our gadgets become hot and stop working until they rest.”

Expert seeks psychological first aid for freed Chibok girls Going by the commitment to give the released Chibok girls the best, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile has recommended that they should be kept in a safe and comfortable place away from the public eye for some time.

Olugbile, who was the immediate past Chief Medical director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said it has become imperative for the government to provide the needs of the released girls which should be individually assessed.

It will be recalled that out of the over 200 girls that were abducted by the Boko Haram Sect two years ago 21 were released recently to the Federal Government.

According to Olugbile, who also was the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health in Lagos State, psychological first aid should be given to the released girls.

“They should be allowed to interact with their parents/guardians, who themselves should receive counselling to manage their expectations and reactions to the changes that may have taken place in the girls.

“Those in need of specialised or longer term attention should be identified and assisted.

“Comprehensive medical examination should identify their medical needs.”

he National InterFaith and Religious Organisation of Nigeria for Peace has called on Christian and Muslim faithful in the country to use this Sunday and Friday to offer thanksgiving for the release of the 21 Chibok Secondary School girls abducted two years ago by Boko Haram terrorists.

National Coordinator of the group, Bishop Musa Fomson while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday urged Nigerians to also pray to God to help bring the Boko Haram terrorism and all other forms of insurgency in the country to an end.

Fonsom, who is also the General Overseer of Spring of Life Assembly, said though more of the girls remain in captivity but the

freedom of this first batch to be released has awakened hope.

He said: “We should pray for God to touch and soften the hearts of those holding the remaining girls to also release them unhurt to their families. Our belief is that whatever efforts we make as humans it will make tremendous impact when we commit them to God. We must thus unite our faiths in making supplications to God for the safe return of the remaining school girls.

“Our hope is that this development marks the start of national healing. We understand how the collective anguish over the girls’ abduction led to tempers flaring up across various divides. A lot of hurt was felt, not just by the biological parents or guardians of the students but parents across the land.”

Ortom’s aide files N50m suits against PDP Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

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he Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Media and Information Communication Technology, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, has filed a libel suit claiming damages of N50 million against the State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom.

In suit number MCH/316/16 filed at the Makurdi High Court by his son, Mr. Terna Agerzua of Emmanuel Law Partners, the adviser is seeking three

other major reliefs.

These include “a declaration that the libelous publication by the defendant on Facebook dated September 19, 2016 against the plaintiff is false, unfounded, unwarranted and defamatory in nature.”

“An order of court directing the defendant to retract the said libelous publication via the same medium (Facebook),” as well as “directing the defendant to tender a public apology to the plaintiff and cause same to be published in at least two national and local newspapers.”

OPINION 11

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

A brazen assault and gratuitous insult on the Nigerian judiciary Femi Fani-Kayode

“F

irst they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.

“Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me”- Martin Niemoller (1892-1984).

If there were ever a time that Niemoller’s words were appropiate in the Nigerian context, this is it.

The cold claws of persecution, victimisation, terror and marginalisation have certainly taken grip in our nation.

Yesterday it was the politicians, members of the opposition, presiding officers and key members of the National Assembly, dissenters, government critics, bloggers, journalists, Shia Muslims, Christians and carefully selected serving and former military and security personnel. Today it is the judges.

Their homes were raided by hundreds of fully armed DSS commandos between 1.00 and 2.00 a.m. this morning.

Their streets were surrounded and sealed up. Their gates and front doors were smashed open and they were forcefully and violently arrested and detained.

Their families and loved ones were traumatised and terrorised.

Their staff and members of their household were held captive, threatened and sent scampering for cover under their beds.

Yet those that suffered these gross violations of their fundamental human rights, civil liberties and indignities were not wily and desperate politicians or hardened miltary men that were fighting and conspiring against the government or plotting a military coup d’etat.

They were not dangerous dissidents or Boko Haram terrorists.

They were not battle-hardened Niger Deltan Avengers or seasoned OPC and IPOB fighters.

They were not members of a dangerous and evil armed cult that were plotting to kill innocent people and they were not a group of radical and desperate secessionists or freedom fighters.

They were not angry students or trade unionists that were planning to block the streets, to stop all movement and activity, to bring the country to a standstill or to burn the nation down.

They were none of these things and in-

cluded none of these groups or people.

Instead they were all senior and respected members of the Nigerian judiciary.

They included two Supreme Court judges, three Federal High Court judges and a number of others.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was almost shot dead when he attempted to protect the home of one of the judges in Port Harcourt and stop them from arresting him.

The truth is that we are in trouble in this country. The motherland and all that we hold dear is under attack from a ravenous and dictatorial President and government.

When those that are constitutionally charged and empowered to protect us from tyranny and the abuse of power by a vicious, violent, murderous and lawless government and its murderous security agencies are themselves under siege all hope is lost.

If the judges cannot protect us and if they themselves have become victims of barbarous tyranny then it is time for the people to rise up, take to the streets, resist the evil and fight against our oppressors.

Sons and daughters of Nigeria, we must not give in to fear and we must not be silenced.

We must defend the rights of our people and fight for our homeland.

Now is the time to protest in any way that we possibly can and to take our country back from these animals and barbarians. Now is the time to say “enough is enough!”

If we do not do so we shall be slaves forever. It is our God-given right and sacred duty to resist tyranny in every shape and form.

If nothing else history, scripture and all the Holy Books of the three great faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism teach us that.

Now is the time to shed our fears and to stand up like the true patriots and free men and women that we were born to be and do so.

Now is the time to say “thus far and no further” and to say “no more” and be our brothers keeper.

Now is the time to stop sitting on the fence and acting as if all is well.

If anyone doubts I urge them to kindly consider the following words, titled “A Brief Score Card On ‘Corrupt’ Judges”, which were sent to me by a friend. He wrote: “Justice Liman gave judgment against Modu Sheriff and that hurt the APC. “Justice Liman also restrained INEC from announcing any results or figures howsoever generated or compiled purporting to be result of the re-run election for any or all of Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Eleme and Tai Local

Government Areas of Rivers State or any part of the re-run election scheduled for March 19, 2016 which election was subsequently suspended or postponed. Justice Liman narrowly missed been “stinged” by the DSS. “Justice Pingina insisted on due process in the Rivers State Governorship election tribunal sittings. He was removed midway during the sitting of the tribunal when APC saw that PDP was having the upper hand. The rest is history. Justice Pingina has just been “stinged”

by DSS. “Justice Adeniyi Ademola, a brilliant judge, eldest grandson of a great former CJN of Nigeria, Adetokunbo Ademola was a judge who knew his onions. He came from a tradition.

“He could not be pushed around by powers that be. He ordered thrice that Dasuki be released. This did not go down well with Buhari and his government. They disobeyed his orders and concocted a new offence to rearrest Dasuki.

“Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja also in May 26, 2016 dismissed Buhari’s preliminary objection in a suit filed by an Abuja-based legal practitioner Mr. Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe concerning Buhari certificate (WAEC). Justice Ademola has just been “stinged” by DSS. “Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, a brilliant judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja was the judge who warned DSS to stop disobeying orders of court and told them not to come to his court again if they would not obey court orders. DSS was angry with this.

“They wanted to “sting” him but got a wrong name. However, they succeeded in breaking into his house and beating up his brother only for them to look into the paper they had on them to discover that it was not his name that was on the paper. That sure hurt them.

JSCs Ngwuta and Okoro sat on appeals that gave decisions against APC interest. They have just been “stinged” by DSS. Nigeria, I hail thee”.

The author is absolutely right and whichever way the government and its numerous friends seek to spin it there is cause for concern.

Yet sadly it gets worse. The Greek tragic dramatis and philosopher Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC) said “in war, truth is the first casualty”.

It is in this context that one has to view the absurd claims by the DSS that massive sums of cash ranging from 2 million USD to hundreds of thousands of euros and pounds sterling were found in the homes of all the judges that were arrested in the early hours

of Saturday morning.

If anyone honestly believes that such large sums of cash were found in the homes of ANY of those judges then that person needs to have his head examined.

The DSS has to say these outrageous things and tell these shameful lies in order to attempt to justify their illegal actions before the world.

It is called disinformation and misinformation and that is their stock in trade.

That is what intelligence and securiry agencies all over the world are paid to do. They destroy their victims before the world with lies and baseless allegations knowing that most Nigerians will believe anything and everything that the government says.

It is sickening and pathetic. In any case nothing can possibly justify the gestapo tactics that the state has employed in this matter.

The storming of peoples homes in the middle of the night and the brutalisation and traumatisation of their families, loved ones and households is archaic and barbaric. And let us be clear: none of the judges were sent letters if invitation before incident.

Worse still the security agencies refused to go through the lawful, acceptable and timetested route of calling serving members of the judiciary to order which is the issuing of a query to the National Judicial Council before whom they are supposed to present any credible evidence of wrongdoing before criminal proceedings are initiated.

The DSS, and by extension our government, not only ignored due process in this matter but they have also treated the Chief Justice of the Federation and the National Judicial Council with utter disdain and contempt.

Clearly Nigeria is saddled with authorities that are a cross between Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, King Leopold 11 of Belgium, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Papa Doc Duvalier, Augusto Pinochet, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Mobutu Sese Seko, Genghis Khan, Atilla the Hun, Count Vlad Dracula and Idi Amin all rolled into one.

May the Lord help us.

May the Living God fill us with His Spirit and grant us courage. May He strengthen and embolden us.

May He guide, lead, protect and deliver us as we move forward to confront the evil that plagues our land and as we speak truth to power.

May He, at the very end, bless our land and grant us victory.

Fani-Kayode is a former Aviation Minister

When shall peace and justice return to Abia State?

Comrade Kelvin Ezedimbu

O

ften times, genuine and reasonable men wonder why Abia State has been setback since 2007 till date. It baffles me that after unrelenting prayers for the emancipation of the state from self-serving and wicked individuals , it seems as if God the creator is at sleep, but we all know that He never sleeps nor slumbers as God will soon free Abians from the bondage of hardship.

It is crystal clear that since ex-Governor Orji Kalu handed over the baton of leadership to his successor, T. A Orji, Abia State has been in shambles owing to the style of governance of the latter. Salaries and pensions of serving and retired civil servants respectively were no longer paid when due. Most infrastructural

projects that commenced during Kalu’s regime were abandoned for reasons unknown.

Welfare of the people became the least focus of government under T. A Orji’s watch.

It is unfortunate that on assumption of office as Governor, Chief T. A Orji’s mindset was to rubbish and tarnish the good work of his predecessor and benefactor, Dr. Orji Kalu. Little did he know that through his actions he was making enemies for himself as all the laudable initiatives of Kalu’s administration were killed. T. A Orji turned governance to a family affair and cultism where political appointees take oath of loyalty. His son, Chinedu became the de facto governor, who assisted his father in siphoning tax payers’ money into private pockets. Kidnapping, infrastructure decay, non-payment of workers, intimidation and

political assassination became the order of the day. I am sure Abians can never forgive T. A Orji for committing crimes against humanity.

It will be recalled that during Kalu’s stint as Governor, the collective interest of Abians was paramount to the government. OUK as fondly called used a coastal bus as official car not because he couldn’t afford any latest model of bullet-proof luxury vehicles but for his modesty. His humility is unbeatable! When Kalu left as Governor, he handed over the state properties to his successor and left behind a reasonable amount of money in the state coffers. However, when T. A. Orji handed over to Governor Ikpeazu, government properties were not returned. While leaving behind a huge debt for the incoming administration.

Regrettably, Governor Ikpeazu has de-

cided to toe the path of his predecessor, Chief T. A Orji without minding the negative implications of his actions. It is worrisome to note that the inability of Abia state government to meet its finnacial obligations including regular payment of salaries and pensions is due to the overbearing influence of ex-Governor T. A Orji on the incumbent Governor Ikpeazu as the latter pays the former billions of naira on a monthly basis. Abians are informed and are watching the trend of events as they will soon unleash terror on Governor Ikpeaxu for mortaging the future of the State.

A word is enough for the wise!

Comrade Kelvin Ezedimbu wrote from Abia

12

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sunday Mail

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thesundayletters@gmail. com and sundayletters@ newtelegraphonline.com

MAIL BAG

* Letters to the Editor

The Sunday Telegraph

An open letter to Jos Electricity Distribution Plc Dear Editor, We are writing this with the hope that the management of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, in charge of electricity supply in Makurdi, Benue State, will act quickly before things get out of hand. Before the privatization of PHCN in the country, the officials of the defunct PHCN were known for stealing component parts of transformers, accusing the people of being responsible and making it necessary for each house that was benefiting from such a transformer to pay a certain amount of money for replacement or remain in darkness.

After collecting money from people, they quietly returned those parts, making fool of the people. We were happy when PHCN was to be privatized because we believed that the company was cheating us. It has saddened our hearts that this attitude of stealing parts from electricity transformers by the officials of the defunct PHCN and making it a case against the people with the aim of getting money from them illegally is being exhibited by some officials of the new owners of electricity distribution companies in the country and Jos Electricity Distribution Plc should act fast.

As we write now, many residents at Akpehe community within Makurdi are living in total darkness and the officials of JED Plc are to blame. The officials of JED Plc, having the keys to one of the fenced transformers at Akpehe, woke up a few days ago and announced that something had been stolen from the transformer and accused people within the area of being responsible. The question is; who stole it if not the same persons who are having keys to that transformer in question. There is no single sign of somebody breaking into the fenced transformer. This is a complaint to the management of JED Plc to do something before its image is dented.

Victoria Amaka, Makurdi, Benue State.

Walking the corporate social responsibility talk Dear Editor, Corporate social responsibility is an action of organisations that will, as it were, seem to draw mixed reaction from individuals, its acceptance and rejection from people depending on what side of the divide one is. While on one side, an argument can be propounded based on the solvency and financial outlook of the organisation and basing

IMAGINE THESE KIDS…These kids are found playing dangerously round a well in Lagos.

it as a platform to put social responsibility in the lowest rungs of its priorities, others would argue that as long as such organisation is situated in a particular community or locality it behooves on them to be concerned about the welfare of the place, regardless of the level and shade of their impact on the community.

Be that as it may, the idea of corporate social responsibility is a laudable and agreeable one, the act of giving back to the society, or being touched by the infirmities or deficiencies of the community where the business enterprise is located.

It will be surprising to discover how far-reaching a simple positive outlook can give to an organisation, and as well how the flipside can look like, and how bad it can look when what it supposed to be done by a company gets shelved, under whatever guise.

No one needs any introduction to the UNEP report which puts the time frame for the remediation operation in Ogoniland where several profit-making companies have been operating since the 1950s, at over 10 years, neither is it any news that the pillaging of the national resources in that axis stems directly from a failure on the part of organisations who ought to have known and or done better. The Nigerian society generally is reeling under the hard-rained punches of a deteriorating educational sector, the fallouts of which have become more hydra-headed than expected. Year after year, dismal outings at school certificate examinations, exam malpractice ( which goes awry even despite the external help in most cases), churning out of questionable quality graduates, production of zombie-like individuals as opposed to enlightened people which is supposed to

be the aim of education, lean vocabulary, apologetic reading and writing skills among others, as well as poor reading culture, stare us in the face with no hope in sight. Thankfully, the story of corporate social responsibility in Nigeria is not an entirely gloomy one.

There are companies who really know what it is to leave a community better than they met it, especially as it borders on education in Nigeria.

Ogbonna Nnaemeka Henry Lagos

CST bill and the telecoms industry Dear Editor, Just as the Federal Government recently disclosed that Nigeria is in an economic recession, reports have it that 60 million phones have become inactive in the last three months. This has been attributed to the erosion of people’s purchasing power as the harsh economic condition in the country continues to bite. Telecoms operators in the country function under the same harsh economic environment, which is worsened by lack of infrastructure, inefficient electricity, ineffective regulation and multiple taxation among other challenges.

Yet, the sector remains a major contributor to national socio-economic development through the provision of jobs and its immense contribution to the nation’s economy.

Now, facing the already shaky situation in the telecoms industry is the Communication Service Tax (CST) Bill which is positioned to put a lot of pressure on the already turbulent terrain in the industry, a burden that would

eventually be passed to their customers – the poor masses.

Nine per cent additional tax burden on telecoms customers would result in low patronage. This may lead to erosion of return on investment, business collapse and eventual relocation of some operators to other friendly environments.

Just as some businesses exited while others threatened to pull out of Nigeria due to challenges occasioned by CBN’s policies. If these happen, then we should expect massive job losses that will affect different sectors as many businesses rely on telecommunication services to operate.

Nigeria stands to lose investments and GDP will nosedive further. Capacity utilisation of the telecom industry will decline and the economic crisis could worsen. This planned tax regime will wreak unprecedented socio-economic havoc in the country. The aviation sector is already in a mess as some airlines are finding it increasingly difficult to operate, making them to suspend their operations. Banks have sacked many of their workers while over 19,000 public service jobs have been wiped out across all tiers of government. In spite of the economic recession and harsh operating conditions, telecom service providers have continued to invest in the Nigerian economy with the hope to revive the sector and stimulate the Nigerian economy. However, government’s decision to impose service tax on users of telecommunication services can blight the potential of a vibrant telecoms industry as one of the pathways to economic recovery. The government and the National Assembly in deference to the mood of the nation, therefore, should stand down the passage of the CST Bill as its introduction is most

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

inauspicious at this material time.

Laraban Imam, 22, Lagos Street, Garki 2, Abuja

Dasuki’s case appears suspicious and vindictive Dear Editor, Please let me express my views on the controversial court case of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) former NSA.I cannot defend Col Sambo Dasuki, his lawyers will do that over the allegations of abuse of office and looting!

Without prejudice to subsisting cases, however, for the Buhari administration to clamp him into detention indefinitely for about a year now, calls for serious concern. Four court orders for his release on bail, the Federal Government has refused to obey, and prosecution in court is dragging! The latest decision of ECOWAS Court directing FG to release Dasuki on bail is another. Every time, government churns out new charges and laughable excuses, keeping him in detention. No decent person will ask government to discharge and acquit a guilty offender!

But the offender should not be punished until found guilty. In the Nigerian Constitution, an accused is presumed innocent until the court says otherwise.

So far, Dasuki’s alleged offences are allegations, which must be proved and argued in courts.

The media trial of the suspect is not constitutional and we should remember that this is a democracy. The prosecutorial foot-dragging on Dasuki’s case appears suspicious and vindictive.

Kunle Rotimi is a Consultant, media commentator and author, Lagos

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Inhuman treatment of Mr. Rafiu Bamgbose Dear Editor

Mr. Rafiu Bamgbose is one of the numerous accident victims of the Dangote Cement Trucks, Ibese Plant in Ibese, Egbado North Area of Ogun State. On the 8th day of February, 2013, one Mr. Rafiu Bamgbose and one Idowu Taofeek were on a motorcycle at Egbo Junction, along OjaOdan/Polytechnic Papalanto Road in Ilaro, Ogun State.

One of the trucks with Reg. No: DUT132XA from the company drove by one Musa Ishaya coming from opposite direction to Bamgbose, were hit by two of the said truck tyres that pulled off from the truck whilst the truck was on a high speed. Bamgbose was seriously wounded, it was through the aid of the other motorists on the road who witnessed the accident that chased the said truck and caught the driver before he was handed over to the police at Ilaro.

It was to the chagrin of everybody to the inhuman attitude of the Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant Management that despite police report on the issue the company never deem it fit to see the victim of the accident - Bamgbose let alone take care of medical bills of the man who sustained heavy and permanent injuries to his legs. In fact Bamgbose since that time till present moment has undergone several surgical operations on his legs. In the year 2014, Bamgbose caused his solicitors of Bayo Omoniyi & Co 86, Leslie Road, Ilaro to write to the Company on the issue.

Several letters were written between 2014 to early 2016, but, to no avail. Early this year a letter dated 12th day of February, 2016 was written to the company on the issue, by the solicitors to Bamgbose, on the reception of this letter, the company denied seeing the earlier letters written.

It was at this point that the company said is ready to accede to the demand of Bamgbose as contained in the letter dated 12th day of February, 2016, but, nothing was done by the company for four months.

S.K Banmeke ESQ YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD! SEND YOUR LETTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THESUNDAYLETTERS@ GMAIL.COM. LETTERS SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 200 WORDS AND MUST HAVE THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE SENDER

13

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

news

LASG: Why we are training 500 youths in ICT Muritala Ayinla

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he Lagos State Government has said that it was embarking on training of 500 fresh graduates across the state on Information and Communication Technology to make them employable and fit into the technology driven world.

The government which blamed the unemployment rate in the country on inability of most fresh graduates to possess the required skills said it was bridging the skill gap to make most youths employable through trainings on arrays of skills.

Speaking after inspecting the ongoing training of the 500 youths on ICT, the Permanent Secretary,

Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Abdul Ahmed Mustapha said the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration was determined to tackle unemployment challenges, not only through creation of jobs for the youths but also trainings which, he said would make the youths employable in both private and public sectors of the economy.

According to him, promoting youth employment and employability requires integrated efforts that include actions in the areas of education, skills development, job supply and support for young low-income entrepreneurs, particularly in the knowledge intensive sectors.

Excitement as Ugwuanyi flags off 35 projects Charles Onyekwere Enugu

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n a move to extend the frontiers of development to the rural areas, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday flagged off a number of infrastructural projects across the 17 local government areas of the state.

The flag off ceremonies for the projects, which comprise 25 roads, water schemes, electricity, hospitals, buildings, among others, according to the governor who was represented at the various sites by members of the State Executive Council, was in keeping with his administration’s promise to drive development to every corner of the state with the aim of creating more urban centres to boost economic growth and improve the lives of the people.

Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that the events not only

represent a concrete step towards the implementation of the projects, but also “stand as another practical demonstration and capacity to fulfill our promises to the people of Enugu State, despite the severe economic constraints facing the country today”.

The governor said that in line with his administration’s grassroots development initiatives, the state government had earlier commenced the construction of eight major roads across the state, adding that its commitment to execute development projects in each of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state for the year remains sacrosanct.

According to him, “each of these projects was identified and specified by stakeholders in the respective Local Government Areas where they will be executed,” noting that two projects would be executed in each of the Council area in the first phase.

100 people to get free medicare in Bauchi Alhassan Yusuf BAUCHI

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he Al’furkan Clinic and Maternity Home and Dr. Danjuma Dabo Foundation have said about 100 people are to benefit from free medical treatment in Bauchi.

Speaking after the Juma’at prayer at the Masjidul Rahama Mosque at Wunti Street, Bauchi, the state capital, representatives of the two donors, Mallam Ibrahim Arab and Mallam Sani said treatment which started on Friday continued till yesterday; saying it was their little way of helping humanity.

They also said that the ailments that will be treated in-

cludes; diabetes, hypertension and hepatitis, saying after diagnoses, drugs will be prescribed and administered freely to the beneficiaries.

They further told Sunday Telegraph that the medical agencies had given to the Mosque about 10 forms for free distribution to worshippers who were suffering from such diseases in the area.

They said that after the initial treatment, they will be attending to the patients at their Government Reserve Area (GRA) office, along the International Academy near Dass Motor Park, for further medical attention.

Disquiet over Imo lawmakers’ illegal N63.7m levy Paul Ogbuokiri and Ezurike Ugochukwu

I

ndications have emerged that the Imo State House of Assembly may have raked in not less than N63.7 million from the recent tour of the 637 autonomous communities in the state by the State House of Assembly Committee on Autonomous Communities Affairs.

This coming as a cross-section of residents of the state spoken to by Sunday Telegraph have condemned the illegal levy collected under subtle threat of removal or merger of the autonomous communities that fail to meet required standard.

The respondents to Sunday Telegraph inquiry said the tour of the autonomous communities by the cashstrapped House of Assembly member was designed to squeeze the residents, es-

pecially every ‘taxable adult’ to the state government, whether employed, unemployed, retired or aged.

An indigene of the state, Elder Innocent Okorogu, wondered why the lawmakers chose to leave all the major challenges confronting the state to tour the communities in the name of oversight functions and tacitly compelling them to part with N100, 000.

Okorogu stated that the move in the long run will impoverish the Imo rural dwellers who are grappling with economic difficulties especially in the state, where civil servants and pensioners are owed several months arrears of salaries and pensions, while the little they receive anytime it pleases the state government is a paltry 70 per cent of what is due to them monthly.

He alleged that the House of Assembly has deviated

from its constitutional duties as a check on the executive, but is attached to its apron strings, seeing the governor as infallible in everything and giving awards to the governor and his family now and then.

Similarly, a human rights activist in the state, Okey Nwanguma, said the House’ action was against the masses, and it “amounts to robbery and extortion. They have resorted to desperate means to help themselves in the face of deprivation by the governor. “In Imo State today, there is practically no legislature. In an ideal democratic setting, the legislature acts a check on the executive, and tames it of its excesses. Presently the reverse is the case in the state, the legislature is toothless and the judiciary is crippled by non-payment of salaries for several months.

But a member of the Imo

State House of Assembly representing Orsu State Constituency, Hon. Uche Francis Agabige, said that the visit of law makers to communities was part of their oversight functions, which was brought about by a law titled ‘Community Verification Tour’. According to him, the tour was as a result of an Executive Bill that came up for the amendment of autonomous communities laws.

“We want to reach out to the people, to get some firsthand information. From the communities to enable the House enact a law to harmonise the traditional institution in the state,” he said. But he denied payment of any sum by the communities.

Agabige further said that House will enact some stringent laws that will make agitation for autonomous communities difficult and unattractive.

L-R Former Secretary to the State Governemnt, Chief Clement Okwor and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, being received by the people of Enugu East Local Government Area during the governor’s monitoring of the flag-off of 35 development projects across the state, yesterday.

Uproar as patient disappears from OOUTH

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

A

40-year-old woman, identified as Ajarat Muritala, has disappeared mysteriously from the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State.

The mother of four, who was said to have been admitted at the hospital for a heart-related problem, allegedly disappeared before treatment could be carried out.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that the patient was due for heart surgery on Tuesday.

Her brother-in-law, Mr Taofeek Muritala, who spoke with reporters, said the hospital management had asked them to provide the sum of N1.5 million for

the surgery.

He explained that the family was making efforts towards raising the money when they discovered that her bed was suddenly vacant.

The incident has since generated controversy as the family and hospital authorities continued to trade blames.

But reacting, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, said the case was that of abscondment and not disappearance.

Ipaye claimed that the family was trying to play smart on the hospital management.

He said relevant security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), had been informed about the incident.

According to him, the pa-

tient was admitted into the Accident and Emergency ward of the hospital and had been stabilised before the incident.

The commissioner insisted that the hospital could not have asked the family to pay N1.5million for the surgery.

He said the patient would only be requested to pay admission fee, which he noted, was not up to N10, 000.

He explained that around 1:30pm on Wednesday, the patient said she wanted to go to the bathroom while some of her family members were present.

Ipaye said: “At 2:pm when the nurses could not see her, they reported the matter to the head of the nurses. They went outside and did not see the woman and the family members.

“Those who know the woman told the management that the patient had psychiatric problem and was not brought to the hospital by her husband. We learnt that she was brought to the hospital by an Alfa (Muslim cleric). They said her husband was at Odogbolu and the patient had been seen at the area.

“It is a case of abscondment and the government has begun moves to investigate the issue. The DSS is aware of the matter, I have also asked them to look for the husband.”

CHANGE OF NAME WAHAB

I formerly known and addressed as AvosehAbiodun Olajumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Wahab Abiodun Olajumoke.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

14

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

DSS arrested me because of Tinubu, Dasuki, Malami, Kanu – Justice Ademola

O

ne of the judges of the Federal High Court arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) last weekend, Adeniyi Ademola, has said he was being tried for granting bail to ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki and ruling that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, be freed.

In a letter dated October 11, addressed to Mahmoud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ademola said he was held for over 24 hours before he was told the reason why he was brought to the DSS office.

“Upon signing the document, they told me that I am under arrest and ordered me with guns still pointed at me to move outside. As I was going, they told me they were taking me to their office, Department of State Services (DSS) office, without showing any war-

rant of arrest.

“I obeyed them and about six o’clock in the morning, I was whisked away from my residence to the DSS office without any warrant of arrest or reason for my arrest.

“From the time of my arrival at the DSS office, at about 6:45am on 8/10/2016, I was not told what my crime was for over 24 hours till the evening of 9/10/2016.

“A DSS official finally informed me that my arrest were based on these three allegations: petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th of April 2016 to the National Judicial Council (NJC); granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu; and using my office to secure my wife’s appointment as the Head of Civil Service, through Senator Bola Tinubu,” the letter read.

Ademola said he saw

his arrest as revenge from Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), whose arrest and detention he ordered over a professional misconduct while he was judge in Kano between 2004 and 2008.

“What is more intriguing in this whole episode, is that I see it as a vendetta/ revenge from the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; whilst I was in Kano between 2004 and 2007 as a Federal High Court judge, he was involved in a professional misconduct necessitating his arrest and detention by my order,” he said.

Justice Ademola said operatives later presented him with a list of items that were found in his home which could be used as exhibits, but he initially declined to sign the paper.

“They threatened me that if I did not sign it they

would not leave me alone and whatever they did to me at that point would be recorded that I will not be alive to tell the story of what transpired between me and them that night.

“For fear and interest of my life, and unknown persons with masks on their faces, I collected the written items and signed the document,” the Justice said.

The judge said he has been putting up at a hotel in downtown Abuja and sought permission to proceed on leave during which he intended to pursue a remediation for alleged breach of his fundamental rights by the DSS. Special Assistant to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mr. Ahurakah Isah, confirmed to Sunday Telegraph last night that the office of the CJN received such a letter from the embattled justice of the Supreme Court.

Police boss lauds prevailing peace in Aladja, Ogbe-Ijoh Ola James Warri

T

he Police Area Commander of Warri, ACP Muazu Mohammed, is full of commendations for the state of peace now in Aladja and Ogbe-ijoh communities in Delta State following the increased patrol by security agencies.

He told newsmen that the enduring peace now pervading the two communities is a testimony that the perennial crisis in the area is now dead and buried.

“I can assure you that effort made to bring peace to the neighbouring communities has yielded positive result, you can see that residents of both communities are now moving without molestation or harassment of any kind,” he said.

Muazu, an Assistant

Tiv leaders deny petition against Gov Ishaku Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

T

L-R: Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi with the Country Resident Representative, Islamic Bank Group, Abdallah Kiliaki during the governor’s visit to the bank in Abuja on Wednesday.

Muhammad Kabir KANO

T

he Magistrates Association of Nigeria, has despite stand taken by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the clampdown on some judicial officers, declared their full support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption.

The President of the Association, Saidu Safiyanu, said that the war is aimed at sanitising the Nigerian state from every aspect of corrupt practices.

“This corruption in all ramifications should be condemned and the perpetrators punished so that Nigeria can come out clean.”

He said that as professionals, they had taken

Magistrates back Buhari’s corruption war against Judiciary judicial oath to uphold the rule of law and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to engage in anything not good for the society.

The president of the association advised the federal government to consider the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the constitution and the independence of the judiciary to enable judiciary function efficiently and effectively.

According to him, the judiciary does not have full autonomy and is underfunded because it is still getting it’s statutory allocation

from the executive.

Safiyanu said if there was full separation of powers, the judiciary would not act on anybody’s script.

On the crackdown on some judges across the country by the Department of State Service (DSS), he said proper channels and procedures were not followed during their arrest and the search on their houses.

Safiyanu explained that there was a laid down procedure if any judge was found wanting whereby such judge would be reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for

investigation and prosecution.

“For instance, in the military, officers are court martialed if they are found guilty of any offence before they are handed over to a conventional court for final judgment.

“For our senior colleagues, the right steps were not adhered to in their arrest because the NJC is the constituted body that is saddled with powers to recruit, promote and fire any erring judge of the Supreme Court and even hand culprits over to the appropriate body for further action,” he said.

Commissioner of Police whose area of jurisdiction also extends to Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh, however, warned that anyone who attempts to break the peace accord recently achieved will not be spared.

“My major concern is that leaders of both communities should call their youths to order. It will not be good seeing the two neighbouring communities engage in communal crisis that will do no one any good,” the Area Commander said, insisting that peace must prevail at all times in the communities.

“Both communities intermarry and, even the mother of the Ogbe-ijoh monarch, HRM Couple Oromoni is from Aladja. Infact, I see no reason why they should be at each other’s throats,” he said.

he Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Taraba State, an umbrella body of the entire Tiv people of Taraba has disassociated itself from a petition by some of its kinsmen against the state’s governor, Darius Ishaku.

It would be recalled that a group of 27 Tiv persons from Dan-Anacha community in Gassol Local Government Area of the state recently petitioned the Taraba State governor, in which they accused him of agreeing to rename their dominant area (Dan-Anacha) to Kwararafa.

The petitioners said the move to rename their community was as a result of the continued marginalisation of their ethnic group in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Jalingo, the state

capital, President General of the association, Mr. Goodman Dahida condemned the petition, describing it as not only misleading, but also capable of pitching the Tiv people of the state against the governor.

He said that the petitioners did not consult the leadership of Tiv in the state before writing, insisting that the group did not take action for and on behalf of the entire Tiv people of the Taraba.

Dahida noted that, the only authentic voice of the Tiv people of Taraba is Tiv Cultural and Social Association and none of the officials signed the petition, adding that, the number of Tivs as an ethnic group in the state is not 27 and the action of the group should not be misconstrued to mean that all the Tivs in the state were behind the action.

Police arrest 3 Benue Agric Ministry staff over missing N12m Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

T

he Police in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have confirmed the arrest of three officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources over their alleged complicity in the diversion of N12 million meant for the supply of fertiliser to farmers in the state.

Spokesman of the command, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the arrest of the trio, said they were being quizzed over their alleged involvement in the scam.

Those arrested included

the Director of Finance, Christiana Mhambe; Accountant, Samson Abeh and the Cashier in the Ministry, Susan Chieriyol.

The suspects were said to have used the state government’s account to defraud some persons who were said to have offered the amount through them for the supply of fertilisers, but later reneged on the agreement earlier reached.

The state Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr. James Anbua, has also confirmed the arrest of the three and noted that, the matter is being investigated by the police.

15

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

SUNDAY

Body Soul S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 6

Amiable First Ladies of the North West

16

Body&Soul

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Here Beyond

StyleSta ker

Yvonne Jegede

Mellow in

yellow Vanessa Okwara

Edgy and Chic

O

ne of the biggest colour trends this year, both here in Nigeria and international fashion scene is yellow. Yellow colour is associated with laughter, happiness and good times. All the more reason to wear it wholeheartedly!

Yellow is bright, it’s loud, it’s in-your-face – it’s a bold colour, and it’s not something you wear if you’re trying to play it safe. You may dismiss it immediately as a colour you cannot wear, but you don’t have to go full out in yellow to embrace the colour. If you don’t want to wear yellow all through, yellow separates are just as pretty; keep the rest of the look basic to avoid ending up on the worst-dressed list. If you don’t want to be really bright, go for a more muted yellow, like mustard yellow.

Since yellow is a bright colour you don’t need much of it to give your outfit just that bit of colour or extra flair. Keep your accessories simple and neutral: for bags and shoes think black and beige. Let the bright clothes steal the spotlight.

For your makeup, go for red lips. The two colours are so complementary and you will come out looking radiant and beautiful.

Eunice Stephen

W

e are stalking the style of the Nigerian actress, Yvonne Jegede, this week. She first featured in 2face’s video ‘African Queen’ in 2004. That same year, she made her Nollywood debut when she acted in ‘Missing Angel’. Yvonne Jegede left the scene in 2007 to study International Relations in a University in Cyprus after completing a Diploma in Law. She returned to Nollywood upon coming back to the country in 2012.

The Edo state born beauty has starred in over 50 movies which have contributed to bringing her to stardom. She also featured in several TV series such as:” Behind the Siege”,” Tears of a Saint”,”Blaze of Glory”,”Everyday People” and “Edge of Paradise” The gifted actress who has been on top of her game has recently delved into movie pro-

duction where she produced ‘3 is Company’ premiered last year.

This pretty and sexy Nollywood actress does not only know how to captivate her viewers with her role interpretations but also with the way she coordinates colours to suit her dark complexion. She is a sensual fashionista who leaves her fans especially the menfolk drooling upon seeing her. Her fashion sense is bold and always seems to make the statement “I am definitely not afraid to flaunt what I have”.

But we love her in this floral red silk mermaid number which has the tulle wrap over the boddice and a turban to complete the sultry look. She is one of those actresses that dress to complement the occassion. The actress cum model is in love with heels and lovely bags .If you are looking for an edgy and pretty fashionable star then you should check out Yvonne Jegede.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

Body&Soul

Amiable First Ladies of the North West

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu

Mariya Aminu Tambuwal

Hajiya Hadiza Masari

Hadiza El-Rufai

They are the pretty wives of Governors of the North western part of the country. They’re strong, silent pillars of support for their husbands as they doggedly deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens who voted them into power in the last general elections. Although some of them are not in the public eye and some may have even relinquished the official position of the First Lady of their respective states, yet they play pivotal roles of being both wife to the governor and mother of the state. These beautiful women serve as strong backbones in the successful governance of their various states alongside their husbands.

They are not after the glamour of being the First Lady but are more interested in making positive impact through philanthropy. These First Ladies are not only beautiful, they are women who help their husbands in achieving their potentials; not only as soul mates but as successful politicians. In this piece, VANESSA OKWARA unveils the affable wives of the North West Governors and their various passions Kano State Dr. Hafsat Ganduje is the delectable wife of the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. She is a senior lecturer in the department of Education at Bayero University, Kano. Born 58 years ago and blessed with seven children, she is a highly respected professional who recently completed a doctorate degree programme in Education Psychology with flying colours, at Bayero University, Kano (BUK). Dr. Hafsat is a humble and respectable wife who shows care to her family, friends and by extension, political associates of her husband. She works behind the scenes, supporting her husband in running the affairs of the state. She was a principal at a school in the Federal Capital Territory. It was from this teaching job that she took a leave of absence to pursue her doctoral programme at Bayero University, Kano. Being an educationist, Dr. Hafsat is passionate about the girl-child education and urges parents in the state to enrol their girls into schools provided by the state government.

Currently, she is a Director in the Ganduje Foundation, a philanthropic organisation in the state that is affording her the opportunity to live her desired life of giving to the less privileged. Her style is classic and cultured.

Kaduna State Hadiza El-Rufai is the wife of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. She is a symbol of genuine humility and a lady of few words. In her calm and quiet disposition, she has been working assiduously behind the scenes to support her husband who has a flair for politics. Born in Kano and raised in Kaduna, Mrs. Hadiza graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, ABU in 1983 with a Master’s degree in Architecture and has since passed her professional exams in that field.

She also got an MBA in 1992 from ABU and more recently in 2012, she acquired another Master’s degree, this time in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University in the UK. Hadiza as an adult studied French and is a fluent speaker of the language. She is interested in writing, the fine arts, gardening and landscaping. As people close to her know, her choice of style is simple and adorned with a humanitarian heart.

Katsina State The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, has three wives, Hajiya Hadiza, Hajiya Binta, and Hajiya Sakiya. Hajiya Binta was the most visible during the last general election campaigns and hails from Kofar Soro in Katsina Local Government, while Hajiya Sakiya is from Kofar Bai of the same state. All the wives are into business. Hajiya Hadiza is also visible in the state affairs.

Although no First Lady or pet project is visible in Katsina State, yet laudable projects are

being executed in the state and these women play prominent roles in seeing to their execution; especially in cases concerning the youth, women and children. Recently, the state has trained 250 female students on rape and hard drug prevention.

Kebbi State Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu is the beautiful wife of Abubabkar Atiku Bagudu, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State. She is one of the children of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi. She is a Consultant Pediatrician and doubles as both the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics, Abuja. She is using her wealth of knowledge to educate women on health care; especially awareness for cancer. She is the founder of The Medicaid Cancer Foundation, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness for cancer and funds for cancer care. Over N40M was raised this October to help indigent cancer patients.

She is well loved by many because of her gentle nature, irrespective of her status. Dr. Zainab Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is a woman with a savvy personality when it comes to fashion and also has a kind heart. Earlier this year, she adopted the daughter of a mentally challenged woman who roamed the streets of Birnin Kebbi. The girl identified as Siddiqa Bako has since been renamed Siddiqa Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. Her mentally unstable mother was also taken to the hospital.

She’s a lover of scarves and lacy cover ups typical of devout Muslim ladies. Her style is simple and uncomplicated.

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has lovely wives who all contribute to his success in the state. The wife that is more visible is Mariya Aminu Tambuwal. She hails from Sanyinna District in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State and her philanthropic nature has endeared her to many in her hometown.

Mariya’s visibility in the state is mostly seen in the health sector through her initiative called Mariya Tambuwal Development Initiative (MTDI). Through her organisation, she addresses health issues in the state like awareness for cancer and helping victims in the hospital who cannot afford to pay their medical bills.

In recognition of Her Excellency’s simultaneous visits to hospitals within the state to assist less privileged patients and support for the health institutions, members of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Sokoto branch, appointed her as Patron of Sokoto Medical Women Association.

Jigawa State Mrs. Badaru Abubakar, wife of the Governor of Jigawa State, Governor Badaru Abuba-

Mrs. Badaru Abubakar

Dr. Hafsat Ganduje

kar Muhammed, is a very beautiful woman.

Her infectious smiles, carriage and glowing skin always earn her a second glance each time she steps out. There’s no office of the First Lady in Jigawa State but she’s known to lend support to her husband in running the affairs of the state successfully. Her style is in conformity with women in her religion and she favours simple jewellery.

Zamfara State Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’azeez Yari Abubakar, has lovely wives who support his political ambition. Since his re-election into office last year, there is no visible office of the First Lady in Zamfara State or is any of his wives coming out to visibly represent that office. In his previous tenure, one of his wives, Hajiya Hadiza, was the most visible.

Hadiza has always been confident and zealous in giving her husband a helping hand to achieve desired goals in developing the state.

She has been involved in various programmes particularly in the health sector. Her swift response to the plight of women, children and the physically challenged in the society earned her a lot of commendation and admiration from the masses.

Body&Soul

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

18

Breezy

Sunday looks

Biwom Iklaki

S

unday is usually a day to rest and catch up on personal obligations as per social and in some rare cases, business. While

it may be a chance to relax, your style does not need to suffer either.

Bring your fashion game on strong but you have the liberty to keep it casual too. So, what you want to do is choose a comfortable style that

still represents you. It could be in Ankara or English fabrics or even design for that matter, but keep it cool and relaxed; after all, you are not obliged to dress for the boardroom.

Editor’s current obsession

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

Wine & Dine

Perfect wine blends Ibukunoluwa Kayode

W

ine is fun. It’s complex, vibrant and meaningful. It should be part of your life. A glass of wine is a perfect way to relax after the hustling and bustling of the day.

Thanks to great variety blend of grapes combined to create a perfect, rich and smooth tasty wine.

Great varietal wines from Bordeaux and Champagne are world-renowned, for their exceptional wine blends.

So, what grapes make the perfect blends?

History plays a leading role in determining the world’s best wine blends. Traditionally, when different grape varieties grow side-by-side in the vineyard, winemakers would pick them at the same time, and pool them together for fermentation. This style is now called a field blend; this is how Port is made.

However, over time, winemakers began to realise that fermenting varieties separately, made for a more consistent recipes. Therefore, they began fermenting each grape variety in separate barrels and combined the different wines together afterward in a vat called a “cuvée.” These cuvées were then sold and labelled from the regions where the grapes were grown. This is why in old wine making countries, such as Italy and France, you’ll see wines named after a town like; Rosso di Montalcino ‘red of Montalcino’.

The world most popular wine blend from Bordeaux, France uses cabernet sauvignon or merlot as the base ingredients along with cabernet franc, malbe, petit verdict and sometimes carménère.

There are many variations of this blend, depending where it’s grown. In Tuscany, Sangiovese is blended with Cabernet and Merlot to create a ‘super tuscan’ blend. In Argentina, the region’s popular Malbec is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to add complexity in another variant of this blend.

​​Pineapple mango salsa

Biwom Iklaki

S

alsas are fun and cooling salads but with a bit of heat. This weather that is often blowing hot and cold between the rains and the scorching heat from the sun, needs something that can act as a respite.

This pineapple mango salas is the perfect meal for the season, refrigerated, it is sure to cool you off and with the heat from peppers, you will find that it can chase the chills from the rainy moments away.

If this sounds like something you need, keep reading.

Ingredients 1 medium pineapple, peeled and diced without core 2 large mangoes, peeled, deseeded and diced 1 small onion, chopped 1 lime, juiced ½ tsp lime zest 1 jalapeno pepper, diced ½ cup chopped cilantro 2 red bonnet peppers Preparation Before we begin, note that I love heat so I left the seeds in the peppers.

After all the prep is done, pour the lot into a large bowl and toss gently. Pour the juice over the fruits and mix. The interaction of the sweet pineapple, sweet mangoes with a hint of tart and the acid from the lime which all explodes in your mouth with the introduction of the heat from the peppers is perfect harmony to your tastebuds. Enjoy this salsa as a salad or as an accompaniment for your grilled fish or just a dip for your crackers or chips.

20

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

I’m going hubby-shopping (10) Juliet Bumah

K

athryn watches as Dave heads for the door. She’s shocked.

This is the first time he’ll call her name

in full.

As he slips on his palms, it occurs to her that he’s serious about leaving.

Without thinking, she moves to the centre table and grabs his two handsets.

“You ain’t going anywhere, sweetheart. You ain’t leaving me,” she tells him as he stretches his hand for his phones.

“Yes, I’m leaving, Kathryn. I don’t hang around where I’m not wanted,” he says.

“And who told you you’re not wanted here?”

“You, of course,” he replies.

“Ok, have your phones,” she says and hands them over to him.

As he turns the lock at the door. She calls him and he turns.

Kathryn stands behind, tears streaming down her cheeks. Oh no!

He is beside her in seconds and scoops her in his arms.

“My wife, what’s the matter? Why are you crying? You must tell me what the problem is,” he says.

“Why didn’t you leave? You wanted to leave,” she manages to say between sobs.

“No my love, I didn’t want to leave. You were pushing me to leave. You couldn’t bear to have me around you,” he says.

Kathryn curls her arms around his neck and draws his face down to hers.

“I love you Dave. I don’t want you to leave.

I want you to stay. Please,” she says, sobbing.

“I’ll stay, please stop crying. I love you too. I need you in my life,” he says.

“What about your wife? What happens when she comes back?” She asks.

“My wife? Forget about her, my love,” he replies with a chuckle as they move to the couch.

He sheds his clothes again...

After a bit of fooling around on the couch, she tells him, “Let’s go to my room. There’s no sheath within reach here...

They drag each other into the room and tumble into the bed. Dave is like a he-goat on heat.

This is the first time they’ll be on a bed together. Dave feels like a groom on his wedding night...only that the bride is no learner. For the first time, she lies on her back and takes him in.

Then, she shifts her ample derrière a little to the left, pushing him a little off her. Dave feels like he’s drowning. A little scream escapes his lips.

Then she begins a slow movement that feels like she’s dancing to a very slow Makossa tune.

Anytime her derrière heaves, Dave clutches at anything his hands find as the feeling of drowning intensifies.

Slowly, she moves until Dave’s head is cradled in the crook of her left hand, her large boobs nuzzling his face. He takes one tit into his mouth and suckles it like a baby while playing with the other. The feeling is heavenly. Kathryn continues to rock slowly to the silent rhythm, building up tempo. With her right hand, she traces paths on his body, digging in her nails a little and massaging him. As her hips moves faster, Dave begins to shiver and scream.

“Baby relax, ain’t gonna hurt you,” she coos and moves faster.

“Yes...yes...yes...” Dave mumbles between sucks as his man swells to fill up the warm, wet and cozy home that keeps oozing sweet juice...

“Fastaaaaaaaaa,” he screams as spirit mixed with sugar filled his brain and his buns move of their own accord.

Kathryn is in another realm. She rocks hard and fast to the music in her head. She gallops

and bucks alternatively, making him feel like she’s swallowing him at the other end.

She dances until the music reaches the crescendo and all the instrument explode at the same time in a cloud of silvery smoke. They both scream, and scream until the spasms leave them. Then, they lay...spent.

The intercom has been buzzing. They ignore it. They’re too shaky to get off the bed.

“My wife, you’re the bomb. I’ll never leave you,” he tells her, smiling. His breath is still irregular.

“Thanks honey,” she replies, her voice cheery.

They doze off but the intercom buzzes again and she picks it.

“Good afternoon Aunty. You have a visitor here...Ben,” the security man says.

Kathryn’s breath catches in her throat. Dave is breathing evenly. Good.

“I’ll call him now. Tell him that,” she says into the mouthpiece and hangs up.

Gently, she gets off the bed and walks noiselessly out of the room.

She has missed 11 calls on her phone, seven of them from Ben. She dials his number.

“What happened dear? I’ve been so worried,” he says, concern in his voice.

“I’m sorry Ben, my uncle is around...”she begins. ......

Dave wakes up with a start. She’s not in the room with him. He goes searching for the woman that has stolen his heart... .....

Kathryn is at a loss. She has just given the dumbest excuse anyone could come up with.

A 36-year old unmarried lady can’t be giving the ‘my uncle is around’ kind of excuse! She just does not know what to say.

“And what if your uncle is around? Will he whip you if you pick your calls or a male visitor comes visiting you? By the way, you told me you live alone, that makes your uncle a visitor to your home,” Ben says a little impatiently.

“I’m sorry Ben. You’re right. My phone was in the room and I was in the kitchen. But this uncle of mine is particularly nasty. I wouldn’t want him to put you off,” Kathryn lies, her voice very low. She’s scare that Dave may wake up any moment.

“Hmmmmmmmm...maybe he wants to get married to you then. Anyway, we have a date.

Are you calling it off because of your uncle?

Kathy, I like you. I really want to get to know you better,” he says.

“Of course, we’re not calling it off. I’m preparing his food. Can you please give me two hours?” she asks.

“You mean you want me to hang around for another two hours? You can’t be serious. I’m in front of your house and you could neither invite me in nor come out to see me because your uncle is in the house! Well, I’m leaving.

You may call me when you’ve had enough of your uncle,” Ben says and cuts the line.

Kathryn holds the phone to her ears. She’s so confused.

She feels a presence and turns round. Dave, in his birthday suit, stands at the corridor, watching her. Her hands fly to to her face.

“What’s the matter?” He asks with raised eyebrows.

“Nothing love,” she replies.

“Must be bad news you got,” he says, his face expressionless.

Kathryn doesn’t know what to says, she can’t tell how long he’s been standing there and if he heard anything.

She makes some inaudible sound and makes to go into the kitchen.

“Who was that on the phone?” Dave asks and she stops dead on her track.

“A friend,” she says, hesitantly.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect you to be talking to an enemy. It seems you have a date,” he says, chuckling.

Kathryn’s heart pounds. She’s sure it’s loud enough for him to hear.

“Don’t worry my wife, I’ll leave. Will be waiting for you at home. You can go meet your friends. You’re not a prisoner,” he says, walking back to the room, his man drooping like a condemned armed robber that just faced a firing squad. .........

Kathryn mopes around the house. She picks her phone and drops it. She has done that a number of time. What should she do? Dave is long gone.

She loves him so much, that she knows. But a married man? What future is there for her with him? She needs to get married!

That fact stings her to action.

“Don’t wanna grow into an old maid,” she says aloud and laughs.

“Maid? Now that’s a word used to describe a virgin. I ain’t gonna grow into one. There must be a word to describe an old and retired sinner like me,” she says aloud and chuckles.

Her phone buzzes.

Ben! She takes the call.

“You didn’t tell me that your uncle was already waiting for you when you got home from church. He was the guy sitting in the car parked outside your gate. So young an uncle!

He sure has nice taste though...I mean his car,” he says.

Hmmmmmmmmm! Can it get worse?

“Ben! I thought you said you couldn’t hang around? Anyway, glad to know that you waited after all,” she says calmly.

“No, I didn’t wait. I ran into a friend on your street and noticed your uncle coming out of your house,” he says.

“So where are you now?” She asks.

“Does it matter where I am? Your uncle left over 30 minutes ago and you didn’t call me as you promised. Meaning you didn’t want to see me,” he says.

“No, not that dear. I was cleaning up,” she lies, glibly.

“Oh? Didn’t know you’re so domesticated.

You don’t look it though. I’m home. When you didn’t call when I saw your uncle leave, I guessed you didn’t want to see me, so I left.

Can you come to my house? It’s not too far from yours,” he says.

“Not now dear, I really do not feel like driving right now. I’ll call you later in the evening,” she replies.

Ben is cool with her response. It makes her feel better.

That phone call seems to galvanize her into action.

She scrolls through the contacts on her phone and dials a number. It rings out twice. She waits for some minutes and dials the number again.

Engaged. ********** What is Kathryn up to? How’s she gonna handle this tricky situation?

Join me here next week as we continue on this journey. ********************************* •Send your observations to: julietbumah@ gmail.com

21

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

Our judiciary has failed us, it deserves no pity -Gbagi p.22,23

T

he judiciary in Nigeria, in an unprecedented manner, has come under trial, no thanks to allegations of corruption alleged taking place in the hallowed temple of justice.

Penultimate week the Department of State Service (DSS) raided and arrested about seven judges over alleged humongous corruption. In a nocturnal operation, the DSS invaded the judges ‘apartments in various parts of the country, arresting some.

Before the invasion and arrest of the judges, the DSS said it had commenced a probe of some the judges and forwarded petitions to the National Judicial Council over alleged corrupt activities on the bases of outcries from members of the public.

The DSS, between penultimate Friday night and in the early hours of the following Saturday simultaneously invaded the houses of two Justices of the Supreme Court- Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Justice Inyang Okoro.

They also swooped on the residents of both Justice Adeniyi Ademola and Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court. Both Justices Okoro and Ngwuta are neighbours at the Judicial Officers’ Quarters in Abuja, while Justices Ademola and Dimgba live next to each other at the Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

The DSS operatives surrounded the judicial officers’ houses for hours before they eventually broke in at about 1am on Saturday and after searching the houses, the security agents eventually took Justice Ademola away at about 5am.

The DSS operatives allegedly beat up Justice Dimgba’s brother during the operation. On that same day, in Gombe, men of the security agency arrested Justice Muazu Pindiga, who was the first chairman of the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal, before he was changed midway into the hearing of the dispute arising from the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Others were Justice Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.

Justices Umezulike. Auta, and Tsamiya had earlier been recommended for sack by the NJC for alleged corrupt activities.

The secret service had however released the judges on bail.

Since the arrest, controversies continued to trail the legality of the arrest, setting the judiciary against the executive. Even the legislature was not left out as both the Senate and House of Representatives said the action was illegal and outside the law that established the DSS. Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), condemned the invasion of residences and arrest of some judicial officers by men of the DSS, insisting that they acted outside their constitutional mandate.

Senator Melaye said that even though it is true that the judiciary is currently very corrupt, with empirical evidences, and despite his total support for the ongoing fight against corruption, the DSS went outside its constitutional mandate, and must be called to order in the interest of democracy.

He said:"I state unequivocally that it is true that there is corruption in the judiciary and this truth was established last

Nigeria’s economy needs better management, says Obaze p.25

The Sunday Interview

Gumi: Buhari should adopt political solutions to anti-graft war

Politics

p26&31

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

Judiciary on trial For several millenniums, the judiciary was the last hope of the common man, because judges wield the power of life and death. But allegations of corruption now put it on trial, write CHUKWU DAVID and TUNDE OYESINA

Buhari

week by the expulsion of three judges by the NJC; it is also a celestial truth that judges have been dishing out what I call commercial rulings, it is also a fundamental truth that judges need to face the full wrath of the law especially where the issues of corruption is concerned, this senate, therefore, will continue to celebrate the war against corruption either in the judiciary, the legislature or the executive.

"I support the fight against corruption, irrespective of who is involved either a supreme court judge, judge of the court of appeal or of the high court or even magistrate. But why I support the fight against corruption, it is a misnomer; it is absurd for the Department of State Services to operate outside their mandate.

"The responsibility of the State Security Services is clearly defined in the National Security Agencies Act 2010, Cap 350, which states clearly that the state security services shall be charged with the responsibility for the prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against internal security of Nigeria. I emphasise the internal security of Nigeria.

"The second responsibility as enshrined by the law setting up the DSS states that the protection and preservation of nonmilitary classified matters concerning again, the internal security of Nigeria.

"The third and the last responsibility as enshrined by law is such other responsi-

Mohammed

bilities affecting again internal security within Nigeria, as the National Assembly or the President as the case maybe, may deem necessary.

“How do bribery and corruption become an issue of internal security? How does bribing judges or official misconduct in their official capacity become a threat to internal security? The point here is that the DSS in her fight against corruption overstepped their boundaries and abused their mandate."

The National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), A.B Mahmud, (SAN). Mahmud noted that the action of the DSS was unlawful and unconstitutional. He, however, warned that the country's judiciary should not be exposed to ridicule and disdain by security operatives under the guise of fighting corruption.

Mahmud insisted that the invasion the houses of the justices in the middle of the night by masked security operatives was not proper, crude and uncivilised .

Mahmud, however, said that lawyers in the country will not condone any act of indiscipline among judges and will not shield any judge found to have contravened the law.

He further stated that the justification of the action of the DSS by the Presidency was not tenable and asked the Presidency to always act within the ambit of the law.

He said the rule of law was compro-

mised, in the way and manner the houses of the judges were invaded by the DSS operatives because under the constitution they have no power to dabble into economic matters as they did in the arrest.

According to him, under the constitution the DSS is empowered to look into issues of internal security and terrorism adding that the judges are not terrorists as such the clamp down on them like terrorist was unlawful.

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola while commenting said: “I am particularly saddened by the arrests. How can they be so treated like criminals? The fact that the DSS released the judges the next day showed that they did not evade arrest. Why should they humiliate them in the first instance? It is a trite law that process arrest warrant, they should not have gone on midnight raid of tinhe houses of the judges.”

For Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, he opined that the manner of arrest was uncalled for. "The new onslaught against the judiciary signals great danger to our hard won democracy, freedom, liberties and human rights, independence of the judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers ably espoused in 1748 by the great French philosopher, Baron De Montesquieu.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

Our judiciary has failed us, it In the last one week, the simultaneous raid on the residences of some judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal and their arrest in different parts of the country has generated a lot of controversy. In this interview with ONWUKA NZESHI a former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi takes on the issue but disagrees with his lawyer colleagues and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) on the propriety of the action

What is your reaction to the recent arrest of judges by the DSS? First and foremost, I want to thank the Director General of DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura that this month and going forward, he is now entitled to earn tax payers money as his salary. We just appoint people into offices and Nigerians don't demand of them the responsibilities they owe the country and so they don't care about what the people think of them.

Earlier on, I had abused the DG DSS that he was not standing up to the responsibilities that the constitution has bestowed on him. So, I am very glad that he has woken up. I don't know if what I said was part of the reason for the recent arrest and detention of these judges. I congratulate him wholeheartedly.

But some Nigerians are unhappy about the arrest of these judges. Why do you have a different view about the action?

Let us look at it critically. If you take the laws of Nigeria, specifically the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and run down to Section 12.1 and Section 13, that law gives a law officer and by extension you and me, the powers to break into any house within Nigeria for purposes of effecting an arrest. It goes further to state in Section41.1 that it does not matter whether it is Saturday or Sunday; breaking in is legal for purposes of effecting a lawful arrest and saving the state.

In Section 47.1 of that sane Act, it went further and gave you and I who are civilians, the power to arrest persons. It does not even specify that you must produce a warrant of arrest. It says that warrant of arrest can be produced after the act of entry and arrest has been concluded.

Every day, you hear Nigerians crying about the situation of the country. We are all supposedly intelligent people but we have be one people without any wits; we have become people without any sense of what a nation should run on and we lack courage and commitment to do what is right.

Criminals have taken over our country; they are now running the state and if you and I are not careful, we will soon become a kangaroo nation where the voice of criminals that have bought journalism, the voice criminals that have bought into the news media including the print, electronic and social media are loudest.

If you go to the greatest democracy in the world, the United State, on January 31, 2013,

back in shame.

What I am saying is that let us develop ourselves to a level where we can save our nation. The reason why we are crying today and why dollar has collapsed is corruption.

We must allow probity and accountability.

Unless we do that we will continue to fool ourselves, hunger will kill us in this country and we will sell our mothers graves because we will not have any other thing to fall back on.

If you were a former minister like I and you find any skeleton in my cupboard, I am living above my means, security agencies can bring me to book because that is the responsibility the constitution vested on them. I was a trader before, I am still a trader; bring me to book. Why are you afraid? If you are a judge who is not a criminal and who has not gone to take bribe, why are you afraid?

Gbagi

the FBI arrested nine judges in the country and prosecuted them for various bribery offences, some of them as low as $100. One of the judges, Willy Saglitary was involved in the miscarriage of justice with just $100 and was prosecuted.

In 2015, some judges in India were arrested by their own agency which is just like the DSS here, for committing bribery offences. It was not as heinous as the ones we have here. What have we saddled ourselves with as a people? Unless we take action no matter whose ox is gored, we cannot solve this problem of corruption in our system.

Our magistrates or judges at the High Courts, Appeal Courts and the Justices of the Supreme Court are the only hope left for the ordinary, poor and downtrodden man in every nation of the world. This is why everything must be done to chase them, everything must be done to pursue them and ensure they do not mess up with the system.

A judge who earns a particular salary as stipulated by the law is now the richest man in his community. He never sold rice or bought rice before; he never traded in any commodity but he owns mansions and estates, his children are all schooling abroad.

He does not own those monies. These monies belong to the tax payers and have been ferried to him by way of theft and unless we bring these judges to book, it will be unfortunate that Nigeria is gone to the oblivion.

Unless we take action no matter whose ox is gored, we cannot solve this problem of corruption in our system.

Some Nigerians say they are not opposed to the anti- corruption war but they do not support the modus operandi of the DSS. What is your take on this dilemma?

We were told that they were invited by the security agencies to come and explain certain things to avoid this show down but as usual, they all have some of my colleagues who are lawyers whom they asked to go to court to ask for obnoxious stay of execution or stay of proceedings.

So all they were waiting before the DSS struck was that waiting for the following Monday to get an order to stop the DSS

from carrying out their legitimate constitutional obligation. As a result, the security operatives acted faster by ensuring that they carried out the act during the weekend to avoid losing the value of what they wanted to achieve. That was why all of those actions that are covered by law took place over the weekend.

Where do we as Nigerians want to go? If you recall, in the days of your father and my father, your grandfather and my grandfather, if a child is a thief and was caught in the act, the family will produce him publicly and tell him to go and answer for his crimes. That was when Nigeria was Nigeria.

But today, we have so debased ourselves to the extent that we just dance to the gallery.

A person who is a thief is the one who is controlling us. A person who has no reason whatsoever to be in the society is there wearing a big cloth, driving a big car and it's unfortunate. I have read through all the reports on the arrest of the judges and embarrassingly, I find it very difficult as a Nigerian to keep quiet on this issue. Should we allow this country to sink? Should we allow criminals to take Nigeria hostage and we will have no country to call ours?

As a former minister, how would you feel if security operatives break into your house at midnight to arrest you?

With greatest respect, those who live in glass houses don't throw stones. I have not only served as a minister in Nigeria, I was the Chairman of the Delta Development and Property Authority (DDPA) in Delta State who did all the assets sharing; I was the Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, I was the Chairman of the Gwarinpa Estate during the Sani Abacha era, but I am saying that a thief is a thief.

Light does not just move in the night. So for them to have just come to your house, you have questions to answer. Unless we allow ourselves transparent scrutiny in this country, we are not going to make progress.

If you were a minister, you have served in government and something is traceable to you, let them come and open your house and if they don't see anything, they will go

Don't you think that your opposition appears contrary to the position of your party on this issue?

I am diametrically opposed to the position of my party. We are still running as though everything is about opposition. It is not a party matter. It is a matter of cleansing Nigeria of criminals. I have spent the last 25 years of my life fighting this same battle that unless we have a clean Nigeria, we are dead. Who are the people who started bribing these judges? Go and name them. Who are leadership of the PDP? Have you seen a country where a President is yanked off from office like Jonathan was yanked off of office? Was it not the PDP who ruled this country for 16 years? I am a PDP member and I say categorically let us not use the name, PDP to deceive ourselves. There millions of people in the PDP who are dying under squalor, poverty and sicknesses that they cannot cure because of the actions of a few irresponsible members of the party.

So, I am saying that it is not a PDP or APC affair, it is a Nigerian affair. We must know when to address issues that are Nigerian and when to address party issues. Let nobody go to commit crime and hide under the cloak of the Peoples Democratic Party.

I don't know which of the leaderships of the PDP that issued the statement condemning the actions of the security agencies. Is it Ali Modu Sheriff? Is it Ahmed Makarfi?

Which of the camps issued the statement you were talking about?

The Makarfi camp issued it.

Makarfi? Makarfi doesn't know what he is doing. If he authorised such a statement, I am disappointed that he does not know what he is doing. Makarfi himself is a former governor. Are we happy with Nigeria?

What is the impact of the budget in the last 16 years? Let us go and mark what we used them to do. Where is the windfall we had in the country? Let us go and mark how much we have. Let us hold accountable all the former governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Where are the dollars that were allocated to them? Who did they allocate the dollars to? If it is for industry, where are the industries? Their duty is not just to allocate the dollars; their duty is to ensure that the allocation of those dollars to industries produced the desired results. If they were allocated for the procurement of machineries, it is their duty to ensure that those machineries were installed and if those machineries were installed her in Nigeria; the rate of unemployment will not be as bad as t is today. The country will not be in the state of quagmire it is today. So let us start holding our leaders responsible.

You cannot take a government job and use it to better your lot at the expense of the teeming masses that are dying. It is not going to work any longer. We must address this problem.

People who want to serve must be people who have paid their dues; they are not com-

23

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

politics

deserves no pity -Kenneth Gbagi ing to steal money. If you have a head use it to do business and make money; not coming into government to steal. If you want to serve the people, you must be open and ready to sacrifice. If you want to be a politician, you must face the people; you must be accountable to them because the salary you earn is from the taxes they pay. All your activities should be exposed. The problem is that we want to be in government and we want to hide.

Now it appears that it is only civil servants that can contest the presidency. Civil servants have all the money in this country.

They draw the budget; they award the contracts and they even do the contracts. This is not supposed to be the case. We should exposé them.

Once we can deal with the judiciary, 40 percent of Nigeria's problems would have been solved. The DSS should not relent; let Lawal Daura and his men go after any of them that us corrupt. Let them provide their BVN; let them check their accounts abroad.

I am extremely pleased that the DSS is now carrying out its legitimate responsibilities.

People go to contest governorship elections and plan how they will bribe judges up to the Supreme Court to ensure that they remain governors without winning an election. People want to be governors by all means. If you truly want to be a governor to serve your people, you don't need to be dubious to go and contest the election. You can get there if you have something to offer.

So, I stand opposed to all those Nigerians who are blaming the DSS for arresting some judges.

How would you feel, if these arrests turn out to be a charade?

It is the responsibility of you and I to chastise that Director General of DSS who is being paid from the tax payers money to ensure that he brings the so called arrest to a legitimate and legal conclusions. They have started and we know that it is one thing to start and another to conclude it. We must mount the necessary pressure on them to ensure they conclude these matters speedily.

Unless we bring this matter to a logical conclusion, it will become a charade. We have a duty to pursue the DSS and EFCC to make sure that these arrests they are making will produce the desired results. They should follow it back to back to make sure that we don't lose the battle.

I give you my word, if the process is bungled; I will address the world condemning the same DSS both here, in London and in the United States.

However, I do not believe that the DSS has tidied up their house very well. They need to do more work. They need to assign more professional and competent hands and ensure they work in line with best practices as we have seen elsewhere in the world. The security operatives must ensure that they tidy up all the loose ends and do their work more excellently.

How pervasive is this corruption you are talking about in the judiciary?

If a suspected criminal is arrested and prosecuted but the process was not brought to a logical conclusion, there us something wrong somewhere. Now, go back look at all the arrests that have been made; it's truncated in the courts. I have a governor who once told me that: If I have to steal N30billion, I will steal N40 billion. All I need to do is to keep N10billion out of the money in readiness to bribe judges in the courts to truncate the whole process.

The duty of the security agencies is to arrest, get the documentations together, but it is the responsibility of the prosecutor to pursue the case and the judiciary to pass sentences. The role of the judiciary is so critical that we need to follow them up and endure that our judges are prepared to do justice to

On January 31, 2013, the FBI arrested nine judges in the United States and prosecuted them for various bribery offences, some of them as low as $100. One of the judges, Willy Saglitary was involved in the miscarriage of justice with just $100 and was prosecuted everyone who comes to their courts.

We thank God for BVN. The money must be paid somewhere, either to your wife, daughter, son or mother. But some of these monies are in wells and soak away pits in their homes. If we can resolve that judiciary problem, we will succeed as a nation. We have some people whose job as lawyers is nothing but getting money from people to bribe judges for cases that will never end.

We have a case in Delta State where one of my colleagues went to court and had 23 count charges quashed by a judge within one hour. They posted the judge there themselves, they arranged with the judge, took the case there and quashed 23 charges in one hour. All those charges are the ones that exposed us in England that we are stupid people. We must deal with the judiciary and cleanse it irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Some persons have suggested that because of the depth of corruption in Nigeria, it should be declared an emergency; the rule of law should be set aside so that we can deal with it decisively. Do you share this view?

No. There will be anarchy. What I am saying is that the way we are going now, let the DSS move, let the EFCC move into the local governments. We should rather prevent the act of corruption and avoid all these arrests happening now. If the money earned by local government councils is N10k for instance; every local government has one DSS man attached to it. If they do their job

well and ensure that that money is equitably and judiciously spent then we may not need this crash programme of arrest because the money would have been properly spent. So too in the state and at the federal levels. If we can nip corruption in the bud, we will avoid all these drama.

All these dollars that are being carried about, with all due respects, a governor cannot carry dollars from his own state if he did not appropriate it to a contract that is not in existence. First, for him to siphon money he must issue warrants and the warrants must state the purpose for which the money is being released. So, what is the DSS man in the state doing if not monitoring the movement of funds captured in the budget? He ought to have detected that that payment didn't go to the contract, that contract was inflated and blown the whistle.

How did Chief Olusegun Obasanjo do it during his time? When the states got their statutory allocation, he made sure that the governors did not take away the dollars.

There are some white people in this country whose job is just to convert our money into dollars and cart them away. They do this every month, carrying money from the governors and making their own commission.

These criminals are so plenty that we need a serious action to stop their activities otherwise corruption will damage all of us. If nothing is done, by the time they finish with the governors, they will come to the private sector and even individuals. It will destroy us totally. We need to fight it, not for Buhari or anybody but for our own good. If we don't destroy this canker worm, it will get to a situation where we might not have a country. Go and find out the history of nations where corruption has taken roots beyond repairs.

There has been hue and cry over the incident even from the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). Don't you think, there is something wrong?

Unless they have not averted themselves to the procedures of the law, don't know any of them including the President of the NBA who is a personal associate of mine, I do not believe, unless we want to finish this nation, the DSS has acted in line with the laws of the federation.

We must not use technicalities to delay justice. The poor masses of Nigeria are looking for justice. The poor people who have no jobs and no food to eat are looking for justice and unless we have justice that knows no bounds, we are wasting our time. So I disagree in totality that the modus as employed by the DSS is wrong. It is a great modus. In

Judiciary on trial solutism.

"Governor Wike, a sitting governor, was almost shot dead by fully armed gun totting DSS and Police in Port-Harcourt, led by the Director and Commissioner of Police, respectively. His "offence" was that he came to rescue a Federal High Court Judge who was being abducted in Kamikaze Gestapo style.

"Other serving judges who would ordinarily respond to a mere phone call are being humiliated and rounded up in the ungodly wee hours of the night, like common criminals", he stated.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed baring his mind on the issue expresses his grave concern on the recent invasion of the residences and arrest of some serving and suspended Judicial Officers by the Department of State Services (“DSS”); and condemned the action in its entirety.

He said: "The action is a threat to the Independence of the Judiciary, and it portends great danger to our democracy; and also considered the action as a clear attempt by the DSS to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the judiciary.

He noted that the National Judicial Council has never shielded nor will it shield any judicial officer who has committed any misconduct and that the Department of State Services is an agency in the Presidency and its functions as specified in the statute establishing it, is primarily concerned with the internal security of the country.

He added that the action of the DSS is a denigration of the entire judiciary, as an institution and that by the act of the DSS, judicial officers are now being subjected to insecurity, as criminals might take advantage of the recent incidents to invade their residences under the guise of being

fact, we should congratulate them for being able to take up the challenge. We must ask them to take the fight to a logical conclusion where we would rid the judiciary of criminals and thieves who live by bribery.

Even though you are not a lawyer, how would you see a lawyer who grants frivolous injunctions? Some grant injunctions in perpetuity. There is no such thing anywhere else in the world and we lawyers must be careful so we don't destroy Nigeria.

We have been called as people who have held the progress of Nigeria to a standstill; we must practice law in line with growth and greatness of Nigeria. I don't agree that that is the position and any of them can take me one on one on this issue.

You have spoken in favour of the action of the DSS but are there no other way they could have handled this matter and saved us this embarrassing drama?

We are an evolving democracy. You can see that even with what has happened it is still difficult to get to a final situation with the arrests that have been made because a lot of information has leaked out and delay tactics have one to play. But the DSS has a mandate in law and if they have carried out the way they have done it now, I can tell you that it has sent a good signal across the country and beyond. Before now, all international businessmen had lost hope in our judiciary.

They believe they can never get justice in Nigeria. With greatest respects, I do not think they could have done anything better.

The law makes the National Judicial Council (NJC) the regulator of our judicial. Why didn't the government allow NJC to discipline the judges?

The NJC, by their procedures do not have powers to detect and capture those monies that have been captured now. I am very glad to say that the NJC is living up to expectations, but it is too slow compared to what the situation truly demands of us. We have an emergency situation in our hands where 99.9 per cent of all the big corporate organisations have lost hope in our judicial system. It has become such a serious problem that businesses cannot thrive here. All the businesses here are concerned about our judiciary and they go as far as putting the seat of their arbitration is in London or New York because they don't trust the system any more. It has been trapped in bribery and corruption and we need to collectively do something to ensure that Nigeria regains its status among the comity of nations. Our judiciary must do what is right and be seen to be doing so. security agents.

He, however, reiterated the stand of the Council to vehemently denounce a situation whereby the psyche of judicial officers in the federation is subjected to a level where they would be afraid to discharge their constitutional judicial functions, without fear or favour, intimidation, victimization or suppression.

But former Minister of State for Education, Olorogu Kenneth Gbagi sees it differently. He said the level of corruption in the land and international practices justify the action. “ On January 31, 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested nine judges in the United States and prosecuted them for various bribery offences, some of them as low as $100.

One of the judges, Willy Saglitary was involved in the miscarriage of justice with just $100 and was prosecuted. In 2015, some judges in India were arrested by their own agency which is just like the DSS here, for committing bribery offences. It was not as heinous as the ones we have here,” he said.

24

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

politics

Before Kyari's N500m bribery Villa Notes allegation goes aground Anule Emmanuel emmyanule@yahoo.com

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari's right hands man who also serves as his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari was recently in the news, obviously not for the glamour of his office but for varied allegations over a perceived role he played in the reduction of a $5.2billion (N1.04trillion) fine imposed on South African Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Kyari is alleged to have collected a bribe of N500million in a deal to assist MTN mitigate the huge fine imposed against it in October last year.

As far back as 2013, the NCC through its Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Ubale Maska had written to all operators in the nation's telecom sector, giving July 1, 2013 as deadline for every unregistered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to be disconnected from their networks.

NCC in the letter to the operators had cautioned that any operator that failed to comply would be liable to a fine of N200,000 for each SIM card pursuant to Regulations 19 and 20, Section 15(2) of the Registration of Subscribers Regulations, Act 2011.

In fact, the N5.2billion fine became imminent following Federal Government's conviction that MTN's negligence or otherwise deliberate action had led to lose of several lives from the activities of insurgents in the North-East.

President Buhari himself at some point was blunt to explain that the refusal by most of the telecom operators to comply

with the directive of the NCC in registering all subscribers on its network aided Boko Haram in carrying out its attacks which led to the death of about 10,000 Nigerians. “The concern of the Federal Government was basically in the area of security and not the fine imposed on MTN. You know how the unregistered SIMs are used by terrorists and between 2009 and today, at least 10,000 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram, at least 10,000," Buhari told South African President Jacob Zuma at the Presidential Villa, Abuja who was on a state visit to Nigeria shortly after the imposition of the fine.

In a twist of events, however, the fine against MTN was last year reduced to N330billion, about 25 per cent cut allowing the operator to make staggered payment till May 31, 2019. This was possible despite the firm's decision to challenge the matter in court.

By the terms of the agreement, MTN is expected to pay N30billion to the NCC 30 days from the date the agreement was entered into on June 10, 2016. MTN is also expected to pay N30billion to the NCC on March 31, 2017 and another N30billion on March 31, 2018.

The company is also to pay additional N55billion on December 31, 2018 and a balance of N55billion is expected to be paid on March 31, 2019. Media reports, however, indicate that Abba Kyari may have allegedly played a key role in influencing the reduction of the fine and its staggered payment after receiving a bribe of N500million.

Indeed, most people are convinced that the quantum slash in the fine may have not been possible without influence by top

Nigerian government officials apparently, for a kickback.

This level of suspicion is also responsible for why both chambers of the National Assembly in June summoned the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his Communications counterpart, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC Professor Garba Dambatta for questioning.

Accusing fingers on the President's CoS last month stretched further confirming that Buhari may have received concrete evidence on the alleged role played by Kyari in the fine reduction deal.

As weighty as this allegation is, particularly considering the sensitive office of the CoS, there has not been any presidency refusal against this. Rather, those in the know of the acclaimed bribery deal insist that President Buhari has presented with evidence showing Kyari's unclean hands severally including during the last Sallah celebration.

Indications are that Kyari has already written to both the management of the MTN, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices And other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) stating what he knows about the whole fine case and the allegation.

As it is often said, he who comes to equity should come with clean hands. The President's Chief of Staff is at the center of the fight against corruption in the country and must be seen as such. The implication is that any dent on that office will cast doubt

Before Kyari's N500m bribery allegation goes aground

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari's right hand man who also serves as his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari was recently in the news, obviously not for the glamour of his office, but for varied allegations over his alleged role in the reduction of the $5.2billion (N1.04trillion) fine imposed on South African Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Kyari is alleged to have collected a bribe of N500million in a deal to assist MTN mitigate the huge fine imposed on it in October last year.

As far back as 2013, the NCC through its Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Ubale Maska had written to all operators in the nation's telecom sector, giving them a July 1, 2013 deadline for every unregistered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to be disconnected from their networks.

NCC in the letter had cautioned that any operator that failed to comply would be liable to a fine of N200,000 for each SIM card pursuant to Regulations 19 and 20, Section 15(2) of the Registration of Subscribers Regulations, Act 2011.

In fact, the N5.2billion fine became imminent following Federal Government's conviction that MTN's negligence or otherwise deliberate action had led to loss of several lives from the activities of insurgents in the North-East.

President Buhari himself at some point was blunt to explain that non-compliance with the directive of the NCC in registering all subscribers by most of the telecom operators aided Boko Haram in carrying out its attacks which led to the death of

about 10,000 Nigerians. “The concern of the Federal Government was basically in the area of security and not the fine imposed on MTN. You know how the unregistered SIMs are used by terrorists and between 2009 and today, at least 10,000 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram, at least 10,000," Buhari told South African President Jacob Zuma at the Presidential Villa, Abuja when the latter was on a state visit to Nigeria shortly after the imposition of the fine.

In a twist of events, however, the fine against MTN was last year reduced to N330billion, about 25 per cent cut, allowing the operator to make staggered payment till May 31, 2019. This was possible despite the firm's decision to challenge the matter in court.

By the terms of the agreement, MTN is expected to pay N30billion to the NCC 30 days from the date the agreement was entered into on June 10, 2016. MTN is also expected to pay N30billion to the NCC on March 31, 2017 and another N30billion on March 31, 2018.

The company is also to pay additional N55billion on December 31, 2018 and a balance of N55billion is expected to be paid on March 31, 2019. Media reports, however, indicate that Abba Kyari may have allegedly played a key role in influencing the reduction of the fine and its staggered payment after receiving a bribe of N500million.

Indeed, most people are convinced that the quantum slash in the fine may have not been possible without influence of top Nigerian government officials alleg-

on the credibility of the present government's team assembled to effect change from corruption which is the bane of the country's development.

One is certain that the President's silence on this case is because of his strong will of trust. What most people who brought these allegations against the CoS do not know about President Buhari is that for him trust is an asset and it is built over time.

It has been widely reported too that President Buhari believes so much in persons he had high level of trust in, this even to a fault. The President's response to criticisms about his choice of appointees confirms this. "If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, whom we came all the way right from the APP, CPC and APC, and have remained together in good or bad situation, the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong?

Besides, whether the bribery allegation against the CoS has no basis, the President should not give his opponents the opportunity to justify their beliefs that he is surrounded by corrupt people who do not have faith in the change mantra. This is why it is important that he probes into the case if the report that he has evidence on the allegation is anything to go by.

In the same manner which the MTN as the alleged giver of the N500million bribe has come open to deny of any such deal, Abba Kyari as the alleged receiver and the presidency also owes Nigerians the duty to clarify the veracity or otherwise of the matter. In this instance, silence cannot be golden.

INEC Diary ezekachy@yahoo.co.uk

Onyekachi Eze

edly in exchange for a kickback.

This level of suspicion was also why both chambers of the National Assembly in June summoned the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his Communications counterpart, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC Professor Garba Dambatta for questioning.

Accusing fingers on the President's CoS last month stretched further confirming that Buhari may have received concrete evidence on the alleged role played by Kyari in the fine reduction deal.

As weighty as this allegation is, particularly considering the sensitive office of the CoS, there has not been any reaction to this by the Presidency. Rather, those in the know of the acclaimed bribery allegation insist that President Buhari has received evidence showing Kyari's alleged soiled hands severally including during the last Sallah celebration.

Indications are that Kyari has already written to both the management of the MTN, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices And other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), stating what he knows about the whole fine case and the allegation.

As it is often said, he who comes to equity should come with clean hands. The President's Chief of Staff is at the center of the fight against corruption in the country and must be seen as such. The implication is that any dent on that office will cast doubt on the credibility of the present government's team assembled

to effect change from corruption which is the bane of the country's development.

One is certain that the President's silence on this case is because of his strong will on trust. What most people bringing these allegations against the CoS do not know about President Buhari is that for him trust is an asset and it is built over time.

It has been widely reported too that President Buhari believes so much in the persons he had high level of trust in, even to a fault. The President's response to criticisms about his choice of appointees confirms this. "If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, whom we came all the way right from the APP, CPC and APC, and have remained together in good or bad situations, the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to doing anything wrong?

Besides, whether the bribery allegation against the CoS has no basis or not, the President should not give his opponents the opportunity to justify their belief that he is surrounded by corrupt people who do not have faith in the change mantra.

This is why it is important that he probes into the case if the report that he has evidence on the allegation is anything to go by.

In the same manner which the MTN as the alleged giver of the N500million bribe has come open to deny of any such deal, Abba Kyari as the alleged receiver and the Presidency also owe Nigerians the duty to clarify the veracity or otherwise of the matter. In this instance, silence cannot be golden.

25

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

politics NEWS

Pamela Oboh Akwa

A

policy and governance expert and immediate-past Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, has blamed the country’s current recession on poor management of resources, stating that it was not borne out of poverty.

He, however, said that Nigeria is not the only country that is affected by the oil crisis since several other countries are going through the same problem, but that the effect is minimal because they managed the situation better than Nigeria.

Obaze, who served with the United Nations for over 25 years said: “We are not

Nigeria’s economy needs better management, says Obaze a poor country in the real sense of the word; we are a poorly managed country and that is the challenge. The fact that we got to recession can be traced to certain realities, scarcity of foreign exchange, paucity of funds, and people are not buying and selling since the money in circulation has dried up, which is tangential to the Single Treasury Account.”

He added: “Cost of governance in

Nigeria is exceedingly high. Above all, you can also trace the recession to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari's first budget, the 2016 budget has a N2. 2 trillion deficit. It’s unrealistic.”

Speaking to Sunday Telegraph, he said that since the President came into governance at a time oil prices are dropping globally, the least he should have done was to strive for a zero-growth budget;

L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Ondo State APC governorship candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu and Chairman, APC National Campaign Council for the Ondo State 2016 governorship election and Plateau State governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong, during the inauguration of the 50-member campaign council, at the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja…on Friday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Why Lalong embarked on many foreign trips, by aide Musa pam Jos

T

he recent foreign trips of the Plateau State Governor, Chief Simon Lalong to China, the US and South Africa, was informed by his desire to seek foreign direct investment in the various potential in the state as a way of diversifying its economy.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr. Mark Longyen, who stated this in an interview in Jos, added that Lalong has embraced economic diversification as the main solution to Plateau State's weak economy and low income earnings.

Longyen said the move was in tandem with the governor’s realization upon assumption of office over a year ago of the need to diversify the state's economy from reliance on the dwindling oil revenue from the Federation Account.

“This was necessitated by the failed state status of the state that was bequeathed to him by his predecessor. He had to think outside the box and find a quick-fix and a long-term solution to rescue the state which was literally hanging on the precipice -and diversification is it! The diversification of the state's economy is hinged on agriculture as the focus and mainstay of the state's economy.

“In order to achieve this, the governor decided to vigorously seek foreign direct investment through partnerships with foreign investors, meeting up Plateau State’s obligations of counterpart funding to donor agencies. He is also reviving hitherto moribund

state industries, as well as restructure critical agencies like the Plateau State Investment and Property Development Corporation, PIPC, the Agricultural Services and Training Centre, ASTC, among others,” he said.

Specifically, Longyen said the governor's diversification effort “has been brought to bear on the agricultural, solid minerals and tourism sectors, where the state has comparative advantages, in addition to massive industrialisation efforts. That is why the governor had to travel to countries like China, the United States and, recently, South Africa, to meet and engage with foreign investors, showcase the state's investment potentials and seek endurable, viable and beneficial business partnerships with them.

“And these efforts have yielded huge dividends in various areas of endeavor. For instance, the state government has signed MoUs with some Chinese firms for the exploration of solid minerals and the development of the tourism industry, which both have huge potentials to turn around the fortunes of the state's economy with huge financial benefits for the state and its people.

“The Heipang Inland Container Dry Port, a Federal Government project, which was built as a cargo airport for the direct exportation of agro-allied products to foreign countries will soon take off, while the popular Jos International Breweries is slated for revival through public-private partnership,” he said.

Just last week, the hitherto abandoned multi-million naira government-owned fertilisers blending plant in Bokkos com-

menced production of chemical fertiliser at its installed capacity. This resuscitation stems from the state's partnership with an oil and gas company and it is expected to go a long way in boosting agriculture and food production.

He said Plateau State has maximised its potentials as Nigeria's leading rice producer by investing massively in rice production and expects to begin rice exportation by the end of 2017 farming season. “Same applies to our other crops which we have comparative advantage, such as carrots, Irish potatoes, tomatoes and strawberry due to the state's unique temperate, climatic conditions, which can be mass produced for direct export or following value chain processing."

Also, the long-abandoned Highland Bottling Company, Barkin-Ladi, has since been resuscitated through public-private-partnership and production has fully resumed.

In partnership with another foreign firm, the government has signed an MoU for the immediate rebuilding of the burnt Jos Main Market which was destroyed in 2002 during the Jos crisis.

“The Chinese are now into mining-related activities in Wase Local Government. It is noteworthy that this alone has the capacity to create about 5,000 Jobs. They have also signed an MoU to partner Plateau State in the provision of mass housing infrastructure in all the three senatorial zones of the state,” he said.

Longyen added that Panyam Fish Farm, established by colonialists about 65 years ago, once reputed to be the largest fish farm in West Africa, but abandoned by previous administrations, is being revived right now.

The state government recently signed an MoU with Solec, a private firm to resuscitate it. The farm has the capacity to generate revenue of about N2 billion annually for the state.

“that way, we spend exactly what we have. You cannot have a deficit overhang of N2.2trillion hoping to finance part of it with money recovered from looters and taxes that have not been procured or projections from oil price that is beyond your control."

He said this was “most I'll-advised. We basically dug ourselves into a recession as I said earlier, we shouldn’t be in a recession but that’s the reality and that’s where we are. It is tantamount to public policy failure.”

Pointing out that he had earlier addressed this in a publication titled: “The wayward consequences of good intentions,” he said poor economic circumstances can be turned around with hardheaded policies, not flimsy make-belief ones. The President and his team need to sit down and think of ways to turn the economy around.

“We spent a lot of money bailing out states that were cash-strapped but he never took any measures to stop the states from borrowing more money or compelling them to curtail their expenses. If he bailed out the states and gave them conditionalities, such as we are going to continue recovering the funds from their allocations, then they would be more cautious as to how they spend it. Granting bailouts with no strings attached was faulty. The first tranche of the bailouts had no strings attached to it; it was only the second N90billion tranche that had some conditionalities attached to it,” he said.

Stating that this recession which means that people do not have disposable income to spend and those that have money to spend are holding on to it because they are unsure of tomorrow, was not caused by “reckless Federal Government spending alone; it is also about reckless state spending, “Obaze added that it has brought with it rising cost of goods and services.

He frowned at what he described as discordant tunes coming from President Buhari's economic team, whereby the Minister of Finance says one thing and the Presidency says another, calling for “policy coherence and until they get their policies right and everybody speak with one voice, agree on what the modalities are, the recession will linger.”

On the recent N2.57 billion bailout fund given to Nigeria by the African Development Bank, (ADB), Obaze said that it was curious that the Federal Government accepted it despite of its debts over-hanging.

“It’s actually ironic. If I were in the Federal Government, I will not touch that money. Remember that it was Nigeria that set up the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) in 1976 to assist needy African countries.

Distressed and financially troubled nations went to the ADB to borrow funds that were given to them by Nigeria. Now instead of giving more funds to ADB to bailout more African countries, we are going back to take money from them. It’s sad, painful, and ironical and it speaks about the status of where we are as a nation and that shouldn’t have happened".

He said it is not sufficient to take the money; rather “it is about how you spend it and how you account for it and for what purpose? Are we going to put this fund to work for us in a way that it will give a jolt to the economy? I think to kick-start this country’s economy again, we need to have money in the hands of people so they can go out and buy things and let the economy start running. Let those who are manufacturing have a chance to sell their products and of course, we have to look at the level of import.”

26

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sunday Interview

Gumi: Buhari should adopt poli Kaduna-based Islamic Scholar, Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, did a retrospective assessment of Nigeria at 56 and blamed the military, his former constituency, for the nation’s woes. The retired army officer also took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption in this interview with IBRAHEEM MUSA

Recently, Nigeria celebrated its 56th year of nationhood which coincided with your birthday. Could you assess the journey so far?

Nigeria has passed through good and bad times. The good time was the First Republic, when we got independence from our colonial masters on October 1, 1960, the same day that I was born. That was a very good milestone for Nigeria because the country was manned by capable and good leaders who took over the mantle of leadership from the white men. But because of religious, regional and tribal differences, the government was overthrown in a military coup which interfered in the political life of the nation. This is a problem which we are yet to recover from up till today because it fragmented the nation.

The coup led to a counter coup and then a civil war. This has sown turbulence in the polity, resulting into so many communal clashes and so many deaths even after the war. These have resulted in political upheavals in the country. And whenever there are political upheavals and instability, they will lead to an economic down turn because the modern economy thrives on stability. As a result of all these, Nigeria is not economically buoyant and dependent as it should be. Our agriculture and education sectors have remained undeveloped and so we are back to square one.

But some people are of the opinion that the country has indeed made progress because at independence, the North had just a few university graduates and even secondary schools but now, they are in the thousands. Likewise, the resources that are accruing to the nation now are very vast unlike before. In the light of these, don’t you think that the country has made some progress?

Like I said earlier, Nigeria has experienced both good and bad times. We have made progress in some areas and education is one of them. But you see, you can do good but that doesn’t mean that you have attained your best. There is a lot of room for us to be the best but we have not done our best at all, even though there is some progress in the education sector. But when you compare with the large percentage growth in terms of the population, you will even find out that the progress is minimal. I remember a doctor was telling that for over 10 years, he was the only gynecologists in the state. So, if you look at the situation in that light, you will find out that we have not made the desired progress. So, we need to do more.

No Nigerian university is among the first 1000 universities in the world. So, we are not doing our best even in the education sector that you said we have made some progress.

So, where does the problem lie? Some people say it is with the leaders and others say that the people get the kind of leaders that befit them. Is the problem with the people or with the leaders?

Both! Both have problems but the bulk of it lies with the leaders. If you gave a herdsman cattle to rear in the bush and they went astray or got lost, it is the herdsman that is at fault. Or do you blame the

cattle? So, you don’t blame people; leaders are supposed to direct people on what to do. So, this leadership is what we lack.

But what you have just said is contrary to popular Islamic belief, which says that Allah will not give people a good leader until they change their ways. In other words, the leadership is a reflection of the followership. Correct me if I am wrong but this is incompatible with what you said.

No, there are differences. When people are bad, they will have bad leaders that lead them astray. But then, at intervals, God intervenes and sends good leaders.

If they are good people, they will follow the good leaders and change their ways.

But if they are bad people, they will revolt against the good leaders and they will continue with their old ways. And Allah will ultimately destroy them the way Pharaoh was destroyed. During Jahilliyya, Meccan pagans, the Qureysh, rejected him when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent to them. A few accepted him and Allah gave the Prophet (SAW) victory over the rest.

Even when the colonial masters came here, Allah gave them victory over us because of our nature.

In the last 56 years, we have had both civilian and military leaders. In your view, who was the best leader that Nigeria ever had?

The incursion of the military into politics is what destroyed Nigeria up till today.

What do you mean by up till today? Do you mean that we don’t have a civilian government in place?

No, we still have a military man at the helm of affairs. The military have been the same clique that has been running Nigeria. They just remove their uniforms and continue calling the shots. I don’t want to mention names. The military are those who are behind the emergence of civilian leaders that we have.

But what is wrong if they retire from the military, join politics, stand for election, campaign and are voted into office?

They are basically military men. Their joining politics or controlling events from behind is all about the control of oil. They change alliances depending on where their interests lie. So, Nigeria is being controlled by the military up till today. They are part of every single government and every single decision. It has to favour them.

Are you talking as an insider, giving the fact that you are an ex military man?

It is something that I know very well.

I don’t need to mention names but you know what I am talking about. If you don’t dance to their tune, they will sabotage your government. I spoke to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua one-on-one and he told me that there was a military man that was trying to control him from his abode.

Is he from Otta?

No, I don’t need to mention names.

In your opinion, which government was the best since Nigeria attained independence?

Gumi

The First Republic was the best because they were pre-occuppied with nation building but unfortunately, regional and religious issues cropped up and the military took advantage of that and overthrew the government. They should have allowed things to sort themselves out naturally but the military seized power which led to civil war and the eventual polarisation of the society. So, the military has never been good.

But sometimes it was civilians themselves that invite the military. In 1983, after President Shehu Shagari was re-elected, the losers openly called for military intervention. Do you still blame the military in this kind of situation?

No, even if they are invited, they should have resisted. Will you break into a house if someone asks you to do so? It was wrong for the military to have interfered in politics. Now, they have tasted power, and they don’t want to leave it at all. Most of them are now billionaires. Yes, they are the cabal that people talk about. You can’t go against their interests.

Now that one of their own is President, do you think that they will help President

Muhammadu Buhari to succeed or they will sabotage him?

One of two things - he either follows them or they will break him.

So, which scenario do you foresee for Buhari, after more than one year as President. Will he follow them or will they break him?

The people should realise this. They should only vote for people who have nothing to do with the military. They should vote for people who are 100 per cent civilians and these people will ultimately take care of the military’s influence in politics.

But what you are suggesting is like disenfranchising people based on their profession. Is it okay to exclude past military men from politics?

It is okay. These people had interfered in politics for so long. They have stolen peoples’ mandates and wealth with the barrel of the gun. A crime was committed and up till now, nobody has paid for that crime.

They have plundered the nation’s wealth, they have enriched themselves and now they are exercising political power, whereby they will not allow anybody that will

27

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

SUNDAY

Potpourri Meditation for mind and body

Weight watchers community

​Trend du jour

Y

ou know what they say about a well rounded healthy man? He must be healthy in the mind, body and spirit, so to be healthy you have to feed your body with the right food and workout, make sure you also excersise your mind and you have to have spiritual feeding too. We have been focusing on working out the mind and bosy, we now want to look at the spirit. You must believe in something as a human being.

Whatever you believe in has the penchant to give you support and strength in different aspects of your life. Some people also cling to meditation to feed both their minds, bodies and spirits. There are different types of meditation techniques in concentration meditation category that can help you overcome distractions within and outside your mind and sustain mental focus. The types of meditation techniques are: 1.

Concentration

2.

Reflective Meditation

3.

Mindfulness Meditation

4.

Heart-Centered Meditation

5.

Creative Meditation

Each of these techniques is unique and has its own categories. Study the types of meditation and chose which best suits your needs.

Goddess of nature crowns

Money talks

I

​Money and marriage (Part 1)

n many ways how you manage your money can be likened to how you handle your marriage. You should be very disciplined and yet not so much that you forget to stop and smell the roses in life, have fun. You have to make a conscious effort to make your money and marriage work, as a couple. Often times, when couples have stress in their relationship, they often site financial troubles as one of the key factors of the fracas. Here are a few tips to help you stay above the fray.

Avoid the disaster set up You can begin by being smart about how you spend for you​r​wedding. Many of you have heard the phrase “​Y​ou will drink garri after your wedding?” well, it is very true, many couples get so carried away by the wedding preparations that they forget that there is life after the wedding. So spend wisely for your wedding.

Discuss the skeletons in the cupboard This goes without saying, to have an honest and open marriage, you need to open up to each other ​about your financial state​ . If you have debts from shopping nonstop or other such bills, supporting an ex wife, aging parents or children out of wedlock, you need to level with your partner on all fronts. This will help you with you​r​ expectations of each other.

Stay on the same money page Create a money page and make sure that you are both on the same page considering where you are at and where you are headed as a couple. It does not matter what each person earns or what they do.

You need to sit together and draw up a plan at least once a year and save or budget towards your goal. You could also break this down into little compartments of what you each would do weekly or monthly towards achieving this goal.

Stories by: Biwom Iklaki

T

he fuss about floral headbands and crowns are still raging on. If you havent caught onto this bug in real time, perhaps you tried it out with virtual reality? Using the app on iphone which some other cell phone brands have adapted for their softwares, you may have adorned your head with the trending floral garland. No one would blame you for trying it out. It makes one look equally innocent and sultry, don’t ask me how that can happen, it just is. So whatever your outfit this weekend, you should try out this fun, flirty and very girly accessory for size and take a selfie while you are at it.

28

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sportxtr

Top 15 hottest WAGS of wealth

Federica Ridolfi (Giuliano Giannichedda)

Irina Shayk (Cristiano Ronaldo)

O

ften, while watching televised football matches, the camera switches focus from the players on the field to the fans in the stands, the celebrity and VIP spectators.

One further favourite of the searching cameraman are the wives and girlfriends of players. Wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of players attract so much attention because they are often models or actresses themselves. Their relationships provide the tabloids with a lot of material, usually scandalous in nature. Pictures of intimate moments, stories of cheating, rumors of pregnancy or announcements of marriage all draw the WAGs into the sporting world.

In the world of soccer, the WAGs can command as much attention as the players. World Cup coverage often has a segment or special on WAGs, the weekly tabloid news always seems to include a story about one or two, mainly because so many are swimsuit models. Yes, the soccer WAGs have secured a noticeable part in today’s soccer culture. The following list beams the spotlight on some of the hottest and popular WAGs today. There are far more. In any event, here they are, in no particular order.

Irina Shayk (Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid) Cristiano Ronaldo’s current girlfriend is Russian model Irina Shayk. She is best known as a long time Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, although she featured in several other magazines as well. Other modeling jobs have included Guess, Victoria’s Secret, LaCoste and Cesare Paciotti. Shayk allegedly met Ronaldo when both were working for the Armani Exchange Campaign in 2010. Since then, the two have been together.

Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen (Wesley Sneijder – Galatasaray) Born in Ibiza, Spain, Yolante became well known in Holland thanks to her appearances in national television and film. Internationally, she is involved in the Stop Kindermisbruik foundation. This organisation, which the 29-year old co-founded, works to help reduce or prevent child sexual abuse in developing countries. Yolanthe was named the sexi-

Abigail Clancy (Peter Crouch)

Elisabeth Reyes (Alexis Ruano)

est Dutch Woman by FHM magazine three times. The two got married in 2010.

Sarah Brandner (Bastian Schweinsteiger – Manchester United) Brandner became a well-known WAG when pictures of her watching the German national team and boyfriend, Bastian Schweinsteiger, were published during both the World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 competitions. Born in Munich Germany, the 25 year old model has done work for Bild and GQ magazine, as well as a rather revealing body-paint shoot with Sports Illustrated in 2010. She first met Schweinsteiger while shopping in Munich. The two have been together since 2007 and currently live in Munich.

Federica Ridolfi (Giuliano Giannichedda – Livorno) Born in Rome, Federica followed in her father’s footsteps to become a performer and entertainer. For the 2005-2006 season, the 40-year old beauty starred on the Italian entertainment show Quelli che… il calcio; a programme that covered a variety of topics, notably Serie A football. Over her career, Federica has been involved in several Italian television programmes and featured in a number of men’s magazines, including Max Magazine. In 2011, she married retired footballer Giuliano Giannichedda, who last played as a midfielder for Serie A side Livorno.

Shakira (Gerard Piqué – Barcelona) Born in Barranquilla, Columbia, Shakira quickly gained a love of poetry, song and dance. Her world-wide fame skyrocketed with a series of popular albums and hit songs such as ‘Waka Waka’ and ‘Hips Don’t Lie.’ She has performed or worked with many other artists including Usher, LMFAO, Skrillex, Stevie Wonder and Lil Wayne. Not limited to music, the 37-year-old Columbian performer has also appeared on numerous television shows and is a judge on the talent programme ‘The Voice.’ In 2010, Shakira met Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué during the shoot for the music video for ‘Waka Waka.’ The couple has one child together and currently re-

Sarah Brandner (Bastian Schweinsteiger)

sides in Barcelona.

Abigail Clancy (Peter Crouch – Stoke City) You can be tall, lanky and awkward and still get a lingerie model. Just ask Stoke City forward, Peter Crouch. Abigail Clancy was born in Liverpool and gained popularity as a model and television personality. She even had her own girl band for a while. Clancy has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Esquire and LOVE magazines. The 28-year-old has appeared on numerous television programmes and even won the 2013 reality show Strictly Come Dancing. Over the years, Clancy has been ranked on FHM’s Sexiest Women’s list. She started dating Crouch in 2006 and the couple got married in 2011.

Tatjana Batinic (Sebastian Boenisch – TSV 1860 Munich) The daughter of Croatian immigrants, Tatjana Batinic was born in Vienna, Austria. The 28-year-old is best known for winning the title of 2006 Miss Austria. She went to school to become an elementary school teacher but currently focuses on her modeling career. In 2009, after breaking up with Croatian footballer Ivan Rakitic, Batinic met Polish-born footballer Sebastian Boenisch. At the time, a defender for Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, Boenisch has since moved to Bayer Leverkusen. The two were married in 2013.

Elisabeth Reyes (Alexis Ruano – Getafe) Born in Spain, Elisabeth Reyes is a model and television personality. In 2006, she won both the Miss Malaga and Miss Spain beauty pageants. She has modeled for a number of designers and companies as well as appeared in Spanish magazines and the German fashion magazine Gala. Reyes has appeared on several Spanish television shows and reality programmes. As a WAG, she gained notoriety for her relationship with real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. When the two parted ways, Reyes moved on to Getafe defender Alexis Ruano.

Michela Quattrociocche (Alberto Aquilani – Delfino Pescara 1936)

Michela Qu known for he moved from m 2008. She has shows, althou of Italy have s in 2009 when Aquilani. The

Georgina Dors Everton FC h of WAGs over members of t star in Englan show The On or Jersey Shor given she and had a daught

Federica Narg Born in Rom vision person winner, Nargi shows. She h Italy. The Bru for her role on she appeared has been in a Matri. After M loaned out to

Lena Gercke ( Germany’s T personality an model, Gerck magazines lik She has been range of busi footballing w

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

ravaganza

hy soccer players

Georgina Dorsett (Tom Cleverley)

uattrociocche was born in Rome and is best er roles in Italian films. The 25-year-old actress modeling and acting classes to the big screen in s since appeared in several films and television ugh it’s highly unlikely many people outside seen them. Michela’s WAG status was secured n she started dating Italian midfielder Alberto e two are now married and have a daughter.

sett (Tom Cleverley – Everton FC) has a fine tradition of assembling a notable army r the years. Georgina Dorsett is one of the newest the club. The 28 year old is a reality television nd. Dorsett is best known for her role on the hit nly Way is Essex, a British equivalent of The Hills re. Her time as a United WAG seems long-term, d boyfriend midfielder Tom Cleverley recently ter together.

gi (Alessandro Matri – U.S. Sassuolo Calcio) me, Federica Nagri is a model, actress and telenality. The 2007 Miss Cotonella and Miss Rome gi has appeared in several reality, news and game has also played roles in film and on stage, all in unette bombshell is, perhaps, best known in Italy n the news-variety show Strip the News, a show d on between 2008 and 2012. Since 2009, Nagri a relationship with Italian striker Alessandro Matri played for AC Milan from where he was Fiorentina, he now plays for Sassuolo Clacio FC.

(Sami Khedira – Juventus) Top Model, Lena Gercke is known as a television nd model. Beginning her career as a commercial ke advanced quickly and was soon featured in ke Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Sports Week. n involved in advertising campaigns for a wide inesses, including Microsoft and H&M. In the world, Gercke is best known as the girlfriend of

Melissa Satta (Kevin-Prince Boateng)

Shakira (Gerard Piqué)

former Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, who now plays for Juventus where he joined in 2015.

Alena Šeredová (Gianluigi Buffon – Juventus) A Czech model and actress, Alena Šeredová currently lives and works in Italy. She placed highly in the 1998 Miss Czech republic and Miss World pageants which helped lead her into a career of modeling.

She has appeared in two films and even co-hosted an Italian variety show. Šeredová has appeared on the covers of several magazines, including Playboy and Penthouse. She is married to Italian goal keeper Gianluigi Buffon and the couple have two children.

Melissa Satta (Kevin-Prince Boateng – UD Las Palmas) While she was born in America, Melissa Satta is better known as an Italian television personality. Beginning her career in fashion, Satta transitioned to television in 2005. In addition to appearing on and hosting several Italian television shows, she has appeared in Maxim and Sports Illustrated. Satta is the WAG of Schalke midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. AC Milan offloaded Boateng in 2013 because his form had dropped and injuries were common. Reportedly, Satta’s insatiable sexual appetite played a role in wearing the midfielder out and prolonging his injuries. Poor guy.

Oksana Andersson (Christian Wilhelmsson – Baniyas SC) This 29-year-old model and dancer was born in the Soviet Union. Her break into the fashion world began when she was a dancer with Sunblock, a short-lived Swedish electronic band. She then moved on to television, starring in the reality show Paradise Hotel. Andersson also appeared in FHM, Slitz (Swedish version of Maxim) and Café magazines. In May 2010, she married Swedish winger Christian Wilhelmsson in Las Vegas.

World’s fastest footballers P layers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale are known to be lightning fast while some other players like Lionel Messi and Brazilian Ronaldo were good at accelerating from standing position to their top speed faster than anyone else.

FIFA conducted a survey during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where they monitored players pace throughout the competition and players speed and performance is often monitored in top European leagues and according to statistics Antonio Valencia’s 35.1 km/h has been the fastest recorded speed of a footballer.

According to player physical performance statistics in La Liga published by “Marca” Gareth Bale’s 34.7 km/h top speed during that famous sprint against Barcelona resulted in goal was the fastest recorded by any player in Spain.

Arjan Robben tore Spains defense apart during the 2014 World Cup group game where Holland beat Spain by 5-1, he reached top speed of 33.9 kilometers per hour when he sprinted pass Ramos and Jordi Alba to score his second and Hol-

lands 5th of the day.

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia hit the 35 km/h mark in the English Premier League game. Olympic gold medalist and sprint champion, Usain Bolt can clock up to 44 km/h at his peak.

The numbers revealed by FIFA and other domestic league’s sprint speed statistics players like Ronaldo and Messi are nowhere near as fast as the the list below shows.

Top 10 Fastest Footballers In The World *Currently Active NO# FOOTBALLER TOP SPEED 1 A. Valencia (ManUtd) 35.2 km/h 2 Sterling (Liverpool) 35.1 km/h 3 Bale (R’Madrid) 34.7 km/h 4 Walcott (Arsenal) 34.3 km/h 5 Robben (B. Munich) 33.9 km/h 6 Lennon (Everton) 33.8 km/h 7 C.Ronaldo (R’ Madrid) 33.6 km/h 8 Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 33.3 kh/h 9 Barkley (Everton) 32.8 km/h 10 Messi (Barcelona) 32.5 km/h

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Luxury

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Homes

Formidable architectural designs

T

he concept of a home, big or small begins with the architectural design. This is the ground work that delivers on specifics of our home. The number of rooms, bathrooms, etc. the environment, columns, support, windows etc are calculated at this stage. So it is important to put into consideration what you have in mind for your home so as to convey same to the designer. You need to be as specific as possible in order for your designs to be as true to form as possible. This could also help you in calculating the estimated cost of embarking on the building project. Choose your architect wisely so as to nail your designs to the last beam.

When you want to achieve a formidable structure, be sure not to hold back on your choice of designer so that you can get the absolute best. These buildings were well thought out, designed and executed perfectly. Anyone would love to live in these formidable masterpieces.

Weird

A

Lightening strickes 300

s children, we believed that Santa Clause came to our homes at Christmas riding on reindeers, including Rudolph, the red nosed reindeer. This christmas however, I cannot be too sure how Santa will manage seeing as there was a disaster on a mountain plateau in Norway. According to Sky News, The footage was released by the Norwegian Environment Agency, which said 323 animals were killed, including 70 calves.

Agency spokesman Kjartan Knutsen said it is not uncommon for reindeer or other wildlife to be killed by lightning strikes, “but we have not heard about such numbers before.” He said

E

Figurine-marish museum

ver heard of a figurine collector who started a museum with his collection?

Well, one of such is the Vent Haven Museum which is the stuff of nightmares.

According to Huffingtonpost.com, “It was founded by a man named—no joke—William Shakespeare Berger, the Vent Haven was born after the collector’s dummy stash got so big he could no longer fit it in his garage. Today the museum contains more than 800 figurines. That’s 1,600 glassy doll eyes observing your every step you as you navigate the museum. Who would blame my Efik brothers when they shout “Ifot” at this? Do people visit this place? How comfortable would you be to go and stare at those figures and have them stare back at you? *Shudder*

reindeer tend to stay very close to each other in bad weather, which could explain how so many were killed at once during Friday’s storm.

Thousands of reindeer migrate across the barren Hardangervidda plateau as the seasons change.

It is the second time this month that a large group of animals has been killed by lightning.

On 25 August, 38 sheep died after they were hit by lightning in the Indian district of Kanchipuram.” The report stated.

This is really alarming, how will Santa get all the gifts to children who were not naughty, but nice this year?

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

Sunday Interview

itical solutions to anti-graft war things that we should consider in politics.

We want Nigeria to be stable. We need stability even to practise our religions. Allah said when you have peace, then establish prayer. So, we should be looking for this peace and not to satisfy people’s ego. Let’s forget about individuals and their ambitions; let’s look for peace in Nigeria; we need it. For example, if you have a cup of water and the sediments settle down, the water will be clean. But when you stir it what will happen? It will become murky.

So, the sediments have started to settle in Nigerian politics. So, you don’t bring someone who will come and stir it. This is what we did. We brought politicians that will stir the water.

Are you saying now that the polity is murky?

Yes, it is murky because the nation is already fragmented and there is vandalisation of pipelines. A wholly civilian President granted the militants amnesty and there was peace. But a military man with his ego has refused to do that. So, in the choice of a leader, the people should think of what the immediate challenges are before going to the polls. Surgery is a very good treatment but if there is inflammation, once the surgeon puts his knife, and then he is causing more problems. In medicine, you don’t cut an inflamed tissue; you have to give it time before you open it. So, Nigeria is inflamed, so don’t bring in a surgeon; bring a physician (general laughter). I think the message is clear. And this is where we went wrong and this is what I foresaw before the 2015 elections.

Not that I hate anybody.

not conform to their vision of the nation.

What you are advocating for is like a son paying for the crimes of his father. You mean a Captain who retires and wants to join politics should be excluded just because some military men took over power long ago?

No. No. No. I mean military men who have been active players in the political scene from 1966 till date. They are the same people controlling who rules Nigeria. Not the masses. This clique has to approve and support you in order for you to make any headway.

But I thought a religious leader s like you and Christian clergy have more influence on who wins election because you control the minds of the people?

We have influence but it is useless because it is not concentrated. It is scattered.

Everybody has his own constituency but he has no influence beyond that. The question confronting us is not about Muslims or Christians ruling the country. It is about people who have tasted power and have enriched themselves, thereby manipulating Nigerian politics. Until when the masses understand and agree to retire these people from politics completely and

leadership comes back to civilians, Nigeria will not progress as it should. For example, in the United States, no General influences the people.

But most of their politicians have military backgrounds…

(Cuts in) Yes, they participate but they don’t control; they don’t appoint and they don’t control oil wells in their country.

Let’s get this straight. If you want to run for the governorship position in Zamfara or Kaduna State for example, do you mean that you should be excluded because you were once in the military?

No. I am not excluding all ex-military men. No. I am referring to those who took over government at one time or the other and tasted political power should be excluded from politics. Otherwise we will continue to have problems because they themselves are in cliques. Their struggle is unhealthy for our nation. So, if we want Nigeria to heal, we should open a fresh page. We are in 2016 now, we need a new beginning. We need people without baggage to come into the political arena and political stability is very important for economic development. Modern economy is tied to political stability. There are a lot of

Is that what you foresaw when you opposed the emergence of Buhari as APC presidential candidate before the election?

Not just Buhari but Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Goodluck Jonathan. I opposed Jonathan because he had a baggage because of Boko Haram in the North; how he became lukewarm in fighting it and people were dying everywhere. Then, putting soldiers all over the states in the North, so people were tired of him and they wanted anybody but him. So, putting Jonathan on the ballot was a bad omen for Nigeria. He had reduced a national party into a sectional party. Fielding Buhari again alienated people of the South. He contested against Jonathan in 2011 and there was violence. So the nation will naturally be polarised because people of the South will do all they can to stop him. This caused unnecessary tension which was not good for the country.

I warned against that, saying that both of them should sacrifice their ambitions for the sake of Nigeria and peace. If none of the two candidates had any baggage, there would have been peace in Nigeria.

Take for instance Yar’Adua came without any baggage and he formed a government of national unity and he invited elements from the opposition in the government.

He also granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants. Yar’Adua was not corrupt. There was a governor in the opposition party, the then ANPP who told me in Makka that there was not governor that was as prudent as Yar’Adua was. He executed so many projects in Katsina State and even left behind billions of naira for his successor. But Yar’Adua did not make noise about it.

For me who is from the North-East, I will give kudos to this administration for degrading Boko Haram. Right now, my people can sleep with their two eyes closed. What is your assessment of Buhari’s war on terror?

Yes, this government has tried in this regard but maintaining peace in Borno and in the North-East requires a buoyant economy. You should not equate a quick victory as the end of war. More important than defeating Boko Haram is for the economy to be strong enough to maintain security.

It is just like if a rat comes into your sitting room, where you have your TV sets and what have you. The issue is not about killing the rat. If you want to kill it with an iron rod, you will end up breaking your valuables. This is the situation that we have in Nigeria with regards to Boko Haram. The same thing is happening in the war against corruption. In trying to fight corruption, you end up breaking Nigeria.

This is the situation. We are saying this in order to correct the government. This is what we did during the previous government, we tried to correct it every step of the way. The present administration should have peace as its number one priority. Let them forget the past. They should work hard for the future. Every time you hear anything about this administration, it is about what happened in the past.

So, you mean those who looted the economy should be forgiven?

Yes, they should be forgiven and forgotten! If the government is bent on jailing these high profile thieves as you call them, the damage that it will cost the administration will be very high. Let me again use the rat analogy. If you want to kill the rat that has entered your sitting room, you will end up breaking your valuables. Rather, you should aim at making the room inhabitable so that it will go out by itself, because the looting of the last administration was widespread. It was not confined to just certain people. It involved Muslim clerics, Christian clergymen, politicians, the military and just about every facet of our society. In such a situation, you should just open a new page and continue from there. If you don’t do that, the war against corruption will consume you. The President should meet with these alleged looters and I bet you most of them will repatriate most of the money back under cover.

The President should be political about this. But once he wants to fight them, they have resources to hire the best lawyers and fight back.

Canon Law was derived out of Islamic Law. During the dark ages, the West never knew about law. Islam brought law to them during its incursion in Spain. And it was Maliki Law that went to Europe. Do you know the principles of law in general? It is the law that pronounces guilt. In Islam, you may see someone fornicating but you need four eye-witness to secure a conviction. If you have three, it is not accepted. But no one doubts that the person has fornicated but because of the absence of the fourth witness, there is no evidence.

So, the culprit will be allowed to go. So, someone may loot the economy but once you don’t have that evidence recognised by the law, he is still innocent. So, it is not about condoning corruption.

If a man steals a goat he is imprisoned but here you are saying that someone who stole about $10 million dollars should be allowed to enjoy his loot. Is this fair?

The man who was convicted for stealing a goat, you have evidence against him. But you don’t have evidence against the one who stole $10 million. That is the problem.

The high profile thieves abused the trust that Nigerians gave them by abusing their office. The lesson to be learnt here is that next time don’t trust a thief with public office. We have to follow the law. We can’t govern based on what we want to be done.

The law has to be followed.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

INTERVIEW Veteran film maker and former chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Chief Eddie Ugboma talks about various issues and developments in the sector including why a film village is imperative, reports TONY OKUYEME

Why Nollywood needs film village, by Ugboma

F

oremost film maker, Chief Eddie Ugboma has carved a niche for himself not just as a producer of films on topical and contemporary issues in the nation but also for speaking his mind, telling it as he sees it, on any issues. He is, no doubt, one of Nigeria’s greatest film makers, besides his contribution to the entertainment industry in general.

Despite current challenges, he believes that there is indeed hope for the industry…

But he is not happy that he has not been given due recognition and celebration especially by his immediate constuency and his home state, Delta State.

Congratulations on your recent award by Delta State government Thank you.

You don’t seem happy that you have not been celebrated and honoured as you deserve. What do think is responsible?

I blame the word tribalism, and what they call ‘minority syndrome’, because you can see how the Yorubas celebrate Prof. Wole Soyinka for the past 30 to 40 years; you see how Yorubas have been celebrating Ebenezer Obey and Sunny Ade. You see how the Igbos has been celebrating Peter Edochie and others. But what has Delta done? Nothing, and to make it worse, I come from a minority place that has never been in government for the past 25 years. If I was Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba, with my contribution to the industry in this country, they will be begging to offer me things. All my awards are on self-recognition.

I remember when we got Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) about 15 years ago, everybody, except me, that got that award was recommended by their governors, was given a house and given a car. The former governors of Delta State never recommended me for anything, either as chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation or as the Special Adviser to the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) or as the Chairman of the Boards of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) and Association of Movie Producers (AMP).

And I can tell that of the 26 of us that were working together in the Nigerian Film Society, only two of us – Ola Balogun and I are still active. I am talking about the real pioneers of the movie industry in Nigeria.

Some of them are Francis Oladele, Hubert Ogunde, Ade Love, Moses Olaiya Adejumo (Baba Sala) and others.

What is your take about developments in Nollywood?

What is happening in Nollywood now, I told them some time ago. Apart from very few ones, the films they are doing producing now are not even as good as a soap opera.

And when I warned the Igbos when they crashed into this industry, that they should not eat with their two hands and that they should not compete with themselves, they refused. One man would want to do 10 films, they say he is ‘Mr. Prolific’, ‘Doctor this’ and ‘Doctor that’. Where is the result now? Nobody is buying or watching Nigerian films again because they have allowed themselves to be taking over by situations. They brought South Africans to come and support our industry; today, South Africans own the hotels, the entertainment industry, supermarket – ‘Shoprite’ and ‘Shopleft’ – and we are watching. Tomorrow when all the damage

Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa (r) with veteran film maker, Chief Eddie Ugboma

has been done, we start protesting, then, we start opening an inquiry. It is a shame.

Whenever I look at myself, I thank God for what I am. I have 13 children and 11 of them are graduates; the last two are about to enter university; and I am not hungry and I am strong. I have just come from 18-hour drive from Abuja to Lagos, yet I am strong.

I pity those boys in Nollywood, because that is what they know, but I call it motion picture – both television and video. It is wrong to categorize them like that, we should call them videographers; they are not cinematographers. But we pity them and call them and call all of them film makers. I pity them, but with so much heavy names from Delta State, if I want to be tribalistic and all that, they cannot organize to celebrate me at 70, at 71, 72, 73, 74, or at 75.

So, what are your plans now?

I have told the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and he is willing. Three banks are hoping to coming in but the one I can guarantee is Heritage Bank, because they want to invest in the cinema. I have called a meeting of Nollywood people and entertainers; I have the bank too to chip into my celebration.

So the member of committee met and agreed assured that they will support me.

You have been at the vanguard for a film village. What is it about?

The film village will have various facility including sound studios, night clubs, hotels, accommodations, swimming pool, lawn tennis courts, shopping mall and so on. If we have that kind of studio, sound studio here in Nigeria other African countries would be coming here. All I am asking for is land to build the film village. If they provide it today, my partners will arrive from the U.S. because they have been here for six weeks before.

So, what is wrong with Nollywood?

The number one thing like every business: is money and knowhow. They don’t have the money, but if they could have the money, if the could team up like they do in America; now six people produce a film in America, you bring your money, I bring my money and we join all, but because we don’t trust ourselves, this tribalism of Igbo,

Yoruba and Hausa. Do you know I saw the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he said he had 48 petitions from Nollywood people. What will he do?

How can he face it. Is that what he is going to face? I was his guest penultimate Friday and we are talking about how to salvage the film corporation archives. He is also facing the same challenge. No government since 1960 has respected the Ministry of Information and Culture, and these are the images of this country. Image So, his budget is zero. So I pity Lai Mohammed a lot. You can’t Image Nigeria with empty pocket.

Like I told Lai Mohammed, I said Hitler fought war with film; Winston Churchill fought war with film, and so on. To worsen it, those in the industry have so tribilised themselves; the Yorubas are bamboozling with request; the Hausas, they say because this is their government; the Igbos are saying we are the ones putting the money into the industry. Among the Yorubas, they have six factions; among the Igbos, they have 112 factions; the Hausas have more than eight factions. How can one Minister attend to all of them? So that is our headache.

You were the chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation at a time; can you share your experiences? What was it like then and now?

That time there was war but I was winning. What happened was that people were stealing money, billions. Ask Obasanjo; when I told him he was so shocked, he made a decree immediately banning foreigners. Advertising agencies were syphoning money out of this country. A small documentary or advert they can do for 4000 dollars they put 400,000 dollars. There was one they put 60 million dollars, one Lebanese man in Benin was going to take money out of the country, one of the biggest advertising agency in the country today, sent in the budget, luckily I was called by the Obasanjo government then to advise them on the budget, and I told them that the film can be shot with 60,000 dollars why is it 6000,000 dollars? It was then Obasanjo told the Minister of Finance to look into every foreign exchange. In fact, millions of dollars had been thrown in the name of film. Then they passed a decree which banned Lebanese and Indians from getting involved in films again. Edwin Clarke was then given all the

films and cinema houses owned by the Mattar Brothers. When Idiagbon found out that they are not his own films, he seized them and gave the whole cinemas to Bendel State.

But unfortunately, like other Nigerian thing, they couldn’t run it. The whole thing crashed.

NFC The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) came up after a lot of appeals by Ola Balogun and myself; and what sinks in money at that was going abroad to process films, to do everything. It was then the NFC built a colour lab and Nigerians made sure it failed, because every ministry of information that is what they use in stealing money. If they do a 10 minutes documentary, they went to overseas and they will claim 30 days estacodes , this and that. So when the “colour lab” came up, nobody was allowed kobo again, so you cannot apply because production was done in Jos; and Nigerians watched it die. And luckily for us, the Army killed our economy; it nosedived such that the only thing you can use to home video. It Nigerians who watched the film corporation die; and who is the looser? Nigeria. If go there, there are more than 60-years-old negatives of Nigeria’s history; they are on the floor. It is now the new managing director are planning how to salvage them. For the past 16 years, the past four managing directors didn’t do anything about it. It is now they are trying to salvage it. But which of the Nigerian film makers has ever gone there to use it since 1988? Nobody, because they are not shooting films; they are shooting home videos; and they are not shooting historical events. Look at my films – “Death of A Black President”, a through story; “The Oil Doom”, “Rise of Oyenusi”, “The Mask”. These are what we call authentic contemporary films. Our people are not shooting stories.

So the colour lab is dead there; the whole of those millions wasted, and most of us who have old negatives of celluloid film, I have lost N800,000,000 of my films because of no NEPA to salvage them.

My celebration is four pronged – my 76th birthday, my 54 years in the Entertainment industry, the launching of my autobiography, and the induction of people – musicians and movie makers - into the hall of fame; and to crown it all with a musical concert. And also establish Edifosa Entertainment Foundation.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

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Features Rev. King wants trial judge arrested p.34

News Boko Haram defeat: Cleric differs with FG, attributes victories to Rosary p.50

SERMON

Your feet and your destiny p.35

FAITH

Corrupt judges should be jailed –Muoka

L-R: The General Overseer of Lord’s Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo and Pastor Mrs. Joy Muoka during a visit to the Vice President, recently

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Tai Anyanwu he General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has commended the Federal Government’s ongoing move to rid the judiciary of corrupt judges, saying that indicted judges should be prosecuted and jailed.

His words: “Any Judicial officer found guilty of corruption should be punished. I don’t think any right thinking person will support corruption. We all abhor this cankerworm that has pervaded all the fabrics of our existence in this country. It is not only in the judiciary that we find corruption, this evil is everywhere in Nigeria including the house of God.” The cleric, however, pointed out that the process of arrest and prosecution of suspects must show respect for the person’s right to life. “But while we give credence to the ongoing anti-corruption war, we counsel that it should not be done in such a way that will t threaten the life of the suspect. This is because only the living will be prosecuted. If the suspect dies while the security agents are trying to apprehend him, the truth dies with him,” he said.

Muoka specifically urged the government to always take into consideration the prevailing insecurity in the country vis-à-vis robbery, kidnapping and cultism, when security officer make arrests.

“I don’t think the midnight invasion was the right approach. However, the DSS has better training to know when to arrest than we do,” he added.

Muoka was speaking ahead of the upcoming crusade of his church, titled ‘God has sworn to bless you,’ slated for October 22 and 23, at the Federal Capital City Abuja. He

explained that the event is in line with his ministry’s drive to hold crusade in different parts of the country and world in pursuit of the church’s three fold vision of causing grassroots revival all over the world; adding that the commission will complement this administration’s efforts to effect attitudinal change.

“I want to let you know that unless there is a change in the spirit life of a person, all that you are doing to cause him to change will remain cosmetic. This is because it is when the godly consciousness is revived in the spirit man that the physical man will concur, for the spiritual controls the physical.

“Corruption arose when men seek the things of this world and assume it lasts forever, but if they come to the understanding that the physical things of this world fades away but heavenly things are real and endure forever, there will be attitudinal change in their lives.

So, the pursuant of our vision brings back the total man to conform to the nature of God by which he was originally created. When a man repents from wickedness, he becomes an agent of transformation. There is no honesty without godliness because it is the seed that produces right attitude,” Mouka explained.

He enjoined Nigerians to pray more fervently for the nation’s leaders, pointing out that there is little on nothing any leader could do without God: “Government is doing the best it could do. Our duty is to pray for the leaders of the country. The dictate of the King is purposeless if God has not appointed it. God is He that determines direction and success in every government, thus it is the wisdom apportioned to the leaders according to the measure of grace that prevails in governance.

So whatever we want from the leaders will come when we pray to God,” He observed that all the tensions, political crisis, and economic woes in Nigeria and the

world over signify that the end of all things is by the corner: “As we seek for the good of our present lives, let us also think of our eternal lives and what happens after death. Nigerians should seek God, obey Him and depend on Him, because I am sure God will never disappoint them. In fact God has made me know that He will bless this country again.”

Pastor Muoka also called on missionaries to urgently look into the high cost of education in mission or church-owned schools and universities which he said is not accessible to children from poorer homes.

“The Bible did not exclude the children of the poor. All children should be brought up virtuously so that they could become the agent of the change we desire. If only the children of the rich that may be twenty percent receive godly training, and the children of the poor that constituted majority receive no education, it means the society will never change for the better. So, I will advise missionaries and by extension the body of Christ to consider the poor in their education programs,” he said.

Sunday Telegraph learnt that adequate security measures have been made ahead of the crusade scheduled to hold at the National Stadium, Abuja, beginning 8 am daily. Free transport has also been provided to cater for the huge turnout expected at the event.

The G.O added: “God has decided to bless this country through this program and to prove to man that He is still available and has the power to restore hope to that uncertain situation. The economy may be bad and the future looks bleak, but God is not caught off guard. He has the power to do this or that dependig on what we want. If mankind, particularly Nigerians can call upon Him and recognise that He alone has the power to bless us, an it shall be well with them.”

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

‘Why Nigeria isn’t working’

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cleric, Rev. Ernest Nzogu has linked the problems of Nigeria to the wrong way of doing

things.

Speaking recently at the Word Exploits Assembly, Akute, he maintained that Nigeria needs a thorough rebirth at 56 coupled with the address of foundational and structural defects for things to work out.

“We need a thorough rebirth. Our problem in Nigeria is not leadership. If you go through the history of Nigeria we have had wonderful leaders some were revolutionaries like Murtala Mohammed.

“We had people that came and made war, we had people that came to invest in one thing or the other but where did it lead us? We need a thorough rebirth Nigeria; we need to address the issue of its foundation and its structure.

“It is in the hand of the legislature. It is not in the hand of the Presidency. This same legislature if they will be willing.

When I talk about legislatures I am not talking about the ones there. If they will be willing to give us a new platform,” Nzogu said.

Speaking further he stated thus: “You know why Nigeria is not working? It is not approaching things the right way and we are programming our system to fail and we keep on talking change the leaders, change the leaders and same thing is happening over again.

“We need to discuss some things in the national conference so no part of Nigeria would feel any kind of injustice, no part will feel they are sidelined and no part of the country will say they are not part of the show then any leader that comes up even if immature or inexperience the leader will do well because the system has been programmed to make them fulfill.”

Little girl found and returned, safe and unharmed

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ittle Rebecca “Becky” Lewis ran into the waiting, outstretched arms of her parents, Tuesday, after having been kidnapped on Saturday by a ‘former family friend.’

A five-state Amber Alert, along with social media, helped get word out about the abducted four-year-old, and several “spottings” traced the kidnapper—”West Wild Hogs”—and his victim through Florida, Georgia and finally Tennessee.

It was Monday afternoon, according to the Fox 35 report, when an employee at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, noticed the silver Nissan Versa from the alert, and called security.

West Wild Hogs was quickly taken into custody by police and Rebecca was rescued and brought back to her family in Lakeland on Tuesday. (Photo via Fox 35) The suspect (31) was being held in a Memphis jail. It is still unknown why he took the little girl, and what he had planned.

Becky’s grandmother, in a press conference after her return, urged West to ‘get the help being offered,’ and thanked him for ‘taking such good care of Becky.’

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Rev. King wants trial judge arrested

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Tai Anyanwu call has gone to the Federal Government to arrest and try Justice Olubunmi Joseph Oyewole (now an Appeal Court Judge), for the death by hanging sentence handed to controversial General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a. Rev. King.

Rev Ernest King, a die-hard follower of the incarcerated cleric, who made the call, said that the recent clampdown on corrupt judges in the country will not be complete until Justice Oyewole is brought to book.

Referring to media reports on the clamp down, Rev. King said: “I am absolutely vindicated by articles and press statements which finally, have brought to the fore, the satanic nature of many Nigerian judges who issue biased and questionable judgments and injunctions. If for no other thing, reasonable human beings will begin to understand it when we point out the fact that the trial of Rev. Kings was a set-up and absolutely pre-determined.

“When Rev. King, who never wronged anyone, was falsely accused and a pre-determined death sentence passed against him, we shouted and screamed but because over 99 per cent of Nigerians, Christians among them were on the side of Satan thus taking the position of the Pharisees who wanted Jesus Christ eliminated at all cost, they wanted Barabas’ freedom instead that of Jesus.

“I sincerely hope that this crackdown on corrupt judicial officers will not end here.

It obviously will be incomplete without the arrest and prosecution of Justice Olubunmi Joseph Oyewole (now an Appeal Court

Judge), who handled Rev. King’s trial at the High Court level,” he said.

Recall that Justice Joseph Oyewole, then of Lagos High Court, pronounced Rev King guilty on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder on January 11, 2007; and consequently sentenced the cleric to 20 years and death by hanging respectively.

On February 1, 2013, Justices Fatima Akinbami, Amina Augie of Court of Appeal upheld the verdict, while Justice Ibrahim Saulawa of the Supreme Court on February 26, 2016 affirmed Rev. King’s death sentence.

Rev. King had contended in his defence: “I was arrested by heavily armed policemen who alleged that I poured fuel on some members of my church and set them ablaze. It was a very surprising thing to me and I was stunned when they came for me.

“In any case, why must I pour fuel on my worshippers? That day in question, 20 members of my church wedded and after that, I proceeded to my house. We were all feeling very happy. In my residence that evening, I heard shouts of ‘Daddy’. The screams came from one of my daughters (his female followers), Kelechi. I was wearing shorts and I ran down from upstairs.

“I saw flames on my daughter, Ann Uzuh.

When I came down, one man was helping to douse the fire on her, while some other people were there. I helped in drawing her to the tap, but the tap was not running. I was also praying while trying to save her.

Fortunately, the fire went off.

“We then took her to the nearest hospital where she started receiving treatment.

“I am a preacher. I know that the spirit of witchcraft is against the Almighty God. If

somebody is a liar, he is bewitching God. I don’t condone lies. Dr. King does not condone sin. I flog a lot. I have canes. If husband and wife mess up by having a misunderstanding, I have to settle them.

“But the person that is at fault must be flogged. If the person refuses to be flogged, I will send him out of the church.”

However, a prosecution witness in the case against King, Susan Chizobar Onuorah, told the High Court that she was always stark naked whenever she wanted to serve him.

Her words: “When I came to live with the accused (Rev. King), he told me that I would be his permanent maid and that I would agree not to marry.

“He said anytime I wanted to serve him, I must be stark naked which I did. No pants, no bra, I would be completely nude before him and I did this not once, not twice, but for several years.

“He also ordered me not to tell any member of my family where I was living. He gave me a ring which I always put on to indicate that I am his permanent maid and all this he made me to put into writing. I am a member of the Lord’s Army and we bully people, putting fear into them and molesting them.

“He is a very violent person; he would beat us mercilessly, and as a result, we always have wounds on our bodies. He called himself god, the owner of the universe and could do anything.

We know this is not so, but out of fear, we could not challenge him.

“On the July 22, 2006, the day of the fire incident, a sister named Kelechi came to call me from the Boys’ Quarters of the accused’s house where we were staying. She said the accused wanted to see me.

“When I got to him, he did not even allow me to kneel down as we usually did when talking to him before he started beating me with stick, rod and anything he could find.

I started crying, shouting and begging him not to kill me.

‘Don’t let recession trouble you’

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enior Pastor of Glory Christian Ministries, Pastor Iruofagha James has enjoined Christians and Nigerians in general not to be troubled by the present economic recession in the country.

He said it should rather be seen as a cause associated with repentance with the attendant price to be paid in order to draw closer to God with the conviction that, it will soon be over.

James further described the recession as a global situation, which God will use to redirect us to His divine economic promises, provisions and assurance for the betterment of our lives.

Speaking during the annual get together of the church’s partners, he said that: “The world economy has led us astray with depression and swift reactions, because, things we ought to deal with in our lives we had over time built affinity with, and therefore failed to do the right thing at the right time, which had seriously led to a situation where instead of enjoying life as God meant it to be, we rather are enduring it.”

The cleric admonished that, instead of lamenting, complaining and railing accusations, recession period should be a revival time of drawing closer to God for direction on how to activate hidden opportunities that are much available to meet our needs.

Quoting from the book of Ecclesiastes 9: 1-12, he stated: “God’s plan for us is to joyfully enjoy life and be free from any form of depression, oppression or recession, but due to our nonchalant attitudes, mismanagement nature and ingratitude towards His divine provisions for us, He allow some occurrences to checkmate us.”

Christian biologist fired for challenging evolution

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The Church of Resurrection’s 21st Annual Choral Festival in Lagos recently

‘Miracle is no passport to heaven’

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he Chief shepherd of Bible Hope Faith Mission Church, Pastor Samuel Akano, has called on miracle performing Pastors and miracle seekers, not to see miracles as passports/visas to heaven.

The man of God made this known during the 8th Annual Convention of the church tagged ‘The man called Jesus,’ which held in Lagos recently .

“Today church is not what it

used to be, you see people rushing to church because of miracle and salvation. They don’t believe in prayer anymore also don’t see as solution to their various problems.”

Akano said many Christians have fall victims while looking for miracles from fake pastors who claim to be men of God. “With the theme of this year’s convention, whosoever believes in Jesus Christ and have faith in him would not look for un-

necessary miracles anywhere than to pray with the name of the lord. Jesus name alone is the best miracle anyone can seek.

“There is going to be testimonies from the members on what the lord has done for them before and what is going to do for them because of the faith they have in the name of Jesus, because it is the same Jesus yesterday, today and forever,” the cleric said.

Pastor Akano, however, ex-

plained that the convention was basically “to praise the lord, celebrate Jesus Christ, because with the name of Christ everything shall bow down, we believe in his name that was why we are celebrating and glorifying his name.”

“With the celebration of Jesus Christ, great things will happen in every member of the church lives, also their blessing we also multiply in many folds,” he added.

Christian scientist who was fired by the school he worked for after discovering evidence that could challenge evolution was granted a hefty financial settlement for his lawsuit.

Mark Armitage, who managed the electron microscope laboratory at California State University Northridge, made a surprising discovery in 2012 after unearthing triceratops horns at the Hell Creek Formation.

Upon returning to his lab, he examined the horns and found soft tissue preserved along with the fossil.

“They were brown, stretchy sheets. I was shocked to see anything that was that pliable,” he described. The discovery was significant because it indicated that the specimen was from around 4,000 years ago, during the time of the great flood, and not 60 million years ago as evolutionists argued.

He wrote a paper about his findings, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Acta Histochemica. However, two weeks after his paper was published, he was surprised to find that the school terminated his employment. He feared he was fired because the evolutionists in his department could not accept his findings.

“We will not tolerate your religion in this department!” his supervisor reportedly told him.

Armitage said he did not even made conclusions in his paper except that the case needed further investigation. He did not include his personal views in the paper.

Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer, who reviewed the paper before publication, saw nothing wrong with it.

“It was just morphology,” she said. “It was fine.” Schweitzer herself discovered soft tissue in dinosaur fossil in 2005. In 2014, Armitage filed a lawsuit against CSUN through the Pacific Justice Institute.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY October 16, 2016

FAITH

Insight

Rev. Femi Akinola www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

Your feet and your destiny

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hou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” Psalms 8:6 There is a mystery behind the feet of man. The Scripture says God has put all things under our feet. The enemy understands this and thus seeks to attack the feet of man at any available opportunity.

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Amen.” Romans 16:20 The place of every true believer is high above in the heavenly places.

We are not of this world even though we are in the world. When the enemy attacks the feet of men of this world, we must be an exception because we understand the mysteries of the Kingdom, our dominion and our place with Christ. Only unbelievers and the ignorant believers suffer such attacks. Why must you subject yourself to be afflicted by the devil when God has put him under your feet?

In the things or school of the spirit, ignorance is no excuse. Being ignorant doesn’t automatically qualify you for God’s intervention or deliverance, deliverance comes from knowledge.

“And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.” Deuteronomy 33:24 When the feet of a man are anointed, he does exploits. The anointing of the feet can lead to the enthronement of a destiny.

In Job 29:16; Job said, he was feet to the lame and everything to everyone who needed him. There is nothing like being incapacitated. When the spiritual feet of a man are lame, his destiny automatically becomes stagnant.

May God give you extra foot to locate your destiny helpers in Jesus name.

“He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.”

Psalm 47:3 Victory is first of all spiritual before it is physical.

Most battles that people lose physically have actually already been lost in the spirit. This scripture means God has put all enemies and adversaries under us, in other words,

He already has gotten the victory He is calling you to come and possess.

“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 4:3 If your feet are so important to God, so much that He mentions it severally in scriptures, then you must take it seriously too and make sure you don’t allow the enemy to attack them. For if the enemy attacks the feet of any man, it might become very difficult for him to fulfil destiny. The foot of man represents his work, establishment and dominion in life. Any man who must be established in life cannot afford to be attacked.

Signs that show the feet is under attack 1. Slow Progress. No man can reach the place of his manifestation in life if the feet are under attack.

When the feet are under attack, there would be slow progress.

“Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.” Psalm 25:15 Your foot carries power.

Everything, including the devil, is under your feet. But until you walk into and possess take the dominion God has provisioned for you, you can’t walk in absolute victory.

2. Ill luck – you always arrive late at a place of good things or when it gets to your turn there is always a change in story or change in government.

3. Denied Opportunities.

4. Stagnancy.

What do you do?

1. Give your life to Christ.

2. Break every curse upon your life which you acquired by satanic places you have visited.

3. Disconnect yourself from every evil association.

Prayer Points 1. I will go beyond where the enemy has destined for me in Jesus name.

2. Sand taken from under my feet to do me evil, back fire by fire in Jesus name.

3. I shall not crawl in life; I shall shine.

4. I command wicked traps to catch their owner in Jesus name.

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er. 32: 17and 19 says, “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” God is not a respecter of persons; every committed iniquity is dealt with in accordance with the written word of God. Sin remains sin irrespective of the status of the sinner. It doesn’t matter whether the sinner is a pastor or not, God is angry with the sin of the wicked.

Judges 2: 11- 15 says, “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Whithersoever they went out; the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed” Israel did evil again, as they had done before and then God delivered them

God is angry with the wicked (5) Revival Tidings again, as he had done before, into the hands of their enemies. This was one of the highest aggravations of their offense. They forsook the God who brought them out of Egypt, a place in which they endured the most grievous oppression and were subjected to the most degrading servitude, from which they never could have rescued themselves and yet they were delivered by such display of the power of God, which they should never have forgotten. So, the same power which before protected them when they were in obedient, now turned against them because of their disobedience.

If God allows your enemies to dominate you, you are finished. Israel pushed the experiment of disobedient to the extreme and God gave them a taste of the result of sin. They joined the heathen in their wickedness, and they did not win their hearts, but rather provoked their contempt.

A man cannot serve sin without being ensnared by it. If we continue mixing up with children of the world, sooner or later they will become our masters.

Sometimes the enemies God will hand you over to, may not be physical enemies but elementals that are invisible but with physical effects such as diabetes, High blood pressure, cancer, liver problem, paralyses, poison, severe headache, etc and all palliatives solution you will apply will not yield any desired result and you may suffer for years. The enemy on the other hand may be accident, barrenness, etc

with

Pastor Lazarus Muoka Email: chosenworldwidepublicityltd@

08095139000, 08068465580 (SMS only)

and all efforts to gain relief will fail until you repent.

1John 5:18 says: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” My friend, if you do not commit sin, the door will not be opened for the devil to enter and harm you, but if you commit sin, the door becomes open. Sincere Christians, who are begotten and born of God, do not commit sin but keep away from it, and the devil touches them not. This is because the devil finds nothing of his own nature in them on which he can work; therefore, he touches them not. They are fortified against the devil’s destructive attempts as long as they keep to righteousness and holiness.

Whenever God is angry with any person the result is always terrible. If the person is in abject poverty, he gets no financial assistance even from his closest friend or brother. He is deserted by even his dearest relations.

All the people he had helped to become rich will keep away from him like a plague. Where others went and obtained favour of financial assistance, when he goes there, he will be denied. If it is sickness the person is suffering from, it cannot be diagnosed or be

cured by any doctor. Such person will not know any peace, nor make any progress except he repents. The more hospitals he visits, the more his health deteriorates until he confesses and repents of his sin. If he is into business, all the business networks will close and patronage ceases to be.

Why has all these calamities falling upon him, it is because God is angry with him daily and thus has handed him over to his enemies. The only option he has is repentance, and until this is done there shall be no peace for him.

2Chronicle 7:13-14 “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

No evil comes upon an individual or nation without the permission and control of God and when this is the case God is able and ready, to remove or deliver him from the calamities and manifest towards him a new token of His favour, only if the person can duly humble himself and repent.

How the Holy Ghost empowers for exploits (3)

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ast week, we examined the Spirit of Dedication as one of the Spirits of Christ that engender exploits in our lives. The true worth of a believer is determined by the degree of his dedication as illustrated by Jesus in the parable of the Mustard seed. He said: …

Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it (Mark 4:30-32; see also Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19).

Just as no one knows the capacity of a Mustard Seed until it is sown, no one can tell the true worth of a believer until he or she is

The Voice of Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

7747546-8 (SMS only) truly dedicated to God and the cause of His Kingdom.

Therefore, as spiritual seeds, we must commit ourselves to God and His Kingdom or we may never manifest the exploits that He has ordained for us.

That is why we need the empowerment of the Spirit of dedication (John 12:23-26 see also Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21). *In continuation of our study on the Spirits of Christ that engender exploits, we shall be looking at The Spirit of obedience: This Spirit empowers us to delightsomely obey God without struggles.

The Bible says: Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord,

that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever (Psalms 112:1-3; see also Ezekiel 36:27).

Delightsome obedience is the master key to our glorious destinies in Christ Jesus. That is why the Bible says: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth (Deu-

teronomy 28:1).

Our future is rooted in obeying the commandments of God, most of which are not convenient; that’s why we need the Spirit of obedience.

Until we pass the test of obedience, the giant in us will never come alive or find expression. However, when we engage this Spirit, divine backing is guaranteed 24/7 to pave the way forward for us and to silence the devil and his agents (Genesis 22:1-18).

In conclusion, we must recognise that these multidimensional gifts of the Holy Spirit are only accessible by God’s children. In other words, until one is born again, he/she cannot partake of these spiritual gifts. Are you born again?

If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to you today.

I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with your precious Blood.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Fruit of the spirit

JOY But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22,23).

At one time or the other, we find ourselves in a valley between two planes or hills. Some persons get depressed, very sad and loose hope in that state.

Some persons even die in such state of unhappiness.

When things are not going well as expected is when we know those who have the joy as the fruit of the Spirit. Am I trying to say that you can control sadness or unhappiness? Yes, you can be on top of the situation when things are not going well with you.

And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha, and the Levite that taught the people, said unto all the people, this day is holy, unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep, for all the people wept, when they had the words of the law.

Then he said unto them, go your way, eat that fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto the Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

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

0808 770 7486

Something made the people to excessively mourn but they were told to stop sorrowing and become joyful. This they did at once.

In this valley of life into which we mortal find ourselves at one time or the other you need strength to climb out of it. That strength cannot come by sorrowing, by crying, by sadness but by being JOYFULL. Joy is the strength you need to climb out otherwise you remain there and waste. You are like a vehicle and the oil and fuel you need is joy of the Lord, supplied by God and especially through the Holy Spirit. You must decide that nobody should succeed in provoking you or making you sad. You must tell the Holy Spirit to enable you confront that situation with joy. Trusting the Holy Spirit makes you sing or not to feel the way others feel about it.

This joy gives you enough strength to climbs out of the valley quicker than

expected.

If you go close to a very steep hill, you will discover that not every vehicle will climb it easily.

Some vehicles “groan” to climb it. Some easily climb it; some vehicles role backward instead of climbing up.

I went to Kenya some years ago in the District of Machakos. My host drove us to a particular hill, stopped the car and the engine and put the vehicle on neutral gear.

The car rolled upwards.

He brought an orange fruit, and dropped it at the middle of the hill. The orange rolled upwards instead of downwards. He brought out a cup of water and poured it on the hill, the water moved upwards instead of flowing downwards. The Law of gravity that says all these must move downwards failed. Everything on the hill moved upwards. This is what happens to you when you have joy, and when you are not de-

The over loving in-laws

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remember a Christian lady who complained about the fact that her younger brother has suffered from so many broken relationships.

When I investigated the issue with my wife, we discovered that she contributed largely to her younger brother’s single state. As an over loving sister, she insisted on cooking his meals, doing his laundry, arranging his room anytime she came for a visit and calling him all through the day. To her, she loved her brother and wanted the best for him, but to every girl who wanted to marry him, his sister was over-bearing.

The ladies saw her as an obstruction in the way of her brother. They saw a man who had a terrorist as a sister and did not want to have such as a sister-in-law.

As a matter of fact, this lady once told a lady her brother wanted to marry that once married, she (the elder sister) would love to continue cooking for her brother whom she loved so much. She felt she was doing nothing wrong. She only loved her brother. This statement from her discouraged this young woman her brother wanted to marry and she left the man for her. For a very long time, the brother

Marriage & Family Intimacy

Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521 Unknown to him, his sister’s attitude was just chasing the ladies away did not have good relationship with ladies and could not find a woman who wanted to accept what his sister was doing. Unknown to him, his sister’s attitude was just chasing the ladies away. None of them wanted to marry a man whose life would be controlled by his sister. They did not want to be in their husband’s house and be second fiddle to his sister instead of being in charge as wives.

There are times when love becomes suffocating and at such times, the people dishing out the love do not realize their love is making the other person uncomfortable. Some women fall into this category and insist on clinging to their sons even when these sons have become married men. This is called being possessive.

It has a high level of greed and meanness attached to

it. People with such traits do not want to let go of what they feel belongs to them and anything that comes close to what they feel is theirs will receive resistance. I know of a woman who insisted all her married children visit her every weekend.

Another insisted on having her grandchildren over every evening after school. As funny as it sounds, the people concerned are only trying to be possessive of what they do not want to let go.

My message today is to you the mother-in-law, the sister-in-law, the father-in-law, the friends, aunty or family members.

God clearly stated in Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

This simply states that there must be a process of leaving and cleaving.

Before one can cleave to his/her spouse, he/she must first of all leave his/ her family. Such becomes

pressed. You will always move upwards and climb out of the valley – with joy f the Lord. That was why Hezekiah enjoined his people “mourn, not, weep not”. He said “eat the fat, drink the sweet, neither be ye sorry; for the joy if the Lord is your strength.

There are over 60 verses in the scriptures where the Lord enjoined us to rejoice. No man goes to war with sadness and sure to come back victorious.

And the Lord said unto Gideon - - now therefore go to proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand and there remained ten thousand (Judges 7:2,3).

God is not prepared to go to war or to do anything with those devoid of joy, who are always complaining, and sad. Such people do not have “oil and fuel”, in their lives.

They will breakdown or “knock engine” and cause more problems.

If you get up one morning and decide to be sad, you will be. If you decide to by happy and sing, you will. This is completely under you control.

an off-spring of that family. Respect and privacy should then be given the off-spring by their respective family members.

While love and communication should not cease, the wise parents or sibling must realize that the son or daughter, brother or sister is now more than just that. He/she has now become a husband and wife. The status has changed. When a man/ woman becomes married, that person is viewed as being detached from his family and has been joined to a new person who has become the new family.

When you continue to get involved in the life of your family member who has been married to someone, you have made yourself an intruder and you might receive an intruder’s treatment from the couple if you are not careful.

You might likely not be welcomed to such home as would have been if you had been behaving well and giving them privacy and respect.

Therefore the respect and honour that follows the covenant of marriage must be given by the families; of the man and the woman.

Give them some distance to find their feet and stand. Frequent visitations, orders, commands or forceful suggestions should cease. They have their lives to live.

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

Total wholeness

A

thing is said to be divine when it is holy, excellent and belonging to or proceeding from God. In a nutshell, divine healing is a situation where God supernaturally removes sickness from man’s body.

God, out of His supremacy and omnipotence, chooses to heal who He wills through any instrumentality; whether animate or inanimate. Divine healing at times may cover all areas; physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Healing is the total recovery of a person, place or thing from ill health to sound health under the influence of the supernatural. The Hebrew word for healing is Rapha which means to stitch and repair that which was broken. It means to bring it to a level of total wholesomeness.

The word disease can as well be seen as dis-ease, that which is against your ease or that which makes you uneasy. From this point of view, one can widen the scope of the word disease, to cover many areas including spiritual, financial, marital and intellectual disease.

Psychosomatic is a word which literally means ‘Soul and Body’ referring to the close relationship of the body and soul.

The soul affects the body and the health of the soul may be an indication of the health of the body. The word of God as recorded in the epistle of 3John 2, by the Holy Ghost through John the beloved declares: “Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” This was the anticipation of the emphasis on psychosomatic medicine; that a person is a unity of body and soul and the body and soul cannot be separated. In other words, Christianity and health are inextricable inter-woven and inter-twined.

Origin of sickness When God created man, He gave man dominion over everything He created. But when man fell into the diabolical deception of the devil, disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden tee, man lost his glory, longevity, dignity, power and dominion. God cursed man and cursed the serpent. From then on, many woes, sufferings and calamities invaded the earth and Satan took over

the dominion of the earth from Adam who the Almighty God made the God of this world. In the light of the foregoing therefore, the word of God in the book of Genesis 3:13-15 states thus: “And the Lord God said unto the woman, what is this that thou has done?

And the woman said the serpent beguiled me and I did eat. And the Lord said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field, upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise his feet.

By putting enmity between the woman and the serpent, God allowed the consequences of sin to influence man. He further allowed the influence of sickness through labour pain to dominate man, especially when he cursed the woman and said to her: “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shall bring forth children” –Genesis 3:16. God also allowed disappointment to enter into the world when He cursed the ground to produce to produce thorns, thistles and herbs instead of abundance of harvest of good fruits. He states thus: “Thorns also and thistles shalt it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” –Genesis 3:18.

God also pronounced an unfruitful hard labour when He cursed man to sweat out his daily bread and said: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread until thou return unto the ground,” –Genesis 3:19.

God also allowed the negative effects of nakedness and pronounced death by declaring thus: “For out it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” Genesis 3:19b. With these terrible consequential sentence and pronouncement from God i.e. sin, sickness, poverty, unfruitful hard labour, disappointment, nakedness and death all pervaded humanity till today. Satan dominates the world with sin and power of darkness. Satan developed and highly established the laws of sin and death: “For that the soul that sinneth shall die” –Ezekiel 18:20.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

Body&Soul

with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

Befitting gift for Segun Mimiko at 62

O

nly few may have been unrealistic in their thought that the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Rahaman Mimiko, was going to roll out drums to celebrate when he turned 62 recently because the medical doctor turn politician has over the years demonstrated he’s got no penchant for parties.

However, his birthday anniversary did not go unnoticed, even as it’s going to be the last he will mark at the Alagbaka seat of power as number one indigene of the Sunshine state. On this note, Orange Youth Network, a youth oriented organisation, recognised the opportunity in his birthday anniversary and took the advantage to celebrate what it referred to as unprecedented achievements of Mimiko as a governor of the state. Thousands, on the invite of Orange Youth Network gathered to celebrate the governor in the capital city of the state, Akure.

Meanwhile, beyond the fanfare on his 62nd birthday anniversary, it’s believed in many quarters that the gover-

nor may have, after all, presented himself with a befitting birthday gift through his activities as an individual over the years as well as a governor in the last eight years. Having held important positions in various governments back at home, Mimiko got national attention when he was made a minister even as he nurtured a governorship ambition which hit the bricks as far as his political party, PDP was concerned. Iroko, as he’s fondly called, was unbroken but was dogged in pursuit of his dream. He set an unprecedented pace by going ahead to win the governorship election after just about three months he pitched his tent with a relatively non existing political party, Labour. He however, got his mandate through the ruling of the election tribunal. He consolidated by winning another term despite all odds, thereby making him the first governor to rule for two terms in Ondo State. As a governor, he’s considered to have excelled. Among his achievements, his giant leap in the health sector is a reference point for good governance not only in Nigeria but in Africa. This feat has no doubt endeared him to many even beyond the Sunshine state.

As a politician, he’s adjudged a smooth operator who knows his onions. In his region, South West, he’s not only popular, he’s also got the confidence of the elders which of course is fast making him a rallying point for the Yoruba race and as a politician with a national outlook, he’s proven to be a bridge builder who is calculative, modest and people oriented. With this incredible profile, his image is not only intimidating and soaring, Celeb Lounge learnt his supporters may have in earnest been rooting for him to fill the Vice Presidential slot if PDP eventually zones it to the South West as is expected come 2019.

Chioma Agha, Wale unite in matrimony I

t was a day of joy recently for one time oil industry top brass, retired Managing Director of Department of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Billy Agha, when he handed his beloved daughter, Chioma out in marriage. Beautiful Chioma, a medical doctor, consummated her relationship with her ICT big boy lover, Olawale Ayorinde, in Lagos.

The wedding ceremony where no cost was spared started in a catholic church at Lekki Peninsular where Wale and Chioma were pronounced man and wife after which the train moved to an upscale event centre at Oniru, where the fanfare part of the ceremony was held. With the caliber of those at the center of the event, the reception was purely a gathering of important personalities in different shades which made the affair nothing short of a societal one, even as the former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, took charge as the chairman of the occasion. Among the horde of guests who were on hand to felicitate with Agha and Ayorinde families were former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; former Delta State Commissioner, Richard Mofe Damijo to mention a few.

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

Oba, Olori Ogunwusi become the toast

I

t is without a doubt that the monarch of the ancient town of Ile-Ife, His Royal Majesty, The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has been living up to expectations as regards promises he made that he was going to bring sons of Oodua together under an umbrella as well as do all within his power to empower the youth.

And while he’s at the front doing these, his queen, Olori Wuraola, is also complimenting him by giving succour to the less privileged among the women and children.

It’s been all for Oba Ogunwusi following a move by Olubadan to break a 17-year-old jinx to visit the Alaafin of Oyo. Ogunwusi is being hailed for his campaign for peace.

On another note also, this royal couple are now toast of prospective couples and model for remoulding troubled homes as the relationship between the royal couple has been endorsed to be an ideal one. A Nollywood actress recently went to town commending the couple. She saluted the king for bestowing necessary respect on his queen, not minding his status, thereby motivating the queen to play her complimentary role perfectly and make the king her priority.

Jennifer Obayuwana’s suspense game E

Faleke’s recent concern

F

ormer chairman of Ojodu Local Government who presently represents Ikeja Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, House of Representatives, Honorable James Abiodun Faleke, may have found himself facing another round of struggles after the just concluded governorship battle, according to information making the rounds.

The information suggests the Kogi State born stoutly built dude may have found himself in a financial fix which could have resulted from the financial commitment that went down with his failed attempt to retrieve what he termed his stolen mandate. He had engaged in legal tussle that went all the way to the Supreme Court, seeking a redress to his termed stolen governorship mandate until the court pronounced otherwise.

He had is the concessioned of his multimillion naira fun spot in Lagos to the businessman behind fast spreading, one stop leisure haven, D’Place, Kola Adewale, to add up to his handful of outlets. Also, his outfit, that specialises in, production of souvenirs is also alleged to be facing difficult times.

xecutive Director at luxury outfit, Polo Avenue, Jenifer Obayuwana, by the virtue of her father’s social standing, has long been in the public glare to the extent that her life has remained an open book. For some time now, many have labelled her an actress, acting a script with a lot of suspense; even though she’s not known to be in the movie world.

After her rumoured affair with D’Banj, the beautiful lady found love in one Peter Salah in whom she seems to be well pleased and they have been having good times together. While people were thinking marriage should be the next line of action, the light skinned handsome lover boy proposed and many were happy Jenny was going to be plucked off the shelve at last. It has been two years after she was tied down with a ring and no bell is ringing, what is on the lips of many is whether Jenifer has become ‘Lord of the ring’ as the suspense of the wedding bell is taking forever to sound.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul I caught my husband sending sexual texts to his Ex

I’m hopelessly in love

My best friend introduced me to her now ex-boyfriend’s brother during one of my trips home from schooling in the north. We got talking, exchanged numbers and I went back to school. Communication was good and after a while, he finally told me how much he loved me, which I also affirmed that I felt the same way – until he stated that he could not be with me because he is a Sickle Cell carrier, which I had always known and that secondly he would love to marry a Muslim girl.

I should state here that I am AA and I am not necessarily a Christian but I believe in God and I believe in being kind to one another. I’m more of a free thinker. So according to him, he would not want to end up selfish by tagging me along. It was a very hard conversation to have but we did and just decided to still remain mutual platonic friends. I really feel bad about it though because I’m still hopelessly in love with him.

I never stopped loving him even after we broke up. I’ve dated a few men after but none to compare to him and I want us to get back together but I he’s being reluctant.

Pease what advices do have for this

I

girl who is hopelessly in love?

Tolulope, United Kingdom I don’t love him, now I’m pregnant

I am a 33 year old woman; I met a guy about two years ago, due to need for marriage and companionship and started dating him. He is nice to me but I’m not in love with him.

My friends advised me to stay with him because he is nice and love will grow, so I stayed with him, with the hope that I’ll meet someone in future that I will truly love but it has backfired because now I am four months pregnant for him. Ever since I learned of the pregnancy, I have been very sad and depressed. I care about him but I just can’t make myself love him no matter how hard I try. When he travels, I don’t miss him, when I dream of my wedding, I don’t picture him. I am very confused and sad; should I marry him for the baby and be unhappy or should I leave and hope I will find someone who I will love and who will love me even though I have a child?

Maryann, Lagos

My husband has been sending sexual texting with ex-girlfriend.

And I am embarrassed to say that this is not the first time. He had a text relationship with this very same woman over five years ago, a mere 30 days after we got married.

It was graphic and sexual in nature.

He used to date her before me.

He swore it was just texting and they hadn’t slept together since they broke up a year before we got together. I believed him and forgave him. We moved out of that town and worked on rebuilding trust.

Two weeks ago, I woke up at 5:30

this morning in a panic. I had this sinking feeling like I needed to check his phone. When I did, I found very graphic texts messages to the same woman. This time, he’s telling her that he’s now single and ready to mingle and no longer in a relationship with that boring woman, (me). I woke him up and told him to leave. He acted like he had no idea what was going on.

I showed him the texts. He said nothing. Not one word. He’s gone for three weeks now without even apologizing for his actions and I feel heartbroken. What did I do to get this treatment from the man I married?

Eno, Abuja

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Tribute to my alma mater, JMMGS

live in a crazy world, probably controlled by crazy people who are driven by crazy ideas. Tensions similar to that obtainable during the cold war era are building up all over again and it seems world leaders are just bent on sending our planet into the abyss of doom. When I read the comments and statement of people who are supposed to be leaders of the world or aspiring to lead a nation, I just wonder what goes on in their heads and then, I appreciate all over again, the value of good education and having a sound background.

And that is why, instead of concerning myself with all the crazies in the world, I will today pay tribute to the educational institution that nurtured me into a man, gave me sound education and put me on the path that I am now. Today, I write about the best secondary school in the world, Jibril Martins Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Lagos or JMMGS as we old students love to call her.

I am doing this for two reasons: one, because it gives me an opportunity to show my appreciation to all the teachers and administrators who gave their time to whip (yes, literally whip with cane and koboko) some sense into my hard skull that was bent on following a wrong path. Secondly, the school is celebrating its golden jubilee, 50 years of nurturing young minds into good citizens. But the economic climate has ensured that the celebrations are muted and not as loud as such a school deserves. I am all for modesty, but I am also for proclaiming truth.

JMMGS was established by the Ama-

diyya Islamic movement and originally named Jibril Martins Amadiya Grammar School (JMAGS). Occupying a vast expanse of land in the Iponri/ Surulere axis of Lagos, the generosity of the school meant that when former governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, was looking to expand the education program in Lagos State, the school donated land big enough to establish two other schools, Jibril Martins High School and Iponri High School, popularly referred to as ‘School 2’ and ‘School 3’ by students. The magnanimity of the school’s board seems to know no bound as when another school was in need of space to allow a refurbishment, JMMGS welcomed them and so came Ebute Metta High School into the community of schools.

Yet, there was still enough space to have a pretty decent football pitch and

one of the best Athletics tracks in the region. Unlike some other schools, the annual Inter House Sports competition was held on the school premises and it provided an avenue for students to enjoy top class sporting event in the comfort of their school environment.

It also encouraged people like myself to develop a taste for Sports Entrepreneurship as we organised football competitions for quickly selected and organised groups. Our leisure time was occupied by Table Soccer and the occasional unauthorised boxing matches to settle the manly scores.

Intellectually, I can honestly say I cut my journalism tooth on the hallowed grounds of JMMGS as the school encouraged groups and clubs to meet every Wednesday after school. Press Club was the most active and so was the Literary and Debating Society. The

When I read the comments and statement of people who are supposed to be leaders of the world or aspiring to lead a nation, I just wonder what goes on in their heads

sciences were not left out and we had the Science Club that incubated what would become the Junior Engineers, Technician and Scientist (JETS) Club.

The Press Club operated like a daily newspaper in school activities and now, I can still see students flock to the Press Board just to catch a glimpse of the latest news on the school. Just like in the wider society, it was not palatable to all but still, it was Press Freedom nurtured by the school at that early stage. The Literary and Debating Society also honed the skills of students in the art of public speaking and writing. The Drama Society nurtured ideas and talents and brought honours to the school. Environmentally, there was enough green space amidst the urban jungle of Iponri to give hope of a clean and green future.

How can I forget the teachers who gave their time to make sure the school’s primary aim of educating for success in the society is achieved? Mr. Isiaka (Agric Science), Mr. Taylor (PE), Mrs. Alaka (Biology), Mr. King (Biology) and a host of others. Looking back now, I think this great school deserves a big party to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. Thankfully, old students are stepping up where the authorities are failing. The 1992/93 Alumni set is currently concluding plans to refurbish the existing toilet facilities and bring it to international standard while the Alumni association is also working to ensure that a befitting 50th Anniversary celebration is held. Well, as an old boy, I stand tall today and say Happy Anniversary to JMMGS, the best school in the world.

6, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

39

z ne

Natural remedies for puffy eyes Vanessa Okwara

T

he first thing people notice when they come close is your face and then your eyes. You hardly make a good first impression if your eyes appear puffy or tired all the time.

Dark circles under your eyes make you look older than your age and no woman wants that to happen.

Some underlying factors that cause this condition are inherited traits, high salt intake; cigarette smoking; inadequate hours of sleep, improper diet, excessive alcohol drinking, pollution and allergies.

Dark circle under the eyes is not something you are willing to wear to the office or school unless you are born with it. So you will need to do something to get rid of it as quickly as possible.

Reducing the dark circles under your eyes can often be achieved with a few simple home remedies: 1.

Eye puffiness is usually caused by excess fluids trapped in your eye area. By lightly massaging both your upper and lower eyelids, you shove all those excess fluids away from your eyes.

This is actually a basic touch therapy that many people are not aware of, but dermatologists and other skin experts have used this technique to improve the appearance of their client’s eyes.

2.

Use a frozen spoon. Put a spoon in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

Take it out and cover the circles with it.

Hold it there until the spoon is warm again.

3.

Lie down, close your eyes and apply potato slices to your lids. Leave on for ten minutes and remove. Wash the area with cold water. This soothes tired eyes instantly, and helps boost blood circulation in the under-eye area.

4.

Try using teabags. Two teabags moistened by cold water and patched on your puffy eyes for five to ten minutes can reinvigorate your eyes and hold off the puffiness. Again, the coldness of the teabags can help to increase circulation in your face. But more than that, tea has tannin that can also help in tightening the skin in your eye area; thereby, effectively decreasing the bulge in your eyes.

6.

Cucumber can be used alone or in combination with other ingredients.

Not only does it have a cooling effect but it also helps improve the colour of the skin around the eyes. The easiest way out is to cut a cucumber into thick slices, refrigerate them for about 30 minutes

and then place lightly on your eyes.

Alternatively, you can crush a little cucumber and extract the juice; apply this around the eyes, keep it on for 15 minutes and then wash with water. Adding a dash of lemon juice into the cucumber juice also helps because the latter has a bleaching action that reduces the darkness of the skin. Just a couple of ice cold slices on your eyes will help diminish puffiness and tighten and tone the under eye area.

7.

Orange juice is not only a great source of vitamin C, but it also serves as a convenient preparation to eradicate any sign of tiredness on the eyes. Prepare a mixture with orange juice and glycerin. Dab some of the mixture on the affected area of the eyes three times a week. Soon after, the appearance around the eyes will noticeably improve.

8.

Get plenty of rest and sleep: As recommended, people should have at least eight hours of undisturbed and restful sleep. This is especially necessary for individuals who have puffy eyes or circles under their eyes.

9.

Remove makeup every night because it can fill the pores, causing swelling.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Striking in Fedora

dude

Vanessa Okwara

T

OF THE WEEK

he Fedora, placed straight on the head, shading the eyes, or rakishly tilted off to one side, aids in making a fashion statement that is unmistakable. The Fedora hat represents class, style, and sophistication. They give off an air of power and prestige to the men known to wear them. They are a fantastic way to add a little culture to your look as well as a practical way to protect your head from the sun and other elements of the weather.

These days, the Fedora hat has made a big comeback and it’s trending even among the youths. A Fedora is a felt hat most commonly worn by men but women also rock this trend.

The Fedora hat can be made from straw or cotton material. It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and ‘pinched’ in the front on both sides. The crease of the crown, the pinch at the front, and the snap of the brim make the fedora the most expressive and personal hat shape.

The Fedora is a traditionally serious hat; but with a few adjustments, it can be made suitable for both formal and casual occasions. When wearing Fedora with formal attire, position it straight and centered on your head; the brim should be parallel with your eyebrows and perpendicular to the bridge of your nose.

To sport your Fedora as a casual accessory, wear a graphic t-shirt and your favourite pair of Jeans and with either canvas, sneakers or sandals. Class it up by throwing on a nice suit jacket and put the Fedora to one side or try tipping it upward and exposing part of your forehead.

You can also wear it with slim-fit cotton shirts, straight leg trousers and lightweight blazers.

Finish the look with suede shoes and circular sunglasses and you are ready to wow on the red carpet.

Praiz

Handsome vocalist Eunice Stephen

P

raise Ugbede Adejo, Praiz as his is popularly known is a Nigerian R&B and soul music artist. His music career started when he emerged the second runner-up at the maiden season of Project Fame West Africa, a music reality show.

He’s best known for his hit singles like ‘Rich and famous’,’Sisi’ and ‘I love you’. He also featured as guest vocalist in Bez’s single, ‘that stupid song,’ which video became the first African video to make a world premiere on BET 106. He has also worked on chart busting songs with several artistes including Awilo Longomba, Cobhams, Wizkid, Seyi Shey and M.I. His

many awards show he is doing very well in his chosen career.

Mr. Rich and Famous as he’s also fondly called is a very fashionable man, with great taste for suits.

His look is that of a complete gentleman that can easily sweep ladies off their feet. The passionate deep voice vocal singer is in love with clothes that accentuates his body size. He looks good in both suits and casuals. He knows how to combine his clothes in such a way that you cannot help but notice him.

He is a lover of hats too.

His well trim beard is another thing that adds to his gentleman’s looks.

His fashion can simply be described as striking yet simple.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

RazzleDazzle

Body&Soul Abiola Alaba Peters

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08062622328 abiolaalabapeters@rockmail.com

Calabar girls are good in bed –Queeneth Agbor Q

Freeze eulogies Toke Makinwa in open letter

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ontroversial broadcaster, Freeze, took to his social media page to write Toke Makinwa an open letter over her provocative Vlog asking ladies in their 20s to engage in one night stand. “Dear Toke, I have known you longer than most people are aware of; I’ll put it at 15 years at least. You were recording a radio drama series at Coolfm, in 2001. When I joined, I watched you grow, powered by hard work and fueled by the passion and drive that only a strong woman can possess. I met Maje, who I also believe is a wonderful guy through you and although you guys didn’t work out, the strength to forge ahead has not left either of you. Toke, as far as I’m concerned, you are one of Nigeria’s foremost female broadcasters (I hate the acronym OAP with a passion). You are a trendsetter, an online entrepreneur and a formidable force; pioneering the paradigm shift, leading to the emergence of a new order in Nigerian online entertainment. This however, doesn’t come without consequence. I watched your Vlog, and I understand that you were trying to express thoughts that many people nurse in the depths of their minds, hidden far away from public scrutiny. You, on the other hand, do not enjoy that immunity, being a successful public figure. We Nigerians, are extremely judgmental, and love to seek fuel for jungle justice. This has one way or the other, migrated into our social media scene where online courts are quickly formed, justice is speedily given and executions are promptly carried out without any mercy whatsoever. Most people do not have the cognitive depth to assimilate the message you were trying to pass across and have employed their fertile imagination to fuel it into becoming what it has evolved into. God bless and keep you dear” His letter reads.

Saheed Osupa holds reconciliation show I

t was all over the media some time ago that frontline Fuji singer, Saheed Osupa, had misunderstanding with a handful of his band boys which led to the separation of the two parties. After so much effort by well-meaning individuals to broker peace, the move may have eventually paid off with the parties agreeing to settle their differences to let peace reign. On the heel of this new found peace and to mark the beginning of a fresh relationship, arrangement for a reconciliatory show has been concluded to be held at Egbeda area of Lagos later this month. The show which is a brainchild of prolific music producer, Prince Ademola Adelakun, promises to be exciting.

Saheed Akorede Okunola, popularly known as Saheed Osupa, is an esteemed Nigerian Fuji musician born in Ajegunle in 1969 to late Alhaji Moshoodi Okunola, an Etiyeri musician. Saheed started singing in the early 1983s when Fuji Music was making fewer waves. As a teenager, Osupa was able to stand out from his contemporaries like Alabi, Pasuma, Sunny T, Atawewe, and others. He did this by singing songs that were not composed by senior singers, and he is well known with this character till present. Saheed Osupa has released over 25 albums; releasing the first one titled ‘Fuji Fadisco’ in 1992 under the label of Alasco Films and Records.

ueeneth Agbor has become one of the most talked about actresses in the movie industry; not necessarily for her roles in movies as she’s been getting quite a number of them.

The lovely actress always has interesting things to say in her interviews. In a previous interview, Queeneth, who is popular for her movie, ‘Hooked’ said she did not get a role in a movie that had Tonto Dikeh as lead actress because she refused to sleep with the producer. This got tongues wagging about what she was insinuating and the actress refuted these claims. The Calabar born actress who readily shows off her heritage, revealed recently in an interview, the reasons behind the popular myth that ‘Calabar girls are husband snatchers’. “I don’t think they are husband snatchers but we know how to keep a man to ourselves. Some men don’t like food so you might not be able to keep him through that; but men like it when a lady is clean and of course sex too; so a Calabar girl is a combination of all. They can cook, clean and also good in that thing.” And speaking of sex, Queeneth who is a Christian said she believes in sex before marriage because people need to have a sexual experience with who they will spend the rest of their lives with. According to her, “You have to know your package. I am not saying just go into it anyhow but just test it.

You need to know what you are going into so you don’t start cheating after marriage. Most marriages that break up are solely because of this issue. So I think it is important for you to know what you are getting into.”

RMD, Ireti Doyle, others at VIP screening of ‘The Grudge’ F

ollowing the huge success of the media screening of her new movie, ‘’The Grudge’’, talented actress, Funmi Holder, held another memorable VIP screening for selected audience at Sojourner Hotel in GRA, Ikeja, penultimate weekend. Guests include members of cast such as Richard Mofe Damijo, Ireti Doyle, Ijeoma Anieboh, Hon. Otunba George Oladele, a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Gbolahan Lawal, Commisioner for Works, Lagos State, close family and friends. Other guests at the screening which started with a red carpet include; Funlola Aofiyebi, Caroline King, Taiwo Obileye, Elvis Chuks, executive member of WIMBI, and so many others. The night took another glamorous turn when Funmi Holder’s ‘longtime dream ‘came true as she launched her foundation, Funmi Holder’s Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation which is aimed at giving helping hands to women who are victims of rape and widows. The unveiling was officially done by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Otunba George Oladele alongside Richard Mofe Damijo.

Executed with brilliant comic slant and powerful delivery, ‘The Grudge’ highlights serious issues in dramatic and entertaining forms to hold the audience spellbound for the one hour, 30 minutes of the screening. Odunlade Adekola who is fast becoming a darling of movie lovers across genres gave a powerful dramatic-delivery laden with heavy comedy in a way that made people forget this is his first full feature English movie.

He gave me N1m for my dream shop –Laura Ikeji L

inda Ikeji’s beautiful sister, Laura Ikeji, took to her Instagram page to reveal that her best friend, MC Galaxy, surprised her with a whooping sum of one million naira for her dream shop she’s been working on. The light skinned fashion enthusiast took to her Instagram page to express her gratitude. “I went to see my best friend, Mc Galaxy, and mentioned how much I’ve spent working on my dream store. He then asked me to give him my account number and I started hailing him, jokingly telling him, ‘If you want to dash me money, don’t dash me less than 200k’. After a few minutes, I got one million naira alert on my phone from him. One million from someone who has never asked me out or had any romantic relationship whatsoever. I’m proud of my friend” She wrote.

Kiki Omeili wins Lagos 30 Under 40 Awards

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octor-turned-actress, Kiki Omeili, has won the Best Female Act, (English) at the Lagos 30 Under 40 Awards.

The ‘Lekki Wives’ actress topped the nominee list that comprised of heavyweight actresses such as Kehinde Bankole, Lilian Esoro, Adesua Etomi, Nse Ekpe Etim and Omoni Oboli to become the maiden winner of the award.

Lagos 30 Under 40 Awards, a Lagos State initiative organised to celebrate young people who have risen to the top echelon in the entertainment industry, announced the winners of the maiden edition via their Instagram page.

The award presentation ceremony, earlier scheduled to hold on 9th October at the Bamboo Halls & Spaces, was cancelled due to logistic.

However, while speaking about the cancellation of the awards presentation ceremony, the Head of Communications of Shawttynatt, the organising outfit, Mrs. Adebukola Ogunrinde, said the award plaque will be presented to the winners individually.

She said, “We encountered a major setback from our sponsors at the last minute. And we didn’t want to hold a below-thestandard event. That was why we cancelled it. However, the award plaque will be presented to the winners at our office.

And we hope that the next edition will be well celebrated”.

Other winners include, OC Ukeje, Best Male Act, (English), Lateef Ademeji, Best Actor, (Yoruba), Yewande Adekoya, Best Actress (Yoruba), Nancy Isime, New Face ofNollywood.

More winners; Comedian of the year, Ushbebe; Entrepreneur of the year, Pretty Mike; Personality of the year, Soft Olowo Eko; Style Person 2016, Mercy Aigbe Gentry; Entertainment Personality 2016, Soso Soberekon; Best Act, Male 2016, Kiss Daniel; Best Act, Female 2016, Seyi Shay; Lagos Calendar Event, One Lagos Fiesta; Music Video Director of The Year, AJE Films; International Music Act, Olamide.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Music has always been my first love –Project Fame winner, Okiemute After eight weeks of gruelling training and breath taking performances, Okiemute Ighorodje was declared winner of the MTN Project Fame Season 9. The closing gala, which was the grand finale of the event certainly delivered on its promise of excitement. In this interview with EDWIN USOBOH and UBONG EMMANUEL, the 25 year old star shares her passion, thoughts and lessons learnt at the Academy How do you feel winning Project Fame season 9?

I have been overwhelmed. We have been out of the media for a long time for about three months and coming out to see a lot of love and comments, I’m overwhelmed. I’m grateful to God. I’m really happy.

You never wanted the performance to end without your mother praying for you. What prompted such a move?

My mother’s prayer and blessings have been really important to me in everything I do. Right from my teenage years, I always refer to my mom in everything I do. I always seek her advice and prayer. Whenever I’m going out; even when I’m on the road travelling, she always prays for me. So, seeing her when I came on stage and seeing her dancing; I was like, so my mummy is in the studio. I must collect my blessing.

Were you expecting to win when you registered for the competition?

If you were following up during the show, you would see that the competition was a tight one. All the 15 contestants that came here were all good and as the competition progressed, we were reduced to six who were really top singers. So, saying I was expecting to win maybe, I would be lying. I don’t know what to say, I was just praying and telling God to take control.

This is a defining moment in your life, what does this whole thing mean to you?

Well, I would say, Okeimute will still remain Okeimute, but the path of my career definitely is more work. I have to work more; that’s what I would say for now.

Before coming to Project Fame, had you been musically inclined?

Yes, before coming to participate in the competition, I was in a band in Port Harcourt called the Bluepearls Band, and we’ve been playing in several places like hotels and people do call us for events. That was what I was doing musically before now.

Are you going solo now or still going back to the band?

I have not really made the decision if I’m going solo because in everything we do, there’s a nearest future. So, I can’t say if I’m going solo or continuing with the band; time and circumstances will tell.

What was your game plan when you were coming to Project Fame, because you were one of the participants that never went on probation. How were you able to scale through probation?

Sincerely, I would say I didn’t have a game plan. I came into the academy basically to learn more. I really wanted to learn a lot of things, watching from the past seasons, I could see there was a lot I still needed to learn from the instructors.

So, my idea was just to come and learn, put in my best and definitely my best has spoken for itself.

Project Fame has produced eight winners before you, what are your plans to rank among the best or do even better?

I wouldn’t say I’ll do better, I will just carve an edge for myself just like Miss Ige and Mummy J would say. They would say the sky is big enough for a lot of stars. There are so many stars and they don’t even collide. So, as long as the sky is big enough, I will carve my image there and that’s it.

You are returning richer than you were before you came to Project Fame and there could be distractions. What’s your strategy to avoid them?

First of all, this platform has taught us and made us to understand that the platform is not all about music alone.

We have Mummy J (Joke Silva), who’s an actress. We have Miss Loveth, a choreographer. We have Uncle Ben, a Music Director. They’re all musically inclined and in the entertainment world. So, this platform is not just only for singers; as a

singer you should always have a back-up or a fall back plan.

You should also know that you are not just being a singer; you are into the entertainment industry. For me, I would not say that Okeimute is just going to stick only to music because before I came into the Academy, I was a model.

There are so many things I could venture into, but music, being the forefront of my career right now, I have not really placed any in sequence or arranged them. I have to make sure that I don’t fall out of line and pray to God to direct me in everything I do.

Tell me one most priced thing you’ve always wanted; something you would say to yourself, if I get One million naira, I will spoil myself; be sincere about it For me as a person, I am not materialistic. I am not that kind of person that wants this and that. I feel anything comes to me when it’s the right time. So, I don’t really have one priced thing I want to get for myself.

When you are on stage, you behave like you own the stage, when did you muster such confidence?

Our instructors will say when you come on stage, own the stage, think big and they are always using Chidinma as an example for us. When she is on stage, she’s large, she’s big. You have to think big no matter where you are being placed, though they may tell you to stay in one point, just stand there and think big.

Miss Ige would say, sing, project like your voice is going to break barriers. Mummy J would say when you come on stage, come with so much charisma; so those things all put together just worked for me.

What’s next for Okeimute, what should we expect from you?

Just expect something good that’s all I can say.

If you didn’t win Project Fame, would that have any negative effect on your music?

No, it wouldn’t have affected anything because as it is, we are all winners, ‘Super 6’! We are all winners and for me it wouldn’t have affected anything.

Which will you describe as your first love modelling or music?

Music has always been my first love.

What are your fears?

I don’t have any fear because I am from a platform where everybody is here to help and a platform where everybody is ready to come to your beck and call; where we’ve been taught a lot of things. So I wouldn’t say I have any fears, if at all, I have no doubt. I know where to fall back to. I know where to go to.

Lead us into your background, your family.

I’m from a family of four, I’m the third girl.

I grew up in Delta State, went to my primary and secondary schools in Delta State and my University in Port Harcourt, where I studied Linguistics & Communications.

Growing up was good and fun for me. My eldest sister was the creative type. She was the one generating and I was the one taking. She would draw and I will peep and draw.

She will sing, I will peep and sing. It’s just been wonderful growing up with my sisters.

We were always playing and laughing together in the house. I grew up in an environment where everyone always relates together, share and do things together. So, growing up really helped me to be open in life, I didn’t grow up in a closed environment. I grew up in an open environment, where we talked to each other and everyone relates well.

So, what kind of songs should we expect from you?

Good songs that will touch the soul. I would just say Nigeria and Africa should watch out for Okeimute.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

News Umeofia: We need $50m to meet Nigeria’s tomato paste needs p.46

Interview Appraising changing landscape of SME financing in Nigeria p.45

Auto beat 250 ex-militants graduate from Innoson Academy p.47

Business

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business

paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

FG raises N95bn in naira bond

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L-R: Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Chairman, House Committee on Environment and Habitat, Hon. Obinna Chidoka and Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, briefing the Aviation Correspondents during their inspection tour to the Airport facilities, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos…on Friday PHOTO:TONY EGUAYE

NCC’s 8-point agenda and diversification of economy The Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) 8-Points Agenda rolled out last year was presented again to the public in Abuja recently by the commission to give the extent of articulation and implementation of the agenda and CLEM KHENA-OGBENA examines the implementation

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pproximately a year ago, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), informed the telecom world of its 8-point Agenda, encapsulated in a three-pillar principle of Availability, Accessibility and Affordability of telecom services.

At its “Milestones of the 8-point Agenda; 2015-2016, on Monday, NCC said: “Given the consideration that the telecoms sector currently contributes more than 10 per cent to the annual GDP of this nation, the present economic realities have imposed on telecommunications and ICTs in general, the mandate to provide some level of fortification to the economic diversification opportunities, while improving the capacities and capabilities of other sectors of the economy for efficient and effective contributions to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy.”

The NCC’s explanation that the agenda was factored on a tripod of Availability, Accessibility and Affordability of services provided by the GSM companies operating in the country, under the superintendence of the commission was, indeed, affirmed by the presentation of the first progress report sheet, entailing the highlights of the agenda, which included Facilitation of Broadband Penetration; Improvement in Quality of Service; Optimisation of Benefits of Spectrum; Promotion of ICT Innovations and Investment Opportunities; Facilitation of Strategic Collaboration and Partnerships; Consumer Protections and Empowerment; Promotion of Fair Competition and Inclusive Growth; and Regulatory Excellence and Operational

Efficiency.

Broadband: The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) had established a high level Broadband Commission since 2010, aimed at enhancing the significance of broadband on international policy agenda and widening broadband access in virtually all the nations, which is key to accelerating progress towards local and global development targets. This is due to the fact that broadband has been identified worldwide as a tool for fast tracking socio-economic development of any nation. The National Broadband Plan targeted at 30 per cent penetration from 2013 to 2018 has equally emphasised the country’s broadband penetration policy, to which the commission it is committed to achieve.

The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof.

Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed, while giving updates on the 8-point agenda at an interactive session with the media, in September 26, 2016 in Abuja, that the commission had, “committed resources and efforts towards deployment of broadband services across the country with some significant impacts.”

He added that with regard to the increase in broadband penetration, “the active mobile broadband penetration, released by the Broadband Commission for sustainable development shows that Nigeria has reached a penetration of 20.95 per cent. Equally, on the percentage of Internet Penetration, the country has reached a milestone of 47.44 per

cent second to South Africa in the continent.”

Also, explaining the progress made on the development of regulatory framework for broadband penetration, Danbatta stated, “We have been able to articulate a regulatory framework that will enable strategic and systematic licensing and deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country.

A Broadband Implementation Monitoring Committee has also been established within the commission to give proper assessment on regular basis of broadband infrastructure deployment.”

However, Sunday Telegraph learnt that the laying of broadband infrastructure across states and local government areas are usually resisted by government officials at these levels, as they usually list conditions capable of frustrating broadband infrastructure installations. Besides, the issuance of wireless broadband licence of frequency recently by NCC had some challenges.

“The licensing of frequency in this slot has suffered several setbacks until recently when six slots out of 14 made available by the commission were allocated for immediate deployment of 4G-LTE services,” the NCC boss explained and gave the assurance that given the roll-out plans for the broadband service as provided by the MTN, winner of six slots at the frequency bidding process, broadband services on the frequency spectrum would be available in the last quarter of this current year, even as he further disclosed that the Commission had initiated processes for licensing of more broadband services on the CO N T I N U ED O N PAGE 44

igeria raised N95 billion at an auction of the naira bonds on Wednesday, with the 2021 maturing debt attracting higher yield, while the 2026 and 2036 paper fetched lower returns, data from the Debt Management Office showed on Thursday.

The debt office sold 10 billion naira of 2021 paper at 15.29 per cent at Wednesday’s auction, compared with 15.14 per cent at the previous auction last month.

The debt office had initially offered 35 billion naira of the 5-year bond It also sold N45 billion of 2026 debt at 15.47 per cent, lower than 15.53 per cent, and N40 billion of 2036 debt at 15.48 per cent, compared with 15.59 per cent.

The debt office sold more than the initially advertised amount of N35 billion apiece for the 2026 and 2036 paper at the auction.

Investors had demanded yields ranging between 12-17 per cent for all the debt on offer, but the debt office was not willing to pay more for the debt, one trader said.

The West African nation has said it would borrow about N900 billion locally to finance part of the N2.2 trillion deficit in its 2016 budget, to plug shortfalls.

The government issues local bonds as part of measures to finance the government budget deficit and also to help manage liquidity in the banking system.

Clipper design to lessen rashes and bumps Edwin Usoboh

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hilips electronic company said it is introducing to the Nigerian market, the first of its kind clippers designed to ensure no humps and less rash, saying it has specially developed blades to reduce the risk of cuts when clipping your hair or beard, offering the confidence of a precise cut and shave without the humiliating damaged skin.

The company in a statement said that the new Clippers are designed to give a close precision cut or shave, cutting the hair at skin level. “It also offers the freedom to play with multiple hairstyles by simply adjusting the blade and clicking-on different length combs.

“Philips conducted extensive research across a cross-section of men in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa before it developed and carried out extensive field test on the Clipper taking into account the core concerns that came out in the research – mainly the need to get that clean shaven feeling but to avoid the scratches, cuts and bumps that sometimes develop on the skin,” states Chioma Iwuchukwu-Nweke, General Manager, Philips Personal Health-West Africa.

“These are the first clippers Philips is introducing in the African market, underscoring our commitment to delivering innovation based on the need of the consumers. Our new clippers cut your hair, not your skin. This not only ensures that you have a painless short and sharp look, but also improves your overall skin health,” said Ms. Iwuchukwu-Nwekeadded.

The two clippers in the range, the Philips clipper pro (idea for professional barber styling) and Philips Clipper Home (for personal use) offer blades designed to avoid cuts and bumps for optimal skin comfort, close precision and durability.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

Naira set to exchange at 500-perdollar at parallel market Eunice Stephen

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L-R: Speaker, Nigerian Youth Parliament, Rt. Honourable, Ayodele Obe; Managing Director/ CEO, Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Mr. Richard Nyong and tChief Finance Officer, Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Duaka during the presentation of award of special recognition as a Patron of the parliament to the Managing Director of Lekki Gardens in Lagos…on Thursday

NCC’s 8-point agenda and diversification of economy CONTINUED FR O M PAGE 43

5.4GHz Spectrum Band.

He added: “We have opened the process for the allocation of frequencies in the 70/80 GHz band (EBand). Approval has been given for the development of 4G Long Term Evolution Technology by NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, which has launched the first VoLTE call on February 25, 2016.”

Quality of Service Improvement: According to the commission, it had been able to identify and take notice of the difference between the records of quality of service as stated in the switch of service providers and from the practical experience of the consumers. Thus, some measures to address the issue of QoS were taken by the commission, and such measures, it said, include the setting up of a Task Force on Quality of Service to identify all the issues plaguing quality of service in the networks.

Danbatta said: “The report of that committee is already being implemented for the resolution of some urgent issues militating against quality of service.”

The Commission said it is also promoting a Telecom Industry Working Group on Quality of Service that engages service providers to discuss germane matters leading to resolution of critical quality of service issues, amidst persistent worrisome issues like multiple taxation, multiple regulation and indiscriminate closure of live base stations.

Reportedly, these ugly trends are more prevalent at the country’s local government and state levels.

Nevertheless, the NCC boss stated: “We have identified state governments as critical stakeholders whose

actions may contribute positively or negatively to quality of service issues.

We have so far made a presentation at the Governors’ Forum, especially to draw their attention to the National Economic Council’s resolution on multiple taxation and multiple regulations on deployment of telecom’s infrastructure. We are also engaging the governors directly, and so far, we have met and received the support of four of the governors who have agreed with our points of view.”

Spectrum Benefit Optimisation Some service providers, who were previously providing services on 1800MHz Spectrum Band, had received the Commission’s approval to re-farm and deploy services on the 4G/LTE Band, with a view to improving their efficiency. Danbatta noted that “through this, the commission has been able to revive some of the companies whose services have been hampered by the characteristics of the frequencies,” adding, “Through efficient monitoring and value-driven usage of spectrum for provision of different types

of service, revenue generation for the Federal Government though frequency allocation and renewal fees have improved from the previous years. More than N47 billion was realised in spectrum usage and licensing within the period under review.”

Consumer Protections and Empowerment The commission has sustained the various outreaches in order to safeguard the interest of the consumer, and the outreaches include, Consumer Parliament, Consumer Outreach Programme and Consumer Town Hall Meetings.

Besides, the nagging issue of unsolicited text messages had been addressed through the launch of a dedicated short code, which is 2442. With this code, consumers can opt out of SMS platforms they did not subscribe to, while the 622 Secondary Consumer Complaints platform had been upgraded by the commission to make more proactive and responsive to consumer complaints, even as the code is designed to enable consumers lodge their complaints to the commission if the service pro-

vider is unable to resolve the complaints in question.

Danbatta pointed out that: “In the past one year, more than 75 per cent of cases reported through this Toll Free Platform were successfully resolved and 25 per cent escalated,” adding, “The ‘Do-Not-Disturb’ was a direct response to what has become a worrisome trend to majority of consumers.”

Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement: The Commission’s efforts towards compliance monitoring has been doubled, considering the acquisition of various tools and technologies required to carry out monitoring exercises. Due to this, the Commission is able to identify some illegal activities and sanction erring service providers.

In the words of Danbatta: “The commission was at the centre stage in the fine imposed against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, owing to their major infraction against the provisions of the SIM Card Registration Regulation, “a situation which led to a final imposition of N1.03 trillion fine on the company.

80% local gins are fake, substandard Ezurike Ugochukwu and Stanley Ihedigbo

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he importation of many brands of alcoholic beverages (gins) most of which are fake and substandard into Nigeria today is not only worrisome going by its adverse effect on health; this is even as not less over $500 million of the country’s scarce foreign exchange goes into the importation of these fake products According to the Association of Raw Gin Producers of Nigeria (ARGPON) has

said that such whopping sum could have been used to build local production, swell export and provide jobs to the employed youths.

National Coordinator of ARGPON, Wilson Boakpo said the country has the potential to produce the over 800 million litres of gin consumed annual and more for export.

“With the abundant raw materials as, palm wine, corn, sugarcane and cassava around us, there is no our people will be consuming the raw ethanol mixed in water, which findings have

proven to be a major cause of the death of consumers of local gins.”

He stated that the consumption of fake and adulterated gin has taken root among Nigerian gin consumers, majority of who do not have the discerning ability to differentiate between the real distilled gins among the bourgeoning brand names.

Boakpo said that over 80 per cent of consumers of the local gin consume adulterated gin got from ethanol CO N T I N U E D O N PAG E 48

hough the official naira rate has remained at 310 per dollar, the currency has continued to weaken at the parallel - or black - market, where firms go to buy dollars for raw material imports, and it is feared that it would soon hit the 500 mark.

Brokerage Exotix even floated in a recent report the idea of a fall to 1,000 per dollar.

Indeed, one Lagos-based industrialist, asking not to be named, said he had based his company’s 2017 budget on a possible rate of 1,000. “It’s not unfeasible to see the exchange rate going to 550 per dollar but it will depend on FX liquidity conditions and in turn on how much external debt and investment inflows they can generate,” said Cobus de Hart, senior economist at NKC in Johannesburg.

The government has tried since the start of the year to borrow up to $5 billion abroad. But the only result is a loan worth $1 billion from the African Development Bank.

A planned $1 billion Eurobond would stave off naira collapse - but investors are unlikely to lend cash for much below 9 per cent yield.

Jan Dehn, head of research at Ashmore, said last year’s decision to delay currency adjustment was followed by dollar rationing rather than a naira float. That has left potentially billions of dollars that need “clearing” through the system. “You probably need to see a 10,20, 30 per cent naira depreciation from here before you get full clearing,” Dehn said. “It would then come in and probably ultimately end up 10-15 per cent weaker than it is today or maybe 20 per cent.”

Higher oil prices and output would help. Output has fallen by 700,000 barrels per day this year but is rising again with the slowing of the activities of the militants in the Niger Delta region Anders Faergeman, portfolio manager at PineBridge Investments, reckons if oil stabilises above $50 a barrel and output rises, the naira would look cheap. But opaque central bank policies worry him.“It makes us a bit nervous as to where the future lies for the naira and also for the central bank,” Faergeman added.

L-R: Director of Administrator and Human Resources, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Aminu Gusau; Chairman, Governing Board of Directors, NRC, Mr. Usman Abubakar; Managing Director, Mr. Fidet Okhiria and Director of Operations, Mr. Niyi Ali, during the first visit of the Chairman to the Headquaters of the NRC, in Lagos…yesterday…

PHOTO: NAN

Customs may prosecute Nigerite over mysterious consignment Paul Ogbuokiri

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he Tincan Island (TCIP) Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday announced that it has seized some 200 mysterious items hidden in eight bags concealed in a 20 feet container, bearing raw materials meant for the Nigerite’s factory at Oba Akran, Ikeja, Lagos; saying the NCS would prosecute the company when investigation is completed Area Controller of the command, Yusuf Bashir who disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos, alleged that the mysterious items were not manifested along with the rest of the company’s cargoes to enable the Customs know what it is, adding that “the act is against international trade laws”.

According to Bashir, the NCS has resolved to send the items to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct a test on it in its laboratory, saying the outcome of the test will equip the Service on how to deal with the item and how to react when next it is confronted with a similar situation in future.

Bashir who refused to confirm that the Service has strong suspicion that the seized items might be narcotics, however expressed shock that a multinational company like Nigerite which enjoys the privilege ‘fast track’ from the Nigeria Customs Service, could indulge in the act of concealment of items in its container.

He said, ”The company is a multinational company and it is on fast track and the have a lot of cargo coming into our country. We are going to hand over both the items and the officials of the company to NDLEA and we shall keep the container till after the labouratory test is completed.”

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Appraising changing landscape of SME financing in Nigeria

Emefiele

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Eunice Stephen mall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are key to the development of most countries’ economy. Over the years, they have been discovered to be a major catalyst in wealth creation and poverty alleviation; this economic sub-sector enhances living standards, adds substantially to local capital and helps a country achieve high level of productivity and capability.

With this in mind, the vital roles of SMEs are not in doubt, which is why economists believe that smaller scale enterprises play very key role in employment generation and providing opportunities for entrepreneurial culture, training development and promotion of agricultural initiatives as well.

The valuable status of SMEs is sacrosanct.

According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), SMEs account for over 90 per cent of enterprises in the world and are responsible for 50 to 60 per cent of employment. Up and coming nations like Nigeria have a lot to gain by helping the SME culture to take root and thrive. This is because the country can only develop better and survive economically under a thriving SME culture. Here in Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) placed the total number of SMEs in the country at over 17 million.

Regrettably, Nigeria’s dwindling economy is not helping most of the SME operators to optimize their potentials. Whereas, SMEs grow at almost twice the rate of GDP in most markets across Asia, Africa and Middle East, Nigeria’s case is very different.

What are some of the key factors militating against the growth of a strong and buoyant SME sub-sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy?

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, who was a guest Speaker at the 2nd US-Africa Trade & Investment Forum/Africa Investment & Development Awards which took

place at St. Regis Hotel, New York, USA where he spoke on “Small & Medium Enterprise Funding in Africa - a banker’s experience”, observed that in Sub-Saharan Africa, SMEs are more credit-constrained and this typically affects growth possibilities as significantly low number of start ups who apply for financing actually succeed. Studies, he noted, indicate that more than 70 per cent of the SMEs lack access to medium-longerterm finance, creating an SME funding gap of more than $140 billion in Africa alone.

“Using Nigeria as a case study, between 2003 and 2009, SME loans as a percentage of total credit, decreased from 7.45 per cent to 0.18 per cent. Yet by 2012, Nigeria had about 17.6 million MSMEs employing about 32.4 million people. Although it is generally accepted that SMEs enhance competition and entrepreneurship, and their development has a positive impact on innovation and productivity growth, policy and infrastructure factors to mitigate risk and costs that SME sector cannot internalise needs to be seriously worked upon by all relevant stakeholders” He further revealed that in Nigeria, most SMEs die within the first five years of existence while another smaller percentage goes into extinction between the sixth and tenth year, with only five to 10 per cent surviving, thriving and growing into established corporate status. He listed the leading cause of such sub-optimal output to include: Poor access to funds, Weak institutional support, Unstable macro economics, Complicated and Unstructured Legal framework/Regulation, Inadequate business information, Infrastructure & Business environment and Human capital factors, among others.

Having identified these mounting challenges, it is instructive to note a few ways in which banks have tried to intervene in building a formidable economy driven on the wheel of SMEs One notable and unique approach is the Heritage Bank MSME Clinic. The Bank,

as a way of cushioning the effect of capacity building and fund management, introduced the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Investment Protection Fund to assist the growth and rejuvenation of the sector.

Analysts say the Heritage Bank MSME Investment Protection Fund is a strong differentiating indicator of the Heritage Bank’s Approach to SME growth in the country.

According to a Lagos-based investment banker, “the Heritage Bank MSME Clinic should be applauded as a unique holistic bailout strategy for SMEs in the country.

It consists of services such as business diagnostics, advisory services, financial literacy and entrepreneurship development, customized product development for each customer and market knowledge development backed up by the bank’s innovative MSME Investment Protection Fund (InPF), which is a non-collateralized funding option with embedded insurance for the default risk inherent in the scheme”.

He added that the package has huge potential to enhance MSME capacities and strengthen business management skills, in addition to offering other support programmes that could greatly achieve the aim of developing the SME sub-sector in the country.

Investigations show that apart from other areas of supports for various sub-sectors, the Bank also engages with customers at stages of expansion, modernization, production process & capacity improvement and restructurings through the carefully various products like term loan, lease financing facility, overdraft facility, LPO, invoice discounting, supply contract financing, distributorship financing scheme, group Leading to registered associations, MFIs/MFBs Whole-Leading, advisory & business support as well as market access and value chain services, among others.

The Heritage Bank approach needs to be copied by other bigger banks so as to speed up the country’s avowed march towards deepening the SME culture and providing the much needed succor for the sub-sector.

Banks have been playing and will continue to play a key role in the financial systems worldwide. The development of a robust financial system is crucial for the strengthening of an enviable SME culture as pivot of economic growth and development. The banking sector is an important and dominant part of the financial system for many countries

In Sub-Saharan Africa, SMEs are more credit-constrained and this typically affects growth possibilities as significantly low number of start ups who apply for financing actually succeed

especially developing countries. Banks have the special nature of being financial intermediaries, channels for monetary policy and also concurrently extend credit and administer payments system, all in the bid to help SMEs develop. They are key actors in causing and averting financial and economic losses. However, their power to fuel economic growth and development will depend on the strength, reliability and stability of the system vis-à-vis commitment to SME funding. One cannot over-emphasis the need for a workable, sound and reliable banking system that places emphasis on SME financing.

5th Int’l digital, mobile, computer forensics conference holds in Lagos Plans have been concluded to hold a threeday annual International Digital, Mobile and Computer Forensics Conference & Training Expo from October 17-19 at the Regency Hall, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The conference organized by the Computer Forensics Institute, Nigeria (CFIN) in collaboration with First Digital & TechnoLaw Forensics Co. Ltd. coincides with the 8th Anniversary Celebration and Awards of the Computer Forensics Institute, Nigeria (CFIN). During the conference, induction of new professional members and fellows will also take place.

Dr. Peter Olu Olayiwola, Conference Director and President, Computer Forensics Institute, Nigeria (CFIN) while speaking to newsmen on the theme of the event; Digital and Mobile Forensics: Tools for Terrestrial and Cybercrime Investigation, Security and Intelligence said the conference would provide rich contents and depth from each presentation covering all aspects of cyber security, digital and mobile/phone forensics, electronic evidence collection, analysis and presentation; crime scene documentation, forensic laboratory development and management; cross-examination of expert witness; sessions on intelligence process and models for national security and criminal investigation as the conference has assembled the best speakers in various areas of forensics to meet the needs of government agencies, corporate organizations and individuals.

According to Dr. Olayiwola, international speakers from the United Kingdom and USA have confirmed their participation.

The latest technology for counterterrorism, criminal investigation and national security intelligence would be unveiled at the conference. Other confirmed speakers are also coming from the Nigeria Police, EFCC, CBN, the legal profession, the forensics community and the universities.

The conference will also avail participants the opportunity to learn how to use digital, mobile and computer forensics to tackle and prevent the menace of terrorism, insurgency and cyber-attacks; and to carry out intelligence and investigation.

Participants will also be able to have hands-on experience on some of the world’s best forensics equipment, software and tools at the conference.

Furthermore, the event, according to CFIN president will provide a conducive atmosphere for participants to network with their colleagues and specialists in the fields of intelligence, investigation and prosecution, cyber security, digital, mobile and computer forensics.

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Business News

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Paul Ogbuokiri resident/Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, has again blamed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for why his tomato paste processing company has been producing at below 20 per cent of install capacity since inception, saying the apex bank has not given the company the required support.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos last week, Chief Umeofia said the challenges facing the company stem from poor allocation of foreign exchange to enable it import raw materials.

According to him, the company had only been able to access 4 per cent of its total dollar requests and 7 per cent of its total naira requests from the Central Bank, saying the company needs between $30 million to $50 million to achieve selfsufficiency for the country in tomato paste processing.

He said: “This huge investment requires at least $30 to $50 million to meet our installed capacity of packaging lines but the CBN due to lack of experience on how the tomato paste industry works refused to give us full support to stop tomato wastage in tomato farms, rather they supported importers of same item to take our scarce forex away.”

Chief Umeofia in reaction to the last week‘s Sunday Telegraph publication that quoted the CBN as saying that it does not allocate forex, he said: “The CBN being is economical with the truth by saying that they don’t allocate forex whereas they approve all Form M for importation. We have concrete evidence that despite the ban of the importation of some products, CBN still encourages the importation of finished tomato paste, fish head etc by given approval to their Form M for forex allocation. We made deposit of $460,000 to our raw material (tomato concentrate) supplier before the ban on the 41 items by CBN, but CBN did not approve Form ‘M’ for us to enable the supplier

Umeofia: We need $50m to meet Nigeria’s tomato paste needs lThreatens to commence relocating factory abroad ship the goods to us since we had made the advance payment already, and till date the supplier refused to give us the money back insisting that they are waiting for Form ‘M’ (that CBN refused to approve for us) to ship the goods and that was how we lost that money ($460,000).

The foreign supplier bill for collection line worth over $20 million was cancelled due to CBN frustration. Double jeopardy!”

He further challenged the Central Bank to provide evidence of approved of Form “M” for tomato concentrate Form “M” for tomato paste to Erisco Foods Limited since the ban on importation of tomato paste, saying after utilizing the Form M approved for the company before the ban of 41 items, the CBN has not approved any new Form M for Erisco Foods Limited.

“On what basis are we being accused of importing finished tomato products.

We have never imported any finished food products including tomato paste into the country since inception even when there was no forex restriction,” he said.

He noted that it was only Erisco Foods Limited and Dangote are the only Nigerian company that responded to the call by the Federal Government to do backward integration to help grow the economy, but instead of getting support from the apex bank and other regulator, “they turned back to work against Erisco Foods Ltd by denying us the approval of Form M for the importation of raw materials and refused to support us to process Nigerian tomatoes into raw material to meet the installed capacity of our tomato processing plant that is producing at 20 per cent since inception.”

He further said that the company has sourced more

FMDQ urges CBN to free naira Eunice Stephen

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he Chief Executive Officer of FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Bola Onadele said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is using “strong moral persuasion” to prevent the naira from depreciating to a market-related level, and called on the regulator to let the currency float freely.

The market’s dysfunction is hindering the country’s economic recovery by deterring inflows from foreign investors and hurting manufacturers dependent on imports says Onadele.

FMDQ, an online foreign exchange trading platform started operations in 2013 and its chairman is Sarah Alade, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank.

“What’s happening now, it’s not even a managed float,” Onadele said in an interview in with Bloomberg in Lagos early this week. “I’m not sure what we’re doing. I don’t know the objective, the strategy and success benchmarks. The dealers and bank CEOs don’t want to be reprimanded. If they quote rates freely, they may be reprimanded by the Central Bank.”

loans from its overseas operations to help grow the Nigerian economy.

“We have also serviced our domestic loans and we are up to date with meeting up with our domestic obligations to the banks despite daunting challenges which has made us to lose up to N3.6 billion. We have resolved not to bring money from overseas operations to support our Nigeria tomato business; rather we will relocate our tomato paste plant outside the country as desired by CBN, NAFDAC and Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment. But at the expiration of the 30-day notice, we will

regrettably begin the relocation of our factory outside the country unless there’s a change in policy that will favour local manufacturing,” he warned.

He further accused CBN of approving about $15 million for the importation of frozen fish, tomato paste, fish head and so on in violation of it its own ban on granting of forex for the importation of the 41-items.

“They kept pleading with us to bear with them that forex is not available yet they kept allocating same to foreigners to import finished products that we can produce better locally at the detriment of indigenous

manufacturers despite the promise by CBN to allocate 60 per cent forex to manufacturers. Interestingly, the CBN intervention loan is being given to mostly foreigners who in turn use it to develop their own countries.

I challenge CBN to tell Nigerians if Erisco Foods Limited had any issue with their loan before they banned their raw material importation and refused to help them to produce alternative by giving us forex to import tin plate, machinery and spare parts to use Nigerian tomatoes to produce tomato paste.

“We are the only Nigerian company that uses fresh and dried tomatoes to produce

tomato paste and have large quantities of finished high quality tomato paste yet to be sold due to the activities of unscrupulous importers as well as dumping of substandard tomato paste in the country supported by relevant agencies of government,” he alleged.

He also disclosed that the company has stock of raw materials it bought from Nigerian tomato farmers in Lagos and Kano warehouses, saying the tomato products would have been wasted in the hands of the farmers as usual but the company bought it from them to the tune of N4 billion.

L-R: General Manager, Philips Healthtech, West Africa, Ime Umoh; Executive Director, Technology Distribution, Adesuwa Igho-Orere; General Manager, Philips Personal Health, West Africa, Chioma Nweke; Consultant Dermatologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Ayesha Akinkugbe and Celebrity Blogger Noble Igwe, at the launch of Philips Clipper in Lagos…on Thursday

Plastic crates reduce loss of perishable goods, says GEMS4 Stanley Ihedigbo

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EMS4, an economic development project jointly funded by the World Bank and DFID/UKaid, has said that the use of plastic crates is very effective in mitigating Nigeria’s perishable produce losses.

They said that in the perishable produce supply chain, Returnable Plastic Crates (RPCs) are missing because of lack of clear product offering and a route to market strategy by the existing identified manufacturers.

According to the Media Officer of the agency, Mr Ekoja Michael, the packaging and transit material utilized currently by the local market actors is the Raffia Basket (RFB) and

this largely contributes to the damage done to fresh produce in transit which currently stands at 41 per cent.

He further said that their research shows replacing Raffia Basket (RFBs) with Returnable Plastic Crates (RPCs) is clearly the alternative approach when the waste reduction and savings resulting from its usage is put into consideration.

“A reduction from 41 per cent to 5 per cent is too significant to be ignored thus, establishing a need for the utilization of RPCs in the supply chain as a means of ensuring quality assurance and increasing incomes hence, sustaining the gains of early harvesting.

“In partnership with GEMS4, The MasterCard

Centre for Inclusive Growth is providing a returnable plastic crate (RPC) initiative. It is hoped that, with this seed procurement and distribution of 26,400 RPCs to GEMS4 partners in the sector will trigger continuous uptake and utilization of RPCs to prevent losses,” he said.

He explained that for RPCs to be readily handy there is need to have a clear strategy on product offering which entails product quality, meeting customer expectations, availability and sensitization.

“This very activity is currently being embarked upon by GEMS4 through its ‘market storm’ exercise in order to help the local market actors cut losses in the perishable produce value chain,” he said.

He noted that the first batch of RPCs is being distributed by the GEMS4 agribusiness team at “market storm” exercises in markets across the country.

One of these events, he said was held at the Eko farmer’s mart in Ajah, Lagos State, where the participants were not only educated in Good Handling Practices (GHP) and the use of plastic crates but they received free plastic crates as well.

While commending GEMS4, the Project Manager, Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, Mr Sunny Olalekan, expressed joy at the introduction of returnable plastic crates (RPCs) into the perishable produce value chain since this would mean waste reduction particularly in the tomato value chain.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

250 ex-militants graduate from Innoson Academy

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Firm floats scheme to empower women driving Keke Dayo Ayeyemi

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Paul Ogbuokiri nnoson Motor Manufacturing Company, Nnewi and the Innoson Kiara Academy Enugu recently graduated about 250 former Niger Delta militants who trained in the art of automobile manufacturing and plastic production.

While the graduates of the Academy in automobile in Nnewi displayed an 18-seater Innoson Bus built from scratch by them, colleagues in Enugu in plastic production displayed a range of plastic products including trays, plates, cups and other souvenir items produced by them.

The trainees paid glowing tributes to the Federal Government for the opportunity through the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the Innoson Group for the technical knowledge impacted on them, which according to them has given them a new direction and future.

At an impressive ceremony at the company’s premises in Nnewi, Anambra State, one of the trainees gave the keys to the 18-seater bus to the Chairman, Innoson Group of Companies Limited, Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma who handed it and the bus to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul T. Boro (rtd) for onward presentation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The about 120 Niger Delta youths who trained in Nnewi in the areas of auto mechanics, auto electrical, auto welding, auto painting and spraying, heavy duty truck maintenance, ICT, engineering drawing, entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills expressed gratitude to government for providing them the opportunity to acquire skills that had changed their lives for the better.

The trainees in both Enugu and Nnewi, who were issued certificates as graduates of the Academy, were also offered employment opportunities in the Innoson Group with a starting monthly salary of N40, 000 by the Innoson boss, Chief Chukwuma.

Expressing their feelings, some of them urged the government to continue the programme to reach other youths in the area that were zealous to be useful to themselves and the society.

Fred Okpobo Tarila said: “We have been trained on plastic technology and we had very nice time here. The Innoson Kira Academy is a nice place. Academically we have acquired a lot. While

I thank the government for this gesture, I would like to ask the government to still do more because there are still more youths out there in the Niger Delta who are seeking to have such opportunity to be trained and reformed to become better persons in the society.”

On her part, Irene Ehbinebere Captain said: “The training was so nice and I love the way our trainers handle the training which has made serious impact in most of us making us change the way we were doing things and the way we behave, in fact this training has changed many things about our lives. We were trained on plastic production and I know that as I am my going back from this place I will be able to work if there will be a place like this they will employ us because we learnt a lot.”

Addressing them both in Enugu and Nnewi, Boro assured that the Presidential Amnesty Programme would collaborate with Innoson to ensure that all of them were fully set up to contribute their quota towards nation-building.

“You have been on this training for nine months and we hope you are wellequipped now. The skills you have acquired will never be allowed to waste even a day. Having learnt the job, you are on your way towards becoming successful entrepreneurs. Modalities for the formation of the clusters where you will practice what you have learnt are already being worked out.

“It is not easy to employ people these days and that is why we are grateful to Chief Innocent Chukwuma for promising to employ all those who are inter-

ested in working in the company.

“Our plan is for you to set up clusters and cooperatives to ensure that what you have learnt here would be replicated in the Niger Delta. Right now we look at all of you as creative and innovative engineers because with your training you can seat down and design anything in plastics and those in the other side automobile.”

The Amnesty Head of Vocational Training, Mrs Faith Omofuma while addressing the trainees that were passing out said: “Haven received this training, we urge you to do something good with yourself, gone are those days we do the struggle and all of that fight, we are in phase where we use our initiatives and we expect that you do so. So once you live here remember you are not coming back here for training, if at all you are back to this centre you are coming as a facilitator. Other delegates will train under you and that is a good thing, so from here go and impact your community don’t go back and join the hoodlums but go and make a difference, the change starts with you, it starts in your home, it starts with your family then you spread it out.”

In his address, Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Kiara Academy, Mr. Endi Ezengwa commended the Federal Government for the programme and praised the trainees for their patience, understanding and courage to complete the training.

The highlight of the Enugu event was the prayer made for the youths by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka who also commended Chief Chukwuma.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta and Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Boro (in safari dress) with some of the graduating youths during the graduaton ceremony at Nnawi Anambra State…recently

imba Group has launched an initiative to support and empower women seeking to take up gainful employment as riders of three-wheeler vehicles, commonly known as ‘Keke’.

The company, which represents TVS Motors of India, is engaged in the assembly, distribution and servicing of TVS King – a brand of ‘Keke’ in the country.

Speaking at the event held for women in Eleyele, Ibadan, Officer of Simba Group, Mr. Vijay Patil, said his company was impressed that more women have been showing interest in riding the three-wheeled vehicles as a means of employment opportunities .

He also disclosed plan by the company to create and develop the ecosystem necessary for women to be empowered and feel safe in this industry.

“Increasingly we are seeing more and more women showing interest in driving three-wheelers due to the attractiveness of this form of employment, and it is our goal at Simba to create and develop the ecosystem necessary for women to be empowered and feel safe and welcome in this industry,” he said.

The purpose of the event was to bring together women who form part of a growing demographic who are already driving the vehicles and women that have an inclination towards joining them.

For those who already own or operate the TVS King, Simba Group representatives were available for promoting safe driving and training users on how to keep their vehicles on-road longer.

Speaking, one of the women drivers, Mrs Titilayo Lawson, explained that economic hardships facing her growing family had prompted her to seek the opportunity, adding that the venture has allowed her to save money.

Kia Motors posts 3.5% rise in global sales in Sept

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ia Motors Corporation announced on Wednesday its September 2016 global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, recording a total of 252,586 units sold. This figure represents a 3.5 per cent year-on-year increase compared to the same month of 2015.

In September, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in China (24.5 per cent growth with 56,318 units sold), Western Europe (11.8 per cent growth with 44,700 units sold) and general markets (6.6 per cent growth with 41,978 units sold).

Cumulatively through the first nine months of 2016, Kia’s global sales totalled 2,190,700 units for a year-on-year increase of 3.1 per cent. Western Europe (338,071 units sold), Korea (396,460 units sold), China (432,849 units sold) and North America (547,845 units sold) have seen a 14.3 per cent, 5.0 per cent 3.7 per cent and 3.4 per cent rise in sales, respectively.

Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets during September 2016 was the Sportage compact SUV with 42,864 units sold. The B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) was the second best seller with 39,215 units sold, while the C-segment Cerato (Known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3’ in some markets), Optima midsized sedan and Soul urban crossover followed with 36,092, 19,871 and 16,468 units sold, respectively.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

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Paul Ogbuokiri ational Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure that motor vehicles and auto spare parts, both imported and locally produced, that are offered for sale to members of the public in Nigeria meet the required international quality and safety standards.

A statement by the Principal Executive Officer (Information) NDDC, Bello Rasheed, said that already the stakeholders committee has commenced organising series of training workshops across the country; exposing participants to identification techniques and skills required to differentiate between genuine and substandard motor spare parts with a view to halting or minimising sales and utilisation of substandard auto parts in order to reduce road traffic accidents thereby saving thousands of lives of motorists and other road users annually.

According to the statement, one of such training workshops was held in Kano on Wednesday with over 300 participants had speakers drawn from Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Toyota Nigeria Limited, KIA Nigeria Limited, Amalgamated Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association (ASPAMDA), Nigeria Custom Services (NCS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Robert Bosch Nigeria Limited and NADDC. In his keynote address at the Kano workshop, Director General of NADDC, Engr.

Aminu Jalal, represented by his Technical Adviser, Engr. Abubakar Dalhat, said: “Substandard Automotive spare parts in motor vehicles often function improperly, or fail prematurely causing damages or drastic loss of efficiency to the affected vehicle. The implication of the failure of such substandard safety parts in vehicles is often

L-R: Financial Reporting Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mr. Festus Adeniran; President, ICAN, Titus Alao Soetan; his wife Toun; and the Business Planning Analyst, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Udeh, during the ongoing 46th annual ICAN Conference in Abuja recently

NADDC combats substandard auto parts very severe, leading in some cases to road crashes that could cause loss of lives, and in most cases resulting in financial losses, not just to vehicle owner but also to other road users.”

He emphasised that motor parts, whether those classified as safety items or nonsafety items must conform to international standards at all times because their sudden failure in service might result in fatal crashes; adding that NADDC in collaboration with SON had so far adopted over 130 international automotive standards for safety and other parts.

The NADDC DG enumerated other critical measures being taken to enhance standards in the Nigerian automotive industry:

i.Auto Test Centres: NADDC has achieved almost 90 per cent completion stage in the establishment of world class automotive test laboratories for emission, components and materials located in Lagos, Enugu and Zaria. The laboratories would be commissioned by the end of the year. ii.SONCAP for Imported Vehicles: At our request, the SON planned to start implementing Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) on imported vehicles by requiring that all used vehicles imported into Nigeria have a roadworthiness certificate from their country of origin. iii.Product Quality: Vehicle assembly plants and local content manufacturers

Charisma, character and success Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

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ohn left eastern Nigeria for Lagos with a determination to succeed. The move was a risk of sorts, as he had no guaranteed job in Lagos before leaving his comfort zone - the east, where his family and the bulk of his relatives that could assist him reside.

On getting to Lagos, John told himself that he did not have two options, but one - to succeed. He knew that it would be humiliating to return to the east with excuses of failure. His family had relocated to the east from the north. He was bent on breaking the cyclical motion without progress characteristic of his family.

One day, he encountered a man named Roy, who turned out a destiny helper. My. Roy heard John talking to someone, and was overwhelmed by the intelligence John displayed. He was particularly struck by the impeccability of John’s spoken English. He approached John, handed him his card and requested John to give him a call. That turned out the first day of the rest of John’s life. Before long, John started acting in the

One day, he encountered a man named Roy, who turned out a destiny helper. My. Roy heard John talking to someone, and was overwhelmed by the intelligence John displayed capacity of Mr. Roy’s Personal Assistant, pending when he secures a regular job. John worked so hard that Mr. Roy was so impressed.

In appreciation, Mr. Roy gave John money from time to time, but deliberately did not make the intervals definite, so as not to create a sense of expectancy in John.

He also met whatever need John mentioned to him. However, one day, John impressed him so much that he promised to give John monthly allowances, in addition to any other favour necessary for Jon’s upkeep. John was overjoyed and resolved to work even harder, as the monthly pay would enable him render meaningful financial assistance to his family.

Mr. Roy kept his word as to the monthly allowance, but was always not prompt with it. Sometimes, John would have almost given up hope of the pay for the month before it came.

On a given moth, something happened. John needed to register for a professional exam the cost of which was about four times

his monthly allowance. When he summoned courage to tell Mr. Roy about the exam, Mr. Roy gave him the fees. John was grateful.

However, he wondered within him if the money Mr. Roy gave him for the exam foreclosed him from receiving his allowance that month. He pondered on it a while and discussed it with a friend. His friend was of the same opinion with him - that he should remind Mr. Roy of his allowance for the month. He did just that. Unknown to him, that same day he reminded Mr. Roy of his allowance, Mr. Roy had already set in motion a process that will make John receive his allowance for that month that same day. If only he had been a little patient.

Mr. Roy was disappointed. He felt that John had failed a ‘money test,’ which is the test of character.

He felt that John placed money above their relationship, and was working for money all along. He was so heart broken and didn’t mince words in baring his mind to John. John’s heart sank, as he felt he fallen out of favour with a man who has shown him so much kindness.

•To be continued next week You will succeed.

Please follow me on Twitter @ VictorOkwudiri

are being encouraged and assisted to produce good quality items and obtain ISO 9001: 2008 QMS certification. A training programme on ISO/TS 16949:2009 which is a requirement for the implementation of ISO 9001: 2008 QMS for twenty (20) workers of assembly plants in Nigeria would commence this year.

Engr. Jalal explained: “Standards are limits of quality and specifications for products that provide guarantee for their optimal safe use. They provide legal enforceable means to evaluate acceptability and sale-ability (usefulness) of products and/or services. They are basically designed to protect the public from questionable designs (function-ability), products and practices. The purpose of developing and adhering to standards is to ensure optimum performance, meet safety requirements and to ensure conformity as well as interchangeability of products and services.”

In his presentation on behalf of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Mr. Ebenezer Bako said 95% of the auto parts imported into the country are fake or substandard. Their concentration had a dual edge: First, Nigerians were shocked that they have been dicing with deaths by relying on fake spare parts used to replace faulty ones in their vehicles. Second, people were mortified to learn, by inference, that agencies of government upon which we all rely to keep inferior imports away from or shores, including the SON, have largely abdicated their duties, creating in the process a haven for sub-standard auto parts in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Metallic Components Section of the Local Content Provider of Automobile Spare Parts, Mr. Oye Sholola submitted: “We have well equipped factories where we produce parts like Exhaust system, Hangers, Bumpers, Aluminum die-casting parts of the engine, Door handles, etc and are willing to partner with the original manufacturers to upgrade our facilities if need be to meet their requirements.”

80% local gins are fake, substandard

CO NTINUED F R O M PAGE 44

which is imported into the country largely unregulated.

“Ethanol no doubt, constitutes some essential ingredients in the production of gin, but what we experience today is a situation where some unregistered dealers buy some quantities of ethanol and in their secret homes, they add some litres of water into the ethanol agitate it and start selling it to consumers at a little fee which accounts to one of the reasons most people consume those fake and killer gins.

“It was with a foresight to forestall a situation like the current absurd that has bedevilled the local gin production and consumption that one of the founding fathers of our union, which was known then as, Nigerian Distillers Association (NDA) Dr Tai Solarin championed the cause for a research test into the desirability of the beverage, which was carried out at the University of Lagos chemistry laboratory by Dr. Femi Odeyemi. The research gave clean bill to the distilling and consumption of the local beverage which is contrary to the pattern being practiced in different hideaways today,” he said He said that the association has made great progress towards packaging the local gins, saying: “We have met with substantial number of our local distillers across the states, and we are educating them on modern scientific ways of distilling because NAFDAC can never recognize the present methods.

We have been to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO). We are in the process of fabricating modern equipment that will be used by local distillers.”

He further called of the Federal Government to support the local distillers like the Ghanaian government that protects her local

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

NSEASI advances marginally by 0.09% WoW …UBA records 7.64% PAT growth

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ixed reactions pervaded the Nigerian equities market, as index appreciated in three (3) out of five (5) trading days of the week. The NSEASI gained marginally by 0.09% Week-onWeek(WoW) to settle YTD return at –2.73%, while Ex-DANGCEM the index advanced by 0.03% WoW. Due to the holiday effect in the prior week, the volume and value of transactions appreciated by 24.38% and 45.52% WoW. For the week, twenty-two (22) stocks gained as against forty-three (43) decliners, representing market breadth of 0.51x.

CAVERTON led the gainer’s chart for the week, after appreciating by 13.43% WoW to settle share price at NGN0.76. The counter was followed by SEPLAT (+10.25%), TRANSEXPR (+9.80%), ZENITHBANK (+5.41%), and ACCESS (+4.63%). On the flip side, UAC-PROP (- 13.67%), WAPCO (-9.96%), ETRANZACT (-9.67%) , FO (-9.24%), PHARMA-DEKO (-9.09%) and CCNN (-8.33%) emerged as the top laggards for the week.

During the week, UBA and FO released their Q3:2016 results. UBA’s scorecard revealed growths in gross earnings, ProfitBefore-Tax and Profit-After-Tax of 8.16%, 7.30% and 7.64% YoY accordingly. Similarly, FORTE OIL Plc. (FO) recorded impressive YoY growths in Revenue, Gross Profit and Profit-Before-Tax of 32.16%, 19.83%, and 6.53% YoY respectively. However, due to the significant hike in Finance costs (+663.15% YoY) and Income tax (+182.65%), the company’s Profit-After-Tax declined by 34.72% YoY to NGN2.80bn at the end of the period.

We attribute the market performance this week to a mix of bargain hunting and profit taking activities by investors. In the coming week, we expect influx of corporate scorecards for Q3:2016 to dictate the general market mood.

This report reviews events in the current week, with emphasis on different segments of the financial market, while presenting our expectations for the coming week.

Fixed Income: Naira closes at NGN460/ USD at the parallel market System liquidity increased during the week, following OMO repayment of NGN233bn, however, there was OMO auction worth NGN152bn in the week The Central Bank of Nigeria through the Debt Management Office (DMO) conducted a primary market bond auction and raised NGN10bn, NGN45bn and NGN40bn of 14.50% FGN JUL 2021, 12.50% FGN JAN 2026 and 12.40% FGN MAR 2036 bond instruments accordingly. The bid to cover ratio were 1.33x, 1.54x and 2.17x for the respective instruments.

Bearish sentiments pervaded the treasury bills market, as average T-bills yield pared by 1.18% to settle at 17.72%. Also, in the Treasury bonds space, investors’ signaled strong appetite towards the shorter term bond instruments. Consequently, average bond yield declined marginally by 0.03% to settle at 16.12% at the end of the trading week.

At the interbank FX market, the Naira depreciated by 1.06% to settle at NGN307.77/ USD at the close of the week. Contrarily, Naira appreciated by 2.83% to close at NGN460/USD in the parallel market. Average forward quote stood at NGN324.83/ USD at the close of the week.

Agric Sector: PRESCO appreciates by 0.63% Agricultural sector recorded positive outing this week, as the MERI-AGRI index which measures the sector performance appreciated by 6.21% WoW to settle the YtD return at 23.00%. Two counters emerged as the sector gainers, while other counters traded flat for the week.

LIVESTOCK emerged as the sector top gainer, having appreciated by 11.11% to settle at NGN0.89. PRESCO followed closely, gaining 0.63% WoW to close at NGN40.25.

We attribute the sector’s performance to bargain hunting activities on PRESCO, as investors take position in expectation of the company’s result. In the coming week, we expect the general market mood to dictate the sector performance.

Banking Sector: Bargain Hunting on Tier-1 Banks The banking sector closed positive for the week, as MERI-BANK index advanced by 1.38% WoW, to settle the YtD return at +7.44%. There were six (6) gainers and nine (9) decliners, indicating a sector breadth at 0.67x.

ZENITHBANK led the advancers, after appreciating by 5.41% to close at NGN15.00.

The ticker was closely followed by ACCESS, UBN, and UBA with respective price gains of 4.63%, 3.96%, and 1.92%. On the flip side, the decliner’s list was populated by SKYEBANK (-6.06%), DIAMONDBNK (-5.51%), UNITYBNK (-5.41%), and FCMB (-4.31%).

During the week, United Bank for Africa (UBA) released its 9M:2016 result which showed the bank recorded growths in Gross Earnings, Profit-Before-Tax and Profit-AfterTax of 8.16%, 7.30% and 7.64% YoY in that order.

In our opinion, the gain recorded was due to bargain hunting activities on Tier 1 banks that had witnessed poor market sentiments in the prior week. As we enter the earnings season, we anticipate 9M2016 results to dictate market performance in the period.

Consumer Goods Sector: MERI-CMG advances by 0.54% WoW The Consumer goods sector as measured by the MERI-CMG, closed the week in the positive region. The index gained 0.54% WoW to settle the YtD return at -1.23%.

Sector breadth closed at 0.63x, indicating five (5) gainers against eight (8) decliners in the week.

NB (+1.99%) led the gainer’s chart, closing at NGN148.70. The counter was trailed by DANGSUGAR (+1.88%), 7UP (1.20%), NESTLE (0.70%) and INTBREW (0.20%). On the flip side, GUINNESS (-6.16%), CADBURY (-4.97%), FLOURMILL (-4.04%), PZ (-3.43%) and CHAMPION (-3.31%) populated the laggards chart.

During the week, the sector was awash with negative sentiments. In our opinion, we believe that investors are skeptical about the outcome of sector companies’ Q3: 2016 results. In the coming week, we expect the weak mood to be sustained.

Healthcare Sector: MERI-HLTH Index Closes in the Red Zone The MERI-HLTH index shed 3.12% WoW to settle YtD return at -45.44% at the close of trading today. Five (5) stocks depreciated in value week-on-week, while other counters traded flat.

PHARMADEKO (-9.09%), FIDSON (-4.82%), NEIMETH (-4.65%), GLAXOSMITH (-3.21%) and MAYBAKER (-2.17%) recorded WoW price depreciations, to close at NGN1.70, NGN1.58, NGN0.82, NGN18.39 and NGN0.90 respectively.

The bearish sentiments which pervaded the sector this week can be attributed to investors’ skepticism about sector companies’ Q3:2016 financial scorecards. As evident from the H1:2016 results of companies, the pharmaceutical industry has been negatively affected by the subsisting macro-economic headwinds, particularly through higher direct cost occasioned by depreciation in Naira. The sector imports c.85% of its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) from China, India etc.

We posit that these negative sentiments may persist in the coming week, especially upon the release of weak Q3:2016 numbers from sector companies.

Industrial Goods: WAPIC contracted by 9.96% WoW Activities in the Industrial goods sector mirrored the previous week, as the sector

contracted by 0.17%, to drive the YtD to 1.91%. Negative sentiments dominated in the week, as four (4) stocks declined, no ticker recorded a price appreciation, and thirteen (13) stocks traded flat.

WAPCO topped the loser’s chart for the week for the 2nd consecutive week, after declining by 9.96% to settle at NGN42.50.

CCNN (-8.33%), PAINTCOM (-7.69%), and CUTIX (-6.90%) were the other tickers that featured atop the decliner’s chart in the week.

We attribute the sector’s performance for the week to investors’ expectations for 9M2016 results, and also the weak market mood. We anticipate that this trend will persist over the short-term, barring any positive news flows to drive sector returns.

Insurance Sector: NSEINS10 slips by 0.55% WoW The insurance sector closed the week in the negative region, with the sector index (NSEINS10) declining by 0.55% WoW to settle the YtD loss at 9.71%. There were two (2) decliners in the week, while other counters traded flat.

AIICO emerged as the sector’s worst performer, after paring by 6.15% WoW to close at NGN0.61. The counter was trailed

by NEM which lost 5.88% in the week.

We expect that the sector’s performance in the coming week will be dictated by the general market mood, as investors’ await Q3:2016 performance scorecards.

Oil & Gas Sector: FO releases Q3:2016 scorecard The NSEOILG5 index returned positive during the week (+0.25%), after appreciating on two (2) out of five (5) trading days.

Consequently, the YtD return for the sector settled at -6.62%. There were three (3) gainers and four (4) decliners in the week, indicating a sector breadth of 0.75x.

SEPLAT topped the gainer’s chart, after appreciating by 10.25% WoW to close at NGN385.88. Featuring on the decliner’s chart were FO (-9.24% WoW), MOBIL (-2.98% WoW), ETERNA (-2.93% WoW) and OANDO (-1.67% WoW).

Forte Oil PLC. (FO) released its Q3:2016 financial scorecard during the week, which showed that the company recorded YoY growths in Revenue and Profit-BeforeTax of 32.16% and 6.53% YoY respectively.

However, due to significant uptick in finance costs (+663.15% YoY) and Income tax (+182.65%), Profit-After-Tax declined by 34.72% YoY to NGN2.80bn. Consequently, the counter witnessed some sell-off, as the stock sheds 9.24% of its value in the week.

The recently released OPEC report showed a 6.65% increase in Nigeria’s production to 1.52MMbpd for the month of September from 1.43MMbpd in the previous month.

Brent Crude oil continued to trade within tight margins around USD50pb during the week, although uncertainty regarding the viability of the proposed production cut caused some volatility towards the end of the week. Therefore, Brent crude settled at USD51.86pb as at Friday, October 14, 2016.

We attribute the positive week to bullish sentiments on SEPLAT, as the commencement of the company’s operations in the Forcados export terminal beamed a positive outlook on the counter. However, we note that most sector counters witnessed profit taking activities in the week. We anticipate that influx of Q3:2016 results will determine the direction of trading in the sector for the next few weeks.

Services Sector: CAVERTON Closes at NGN0.76 The MERISERV Index advanced by 1.13% WoW settling the Year-to-date return at -6.90% at the close of trading activities this week. Sector breadth stood at 1.5x as three (3) stocks appreciated in value WoW, while two (2) stocks declined.

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faith

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Tai Anyanwu he Bishop of Lagos Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Adebola Ademowo, has advised Christians to make it a point of duty to service God with humility as the contrary is tantamount to losing the purpose of serving the living God. Ademowo gave the counsel at the investiture of the first female President of the Lagos Anglican Diocesan Guild of Stewards (LADCOS), Sister Oluyemisi Adeogun, at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos.

The Cleric explained that serving God without humility would diminish believers’ faith and cause the faithful deviate from the right path: “The purpose of living is to serve and glorify God in reciprocation of divine salvation enjoyed by humans; and it must be accomplished with total humility,” he added.

Giving his homily titled ‘The Essence of Service,” during the investiture, admission of Officer and rededication of members of the guild, Bishop Ademowo cautioned Christians against arrogance, selfishness and egocentricity, saying they are destructive values that capable of bringing down one’s faith and cause a believer to walk far away from being

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Serving God with humility is vital –Ademowo

sensitive to the Holy Spirit of God. The Anglican Bishop reminded the stewards that their main duty as door keepers in the diocese is to maintain order in the church. He charged them to carry out their task with diligence and dedication, saying they have sacred task before and must be rendered joyfully and gloriously. “ As members of the Guild, whatever may be your status in the society, remember that you are serving God,” he said.

Ademowo also condemned recent habit of Christians who he said rely on and come to church with i-pad and phone installed with downloaded Bible instead of carrying the Holy Bible itself.

“That is not the Bible; a Christian should come to church with his or her copy of the Holy Bible, “he added.

Mrs. Adeogun was elected the first female President of the Guild, 30 years after it was founded.

Bishop Ademowo aptly captured the privilege to the first woman as the time

Pope donates funds to hurricane victims

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ope Francis is sending $100,000 in initial emergency funding to help the people of the Caribbean region, particularly Haiti, devastated by Hurricane Matthew earlier this month.

The powerful storm killed more than 1,000 people and demolished buildings and infrastructure, leaving thousands homeless.

The papal donation, made through the Pope’s charitable office, Cor Unum, will be distributed by the apostolic nunziature to the local Church dioceses which suffered the greatest losses in the flooding. In a note from Cor Unum, the pontifical council says the aid provided by the Pope is meant to be “a first and immediate concrete expression” of the Holy Father’s “spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement” to the people and territories hardest hit by the disaster.

The donation comes as part of the Church’s wider emergency response to the crisis through the activities of bishops conferences and the Church’s humanitarian relief or-

ganizations.

Caritas Haiti, together with the Church’s umbrella organization, Caritas Internationalis, has launched an emergency appeal to assist 2,700 families (13,500 people). The first emergency aid will go towards the purchase and distribution of 2,700 food kits, 2,700 hygiene kits and for the activation of counselling programs to inform the population on ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

for the women folk to make the best use of the opportunity.

The elated new president said she feels great, but quickly added “it is not easy to get a male dominated post.”

She added: “You can always get to the top if you work hard, so my message to other women is that they

should keep striving and hardworking in all they do, I have been a member for 36yrs so it is not something that I started today and you know I didn’t buy this position I earned it worked for it, so if you want to get to the top you have to work hard in life. I have work as the secretary for six years, the public sec-

retary for three years and now the president” To the men she said: “I love them, they should not feel bad that I am the president but work with me so that we could move forward.”

The first task Mrs. Adeogun would like to undertake as Preside of the guild is to bring everybody together. “We don’t have a

website, I am going to start with a website, we don’t have an office I’m going to start with one, I will bring as many people together as possible. We don’t go to the rural area and I intend to go there more because we have a lot of women there, so I have to move down there to empower them,” she added.

L-R: Vice President Emeritus, LADCOS, Bro Godwin Emos; President LADCOS, Sister Oluyenisi Adeogun; and Vice President Sister Jumoke Borire, at the investiture held at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina Lagos...recently

Boko Haram defeat: Cleric differs with FG, attributes victories to Rosary

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hough the Nigerians armed forces are taking the glory for suppressing Boko Haram violence in the North East, the Catholic Bishop in Maiduguri, Oliver Dashe Doeme, rather credits the victories against Boko Haram to the Holy Rosary.

Bishop Doeme, whose diocese was severely ravaged and terrorised by the Islamic extremist, explained that God had told him in a vision to seek for Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession by reciting the Holy rosary as a spiritual exercise to stop the Boko Haram Violence.

According to the Bishop, many Catholics, who faithfully prayed the rosary for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession, are rather responsible for suppressing the violence of Boko Haram in the area.

The Bishop said that he was inspired, in 2014, by a vision of Jesus to call Catholics to pray the Ro-

sary for deliverance from Boko Haram’s terrorism, which has taken the lives of more than 11,000 Nigerians, most of whom are Christians, since 2011.

As the Nigerian army boasts that it has rooted the insurgents out of their last strongholds and pushed them into the Sambisa forest, Bishop Dashe Doeme is claiming credit for Virgin Mary.

“Before, Boko Haram members were everywhere. But now they are not everywhere,” he told the Catholic Herald. They have been pushed to the forests. Boko Haram will soon fizzle out, mostly because of the prayers of the people.”

The Bishop explained that, in the vision, Christ gave him a sword, which immediately turned into a rosary. Christ then said, “Boko Haram is gone.”

The Bishop said he took Jesus’ message to be, “In order to console his people that His Mother is there for us.”

So he told the people of his vast diocese in Muslim-controlled Northern Nigeria to believe “that the rosary would ultimately give us victory over this evil. Boko Haram is evil, ISIS is evil.

So as long as we go to a place with His Mother, especially by praying the rosary, which is the most pronounced form of Marian devotion, we will be victorious.”

Bishop Dashe Doeme urged the praying of the rosary daily throughout the diocese’s schools, families, and parishes.

The terrorists have been steadily pushed back since then, to the extent that President Muhammadu Buhari said last December that Boko Haram had been defeated and also that some of the 3.6 million displaced persons have started to return to their homes.

The Bishop told the Catholic Herald that the rosary “has worked wonders, has liberated na-

tions.” Citing the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, for example, when Christian naval forces defeated the much bigger fleet of the Ottoman Empire; and in 1986, when Philippines’ Dictator Fernando Marcos was deposed as examples.

However, the army too is claiming credit with Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, the commander of the force assigned to defeat Boko Haram, recently announcing his troops had expelled the terrorists from “their last known strongholds of Abadam and Mallam Fatori and we are now consolidating our hold. But this did not mean that we have heard the last from the insurgents,” he warned.

He said the rebels had taken refuge in the Sambisa forest and would have to be pursued.

Meanwhile Bishop Dashe Doeme says the main challenge now is to help refugees return to their homes and repair their lives.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

51

news

‘Nigeria not obliged to obey ECOWAS Court ruling on Dasuki’

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he Federal Government is not obligated to obey a ruling of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Court that a former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), be released from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), President Muhammadu Buhari’s adviser on prosecution, Okoi Obla has argued.

The ECOWAS Court, on October 4, had declared the continued detention of Dasuki unlawful, arbitrary and a violation of his right to liberty.

The former NSA is accused of misspending billions of dollars meant for procurement of arms to fight against Boko Haram. The government also accuses him of illegal possession of firearms.

Dasuki was arrested in December 2015, and has been in detention since then.

But commenting on the sub-regional court’s ruling, the presidential aide argued: “It is an advisory opinion.

“The ECOWAS Court cannot enforce opinion. The government is not obligated to obey the ruling of the ECOWAS Court.”

The ECOWAS Court was created pursuant to the Article 6 and Article 15 of the

Revised Treaty of ECOWAS, the political-economic bloc of the West African countries.

Nigeria is a signatory to the Treaty which is “binding on the member states, the institutions of the community, individuals and corporate bodies,” as its Article 15(4) provides.

But Section 12(1) of the Nigerian Constitution says “No treaty between the Federation (Nigeria) and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted by the National Assembly”.

The National Assembly has not domesticated the

Revised Treaty and the Supplementary Protocol regarding the ECOWAS Court, reports online news portal, PREMIUM TIMES. To buttress his position, Obla cited countries he said had disregarded international law.

“Look at Israel; Israel has disregarded all international rulings. The so-called bastion of democracy, America, has flouted all judgements of the ICJ against America.

They even refused to be signatory to the ICC treaty,” he said.

He said the “national interest” and “security” of the country “are the most important considerations”.

Worlds three biggest banks post losses Abdulwahab Isa With agency report

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hree of the biggest US banks, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Citigroup and Wells Fargo & Co, reported a fall in profits over the weekend , JP Morgan’s assets reported a 7.6% drop in quarterly profit. The New York firm, run by James Dimon, hit off the third-quarter with both revenue and profit far above expectations.

Earnings per share fell from $1.68 to $1.58 as opposed to analysts’ expectations of $1.39 earnings per share.

Citigroup Inc, the fourthbiggest bank by assets reported a 10.5% fall in the third-quarter profit and decreased revenue, yet the results were better than what analysts had predicted.

The bank’s net income fell to $3.84 billion, or $1.24 per share, in the third quarter ended September 30 from $4.29 billion, or $1.35 per share, a year earlier. Analysts on average had estimated earnings of $1.16 per share.

The San Francisco bank Wells Fargo & Co reported its fourth straight fall in quarterly profit. The bank still posted net income that

topped analyst estimates, helped in part by lower than expected loan loss provisions.

Wells Fargo Chief Executive and Chairman John Stumpf stepped down from his job after 34 years with the bank on Wednesday.

Wells Fargo’s earnings drop as bank begins to face fallout from unauthorised accounts scandal. Source: Reuters Stumpf was under pressure from lawmakers and other critics after employees were found to have created as many as 2 million accounts in customers’ names without their consent.

Timothy Sloan, previously chief operating officer, has taken over as CEO. “I am deeply committed to restoring the trust of all of our stakeholders, including our customers, shareholders and community partners,” Sloan said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier in September, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $185-million to settle regulatory charges and fired up to 5,300 employees in connection with the scandal.

Bank of America Corp, the second largest bank in the United States by total assets.

Buhari visits sick Nigerian military officer in Germany Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P L-R: Head of Finance, Mr. Emmanuel Abonta; Director, Architectural Services in the ministry, Mr. Sani Gidado; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and National Director, Millard Fuller Foundation, Mr. Sam Odia, during the Minister’s tour of the Housing Estate built by the Foundation in Luvu, Nasarawa State …at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

WAFSEP decries falling standard of English Esther Bakare

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n educational group, War Against Falling Standard of Education Project (WAFSEP), has lamented the global nosedive in the use of English language at all levels of school system in the country.

Speaking through its Coordinator, Mr. Oladele Saheed, in Ibadan, Oyo State, WAFSEP, described as pathetic, unimaginable and uncalled for, the present state of English in Nigeria either as a medium of instruction in schools or social communication.

He said being the coordinator of WAFSEP, he could not imagine seeing teachers scoring two out of five anytime his team asked them to spell common English words at their Erudite training centre in Ibadan.

He said; “The global nosedive in the standard of English, according to S.A Omo-

diaogbe, cannot but affect Nigeria. The standard of English has fallen at all levels of the school system and in all walks of life. The ivory towers that are supposed to be standard setters are affected.

Unless something drastic is done to arrest the ugly trend, the time is at hand when Nigerians will no longer understand each other, let alone understand a non-Nigerian user of English.

“As the Coordinator of War Against the Falling Standard of English Project (WAFSEP), I have seen a lot. I cannot imagine seeing teachers scoring two out of five anytime our team asks them to spell common English words at Erudite training. It is pathetic.

“While responses from private schools have largely been positive, public school teachers who need WAFSEP more have no access to it because the government is not ready. In 2014, we

were informed that the Federal Government of Nigeria stopped practical oral English examination in 1996 because it was too ‘expensive’.

“So when we presented our ‘Remedial English Pronunciation Software’ to the Federal Ministry of Education to correct the irony of teaching oral English on paper or board in Nigerian schools, it faced a similar challenge in spite of the fact that the assessment panel considered it very helpful. This shows what our priorities are as a nation.

He further stated that the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (9th Edition) now has iSpeaker for speaking and pronunciation skills but many schools may still miss the opportunity, stressing that, “how many of our acclaimed standard schools have benefitted from the old 608 MB Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 8th Edition Software let alone the

current rigorous 2.86 GB allencompassing 9th Edition?”

“A lecturer recently told us of a professor of English who considered an expression incorrect until he, as a layman, showed him the usage in the dictionary. The reality is that many of the things Nigerian authors have judged wrong are (now) correct. But, how many of our scholars have up-to-date dictionaries?

Who will inform our teachers in schools to stop teaching wrong vocabulary and archaic grammar rules?” Oladele queried.

He, however, recommended that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) should update the Nigerian English curriculum to match the dynamism of the language, saying that the new curriculum would facilitate the teaching of effective everyday vocabulary and descriptive grammar.

resident Muhammadu Buhari’s yesterday paid a visit to a sick Nigerian military officer who is receiving treatment in Germany where he has completed a day official trip.

The military officer, Brigadier-General Mohammed Sani Aliyu, the Acting Commander of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos miraculously survived a ghastly road accident in the course of a duty tour in the North-East.

The Head of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Yusha’u Abubakar, who was in the same vehicle was not so lucky as he died in the auto crash on Maiduguri-Damaturu road.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity

to the President Garba Shehu, Buhari, accompanied by the Governors of Borno and Imo, the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Minister of Interior and that of Foreign Affairs congratulated General Aliyu for the progress he has made in his treatment in the last six months in hospital.

The President and his delegation wished him a quick recovery and an early return to his family and duties in Nigeria. He gave a further assurance that his administration will continue to accord priority to the health and wellbeing of service personnel.

Doctors said General Aliyu could barely move his head only when he was stretchered in, with the rest of the body torn and broken in many parts. Now, he can move around with very little assistance.

Emmanuel sacks commissioners Tony Anichebe Uyo

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overnor, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect.

A statement made available by the Secretary to State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren, said

the governor expresses his deep and profound appreciation for the contributions of the Exco members to the development of the state, and wishes them success in their future endeavours.

The SSG noted that Permanent Secretaries in the respective ministries are to take over the running of the ministries pending the reconstitution of the council.

52

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

OPINION

Again, Ambode deepens community spirit at town hall meeting Banji Ojewale

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espected political economy theoretician and academic Professor Pat Utomi would not let go of a gathering of a Town Hall meeting hosted by a governor without observing the proceedings. So, on Tuesday October 11, 2016 he set aside his school duties at Pan-African University, Lekki and headed for the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to peep into the entrails of popular democracy and governance.

He wasn’t disappointed. He met a mammoth crowd approximating the size of the spectators who would troop to the stadium for the final of a top international football competition. There were individual as well as collective interests who converged to listen to a governor’s stewardship.

When I stumbled on the crowd, I was relieved that I hadn’t come all the way from my base in Ota, Ogun State on a wasted trip, just as a smiling Utomi would have thanked God he also made the journey. My take on this intellectual politician is that he has always argued for a strong nexus between the governed and the government. He believes that one way by which the government can strengthen this link is to be accountable to the people it is governing.

The Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode flanked by members of his government including the Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule along with top members of the ruling All-Progressives Congress (APC), faced the huge crowd to conduct the 3rd quarter 2016 Town Hall meeting. The fifth in the series, it opened up the affairs of the government in relation to its performance since Ambode’s administration came into office on May 29, 2015. Those who listened to him were drawn from all the 57 councils spread across Lagos. There were market women; there were school pupils; there were artisans; there were the physically challenged citizens; there were grassroots politicians; traditional rulers including the Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akinolu were there; two senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and Ganiyu Solomon also showed up; representatives of the print and electronic media established their presence;in a word, virtually every segment of Lagos was represented.

Ambode spoke of much water that had passed under the bridge. He alluded to challenges; but he also referred to gains. By his reckoning, government is all about overcoming difficulties and not one to be overwhelmed by problems.

Surveying the state in the period under review since the last Town Hall meeting at the City Hall,Ambode reeled out breath-taking achievements that included roads, streetlights, hospitals, environmental regeneration, urban developments, transportation, education, poverty alleviation, housing and youth and social development, employment, women empowerment and so on.

Obviously all these capture the essence of government and the responsibilities of the ruler to his people. Since government is the vehicle to drive all these areas of need, the governor decided to intimate those who gave him the mandate to rule of how far he has traveled.

On works and infrastructure during the period under review, the governor revealed that the State Government continued with its aggressive commitment towards infrastructure development to ease the movement of vehicles, pedestrians and commuters. So far, it has delivered on the following; •It completed the construction of Agbe Road in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, and Adisa Ajibulu Road with Bridge in Oshodi-Isolo.

In making safety of life a reality for pedestrians in pedestrian bridges at TREM Bus Stop,

Anthony across Apapa-Oshodi-Gbagada Expressway, and Ojota, both of which are at an advanced stage of completion.

•It completed Ojodu-Berger Pedestrian Bridge.

•Awarded the construction of Ago-Palace Way-Jakande Estate Link Bridge, foot Bridges at Itogbesa-Irewe and Okunudun-Erekun, Ojo LG. •Presented a cheque of N4million to Mr Monday Imoni as compensation for his property that was within the Right of Way at 6 Fadahunsi Drive, Orelope in Alimosho LGA. •There was emergency repair of ApapaOworonshoki Expressway (Ilasamaja Segment).

•Awarded Ojota second Pedestrian Bridge; Arowojebe Link Bridge, Aboyi Road Phase 2and Ajoke Salako Street.

•It completed the building of 24 Court Rooms’ Magistrate Court in Ajegunle, and the Egan Igando Mixed Housing Scheme was also delivered.

•It completed the New Critical Care Unit a-4-storey building in LASUTH. The gathering also heard of impressive strides in wealth creation and employment.

Here Ambode referred to the commencement of the training of the first batch of 100 youths in the Open Andela Training in ICT for a period of eleven weeks in software development culminating in applicants receiving Google and Microsoft Certification. He said government also organized an 8-week training on Capacity Building for 500 tradesmen and artisans at all the five technical colleges across the state namely Ikeja, Ado Soba, Ikorodu, Ikotun and Ekpe. In a similar vein, the government successfully registered 18 zonal bodies from the Trades Association, issuing 638 identity cards to artisans. Observers have taken note that this has led to a spiraling effect of self-employment leading to the alleviation of poverty in many homes and generally in the society.

Governor Ambode, dressed in casual jacket and shirt without a tie, was quite informal to reflect the informality of the tradition of Town Hall meetings,dating back to the system of colonial America. In those days such gatherings attracted citizens who would come to listen to the views of their political candidates and how they were faring in office. Hundreds of years down the line the order hasn’t changed as we witnessed in Lagos on Tuesday. On this day, Ambode disclosed that the government had spent N166.8 billion on capital projects in the last nine months of 2016.

He declared: “A review of the 2016 budget shows that our state generated total revenue

of N97.3 billion in the last quarter and had a total expenditure of N110.2 billion considering the fact that our cash reserve has remained positive. We expended N55 billion on capital expenditures in the last quarter”.

Ambode said the completion and handing over of 114 roads across the 57 local governments and local council development areas in the last quarter was a major achievement of his administration, disclosing that in the next three weeks his administration would commence the process of bid invitation for the construction of additional 114 roads across communities in the state. In addition, the governor had more cheering news for the people.

Governor Ambode said he was going to boost employment opportunities and security in the state by recruiting additional 5,000 neigbourhood watchers into its Neighbourhood Safety Agency. He said he would begin this in November.

Ambode put smiles on the faces of the citizens when he promised that his administration would work harder and support representation of a bill that seeks a special status for Lagos State as the commercial capital of the country. It would be recalled that Senator Oluremi Tinubu on October 5, 2016 presented the bill to the upper legislative chamber. But the law makers turned down the request.

And speaking on the bill, the Oba of Lagos claimed that ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo was responsible for Lagos not being granted special status. Oba Akinolu said Obasanjo had the opportunity to have granted that privilege during his eight-year tenure. If Obasanjo had done so, the issue of the National Assembly turning down Oluremi Tinubu’s bill would not have arisen, the Oba argued.This was gladdening news to the gathering considering the fact that when it came to the stage of an interactive session, most of the questions posed by the citizens centered on the upgradethe state chiefly through good roads. Pastor Gbenga Oyebode of Surulere, Jimoh Olawale (Apapa Iganmu), Alhaji Saliu Ibrahim (Aguda) among others all sought the intervention of the governor concerning the state of the roads in their areas. One of them said the roads in his domain needed urgent rehabilitation to avoid fatal floods.

For others like Mrs Bisola James (Ifako-Ijaiye), the concern was for attention to be given to the professional women in Lagos APC. A 74-year-old woman Alimotu Mudashiru (Ikate) who spoke in Yoruba said she needed personal assistance from the governor.

The gathering was moved with compassion when a visually challenged student of

the Pacelli School for the Blind Master Kelechi presented his petition to Governor Ambode.

He thanked the governor for his government’s support for the school. But like Oliver Twist he requested for more. He pleaded with Ambode to provide the school with a 32-seater Coaster bus. He also wants the state government to take care of the road where the school is located to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

Responding to their questions, Ambode said he would promptly handle the requests of the students of the Pacelli School. The government declared “We’ll deal with the flooding of the area as part of our structural support to the school.” This was met with thunderous applause.

The governor also said the woman who needed assistance would hear from him soon.

There was room for some of the aides of the governor to address issues directly related to their portfolios. For instance the deputy governor spoke of new model schools in the offing.

She disclosed that a secondary school would come up at Sari Iganmu. She said N10 billion had been set aside for the new model schools, adding that by November next month the projects would kick off. She described what was unveiling in the education sector in Lagos as a “New Dawn”. She concluded: “If your area is not captured now, you will be accommodated in 2017”.

As the program got to a close, the actor turned politician Mr Desmond Olusola Elliot (Surulere 1) offered the vote of thanks. He appreciated Governor Ambode and his cabinet for humbling themselves to meet the people.

His presentation was short as he described the event as a wonderful Town Hall meeting in a wonderful state.

The attendees milled out, spilling into the streets with the scene again coming close to what you would expect after a big football match with supporters of winning and losing teams exchanging comments. This time, there was no vanquished side. All left hailing the Town Hall meeting as a fulfilling one that had not disappointed them. Those who spoke out what was going on in their minds said they looked forward to the next Town Hall meeting, even as some would be expected to monitor the promises of the governor on his vows to help an old woman, build model schools beginning from November 1, recruit neighbourhood security watchers and prevent flood where the Pacelli School for the Blind is located.

Ojewale, a journalist lives in Ota, Ogun State.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016

‘God’s Generals’ Jewels’

Women should avoid frivolous spending at this period –Pastor Makinwa Pastor (Mrs) Esther Makinwa is the wife of Pastor Samson Makinwa, General Overseer of Kingdom of Light Ministries (KLM) which started in year 2003 with over 5000 members in branches across Nigeria and in London.

She speaks about how God called her husband, who is a mechanical engineer, their marriage and the Ministry in this interview with ESTHER BAKARE How long have you been married?

We got married in 1980, that is 36 years ago. We were both childhood friends living on the same streets. I would say I was just about six years then while he was 10. we used to play together as little kids but after a while, he traveled to Lagos and we didn’t see each other again for a long time until he came back and that time we were already adults. He came to my house one day to ask of me early in the morning even before taking my bath and he said I am the one he would like to marry.

What attracted you to him at that time?

I can’t really say but the fact that we have been childhood friends is one factor but he said what endeared me to him was the fact that he saw me before taking a bath and I was looking naturally beautiful, he would go for me and that settled everything.

What were the initial challenges in your marriage?

The fact that we were both not born again really caused a lot of crises in our marriage at the initial stage which was the first 10 years, and this is peculiar to most newly married couples who come from different backgrounds. At the beginning, there would be lack of understanding for each other and my husband used to come home late. I could not cope with it initially, it was really a battle that led to our separation for three years, but as God would have it, we came back together and he was already a born again Christian. So I also got convinced because of the changes I saw in him. Other challenges we also faced then was that we were not close to any family member because they were all in the village and we had no counselor to lead us aright we were just there alone on our own.

how things were tough for us to the extent that our marriage got scattered until my husband gave his life to God before we were restored. Again, we were doing fine at RCCG so I didn’t want us to leave and I was also worried about where to establish the church but God intervened and provided answers to all my worries. We didn’t start from a rented apartment as part of the conditions my husband gave to God, we started on our own land which God purchased for us. It was even in India that he prayed to God and God gave him the name of the church.

Who is pastor Samson Makinwa at home?

He is a very caring man, highly sociable and playful, he talks too; not shy at all.

How supportive are you to the Ministry?

Apart from supporting him in prayers anytime our members are going through difficult times, I also organise women programmes such as Deborah Night, which is a vigil once in a month where women gather to pray and solve their problems through prayers. We have Hebrew and Faith Women for the pregnant sisters and those looking unto God for the fruits of the womb which takes place every last Thursday of the month. Another crucial area I support the work is through phone calls to any of our members who is absent in church. I know them by names. In the night, I put a call to them to ask about their well-being. Daddy has a lot in his mind so he may not notice but I do, so I always ask after our members and this has encouraged them a lot.

How did you react when he told you about establishing a church?

My husband was a good business man and an engineer of great repute. We were worshiping at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and he was a parish pastor under Pastor J.T Kalejaye. He had been telling me that God was speaking to him about establishing a church but each time he heard the voice, he would go and establish a new branch of RCCG somewhere, thinking that was what God was trying to say. He received the vision several times but thought it was a mere infatuation until one day he was traveling from India to China and he heard the voice again that he should erect a fresh altar for God and that time he was 52 years already. God told him if he does not start now, it won’t be possible again and he would make his life miserable. So when he told me all these, I was afraid but my worry was that who will be our father and he said God so I was convinced about the calling.

What is the vision of KLM? Our vision is to bring family together, to restore homes that are on the verge of collapsing. We have a family programme throughout the months of June and July ever year. We dedicate those two months to family teaching on family life. At the end of the teaching we have family get together and this has helped a lot of families. We have some spouses who attended the programmes reluctantly for fear of what people would say and at the end it, they go home blessed and more committed to their marriages. We also have a programme called Business Class with Makinwa to teach men and women on how to have successful business because what keeps a home are God, Love and Money these are the three things that make a good family and keep them together. We try to ensure that the church is balanced both spiritually and physically.

We believe that the church is like one big family that is why it is good that when the church is expanding in terms of population , it should have branches so that members can get close to one another.

What made you get worried initially?

I didn’t want us to backslide again, we have been in the world before and I know

Your advice to couples on how to keep their homes?

The first thing is for both to be in the Lord

so that they can hear right from the beginning so that anytime there is turbulence in the marriage they can both go back to God in prayer. They must have an altar where they both talk to their Father who is God, wives must have humility but it is important that both are submissive to each other.

There should be love between them and they should endeavour to have a spiritual father as well who can counsel them anytime they are going through difficulties.

Is the church planning to diversify?

Yes we are planning to have KLM Group of Schools very soon. The process has already started and it is to give qualitative education to our young ones. We want to raise godly children who will become our leaders tomorrow and will change the story of this nation.

tor’s wife, I believe we should be engaged doing something, not just sit down there as full time house wives. Whatever we lay our hands on will be blessed because the Bible described us as help meets to our husbands.

That is the more reason we should not be idle. We can start with as little as N3,000 if we are serious about what we are doing, that is one thing I have learnt from my husband during his programme, ‘Business Class with Makinwa.’ Nigerian women are so gifted, there are innate endowments in each and every one of us. We should not just allow those talents that God has endowed us with to just go like that into the thrash because God will require of us how we use our talents to benefits mankind. That of Pastors’ wives will even be more because a lot of lives are committed into our hands to nurture both spiritually and physically.

What is your advice for women generally at this period of recession?

My advice for them is to avoid frivolous spending at this period. Many pastors’ wives spend so much on gold and jewelries just to oppress their members, this is not the time for that. At this period women should concentrate on how to contribute to their husbands financially. For instance we can start business right in our kitchen.

We have women whose kitchens are highly equipped with all sorts of utensils. These can be turned to avenue for business. We can bake cakes, small chops and sell at schools and churches. Members trust what comes through their pastors’ wives than what they even buy from outside. So we can take advantage of this. That is why as a pas-

What are your hobbies?

I love taking care of children and impacting them. That is why I don’t joke with the children department in our ministry. I go there to pray for the children, relate with them, discuss with them one on one, especially the teenagers because of what some of them are passing through which they can’t even discuss with their parents. In my relationship with them, I discovered that some of them are seriously under peer group pressure to go astray. So, I pray with them and counsel them in the right way and they appreciate me for this. I have also discovered that once the teenagers can trust you, they will go to any length to discuss their private lives with you. They see me as their confidant and I respect their privacy a lot.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Word puzzle

The Thirsty Crow O ne hot day, a thirsty crow flew all over the fields looking for water. For a long time, she could not find any. She felt very weak, almost giving up hope.

Suddenly, she saw a water jug below her. She flew straight down to see if there was any water inside.

Yes, she could see some water inside the jug!

The crow tried to push her head into the jug.

Sadly, she found that the neck of the jug was too narrow. Then she tried to push the jug down for the water to flow out. She found that the jug was

too heavy.

The crow thought hard for a while. Then looking around her, she saw some pebbles. She suddenly had a good idea. She started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each into the jug. As more and more pebbles filled the jug, the water level kept rising. Soon it was high enough for the crow to drink. Her plan had worked!

Moral: If you try hard enough, you may soon find an answer to your problem.

Math picture GAGS Why do bicycles fall over?

Ans: Because they are twotired!

est?

Ans: The wheels, because they are always tired!

Why do dragons sleep during the day?

Ans: So they can fight knights!

What did the stamp say to the envelope?

Ans: Stick with me and we will go places!

What did Cinderella say when her photos did not show up?

Ans: Someday my prints will come!

Why was the broom late?

Ans: It over swept!

What part of the car is the lazi-

What did the ground say to the earthquake?

Ans: You crack me up!

Why did the music teacher need a ladder?

Ans: To reach the high notes. ​

Rhymes Hot cross buns!

Hot cross buns! one a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!

If you have no daughters, give them to your sons.

One a penny two a penny, Hot cross buns!

55

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

Sport

Moses scores as Chelsea crush Leicester 3-0 Dapo Sotuminu

S

uper Eagles striker, Victor Moses, just coming back from an injury that prevented him from playing for the Nigerian national team in last weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia, rose to the occasion yesterday when he scored Chelsea’s third goal in the EPL cracker against champions Leicester FC. With 10 minutes remaining Victor Moses, who was starting his second Premier League game in as many matches for Chelsea, scored the Blues’ third in the comprehensive win at Stamford Bridge. The Nigerian star enjoying a fine run of form of late, played a one-two with Nathaniel Chalobah, with the latter’s brilliant flick falling into his path and Moses finished past Schmeichel with aplomb, nailing the champions.

Moses, earlier in the game was closed to scoring a goal, but his first time shot was stopped by Leicester goalkeeper Schmeichel who was equal to the task.

Moses has now scored twice in the league for the London club this

season.

Diego Costa opened the scoring in the 7th minute, Eden Hazard scored a second in the 33rd minute and substitute Victor Moses rounded off the scoring in the 80th minute with a well taken goal.

Both goalscorers celebrated by paying tribute to Willian, who is on compassionate leave following the death of his mother.

This victory temporarily lifts Chelsea up to fifth on the league standings with 16 points from eight matches

T

he reigning fastest man in Asia, Nigerian-born Femi Ogunode, has declared that he does not hold any grudges against Nigerian coaches that frustrated him in two different sports, because if they had not done so, he would not be as successful as he is today in the world of athletics.

Ogunode, who competes in the colours of Qatar, is one of the richest figures in international athletic today.

The former world athletics junior champion disclosed that, as the fastest junior athlete in the world in 2007, he was dropped by Nigerian athletics coaches from competing at the Algiers 2007 All Africa Games, even when he was the fourth fastest athlete among the seniors in the country in an era when Olusoji Fasuba was the fastest man in Africa.

“The funniest aspect of it was that, I was never told the reasons behind their action, as it was definitely not due to poor performance. At Algiers 2007, I knew I was going to do well.

“Again, enroute the trip to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, I was dropped at the airport

by Nigerian coaches, despite making the Olympic qualifying time in the 100metres and 200metres. I was not given any reason for this. It was

ive Nigerians have been named to vie for the GloCAF African Player of the Year and the African Player of the Year (based in Africa) awards.

The England-based trio of Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho have been listed in the running for the continent’s biggest individual prize in football - the African Player of the Year - alongside 27 other top stars including Riyad Mahrez, Samuel Eto’o, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew, Victor Wanyama and Eric Bailly.

In the award for the players based in Africa, Enyimba and Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) record scorer Mfon Udoh as well as Chisom Chikatara, now with Wydad Athletic Club (WAC), are up against

23 other players featuring for different clubs on the continent.

Iheanacho, no doubt, has been named in the line-up for CAF’s biggest individual award following his impressive time at Manchester City since breaking into the first team of the English outfit. The 20-year-old has already scored four goals in four games for Nigeria this year.

Mikel, notably, led the Nigeria Under-23s to a bronze medal finish at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, while Musa was the kingpin in CSKA Moscow’s title win in Russia before he crossed to English champions, Leicester City.

CAF is expected to trim the number of nominees before the end of the year. The Glo-CAF Awards takes place in Abuja on January 5, 2017.

Eagles coach confirms Enyeama’s possible return

S

Nigerian coaches frustrated me to success –Ogunode Dapo Sotuminu

CAF Awards: Iheanacho, Mikel, Musa make list F

so frustrating. At this point, I had no option than to succumb to the request of a more serious country like Qatar that approached me through an agent for a possible change of nationality after monitoring my excellent performances since 2007 when I won gold at the World Junior Championship. I had no option than to accept the offer. I don’t have any regrets doing this. Qatar is lot better than Nigeria in terms of organisation and planning for athletes to achieve g r e a t ness in sports.”

T h e multitalente d

Femi Ogunode who was once a boxer in Ondo state, also veered into football where he was also dropped by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) for a trip to Ghana before finally settling for athletics.

“To show that I am not angry, I have set up a Femi Ogunode Foundation to discover and nurture talented Nigerian athletes who will be taken to the United States for education and sports. The focus is on athletics and football.”

uper Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has confirmed the possibility of former national team goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, returning to Eagles if Nigeria qualifies for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Gernot Rohr disclosed in an interview at the weekend he has spoken with Enyeama and con-

EPL Results Chelsea 3 - 0 Leicester Bournemouth 6 - 1 Hull City Arsenal 3 - 2 Swansea Man City 1 - 1 Everton Stoke City 2 - 0 S’land West Brom 1 - 1 Spurs C’ Palace 0 - 1 West Ham

La Liga Results Leganes 2 - 3 Sevilla Barcelona 4 - 0 Deportivo

Sundowns take huge first leg advantage over Zamalek

S

outh Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will take a massive advantage into next Sunday’s second leg of the African Champions League final after beating Zamalek 3-0 in Saturday’s first leg in Atteridgeville, on the outskirts of Pretoria.

Anthony Laffor and Tebogo Langerman made it 2-0 at halftime, with the third coming just after the break.

Sundowns are now firm favourites for the second leg in Alexandria where they will seek to win their first continental trophy and become only the second South African side to win Africa’s top club prize.

Sundowns scored first just past the half-hour mark when captain Hlompho Kekana played through a pin-point pass that saw Liberian international Laffor turn and then belt the ball with power.

The second leg in Alexandria takes place on Sunday October 23.

vinced him to return from retirement to the Super Eagles.

“I made it clear when I resumed duty as Eagles coach that I wanted Vincent Enyeama to return from retirement and I called him and we spoke at length on the telephone. He told me he would come back if we qualify for the World Cup. We need very

good goalkeepers in the Eagles.

We have two local goalkeepers whom I don’t know if they will fit in if Carl sustains an injury, so I think we need two big goalkeepers. Of course for this moment, Carl is number one. We cannot change him, he will be number one for the next game,” Rohr stated.

Nuhu commends resumption of Women’s league season Cheke Emmanuel Lafia

T

he Chairman of Female Football Club Owners of Nigeria, Alhaji Audu Nuhu, has said that all the female teams currently playing in this year’s league have come back strongly after the crisis that rocked the season midway into competition.

Nuhu, who is a first class traditional ruler in Nasarawa state, told Sunday Telegraph yesterday in an interview that the resumption of matches in women’s football league followed agreement reached between the Club Owners of participating teams and the organisers of the league.

He disclosed that, crisis erupted

following the non-implementation of decisions taken at the Congress which includes: failure to set up a board for women’s football clubs, non-payment of referees’ match indemnities, lack of grants and sponsorship for the clubs amongst others.

The chairman explained that although not all the issues were resolved but most of the demands were met by the organisers hence the resumption of the season that was halted midway.

Alhaji Nuhu who is also the chairman of Nasarawa Amazons Football Club of Lafia, expressed the hope that his team which is currently topping Group A in the league have all the potentials to emerge league champions at the end of the season.

Solution to Cross Word Puzzle

business

NCC’s 8-point agenda and diversification of economy }43

FAITH

Sanctity of Truth

SUNDAY

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

N150

Rev. King wants trial judge arrested }34

Corruption, corruption! Bad governance is worst form of corruption (part 3)

ENCORE This week, we will continue our discourse on the above subject matter. Let us today continue with our periscope into other climes and see how national problems were collectively solved under an atmosphere of national cohesion and inclusiveness.

Roosevelt's course of action became known as the “New Deal”, the name given to the peacetime domestic program of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and especially to the innovative measures taken between 1933 and 1938 to counteract the effects of the Great Depression.

Both Roosevelt and the Congress of the United States, in trying to reduce unemployment and restore prosperity, endorsed a wide spectrum of new federal programs and agencies, most popularly identified by acronym titles. Roosevelt, a skillful political leader, helped win support for an unprecedented array of new services, regulations, and subsidies. Yet no single political philosophy or set of coherent goals ever unified these disparate programs, most of which he developed with the aid of an informal group of advisers known as the “Brain Trust”. These individuals from outside government included professors, lawyers, and others who came to Washington to advise Roosevelt, in particular on economic affairs. The central legacy of the New Deal was increased government involvement in the lives of the people.

The Great Depression, which began during Hoover’s administration, destroyed America’s belief in that dream of unlimited prosperity and its faith in the Republican Party. The disastrous economic collapse and extraordinarily high unemployment that followed made a mockery of Republican claims. The slow and limited response of the Hoover administration was ineffective and seemed to indicate too much indifference to the people’s suffering. The Democrats made full use of the depression as an issue, capturing the presidency by a large margin in 1932 and winning the election of 1936 by one of the greatest landslides in history. The New Deal coalition, headed first by Franklin D. Roosevelt and later by Harry S. Truman, remained in power for a generation, the Republicans losing five presidential elections in a row. So great was the reaction to the depression that the Republican Party controlled Congress for only 4 of the 48 years between 1932 and 1980. The Republicans did win the presidency four times during that period—in 1952, 1956, 1968, and 1972—when the Democratic Party split or when some unusual combination of circumstances occurred. From the 1930s through the 1970s, however, the Democratic Party was the dominant party in the United States.

THE SECOND NEW DEAL The hopes of 1933 for early recovery proved illusory. Many of the hastily drafted early bills were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Roosevelt now exploited developing class divisions, formed closer alliances with organized labor, and increasingly castigated the big-business groups that opposed his New Deal programs.

These reverses, plus increasingly political opposition to Roosevelt, triggered a second flood of legislation, beginning in 1935, which some observers called the Second

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) New Deal. Among the new measures were higher taxes for the rich, strict regulations for private utilities, subsidies for rural electrification (see Rural Electrification Administration), and what amounted to a bill of rights for organized labor. Under the guidance of Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 gave Federal protection to the bargaining process for workers and established a set of fair employment standards. The National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act for its sponsor, Robert Wagner, guaranteed workers the right to organize and bargain through unions. The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the last major domestic program launched by the Roosevelt administration, mandated maximum hours and minimum wages for most categories of workers.

By 1935, several Roosevelt advisers welcomed massive new federal expenditures to induce more private demand, even at the price of budget deficits. A huge relief appropriation of almost $5 billion reinvigorated several programs and funded a new federalized work relief program administered by the Works Progress Administration (WPA; see Work Projects Administration). Perhaps of greatest enduring significance, Congress in 1935 enacted the Social Security Act (see Social Security), which contained three major programs— a retirement fund, unemployment insurance, and welfare grants for local distribution (including aid for dependent children). These programs, coupled with a new subsidized public housing program, began what some now refer to as a welfare state. Social security was developed in the United States later than in many European countries, which had developed social security programs before World War I (19141918).

NOW THIS In 1937, after a resounding victory in the 1936 election, Roosevelt sought to increase support for his ideas on the Supreme Court. He proposed legislation that would add more judges to the Supreme Court, but Congress rejected this “courtpacking” attempt. The pressures for new legislation abated after 1937, and opposition to extending the New Deal mounted rapidly, especially in the South. By 1939 public attention focused increasingly on foreign policy and national defense. The New Deal was over, but it had permanently expanded the role of the federal government, particularly in economic regulation, resource development, and income maintenance. Although in itself the New Deal failed to stimulate full economic recovery,

it provided the federal government not only with increased controls over money supply and Federal Reserve policies but also with increased understanding of the economic consequences of its own taxing, borrowing, and spending—thus helping the government to limit the impact of later recessions.

AND THIS THE RELEASE OF 21 CHIBOK GIRLS: KUDOS, PMB US President, Harry Truman, once declared famously, "The buck stops on my table". This is why some people, very few though, appear to think that I am at times too hard on PMB and his government in my writes-up. No. Far from it. I sorely want him to succeed as success itself. Not being a fawning and idol-worshipping member of his party or cabinet (I belong to, nor possess the membership card of any political party in Nigeria), I can afford to critique him very hard, with available options for success, as I do always, in the overall interest of beleaguered Nigerians. The reason is simple: his failure will negatively affect us

all, just as his success will positively serve as manure to fertilize the already parched life of Nigerians. It is in this regard that I view the recent release of 21 Chibok girls by the PMB administration as a big deal, and an event worth celebrating, with full adulation and encomium to PMB.I do not care about the way, manner and means by which these innocent school children were released to us, whether through swapping, pain staking negotiations, or by Payment of huge ransom.

It just doesn't matter to me. The important thing is that they have been released. No national sacrifice is too much to appease the insatiable and barbaric bachanalian gods and luciferous propensity of Boko Haram, to effect the safe release of the over 240 Chibok girls, even if in tranches and in instalment.

PMB has, in this particular instance, unusually risen to the occasion and walked the talk, by doing something concrete, far removed from sheer lachrymal effusions and needless buck passing.PMB should hold his head ostrich high, bask in the uproarious euphoria presented by this defining moment, seize the tide by the wings and build on it. I am personally enthused and still savoring this historical moment of redemptive national reawakening. For the traumatized girls, please, pick up the pieces of your nearly wrecked lives and soldier on. God will heal the gaping scars of your wounds.PMB sir, kudos, and may Allah guide you to refocus and achieve more, henceforth. Amin.

LAST LINE Hope Nigerians are eagerly awaiting part 4 of this Sunday Sermon from the Nigerian Project by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb. • Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

Cross Word Puzzle

with Olulana Kayode 08023183727 Instructions on how to play the game •With reference to the ‘clues across’ and ‘clues down’ below, you shall try to provide answers to the clues, by writing the answer in the puzzle box provided on the left side.

•The number in parenthesis indicates the total number of letters making up the solution or answer you will provide.

•Keep on answering all the questions until all the spaces in the puzzle box are completely filled up.

Good luck!

Clues Across 1 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26

A bullfighter, (7).

'Come' in Igbo language, (3).

Great anger, (3).

US Intelligence Organisation, (3).

Give help to, (3).

Common seabird, (4).

Personal opinion, (4).

Bismuth symbol, (2).

Mercury symbol, (2).

Large farm outbuilding, (4).

Flightless bird, (4).

Indicates 'life', (3).

The United States, abbr. (3).

5th sign of zodiac, (3).

Honey-making insect, (3).

Gov. Aminu Masari state, (7).

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

Late 19th Sultan of Sokoto, (7).

River in SE Ontario, Canada, (6).

Unflagging enthusiasm, (4).

City in Jigawa state, (4).

Object with ringing sound, (4).

Cause to have problems, (3).

LGA in Katsina state, (7).

LGA in Borno, (7).

People in NE Nigeria, (6).

An island, (4).

Underground base of plant, (4).

Metal tip of pen, (3).

Turn to page 55 for solution

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