Sunday telegraph sunday, april 17, 2016 by Newtelegraphonline

Mother of three fakes

pregnancy with 86 wraps of cocaine }3&4 •Troops kill 34 B’Haram, rescue 455 hostages -Army

How I became Biafra’s last Field Commander -Col Lambert Ihenacho }27

SUNDAY Sunday, APRIL 17, 2016 Vol. 3 No. 788

Uru Eke

Sanctity of Truth

/newtelegraph

N150

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

buhari, We’re suffering }5

Extremely ambitious }42

NEWS

Fulani cattle owners in NASS pushing Grazing Reserves Bill -Igbo group •Why we support grazing reserves -Miyetti Allah }4

NEWS

APC may trade off Senate Presidency over Saraki }6

-Northern Elders lWant IPOB crushed lCall for economic team

Cameroon to deport 80,000 NigeriaNS Scores of them from Central

Africa FG, NEMA prepare camp }3 Adamawa cries for help

SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 17.04.16 BODY & SOUL

SUNDAY

Editorial

Justice for children Through creating awareness with her NGO, Media Concern Initiative, Dr. Olufemi-Kayode fights the menace of sex crimes against children

}20&21

POLITICS

Nasarawa battle house The recent fracas by lawmakers in the Nasarawa House of Assembly attracts wide condemnation

}23

BUSINESS

Currency swap Nigeria has gotten itself in the middle of the raging currency war between two super-powers

}43

FAITH

CAN election

Almakura

The current executive has a sacred duty to rid Christian Association of Nigeria of undue politicisation

}30

SPORT

From jail to world title At 18, Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, was on the verge of being thrown into jail for 10 years where he would have been until 2018

}53

Magazine

Traffic robbers My windscreen was smashed by early morning traffic robbers who dispossessed me of my belonging at a gun point

No to siege mentality

or some time now, the nation has been contending with cases of soldiers abusing civilians and forcing them to do frog jump or causing them to roll in the mire. In many parts of Lagos and some parts of the country, cases abound of armed soldiers at gun point compelling civilians to ascend foot bridges and desist from the culture crossing the highways. While there has also been increase in the cases of military task forces for one operation or another, the nation recently witnessed the bloody murder of a young man at a Lagos filling station by a female operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. Following the deployment of soldiers to Agiliti, at Mile 12 Market in the wake of another crisis also in Lagos, there were also reports that the military men allegedly forced some suspects to sit on broken bottles. Not to be forgotten is the recent killing of some alleged pipeline vandals by some armed soldiers in Arepo, in Ogun State, alleged deployment of soldiers for election duties in Rivers State, besides the over 6,000 cops led by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police. Put together the foregoing and several cases of utilization of soldiers for simple police duties are indicative of the return of siege mentality in all parts of the country. One would have believed that this display of ruthlessness and disregard for rule of law had been confined to dustbin of history decades ago, when some â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mad dogsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; served the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola a dose of this kind of unacceptable use of force. Sadly, over 20 years after that shameful incident, and 16 years into the current democratic experience when soldiers and all other armed forces have supposedly subjugated themselves to civilian populations as partners in nation building, these barbaric acts are still common among us. Members of the armed forces, in consonance with their training must display great regard for the civilians

and rule of law. Irrespective of the level of provocation by the civilians, they want to exercise restraints from taking the laws into their hands, but endeavour to handover them to the police. Besides, an integral part of Army Training and Doctrine is Civil Military Relations which frowns at incivility to civilians, and advocates special consideration to children and women even in war situations. Indeed, as one writer once said, every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it. Any display of human indignity and disrespect for rule of law and recourse to rule of the jungle are barbaric are capable of taking the nation back to the Stone Age. Ironically, in spite of several complaints and inquests into scores of acts of violence and human rights abuse by some individuals in the armed forces, (including ones currently before the National Human Rights Commission), the military authorities have failed to bring any of their personnel to book. We strongly believe this has emboldened them to continue in this display of brute force to dehumanize the people. We recommend quick investigations into all these cases and erring individuals or group of soldiers be brought to book either in the form of demotion or other disciplinary actions for these malfeasance, and where life is involved, they must be submitted for criminal prosecution. While we appreciate the vital role of members of the armed forces in defending the territorial integrity of the country and even laying their lives in the process; in so far as we recognise the fact that military men can assist the police in peace time and should be accorded appropriate respect, we condemn this spate of indignity and abuse done to the psyche of the Nigerian populace and warn that they constitute a gradual return of the siege mentality. It is barbaric and unacceptable. Unchecked, it can elicit a reprisal of unimaginable consequences.

}8&9 DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani

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

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

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

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

NEWS

Cameroon to deport 80,000 Nigerians Ibrahim Abdul Yola

damawa State’s Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ahmed Sajoh, has said that Cameroon is set to deport over 80,000 Nigerians into the country through the state. The deportees are victims of Boko Haram who became refugees in Cameroon and other Nigerians resident in Central Africa who were dumped in various camps in Cameroon before the current government’s move to deport them. While the current deportees are natives of various states of the federation, the move is coming months after some 15,000 others of Adamawa, Yobe and

Borno states’ origin were deported. Accordingly, the state government has called on the Federal Government, as well as international donor agencies, to come to the rescue of the state because of its inability to single-handedly cater for the teeming deportees. Comrade Sajoh made the call when he, alongside the Federal Government’s delegation, visited the proposed site where the deportees would be hosted. Sajoh noted that the call becomes imperative in view of the sheer size of the deportees and the nature of the proposed camp which he said needed complete rehabilitation. He noted that even perimeter fencing on the facility would cost the state

•Scores of them from Central Africa •FG, NEMA prepare camp •Adamawa cries for help enormous funds, let alone providing other basic infrastructure, adding that, the state government had serious financial constraint, especially in view of the cash crunch facing the country. Sajoh added, the state government had already constituted a committee which would liaise with relevant stakeholders to see how best to tackle the issue including profiling of all deportees in order to ensure water tight security

around the facility. In his reaction, the Adamawa State Camps Coordinator of National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Saad Bello, noted that his organisation had made adequate arrangement to ensure that the deportees were adequately catered for. He noted that the camp would need about 15 motorized boreholes and a number of hand pumps to take care of the water needs

of the deportees as well as hundreds of toilets, adding that the challenges of hosting the deportees was enormous. In his reaction, leader of the delegation and Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Policy, Development and Analysis, Ibrahim Bapetel, urged the various stakeholders to prepare a comprehensive needs report for onward transmission to the Federal Govern-

ment. He said that due to the Federal Government’s concern for the plight of the deportees, he was optimistic that the needs report would be treated with dispatch. Bapetel emphasized on the huge number of the deportees and called on International donors to come to the assistance of the Federal Government in addressing the myriads of challenges that would accrue from handling the deportees.

Mother of three fakes pregnancy with N20m cocaine

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, has apprehended a middle aged woman and mother of three, Dorothy Onyekasi, for faking pregnancy with 86 pellets of white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. The drug was intercepted during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The cocaine has a total weight of 1.720kg with an estimated street value of N20.6 million. Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd,) has described recent drug seizures at the Lagos airport as a welcome development that is capable of forcing drug cartels to a retreat. Abdallah said: “In the past few days, the NDLEA has recorded numerous arrests and drug seizures at the Lagos airport. The drug cartels have also suffered huge losses from these operations. This particular suspect feigned pregnancy with wraps of cocaine but she was caught by vigilant narcotic agents. Some of the suspects recently apprehended concealed drugs in their socks and luggage while others ingested wraps of cocaine in disregard of the danger to their health. In spite of their craftiness, we stop them on a daily basis from perpetrating their criminal act and force them to a retreat.” NDLEA Commander

at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said that the wraps of cocaine would have been easily mistaken for pregnancy. “It was discovered that the suspect kept 86 wraps of cocaine inside a waist bag which was tied to her stomach. Unfortunately, the drug was detected by NDLEA officers on her arrival from Dubai. The drug was immediately packed and weighed in her presence. It had a gross weight of 1.720kgs,” Ahmadu stated. The 41-year-old mother of three, who is an importer of female bags and shoes from Dubai, said that her involvement in drug trafficking was a mistake. “I am a business woman living in Lagos. I am separated from my husband who left me with three children. I used to import female bags and shoes from Dubai. My involvement in drug trafficking is a mistake. I travelled to Dubai to buy my goods. “While I was preparing to return, I met a man in Dubai who gave me the drugs and promised to give me enough money to expand my business. He also told me that when I get to Nigeria, he will call his partner to collect the drugs and give me my money. When I got here, the drugs were detected at the airport and I was arrested. It is all my fault. If only I was contented with the profit from the sales of my goods; I would not have been in this problem,” said Dorothy who hails from Enugu State. She is expected to be charged to court soon.

L-R: Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, received President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival to Nigeria from his official visit to China on…Friday

Queen College parents disclaim PTA chairperson Paul Ogbuokiri

group of parents of Queen’s College Parent-Teachers Association has disassociated itself from the statement credited to the PTA Chairperson, Mrs. Beatrice Akhetuamen, that a section of the Queen College Old Girls Association was behind the allegation of child molestation leveled against a Biology teacher in the School, Mr. Olaseni Osifala. The parents, at the end of their meeting at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday, said that at no time did the parents authorise their chairperson to hold press conferences in defence of the accused teacher while a panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate the matter had not completed its work and made its find-

ings public. This was contained in a statement released at the end of the meeting. Titled Queen’s College PTA, Yaba, Lagos. Disclaimer, it was signed by three parents -Barr. Martins Akpata, Fidelis Odeja and Ifeanyi George. The statement reads in parts: “A group of Queen’s College PTA, disturbed by the recent occurrences in Queen’s College, Yaba, were compelled to hold a meeting on Tuesday April 12 2016, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to review the developments in the college, particularly with respect to the press conferences organised by the PTA Chairman, Mrs. Beatrice Akhetuamen, quoting the Queen’s College PTA without due consultation with or authorisation whatsoever by the PTA body or it’s exco members before doing so.

Although, at the last general meeting, it was agreed with the principal that there should be no further comment on the on-going alleged ‘child molestation’ saga, until the investigative panel of Federal Ministry of Education submits its report, we are amazed that the PTA Chairman has disregarded this directive and continued to organise unauthorised press interviews.” The parents stated that the Queen’s College PTA is not part of those decisions and expressions as pronounced by the Chairman in those interviews, saying, “ We hereby disassociate ourselves from the interviews as granted by the Chairman to the press whether by print or electronic media.” They added: “We also want to condemn in its totality, the inglorious protest match by our girls

in support of the alleged child molestation by a teacher by carrying placards. As parents, we have never been called to any meeting to discuss any of the on-going issues in the school as claimed by the PTA Chairman.” The parents advised the PTA chairperson to desist from any more unauthorised visitation to media houses and granting of interviews purporting to be on the parents’ behalf. They urged her to rather focus on matters involving the association directly and also “the welfare of our daughters, as there are so many unexplained financial and administrative improprieties going on in the association presently.” They added that they would await outcome of the Investigative Panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education.

NEWS Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Nigerian Army has said that 34 Boko Haram suspects have been killed in recent counterterrorism operations carried out separately by two of its battalions in the North East. Specifically, the Army said troops of 121 Task Force Battalion in Pulka, Borno State, killed seven suspects after repelling an attack by the militants, who were said to have come from the Sambisa Forest with five gun trucks and two Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, noted that troops of 3 Battalion, upon interrogation of a suspected spy, Paul Ogbuokiri and Ibraheem Musa KADUNA

gain, the Federal Government has been tasked not to allow the business interests of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), a trade association with membership in the civil service, politics and other Fulani investors, clash with, and undermine national security and corporate well-being of the country. Igbo socio-political group, Igbo Intelligentsia, in an open letter to President Mohhamadu Buhari, on Friday, accused MACBAN members at the National Assembly of being behind the haste to pass an Act of the Parliament (National Grazing Reserves Commission Bill) to appropriate lands from various communities in the country to aid and profit its members at the expense of national security. The group, in the letter signed by Hon. Joe Ikunna and Dr. Katch Ononuju, Coordinator and Secretary, Committee on Publicity respectively, recommended that investors in cattle breeding take a page from the poultry industry by acquiring “ranches as Your Excellency did in Daura”. In the letter titled Open Letter to the President, DSS, IPOB, and Fulani Herdsmen, the group said it trusts that “Your Excellency as a Patron of Miyetti Allah will encourage members of the association and other investors in cattle breeding and husbandry to take more responsibility in their private business in which they, as investors, own 100 per cent of the profits.” The Igbo Intelligentsia further urged the Fulani cattle owners to see agriculture as a business that demands considerable investment and responsibility. Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the claim by the

SUNDAY 17 APRIL, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Troops kill 34 B’Haram suspects, rescue 455 hostages - Army launched a massive operation, which led to the killing of 27 suspects as well as the rescue of 455 hostages. “In the early hours of Friday, some elements of Boko Haram terrorists in 5 gun trucks, motorcycles and 2 Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Sambisa Forest axis attempted an attack on 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka. “The ever alert and vigilant troops rose to the occasion and successfully repelled the attack and killed

seven Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered four AK47 rifles, three AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition. We wish to state that our troops are hale and hearty,” the Army said. It added that: “Troops of 3 Battalion caught a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ spy near the Battalion Headquarters at Gamboru Ngala. On interrogation, he confessed that he was sent to spy on the troops from Wulge.

“Consequent upon this, the troops organised a fighting patrol, comprising elements of Army Headquarters Strike Group and Civilian JTF, to Wulge and Walamari. The troops had an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in which they killed 27 of them, recovered five motorcycles and eight bicycles. “They also cleared 12 terrorists’ camps and recovered one AK-47 rifle as well as one Dane gun. The troops also rescued 455 persons and escorted them

to the Gamboru Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp. Unfortunately, we lost one of the Civilian JTF.” Meanwhile, troops of 103 Battalion were said to have “ambushed Boko Haram terrorists at Mairimri village crossing point in which they killed quite a number of terrorists, recovered 15 bicycles and foodstuffs.” And in a related development, the Nigerian Army promised to sustain collaboration with the media towards educating Nigerians on its ongoing anti-

terrorism operation in the north-eastern part of the country. Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, stated this on Saturday while inaugurating a newly refurbished studio at the North East Headquarters of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in Maiduguri. He said that sustained collaboration with the media was imperative because of the role of the media in disseminating information to the people.

Miyetti Allah members at NASS pushing Grazing Reserves bill - Igbo group

•It’s panacea to herdsmen/farmers clashes—Miyetti Allah Igbo group, MACBAN told Sunday Telegraph, yesterday, that it supports the grazing reserves bill. The Assistant National Secretary General of the group, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, said that the controversial bill, which is passing through legislative process at the National Assembly, is the only panacea for the incessant clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the country. Dr. Abdullahi noted that the proposed grazing reserves commission will enable government to adequately monitor the activities of the herdsmen and provide them with social amenities like all other citizens of Nigeria. Abdullahi pointed out that there is no single security presence along the present grazing route that stretches from the Central African Republic, through Chad and Cameroon, down to Nigeria, up to Benin Republic and Senegal. “There is not a single policeman along this route and that gives the chance for all manner of dubious people to enter the country and cause havoc which will in turn be blamed on our indigenous Fulani herdsmen,’’ he added. The MACBAN leader argued that when Nigerian herdsmen are settled in a grazing reserves, the government can adequately keep watch over them, adding that “if an outsider comes into the country, we should know where he is coming from.’’ Abdullahi, who noted that the grazing routes that cuts across the country has

been encroached upon by farming activities and other developmental projects in some communities, argued that the proposed grazing reserves will stem the clash between herdsmen and farmers. He also said that as population keeps increasing, land continues to become short in supply, good pasture is depleting daily as a result. “This is what has been responsible for the constant clashes,’’ he said. He added that resettling the normads in grazing reserves will reduce the problem. The bill was originally sponsored during the 6th

Senate by Senator Zainab Kure in 2008 (she did not return to the 8th senate). It was titled, An Act to Provide for the Establishment of the National Grazing Reserve (Establishment and Development) Commission for the Preservation and Control of National Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes and Other Matters Connected Therewith. The bill did not succeed then but was recently dusted from the NASS achieves and has been rushed through second reading. Raising the alarm early this week on the dangers the bill portends to the

security and peace of Nigeria if passed into law, an Igbo socio-political group, Igboekulie said that it has the potential to create more tension and ultimately more violence, adding that the bill is unconstitutional, wasteful, self-serving, retrogressive, discriminatory and deceitful. Analysing Section 17(1) of the bill, the group said: “There is an element of compulsory acquisition power granted to the commission once ‘it appears’ to it that the land is good for grazing to seize the land of peasant and other farmers all over Nigeria for the use of the herdsmen for

whose benefit the Grazing Reserves are to be created. This is unacceptable.” “This bill seeks to violate the Constitution of Nigeria by authorising the commission to merely give ‘due notice’ in Section 18(1) to any state governor in whose state land is to be acquired. “It follows that the commission has the power to seize people’s lands for the benefit of Fulani herdsmen, who conveniently fall into any class of persons,” the group said in a statement signed by its president, Prince Ben Onuora and secretary Mr. Benjamin Obidegwu.

L-R: Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara; Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi; and a clergy after a special day of prayer for the state and its leadership and launching of Win-A-Trip-To- Israel Promo at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, yesterday

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

News

APC blasts Fayose for opposing Buhari’s loan request

L-R: National President, JCI Nigeria, Mr. Olatunji Oyeyemi; Chairperson, Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) 2016, JCI Nigeria, Miss Sayo Ojo and Chairperson, 2000, Senator Oladele Ogunlana, during a media briefing for unveiling of the nomination of TOYP 2016 in Lagos… yesterday.

Buhari, we’re suffering –Northern Elders Want IPOB crushed

Onwuka Nzeshi

T ABUJA

he Northern Elders Forum (NEF), yesterday, raised concerns about the 2016 budget, alleging that the North has been marginalized going by the provisions of the yet to be signed budget. In a letter dated March 16, 2016, and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the forum said the North was being shortchanged. In the letter, endorsed by elder statesman, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule, the NEF said it has consulted a broad spectrum of opinion leaders in the North before deciding to express its concerns. They said the 2016 budget lacked equity, adding that the President ought to allocate massive projects to the North in the next three years to boost the economy of the area currently plagued by insurgency and massive destruction of lives and property. According to the Northern Elders, Federal Government’s allocation on recurrent expenditure in the budget was skewed against the North as according to them, 75 per cent of the civil service is made up of citizens from the three geopolitical zones in the South. The Forum described Buhari’s cabinet as weak and urged him to immediately establish an Economic Management Team to assist him in pulling Nigeria out of its present economic woes. The letter read: “We have conducted some analysis on the 2016 Budget esti-

Call for economic team

mates which Mr. President submitted to the National Assembly. We are concerned over the absence of equity in the allocation of particularly capital spending. The three geopolitical zones in the North are severally shortchanged. “For a region deserving greater resources and attention, as well as the political backbone of your administration, this situation will pose serious problems for your administration. “We advise Mr. President to review the proposed allocations in consultation with the National Assembly. We wish to draw Mr. President’s attention to the fact that over 75 per cent of all Federal Government public service employees are from the three geo-political zones in the South. This means that virtually the same percentage of recurrent spending will go to Nigerians from the South. They added,“we urge Mr. President to establish an Economic Management Team and conclude appointments of key officers and Advisers. Where there are evident weaknesses and gaps in skills, competences, experience and integrity, we urge Mr. President to take steps to address them,” they said. The NEF advised the President to make agriculture, water resources and the exploitation of the natural resources in the North as well as the rehabilitation of its infrastructure as priorities for the national budgets over the next three years. On the issue of insecurity and the activities of Boko Haram, the Northern El-

ders said, “We advise that all avenues should be exploited to further cripple and isolate this insurgency as well as improving the quality of intelligence and integrity of the leadership of the Armed Forces. We advise Mr. President to look into allegations that Boko Haram still has a substantial presence in many areas near Maiduguri and in other towns and villages. “Mr. President should also look into possible complicity of foreign nations in the fight against Boko Haram and take firmer steps to protect our nation’s security against subversion,” the group said. On the increasing spate of kidnapping and cattle rustling, the forum appealed to Buhari to work towards major improvements in basic policing of the communities and investigate possible collusion of law enforcement agencies in these crimes. The NEF also asked the President to deal squarely with the threat posed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) by isolating members of the group from the rest of the people of the South-East geopolitical zone. They decried the condition of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered across camps in different states and asked the President to galvanize the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to manage the humanitarian crisis properly. On the power situation, the Forum urged the President to scrutinize all policies including the reforms taken by the last adminis-

tration in the sector. “The Northern economy is heavily dependent on power, particular small users who provide the backbone of the informal sector and rural economy. “Costs which are being raised have the potential to cripple the economy further, and the North will be worse hit, with virtually no viable industries growing its economy. “People of the North recognize that substantial amount of work has to be undertaken by themselves particularly in the area of improving our assets in the banking and finance sector and in industrializing the North. We appeal to Mr. President to remain sympathetic to initiatives which channel funding and expertise to the North from the country as well as from international financing and other support sources,” they said. On the war against corruption, the NEF commended the President for his resolve to fight corruption but urge the President to address institutional weaknesses that make corruption thrive. They urged him to broaden the target of impact of the anti- graft war, so that the citizens would feel the impact of the economic policies of the administration. The group also asked Buhari to monitor the ongoing constitutional amendment process flagged off by the National Assembly closely and pay close attention to issues such as cost of governance, the war against corruption and improving democratic processes

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has slammed the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose for travelling to the Peoples Republic of China to oppose the Federal Government’s resolve to take a loan from China for development purposes. Fayose had on Wednesday written to the Chinese government, urging President XI Jinping not to approve the $2bn loan to implement development component of the 2016 national budget. He sent the letter through the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, while he personally took a copy to Shanghai to be delivered to the Chinese President. But the party reacted by noting that Fayose’s conduct amounted to a national sabotage and a seditious conduct that must not be allowed to go unchallenged. It explained that President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiative aligns with the practice of other countries of the world that are engaged in bilateral arrangements. In a statement issued yesterday by its Publicity Sec-

retary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party regretted that the governor got himself busy, spending Ekiti money on frivolities while workers’ salaries remained unpaid for four months. The statement reads, “As we speak, doctors are on strike and Ekiti people are dying while the governor gets himself busy with the activities that will lead to evasion of justice in his several alleged criminal cases so that he can protect his questionable wealth across the world. Though he has the rights to entertain himself being a jester as he has always been, this should not be taken to the extent of constituting a security risk to the Federal Republic. “While other PDP governors, notably Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and others are always in Aso Rock to building relationship with the Federal Government for the development of their states, Fayose has made himself a lone enemy of the Federal Government as a self-appointed leader of the opposition to discredit Buhari’s development initiatives.”

15 arrested as taskforce, hoodlums clash in Lagos Muritala Ayinla

here was mayhem yesterday at Gbagada and Oworonshoki areas of Lagos as hoodlums clashed with the officials of the Lagos State Task on Environment and Special Offence Unit. Sunday Telegraph learnt that the fracas broke out when the task force officials made attempt to clear all illegal shanties constructed around Gbagada dump-site close to where the hoodlums use as base. The operation, which was also meant to clear all illegal shanties constructed around Gbagada dump-site after serving due notices as requested by law met stiff resistance from these hoodlums and miscreants.

The hoodlums attacked Task Force Police and paramiltary men with cutlass, guns and broken pieces of bottle. They succeeded in wounding one paramilitary officer Mr. Duncan Daniel with broken bottle and cutlass. For almost an hour, it was learnt that the entire neighbourhood, Oworonshoki and Anthony Expressway was blocked by the miscreants, who were shooting and throwing bottles at different directions. They forced commuters and pedestrians to scamper for safety. The Taskforce arrested their kingpin, Tunde Aigboje, popularly called “Tallest” and 15 members of his gang, who allegedly terrorise people around Gbagada and Oworonshoki areas of the state.

Sheriff woos Ladoja to PDP Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

n his effort to woo him back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Chairman of the party, Alli Modu Sheriff, will today (Sunday), visit Senator Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party, and his top followers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Ladoja is the leader of Accord in Oyo State and was the governorship candidate of the party in the 2011 and 2015 elections. According to reliable source,

Sunday Telegraph, yesterday, learnt that Sherif is leading the PDP team to officially open talk with Ladoja and his team over their possibility of returning to the PDP ahead of the party’s May 21 national convention. A source close to the both parties said that Sherif’s visit followed the success of previous discussions with Ladoja and his team by leaders of the PDP in Oyo State over the possibility of working together under the umbrella of the PDP in future elections.

SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

he Federal Government is not excited about calls to apply for loan facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to tackle the current economic challenges that Nigeria is facing due to the slump in global oil prices, Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has said. Adeosun, who said this at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF/World Bank, said the nation’s economic challenges are surmountable. Other speakers at the event included, IMF Deputy Managing Director, Mitsuhiro Furusawa and Rwanda Finance Minister, Claver Gatete. The Minister, who was a speaker at a panel discussion on Africa titled: ‘Sub-Saharan Africa: Just a Rough Patch,’ said Nigeria is adapting to its new realities and implementing fiscal policies to steer the country back on track for

Nigeria’s economic woes are resolvable, says Finance Minister stable growth with a diversified economy. She noted that the policies and investments should enable Nigeria to show positive growth in 2017. Adeosun emphasised that what the country is passing through is surmountable, adding that the government is already applying a cocktail of measures to address the problem. “Nigeria is not sick and even if we are, we have our own local remedy,” the Minister said, in an apparent response to a question on why the government has refused to apply for IMF loans. Noting that the real vulnerability in the Nigerian

economy is over-dependence on a single source of revenue, oil, the Minister said, “We have resolved to build resilience into the country’s economy to hedge against future oil shocks. This is because dependence on oil brings about vulnerability and laziness. So, we are doing a combination of things to diversify our economy, with revenue mobilisation to enable sufficient investment in developing the non-oil sectors. “We have a great opportunity to reset the Nigerian economy and ensure that as we go forward, growth will be in a sustainable manner so that we won’t be vul-

nerable to oil price fluctuations. With a truly diversified economy we would have enabled opportunities for wealth creation that would have trickle down to every Nigerian. “The compelling business case in Nigeria is that the fundamentals remain very strong, a teaming, young growing population, rich in resources and with a determined government to finally get it right. The great thing is that long-term investors recognise this and understand the difference between short-term and long-term issues and the case for Nigeria persuade one to plan for the longer-

term opportunities.” She said the current economic crisis in the country is an opportunity to embark on economic reforms that would reposition the country, saying that IMF reiterated the need for the country to have a policy reset. Her words, “Different from the impression of the outside world, the current situation is not all gloom for Nigeria. It is an opportunity for Nigeria to embark on economic reforms. It is difficult to have financial discipline when oil price is above $100 because oil introduces fiscal indiscipline.” She added that the government was determined to inculcate a culture of discipline in the country as a way of building a virile economy. Earlier, while addressing journalists on the African situation, Director, African Department, IMF, Dr. An-

toinette Sayeh, said it was incumbent on Nigeria to have a policy reset to beat the current economic challenges. “Nigeria needs to take another look at her policies. The current policy is inhibiting the progress that could be made by the country. The government needs to eliminate the foreign exchange restrictions currently in place,” she said. She also said that the government should work towards having a coherent package to address the challenges. “What we have currently is fiscal and monetary policies that are working at cross-purposes. That is not helpful to the economy,” she said. Sayeh stated that the leaders should focus on governance and reduce corruption so as to unleash the growth potential of the country.

APC may trade off Senate presidency Chijioke Iremeka

L-R: Director, Trade Policy, Arla Foods, Mr. Kasper Thormod Nielson; Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Arla International, Mr. Steen Hadsberg, Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Andrew Kwasari and Technical Assistant to the Minister, Quality Control and Standardization, Mrs. Heather Akanni, during a visit of the Federal government delegation to Arla Foods’ Slagelse Dairy farm in Denmark... recently.

PDP chieftain urges Buhari to share recovered funds for projects Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, yesterday, urged President Mohammadu Buhari to share the recovered loots among the 36 state governors and the FCT in order to start projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people. Chief Shuluwa also advised the President to ensure close monitoring of

such projects with a view to ensuring that any governor found culpable of diverting the said fund at the neglect of developmental projects was be dealt with. Speaking in an interview, Chief Shuluwa, a former member of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), said by committing the funds so far recovered into physical projects, Nigerians would begin to feel the impact of his quest for transparency and accountability as well as the

fight against corruption. According to him, the recovered money had been kept for too long and it was high time it was committed to viable projects for Nigerians to see that the looted funds were really working. “If the President has recovered N3 trillion, half of the money should go into the power sector. It has to be supervised to ensure that what is supposed to be done is done,” he said. The PDP chieftain who cautioned against increas-

ing electricity tariff said there was no need doing so since Nigerians were not being supplied adequate power. According to him, you can only increase the tariff when the service has improved. While commending the President over his sustained fight against insurgency in some parts of the country, Chief Shuluwa urged him not to compromise his stand on kidnapping and corruption, describing those frustrating his stance against graft as saboteurs.

Lawmaker in trouble over ‘fraudulent’ court judgment Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

member of Ekiti State House Assembly, Musa Arogundade, has been dragged to a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly procuring a ‘fraudulent’ court judgment from an Abuja Federal High Court,

which allowed him emerge as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 11, 2015 polls. The plaintiff, a contestant in the PDP Assembly primary, Toyin Obayemi is seeking the nullification of Arogundade’s election as the lawmaker representing Ado Constituency 1.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (1st defendant), Odunayo Talabi (2nd defendant), who was declared winner of the primary election in PDP and Arogundade (3rd defendant). Obayemi averred that Arogundade, who he claimed did

not participate in the primaries for the Assembly election in which he served as agent to Talabi, suddenly became a candidate at the election. The plaintiff further claimed that the first defendant (Arogundade) was substituted with Talabi after the general election had been concluded.

he National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John OdigieOyegun, has said the party may trade off Senate presidency if that would bring about desired ‘change,’ in the country. Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke in an interview with Premium Times, said if the removal of embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, would bring a new dimension to the country’s fight against corruption, the party is ready to do the right thing. Speaking on the possibility of APC losing the position should Saraki be removed, he said, “I don’t think we will lose that position. We don’t take anything for granted. As Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning, we are also planning. “The situation is under control. The whole situation is unfortunate but it is real. What political situation in a legal matter? Are the judges politicians? But sometimes, for ‘change’ to take place there is price you have to pay. So, losing the position may be sacrifice for the ‘change.’ According to him, the President is not the type, who will interfere in a judicial matter, saying that things must be done normally,

which is part of the ‘change mantra’ the party is championing in order that no one truncates the processes. “People don’t seem to internalise what ‘change’ is. If the President says “court, free that man,” the same President can say, “court, imprison that man.” Is that the Nigeria we want? No! ‘Change’ means allowing the law to take the proper course. I can tell you the President won’t interfere. The President is straight and firm in all facets,” added. However, the party chairman, who acknowledged the fact that the promised ‘change’ has not been felt by the masses, said ‘change’ is progressive and a process, which will not be truncated until it comes to fruition. He noted that the party does not know how to explain ‘change’ to Nigerians, saying that an attempt to explain such in midst of prevalent hardship in the country would amount to insensitivity on side of the party. “We are aware about that but ‘change’ is a process. ‘Change’ is progressive. By the hardship people are going through, if you start explaining what ‘change’ is, it will look as if one doesn’t have feelings. ‘Change’ is not just about fuel. ‘Change’ is about how we think; our approach to issues. It is a massive undertaking,” he quipped.”

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 17APRIL 2016

News

former Governor of Ogun State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has said that journalism is on the brink of extinction due to the advent of the new media. Osoba, who is also a veteran journalist and former Managing Director of Daily Times said this on Saturday in Lagos at the 1st Quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), with the theme ``Journalists As Agents of Change’’ held at the Combo Hall, Lagos Television, Agindingbi, Ikeja. Osoba said that journalism as a profession needed to be redirected and refocused to meet contemporary demands including the internet. ``I want to touch the area that is most important to us as journalists. We are on the brink of extinction and the media is on its way out.

Journalism on brink of extinction – Osoba ``The advent of this age of internet, the electronics and the print media must devise a way out. On You Tube now, I can download everything with the aid of the internet, everything I needed. For most of us in the profession, we must check the actions of quacks and everybody claiming to be journalist; they are not members of NUJ. ``NUJ as a body needs to see that they are in charge otherwise internet would be turned by some people to avenues of blackmail which are perpetrated by non-professionals,’’ he said. Osoba urged NUJ to be more proactive in dealing with quacks in journalism, adding that there was a new

order in journalism now with the advent of internet. ``We should not allow this profession to be corrupted by few individuals who are turned to tools in the hands of some people for their own interest. ``Journalists must aspire to balance their stories by getting the other side of their stories and not engaging in what I refer to as `’Escaping Journalism,’ `We may also get to a stage whereby nobody will buy newspapers anymore. We should be ready to get to that time when newspapers would be free and only be sustained by adverts. ``As a body, NUJ is the pivot and foundation of media. Some people do not even

go through the rudiments of journalism before they become editors,’’ he said. Osoba, however, advised the leadership of NUJ to be more involved in the activities of news items on the internet, adding that the activities of certain bloggers must be checked. In his keynote address, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, commended the contributions of media toward ensuring good governance in the state. Ayorinde said that for journalists to effectively discharge their duties as agents of change they must be ready to speak as the conscience of the society. Governance cannot be

foreclosed without effective information dissemination and management. Therefore, you should use the opportunity afforded by your quarterly meeting to review the channels of accessing information. Journalists are agents of change by virtue of your profession and relevance to the society. The influence of information managers affects our way of life and business, more importantly in the global community. The ripples of ``Wiki-leaks’’ scandals were yet to abate;

Abia govt demolishes kidnappers’ houses Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

L-R: Registrar, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Dr (Mrs) Eunice Oyebade; Deji of Akure, Oba Aladesanmi Aladetoyinbo; and ViceChancellor, UNIMED, Prof. Friday Okonofua during the visit of the University’s principal officers to the monarch in his palace in Akure, Ondo State .... on Friday Photo: UNIMED

Boko Haram crippled, can no longer take territory - Buhari

resident Muhammadu Buhari says the Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded to the extent that the group can no longer seize and hold on to any territory in the country. In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, the president made the remark at the 13th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey. Represented by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Buhari said government forces had taken over all the territories seized by the insurgents and destroyed their camps. The president also said that most of the leaders of the terrorist group had been arrested, while many others had surrendered. He commended Nigeria’s neighbouring countries, Niger, Chad, Cameroon

and Benin and the international community for their support in the fight against insurgency in the country. Buhari also commended the OIC for its efforts in ensuring peace worldwide. On the theme of the summit: `Ùnity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace,’’ Buhari noted that the current precarious situation in the Muslim world was a source of great concern. `À multiplicity of crises and conflicts litter the entire landscape of the Muslim World – from West and North Africa through Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent; from Jammu and Kashmir to Jakarta. `Ànd from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East to the Balkans; many member-states are embroiled in conflicts threatening their very existence and taking an unacceptable toll in human lives and destruction of

critical infrastructure. ``Muslim minorities in non-member-states like Myammar, Philippines, Thailand and China; and Muslim migrants in the West are still facing serious political, cultural and economic challenges or outright persecution,’’ he said. The president, therefore, called on member-states of the organization to rededicate themselves to the struggle for peace and justice for Palestinians. He said that Nigeria stood in full solidarity with the Palestinians in their legitimate quest for an independent state. ``The situation in Palestine remains bleak; the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism remains unabated. ``The drums of Islamaphobia, especially in the countries with minority or migrant Muslims, are being beaten to achieve mischie-

vous political objectives. ``Nigeria identifies with and fully supports the just struggle of the people of Palestine against the unjust occupation of their land and the oppression of their people by Israel,’’ he said. Buhari urged the Muslim world to take the path of knowledge, stating that the future lay with the cultivation of knowledge as the mainstay of the economy. ``Nigeria fully supports all OIC efforts towards cooperation in education, science and technology; it also supports measures put in place to develop intra-OIC trade, socio-economic infrastructures, micro-finance sector, agriculture and health. ``Nigeria is already in the process of signing the statute of the newly created Specialized Institution for Food and Security based in Astana, Kazakhstan.

then we were faced with the turbulence of the Panama Papers’’. These are attributable to investigative journalism. It is in this light that I challenge you to support this administration by appropriately deploying your skills in helping to find solutions to some of our national challenges,’’ he said. In his Address, the National President of NUJ, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, said that the union would no longer tolerate indebtedness to its members by their employers.

n consonance with the Abia State law against kidnapping, the state government, Saturday, knocked down four bungalows belonging to kidnappers in Etitiama Nkoro village the homestead of the Deputy Governor, Ude Okochukwu, in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state. The demolition exercise was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Capt. Awa Udensi (rtd), accompanied by a combined team of army and police personnel. Addressing journalists after the exercise, Udensi said the action was in line with an extant law of the state that any building or property used by kidnappers to perpetrate their criminal act would be demolished and forfeited to the state. He noted that the kidnappers had been using the building as a hideout for a long time, saying that the action would serve as a

deterrent to others. Udensi further sounded a warning to other communities that would harbour criminals or allow any part of its land or forest to be used as a hideout by kidnappers would not be spared but should be ready to forfeit same to the state. Soldiers from the 14 Brigade in Ohafia last week apprehended the kidnappers who had taken their victim, an Aba-based businessman all the way from Aba to Nkporo in a car boot. The victim was detained in one of the demolished bungalows which belong to the abductor. While commending the prompt response of the soldiers that led to the arrest of the hoodlums and the rescue of the victim, Udensi also warned that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements in any part of the state. Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu who was also at the scene, said the action was a clear signal to hoodlums that “there is no safe haven for them in Abia”.

FG orders quick evacuation of power from Kashimbila Dam Caleb Onwe Abuja

he Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, has called for a fast-tracking of power evacuation of the 40Mw hydropower potential of the Kashimbilla Dam. The Minister made this call recently when he led a high powered Federal Government delegation on inspection tour of the project in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State. Adamu said that the completion of the dam

will have additional benefit of increasing the National power generation by 40mw. He insists that the power evacuation has to be fast tracked to avoid stranded power at the completion of the hydropower plant. The project, aside from power generation of 40mw to the national grid, would also support fishery development, tourism, employment generation and improve health status by providing potable water for the surrounding communities through the water supply scheme if completed.

The Sunday Magazine

‘We jumped inside ditch “T

Chijioke Iremeka

hese people are heartless and mean. You need to see what they did to my friend. I was complaining about mine until I saw his. Mine was that they smashed my windscreen and made away with my laptop, ipad, phones and the little cash I had on me. But he was battered. They slashed him with machete after they had dispossessed him of his belongings,” said a banker, Funmilayo Aboderin, who leaves her home at 5am every day for work. Funmi, who drives a Toyota Corolla saloon car, was lamenting her ordeals in the hands of these ‘under-bridge’ and ‘traffic boys’ until she encountered another scene of robbery, where her old school friend, Dayo, was slashed with machete after he was dispossessed of his possessions, that she got hold of herself. According to her, Dayo, whose belongings were carted away by these early morning thieves and robbers early January, got some machete cuts from the daredevils. The incident took place at about 17 minutes to 6am, around Orile area of Lagos. These and many more were the plights of Lagosians before Nigerian Police Force and Lagos State Government swung into action to quell the situation. Today, the police are now seen patrolling the Lagos highways and some bridges in the city where the acts are perpetuated. Before now, the most vulnerable areas were Ijora, Mile 2, Onikan, Costain, Eko Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Mushin, Obalende, CMS, Oshodi Oke and Isale, Iyana Oworo, Obalende, Bonny camp, Muson Bridge, Apongbon, Maryland and Cele in Lagos. Most affected were workers in the state, who leave their houses early in the morning in a bid to beat the routine traffic situation in the city and get to their offices in good time. Smashing of windscreen and dispossessing commuters’ of valuables at gun point was the order of the day. But despite the joint action of the Police and state government, these robbers still operate in some areas of Lagos, inflicting pains and fears on the residents. Thus, the fear of uncertainty has made some Lagosians to avoid certain routes very early in the morning and late night. “I don’t leave my house any more until I’m able to see the face of the next person. Many things are happening here. They rape women, collect their phones, beat people up and the worse still, there is no security operative that will be there to save you,” said one Mrs. Nweke Sylvia, who lives around Masalasi, Old Ojo Road, Lagos. It’s no longer news that motorists and road users in the ever-busy ‘Centre of Excellence’ are going through a very difficult spell. Asides the unending traffic snarls that have overtaken most of the highways and inner roads and left traffic controllers bewildered, traffic robbers and robberies have been added to the unfortunate scenario. In the past, these daredevils attacked their victims early in the morning or very late at night or when victims’ cars break down in lonely spots. They graduated to stealing at all hours of the day with all manners of dangerous weapons. However, the current administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has further responded to this issue by procuring patrol vehicles, helicopters and rebranded Rapid Respond Squad (RSS) under the headship of Assistant Commissioner of Police to fight the crime in the state. Today, Third Mainland Bridge and other areas of the state with high robbery cases are well patrolled by police vans while other

Motorist attacked by a traffic robber...

PHOTO: Lindaikeji.com

Lagos Police Command Rapid Response Squad

policemen on motorbikes patrol the state’s highways, streets and hinterlands. But this, also, has not completely wiped out crime as there are still pockets of crime in the state. Preye Johnson, a resident of 512 Road, Festac, is a postgraduate student at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. One day, he was on his way home from Barracks, where he went visiting a friend, but on getting to Alakija, there was a brief traffic. While he was sitting in his car in the traffic, he was approached by a gun-bearing young man, who pretended to be a beggar. According to him, he came begging for alms but when Preye didn’t succumb to the robber’s overture, he brandished a pistol. He narrated: “One night at about 7, I was coming from Barracks. On getting to Alakija to enter FESTAC, there was a mild traffic. That night, I was very angry because my girlfriend just wasted my time on a date that cost me a fortune. When I was in that traffic, a guy came to my windscreen and knocked, pretended to be a beggar but I didn’t pay attention to him and he showed me a gun.

“When I saw the gun, I didn’t know what pushed me and I acted as if I was trying to get my own gun by the side of my chair. The moment I did that, the traffic moved a bit, I moved and hit the vehicle in my front so as to attract attention to what was happening. I was honking my horn endlessly. “It was a strategy. The man came down and the armed robber quietly disappeared and I pleaded with the man and told him what had happened. He understood and of course, he wouldn’t want to argue with me there because it could be dangerous.” Another victim, Ejiofor Okolie, said: “I saw them through my side mirror on one occasion, as I was driving along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, precisely at Otto Wharf under bridge, but there was nothing I could do. When they approached me, I resisted them but luck was not on my side. My windscreen was smashed. They made away with my laptop and phones, including my camera. Two of my colleagues that were onboard shared the same fate with me. “It was terrible, if I had pepper spray with

me, it would have been safer for me. One needs to get one form of weapon for selfdefence or the other but the problem is that when you get these things, one might be risking police interrogation and harassment. They might tell you that it’s illegal for civilians to carry certain weapons but the city is driving everybody to take this decision.” Again, on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, it’s the same fate. In most cases, robbers are the ones that will constitute an artificial traffic and the moment they have accomplished their mission, they dispersed immediately. At under the bridge, Trade Fair Complex, they snatch bags and valuables from people early in the morning and late night even as the Army barracks is situated at close by. Joy Eshikenha works on the Island and lives on the mainland. She said after falling victim twice to traffic robbers, she decided to be leaving her car at home and start taking public transport. A few weeks after the decision, she was attacked on the road linking Costain and Eko Bridge in broad daylight by a gang of machete and gun-

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

Sunday Magazine

to escape traffic robbers’ It was terrible, if I had pepper spray with me, it would have been safer for me. One needs to get one form of weapon for self-defence or the other but the problem is that when you get these things; one might be risking police interrogation and harassment

wielding robbers. According to her, she and two other men with her jumped from the bus into a ditch. She started calling the Lagos State emergency numbers. She received no answer till the robbers came to where they were and snatched her phone. She was thankful that she wasn’t harmed but wondered why such menace could not be curbed by the government. “It appears these robbers had marked me. I have been robbed three times within the space of a few months. Am I the only one on the road?” she asked resentfully. Recently, Mutiat Mohammed was robbed on Oshodi Bridge at night due to a gridlock on the road. This has made her to start avoiding the route at night. According to her, it pays her to follow a longer but safer route. They collected her phones and bangles. “I have been hearing about things that are happening on the Third Main Land Bridge. So, when I had a vehicle breakdown, I had to leave my vehicle there and fled with the next available vehicle. I didn’t want to be robbed or forced to jump into the lagoon, so I had to save my life first before any sad story. It was the following day that I went for my car. Nothing happened to it,” said Tolani Odunsola, who works on the Island. Apart from the traffic robbers, there is a notorious gang that operates around FESTAC, Satellite Town and Apapa. They are called ‘One Million Boys.’ They move in a group of about 50 robbers. They bear guns but their major weapons are machetes, clubs and knives. In some cases, when they want to attack people’s houses, they send letters to that effect and honour their letters.

These gangs attack people on the roads, streets and houses. They have joined other early morning thieves who snatch hand bags from ladies going to work. Some of them ambush bank customers, with a view

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Owoseni

of stealing from them. They operate on motorcycles. They pretend to be commercial bike operators (Okada riders) and when you onboard, you are robbed midway. “Since they snatched my wife’s handbag, I started seeing her off to the park every morning before going to work. From my gate to the bus stop is like five poles but these guys rode up on an Okada and snatched her handbag. Climbing Okada early in morning and late night in FESTAC is becoming a suicide as you have above 80 per cent chances of being robbed,” said Adebowale Sunday. At Mushin, a gang of two on a bike followed one tricycle and snatched a lady’s purse, cell phones and fled. But while the tricycle pursued them, they were knocked down by an oncoming vehicle. They quickly got up and ran away while passersby were sympathising with them. But the moment the tricycle driver got close to the scene and said what happened, the sympathizers pursued them to no avail. When they didn’t get them, they resorted to burning their Okada after they had collected all the phones they had in their bag. Joseph Adewale, a printer, said: “As I was going home one morning like that, at about, 7, two boys on a bike stopped and collected a lady’s handbag after firing three times. They didn’t want to use the gun before but boys were trying to stop them, then, they brought out their gun to scatter the mob,

which was ready to attack them.” According to him, another lady was robbed in front of a bank in FESTAC. “They followed her immediately and grabbed her bag as soon as she came out. They made away with her N450, 000. I wasn’t a funny experience. The woman was wailing,” he said. Mrs. Olufunke Ayodele also narrated how a hawker robbed her colleague at gunpoint earlier in the week. The hawker had been persuading the victim to buy his wares. When she refused, he showed her a gun placed under his carton of goods and ordered her to roll her glass down. He robbed her of her phones and laptop and strolled away quietly, looking for his next victim. Many people have fallen victim to robberies in this manner. Mr. Yemi Agboola recounted how he was robbed at Iyana Oworo, while returning from work - a short distance from some policemen. He noted that everybody was just facing his business as if they were oblivious to his plight. He believed that had the policemen been effectively patrolling the vicinity as they were supposed to, the robbers might have been deterred. However, in an earlier media chat with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni on this issue, he stated that the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested over 20 such traffic robbers in different parts of the state. He said: “Note that some of the traffic robbers have moved from the traditional areas. They only cash in on the opportunity of a breakdown of vehicle and since these criminals are mobile, they just do a stint and disappear. It’s a challenge for us to nab them because we cannot predict when you will have a breakdown and traffic will build up immediately. “But that is not to say that it’s insurmountable because some of them that have been arrested have given us useful information. They have a headquarters from where they are sent out. And that is why we have also resorted to working under the disguise of selling pure water and gala.” He continued: “You will agree with me that there are many patrol vehicles everywhere. Once there is traffic, there are policemen moving up and down. They are often in motorcycles. But because of lack of discipline, motorists don’t allow them (the police) to move between vehicles. The policemen are called traffic monitors and last week, we injected about 20 of them. “You find out that rather than go and make a U-turn, they drive against traffic so that they can monitor things. But Nigerians don’t understand that. Even if you make a distress call to the police, because the road is blocked, it’s a problem getting to those areas. There are other measures we are taking that I can’t say, so it won’t jeopardise our operations.” Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, urged Lagosians be calm and relaxed, saying that patrol teams are doing their jobs. “There is no need for anybody to run away as the police are working. I can assure you that everybody is safe in any part of the state that he is residing. For some security reasons, I will not let out our strategies to the public but we are doing our best.” However, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said the state has launched three helicopters and two gunboats to fight crime in the state, saying that crime has reduced by six per cent in the state. “The State government is rolling out more equipment to reduce crime to barest minimum before the first anniversary of this administration, which comes May,” he added.

SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

news

he United Kingdom (UK) says it is supporting Nigeria in the ongoing war against the Boko Haram insurgents. UK Minister for International Development, Nick Hurd, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that UK had a very long cordial relationship with Nigeria. “The very long partnership between UK and Nigeria matters a great deal to us; even my Prime Minister has made it very clear that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria in the battle against Boko Haram. “We understand how many thousands and mil-

We stand with Nigeria in Boko Haram battle – UK

lions of peoples’ lives have been devastated by the atrocities in the North East. We are determined to help our own friend and partner to defeat that barbaric group,’’ he said. Hurd said at the moment, the UK’s support took the form of a big commitment to training and capacity building in the military. He said that his country was pleased with the suc-

cesses so far recorded by the military against Boko Haram insurgents recently. On the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, Hurd said UK was always supportive of the determination to ensure the safe return of the girls but challenged Nigeria to lead the girls’ rescue. “My Prime Minister, the British Government and the British people are fully supportive of the determi-

nation to bring the girls home. “They have empathy with that but this (rescue) needs to be led by the Nigerian government, there has to be a Nigerian solution to this. “I made it clear to the Vice-President that we will help but we are going to follow a Nigerian lead,’’ he said. On a report that the UK knew the whereabouts of

the girls, Hurd said: ``My information is constrained by the fact that I’m International Development Minister. “I’m not into greater deal into the military intelligence cooperation. I don’t have a full answer to that question.’’ On the humanitarian assistance, the envoy said that UK was increasing its commitment with another 33 million pounds.

He said the increased fund was informed by the assessment that was carried out about the needs in the north eastern part of the country which were around nutrition, food and protection. He said UK was interested about the stability and real development of the region and called on the international community to be more effective in its response.

Ebonyi prisoners protest poor food quality, rape Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

here was pandemonium in Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over the weekend when prison inmates at the Afikpo Federal Prisons protested against the poor quality of food served them by the prison officials. The incident occurred Friday night. The situation would have resulted in a jail break but for the quick response of the the police, who following distress calls from prison officials, stormed the area and cordoned-off the facility. The inmates broke the fence that housed where they are kept and came out enmass for the protest. They reportedly threw dangerous objects, including stones, which sacked the officials from the prisons. The protesting inmates, it was learnt, also broke the fence where their female counterparts are kept and forcefully had carnal knowledge of them. A resident of Ukpa town where the prisons is located, Okoche Eni, told Sunday Telegraph that the people

had to flee their homes because of the seriousness of the protest and slept in the bus,h especially those living very close to the prison. “We did not sleep in our homes that night. The protest was so serious that no one agreed to sleep in his/her house for fear of being caught up in the violence. “The inmates were throwing stones, sharp and dangerous objects everywhere. They were chanting war songs that we had to go to the bush and slept to save our lives. “Some of us who learnt that security agents had arrived our town later came out of the bush but many of us were still afraid,” he said. The situation was later brought under control by the Area Commander of Afikpo Police Division who addressed them and assured that their grievances would be looked into. However, when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP George Okafor said: “Yes, there was a little problem in the Afikpo Prisons, which would have resulted in a jail break but it was aborted by our swift response as we cordoned off the area.”

L-R: Head Trade Finance, FBN Bank, UK, Mr. Simon Singer, Head Trade Finance, Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi, Secretary General, International Chambers of Commerce(ICC) Nigeria, Mr. Ayotunde Fanimokun at the ICC Banking Commission meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa recently.

PDP holds ward congresses next Saturday Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begins the first leg of its congresses for election of a new leadership for the party at all levels next Saturday with ward congresses. The congresses, which will culminate into a National Convention in May 21 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will hold in 33 states of the country and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In a statement on Saturday by the National Publicity

Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said states currently conducting congresses as well as others where there is no leadership crisis, have been exempted from next Saturday’s congresses. The three affected states, according to the statement, are Kogi, Ondo and Edo. Yobe State where a new caretaker committee was appointed last week, will, however, participate in the convention. PDP said the aim was to enthrone and sustain internal democracy within its fold.

NEWS IN BRIEF

NCEE: NECO registers over 25,000 candidates in Lagos

Lagos CP urges officers to exercise regularly

Tukur counts democratic dividends

A total of 25,781 candidates registered for this year’s National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the examination was for admission into the 104 Unity Colleges across the country. The Lagos State Zonal Coordinator, National Examinations Council (NECO), Mr Gbenga Olapade, organisers of the examination, told NAN in an interview on Saturday that a total of 115 centres were being used for the examination across the state. Olapade said that there were additional four centres for this year’s examination, when compared with 111 centres used for the same examination in 2015. According to him, from the additional centres, simple logic showed that more candidates registered for the examination in 2016. Olapade said that it was expected that even with the large number of candidates, not all were being expected to sit for the examination as a result of one factor or the other. You cannot get 100 per cent attendance in any examination but I am impressed with the number of candidates that believed in and registered for this examination this year. It goes to show that there is a measure of standard in the colleges and Nigerians are beginning to reckon by the day with Federal Government Colleges,’’ he said.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, has urged his officers and men to exercise regularly as this would make them physically and mentally alert to their responsibilities. Owoseni made the plea on Saturday during the maiden road walk organised by the command. He said that regular exercise would also reduce the incident of sudden death. The commissioner said that only physically fit and mentally alert officers would be able to face criminals at all time. “Keeping yourself mentally alert, physically fit, is another way of putting more energy to what we are doing. “We are re-jigging our men to be alive to their responsibilities. Criminals would know that it is not about carrying weapons but ability to match them. “We have introduced this exercise. It is going to be a monthly programme. As we proceed, we would introduce elements of Community Policing into it. “We would be inviting the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nollywood and other important personalities to join us walk against crimes in Lagos,” he said.

A legislator in the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Lere-Bula Constituency in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Mohammed Aminu Tukur said that the number of polling units in his constituency has been increased to 196. According to him, each polling unit will benefit from a N10million aid at N50, 000 per person. He also said he in conjunction with Senator Ali Wakili paid all surgery and medical expenses of about 30 patients at specialist hospitals in Bauchi, Bayara, Dass, Bununu, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH); and provided essential drugs for the control of gastroenteritis to Bununu cottage hospital equally Lassa fever patients from Ja’e . The lawmaker added that they invested a lot in security with a view to providing peaceful atmosphere and protection of lives and property. He said that though he had promised to embark on the construction of 12 bore-holes in the area, he would now execute them as a joint venture with the senator, himself and the speaker of the house to increase the number from 12 to 39 boreholes.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016

OPINION

Petroleum Industry Bill needs adaptive reconciliation Emeka Chiakwelu

he much debated and contentious Petroleum Industry Bill 2012 (PIB) is a quantum leap in the remaking of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, if and when it becomes the law of the land. Some Nigerians deem the bill controversial because many of them have not read it but rather depended on the opponents of the bill to propagate their incoherence and distortions. One thing for sure, the government of Nigeria must be applauded for initiating the task to reform and make some crucial changes in the most important sector of the economy. The bill is not perfect; nevertheless it will re-launch the deteriorated sector into a solidified reformed and streamlined entity. The PIB must be balanced and made attractive to investors by incentivizing it without jeopardizing and compromising the spirit and integrity of the bill. The PIB must be adjusted, refined and consolidated to become the perfect bill for a constructive reform is needed in the oil and gas industry. Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria by Shell-British Petroleum in 1950, Nigeria has made billions of dollars, yet the country has accrued one of the worst indexes of misery. Over 70 percent of Nigerians live in abject poverty, struggling to provide their families with three square meals. Electricity and modern infrastructures are pipe dreams. The wealth of the nation has been siphoned to foreign and off shore accounts. Worst of all, the environmental degradation brought by oil exploration and the subsequent health problems have

approached explosive dimensions – an unmitigated disaster. The oil curse and imminent Dutch disease has done untold harm to Nigeria’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Therefore without a doubt, a reform is needed, but is the PIB capable of ushering in the requisite reform? The PIB is intended to rescind and replace the below current laws in the book: •Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (Establishment) Act 2003; •Petroleum Equalization Fund (Management Board, etc.) Act CAP 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 •Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund Act, CAP 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and •Petroleum Technology Development Fund Act CAP P15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; •Petroleum Act CAP 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; (‘Petroleum Act’) •Motor Spirits (Returns) Act, CAP M20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 •Associated Gas Re-injection Act CAP A25 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 •Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Act, CAP D3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; except for sections 16 subsection (1) and (2) •Petroleum Profits Tax Act, CAP P13 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The contemporary laws are not consistent with the country’s ambition; therefore we rightly welcome the PIB. But wait a second! Let’s put this PIB in perspective. How is it going to benefit the average Nigerian and what are the structures put together to make sure that accumulated revenues and taxes are channel to building the necessary

infrastructures for economic development? The key point for PIB is to reform the petroleum industry and raise quantifiable fund to develop the country. PIB is an ambitious project in the sense that it will tax more and accumulate more revenues from the industry partakers and participants including Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Total SA, Eni SpA, who produce around 90% of Nigeria’s oil through several joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. The pros and cons of such a massive taxation must be fully examined in order to make sure that it will not be an obstacle for further investment in oil and gas sector of the economy. The bill stipulates that the taxation for upstream drilling is to be pegged at 50 percent and for downstream drilling at 25 percent. Extracting and exerting such a huge levy on the oil companies may sound tantalizing and satisfying but the possible downside must be considered and evaluated. Since most of the financing of the high intensive projects in the sector are done by these big oil companies, it is necessary to tread carefully. As Mark Ward, the Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigerian unit argued that such a massive taxation makes Nigeria’s oil and gas industry unattractive to invest. Ward said at an energy conference, the terms proposed increase royalties, increase taxes, and lower allowances or incentives all at the same time, will make Nigeria one of the world’s harshest fiscal regimes. Wards’ criticism cannot be waved off easily, without a detailed examination, but that does not entail that his argument is 100% correct.

The level of the participation of local financing is quite minuscule and high taxes probably will not incentivize those international oil companies operating in Nigeria to further investment in the country. Nigeria failed woefully to utilize the accumulated revenue from the oil industry to develop the industry. There by relying on foreign capital from the big oil companies to play the critical role in the extraction, drilling and development of the industry. The best thing for Nigeria to do with the PIB is to progressively levy the companies from a somewhat lower percent in the course of 5-10 years until it approaches the targeted percentage. The good window is that the gradual increases of the taxation has a lower and lessen impact on the companies, inducing the receiving of the burden in good faith. This will also send the message that punitive action is not intention the of the petroleum bill, that we are all together in the struggle to develop the industry. Other aspects of the PIB are encouraging including the total deregulation of the downstream drilling. My idealistic wish is that there comes a day that the Federal Government will totally withdraw and disengage from the participation in the oil and gas industry. The only supposedly function is to tax the industry while NNPC will be privatized and shares floated and bought over by local investors. But until we get there, government must concentrate and direct her resources in developing the industry with verifiable and strong local content. Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at AFRIPOL

From health centres to death centres Adewale Kupoluyi

he problems facing our institutions of higher learning are well documented and many. They include poor funding, examination malpractices, cultism, strikes, outdated curricula, brain-drain and low access, among others. However, an ugly trend that is gradually becoming entrenched by the day is the rate at which health centres are becoming death centres. This trend should be a source of worry and great concern to all stakeholders in the country. This issue is being discussed again because of the little attention that is being paid to the matter by the relevant authorities as many lives are being lost. A few examples would suffice. Just a few weeks back, academic and social activities were paralysed at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, when students shut the college’s gates to protest against the death of a final year student, Miss Comfort Dazan. The deceased, a Higher National Diploma II student in the Department of Office Technology Management, was said to have fallen ill rushed to the college’s medical centre and was allegedly asked to pay N35, 000. But before she could be treated - because she could not raise the money - she was allegedly left unattended to while her condition worsened until when she was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Oyingbo. Comfort, however, died while being taken to the FMC. Another touching story is that of the widely-reported Miss. Oluchi Anekwe, a student in the Department of Accounting, University of Lagos, which has also brought to the fore the maladministra-

tion in our public health system. In the case of Oluchi, she was said to have been electrocuted when a high tension wire fell on her on campus. The promising student was said to have been rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. It was a similar story at the University of Ibadan, when students protested the death of one of their colleagues, who was reported to have died at the institution’s health centre due to the failure of medical staff on duty to treat him on the grounds those that brought him failed to produce his clinic card. It was said that the student was watching a televised football match in a female hostel when he suddenly slumped and started gasping after which they called the health centre to send an ambulance but the request was turned down because the only available ambulance had earlier been used to convey another patient to another hospital in town. Similarly, a student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, became another painful death statistic. The male student was said to be partaking in a football match when he suddenly slumped. Thereafter, spirited measures were allegedly taken to get him to the university health centre by his colleagues as he was said to be gasping for breath as at the time they got to the health centre. Rather than attend to him, the health workers were said to be insisting on having his medical card before treatment - the delay is said to have caused his death. In another development, a student in the Department of Theatre Arts and Film

Studies, University of Port Harcourt, was reported to have collapsed in her bathroom and died shortly after. According to a roommate of the deceased, she was allegedly rejected for lack of space at the university’s teaching hospital, which at the end of the day, led to her demise before an alternative place could be found for her. From the few examples given above, one could say that the death of all the students could be attributed to carelessness, neglect and poor response to emergencies. The casualties were simply as a result of human errors and the failure to put in place, a robust and effective emergency system at the various campus clinics. Such deaths could have been prevented if our health workers had treated patients without insisting on seeing their cards. There are also the issue of non-trained emergency personnel on ground to provide health support. The fact that the universities’ ambulances are not available immediately for the transportation of sick students is unbecoming. At every point in time, there should be alternative arrangements to take care of exigencies. All these factors contributed to poor management that did not allow the affected students to receive appropriate and timely medical attention. Without further delay, reliable, effective and responsive and ambulance services that are staffed with well-trained and experienced health workers should be provided in our institutions. In addition, paramedics, students’ representatives in halls of residence with some basic knowledge in health services should be appointed, trained and equipped to assist in times of need without having this affecting their academic pur-

suits. There is the need to develop pro-active and sustainable policy that would ensure that emergency cases, to ensure that they are handled with dispatch. I think having to demand for identity or registration cards from a sick or dying student is senseless and wicked. It should stop forthwith. It is saddening that in our country today, it is a regular encounter for patients to suffer huge hostility, arrogance, impatience, insolence and outright rejection at public health clinics and hospitals. These hostilities appear to be lesser at private hospitals of clinic maybe because of the culture of nonchalance often exhibited due to the wrong public service mentality; a recurring decimal that has precipitated inefficiency in many government offices. Respect, care, kindness and empathy should radiate in all health institutions, inclusive of university campuses while students should avoid violence at the slightest provocation, to show their displeasure. Authorities of universities should go into partnership with reputable private sector firms in the provision of such services without necessarily costing a fortune. Health workers found treating patients with disdain and disrespect should be sanctioned and even prosecuted. Government should adequately fund our health institutions by providing equipment, drugs and personnel that would always show human face in carrying out their duties. That way, our health centres would no longer be seen as death centres! Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk

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Sagamu Police Medicine, dentistry programmes to run for seven, not 11 years The debacle Dear Editor, The new Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) for Medicine and Dentistry, which has since been made public by the National Universities Commission (NUC), provides for sevenyear training, leading to the award of MBBS/MDS and not the 11 years being erroneously circulated in the mass media. Although the so-called ‘11-year Medical Programme’ stories had been credited to the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Professor Julius A. Okojie’s keynote address entitled, “Development of Medical Education in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges,” which was delivered at the Matriculation and Inauguration of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, on Saturday, March 12, 2016, nowhere in that lecture was 11 years mentioned or implied. Prof. Okojie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, had explained that the new curriculum provides for a seamless sevenyear programme. With the new curriculum, a medical student would be expected to graduate in Basic Medical Sciences, with options in Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, and Physiology in the first four years, before proceeding for clinical training that would run for three years. Prof. Okojie had further explained that the reviewed BMAS went through a long process, which included wide consultations with the academia, professional associations and regulatory body, following the conduct of a Market Needs Assessment. According to him, the consensus was that medical training should be postgraduate. The measure is that the crop of graduates emerging from the programme is psychologically matured to practise, with a high level of competency. The new BMAS for medical education still retains the fundamental learning objectives of the six-year programme: the national development goals for health, while retaining the international outlook to guarantee global competitiveness, while noting that the extant six-year programme shall continue to subsist for a period to be determined. Prof. Okojie observed that attempts had been

Nigerians waiting to buy kerosene at a filling station in Ikeja, Lagos.

made over the years to run medical programme using course credit system and that the hallmark of the new document is that it clearly apportions credit weightings to all the courses and activities. “In line with global practice and to ensure that knowledge and skills are effectively imparted,” Okojie said: “Modern course delivery systems have been prescribed. Among core teaching facilities and modes of learning recommended are: • Clinical Skills Laboratory. The use of the facility would represent a shift in the current mode of medical training to problembased solving approach and the application of modern techniques which involves use of Mannikins and simulation materials. • E-learning materials and Research Information Platforms. E-learning materials accelerate understanding of courses taught and have become a veritable tool for learning. ADEBUKOLA OLATUNJI HEAD, INFORMATION DIVISION, NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION, ABUJA, FCT

IDPs camps as slaughter grounds Dear Editor,

Shock and unbelief can aptly describe the suicide bombings that reportedly killed 58 and injured

another 78 in a Borno refugee camp recently. This incident goes to prove the vulnerability of some of our refugee camps where the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are sheltered. The same report also claimed that the insurgency had killed 20,000 people, and made 2.5 million refugees spread across Nigeria’s borders. But we may not expect any respite soon as long as the nation’s leadership is torn between primordial and religious sentiments at the expense of national security. The IDPs were forced to leave their homes as a result of the insurgency. And a place that is created at Dikwa to serve as a refugee for about 50,000 of them has suddenly become a slaughter ground and hence no longer secure. No one knows where these IDPs can feel secure again. The import of this recent incident should not be lost on our military strategists and policy makers. It shows that anybody in the midst of the IDPs may fall victim. And this reality may discourage humanitarian/ religious organisations or even VIPs (Very Important Personalities) from paying regular visits to the camps for fear of bombings which may further compound the IDPs’ welfare problems. There is therefore an urgent need to beef up security in and around the IDPs camps. Visitors should be properly screened. Even random checks should be carried out regularly within the camps in the interest of

the IDPs themselves. Obviously, there is more danger in female bombers aided by their dressing in public. Curiously, it is only in Nigeria that the internal enemy will expose and establish its modus operandi and yet policy makers would refuse to shift grounds and instead, repeatedly fall into the same traps due to religious sentiments. GBEMIGA OLAKUNLE, GENERAL SECRETARY, NATIONAL PRAYER MOVEMENT.

Minister of Agriculture and grass importation Dear Editor, Recently, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying that the federal government is going to import grass from China as part of the plan to curtail the incessant disputes and killings between herdsmen and farmers across the country. The Minister said this while addressing the people of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State following the attack and slaughtering of over 400 Agatu people by herdsmen. Does Nigeria not have enough grass for her animals to feed on? What could be the difference between China’s grass and Nigeria’s grass? How could the importation of grass from China solve the persistent crisis between

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

the Fulani herdsmen and farmers in our country? I hereby advise the government to discontinue the plan. Government should think of a better way of resolving this issue instead of embarking on a senseless plan of importing grass from China. AWUNAH PIUS, MPAPE, ABUJA.

Banning statesponsorship of pilgrimage Dear Editor, Nigeria is a secular state yet there are bodies set up by government to undertake the sponsorship of individuals on pilgrimage. Nowhere in the world is this done. When we read Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales,’ individuals big or small, sought spiritual rejuvenation by embarking on pilgrimages and visiting a holy site. In our case, we visit for business, and at public expense. Therefore, we are delighted with the decision of the Lagos State government to cancel the over one-million naira it spends on each intending pilgrim to the holy lands – Jerusalem or Mecca. At these times of austerity, it is the fit and proper thing to do. Whether other governors will follow suit is another matter. BOB MAJIRIOGHENE ETEMIKU ANEEJ, BENIN CITY.

Dear Editor, The imbroglio between residents of Sagamu and the police is a sad commentary on policecommunity relations. Indeed, it creates and perhaps aggravates the needless kind of tension and mistrust that continues to act as impediment to the confidence required for the maintenance of law and order, peace and stability in society. What we know of the story is that Adeyinka Mafe, the majority leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, who was primarily elected to represent Sagamu state constituency, stood up at plenary and brought up the concerns of those who sent him there, to the effect that a certain John Mark, the Divisional Police Officer in Sagamu was extorting large sums of money from residents of the area. Twenty-four hours after, the Police Public Relations Officer, addressing a press conference, reportedly accused the majority leader of being under investigation for no less than 15 crimes. A day after, residents of Sagamu were on the streets not necessarily in defense of Mafe, but in apparent protest against the alleged misdemeanour of the DPO. This unfortunate occurrence brings a lot of questions to the fore. First, why, as Yinka Mafe asks, is the police suddenly raising matters of alleged criminality against the majority leader after the activities of a certain DPO were called to question? Secondly, do the police understand the place of the legislature in representative democracy? Does it matter to them that, that Mafe’s voice was the voice of everybody who comes from or lives in that constituency, beyond the fact that he has been chosen to be majority leader in the state house of assembly? Thankfully, the police authorities appear to be doing something about this case. At least, not long ago, the Inspector-General was reported to have ordered the posting of DPOs in Delta state, – over allegations of misconduct. It, however, behooves the police to recognise that action of this nature does little to enhance the Force’s credibility and reputation. AKIN AKINYEMI, ABEOKUTA 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

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016

news

PTDF to review programmes

he Petroleum Technology Development Fund (FUND) says it will review its programme in line with the views of the present administration. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Kalu Otisi, Head Media and Public Relations. The fund said the review was imperative considering the reality of global challenges in the oil and gas industry particularly the low price environment. The statement said that the Acting Executive Secretary, PTDF, Mr Ahmed Galadima, proposed a holistic review of the fund. It quoted Galadima as saying that the fund needed to streamline its activities by identifying and focusing on key areas of priority that were within its mandate and financial capacity. It said the executive secretary had also inaugurated a committee and urged its

members to provide the right level of manpower support to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The statement said that he advised the committee to come out with innovations that would help to adjust and respond to the current realities of dwindling financial resources. It is therefore imperative that we critically examine PTDF role in projects, interventions, collaborations, vocational and non-vocational training and research programme and refocus them in the direction that will have an immediate impact in the oil and gas industry. The new thinking will be tailored towards meeting the government’s economic growth prospects and proffering solutions to the present and anticipated challenges in oil and gas industry through human capital development,’’ the statement said.

Maritime security: Navy deploys 7 ships Emmanuel Onani

n an effort to end piracy and other challenges in the maritime sector, the Nigerian Navy said it has launched an operation, to secure the waterways. The Navy said the exercise, code-named ‘Operation Tsare Teku’, will witness the deployment of seven ships. The renewed maritime security is coming few days after President Muhammadu Buhari, vowed to visit pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs, with the same offensive visited on Boko Haram members. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral IbokEte Ekwe, at a press briefing in Abuja, said he has since established a Task Force

headed by a Commodore, to drive the onslaught. Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), Rear Adm. Henry Babalola, said: “As you are all aware the jugular of the Nigeria economy is at the maritime area of Niger Delta. So when we noticed an infringement in that area, it affects the economy of the nation. “The CNS has inaugurated Operation Tsare Teku to clear the area of these miscreants. It’s to be headed by a Senior Flag Officer in the rank of Commodore. “There is no nation in the world that will allow this to happen in its maritime domain. It’s not as if the Navy has not been doing anything all this while to secure our

maritime environment. This is because we have had more ships in the maritime area than any other time. However, since January 14, 2016 we have had increased pirates’ activities and ship hijacks. “In every society we must have criminal activities. However, you must note that up until January 11, 2016, we have had zero criminal activities but from January 14, this changed. What must have happened to cause the increase in these security challenges afterwards,” said. He added: “You are well aware that some persons were declared wanted (Tompolo) and they promised some actions. You know that it was no longer a business as usual and coupled with the

facts that the Amnesty programmed is about rounding up. So these criminal elements might have gone back to their criminal activities. “The major thing is that the criminal groups have regrouped. We have localised these problems at two major areas, offshore Brass and offshore Bonny. These are two major areas we have been having the challenges. “This is not totally divorced from the marching orders the President gave but it’s part of our statutory role. The order from Mr. President is for the whole armed forces. It’s not the kind of blind response to the Presidential pronouncement as we are guarded by Rules of Engagement.”

Eni declares force majeure on Nigeria’s Brass River grade crude

ni has declared a force majeure on Nigeria’s Brass River grade of crude oil, a trader said on Friday, once again throwing a spotlight onto the unreliability of exports from a country plagued by oil theft. The trader said the force majeure was declared after a fire on a pipeline. Eni did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the outage. The force majeure on Brass River adds to one from Shell on the Forcados grade of crude oil that is still in place, meaning output for June is

likely to be low. The June export programme was expected to start emerging next week, reports Reuters. Repair work on the pipeline feeding Nigeria’s Forcados crude oil to the export terminal is expected to take until June, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Nigeria’s June export programme is set to come to market from early next week. Around 142,000 barrels per day of Brass River was due to be exported in May according to a loading programme seen by Reuters.

SUBEB in Osun to train 2,000 teachers

lhaji Fatai Kolawole, the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), says the board is set to train 2,000 teachers in the state in modern teaching techniques. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Osogbo, he stated that the paucity of funds in the state would not prevent the board from training and retraining its teachers. He further explained that the state government, irrespective of its financial restraints, placed premium on qualitative education through competent teaching staff. According to him, the more exposed teachers become in diverse fields, the better for pupils and students and the greater the

hope for a better future. He reiterated the resolve of the state government in redefining the tenets of education in all ramifications to prepare students for a better future and make them responsible to the nation. We are exposing more than 2,000 teachers to modern teaching techniques which include money management and information communication technology. The rationale behind the training is to impact qualitative education in our students and pupils through well trained and competent teachers. We are making efforts to prepare our students for the future in the advanced global environment to contribute their quota to the development of our state and nation at large,’’ Kolawole said.

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun in a handshake with Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China during President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit

NEWS IN BRIE F

Pope takes Syrian migrants Women Centre Acting D-G to Vatican dies at 57

FCT Water Board promises regular water supply

Pope takes Syrian migrants to Vatican Pope Francis has taken 12 Syrian migrants back with him to the Vatican after visiting a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. The three families, including six children, boarded the papal jet as the pontiff departed following his trip. The Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis wanted to “make a gesture of welcome’’ to the refugees. Thousands of migrants are now stuck on Lesbos after last month’s EU-Turkey deal to try to ease the flow, reports the BBC. He earlier told migrants living in the Moria camp “you are not alone”.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board says it will ensure regular water supply to all parts of the territory. Malam Hudu Bello, the Director of FCT Water Board, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja. He said the board had started maintenance works in all water installations in Kubwa in its effort to improve water supply to the residents. As residents of Kubwa will inform you, we disconnected their supply since Friday night. This is to enable us carry out comprehensive maintenance of water infrastructure in that area so that every nook and cranny of Kubwa will have access to potable water. These facilities were provided in 1990 and most of them are damaged, some are blocked while others have had structures erected on them. We are taking today out to ensure that all challenges with water supply in Kubwa are resolved,’’ the director said.

The National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Abuja, has announced the death of its Acting Director-General, Alhaji Abdulmalik Dauda. Mr Mohammed Aliyu, Protocol Officer to the director-general, confirmed the news to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Aliyu said Dauda died on Friday after a brief illness. NAN recalls that the deceased took over from Ms Onyeka Onwenu on February 16, following the removal of 26 heads of government agencies and parastatals. Born on August 27, 1959, Dauda is survived by two wives and five children. Aliyu said that his remains had been buried according to Islamic rites in his home town in Tudun Kura Na Hausawa, Minna, Niger

Execut ve Many Nigerians are criticising President Muhammdu Buhari's change policy. What do you say? We have not lived like a civilized society. We have lived in a very irresponsible manner. The countries we started with have all gone ahead of us in the world. There were times we were rubbing shoulders with countries like India, but where is India today, she has gone. India is top in machinery, health, and Information Technology. We import our pharmaceuticals from India and China today. These were the countries who went inside and worked with their resources. Similarly, a host of other countries that discovered oil with Nigeria about the same time have moved on. But what do we have in Nigeria? We have a group of leaders, who over several decades, failed to plan with the oil money and failed to develop the alternative. Not only that, they have wasted the resources of the oil money. And as a result, there has to be a payback time, a time people will never be happy because our well is running dry. Now that our well is running dry, we need to diversify but because we are used to living fat on nothing, we can’t imagine that. What is happening is actually the ‘change’ that a lot of us voted for. Before you make a turn, you have to slow down, and before you fix your car, you have to park it to overhaul the engine. You cannot be driving at full speed and you want the mechanic to be changing oil and all that. So what was supposed to have been done has not been done in the country for long and there was no economy so to speak. Those, who want to do business cannot because there were no infrastructure and supports. The financial institutions make their money by banking the government. No business funds anywhere for the masses. We are paying the price of foolishness and recklessness. I want to urge Nigerians not see things in negative point of view. I want to advise Nigerians to do what Godswill Akpabio said. Immediately after the election, if you are in opposition, you will oppose so that we can get it right because all of us are pursuing the same goal, which is that the nations will do well. That should be the objective of Nigerians. It shouldn’t be ‘pull him down.’ To make Nigeria work, it will be a collective responsibility of all of us because if Nigeria is going to collapse, it collapses on all of us. It’s Buhari today; it could be somebody else tomorrow. We will go back to those times when we have respect for nation and institutions of the government. So, how did you get to where you are now? I have worked in a number of places because I have always been somebody who wanted to explore. I never really like to sit, doing nothing. I like to solve problems. I have worked for the Inland Groups, Leather Works; and I have worked with a number of consulting firms from where I now felt I really need to stay on my own. I went into rendering business advice. I went into development of business and that is one area that people take for granted. There is a whole lot to be done before establishing a business, especially in an environment like this, not just the money. In business itself, there is the need to consider the market and environment; there are a whole lot of issues. You need to sit down and conceptualise and have a proper view of what you want to do because you don’t get into business because someone else went into such business. You need to know how to get there. We give advice to that effect and management of financing. Today, I am the Managing Consultant, Meyoung

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Success is not measured by money – Udo Mecha Mr. Mecha Udo is the Managing Consultant/Chief Executive Officer, Meyong Nigeria Limited. He speaks to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on his early life experiences and sundry issues lady. You know, sometimes, people find it difficult to believe that people of opposite sexes can be friends without anything happening. We were really very close friends. She introduced me to somebody and when we met, I discovered she was brilliant, disciplined and focused and not given to vanity. One major consideration I give was that she has the morals that we can produce in children together. I don’t want somebody who will produce children that will trouble us. So, I felt that the combination will give me what I want. And to the glory of the Almighty Father, that is what I got. How did you propose to her eventually? I’m not a very fancy kind of person, rather I’m more direct. There was no rigmarole about it. I knew what I wanted, I knew what I needed and I went straight for it. I showed her what I have on the table and how we want to get on with that. There were no flowers because the heart of love is there. I didn’t want to deceive anybody. So, I was real about what I was doing. What was her reaction then? I guess it was pretty obvious to her that that was where we were headed. You are married with how many children? My marriage is blessed with two wonderful girls and a super guy.

Mecha Udo

Nigeria Limited.

to be focused and contented.

Could you share your early life experiences with us? First of all, I’m from Ohaofia in Abia State. My father is late but my mother, to the glory of God, is still alive. My father, Chief Udo Mecha, was a soldier. I’m the fifth in the family of six. We were born two boys, and four girls. I’m the first boy. As you will understand, the hallmark of the military is discipline. And one thing that teachers are known for is discipline. My father was a teacher in the Nigerian Army. So, I got double portion of that disciple. Not just in the spanking, which rarely came, but in doing what is right. Being truthful and standing on that, which does not compromise anything as such but we were taught contentment. Not cheapening yourself for anything. My mother believes that if you have one white shirt and wash it every day, people will think you have many white shirts. The secret is that you are keeping it clean every day. We were taught to comport ourselves. We were tought the fear of God in the midst of anything. If you are not tried and tested, you will not endure but when you are tried and tested, you will endure. That is part of life. There are obstacles in life. But the message is that we were trained

Would you lead us into your educational background? I attended Owerri Township School when my father was working in Owerri, the Imo State capital. I attended Boys’ Secondary School, Ohaoffia in Abia State. From there, I went to Federal School of Arts and Sciences before I gained admission to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where I studied Accounting and Finance. Upon my graduation, I went for my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano. A good concept is the NYSC. The original concept was to expose you to other parts of Nigeria. Also, the exposure depends on the community you are posted to. If you are posted to a hostile community, it kills the Nigerian in you. I did my NYSC in Kano and I did stay in Kano for a while. I have done a number of businesses in the West and North and I speak a bit of their languages by the virtue of what I do. And to a reasonable extent, I’m not comfortable telling you that I’m from here or there. My father comes from Abia State but I have lived all my life in Lagos. So, I can say I’m a Lagosian. How did you meet your wife? I had a friend, a really good friend, a

Do you still have time for your family? I have learnt over time that success is not measured by the amount of money you have. One of the ways to measure success is what kind of offspring you have raised. It’s necessary for you to earn all the resources needed to train them but there is nothing more important than being there for them. So, I make sure I’m involved in their education not just to take them out but to answer to their educational needs. If I need to go and learn primary school mathematics to teach them, I will do that because a child’s education starts from the parents before it gets to school. Education is not going to school to learn mathematics or learn how to speak English, the character is there and then, and you have a well rounded child. It’s what you give to teachers that they will give back to you. If you give them nothing, they will return nothing to you. What sporting activity do you engaged on? I play football. One would have considered making money from it then but we were not even allowed to go near it at all. How do you unwind? Worship God. It brings a different kind of joy in me to worship God. I read for pleasure and watch television also. What types of perfume do your wear? I don’t have any particular one. I just wear men’s perfume. Do you go for jewellery? I wear my wedding ring and wrist watches. Simple and bare! When I walk into a shop I know what I want. It’s not going to be expensive or offensive but I will get something quality.

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SUNDAY

Body Soul S U N D AY, A P R I L 3 , 2 0 1 6

I’ll rather go to hell (3) 22 The sexy Agbada obsession 18,39 I’m extremely ambitious –Uru Eke 42

I am motivated by challenges – Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode

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Body&Soul

SUND AY

Contents 17.04.2016

COVER

Our nails, however small or insignificant they may seem, can actually decide what message you are sending out to people around you

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MY PASSION I like someone who enjoys meaningful conversations, who can hold their own in an argument

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The female Agbada is very flexible and could be made long, midi or knee length

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BEAUTY ZONE

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FASHION

My practical experience has helped me to sit outside the box and look at situations and help other people

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BED, WORK & LIFE After a while, he took her hands and fulled her up. She hid her face in his chest and sobbed the more. He clasped his arms around her and rocked her gently...until she curled her hands round his neck

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

Associates

es Van

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016

StyleSta ker

Yemi Alade Supper-hot pop star Vanessa Okwara

opularly Known as Yemi Alade, Yemi Eberechi Alade is a Nigerian Afro pop singer who became a star after winning the maiden edition of the Peak Talent Show in 2009, and since then she has been soaring higher and higher! When Yemi Alade released the music video for ‘Johnny’ in March 2014, it gained over 800,000 YouTube views in two months, making ‘Johnny’ an international smash hit, dominating music charts and became an anthem in countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and more. Yemi Alade is definitely a woman of style and she continues to live up to the hype each time she steps out. Her signature hair do, which is usually in an Afro punk style, has been adopted severally by Nigerian ladies as the hair style of the season. The beautiful singer stepped out for the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA) looking bold and beautiful as she dazzled in a sheer dress that made her look gorgeous. The singer stormed the stage in a sheer outfit designed by Iconic Vanity. She paired her outfit with pink ankle strap heels. For the red carpet, Yemi rocked a sheer gown by the same brand. She celebrated her birthday recently in March and throughout that week; style radar caught her in different chic and fab looks. Also as part of celebrations to mark her birthday, she attended the 2016 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in South Africa and looked amazing in all the outfits she wore. For her first day at the fashion week, the ‘Johnny’ singer rocked a pink maxi wrap dress from the Elan Red store. She kept her hair in her signature ‘fro and accessorized with a bronze “Johnny” statement neckpiece from the Brand2Glam store. Yemi Alade is definitely beautiful and elegant. Her choices in outfit are never overtops and she definitely slays with her different punk natural hairstyles.

Body&Soul

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The sexy

Agbada obsession

Biwom Iklaki

etting style inspiration from the menfolk has been in existence since forever, and we the womenfolk have a way of taking a pre-existing look and making it all ours. The Agbada is an affluent look that is guaranteed to make the average man stand out from the crowd. The man who wears Agbada is likely to be cheered as he passes with fists raised and “baba, oga or chairman” chants. The Agbada is majorly favoured by men from the Northern and South Western parts of Nigeria. The fabrics used for this unique style range from Ankara, laces to brocades and more. However, the narrative has changed as women are now spotting the style and have deconstructed it to suit their gender,

tastes, frames and persons. Most appreciated in white, one can decide to spot the look in other colours, even feminine colours too. The female Agbada is very flexible and could be made long, midi or knee length. They could be embroidered or not, if you so prefer. The dress is worn with shirts, skirts or skinny pants underneath. Several ladies often don the embroidered caps from Northern Nigeria or the red caps from the South, with their Agabada, some do gele, hijab, or a lovely hairdo to pair with the style. The look definitely looks better with stilettoes, but sneakers, boots, oxfords and brogues equally raise the style game. We not unhappy with this obsession with the Agbadas, infact, we love it and totally endorse it for all fashion forward ladies out there in Nigeria and beyond!

Editor’s current obsession

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

Here Beyond Sexy sheer lookbook Biwom Iklaki

rends come and go but some trends often take their sweet time as they come, reign supreme and gradually begin to evolve using the current trends as a crutch. The sheer trend is one of such styles that will not just step aside, it keeps coming and going like the ebb of an ocean tide. Currently, it is used as a way to create a sexiness that is coy but not in your face. Sheer panels make for very beautiful and fresh statements on an ensemble. It could take a very plain or even regular outfit straight up to glam. It is up to you which parts of your body you want to expose through sheer. Depending on how much of a prude you are, and how conversant you are with your best features, those are the areas to introduce the sheer panel to. Keep it decent for formal occasions though in order not to stick out like a sore thumb. However, you are welcome to knock yourself out and take the proverbial fashion foot forward like Beverly Naya did in her all black dress with the side sheer panels. She looks edgy and sexy and girly all rolled up in one neat black package. On the other side of the globe however, the ladies are less demure and more expressive with their sheer ensembles. Their street style tells it all and reminds you that their society is much less â&#x20AC;&#x153;judgyâ&#x20AC;? than what is obtainable in Nigeria. And that is how we explore the sheer fashion here and beyond.

Body&Soul

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Body&Soul

I am motivated by challenges – Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode is a Criminal Justice Psychologist, child protection consultant and victim of sexual abuse advocate and Chief Executive Officer of Media Concern for Women and Children Initiative (Media Con). Dr. OlufemiKayode is committed to breaking the silence about sexual abuse of children in Nigeria as a survivor of sexual violence. In this interview with VANESSA OKWARA, she takes us through her life journey What is Media Con all about? Media concern is an organisation that pioneered action on sexual violence response in the country. It’s an organisation that is committed to addressing and contributing to effective and sustainable sexual violence response in Nigeria and Africa. It started in 2000 as a corporate body, but started functioning as an entity in 2007. You were a victim of child abuse. Was that what motivated you to start this organisation? My being a survivor had nothing to do with my running Media Concern. I always try to emphasise on this whenever I’m asked. It has nothing to do with whether I was abused as a child or not. Media Concern actually started when I was a journalist with Punch newspapers. That is why it is called a Media Concern. I was working as a columnist then and child abuse was one of the issues I raised on my column and then I started getting calls from different places to talk about it. A lot of people thought it was an NGO and that was the way the name Media Concern came up. But in 2002, I was at a point in my life where I was working with an organisation, Journalists Against Aids. I was actually the first staff on that job then. While I was with JAIDs, I could only do cases on the sideline and didn’t hide it from my boss. But it had nothing to do with my story at all. So in 2002, I resigned. I’m the kind of person who is motivated by challenges and so there was nothing there to challenge me anymore. I’m not a routine person. I like life situations; I want to come to work and don’t know how the day is going to be. I like that a case comes up and I have to move around to solve it. I love the fact that I cannot predict my day. I’m not the type that writes goals down and begins to follow it to the letter, I’ve tried to learn that, but I’m just not like that. My job at JAIDS was becoming like that for me. So I prayed to God and asked Him what’s next and I received instruction on what I was going to do. But Media Concern is not the vision that God gave me. God sent me to the church and not to the general world. But it was not yet time. The vision was to be a minister to the people in church and it was very specific and I was like why did you ask me to resign my job then? So I said to God, ‘let’s have a bargain, let me do this Media Concern projects till I’m equipped to be a minister’. I had to do something to equip myself before then. That is how we started. We did our research and it took me two to three months preparation but somehow, a case found a way to us. We were actually on our preparation

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

Body&Soul ground and not ready to pick up a case but yet it came. What was the first case you handled all about? It was a case involving the only child and daughter of two police officers. How they located me, till today I have no idea. When I saw the little girl, she couldn’t walk straight and I was heartbroken and she was between five and eight years old. The parents never knew; they had just discovered that this has been going on for a while. That is how Media Concern started. Media Concern for me is a bargain till when God says it’s time to go into ministry. It is somehow attached and I’ve been able to reach out to the world through Media Concern and that is why Media Con is not dying anytime soon. We had to hold a media forum because of that little girl’s case. It was a topic people don’t talk about, so it attracted media support. It was top news at that time and we were on NTA News Line. Through it, I’ve been on different television stations. So today I see Media Concern as a benefit. It’s a benefit because I’ve gone through child molestation too. I’ve gone through rape; I’ve gone through gang rape and as a person, I know how it feels. I know how I felt during my own experience and later on I still saw how my parents managed with the discovery when they got to know. So practically, I’ve lived it. So because of my situation, I began to study about it so as to help others. So I see everything I’ve gone through as a way God was preparing me for the work He has ahead for me. In fairness so I don’t take God’s glory, it was not because of my case that I started this initiative but His design. So I won’t say it was because I was a victim that is why I started Media Concern, for me it is an added asset. So now I can say I have actually walked through that fire as a child. It’s an asset for me because God uses the ugly experiences in our lives to open us up to greater things in life. My practical experience has helped me to sit outside the box and look at situations and help other people. At the end of the day, it is easier to say, thank God I went through that route, though it’s not a good one, but I can say I went through it to be able to help mankind. You are a criminal psychologist. Can you take us through your educational background? My background is a very interesting one. I did not go to higher institution but I’m a doctor. I finished my secondary school education in 1981 at Lagos Anglican School LANS. Almost immediately, I had my first child. My first son is going to be 33 years this year. I knew I was going to have children anyway, there’s no agreement about that. I and my father settled it up later in life but then he couldn’t accept it. I was more of a tom boy while growing up. I and my dad were so much alike and of course had several arguments, so my way of escape was to get married. I told him I will go to school in my husband’s house and it was in my husband’s house I actually went to school. My father battled me that he will not agree to early marriage. I still went ahead to have three kids out of no marriage. Eventually, I got married to my husband now who is a widower. He had three kids, I had three kids also but my kids are much older. Our children blend with each other because the ages rhyme, you would think we both had them together. I love children. We have two daughters together making eight kids; we have a large family. But you still went ahead to further your education? For this work, I had to study and do lots of research and build capacity. I have a flair for writing. That is how I got to be in journalism. I have twenty years experience in the media. I was more of a freelancer in most media houses. My parents tried to get me through Nigerian Institute of Jour-

nalism (NIJ), but when I got there, I found out that I already knew most of what they were teaching, and so I left. I was already writing and reporting by that time. I’m the kind of person that wants to learn what I don’t know. Later on, I attended Walden University, an American university. I had to go back to do WAEC. And I made all eight credits including mathematics. For the American University, I chose to study psychology. My doctorate is an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Western Cape, South Africa, on their 50th anniversary in 2010. Through my advocacy works, I became a member of the Ashoka Fellowship in 2007, and have won several awards such as the Vagina Warrior in 2007 and Woman of Peace in 2011. We opened the first rape centre in this country in 2005. We have victim advocates all over the country and we have 24hrs help lines across the nation where once we get a call, we will come over to your house with a police officer. The first Child Protective Custody Order in Lagos State Customary Court was gotten by Media Concern. It is in the constitution but it has never been implemented until we came on board. That is for the government to take the child in, if he/she is found in a dangerous environment. This is on record today. We actually pushed the system, but there is a limit we can go. No matter the case that comes, we do counselling and support them. We’ve worked with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health. We have worked with the market community especially with the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of the former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We also got to work with Adobe Foundation to train young people. For the past two years, we have what we call the SAC, Sexual Assault Centre in Lagos State within Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH) which is in form of a rape response centre. In your opinion, why do we have increase in child rape in the country? It’s not that there is an increase; it is because there are more discoveries. And even these discoveries are like drops in the ocean. Our first campaign was to push this issue to the public face. Child sexual abuse is real and connected to every aspect of life. We are talking about relationships in the house, religion, secondary education, even in eating or fetching water. Some kids are abused by their lesson teachers. It cuts across every tribe. So we engage the media to also have access to the resource persons. I also had a column in Vanguard Newspapers to lend a voice to these issues. We also partner with the police on every issue that comes our way. As a criminal psychologist, do you help with the legal cases? It’s not so much of a legal thing. It is basically to profile. Profiling means that if you see a case, you can say, this kind of person could have done this. It’s also possible to meet the accused person to profile the person and submit my judgement. One of the things that pain me in these cases is that the police will investigate, and they will send the case to court with a file without enough report to prosecute. In that file, there should be enough reason why that case should go to court because if there is no reason, that person cannot be convicted. But by that time we go to court, there is not enough reason built up by the police to win that case. This is because they don’t meet with forensic experts like us to

get the right evidence that will hold water in the court. This is because most rape cases may not even be reported the day it happened, so you may not have physical evidence to present in court. They do more of interrogation and even interviewing the victim as if she is the cause of her own rape. Media Concern was able to set up what we call a Forensic Interviewing Facility for children who have been sexually abused or witnessed a violent crime. I am a trained Forensic Interviewer. This facility has been here for a while now and it is functioning in full capacity. The facility is supposed to work with the state; it cannot work in isolation. If there is a case in court, the Forensic Interviewer should interview the child using the facility. So it is painful to have invested your life, even the education you went to acquire, to do something for your country and find that they are not interested in it. This facility will save investigation; this is because the police are not trained for such interviews. Most of the time, the child statement is written by the police officer who has interpreted what the child said in his own understanding. So for me, we need to start looking into a more victim approach. Sexual violence has its dynamics and we need to begin to teach the society that when something happens to another, we cannot just pretend it’s none of our business. What has working as an advocate for child rape victims done for you as a person? Yes I’m fulfilled doing what I’m doing now. I love to contribute positively to somebody’s life and betterment. What motivates you to do what you do? God is my ultimate motivation. I’m motivated by challenges I see around me, the people around me, my children and husband.

How long have you been married? I’ve been married for 20 years now, and we have two kids between us, though I usually say I have eight children; three from his previous marriage and three from mine. What does your husband mean to you? I call him my own. Everybody knows him as my payback and that’s what I call him too. It’s been wonderful so far. It’s a bit tough adjusting to having someone you have to answer to and tell your decisions after being on your own for a long time but in all, its been wonderful, he’s been very supportive. At home, if you see our children, you won’t tell that they are not from the same parents. So God has been good to us. What’s your fashion style? I don’t like dressing up. For you to see makeup on my face might be when I have to appear on television or an important function and my makeup is usually very light. I love good clothes. I wear a lot of trouser suits and skirt suits. I’m more of a jeans person than trousers. I love high heel shoes but now I slow down on them because of my knees. I also had to shed a little weight. I wear mostly block heels now. I love perfumes too. When did you start spotting your grey hair? Wow! That was a long time ago! Maybe when I was still in my thirties; I’m in my fifties now. Any regrets? No! None at all! I have a happy life, it does not mean that I’m rich or anything like that. I have learnt to give thanks for everything and there is always something to be thankful for.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

Juliet Bumah

I’ll rather go to hell (3)

atra looked around her. She felt so empty, so lonely. She poured another drink. The tears came running down her cheeks and she let herself cry until she could cry no more. Her heart ached. February 14 flashed through her mind for the umpteenth time. Richie had travelled two days earlier. He said he had a business meeting in Port Harcourt. It had to do with a deal he had been chasing for months, he said. It was worth a pretty sum. He had complained that it came up at a time he didn’t want to be away from his loving wife. Patra encouraged him to go for it since it was important. They had agreed to have a special dinner the following weekend since he would be gone for five days. Patra had felt so alone on Valentine’s Day. Everyone in her office talked about hanging out in the evening. Everyone had a plan for the day...except her. When she got home, she felt so alone. She felt like going out but didn’t want to go anywhere around Ikeja which was her favourite, so that she wouldn’t run into her friends who would be hanging out with their spouses. Driving through Third Mainland Bridge had always been an issue for her since she was robbed there some years ago. You wouldn’t find her on the Island unless it was absolutely necessary. She decided to go to the Island anyway! Her husband took her to a cozy leisure arena on her birthday three years ago. She would go there. Problem was, she wouldn’t be able to find her way there. She called Ritchie’s phone but it was switched off. He must be in a meeting. She’d take a cab. She sent him a text message, informing him of her movement. When she got there, she was ushered to a table. The a Hendant asked, “Ma’m, are you expecting someone?” After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded, “I’m expecting my husband.” “Do I take your order now?” She asked. “Lemme study the menu first,” Patra told her. “Okay ma’m. Will be back,” she said and moved to the next table. Patra settled into her comfortable chair. It was a table for two. From her dimly-lit corner, she could observe other revelers. The place was noisy. The music was good. Love was definitely in the air. Suddenly she froze! Then she wiped her eyes with the back of her right palm. ‘No! It’s not possible!’ Walking towards her was Richie! He had a little girl in a pink and red dotted gown in his arms. In his eyes were the twinkles she loved so much. He had that naughty curl at the corners of his mouth...only that they were not meant for her that moment because he stopped two tables from hers and gave the woman sitting there a peck on the lips and sat down. Patra shook her head to clear her thought. She must be dreaming, but no. He was still there, playing with the little girl who was struggling with him. Patra watched them, mesmerised. He set the little girl down and she took a few paces and slipped. Richie was

up in a flash, he scooped her into his arms. Patra didn’t know what propelled her. She got up from her seat and moved like someone in a trance towards them. Richie saw her and aged immediately. He said something to the lady beside him and her eyes popped in fear. They stood up hastily. She was pregnant! Patra got to their table and stopped. The little girl looked up and smiled at her. She didn’t know how she managed it, she smiled at the little girl, turned to the adults and said, “I can see you are having a family outing. Cool. Very very cool. Well, enjoy it.” She turned to the little girl again, smiled and walked away. She is beautiful, but she really didn’t look anything like Richie or the lady. ............. Patra shook her head again. That incident should be forgotten: She felt woozy. Her phone was ringing again. That number had called several times. She picked it. “Ma’m it’s me, Pius,” the voice said. “Pius?” Patra slurred...she could hardly think clearly. “Yes ma’m. I drove you from the airport. You said you might need me to take you round town...” “Oh Pius! Where are you? Come over,” she said. About 20 minutes later, he called again. “Do come up to the room,” she told him. The intercom buzzed few minutes later. “Send him up,” she said into the mouthpiece and replaced it. She could barely get up to open the door. She swayed and Pius caught her and led her to the bed. He was alarmed when he saw the bottle of cognac. He looked around the room, then at Patra. It was obvious she had been drinking and crying. Her eyes were swollen and her makeup had messed up her pretty

face, but she still looked very beautiful. “What could be her problem? Who could have hurt this angel?” he worried. “Ma’m, er...er...what happened?” He said ever so gently and tears streamed down her cheeks again. He was confused. He moved towards her and stopped. Head bowed, she placed her two palms over her face and sobbed. Pius picked up the bottle of cognac, alarmed that she could gulp such quantity. He hesitated a bit then poured himself a drink. After a while, he took her hands and fulled her up. She hid her face in his chest and sobbed the more. He clasped his arms around her and rocked her gently...until she curled her hands round his neck. They felt the heat! She tilted her head back and looked up at him. As she opened her mouth to say something, something got into Pius and he brought his mouth down gently on hers. He felt her stiffen, then she yielded. They tasted her tears as their tongues rummaged their mouths. Then it became so urgent. Their hands wandered all over their bodies. Then he kissed her face, neck...she moaned and clasped her soft hands round his neck so lovingly, caressing him ever so gently. It was obvious they had crossed the point of no return. He fumbled with her clothes, got her free of them and released the mound that tormented his mind during the journey from the airport. A look at her magnificent body and he decided he would rather die than not have her. He carried her gently to the bed and rummaged in the drawers for a sheath. None. He picked the intercom and requested for it from the reception. Then he turned down the television volume and joined her in bed.

“I don’t have a sheath,” she murmured. “I’ve taken care of that,” he whispered into her ears. She relaxed and he went exploring her body with his tongue. It was passion unrestrained. Buoyed by the cognac in her system, she lost it. A gentle tap on the door, he got the sheath. He stepped out of his clothes and her eyes popped. Now she had an unrestrained view of those strong arms and firm body. Somewhere in her mind, an alarm went off but she was just past caring. This would be the first time in six years that another man would come close to her. She was hundred per cent faithful to Richie from the day they started dating till they got married more than a year later. Everything changed suddenly. “Take me please...take me,” she murmured. “I will honey,” Pius said huskily as he lowered himself gently into her. “Thank you love,” Patra sang as she swayed her hips to a romantic rhythm playing in her head. Pius took her to unimaginable heights and back. She cried more, but not out of frustration, but satisfaction. She needed it. She needed someone who would soothe her nerves. Richie betrayed her, she needed this. ***** Richie rushed into the restroom again. He had visited there three times after Patra cut their phone conversation. Was there rat poison inside that food? Fear gripped him as his bowel moved for the fourth time. ********************************* Did Patra return to her husband in Lagos? Let’s find out on Sunday!

•Send your observations to: julietbumah@gmail.com

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 17 APIRL 2016

APC dishonest about state of economy, says Kuye p.24

Why we slashed N17bn from budget, by Rep Edwin p.25

The Sunday Interview

Galadima: PDP is still in firm control of governance in Nigeria p.28, 29

Politics Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

he memories of Monday April 4, 2016 when members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly engaged one another in fisticuffs is still fresh and can never be forgotten in a hurry in the political history of the state. Reasons: Members fought physically on the floor of the hallowed chambers at plenary following allegations by six members that 17 of their colleagues received N50million bribe from the executive arm of government to support the appointment of sole administrators for local government areas in the state. At plenary penultimate Monday, no sooner had the House Majority Leader, Umar Tanko Tunga moved the motion to suspend the six members than fracas ensured, leading to a free-for-all during the sitting. Member representing Wamba Constituency, Makpa Malla first threw caution to the wind and engaged his colleague representing Akwanga East, Peter Mbochu in a fight, just as Kasim A. Kasim representing Akwanga West constituency engaged Mohammed Muluku representing Nasarawa Eggon East constituency in a battle leading to a fight which disrupted the sitting. These actions prevented the motion from being seconded. Following the fracas, Deputy Speaker, Godiya Akwashiki adjourned the sitting indefinitely. Akwashiki also denied bribery allegations leveled against the House by six members in connection with the appointment of sole administrators. Akwashiki, who sees the exchange of blows as a normal happening in the legislative process, however, maintained that no money was received from the government to approve the appointment of sole administrators. The House has since set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations and to report back to the House in a month’s time. In a dramatic turn of events, the 17 lawmakers accused of receiving the bribe from the executive turned around in a commando style had a sitting and within five minutes suspended the six others. The House also set up a Committee to investigate the bribery allegation leveled against the 17 members. The six members were suspended indefinitely and placed on half salary without allowance. The suspended members are: Makpa Malla, Wamba Constituency, (APC) Kasim A. Kasim, Akwanga Constituency (APC) Ogbere Kana Toto/Gadabuke Constituency (APC) Musa Ali Keffi East (APC), Murtala Sodangi, Nasarawa Central Constituency (APC),Mohammed Okpoku, Udege Loko Constituency (APC).They were suspended for misconduct and for violating the House rules. The House during its sitting on Monday April 11,2016, striped two of the suspended members of their principal offices and replaced them with new ones on acting capacity. They are Mapka Malla who until his suspension the Chief Whip, was replaced with Daniel Ogazi now as Chief Wipe, while Mohammed Ogbere Kana was replaced by Mohammed Sani of Ob 1 Constituency. Reacting to their suspension Makpa Mallam, who doubles as House Committee

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

Nasarawa chambers as a wrestling ring

The lawmarkers during the fracas

Chairman on Information, described their suspension as a “rape to democracy’ and a dark day for the legislature in the state, coming at the period of the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari. Makpa Malla said that as lawmaker, who believe in the rule of law, they would seek redress and challenge the action of the Assembly in the court of law. He accused his colleagues for breaking the oath they swore to uphold by conniving with the executive to appoint sole administrators for the local government areas, instead of conducting local government elections in the state. Checks revealed that the six members are opposed to the appointment of sole administrators to replace the local government chairmen whose tenure expired on March 24, 2016. It could be recalled that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly at a plenary on January 27, 2016 through a motion advised the executive arm to conduct local government elections on the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen and councilors on March 24, 2016. In the same vein, a High Court sitting in Lafia, the state capital, had on March 23, 2016 dissolved local government executives in the state. The presiding judge, Justice James Abundaga held that all the issues brought before the court by the appellants were resolved against them. He held that it was illegal to extend the tenure of the elected chairmen beyond their expiration date. Justice Abundaga, who based his argument on Section 7 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, held that the running of local govern-

ment councils either by sole administrators, caretaker committee or in the past, directors of personnel managements is unconstitutional. He said: “It is unconstitutional to contemplate the constitution of a caretaker committee or any other type of transitional government in the local government councils; it is equally unconstitutional to condone illegal elongation of the term of office of an elected official beyond the term he/she stood election for and won.” Justice Abundaga maintained that he would not compromise one illegality for the other. “We as a court of law must refrain from swimming in the muddy waters with the politicians. Let them sort themselves out of the mess they have deliberately put themselves for selfish reasons .” Governor Tanko Al-Makura while briefing journalists after the expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House Lafia recently said that the state government would obey the court judgment which dissolved the local government councils in the state. Government, in a statement signed by Commissioner in the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Aliyu Tijani, announcing the dissolution, had directed chairmen to hand over their official vehicles at the Government House, Lafia a fortnight ago. Surprisingly, in fragrant breach of the law, Governor Tanko Al-Makura stubbornly approved the appointment of sole administrators for 11 local government areas evoking the doctrine of necessity and subsequently swore them into office to run away from conducting local government election on the pretext of insecurity and paucity of fund.

Local government election in Nasarawa State was first conducted in 2003 and the last one in 2014 since the return of democratic rule. Local government administration in the state was being run by either Directors of Personnel Management or Caretaker Committees appointed by the successive administrations in the state. Analysts are of the opinion that the appointment of sole administrators in the state is unconstitutional and in gross violation of the tenets of democracy. The analysts advised the government to as a matter of urgency commenced the process of conducting local government election in the state in order to put a democratic structure at the local government level. The analysts, who took a swipe on the action of the seven members in the state House of Assembly for supporting government’s position on appointment of sole administrators, urged them to always take decisions that are for the best interest of the people against selfish interest. Flashback Sadly, rowdy sessions and fracas have characterised many houses of assembly in many states of the federation and even at the House of Representatives. Some time ago, lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly engaged one another in a free for all, even as the ADC to the then Governor Chibuike Amaechi flogged a lawmaker with the mace. Several lawmakers sustained various degrees of injuries in the process. Similarly, the situation repeated itself recently in Kogi State when minority members in the House of Assembly ‘impeached’ CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

politics Recently, there have been some forms of leadership crisis in the PDP. What really are the issues in the party? There is no leadership crisis in PDP. I don’t know where you got that from. The party appointed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the chairman and his tenure has a terminal date - May 21, 2016, which he must not exceed. This is the date for our party’s convention and a new chairman will be elected. He can’t elongate his tenure. The party’s constitution is very clear on this matter. So, there’s no crisis in PDP. Just wait till the convention date.

SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

APC dishonest about state of economy, says Kuye Peoples Democratic Party’s chieftain, Chief Taiwo Kuye, in this interview with EDWIN USOBOH says there is no crisis in PDP and questions President Muhammadu Buhari economic blueprint

Also, the National Chairman of PDP was in Lagos recently to reconcile factions. What would you say about this? It is a fact that the chairman was in Lagos, we all appreciated his coming. I am saying this boldly that nobody is fighting anybody. It is just a matter of political recklessness and rascality. Permit me to use those words. We have been managing the party before now and nobody is saying another should not come in. If you love the party and you want to be part of it, fine. We have gone for election and we lost. Everybody has come together to chart the way forward but somebody who joined him party along the way, which is not even a founding member thinks he is above everybody. I can categorically tell the Chairman that there is no division in PDP in Lagos. The party is under the leadership of only one person, who is Chief Olabode George, no more, no less. We are going for congresses very soon. Some forces were looking for group/division and that is why they went to give false information about the party in Lagos. The chairman has said the congress starts on the April 21, 2016 and there is no grouping. Go to your ward or local government and test your popularity. We have heard about AK-47-wielding Fulani herdsmen, killing and burning homesteads of innocent farmers. Why is the government not doing anything to stop these cruel activities? They are simply taking advantage of the presidency. It was not like this during the last administration of Goodluck Jonathan. Did you hear anything like herdsmen killing people all over the country? They believe that a Fulani person is now the President and they can do anything at the right time. I am sure we are the ones that will save ourselves. Our farmers in the South-West are brilliant. I am sure they can do anything here and go scot free. If these herdsmen are not properly checked, it will turn into a political war soon because this administration has lost focus. It doesn’t know how to handle the herdsmen issue. I will say the herdsmen are turning into another Boko Haram. This is the question we should be asking this administration. You can imagine an AK-47 that is not a licensable gun to anybody being seen with the herdsmen everywhere and nobody is prosecuting them. It is a shame on the part of this government. How do you see the current state of the Nigerian economy? It makes me laugh when this question about economy arises arises. Everybody knows, even little child of two years knows that Nigerian economy is in total comatose. So, we are only looking up to God because I don’t think All the Progressives Congress led by President Muhammadu Buhari has answer to the dwindling state of the Nigerian economy. They should come out and tell Nigerians boldly the magic they have to apply to revive the economy of this country. Forget about the fact that the price of oil has been dwindling for some time now. Yes, we understand that to

grounded by ex-governor for Buhari’s election. It is clear to everybody what this government is doing is a selective fight against corruption. He should also go into APC and probe his party members. But I can bet my life he can’t do that. If he tries that now, forget the APC and Buhari in 2019. I can categorically tell you that. Buhari is in a cage of his lovers. These people have caged him because of the financial support they gave him during the presidential election. He has abandoned other sectors of the economy all in the name of fight against corruption. I can’t see the fight in 10-month of his administration. What has this fight yielded Nigeria in almost one year now? If you see most people that are been arrested are Buhari’s old friends, who offended him in one way or the other in the past. How do you assess the role of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) played in Nigeria in recent times? The present INEC under Mahmood Yakubu cannot be independent as such because the INEC is under the directive of the presidency in one hand and APC in the other hand. If you follow all the rerun elections, if not for the wind of the almighty God and the lovers of PDP, we would not have won the elections. There was a very strong resistance against INEC and the collaborators of democracy that is while you see PDP winning in most places. It also shows that Nigerians are not happy with the present state of the economy and the Buhari-led administration. Except the INEC is able to break out from the hands of APC and presidency, it can never be independent.

Kuye

be a global problem. There should be natural and economy sensibility in place aimed at reviving this situation, which this administration lacks. President Buhari should come out and tell Nigerians which direction his government is going. He seems not to have plans for this nation. What it’s your view on Buhari’s loot recovery so far? Do you think the FG anticorruption crusade has been wholistic or selective? He’s the one to tell Nigerians how far he has gone in past 10 months of his administration. To me, the fight against corruption is selective. If he is ready to fight corruption, he must start in house. Just take a look at his cabinet then you will understand what I am saying. He is surrounded by corrupt politicians, no doubt about that. If he wants to convince us, particularly, the international community, he should start from his cabinet and party. He should even start

with himself, because to me, I am not convinced that Buhari is above the law… It is a clear selective fight. How can you fight corruption when your cabinet is corrupt? What is your impression of US government and other countries’ readiness to assist in loot recovery? We have heard that before. The US has come out several times to say they will assist and what happened? There was an article by the Times of London last year when Buhari was about to inaugurate his cabinet, about some of the corrupt Nigerians in Buhari’s government and nobody has said anything regarding that till today. They don’t have to say it again. Let the American and the UK help and let us see. Everybody is against corruption, the world is against corruption, as I am sitting here, I am against corruption, FG should not be selective with the fight against corruption. Corruption should be treated with it needful curriculum. River State was

What is your assessment of the Kogi election? That is to tell you that APC will always battle themselves with time. It also affected the PDP because when it is an inconclusive election, the immediate past governor, Idris Wada, is supposed to be there to see that the elections were concluded; that is the position of constitution. As far as I am concerned, in the phase of the law, Yahaya Bello, is still a sojourner in that place, the action of the APC in Kogi cannot stand. The first time in the history of Nigeria you will see a governor without a running mate, the first time in the history of Nigeria you will see a governor sworn-in without a deputy. How do you see the recent castigation of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu? Don’t let anybody deceive Nigerians that the fuel crisis will end in May. It may linger on till December. It shows that this administration is not focused. It is a government that is built on lies, maybe because they stayed for so long in opposition that is why they lose sense of governance. They tell lies in every strata of the economy.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

politics

After months of controversies on the 2016 budget, the bill was eventually passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly before proceeding on Easter break. What is your general view on the document? Like what you said, the controversial budget has been passed by the National Assembly, and in fact, as a Nigerian and a lawmaker, we believe that the budget if implemented to the full would move this country forward. We believe that Mr. President will implement the budget as it has been presented and passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly. In the course of considering of the budget, the Appropriations Committee of the Senate made an observation in its report, noting that despite what the committee did to eliminate some of the errors, repetition of figures and padding of the allocations to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs), there were still some problems arising from the budget that were not tackled. Did the House also notice these claims and how would these obvious problems going to impact on the implementation of the budget? Yes, the budget like you noted was still experiencing some hitches that needed to be tackled but I believe that if Mr. President will effectively look into the budget as passed by the National Assembly and note the anomalies dictated by the chamber in the implementation of the budget, I am sure Nigerians would be happy for it. You will recall that this is the first time that the National Assembly has slashed the budget to the tune of N17billion. This reduction arose from the over bloating and padding of the budget by the MDAs and we believe that if we are really serious with our fight against corruption that action by the National Assembly was necessary. I wish Mr. President would look into the budget critically and work in accordance with what has been passed by the legislature. The benchmark for oil is $38 per barrel in addition to the rising exchange rate which was put at N197 per dollar. Are they not going to impede the smooth implementation of the budget? Well, the problem in the capital market and the exchange rate are going to slightly affect the implementation of the budget. We have to tell ourselves the truth but I believe that this country can still know what to do at the long run. I believe that as we have passed the budget if we start implementing it as passed and if in the course of the implementation if the need arises, the executive could come back with a supplementary budget and make sure that the budget is implemented in a very smooth way. In the course of considering the budget, we gathered that there were intrigues and lobbying by the MDAs to have their way and yet the National Assembly went ahead to reduce the budget by N17billion. Will this reduction not affect its implementation? There is nothing hidden in this passage of this budget. Nigerians know that the budget presented by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari was padded, figures repeated, lots of mistakes in that budget. That was what National Assembly bent down to correct by making sure that they worked on it one by one. The committees involved, the MDAs were involved, everybody sat down and made sure that we picked it item by item and that was the reason why members were working sleepless nights to ensure that we came out with a very good result that would make Nigerians to be a positive Nigeria that we are all looking forward to. Again you mentioned lobbying, I think this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that the National Assembly has passed budget without any lobbying from the MDAs based on the Change mantra of the Buhari-led administration, and we vowed to work to achieve change. We are working seriously towards change to make sure Mr. President achieve that change

Why we slashed N17bn from budget, by Rep Edwin Hon Anayo Edwin represents Ezza-North, Ishelu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State at the National Assembly and he is the deputy chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development. In this interview with CHUKWU DAVID, he speaks on the 2016 budget and the recent Rivers State national and state assemblies rerun elections the budget defence? I would not say our action was instigated by Mr. President’s war against corruption, rather I would say that we are trying to establish a refined, organised and transparent National Assembly. We are trying to set the pace in corruption free National Assembly. I know before now such a thing was in existence, but this present leadership of the National Assembly and its membership are determined to work transparently for the nation. That notwithstanding, we are supporting Mr. President’s fight against corruption and we will continue to support him to win this war against corruption in the country.

Edwin

that he has promised Nigerians. So in terms of lobbying or no lobbying I don’t think there was any National Assembly member or committee that was lobbied to either change figures or influence what was allocated to any MDA in this year’s budget. We are aware that the inability of the National Assembly to properly oversight the MDAs been the major reason for poor implementation of the budgets. Are Nigerians going to see a departure from the old order? This 8th National Assembly is ready to oversee all the MDAs to make sure that this year’s budget is fully implemented. We are ready to work for Nigerians because they voted us in to work for them. So in terms of National Assembly living up to its biddings on the implementation of the budget, we are ready and when I say ready, we are completely ready to oversight, to make sure all the items in the budget are being implemented as appropriated and implemented effectively. National Assembly members are usually accused of compromising their functions in terms of check-mating excesses of the executive arm by negotiation for kick-back with the MDAs in the course of over-sighting their activities. What assurances are you giving to Nigerians that this practice would change this time round? I want to assure you that it has already changed as far as this current National Assembly is concerned. If indeed that has been the practice in the previous National Assembly, I want to tell you that going by what we did during the 2016 budget such

practice would not happen again. We did not listen to any lobbyist in passing this budget and we are not ready to listen to any MDA in over-sighting them. I recall that in our several meetings during the consideration of the budget we did not listen to anybody. We were organised to the extent that we did not give any MDAs room for such a thing. Was it the anti-corruption crusade of President Buhari that has brought about this change of attitude by your colleagues during

There was virtually a state of war in Rivers State recently over rerun elections for state and National Assembly offices. What is your take on this as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Rivers state re-run election has been a source of concern to all PDP members as a major opposition party in this country. The APC in this country wanted to win election there at all cost. If you look at Rivers State today there is no way you can turn Rivers State into an APC state. Rivers State has been a PDP state and has remained a PDP state. But some of the leaders of the APC have not really tried to sit down and think very well that this state belongs to PDP. The votes belong to the people and there is no way Rivers people will cast their votes for an APC candidate and you are forcing somebody to put their votes where they do not want to vote. That is the simple truth in the raging war in Rivers State. They killed without minding the consequences of their actions. Look at the death of an NYSC member killed in the last re-run poll for no justifiable reason. It is unfortunate that somebody has decided wrongfully that his will must prevail in a state that is predominately PDP’s. I congratulate the governor of Rivers State and the leadership of the PDP for ensuring that voters stood by their votes in the last rerun election to make sure that their votes counted.

Nasarawa chambers as a wrestling ring C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

the speaker, causing great disquiet in the House. Consequent upon this, the House of Representatives in Abuja had to take over legislative duties of the state till further notice. Speaking on the development, Public Relations Officer of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Mr. .Wuduyamba Agidi, said that the party has decided not to speak officially on the crisis rocking the Assembly but it has resolved to do inhouse work to settle the matter. Hence, both groups are members of the same party who must look for ways to resolve the matter. He said that the party cannot pinch its tenth with any of the contending groups but has decided to settle the matter in-house. A Lafia-based lawyer, Anthony Jatau expressed displeasure over the crisis in the state House of Assembly. He pointed out

that it was unhealthy for the lawmakers to fight on the floor of the House rather than facing the business of lawmaking. The lawyer urged the legislators to resolve their differences and settle down for their primary responsibilities and make laws that would bring about good governance and development. Observers have said that the level of gangsterism on the floor of several houses of assembly in the country smacks of the decorum expected of such hallow chambers and are at variance with tenets of democracy in all parts of the world. “The parliament is ruled by arguments and laws, where lawmakers discuss. The word parliament is derived from the French word ‘parler’, which means to talk. The current spate of fracas, exchange of blows and destruction of public property by supposedly honourable men, therefore make a mockery of their offices,” the analyst said.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

COLUMNS

X-raying Obasanjo’s frequent visits to Aso Rock Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

Anule Emmanuel

he sight of Nigeria’s former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo anywhere, anytime is an excitement to any reporter. Baba, as he is fondly referred to, if approached, readily has something to offer to make a banal headline. A rare octogenarian, at age 79, Chief Obasanjo is full of humour and can be controversial. The controversial nature of this former leader really stems from his strong character as a fearless person with the capacity of courting controversies, and telling bitter truth not minding who it hurts. But Obasanjo is not an ordinary Nigerian citizen as his Otta residence has become some sort of political ‘Mecca’ where countless politicians and political parties pay homage and source for advice concerning their ambitions. Whether from Otta or at

public functions, his fearless utterances and actions have in the past earned him a lot of enemies and criticisms. But Obasanjo seems not to be bothered by his critiques. To many Nigerians, the perceived patriotic zeal of Obasanjo is never in doubt and this contributes significantly to why he remains more popular as a national leader than a mere Yoruba politician. I am one of those numerous admirers of Chief Obasanjo whom I strongly believe is the most privileged citizen the country has ever had still living, having been blessed to lead Nigeria in the highest capacity at two different times. Obasanjo first served the country as military Head of State from 13 February 1976 to 1st October 1979. He came back in 1999 when the current democratic dispensation began. In the 16 years of the cur-

From the

Green Chamber ternyam@gmail.com

Philip Nyam

ince 1999, the presidency and House of Representatives have always collided on the issue of budgets. This is expected because while the executive proposes the appropriation bill, the legislature approves it and the President signs it into law. However, the current acrimony playing out between the two over the 2016 budget has unfortunately taken a different dimension. First, the bill was submitted late and subsequently it was declared missing and was later discovered debated and passed. Yet, the passed budget was transmitted to the president for assent without details. The President declined to append his signature until the details were made available. The National Assembly reacted promptly and furnished the president with details. But the issue of missing projects reared its ugly head with the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail line featuring prominently as one of the major projects dropped from the budget. Even as the matter is yet to be settled, a more

disturbing development broke up with allegations of the lawmakers, particularly the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin allocating projects to their constituencies without recourse to due process. The allegations against Jibrin’s are trending in the social media compelling the House to summon an executive session. Although, the spokesman for the House, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas denied that the closed door session never discussed the allegations against Jibrin, lawmakers who attended the session confirmed to the media that the issue was the main item of discourse. In fact, according to the lawmakers, the appropriation chairman was prevailed upon to resign honourably from his position. Speaker Yakubu Dogara was said to have pleaded with his colleagues to forgive Jibrin and that plea saved the day. What are those projects that Jibrin is being accused of personally allocating to his constituency - Kiru/Be-

rent dispensation, the former President served for eight years, placing him far above other leaders in the country with a unique and dependable experience. Definitely, the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba clan of Yorubaland is an enigma, whom many have described as ‘a necessary evil’. Obviously, after him, every occupant of the Aso Rock presidential villa has had cause to consult the Ijebu-born retired General to succeed. Right from the days of late Umaru Yar’Adua whom he handed over power to, through the government of Goddluck Jonathan who just left office in 2015, Chief Obasanjo’s consent has been sought on critical national issues. On several occasions, the former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would storm the villa late at night to hold crucial meetings with past Presidents, something that has also happened in the present administration. Who says that the experience of the General turned civilian is not needed in a government of change? Although, Obasanjo had declared he was going out

of active politics before the emergence of Buhari, his support for the success of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate in the 2015 election was never mistaken. Since President Buhari moved into the presidential after May 29, 2015, Obasanjo has visited Aso Rock at least four times. Midnight of August 10, 2015, was the first day he sneaked into the seat of power avoiding newsmen to meet Buhari at his official residence. Again, on September 8, same year, the General met his colleague Buhari, this time in the office where they discussed on Obasanjo’s mission to Guinea Bissau. President Buhari had shortly after assuming duties appointed the former President as a special envoy to mediate in the political crisis in that country. He needed to brief the President and so visited. Penultimate Thursday’s meeting between President Buhari and Obasanjo at the presidential villa was the fourth. On February this year, President Buhari himself visited the General Obasanjo when he held a meeting with Awujale, the

paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona at his palace in Jebu-Ode. Obasanjo was there. Definitely, Obasanjo is becoming very close to comfort with President Buhari and his government. For those who fear for the Buhari administration and have cautioned him to be wary of the former leader, their belief is that the Ogun born General aside his patriotism for nation, does have an ulterior agenda to protect., maybe his business umpires. A few who know the antics of Obasanjo like Senator Roland Owie have since expressed worries over the renewed Buhari/Obasanjo relationship. Senator Owie in a statement recently in Benin cautioned President Buhari to run far from Obasanjo, if he can’t control your government, he will fight you.” This seems, however, not to be President Buhari’s headache. While attending a public function recently in Abeokuta, President Buhari rather acknowledged the contributory role the former president played in his political career. It was Obasanjo who appointed Buhari as minister of pe-

troleum for three years. In all these however, the concern is that the recent comment by President Buhari that the 16 years PDP ruled Nigeria were a wasteful period. He blamed the opposition for the economic woes and insisted that the party failed to save for the rainy day. Can Obasanjo be exempted from this perceived failure? That is the question on lips of a few Nigerians regarding the growing relationship between President Buhari and the former leader. Why are the other former Presidents including Buhari’s own northern brothers not visiting as frequent as Obasanjo? President Buhari, who is 73 years old, definitely needs not to be told who to befriend or seek advice from. He must never make the mistake, however, of surrounding himself with persons who will put the country in a retrograde. Nigerians desire to see this government make a difference and cannot afford the mistake of the past especially with regards to corruption which pervaded the country with impunity.

Budget details of controversy

beji federal constituency of Kano state? The lawmaker is accused of allocating 23 projects, which include: •N100m for Town Hall, Construction of roads in Kiru/Bebeji—N150m, Solar street lights—N300m, Badaf Road Construction—N405m, Pedestrian Bridges —N200m, Bebeji Earth Dam—N270m, Empowerment items— N100m and Entrepreneurship Development Training and Vocational Centre —N100m. Others are the rehabilitation of Gwarzo Kiru, Kwanar Maiyaki–N180m, rehabilitation of SharadaKwanar Dogara—N1.445 billion, construction of solar powered boreholes– N150m, supply of tricycles, grinding machines and set of women salon empowerment kits—N200m and small irrigation scheme ins in Kiru-N100m. Budget review The controversy seems to have pitched the House against the Senate because contrary to the position of the senate, the House has mandated Speaker Yakubu Dogara to seek audience with President Muhammadu Buhari with a view to re-examining areas of concern in the 2016 appro-

priation bill as passed by the National Assembly. The Senate had earlier declared that it has completed work on the budget and would not take a second look at it. But chairman of the House committee on media and public affairs, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas in disclosing the decision of the House to re-examine the controversial budget said it was in the national interest. He explained that the lawmakers at the executive session received briefing from Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin and decided that though the executive has not officially communicated them on the budget, there was need to douse the tension created by media reports on the matter. “We decided to have an executive session and the issue discussed was the budget. We were fully briefed by the Chairman appropriation committee and we agreed as a chamber, as a House and delegated the speaker to please go ahead and engage the executive to identify the areas of concern and that he should report back to us with the hope that these things at the National interest and see that this country move forward. “There are issues in particular, the Lagos-Calabar

rail project that has been in the media, I want to reiterate here that the project was not among the project submitted by the President to the National Assembly.” Asked why the House took a contrary position with the Senate, Namdas explained that “we are not working at cross purposes but for now our concern is how the president will sign the budget for it to be implemented. Now, if the Senate is saying it has closed shop on the budget, and the House is expressing readiness to discuss with the President and possibly review the controversial budget, if desirable what is going to be the converging point? The discordant tunes over the “missing projects” have not been reconciled and if the senate insists that it will not bend back its hand to reconsider the grey areas, what will become the fate of this budget? Both House must quickly harmonise their positions on how to resolve the budget impasse. The earlier this disagreement is put to rest the better for Nigerians and indeed the image of the government, particularly the legislature. The revelations about the

self-allocation of projects by lawmakers to their constituencies is not a good sign and does not speak well of the parliament. The National Assembly has the right to oversight the budget proposal and make inputs but is it right for the lawmakers to start inserting projects, which are perceived to be personal in the budget? For example, Hon. Jibrin is alleged to have allocated N100 million for the building of a town hall in his constituency. Is a town hall the most pressing need of the people of that constituency at this time in the life of this nation? What are the economic benefits of a town hall when majority of the people in the constituency are poor and cannot afford the basic necessities of life? What about allocating such a collosal amount to the building of health care centre? What about investing it in education or agriculture? Is this not a case of misplaced priority? I think the lawmakers should close ranks with the President, who many believe has good intentions to correct the ills in our society. Let’s depart from the old style of budgeting and embraced a changed attitude.

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

politics

How I became Biafra’s last Field Commander – Col. Ihenacho (rtd) Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

olonel Lambert Ihenacho (rtd) in a trending autobiography has revealed how he ended up with the reins of command as Biafra’s last Field Commander during the 30 months civil war. In an engaging account titled: ‘A Guided Life which captured the dogged bravery, vicious brutality and the intrigues that marked the civil war at various stages, Ihenacho who commanded the crack 6th Battalion of the Biafran Army, ties up loose ends to the Nigerian Civil war narratives, while setting aside erroneous assumptions, as only a combatant in the frontlines could. In the dying days of the war, very precarious situations played up and Ihenacho was handed the command of the Biafran army but in his words, he didn’t know he had become the last Field Commander of Biafra. He said: “I recall that at the very tail end of the war, Brig. Gen. Ogbugo Kalu handed his command of the 14 Division to me while he joined Gen. Philip Effiong to draft the Biafra Surrender Document popularly known as (BSD). I was to keep the advancing Federal troops at bay until Gen. Effiong made

his historic announcement. It was indeed hectic and dangerous; there was confusion everywhere but I had to carry out the orders given to me. And without knowing it, I had become the last Biafran Field Commander.” Ihenacho who had very close shaves with three out of the eight military coups in Nigeria’s chequered history recalled how his former colleagues and junior officers, after the July 1966 coup, were ordered to keep him and other Eastern officers in custody at Wudil Prison, Kano and execute them one after the other until the then Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero raised the alarm. On April 22, 1990 while Col. Lambert Ihenacho was serving as a Director in the Command and Staff College, Jaji, another failed coup was executed masterminded by some elements in the Command and Staff College, Jaji including Maj. Gideon Okar and Lt. Col. Nyiam. The situation apparently made every senior official at Jaji a suspect. Subsequently, Ihenacho among others was wrongfully pulled in for interrogation by the Military Investigation Panel. Ihenacho was at the time led to various places to make statements and sign documents and at some points was brought face to face with the manacled coup

plotters while Military investigators watched closely. Ihenacho wrote, “Individually and collectively, the investigators asked the coup plotters if I had the faintest knowledge of the plan and the answer was an emphatic no!” In spite of further pressure, the coup plotters did not change their answers and the panel on May 30, 1990 cleared Col. Lambert Ihenacho. Ihenacho however maintains, “I had never thought of a coup d’etat let alone participate in one. It had never crossed my mind. My concept of life did not accommodate violence of the nature of a coup where I would have to sneak out at night to slaughter my friends.” Discussing the implication of the January and July, 1966 coups, Ihenacho opined, “They started a process which they were totally ill-prepared for and incapable of handling. Their ill-fated experiment threw up people like Yakubu Gowon who in my view had not the capacity to act decisively and who had to depend on the likes of Major Theophilus Danjuma, Lt. Col. Murtala Mohammed and a few other hotheads to decide

Col. Ihenacho

the fate of our country. Gowon’s emergence as Commander-in-Chief therefore became the worst misfortune that befell the Nigerian Nation at such a pivotal time.” He, however, stressed that Nigeria’s problems neither started with Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi nor with Gen. Yakubu Gowon, apparent beneficiaries of the coups, but noted that the two men had the opportunities to point Nigeria in the right direction early enough in true resolution of the nation’s ills armed with truth and depth of vision. Col. Lambert Ihenacho noted however, that, “Of the two men however, it is Gowon who will forever be blamed for allowing darkness to overwhelm the country, as he was aware of the imbalance in the Federal structure at the time.”

‘Current INEC leadership is incompetent’ Ozonma Chidi Elendu is a onetime Idemili South Local Government chairman and a radical legal practitioner in Anambra State. He speaks with OKEGWO KENECHUKWU on various national issues President Muhammadu Buhari recently told Nigerians that he was not in a hurry to sign the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law. What is the position of law in this circumstance and the fact that Nigerians are waiting for the budget to address the harsh economic situation in the country? Well, it has some implications. The law allows the executives to operate the old budget to run the government using 50 per cent of the sum in the old appropriation bill pending when the new budget is passed and assented to. The president has the right to refuse signing the budget but the only thing is that the law allows him only 30days, after which the National Assembly can veto the president assent into law. It is a common knowledge that before a bill becomes a law it will pass through the 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings and finally the President will sign it into law. But the present government does not know how to address issues, probably because of their military background. They have to be tutored in the art of governance and technocracy. What the President said which was in a military manner could convey obstinacy and lack of decorum. The President could have said it in a better form, like ‘I am still studying the document,’ because that is what the statement could better be translated to. For him to have said ‘I will not sign the budget,’ is a combatant statement; it is uncaught, it is not a statement of a diplomat. It is not a language of a technocrat; it is a language of a market place.

election in each state. Therefore, it is not only laughable but preposterous for any person to suggest that INEC will accept the useless list of nominated candidate from a state chairman of a political party. Are you saying that the legal advisers of this party did not know this before going to court or is it a grand design to make both ends met? No, that is not what I am saying. What I am saying is that the issue is a party affairs, it concerns and relates to the party in Anambra State. Remember there are other political parties and the real and ruling party in Anambra as at today is the All Progressives Grand Alliance. PDP does not exist anywhere in Anambra State. They are even lucky to have gotten three senators, but because of their carelessness and indiscipline they lost one. Now those senators are occupying those offices legally and no one can say that the people who are there are not representing Anambra people who elected them.

Anambra people are in suspense over who should legally represent them at the National Assembly after the Supreme Court declared the Oguebegolu group as authentic and legally recognised PDP leader in the state. What is your take on this as a lawyer?

Elendu

There is no confusion in the first place in Anambra except for those whose faculties are temped with mischief, who are creating confusion for themselves. Any nationalistic thinking person in Anambra state and in Nigeria knows that those representing Anambra in the National Assembly are the legally nominated, sponsored and elected candidates of the PDP in the state. It is the handiwork of those political jobbers who has taken

their drums to the street, shouting their voice hoarse and dancing naked like children playing at the village square. It is no longer news that it is only the National Executive Committee symbolised by the chairman and secretary of any political party that is legally authorised to submit the list of candidates from states. It is also the National Executive committee that has the responsibility to conduct primary

The Anambra Central re-run election has been put on hold by INEC and no reason was given for the postponement. What is your take on this as a lawyer and an indigene of the constituency? My take is that a whole section of Anambra State is being deprived of representation at the National Assembly. Secondly, the electoral umpire is supposed to have conducted the election to fill the vacancy; it appears they are not prepared. The Anambra Central re-run issue goes far to show the ineptitude of the Independent National Election Commission and also the indiscipline governing the conduct of the affair of Nigerians political parties, particularly that of the PDP. It shows that we have a long way to go in our electoral process. I have always called for a total overhaul of the independent National Elections Commission. There is overwhelming evidence of incompetence at the helm of affairs in INEC. I don’t think it can conduct a credible, free and fair election in Nigeria. What they are doing in just window dressing and until the Federal Government realises this Nigeria’s democratic process will continue to suffer.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Sunday

Galadima: PDP is s of governanc Former Secretary General of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Buba Galadima, is one of the chieftains of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) and one of the staunch supporters of the present government. Galadima was one of the delegates of the North-East geopolitical zone at the 2014 National Conference. In this interview with ONWUKA NZESHI, the opinion leader from Yobe State speaks on a number of issues including the missing Chibok schoolgirls, fuel shortage, power outage as well as President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent trips abroad. He blames Buhari’s seeming poor performance in the last 10 months on the retention of several Peoples Democractic Party’s PDP elements in the governance structure

It’s now two years and the Chibok Girls are still not rescued. How do you feel? I don’t really know what to say on the natter. I must confess that I am confused as to whether these girls are still alive or not; I wish they are but if they are and we are not doing enough to know where they are, trace their location and map out strategies for rescuing then, then it is really bad, not only for the girls and their parents but for the whole country. During the 2015 electioneering campaigns, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to make this issue a priority and to rescue them as soon as he takes over. Are you satisfied at the way his administration has handled the issue in the last one year? Well, you cannot discuss this issue of the Chibok Girls in isolation of the entire security challenges in that region. If they were kept in a remote place within the region, which I hope even if they are alive, that is going to be the case, unless the military will have to use commando style to rescue them, they have to move little by little until they reach there. The only unfortunate thing is that the military, even though they are trying they are not trying in expanding the corridors of liberation. Up till now, they seem to wait until they are attacked by Boko Haram before they do anything. I think that the military should try to be expanding their corridors of occupation until they reach where the girls are being kept. It’s just too bad that even up till now, the insurgents have been striking from time to time and if this continues into the rainy season, it means that we could go back to square one. Now people in that region ate not farming. Hunger is creeping into the country because at least three or four states cannot effectively go to their farms and do their normal subsistence farming. This is telling very much on the country. Looking at the situation where they

still strike on targets from time to time, do you believe the government when it said that the Boko Haram is no longer occupying Nigerian territories? I don’t think that is absolutely correct. What is correct is that their capacity has been reduced to the minimum. But that they are not occupying any territory, I don’t think it will be right to say that because even those who say so, there are certain areas they cannot go to. If they can’t go to certain areas, it means that certain areas are still under the occupation and influence of the Boko Haram. How do we attend to the huge humanitarian crisis arising from this conflict in the North-East? The truth of the matter is that the government has to re-double its efforts. The soldiers have to make a lot of sacrifice. They need our support; they need our prayers. We urge them to try as much as possible so that before the peak of the rainy season which is June/ July, most of the places would be recovered. We want them to do more about the security of lives and property in the conflict zone. It is unfortunate that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are still in various camps across certain states. They should be persuaded and assisted to go back to their villages so that they can resume living normal life. This has to be done because even the issue of rehabilitation is not possible if the areas are not completely liberated and secured from the terrorists. It is something that we have to really give serious attention. Many Nigerians are not comfortable with the frequent travels being made by President Muhammadu Buhari. They argue that apart from insecurity, there are a lot of serious economic issues which the President ought to sit down at home and tackle. What do you think about this issue? I think that what Nigerians should be concerned about is that the Presi-

Galadima

dent needs to move quickly to set up structures of government because as we speak, the structures of government in this country are firmly in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition party. The chief executive

officers, executive directors and nonexecutive directors of about 500 parastatals in the country are PDP members. All structures in the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are firmly in the hands of the PDP. All the direc-

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

y Interview

still in firm control ce in Nigeria It is not right for some people to be unduly critical of how often the President travels because some of these travels may assist in promoting what we want to do here in Nigeria. Take for example, the President is in China now and it was revealed that he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government to the tune of $UDS 15 billion to develop agriculture in Nigeria. Obviously, if he had not traveled, this couldn’t have happened. So the important thing we need to ask Mr. President to do is to move quickly and set up new structure of government of his own, in his own form and in his own image such that those than man sensitive positions of government are his own appointees, not the appointees of a rival political party. The PDP still controls 99 percent of the civil service, 99 per cent of the parastatals and of course 99 percent of all the security agencies. PDP is still in control of politics and governance in Nigeria. We want to judge President Muhammadu Buhari by his performance and his performance can only be judged by using those he appointed to carry out his change mantra which he promised Nigerians. Once the structures of government are in place, the President can go to sleep because he knows that those he appointed will do the job he has asked them to do. Now he can’t use those appointed for him by other people to carry out the programmes of his government. But the President has sacked so many people in the last 10 months he has been in office and replaced them with his own appointees. Are you suggesting that he should sack every civil servant before he can sit down to work? What you need to know, which you know but you don’t want to admit is that there are over 500 Federal Government parastatals and the President has only sacked 26 heads of these parastatals and even those 26 he sacked, he said that the most senior directors in those organisations or parastatals should take over. All those senior directors who took over were appointees of the PDP because anybody you see from the position of director to permanent secretary and from director to Managing Director or Director-General were either appointees of the PDP or those promoted by the PDP to take those positions. I don’t think that as a party, we should trust them to do what we are supposed to do to change Nigeria. There should be a general sweep. Once a new government comes in, people should respect themselves and resign even without being asked to go. Those who appointed you are no longer there, so you should resign. They should resign! tors in the ministries and 99 per cent of the permanent secretaries are remnants of the PDP administration. Therefore, I don’t think that our change mantra can be entrusted in the hands of people who were recruited, appointed or have been promoted by the PDP. As it is today, it is firmly in their hands.

You mean the political appointees? Yes. All these chief executives of parastatals, directors and permanent secretaries are political appointees. They should go! The country has been going through acute fuel scarcity and power outage

There should be a general sweep. Once a new government comes in, people should respect themselves and resign even without being asked to go for over one month. Do you think that this government has handled these two issues well? Well, if they handled it well, they have not been successful. They need to re-engineer the petroleum sector by looking at the whole thing critically. They need to set up a committee of experts that can really advise them on the issue because there are certain things that are beyond politics. Power and fuel are some of them. Today we have one person as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and that person is not an expert in the oil industry. He is only a common commercial lawyer. How could he have sorted out this problem? He doesn’t have the experience because he has been working with foreign companies that have been doing upstream business in the oil sector. Our major problem in Nigeria is the downstream sector. It is where you have to resolve issues surrounding refining, importation and distribution of petroleum products. You can’t bring all these jobs and hand them over to one man. It is hard for him to put the right people to do the jobs. He could bring his friends and so it means they will do whatever they like. We have to really look at the entire system and redesign it or else the population who were enthusiastic at the beginning will be become weary, frustrated and lose hope and confidence in our ability to solve their problems. They voted us (APC) into power because they thought Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP were not doing well, so we should be doing better than Jonathan. A legal luminary, Prof. Ben Nwabueze said recently that the problems we are facing as a country is because President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the intellectual capacity to govern a complex nation like Nigeria. Do you agree with him? Well, you know we are in a democracy and some of us have said worse things about people in government. Prof. Nwabueze as a renowned constitutional lawyer definitely knows the limits of his fundamental human rights. He has expressed his

views based on what he is permitted to say within the purview of democracy and the constitution of the country. I wouldn’t quarrel with that one. What is important is that whenever somebody criticizes government policies or government officials, they should look at it critically and not to look at it from the position that: This one is our enemy or he is not our supporter. No. Let them look at the issues raised and if there is anything they can do to ameliorate or rectify the problems in the country. This is the only way we can make progress. The Fulani herdsmen and farmers have been clashing in several communities across Nigeria leading to loss of lives and valuable property. What would you advise President Buhari to do about this challenge? What I think Buhari should do to solve this problem is very simple. The herdsmen are clashing with farmers because River Yobe has dried up. From Kano to Lake Chad, there is no water. Before, there used to be water in River Yobe and this water used to irrigate the area where the Fulani take their cattle to graze. The grasses that used to grow in these areas were also used to stop the movement of Sahara Desert from advancing further into Nigeria. Now that water has been dammed all over and so has dried up. Consequently, the Fulani herdsmen were displaced from their grazing areas from the Kano plains down to Hadeija, Nguru, Gashua, Geidam and up to Lake Chad. It is a distance of about 300 kilometers which with the heavy water from the river was used to irrigate the area so that grasses would sprout for the cattle to feed. So the Fulanis have to move inwards into Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, Nasarawa and other places. These people have different cultures with the Fulanis and they can’t even communicate because of differences in the languages. This has become a source of friction. So for us to sort out this matter, we need to revisit the issue of reviving River Yobe and Lake Chad so that there would be water for grasses to grow there. If the area is irrigated for grasses to grow, the Fulani herdsmen can come back and a lot if cattle moved from this area will return back too. This s causing a lot of friction and human lives are being lost. The problem is that we are just attacking the symptoms of the disease rather than attacking the root cause of it. Of course, it is a climate change issue and not necessarily that one ethnic group is fighting to take over lands belonging to other ethnic groups. They just relocated to where they can get grass for their cattle. The best option now is for the government to create grazing colonies or ranches which would have all the necessary facilities including hospitals, schools for the children of the herdsmen. They should also be given security to protect them and their cattle so that they can graze peacefully and the entire nation would be better for it.

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

News Persecuted pastor asks American Christians to pray for Germany p.31

News

Knights of St. Mulumba task government on nation building p.32

sermon

Measure your actions by the yardstick p.33

FAITH

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Rid CAN of undue politicisation – Para-Mallam

Dubai issues modern fatwa to prevent people stealing Wi-Fi across UAE

Ahead of the elections of the next executive officers of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) slated for May, stakeholders are already embroiled in the battle for the soul of CAN, with a prominent Christian leader, The Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam calling on the current leadership to rid the body of unnecessary politicisation in this interview with Tai Anyanwu It is said that the presidency is making moves to install a northern Christian as the next CAN President. What is your take on this? This is very laughable to some of us who know the church of the living God. The church of Jesus Christ in Nigeria and anywhere in the world for that matter can never be controlled by any human being or force. Hitler tried it in Germany during t h e Nazi years. Hitler even

forced the church to go. But, where is Hitler today and the church in Germany? The church has remained but Hitler is no more. Several Soviet Communist l e a d e r s like Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Ni-

kita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Konstantin Chernenko and Yuri Andropov, all tried to silence the church and control her leaders except Mikhail Gorbachev, yet where are they all today? Check out the church in Russia, it is waxing stronger and stronger. What of Chairman Mao and other Communist leaders in China? It is a fruitless exercise to try to control the church. Such an attempt is doomed to fail. The church is growing stronger and stronger in China. But in truth, it is absolutely untrue that the current President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, wants to control the soul of CAN and determine who succeeds the current the President. I wish the church could focus more on challenging and holding President Buhari accountable on issues relating to providing good governance to this nation and standing with and encouraging him in prosecuting the fight against corruption with the best of intents. The church needs to help Buhari make the fight against corruption, a Nigeria project and not just his own – a personal agenda. I have said this in previous interviews and wish to repeat here that the fight against corruption in Nigeria should be the fight of the church. The church should be in the forefront of this fight. From our pulpits we should preach justice and cry out against injustice. Corruption nurtures injustice and injustice covers corruption. The church should challenge Christians to be the Salt and Light Jesus Christ called us to. To want to drag a respected entity such as the church in Nigeria, as the body of Christ, to join issues with Buhari over the position of CAN CO N TINUED O N PAGE 31

Para-Mallam

n an unusual move, the government of Dubai has issued a fatwa against people who try to logon and use their other people’s Wi-Fi networks for free without permission. An anonymous user posted a question to the Modern Fatwa section of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) – a government agency website for Dubai’s Islamic populace – asking whether it was acceptable to use other people’s private Wi-Fi without their knowledge. The Modern Fatwa section can only be accessed by members of the website, but according to UAE news site What’s On, IACAD responded: “It is not allowed for people to use what belongs to others without payment or without their permission. Therefore, the Internet should be used only after subscribing for the service.” The explanation is that if people piggyback on a user’s Wi-Fi network, they reduce internet speed for them, which affects the service that the rightful fee-payer receives. The IACAD also emphasised that the fatwa would not affect people using open, public Wi-Fi networks, designed to be shared by multiple users. What is a Fatwa? According to the Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA), a ‘fatwa’ is an Islamic legal pronouncement issued by a “mufti” (an expert in religious law) in order to resolve an issue where Islamic jurisprudence (“fiqh”) isn’t clear. However, a fatwa is not binding and is optional for the individual to decide to respect.

BSN’s 49th AGM comes up in Makurdi

he Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, will on April 20, declare the 49th Annual national Board Meeting of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) open in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. BSN Deputy Manager, Media & Programmes, Benjamib Mordi, who disclosed this information, said that the meeting would start with a divine service scheduled to hold at NKST Church, Makurdi Central. Mordi explained that meeting would be hosted by the North Central Zone of BSN, and presided over by the National President of the Society, Dr. Aaron Nuhu. Discussions of past and future activities of the organisation concerning Bible work will future in the meeting’s agenda. It will also examine BSN accounts for the past one year; and the BSN General Secretary, Dare Ajiboye Ajiboye, is expected to present his report for the year under review to the Board at the meeting. Dignitaries expected at the AGM include: former Head of State, Gen. Dr. Yakubu Gowon, Trustees, National Executive Committee members, delegates from 38 areas of the Society across the country and some senior members of the management team of the organisation. The Bible Society of Nigeria is a non-profit-making interdenominational Christian organisation that translates the Bible into local languages, publishes, distributes and raises funds for Bible work.

SUNDAY APRIL17, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

faith

Persecuted pastor asks American Christians to pray for Germany

remen Pastor Olaf Latzel is the first pastor condemned by German Parliament since World War II. His crime? For teaching that Christianity’s God and Allah are not the same (Allah did not have a son, after all) and for being “politically incorrect” by his uncompromising teaching of the Gospel. Germany was the birthplace of the Reformation and was once a base for world missions. But much of Germany today is covered by a profound spiritual darkness, as are most Western nations. Those who refuse to compromise on the teaching of Scripture pay a price. Bremen Pastor Olaf Latzel knows full well that there is a cost for speaking out boldly—especially in today’s Germany, where traditional Christian teaching is viewed by many as bigoted, hateful and even “un-Christian.” Latzel has been attacked in the media, investigated by the local government, and even denounced by fellow pastors. His crime? Refusing to bend a knee to political correctness. No Compromise “I’m only preaching the Gospel in a clear way,” Latzel said. “I think it is my duty to do this preaching in this way for our Lord.” In his sermons, Latzel cuts no corners. He soft-pedals nothing. To some, he might sound mean when he attacks other religions. But Latzel is standing against what he sees as a spirit of compromise that seems to have swallowed Germany and the German state church. In the process, he has angered the German establishment and even a lot of German pastors. Latzel said the chief battle in the German church today now is over who God is. According to Latzel, some Christian pastors have said, “Allah and Jesus Christ, the Christian God, are the same god.” “But if you ask a Muslim, ‘Does your god have a son?’ he would say no!” he continued. “Our (Christian) God has a Son; His name is Jesus Christ. So they are not the same.” “If you speak out loud and clearly about the truth of the Bible, that there’s only one way to Heaven and this way is Jesus Christ, there is only one God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and there is no other god beside Him, then you have a problem,” he said. Unsaved Pastors? Seventy German pastors gathered in Bremen last year to denounce Latzel behind a banner celebrating “diversity.”

The public prosecutor investigated him for hate speech and then cleared him, and the Bremen parliament passed a resolution against him. It was reportedly the first time a German pastor has been condemned by a German parliament since World War II. But far from backing down, Latzel said the real problem is that, in his estimation, most pastors in Germany’s state church have not been born again. “I think over 80 percent of the pastors in the national church in Germany are not reborn,” he said. “And that’s a great problem, and because of this, they make their own doctrine. The Bible is the Word of God; it’s our law, chapter by chapter, book by book, sentence by sentence, letter by letter.” Latzel pastors at the historic St. Martini (St. Martin’s) Church in Bremen, where around 1679 the church’s pastor, Joachim Neander, wrote the great hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” Latzel enjoys saying that Pastor Neander also got in trouble for preaching the Gospel boldly. Some pastors would have been rattled by so many attacks against them. But Latzel, who comes from a family with a long military tradition, said he is in a “war” between Christ and the devil, and the attacks reassure him. “This is one sign that you are on the right way in your preaching, when you get problems,” Latzel said. “If you preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and everyone is clapping his hand, then you have a problem.” “Because if you’re telling the truth from the Bible, then the devil will come and he will fight against you in several ways; he will fight against the Word of God,” he said. A Tool in God’s Hand In fact, Latzel admits his concern is not becoming discouraged but getting a big head. “I (have received) more than 10,000 emails... so many persons came to me and said, ‘You are a great pastor,’” Latzel said. “And the more persons came and told me this, something happened inside me and, ‘Oh, I’m really this great pastor.’” “And the devil comes here and says, ‘Yes, yes. You are great,’ and that’s not good,” he continued. “I am nothing. I am only a sinner. I am only a tool for Jesus Christ. And when Jesus can use this tool, give any honour to Jesus Christ. I am nothing.” *Culled from Breaking Christian News

‘Rid CAN of undue politicisation’ leaders not to allow themselves to be hoodwinked into believing this lie. If what I know is anything to go by, Rev. Jerry does not know President Buhari personally. I am not even sure the two have ever met one on one. When Rev. Dr. Gado was approached by a group and encouraged to consider standing in for election as CAN National President, I was one of the few he asked to pray about this development. This was way back in 2014, if my recollection is right. The prayer was and still is to seek out God’s will. The rumour making the rounds that he is Buhari’s candidate is not true and unfortunate but we all live in a fallen world. However, God will always have the last say.

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PAG E 3 0

national President, is belittling the church. The Church is far too big and can never be manipulated by Buhari or any politician for that matter. Sometimes, I think, some people are trying to politicize the issue of CAN election and thereby compromise the integrity of millions of Christians in Nigeria, for their own narrow selfish interests. Some of these concerns suggest that CAN needs a change in the right direction. But I am also aware that the word CHANGE has been corrupted due to the political climate of today. A housewife said to me last week, ‘oga rev. our experience now no bi change o but na chain we dey.’ I sympathised with her but I also believe we must give the President more time. I still think Nigeria is on the positive path of experiencing social and economic transformation but we all need to join hands constructively to see this happen. What does having a northerner or a southerner as CAN president possible imply to President Buhari? To also suggest that Buhari wants a Northerner to take over as CAN President is seeking to introduce divide and rule tactics into CAN. In Nigeria, as recently as during the Jonathan years, then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Jonathan Goodluck and CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritesjafor; were all from the South-South. The Church stood in a united way to support the emergence of Pastor Oritsjafor from the South-South. So, why should it become an issue now if there is a Northern President and someone also from the North, particularly from the North East, seeks to serve as the National President of CAN? To seek to pollute the atmosphere because Dr. Gado is interested in serving in this position is simply, all political talk designed by whoever invented this to distract, create a toxic atmosphere and confuse people, especially Christians. I urge and wish to appeal to our Church

Do you have any idea how this whole story of Buhari’s planned control of CAN emanated? Please ask those who originated it to provide the answer(s). The current Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) is an ECWA member and there will be no apologies for this. If for instance, Pastor Adeboye was to seek to become the National President of CAN and decides to take our Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, his member, into confidence, does that qualify Pastor Adeboye to be labelled as President Buhari’s candidate? This stuff is what misguided politicians who spread rumours, lies, and blackmail thrive on. Should the church follow this path? The Lord forbids it. Ultimately, it is God who justifies and He will vindicate Rev Gado in this matter. Why should Christian leaders be caught in the web of political intrigues as those outside who engage in such pastime? Where is the Holy Spirit? Has He stopped speaking and leading? The current CAN leadership has a sacred duty to cleanse CAN of such political rubbish or CAN would just self-destruct. The day a majority of Christians lose interest in CAN due to such political manoeuvres within the body, as we see and hear today, the end has come. I personally believe God will birth a new CAN to provide and play a clear prophetic role in the affairs of Nigeria and to safeguard her primary focus of providing a platform for Christian unity and sharpening the focus of the church in Nigeria on godly matters above politics. What would you say are the strengths and weaknesses of Rev. Jerry Gado? Dr. Jerry Gado is gentle, with a smiling face, but very serious minded and respected even among fellow church leaders. His election as ECWA President underscores his leadership abilities which are recognised within the church. Some of his strengths are: honesty, he is also someone who truly loves God. He has a strong desire to do what is right in the sight of God and man/ woman. He is also a good listener, a team player and very approachable

if you know him well. He is a great husband, father and grandfather with a close-knit family. He has also lived for quite a number of years outside the shores of Nigeria – specifically in the United States of America. This is why people are just getting to know and interact with him more closely in Nigeria. So, the Jerry who factor is still dominant in some circles. Presently, I have the opportunity of working closely with respected church leaders on the Plateau, the nation, the continent of Africa and around the world. Coming closer home to Plateau State, the Heads of Church Denominations Forum in Jos of which Rev. Dr. Gado is an invaluable member, have bonded together, to speak with one voice on a number of state and national issues. They have worked assiduously in the background to keep the church united on the Plateau. They also have worked to ensure peace on the Plateau and Nigeria. As their Coordinating Secretary, I know Rev. Dr. Jerry Gado to be a very supportive leader, submissive to the collective corporate decisions of the forum which has respected members such as Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigma of the Catholic Church, Rev. Dr. Datiri, COCIN President, Rev. N. C. Thompson a Pentecostal Elder among others, under the able Chairmanship of Rev. Dr. Soja Bewarnag, and also CAN Chair of Plateau State. I have found Dr. Gado to be very hospitable and decisive. Some of his weaknesses as I heard someone observe is that although he has the desire, he still needs to do more in the area of building-bridges and someone also observed that he could be ‘too officious’ (a Nigerian lingo for officialdom). Briefly how would you describe CAN under Ayo Oritshejafor? Pastor Ayo is a good man with a good heart and a very courageous person. However, leading a PANNigerian group like CAN is complex and intellectually demanding. Therefore, one needs the anointing power of the Holy Spirit and the leadership (skills) competence. I do not believe we are getting this from CAN today. A CAN that hobnobs too closely with the government of the day and political class is dangerous for the health of the church in Nigeria or anywhere in Africa. Politicians will always strategize to use CAN. It takes more than courage to resist them. The sigma of corruption hangs heavily over the church today because of the activities of some CAN leaders in the last political dispensation. It worries me and CAN needs to come clean. We will be unable to speak truth to power without addressing such concerns.

The sigma of corruption hangs heavily over the church today because of the activities of some CAN leaders in the last political dispensation. It worries me and CAN needs to come clean

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

Faith

he national body of Catholic Grand Order of Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, has tasked the government at all levels and Nigerians masses to work together for a safer and better society for all. The issue was brought to the front burner penultimate Saturday by the Supreme Grand Knight of the order in Nigeria, Worthy Brother Anthony Onuh, at a briefing on the state of the nation held at the Catholic Church of Transfiguration, VGC, Lagos. Onuh, who addressed the media in company of some executives of the order, noted that the onus of nation building falls on all Nigerians to do their bit in building the country. While addressing the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in different parts of the country, Onuh, in his address, noted that most of the IDP camps lack basic amenities like water, healthcare facilities and other infrastructure, hence his call on relevant government agencies, NGOs and individuals to help the displaced persons currently living like refugees in their fatherland. He also expressed displeasure over the incessant attacks on local communities across the country by Fulani herdsmen and other challenging issues in the country. The body, while expressing worries over prevalent issues such as corruption, fuel scarcity, inadequate social amenities and security, said that the killings of innocent local farmers and destruction of farmland and crops by the herdsmen need urgent attention.

Knights of St. Mulumba task government on nation building According to Onuh, the Federal Government should call the concerned stakeholders to a round table discussion to proffer solution to the recurring killings by the herdsmen. “Herdsmen work for cattle owners and they (herdsmen) cannot take action without the consent of the owners. Many people have spoken and proffered strategies for provision of grazing fields or ranches which I call lip-service, hence some people are treated as ‘sacred cow’ in this country. The vandalism is not helping agricultural sector which needs a facelift.” Speaking on the current situation in the country, Onuh he said: “The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has constantly condemned corruption, violence and injustice and has consistently urged all Nigerians, especially those who hold public offices to embrace a life of transparency and service. We, as a body under the Catholic Church, are saying that Buhari’s anticorruption drive should be extended to all persons irrespective of status or political affiliation. Anybody who is corrupt should not be shielded and must be exposed based on public opinion about the person.” Onuh urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the nation’s anti-graft agencies to enable them deal speedily with the investigations and prosecution of

‘Discovery for Men’ rally holds in Lagos T housands of men from different walks of life are set to gather on Sunday 24th of April for the first rally of the Discovery for Men in 2016. According to the organisers of the life impacting and biggest gathering of men, the theme of the rally, which is scheduled to commence at exactly 4pm at the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos, is the ‘Supernatural Man’. Hosted by Pastors Taiwo and Nomthi Odukoya, the rally would also have anointed gospel minister, Mike Abdul, as guest artiste. The statement reads further: “Discovery for Men rallies are not just another church service. This is the era where men need the Supernatural to be able to provide leadership, find hope, encouragement and the needed courage

to surmount and secure a better future for themselves and the countless others counting on them. “Over the years, men have walked into the Discovery rallies with great burdens in their hearts, desperately seeking answers. After a time of robust fellowship and frank exploration of God’s word, they leave with renewed strength to face the challenges that hitherto threatened to consume them. Testimonies of great deliverances, divine interventions and miraculous visitations abound from every corner of the nation and beyond.” The Discovery for Men initiative was set up in 1998 as an outreach of The Fountain of Life Church with the vision to challenge and motivate men to become all that God has ordained them to be.

the past and present public officers found to have corruptly enriched themselves. “To guarantee sustainable success in fighting corruption, Nigerians must transcend ethnic, religious and regional affiliations and sentiments. Those who are genuinely identified to have stolen or recklessly used the national wealth must be compelled to make restitution,” he said. While commending government’s effort to contain

insurgency and other security issues, he, however, called for more proactive measures such as improved intelligence gathering and acquisition of modern security equipment. While enumerating some of the achievements of the Order, which was founded in 1953 by Late Rev. Fr. Abraham Isidahome, he said the brotherhood released 450 prison inmates awaiting trails in 2014 and also built a church for inmates

of Kirikiri Prison, Lagos. Other achievements of the group include the rehabilitation of displaced persons from the North irrespective of religion and ethnic status, and facilitating the implementation of welfare of Nigeria Police for better service. KSM has also fought for the handover process of some public schools taken from the Catholic Church by the government back to the church. He, however, allayed the

public’s perception of the Knighthood as a secret society saying: “There is nothing secret about Catholic Knighthood. It is neither a political organisation nor a pressure group, but soldiers of Christ who gather to defend the Catholic faith which has some priests and bishops as members. It is a serious body that cannot stand aloof on national issues, hence the need for this media briefing.”

L-R: Supreme Grand Knight Anthony Onuh and wife; Metropolitan GrandKnight, Charles Mbebbe and Brother Anthony Igbigbe at the press briefing held at the Catholic Church of Transfiguration VGC, Lagos...recently

Descendant of Muhammad shares how he met Jesus

li Sayed Husnain Shah is from a prominent Shia Muslim family with direct ties to the prophet Muhammad. When he was 15, he travelled from his home in Pakistan to Oxford, England to visit his ailing aunt Gulshan. The story of his spiritual journey is chronicled in his new book, The Cost: My Life On A Terrorist Hit List’. After his arrival in the U.K., he made a disparaging remark about Christians and was quickly upbraided by his aunt’s assistant to be careful about the way he talked about Christians and “apostates.” He was shocked to learn that his aunt left Islam for Christianity several years before his birth. Ali couldn’t believe his aunt would dishonour their prominent Shia family by following Jesus. He soon discovered his aunt wrote a book about her conversion to Christ. Overcome with curiosity, Ali found a copy of the book and began reading.

After he read the book he was still confused, so he decided to attend a church service with her to learn more. While at the church service, the pastor asked the congregants, “Who wants to see Jesus?” The Holy Spirit began to draw Ali’s heart, and he felt compelled to get out of the pew and walk forward, so he could “see Jesus.” “I wanted to see Jesus. He was the riddle at the centre of all this, the reason Aunt Gulshan had turned her back on her family, her heritage and her religion,” Ali noted in his book. “He was the one who was to blame, and here was a man offering me the chance to see Him for myself.” Then Jesus appeared to him in a powerful vision. “My son, you wanted to see me. I’m here. Obey me. I will forgive your sins and give you eternal life,” Jesus impressed on his heart. That night, Ali went back to his aunt’s house and went to sleep. Amazingly, Jesus appeared to him again!

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Ali in the dream. “I will protect you.” When Ali returned to Pakistan, he stopped attending the mosque and decided instead to go on top of his roof to pray to Jesus. Whenever he prayed to Jesus, the Lord’s peace descended on his heart. While he tried to keep his faith hidden, his newfound conviction about Jesus slipped out unexpectedly. He got into a discussion with his classmates outside their school about the correct way to sacrifice an animal in order to be absolved of sin. “You are wrong,” Ali told them. “Sacrificing an animal is not the right way to deal with sin. I had a dream when I was in England that showed me the truth. If you want to know how to deal with sin, you have to pray to Jesus.” As he watched their expressions, he knew was now in uncharted waters. After he left school the next day, his classmates attacked him. After they threw him

to the ground and pinned his legs and arms, an older man with a beard and turban approached him with a menacing expression. “You tried to make kafir out of our children,” the man exclaimed. “Islam gives me the right to kill any infidel who does that or speaks against our beloved prophet.” The man reached into his cloak, drew a knife, and stabbed Ali in the chest. The knife just narrowly missed Ali’s heart but, but managed to puncture his lung. Feeling unbearable pain, Ali lapsed into unconscious. Then Jesus appeared to him a third time! “You were injured because you were defending me. I will not let you die … I will protect you,” Jesus said. In his riveting book, he describes how he went from being a member of one of the most respected Islamic families in Lahore to someone considered an “infidel,” which forced him to move from city to city to evade the fury of Wahabi radicals who sought to kill him.

SUNDAY APRIL17, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Who wins in time of crisis?

hat God wants to hear from any of the opposing parties is the password, I am very sorry to decide the winner. The Lord has given instruction to His angels on duty, that whoever humbles him/her self and says from the heart I am very sorry the angle(s) should give that person victory, whether the person is guilty or not. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart O God, thou wilt not despise (Psalm 51:17). God can despise one’s wealth. God can despise one’s prayers. God can despise one’s good works God can despise one’s zeal. God can despise one’s praises. BUT HE CAN NEVER DESPISE A HUMBLE, BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART Most of those who have died could have been alive if they had humbled themselves to say “I am very sorry”, not just to God but the other party / persons. Even if the Lord is in a hurry to do something, and He notices a remorse, a humble, a melted heart, He will suspend all things and attend to such a person. He gives victory to the person, whether guilty or not. Proud heart hardly says I am very sorry sincerely. He/

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

0808 770 7486

an hundred and seven and twenty provinces” (Esther 1:1). The queen, Queen Vashti was demoted because she took things for granted and disobeyed the husband, the King. A new queen was being sought for to replace Vashti. Many beautiful girls were gathered to contest for the position of the queen. I believe that the King did not want to make a mistake again. He did not want a stubborn woman he would depose again. He regretted what he did to Queen Vashti, his wife before he became (king). The wife that made him what he became. The wife that made him what he was. The wife that started with him from the scratch. Esther was among the women kept somewhere to prepare for the contest. I believe also that the King gave the king’s chamberlain (or official) who was made to oversee the beautiful women in contest a special set of wears to give to anybody he (the kings chamberlain) recommended to put on. That girl must be the most obedient and humble

Proud heart hardly says I am very sorry sincerely. He/she cannot say it for whatever reason she cannot say it for whatever reason. If he/she says it, it will be said proudly. You will know that the person is not really saying it. Hear this secret again: God gives victory to whoever humbly says it, and adds longitivity to the person as bonus. I therefore say “I am very sorry” in order to win in a dispute. It may not appear as if you are winning, but eventually the victory will manifest. It is a password, and to longitivity. ESTHER WON THE CONTEST BY PASSWORD One King Ahasuerus, was reigning over “the world, and the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of provinces, being before him” (Esther 1:3). He reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, “over

one, and not necessarily the most beautiful. I believe the chamberlain tried other women, telling them what to eat or put on to please the king but they refused. I believe that for the six months they were in his custody, all he told Esther to eat or put on she obeyed. Other girls went to see the king, not with what the chamberlain, instructed them, but what they chose themselves, they did not know that the king had given a “code” or “password” to chamberlain. Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecia, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the King, she required nothing, but what Hagar the King’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti (Esther 2:15, 17). It was all about a code or password. Esther became queen by password. She won the contest by password.

Handling betrayal in your family

ugitive David had just defended the city of Keilah from Philistine destruction. One would have thought that they will regard David as a hero and protect him as such. Alas, it was not so. They were willing to sacrifice David in order not to court the anger of King Saul. That is betrayal of the highest order. And that is the typical human being for you. You might be thinking within you that you have also been a victim of such treatment before now. Someone you had been of great help to treating you as though you had never known each other. Someone you helped to rise in life telling you “what have you done for me.” Someone you nurtured and groomed, who is not your biological child rising tomorrow to challenge you and or even fight you. People keep complaining of how all those they helped later turned their backs on them. This is very common not only within the family but also in business and politics among others. This has therefore made the love of many “to wax cold”. Some have vowed never to help oth-

Marriage & Family Intimacy

Bishop Charles Ighele holyspiritmissioninc@yahoo.com

07066579379/09098845521 ers climb in life. Keep helping. Help those you can help in their education, health, jobs, capital and in other areas. It is God that will reward you and judge them. I could imagine some of David’s men lamenting they fought for nothing in helping the people of Keilah. But God did not see it that way. Come to think of it, was it not God who said David should go and fight for the city and the people of Keilah? He commanded it. Because as all knowing, He also knew that the people of Keilah would betray David. Yet He wanted them to be defended whether they will pay David back with evil or not. Many people I have come in contact with had at one point in time or the other encountered moments of betrayal by friends, colleagues, relations, children and even spouses. They have thought of stopping their help to people

because of the encounters they had in the past. One thing is worthy to think about, if God had left us when we betrayed Him, where would we have been? Do not give up on helping anyone. It is true that we do feel pained when someone we had been helping suddenly turned around to betray us. Whenever you are rendering any form of help to anyone, do so with the mind that you are not expecting a reciprocation of the help from the person. Meaning you should always help with the mind that you do not require the person to pay you back in the nearest future or with such intention in mind. You should help because you just have to help and not because you are storing up for people to help you back in the nearest future. When you have the mind of getting back help from those you are helping, the

pain you will face when betrayed shall be great and almost unbearable. That is how God also knew that the people you helped will turn their backs on you but He will still want you to help. So, keep helping family members and fellow citizens. A wise man once said that “all about life is the management of risk, not its elimination.” You only need to get yourself prepared for such times and moments because in fulfilling what God wants from you, you will surely get betrayed or feel betrayed once in a while. Remember the parable of the sower Matthew 13:323? Not all the seeds fell on good ground though nothing was wrong with the sower and the seed. The sower kept sowing not minding where the seed was falling. When you extend your hand of love to people without attaching sentiment to it, and without high expectation from the recipient, you will guard your heart from any intending hurt in form of betrayal. Keep doing good as an individual and as a family without minding how the people you are helping are reacting or responding to you. As God raised David, so you will be raised. Amen.

Faith

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

Measure your actions by the yardstick

oliness is the habit of being of one mind with God as stipulated in the word of God. It is a habit of agreeing with God’s judgment. Holiness is hating what God hates and loving what God loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His word. The man and woman in this unique pathway must do away with every sin and keep the commandment of God. He must have decided, bent and have inclination to do the will of God at all times to be like Jesus. He must work hard to have the mind of Christ, and conform to the image of Christ, such that he becomes a living epistle of Christ. In the unique pathway, you must work in love, humility and forgiveness. You must be lowly minded as the Lord himself even to the point of making yourself of no reputation like our Lord Jesus Christ. Always ask yourself “What would Christ have said or done, if he were in my situation.” Measure your actions by the yardstick of the glory of God. Ask yourself “This thing I want to say or do, is it to the glory of God?” This is in accordance with 1Corenthians 10:31 which says: “If therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. In the unique pathway, the fruits of the Holy Spirit must be manifest in you. You must crucify the flesh with the affections and lust thereof. The man or woman in this pathway must be sanctified like Isaiah. Isaiah was hardworking and responsible to his priestly obligations. He was highly respected and loved as one of the best priests in Israel but Isaiah was in a wrong spiritual pathway. Isaiah defied in his heart, the person of King Uzziah. His trust and hope were on King Uzziah and as far as he was concerned, nothing else mattered order

Woe is me for I am lost and undone and I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Host than King Uzziah. In the year King Uzziah died, he went to the temple of God. God showed him a revelation of His glorious throne in Isaiah 6: “he saw the angels, Cherubims and Seraphims,” the presence of God X-rayed and made him transparent. He placed himself in a state of self-examination and critical analysis under search light of the Holy Spirit. He discovered that he was in a great spiritual error. He repented and began to cry “Woe is me for I am lost and undone and I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Host. An angel sanctified him with a life coal from the altar and he was sanctified. He made up his mind to join the unique pathway. With his sanctification, his only pre-occupation became how to please God and love God. He was then able to hear the voice of God calling. When you hear His voice, no one can deceive you or confuse you. You will hold it tenaciously. Remember, God did not particularize the call on Isaiah. Isaiah’s inner eyes and ears were opened and alert; and he was ready to follow the unique pathway. Isaiah willingly volunteered. Many are standing by, waiting for God’s call. Your sanctification will create love in your heart which will lead your soul into a total commitment and service unto God. When a Christian is sanctified, the person is energized, quickened, and challenged by the Holy Spirit to do something positive for God.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

FAITH

Insight

Rev. Femi Akinola www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

Investment before consumption

“

...And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, ...And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, ...that the land perish not through the famine.” Gen 41:34-36 If you will ever amass wealth and become financially free in life you must give premium to saving over consumption. The world today, especially Africa, is the way it is because there are more consumers than producers; more dependants than wealth creators. Saving is the habit of keeping part of everything you earn. It is a way of paying yourself first before you pay others. Until you begin to live your life as if you don’t have any helper, you can’t have a life. Many, shortly after they exit from a job resort to begging and borrowing because they failed to plan. You cannot be financially free if you depend only on your salary. When we live with the sense that our flow might not always be there or come regularly as we expect, we will learn the habit of keeping a part of what we get. He who consumes all he earns has no future; the future belongs to those who invest into it. When consumption alone becomes a man’s priority, poverty becomes inevitable. He who lives his life spending all will eventually lose all. Investors and financial experts advise that your bills and upkeep should not exceed 70% of your earnings. But this is impossible when discipline is lacking. “He that walketh with wise shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverb 13:20 Any man who must prosper must be able to deny himself of immediate gratification. You are not wealthy by how much you earn but by what you are able to set apart in order to generate more income. Those who are wasteful are eventually made to pay for it. The poor is poor because he has a mentality of living just for the now, he can’t deny himself anything; on the other hand, the

wealthy is because he has a mentality also, which is to make his money work for him thereby getting richer. “A good man leaveth an inheritance for his children’s children...” Proverbs 13:22 What is your financial shock absorber? That job you so much hold in high esteem that you don’t even have enough time for the things of God, if you lose it now, for how long can you survive? What do you have in keeping? If a business opportunity surfaces now and you are to make a down payment for a major business investment, will you not lose it? WHY MUST YOU INVEST? • So that you can multiply that which God has put in your hands – Matthew 25:15--29 • So that you can leave something for your children – Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 6:6-8 • That the good years will pay for the bad years – Genesis 41:34-36 • Deuteronomy 8:18 • You must invest so that you can provide for the future. RULES FOR INVESTMENT “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 • Invest in areas you are knowledgeable and if you wish to explore a grey area, then seek knowledge about it first. • Don’t rush into any investment; pray for guidance and wait patiently for direction Psalm 37:7 • Be ready to take risk Ecclesiastes 11:2 • Don’t ignore Kingdom investments because of your own investments. PRAYER POINTS • I curse every spirit of wastage in my life • I break every bondage of inherited begging and borrowing • I refuse to be a looser financially • Every mark of begging and borrowing in my life, clear away • My offering, my tithe and my sacrifice, arise and crush every spirit of begging and borrowing ...in Jesus name.

Enter the realm of vision and planning

aziness is a curse; it is a mindset of one who is unwilling to work. It is a robber of time and productivity, and excuses for failure. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing - Prov. 20:4 KJV. The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets.” -Prov. 26:13-16. As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed a sluggard buries his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. There is no excuse for failure Never allow yourself to have “reasons” why you cannot do something or the other. As you will only be making excuses. Excuses are simply lies that give you an escape route from responsibility. Adam lost the Garden of Eden not only because he disobeyed God but

THE EXTRA MILE PRINCIPLE

Bishop (Dr.) Mark Omonze facebook@bishopmarkomonze email@mark_omonze@yahoo.com

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Never allow yourself to have “reasons” why you cannot do something or the other. As you will only be making excuses also because he shirked his responsibility by blaming Eve for his actions. If he had confessed his sin God is faithful and just to forgive (I John 1:9). Laziness is caused by the spirit of irresponsibility. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do

not have the right to such help but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule; “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” -2 Thess.3: 7-10 Develop a great passion for performance and productivity, Resist mediocrity Consider it a woe if you can work but you don’t work. Don’t be a burden or liability on others. Understand that a little extra you give takes you higher. Strive to perform beyond normal expectations. Give 110% always and you will be rewarded. From purpose to practice Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy Is he Prov.29:18 To every purpose there

is a vision; a strategy for actualization of that purpose. The difference between great achievers and low achievers can be seen at this point. Most people work hard all their life but they only work on what they are instructed. They don’t think, dream, and plan. This can easily be seen in the life of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph’s brothers were content to lead their father’s sheep. That was what life offered them, that was all they knew and that was how they lived even after they had children and grown old. They were waiting for an inheritance. Joseph on the other hand dared to dream of life beyond what was offered him given his background. He refused to settle for what life offered to him at that point. He dared to dream and his dream found a way to take him to his high place in destiny. Where most people fail in life is in the realm of vision and planning. Many people have visions of grandeur but lack practical strategies for actualization.

Mr and Mrs Joshua Ogwo during their wedding ceremony at the United Evangelical Church Isah, Kogi State...recently

Budget Spat: Work for Nigeria, Chief Imam admonishes executive, NASS

he Chief Imam of Nupe Road Central Mosque, Kaduna, Malam Mohammad Nafi’u on Friday admonished the Executive and the National Assembly (NASS) to stop the blame game over alleged padding of the 2016 budget and work for the country. Nafi’u gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday. The cleric enjoined both arms of government to put the interest of the nation ahead of their

personal interests. He reminded them that they were voted by people whose interest must be paramount. According to him, the executive and legislature should sit down and iron out the grey areas for the general interest of Nigeria. ``Due process should always be followed and both parties should recognise their limits. ``The commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari for a better Nigeria should be supported because he had demonstrated it.

``Every Nigerian should rally behind him (President) for Nigeria to be great through the implementation of people oriented policies and programmes. ``We have confidence in Buhari’s administration. Since the coming of this government he has continued with all effort to make Nigeria great. ``He should be supported and not sabotaged or distracted,’’ Nafi’u said. Besides, the chief imam urged Nigerians to be patience considering the drop

in price of global crude oil, which is one of the major country’s revenue sources. ``You don’t expect magic in changing it but a gradual process. ``I also want to plead with the government to diversify the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.’’ On the abduction of Chibok girls over two years, Nafi’u called for sustained special prayers. ``There is hope. If we summit our problems to Allah, He will answer our prayers,’’ said the clergyman.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

Uche Pedro over the moon

Oba Ogunwusi living it up

lim built, beautiful Igbo born graduate of University of Western Ontario, Uche Eze, is no less of a lucky lady who has been having things going smoothly for her. Her online media outfit, which happens to be one of the front runners in that league, is by every means, a success as it remains one of the most sought after and leading blog from which she’s raking in so much money. As fate would also have it in her favour, she did not have to stay longer than necessary in the spinsters’ club before she was swept off her feet and taken to the altar by Bode, son of former deputy governor of Lagos state, Femi Pedro. And to compliment her unbeaten run of joy, she’s blessed with two kids even as she’s been happy and having a good home with the support of her beau. The beautiful mother of two, we can say, has been in great mood over a feat that has made her over the moon. The lady just took to her social media channel to express how happy she is over an award of recognition bestowed on her as an online publisher.

hose who thought that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, might not be able to live up to expectation, perhaps because of his age, may have had a change of heart as its clear the youthful monarch is not lagging behind but living up to his words and what is expected of him. The accountant turned monarch, from inception, made it clear that paramount to his heart is peace among all and liberation of the youth. In ensuring that peace reigns, Ojaja has done so much on breaking barriers and this has ceaselessly fetched him commendations. He has equally been working hard to keep his promises as regards youth development. The latest effort from the stable of the Ooni is a musical talent hunt and concert that is aimed at discovering new talents and propelling them to stardom. It will be recalled that the handsome and well-built Oba Adeyeye, who got married recently, has since started work at different places in his domain with the hope of recruiting youths for jobs when these constructions are ready for various business purposes.

Oronto Douglas remembered

E High fliers join Awoniyi’s in 50 years love celebration

here are occasions in life which neither time nor circumstance could obliterate from the memory. One of such events is the euphoria Chief Moses Awoniyi, his wife, as well as their entire household are still basking in. Ardent followers of ‘Celeb Lounge’ will recollect it was served here recently that the household of the Awoniyis in Osun State were inching towards a worthy celebration which was the 50th wedding anniversary of this couple which was deemed necessary and slated to be celebrated by their children. The event may have eventually come and gone as it was held penultimate weekend, but its memory will linger in the minds of those who were privileged to be part of the worthy celebration that was enlivened with the presence of meaningful and important personalities. Among dignitaries who graced the occasion was the deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori. Other important guests were royal fathers like Elende of Ekonde, Olokuku of Okuku; Oloyan of Oyan, as well as Olunisa of Inisa. At the thanksgiving service which was held in honour of the Awoniyi couple who were fifty years together at St. Andrew Anglican church, Ekonde, Venerable Michael Aina, who presided over the session, described the couple as God fearing people who always humble themselves in God’s presence. He also described the event as remarkable, outstanding and never to be forgotten one in the history of humanity while he prayed God gives the couple many more years on earth. In her own message, the deputy governor, Tomori, extolled the couple’s virtues. She described them as focused, straightforward and easy going individuals; their conducts and behaviour as admirable. She prayed to God to elongate their lives to enable them contribute more to development of humanity. The eldest child of the couple, Mrs. Toyin Awoniyi Akerele, while speaking, appreciated the goodness of God in the lives of her parents as she sought God’s protection and guidance for them. On a final note, she thanked and appreciated guests who made it to the occasion from far and near.

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ven though Bayelsa-born legal practioner, Oronto Natei Douglas was assumed to have departed to the great beyond when it was supposed to be his prime, the late dude lived a good life and lived for a worthy course. From a relatively humble background, Oronto, out of zeal and determination, was able to distinguish himself and was a success in his own right, even as a lawyer. But more important to him, which unknowingly was what would give him fame, was his penchant for humanity as a human rights attorney and an environmentalist. Oronto, it will be recalled, hit the national consciousness while he was a member of the defense team of late Ken Saro Wiwa, in 1995. Upon distinguishing himself as a global environmentalist and human rights crusader, he was a commissioner in his state before eventually mounting the national stage with immediate past president, Jonathan Goodluck. He was not just a Special Assistant on research, documentation and strategy, his influence on the president was far reaching that he was a factor in the presidency. It was unfortunate he gave in to a terminal illness after a long battle a year ago. It was exactly one year, penultimate weekend, that the influential dude passed on and in remembrance of his loving and sweet memory, a lecture on what he was known for as an environmentalist was put together in his honour. The lecture which was held at Rockview Royale, Abuja, was themed; Environment and Livelihood.

Between HMO and Folly Coker

oming from the popular and noble family of Muhri Okunola, Hakeem had a back to ride on but the dude has no doubt gone beyond leveraging on his background to consolidate. He has carved a niche for himself as he’s been dwelling among the high and mighty as far as the centre of excellence, Lagos, is concerned. As far as Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Folorunsho Folarin Coker, is concerned, it will amount to stating the obvious that he’s made it to greater heights even though the former aide to Asiwaju Tinubu, is from a well to do background. As young men who had zeal and were full of ideas, it was only natural for them to be on understanding terms more especially as they were protégé of the heavyweight politician, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. As the empire of their boss grew bigger, they were made to go on new and different assignments. Hakeem Muhri Okunola, who is better known as HMO, was deployed to work in the Ministry of Lands, while Folari Coker, who is mostly known as Folly, was up to something new. HMO has since pitched his tent with Federal Minister, Babatunde Fashola, who was his boss as Lagos State governor while he was at Lands, and Folly too has since taken up appointment as a commissioner in Lagos State which made him answerable to Ambode. Of course, disparity in work designation is not an unlikely factor to berth a divide between them even though they have at no time ceased to be great buddies. However, speculation is making the rounds in certain quarters that their relationship may have become shaky based on alleged differences between the men they are now responsible and loyal to.

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Beat weight gain with Citrus Ibukunoluwa Kayode

tarting your day with warm lemon water is said by health experts to have a ton of health benefits. It helps to detoxify the internal organs by flushing out free radicals through urine. Drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning is more beneficial than juice or alcohol that upset the internal system and raise calories in the blood stream, potentially increasing body weight. Lemon juice possess anti bacterial, antiviral and immune-building properties. It is also an essential juice that helps fight diseases and infections with high level of bio-flavonoids, pectin, limonene, citric acid, magnesium, calcium and vitamins, which stimulates digestion and weight loss. Not only does the warm water help to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, the lemons are believed to stimulate and purify the liver as well. It also helps digestive acids with digestion and elimination. Other benefits include: Support immune function Citrus fruits high in vitamin C and ascor-

bic acid helps fight colds and iron absorption which plays a role in immune function. Alkaline the body If your body is in a chronic pH imbalance and susceptible to disease, the alkaline substance present in lemon helps out. Helps detox the body Lemon water is a natural diuretic which means it helps your body flush liquid and toxins along with it. The citric acid can also help maximise enzymes which stimulates the liver. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an energizer The combination of water and lemon helps to hydrate and oxygenate the blood, leaving you feeling great! Keeps skin beautiful If you suffer from chronic dehydration or skin looking dull, start your day on the right note with lemon water. Vitamin C plays a critical role in maintaining healthy skin and the antioxidants can combat aging factors.

Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2039; picy crunchy plantain chips Biwom Iklaki

5 fingers of plantain

lantain has to be one of my favourite ingredients ever. There are very few things you cannot make with it. You can bake, fry, roast, and make a pottage, soup and many more. When you are in one of those traffic jams of the Lagos magnitude, one of the things that is a hit among the vendors is their plantain chips. There are different flavours; spicy, salty, onion, ripe, unripe etc. the thing is you can make your own batch and take with you for whenever you feel like a small snack. When you decide to make your own plantain chips, you can control the amount of salt, spice and even the type of oil used (most of the brands use unhealthy oil which they recycle again and again).

A pinch of salt (to your taste)

Ingredients

Ground dry pepper Preparation Wash and peel the plantains, then using a vegetable slicer, slice thinly either round, diagonal or the entire length of the plantain. Note that the thinner the crispier while the slightly thicker ones with be meaty/chewy. Sprinkle slices with salt and some pepper (as spicy as you want). At this point, you can decide to go one of two ways. You could lay them out individually on your baking trays and dry in your oven until you achieve desired crunch, or you fry in a pan with oil at least 1 inch deep. Then take out and put on a kitchen towel

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

KITCHEN DECOR

Vintage kitchens Biwom Iklaki

intage does not necessarily mean scruffy and old. It also refers to a time past, a memory if you like of the good of an era. It means aiming for the style of the ‘50s, etc without the grubby second hand items that didn’t work. If you do find items from that era that are presentable and functioning, good for you, if not, here are a few ways to fake it until you make it…

1. Colour: this style is very familiar with pastels. The more popular ones are pinks, yellows, reds and turquoise. Chrome sets it all off nicely too. Be careful so as not to turn out with a gaudy looking kitchen so choose carefully. 2. Style: choose an era and stick with it. No need falling all over the place with many different era. If you decide on the ’50s, do not include more than one more decade. You can use contemporary appliances

My marriage is dead but I can’t leave because of my kids When I got married ten years ago, I thought our love will last forever. I had high hopes that I and my husband can weather any storm that comes our way. But after series of betrayal and cheating by my husband with many women, I don’t think I can take it anymore. The worst happened two weeks ago that keeps my blood boiling any time I remember it. He sent me and the kids for Easter Vacation to his parents’ home in the village and I thought he was doing us a favour. I took a short leave from the office so I could accompany my children for the visit. But I was called back suddenly by my boss in the office to resume work immediately as an emergency that needed my urgent attention came up. I quickly bundled the children back to Lagos, only to get the shock of my life as I caught my husband in bed with a young woman on our matrimonial bed. I was devastated and almost tore the girl in two with my fists. I have not spoken a word to my husband and he seems not to care. I want the marriage dissolved as I’m tired of his infidelity but can’t leave my children. I’m confused! Chidinma, Lagos My Facebook love and I are getting married I never thought true love ever existed and to have found it through the social media seem even more

but the theme should stay true. 3. Wall: Depending on the size of your kitchen, you can play with a plethora of wall decorations, old tin signs, advert from that year, pay phones, adverts, etc 4. Your appliances can take you straight into the ‘50s, this may well be easy to replicate as many manufacturers now stock retro appliances. With lovely colour range, you can choose from stoves to freezers to dishwashers.

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HEARTTHROB

Send SMS only to 07057201814 or vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

farfetched but it actually happened to me. I met the love of my life that fateful day on Facebook by chance. A mutual friend added her to his friendship list and when I saw her pretty face, I also decided to make her my friend. When she accepted my friendship request, I started chatting with her and we got on so well that we chatted into the night. The next day, I told her that I wanted to meet her since we live in the same city but she refused. So for about three months, we were just friends on Facebook without seeing each other face to face until she was comfortable to meet me. When she was ready, she decided to meet me at the home of the mutual friend through whom we got connected and that is how our romance commenced. That was two years ago. In three months’ time, I will be walking down the aisle with this lovely woman as my wife and I cannot thank my stars enough for bringing her my way. True love can surely meet you anywhere, just believe! Charles, Benin

He doesn’t even consider kissing me I am married for two years now and I am already used to the impatience of my husband; especially in bed. All he does is to find his own satisfaction. But when it’s over, he totally loses interest in me. He immediately turns to the other side and falls deeply asleep as if I don’t even exist. Even during the short act, he hardly kisses me or engages in foreplay. I keep asking myself if he simply needs me for the sexual satisfaction. I tried a couple of times to show him that I need caress and tenderness. But nothing worked. He will only tell me to go to sleep or that he needs to get up early in the morning for an important meeting. And that would be his way of turning down my attempts to show him that I need him after sex. I am afraid to tell it straight forward. I don’t want tenderness that is obtained by begging! I don’t know what to do? Lara, Benue

My name is Peter; I am 23 years old from Akwa Ibom. I stay in Port Harcourt. I am a student and need a God fearing lady for a relationship-08068125130 My name is Tolni, 46 years old degree holder and a businessman from Oyo State. I am tall, caring and cool. I need a lady between 38-45 years for marriage-07061920519 My name is Richard, 40 years old, an engineer. I am single and based in Lagos State. I need a romantic lady for a serious relationship-08036851909 My name is Udo, 45 years old father of twins. I am a banker. I need a lady between 30-49 years for marriage-07030809667 My name is Kolade from Ibadan, a trader and a Christian. I need a working class lady between 30-46 years to be my wife-08180956493 I am Femi, 35 years old. I am from Ogun State. I need a lady that is ready for marriage-09039453040 I am Olanrewaju Olufeko, a native of Ogun State. I am a business mans. I need a God fearing woman between 38-45 years for a serious relationship-08163414710 My name is Olugbenga, a Masters degree holder residing in Lagos State. i need a lady between 25- 48 for marriage-09090590568

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Stop waiting and live your life

single lady recently wrote this to this and I feel it is important to share it with everyone so we could all learn from it: What do guys want? I’m an intelligent, good-hearted woman with a lot to offer any man. But all the men I meet seem to have some sort of congenital aversion to commitment—to settling down, getting serious, getting married. But isn’t that the best life has to offer — finding that special someone, falling in love, getting married, settling down, having children, growing old together? Don’t men want that, too? If so, how do they think they’re going to get that, if they’re not willing to commit to a relationship? Before I answer this question, I will like to tell a brief story a friend of mine shared with me. She said: When I was single and stressed about finding love, my good friend, Tunde, a confirmed bachelor, told me this. He said, “Bisola, you need to calm down, chill out, and stop expecting love to be here already. Your sense of entitlement is killing your ability to attract a good man.” When I realised he was right, I stopped waking up every day feeling angry that love hadn’t found me yet. I stopped being resentful that my friends were married and having lives that felt out of reach to me. I stopped feeling like my life was on hold. As cliché as it sounds, I stopped waiting and started living. Overnight, my outlook changed. My results changed, too. I started meeting men wherever I went. I went on dates, had fun, didn’t give my heart away foolishly, and then met my husband. I knew he was The One when he told me, “I’ve always been too nice for the

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com

naughty girls and too naughty for the nice ones.” That had been my experience with men too. From this story, we can see that until you stop fretting about finding Mr. Right, the chances of finding him or being located by him is a million miles away. This is a true life story and it is also a pointer that you are not walking alone on the lonely street called ‘Singlehoodville’. Consciously and purposefully looking for Mr. Right can only mean

The woman who is putting off vibes that she’s looking for a committed relationship might as well hang a sign around her neck that says, ‘Desperate! Please help! Please save me! At least compliment my hair!’

that you think that you are Miss Wrong. People are not attracted to the emotionally needy. So quit walking around with that forlorn look on your face like someone who is lost and abandoned at the highway in the middle of the night. The woman who is putting off vibes that she’s looking for a committed relationship might as well hang a sign around her neck that says, ‘Desperate! Please help! Please save me! At least compliment my hair!’ I know being single can be hard and the feeling of loneliness can be overwhelming at times. As the year speeds fast and all your friends are getting married and pressure is mounted on you by family and friends to do the same, anxiety and desperation will quickly wade in. The worst is the feeling of being left behind – being abandoned or excluded. Your friends who are married suddenly stop calling you and you feel like a leper who is missing out on the main stream of life. I also understand that you may feel no one else understands exactly what you are going through. But the truth of the matter is that until you get over the anxiety overdose, meeting the right person may seem very far off.

My advice for singles who are struggling in their search is to look within and ask what part of their own life still needs work. When you clean up your side of the street, you make room for a perfectly imperfect person to see you, celebrate you, and love you. And remember that Mr. Right or Ms. Right will not be perfect, but will be perfect for you, just as you’ll be perfectly imperfect for him or her. If you really want to find Mr. Right, stop looking for him. Stop, in other words, waiting for someone to give you a life. Get your own life! Prove to the world, and to yourself, that you don’t need anyone to make you someone. Wake up every day with a purposeful heart to conquer your day. Be the best you can be each day and go to be bed thankful that you are life and a success. The bottom line is this: You can’t live your life waiting for a man to make your life. Feeling that a man will complete your life is the one thing guaranteed to keep a good man from being attracted to you. Become perfectly fine with yourself. Make your own life. Be whole, independent, happy, productive, active and physically fit. In short, commit to yourself before worrying about anyone else committing to you. Live your life; and let Mr. Right find you. And he will. Nothing attracts a man more than a woman who doesn’t need him. Confidence is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Life is one big paradox. And one of its biggest is that the only way to find Mr. Right is to genuinely and truly stop looking for him.

This pain must not lead to death o!

narchy reigns supreme in motherland. In the beginning, we laughed it off as another crisis. It is not the first fuel scarcity, some reckoned it won’t be the last. So we carried on as if nothing is happening and we left those at the helm to search for solutions to the problem. With the scarcity of fuel came hike in food prices, hike in transport fare, hike in pretty much everything. Right now, there is an uneasy rest that is building to its crescendo, a crescendo I got a glimpse of this week and I must say, it is far from pretty. In a television interview conducted in Yoruba, I saw an unnamed bus driver wish for sudden death. His reason? He had queued for fuel at one fuel station for two days to no avail and he was told there was fuel in the filling station he was being interviewed but sadly, he was yet to get fuel. The man was sitting dejectedly atop his bus, his means of livelihood and he was hopeless. For four days, he has been unable to work; unable to be productive and unable to add to his income. He claimed to have spent all the money he had on food at the filling station and as such, there was nothing left to do but to die. He didn’t just want to die, he wished for sudden death, the worst form of death amongst the Yoruba. A cultural reference that I will address later. But, the story does not end there, the young man wished the same on all Nigerians, both rich and poor as the leaders have failed and there was no point living under the

present condition. I can visualise the hyper religious wishing the man’s plea away with a wave of their arm over their head but I want us to consider what has led the man to this point. Like I said, he spoke in Yoruba, and to wish the worst form of death on himself and those in leadership roles is to commit the matter to Olodumare, the supreme being, to take charge. Sudden death is considered Olodumare’s punishment, swift and without fuss. No one can question Olodumare’s judgment and so no one can stop sudden death from filling the land. I do not wish sudden death upon anyone, but when a man’s life is reduced

to long, non-moving lines at filling station with a family to feed, then you can understand his frustration. He can’t see hope, he can’t afford to dream of anything better; not when the leaders are busy arguing over budget of Trillions that will have no impact on his life. This man’s verbalised frustration must be addressed and I see no point in discussing a budget that has no teeth in the midst of crisis. No one in position of leadership is saying anything tangible about the crisis. No one wants to admit the truth that the situation in Nigeria at the moment is only comparable to the great depression that preceded

I do not wish sudden death upon anyone, but when a man’s life is reduced to long, non-moving lines at filling station with a family to feed, then you can understand his frustration

the second world war. My reference is not being overly dramatic. A man wants to die, wants everyone in the country to die and we are not worried about what is going on in his head? I know we say that Nigerians are resilient and they can survive anything, but I think we are beginning to stretch the resilience of Nigerians to the maximum limit. A limit, once broken, can only lead to anarchy and a total collapse of law and order. Let us be clear, that is not what I am preaching here. However, if the leaders continue to behave as if nothing is happening and carry on the business of looting as usual when the people are suffering, then I can only quote the words of John F. Kennedy: “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable.” I really want to end today on a positive note, say something encouraging or even crack a joke to lift the spirits of the people, but I find that hard to do. How do I crack joke with the pain and suffering of others especially when I sit in my tower at a foreign university. However, this is still my reality, because I have family, I have friends who are caught in this and I cannot lose my eyes to it. So I can only plead with anyone who can bring about some relief to do so. I can only appeal to people who have to share with their neighbours. It is time for our communal culture to come back. Maybe, in our unity, we defeat the demons of anarchy until God intervenes.

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

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Secrets to healthy, perfect nails

Vanessa Okwara

aving beautiful and perfect nails is not about applying fancy nail polishes every time or going for manicures every now and then. It simply means that you pay attention towards certain factors which will help you to keep your nails in the best of conditions all the time. Keeping your nails healthy always pass a strong message to everyone around you. Our nails, however small or insignificant they may seem, can actually decide what message you are sending out to people around you. People who take care of their nails and keep them in good condition are known to be more careful about hygiene and generally come across as disciplined. • The most common way to keep your nails healthy is to clean them. Make sure that you soak your hand in some warm water after coming back from work or especially from an outing or a place where there was lot of dust. • Don’t cut or manipulate cuticles. Whether you have your nails professionally groomed or do them yourself, the No. 1 recommendation from dermatologists is leave your cuticles alone. The cuticle is the natural barrier to fungus and bacteria. Once you breach that, protection is lost. This

may also land you a nasty infection that harms the nail bed and leads to permanent nail damage. • The condition of your nails also depends on your diet. The healthier the diet, the stronger and shinier the nails. If you are accustomed to an unhealthy lifestyle, then you will notice that your nails are brittle, weak and flaky. It is very important to have a healthy diet to have healthy and beautiful nails. • Use nail hardeners sparingly or not at all. A lot of them do more damage than good. This is because most of these products are not studied clinically, so most claims are not backed up by science. Unless nails are exceptionally weak and fragile, most people don’t benefit from a nail hardener. • Avoid acetone-based polish removers. The one product that all dermatologists agree you should avoid if you have brittle nails is acetone nail polish remover. It has been documented time and again that it strips the nails, causing them to become brittle. • Do not use your nails to open tins and caps of other containers. There are fair chances that your nail might chip off or cause you pain. It is also advisable to keep your nails short as this prevents collection of dust or dirt inside them.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

dude

Be the best-dressed at work

OF THE WEEK

Mike Ezuronye Vanessa Okwara

freshly pressed dress shirt.

nce you have landed your dream job, the next is to seriously update your wardrobe to fit your new surroundings. Clients will notice and your colleagues will kowtow. Most businesses provide their employees with dress code policies to give guidance on what type of clothing is allowed and prohibited on professional and casual dress days. Follow these suggestions to build a wardrobe that’ll work for you for years to come by adding a mixture of the two most common classes of attire: business dress and business casual.

Dress shirts A crisp white shirt is the building block of every man’s wardrobe. It never goes out of style and matches everything and always means business. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of matching the dress shirt to your suit. Choose a complementary colour or pattern and be sure the shirt fits well, the collar is nicely pressed, and the garment is in good condition without any stains or fraying. Also repair any broken or loose buttons.

Men’s Suits and Suit Separates Business dress translates to a suit and tie. If you’re attending a conference, client meeting or your daily job in a professional office, there’s no substitute for a suit. Navy is serious and sharp, and a two-button suit is always appropriate, as long as you keep the top button secured to slim your profile. Wear the waistcoat with the full suit or simply with trousers or jeans for even more versatility. Accessorise your suit with a silk tie and

Leather Dress Shoes Pairing business casual shoes with a suit is not an uncommon fashion blunder that can quickly undercut your professional appearance. The best shoes to wear with a suit are made from fine leather and feature leather, not rubber, soles. You can choose from various styles, such as moc, tassel, wingtip or squared toe, as long as they are freshly polished. Dress and Casual trousers Dress pants are still considered business casual if you pair them with a sport shirt, polo, sport coat

or sweater. Linen trousers, wool trousers or khakis are casual alternatives that are nice enough to be considered professional. Jeans are not always appropriate, but if you see other employees wearing them, follow their lead, preferably with jeans that are dark and pressed in appearance. The tie As a rule of thumb, the recommended length for tie is a width of 2 to 3 inches. Choose a tie with colours and tones that match your suit and dress shirt; bolder colours and patterns are acceptable for ties. Business Casual When the dress code for your company is business casual, it simply means you do not need to wear a suit. However, it does not call for casual attire such as jeans and T-shirts. A man’s option for business casual includes a polo shirt, collared shirt or sweater. Khaki or dress trousers along with dress shoes make up his business casual outfit. He does not need to wear a tie. You can choose shoes with fashion-forward stitching, suede materials, various colours and patterns, and rubber soles.

Handsome thespian

Vanessa Okwara

ike Ezuruonye is a Nollywood actor who has been on the screen for over a decade. His handsome features give him an edge in getting lead roles either as a king or prince in epic movies. He was born in September, 1982 in Lagos and schooled at the Federal Government College, Taraba and Archbishop Aggey Memorial School, Lagos before studying Accounting at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He worked as a banker prior to becoming an actor. He has featured in several Nollywood movies. He received two nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008, 2009 and a nomination for Best actor in Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards. Mike Has received two nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008 and 2009. He has acted in Hundreds of Nollywood Movies including, Games Men Play, and The Mayors among others. Good looking Nollywood actor Mike Ezuruonye has been married to his wife, Nkechi Nnorom of 5 years who is a medical-psychologist based in Canada and they have a Son together Reynold Nkembuchim Ezuruonye. Mike has been listed as one of the fashionable actors in Nollywood. At this year’s AMVCA, Mike looked extra dapper in a dark print blazer paired with purple coloured trousers. He wore a unique neck piece instead of a tie and that really made him to stand out from the rest.

NEW TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

RazzleDazzle

Mide Martins and Afeeze Owo’s marriage hit the rock

A T

Abiola Alaba Peters

with

We don’t value film festivals – Saheed Balogun

cclaimed Fuji music star, Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika , known to his fans and friends all over the world as Alayeluwa, Madiba or Jagaban, hails from Ago Owu, in Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State. Although he was born and bred in the heart of Lagos Island 43 years ago, Alayeluwa started his music career in 1983, right from his primary school days. ‘RazzleDazzle’ met with Adekunle, who is one of the very best in the world of Fuji music in Nigeria today and has twenty-three albums to his credit. He revealed his plans for politics, how his mother almost stopped him from doing Fuji music, among other burning issues. When asked if his parents ever opposed his chosen career, he said, “Never, though when I started, my mum said no, because my late grandfather and my biological father who is still very much alive were both musicians. So my mother was the only one that opposed my music career. Her point and pain were that, my fathers who did music even before I was born had nothing to show for it, so why should I step into the same shoes when I could go into some other things, but I refused and insisted it’s going to be music. So she was very bitter but had no choice than to support me. Today I am grateful to Allah for giving me grace to convince them that music is what I was called to do.” The widely travelled and good looking act also addressed the issue of rivalry among Fuji artistes, describing it as a publicity stunt to sell their craft. He said, “That is what they call rivalry and it’s there in every business. When there’s no rivalry, your business will not progress, everybody wants to be the best, the king. It’s just a form of working hard and announcing yourself as a Fuji musician”. Lastly, when asked if he is nurturing any political agenda, he said, “No, politics is a no go area for me, I don’t have such time, but if my service is needed as a musician, why not! I will go there, do my job, get paid and leave, but contesting or lobbying for any office, I don’t have such time. I am not ready to practice politics, I am a Fuji musician, music is what I do.”

amous Nigerian actor and President of the Golden Movie Ambassador of Nigeria, Saheed Balogun, has come out to address the many issues and controversies trailing his leadership and the guild. The father of two, during an interview with ‘Razzle Dazzle,’ also stated that the Golden Movie Ambassador of Nigeria, under his watch, is working hard to create a better platform for members. “You see, a lot of actors don’t take insurance too seriously and that is one of the many things that we as a body are set out to achieve. We create insurance for them, take the welfare of our members and actors seriously and how they can improve their knowledge. We want them to be able to compete with their international colleagues, and that can only be achieved through sensitisation, improving on our acting skills. There are books we have to read, there are people we have to meet in order to upgrade ourselves and sensitise our actors on the importance of film festivals. Most of us don’t take festivals too seriously as well, and that’s where the money is, that’s where you meet the great people. So as an ambassador, you must be able to represent the body and your country perfectly, that’s what Golden Movie Ambassador of Nigeria stands for,” he said. Speaking on the alleged crisis among the executives, the talented actor debunked the reports, describing it as mere speculation. “There are no crises, and everybody is ok. I am categorically confirming to you that there are no crises anywhere, not between the members or the executives. We are all fine, whatever you heard is just mere rumour, so ignore it,” he said. The Kwara State Polytechnic graduate, who started his acting career in the 70s, has featured, produced and directed several films over the years.

New music: Don’t Let Go –Olaboi

s concerns continue to grow on the crisis in the P-Square music group, upwardly mobile singer, Omoniyi Olatunde, otherwise known as Olaboi, has released a song titled “Don’t Let Go” to plead with the warring Okoye brothers. The song addresses the rift between Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square, and emphasised that peace is the only option that should be considered. Olaboi, on behalf of the numerous fans of P-Square all over the world, is pleading with the twin brothers to sheath their swords and embrace peace. He is begging them to please “Don’t Let Go” of the P-Square brand.

AMAA 2016: Port Harcourt is ready to host the world Edwin Usoboh

he prestigious pan-African reward system for the motion picture practitioners, African Movie Academy Awards, has found a new home in the garden city, Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State. This is following a very successful nine consecutive editions in Bayelsa State, one in Abuja, Lagos and Port Elizabeth, South Africa respectively. The Governor Nyesom Wike-led state, which is the headquarters of the Oil & Gas industry in Nigeria, signed the hosting rights with the management of AMAA, making Rivers State the second sub-national government in Nigeria to tap into the huge potentials of AMAA for destination brand-

08062622328 abiolaalabapeters@rockmail.com

Politics is no go area for me – Adekunle Alao Malaika

he spate of broken marriages in Nollywood seems to be increasing as it seems that Afeez Abiodun Owoh and Mide Abiodun have both decided to pack up their several years of romance. Mide, who had previously revealed to ‘RazzleDazzle’ sometime last year that her marriage to her actor cum producer/director husband, Afeez Owo, is intact, shocked her fans, when she made a birthday post via her instagram page without mentioning her husband in the post. Fast forward to her husband Afeez Owo’s birthday, while many of their colleagues took to their different social media pages to wish him a happy birthday, his wife Mide, refused to wish or celebrate with him, to confirm all is not well with the couple. Mide posted a photo of herself and a thank you message to her fans for their birthday wishes without mentioning a word about her hubby’s birthday. A visit to her Hubby’s Instagram page shows some photos of Afeez Owo and his kids, he rarely talks or posts about his wife. Sources reveal that both have been living apart for months and are not even on each other’s social media accounts. We gathered that Afeez is allegedly upset that Mide is too close for comfort to a property merchant who made her a brand Ambassador. It was gathered that close friends had settled them days back and that was why Afeez greeted her on his social media platforms as a sign of maturity but no one knows why Mide refused to reciprocate his gestures as Mide did not wish a happy birthday to him. All efforts to speak with both parties failed as calls and text messages sent to Afeez and Mide were ignored as at press time.

Body&Soul

ing. In a statement jointly signed by the state Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Mrs. Tonye Briggs, on behalf of Governor Wike, and the founder of AMAA, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, hosting the award this year will be the beginning of a partnership that will add immense value to the people of the state and the host city in particular as the government is determined to position Port Harcourt as a destination of choice in Nigeria and West Africa. “We are repositioning Rivers State as a state ready for business to Nigerians and the rest of the world and our partnership with AMAA will become a veritable platform to attract tourists, global and Nigerian icons in business and the entertainment industry.

We want to showcase Rivers State as a peaceful place where socio-economic activities thrive and also the hospitality of our people. There is a huge economy around entertainment and showbiz in Port Harcourt. While our state is known for her hydrocarbon resources, His Excellency, Governor Wike’s administration, through the Ministry of Culture & Tourism (through initiatives like AMAA) wants the world to know and take advantage of the business opportunities that abound in Rivers State,” Mrs. Briggs said. The commissioner also added that the state will soon unveil a calendar of entertainment and tourist activities that will create job opportunities for the teeming youths of the state.

Speaking on the new partnership with the state, the awards founder, Ms. AnyiamOsigwe said that it marks the beginning of a new phase in the journey of the continental awards that started 12 years ago. “We are very happy with this development and express our gratitude to Governor Wike and the good people of Rivers State. We value this partnership and we promise that it will be a rewarding one for the government and people of this great state.” This year’s awards will take place on Saturday, 11th June, 2016 and the nomination night where nominees into the 28 categories will be announced will hold in May. The previous nomination nights had taken place in Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Banjul, Lilongwe, Ouagadougou and Los Angeles.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

I’m extremely ambitious – Uru Eke Beautiful Nollywood actress, Uru Eke, is one of the youngest producers in the movie industry. She made a grand entry into the industry by landing roles in blockbuster movies such as ‘Being Mrs. Elliot’ and ‘Last Flight to Abuja’. Having lived abroad most of her life, she left a budding career as an Information Technology Specialist and came home to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an actress. In this chat with VANESSA OKWARA, she recounts how she made it so fast in the movie industry and the kind of man she finds fascinating What was growing up like and educational background? I’m from Mbaise in Imo State, but was born in Newham, East London. I attended, Galleywall Infants School in London, came to Nigeria and attended Baptist Girls College, then returned to London and attended Lewisham College and finally University of Greenwich where I did a course in Business Information Technology. How long have you been in Nollywood? I’ve been active in Nollywood since 2011. Mention some of the movies you have featured in and that brought you to limelight. I’ve acted in several movies since joining Nollywood and not quite sure the one that brought me to limelight. I’ve been in many films including my own production, ‘Remember Me’, ‘One Last Word’,’ Being Mrs. Elliott’, ‘Weekend Getaway’ and ‘Last Flight to Abuja’. You recently produced and also starred in your own movie which just premiered. Can you tell us a bit about this movie? It’s a film about corruption. It deals with a subject that affects the world. It’s a film with a message about accountability and transparency. You are one of the youngest producers around. What made you to go into movie production? It’s only natural to want to move on in your career. I didn’t want to constantly be at the mercy of producers and only get contacted when I am needed. It’s about providing a job for myself and advancing with my career. How did you source for the funding of your movie ‘Remember me’? The film was funded by the Ford Foundation. Have you always wanted to be an actress? Yes, for as long as I can remember, it has always been my dream. You virtually lived and grew up in the UK, what was life like there for you and why did you decide to come back to Nigeria to be an actress? Growing up was fabulous, it shaped me into who I am and the professional woman I have become today. Living and working in the UK makes you extremely independent and sometimes unconsciously you find yourself doing everything by yourself even when you have help available. I moved back to focus on acting in Nigeria because making an entry into the entertainment industry here isn’t as bureaucratic as it is in the UK. You are an IT specialist. Why did you give it up for acting? I gave it up because I wanted to become an actress. If you compare the rewards of the job you had

in the UK with acting, would you say you are financially fulfilled? Well, I would say, so far so good. You have had a fast growth in Nollywood, landing juicy roles in blockbuster movies and now a movie producer. What do you think gave you the push? I’m extremely ambitious and I like to work. I believe with every career there’s a next level. So I felt after being an actress for a while, I wanted to move on to what was next and producing was it for me. Aside acting, what other aspects of entertainment interests you? That will be dancing. Describe your fashion style and what determines the choice of outfits. My fashion style is simple and chic. My mood and the occasion determines my outfit. What is your beauty routine? I use the Origins complete beauty set. That is, the microdermabrasion wash, cleanser and toner. Who are your favourite designers, both nationally and internationally? I love Esosa. She has made me some really lovely dresses. I also love Moofa, Meenaofficial and Zuhairmurad. What are your favourite accessories and the ones you can’t do without? I love rings. Who is your man crush in the entertainment industry both here and abroad? My man crush is Leonardo Dicaprio. I’ve none here to be honest. Are you in a relationship, if so can you tell us a bit about him? Nope, I’m not in a relationship. What are the qualities that attract you to a man? I like someone who enjoys meaningful conversations, who can hold their own in an argument. Do you believe in love at first sight and have you ever experienced it? Yes, I do and I have experienced love at first sight only once in all my life though. What is your passion? I’m passionate about almost everything. My work, friends, relationship, etc. What is your life philosophy? Go out there and get it because nobody is going to hand it to you. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? I see myself married, have kids, still producing and acting. Describe Uru Eke in three words. I’m passionate, driven and focused.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

News

States’ IGR drops by 3.9% to N707bn in 2015 p.44

Interview

News

We have special approach to investments – Enelemah p.45

Outstanding mid-size premium car: The Mercedes Benz C-Class p.47

Business

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business

paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph

Tomato price increases in Lagos markets

L-R: Director of Operations, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Niyi Ali; Managing Director, Engr. Fidel Okhiria and Director, Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Aminu Gusau, during the Managing Director’s meeting with Railway workers, at the NRC’s premises, in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO : TONY EGUAYE

Mixed reactions trail Nigeria’s currency deal with China

he price of tomatoes has increased in most markets in Lagos, a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria showed on Friday. Femi Odusanya, the spokesman for Mile 12 market traders, attributed the increase to the off-season and the lingering fuel scarcity in the country. Tomatoes and pepper were in abundance in the last three months, prompting a basket of tomatoes to drop to N6, 000 from N18, 000. “During rainy season, tomatoes are usually costly because the wind interferes with the yield,” Odusanya said. “We are appealing to the government to invest more in the preservation of agricultural produce so that we can have all-year availability of the item and even export the surplus. “As it is now, consumers will continue to pay more for food items because prices keep fluctuating due to the exchange rate’’ According to Odusanya, what are in abundance now are onions, because this is there season. Basirat Balogun, Iyaloja, Mainland Market Association, urged the Federal Government to proffer solutions to the lingering fuel scarcity. “Traders go through a lot of stress in transporting goods to the market. They will definitely add the cost differential to their goods,” Ms. Balogun said. At the Mile 12 market, a basket of tomatoes, which previously cost N6, 000 now goes for N14, 000.

‘It’s right move at wrong time’

Kemi Adeosun

Paul Ogbuokiri

n a bid to bridge the widening gap between the naira and the dollar in the exchange rate market, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, April, 12, shocked foreign investors mainly from Europe and the United States who have been accused of stockpiling their money in dollars. The President had consistently insisted that he would not devalue the naira against the dollar despite pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United States. With the West insisting that the nation’s currency must be devalued, which has always been part of their conditions for assistance, snippet of information from the Buhari’s visit to China, it was reported that the Asian giant has offered to rejuvenate Nigeria’s economy by investing in capital projects across the country.

The implication according to the Director-General, African Affairs Department, China’s Foreign Ministry, Lin Songtian, is that “Renminbi (yuan) is free to flow among different banks in Nigeria, and the renminbi has been included in the foreign exchange reserves of Nigeria,” The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had said last week that Nigeria was looking at panda bonds or yuandenominated bonds sold by overseas entities on the mainland, which she noted would be cheaper than the dollar and the Eurobonds. An economic expert and Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, noted that the currency swap agreement will allow Nigerian banks to issue Letters of Credit in renminbi (yuan) in place of the dollar or euro. “It will facilitate trade deals between Nigeria and China. The ongoing foreign exchange scarcity has been affecting the amount of Nigeria’s import from China. “The new deal may ease pressure on the dollar, since demand for yuan/renminbi will start rising,” Chukwu said. Nigeria converted up to a

tenth of its reserves into yuan five years ago. But a social media activist Akin Banwo in his reaction to the deal said it is a direct slap on America “and Americans will definitely let their displeasure show. We are not strong enough yet to get in between these superpowers who have been fighting a cold war over the dollar and yuan. Americans know the long term strategy of Chinese is to supplant the dollar as the standard in the marketplace and we just got involved in their war with this idiotic public romance with the yuan. It was not necessary but that is the price China is exacting for supporting us. Buhari should have walked away,” he said.

We are not strong enough yet to get in between these superpowers who have been fighting a cold war over the dollar and yuan

He argued that Nigeria cannot afford to antagonise the Americans “at this stage of our comeback attempt? America stood with us during the dark days of GEJ and helped get him out and now we want to thumb our nose at them with a yuan deal with Chinese? One thing those who know Americans very well should know is that Americans would not standby as their interest in Nigeria and their dollar is eroded with this public romance with China. Mark my words America and American press will react and before you know it PMB they have been promoting will be vilified with real and fabricated stories. I think it is a right move at the wrong time. Nigeria is strategic to these super powers and we can’t afford to get in the middle,” he stressed. Also, a financial expert and former president, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Nzekwe, said though Nigeria needs China’s support the fact is that their imports are killing the Nigerian manufacturing industry. He added that the move to further legitimize the yuan with the long term strategy of replacing or weakening CO N T I N U E D O N PAGE 44

Ogbeh

Coca-Cola launches global campaign in Nigeria

ver the past 130 years generations of people across social classes and geographies and cultures around the world have savoured a simple, unifying experience – the unique, unchanging and refreshing taste of a Coca-Cola. Along with this are the pleasant feelings and memories inspired by the typical everyday moments of sharing an icecold Coca-Cola. The world’s most famous brand through its new global marketing campaign, ‘Taste the Feeling’, is inviting everyone to relive this experience as often. Coca-Cola’s new ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign was unveiled in Nigeria on Friday, April 15 at a well-attended stylish party which held on Coke Island, a brand new ‘floating island’ that emerged suddenly on the Lagos lagoon purposely for the event, thanks to the creativity of the human mind and the wonders of technology!. The launch party which has set a new benchmark for the audaciously innovative world of event activation, was attended by the crème de la crème of social influencers from the media, music and movie worlds as well as Coca-Cola consumers, customers and employees.

SUNDAY APRIL17, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

Budget deficit: FG to boost non-oil income by 87%

L-R: Members, Editorial Board, Marketing Journal, Mr. Segun Sorunke; Dr. Mukhtar Halliru; President/Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Marketing, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye; Prof. Ogwu E. Ogwu and Register/CEO, Mr. Sunday Ogodo; during the inaugural meeting of the Committee in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

he Federal Government expects its non-oil revenues to nearly double this year as government seeks to offset a slump in oil revenues. In the plan according Reuters, the government expects to generate N3.38 trillion ($17 billion) this year from nonoil sources, up 87 per cent from N1.81 trillion in 2015, the presentation showed. Corporate income tax collection is expected to exceed the N700 billion generated last year, while the government also aims to recover stolen Nigerian assets stashed abroad as part of efforts to crack down corruption, it said. The biggest source of revenues this year will come from what the presentation called “independent revenue”. Government will squeeze the informal small traders who make almost half of the GDP, this year to boost tax revenues by 33 per cent. Last week, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said Nigeria was considering the issue of Chinese Panda or Japanese Samurai bonds to help fund the budget. The government also wants to switch its debt mix so that 40 per cent of loans would be from abroad, compared to 16 per cent now, the presentation showed. Loan repayments will be stretched. Nigeria has also held talks with China, the World Bank and other international institutions to get loans to fund his plans to roll out infrastructure projects.

Group accuses TCIP Terminal Operators of illegal ship diversion Paul Ogbuokiri

Non-governmental organisation, Nigerians Against Theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS), has accused the Tin Can Island (TCIP) Terminal Operators of illegally diverting vessels, saying Nigeria will be worse for it in terms of revenue generation if the Federal Government is blackmailed into mortgaging the bright future of the nation’s maritime sector by acceding to their requests. It alleged that while of the Terminal Operators was closed for 36 days between December 2015 and January 2016 for illegally diverting a vessel the other paid N2.5 billion in February, 2016 before a ship that was diverted to its terminal was released. According to NATIMS,

the two companies are still in court restraining the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Ministries of Transport, Trade and Investment, Nigeria Ports Authority and Nigeria’s President from processing and amending the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority Act. ``It is the same group of agitating companies that were dealt a heavy blow in March 2016 when a Federal High Court in Lagos struck out their suit against the Federal Government on grounds for lack of jurisdiction. In the suit, Ports and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited (PTOL) had alleged that vessels meant for their jetties were being diverted to other terminals since October 2013. To show their desperation, they filed a suit

in court that did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case and obtained an injunction which allowed them to receive large ocean going vessels until the suit was struck out. Government must have lost lots of revenue while the injunction lasted. “During the Comptroller General’s visit, the companies accused government agencies of short changing the Federal government in terms expected revenue from the maritime sector when they are indeed perpetrators of the same offence. It is a known fact that any ship carrying oil and gas cargo and illegally diverted to a private jetty instead of an appropriate terminal as required by law translates into a huge financial loss to the federal

government. Instead of discharging at the rate of 5.8 US dollars per ton of cargo at the appropriate terminal, same transaction goes for one dollar at the private jetties,” NATIMS said. The group further alleged that FPSO Egina project presented by one of the operators as the most worthy project of all times is fraught with litigations as a report contained in Thisday Newspaper of April 6, 2016 shows that a legal firm has commenced committal proceedings against some of the promoters of the project. On April 14, 2016, another national newspaper ran a story where a Lawyer urged President Mohammadu Buhari to stop work on the FPSO project until all legal issues about the project are resolved.

Mixed reactions trail Nigeria’s currency deal with China CO N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 3

the dollar influence is a cold war that has been going on for years between the two. However, the Head of Research at the Initiative for Public Policy Analysis, Olusegun Sotola, noted that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s imports come from China be it electronics, telecom gadgets, clothes and sundry items, saying that Nigerian traders buy these items in dollars and sell in prices that are a bit higher than normal because of exchange rate issues. He said that same items are sold for far cheaper prices in neighbouring Francophone countries. “Reason is simple. Benin and Togo are tied more to the French currency than the dollar. So they buy in

French Francs and sell in CFA. What the Federal Government has done is to give traders and importers a pedestal through which they can transact in yuan and two major things will happen. 1. The less dependence on dollar will force it to come down vis-a-vis the naira. 2. The goods will arrive Nigeria at lower prices because of the low exchange rate of the Yuan,” he said. According to him, Nigeria will still transact her oil business and other core non Chinese related businesses in dollars. “Nigeria will not do business with the US in yuan. Her foreign reserves will still be in dollars. The difference is that if the value of the naira rises against the dollar as expected then

every single dollar in the country’s reserves will have more value than it has always been,” he said. However, Chernay Johnson, a Johannesburg-based analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in an emailed note to clients on Thursday said the move by Nigeria will further discourage investor from coming to Nigeria, adding, however, that for Nigeria it will reduce the demand for dollars and the pressure on the naira He noted that demand will naturally push up the exchange rate of the Chinese yuan. He cautioned that the main focus of the country should be on increasing exports to increase foreign currency inflow, “that way the country can have an im-

proved balance of trade and payments position, it can also expose its small businesses to foreign support and grants, all of that put together will enhance foreign exchange inflow, this is the way to go to bring down the escalating forex rate. The agreement will allow Nigerian traders and businesses, which imports mainly from China conclude their transactions in the Chinese currency, the Renminbi (yuan), instead of the dollar. Until now over 90 per cent of international trades between Nigeria and the world is done in dollars, and in the process putting so much pressure on the naira. Nigeria imports almost all it needs from the West, Middle East and Asia.

L-R: Acting Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mr. Abdullahi Sule; Group Executive Director, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, Hajia Halima Aliko Dangote and Twenty years long service award winner, Mr. Sunday Akeju, during the Dangote Sugar Long Service Award ceremony in Lagos.

PSN calls for Pharmaceutical manufacturing fund Eleazar Nwanti

he President Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Ahmed Yakassi has called on the Federal Government to set up a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Expansion Development Fund (PMEDF), in line with regional policies. “The PMEDF will stimulate the development of innovative products suitable for our environment as well as enable us compete with international firms.” He also said that if PSN is given access to foreign exchange, its members would create one million jobs. To this end, Yakasai said there is the need for the Federal Government to prioritise giving pharmaceutical manufacturers access to foreign exchange to enable them replenish depleted pharmaceutical raw materials expeditiously. This will guarantee uninterrupted supply of high quality medicines to the Nigerian public as well as create numerous jobs for unemployed Nigerians. He made the request in Abuja recently when the PSN paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, the PSN has the potential to contribute over a million jobs to the Nigerian economy. He stated that the collaboration of PSN with other relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will provide the avenue to create jobs and boost the economy of the country. “Our collective knowledge and experience together with our collective dedication to national service can be harnessed in planning development strategies for underdeveloped sectors and regions in the country,” he said. Ahmed said majority of World Health Organisation (WHO) certified pharmaceutical companies in Africa are from Nigeria and through exportation, the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector can become a major FOREX earner for the country. The issue of scarcity of jobs in the country today is overwhelming. Most eligible youths are either underemployed or unemployed. To show the high level of unemployment in the country, over 300,000 candidates applied for 3,000 available slots in the Nigerian Navy recruitment exercise for 2016 Batch 25 Trainees. Similarly, the huge number of applicants that have already applied for the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) that has 10,000 available job positions tells more about the issue of unemployment in the country.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

Business/ INTERVIEW

What is the thrust of this much talked about agenda of breaking free from oil and gas? The crux of the Ministry’s agenda is to see Nigeria break free from it’s over dependence on oil and gas into massive industrialisation bolstered by research, development and innovation of indigenous manufacturing as well as creating environment for investment. The Ministry can be otherwise named the ‘Ministry of Enabling Environment’. In that time I have engaged various stakeholders, seeking first to learn and understand as much as possible, while leveraging my experience, gained over the last three decades, mostly from the private sector. I’ve held and attended several meetings with local and foreign entrepreneurs, business executives, industry groups, and trade missions. I have met and discussed with fellow members of the Federal Executive Council. I have met with the Chief Executives of all the parastatals under the supervision of our Ministry. I have accompanied the President on some of his foreign trips, engaging in discussions around business and investment in Nigeria. One of my first official outings as Minister was to represent Nigeria at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya; and discuss Nigeria’s place in the global multilateral trading system. On one of our recent trips, to the United Arab Emirates, I was privileged to sign, on behalf of Nigeria, an important bilateral agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection. With this period I have been the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, I have come to appreciate a number of things, which can be used to frame the conversation about Nigeria’s present and future, from an economic point of view. What are those things? One: These are extraordinary times, for Nigeria as a country, for its citizens, and for us as a government. Oil prices, on which we depend for 75 per cent of government revenues and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, are down 70 per cent since mid-2014. Coupled with this, are the knock-on effects from changing conditions in the world’s two largest economies: the end of the era of Quantitative Easing in the United States and availability of higher returns to investors in that country, and the slowdown in China. These are also accompanied by a net outflow of investment from Emerging Markets. The negative impact of all these on our economy – everything from government’s finances to investment flows to currency valuation – has been significant. Last year our GDP growth dropped to under 3 per cent – the lowest in 15 years – from an average of more than 6 per cent in the decade between 2005 and 2014. Our foreign exchange reserves are down to their lowest levels in more than a decade. Two: The crisis I outlined above, which we find ourselves dealing with, is but one side of the narrative; one aspect of a complex and nuanced story. The flip side of the crisis is the opportunity it presents; to create something new; to develop new attitudes and appetites. Fully convinced that this crisis is too good an opportunity to waste, the administration of President Buhari has started the difficult but rewarding task of “taking the current now that it serves”, by breaking free from our traditional dependence on oil and gas and in its place developing a diversified export base and a solid base of domestic manufacturing. Three: There continues to be a great deal of investor interest and attention on Nigeria. This is good news given the difficult macroeconomic environment in which we find ourselves. I am, however, also convinced that we should never take this interest and attention for granted, and that we should see it as a timely opportunity to carry out a fundamental reform of our economy. Four: The entrepreneurial energy and zeal of our people is one of the reasons I’m confident we will overcome our current challenges. We see this energy everywhere – from small businesses to large ones, from aspiring entrepreneurs to long-established ones; in formal and informal settings. Having acknowledged this, we must find ways to harness these energies. We recognise that

We have special approach to investments – Enelemah

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah; in this interview with PAUL OGBUOKIRI, reiterates the determination of his ministry to break the Nigerian economy free from over dependence on oil and gas

unless we enable these everyday heroes to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions, we stand the grave risk of producing a frustrated and disillusioned population. Just like the interest from outside, we cannot afford to take the enthusiasm and energy of our people for granted. Five: The Ministry is strategically positioned to play a critical role in the Nigerian economy; especially at a time when as a country we’re determined to diversify our economy away from oil in a sustainable manner. At what point will you say the Ministry is now ready to drive the vision? This period has afforded me and my team the opportunity to begin to define and articulate our vision for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI). I will start out by listing the four Pillars of that vision, and then go on to flesh them out. Create an enabling environment for industry, trade and investment in Nigeria. Implement the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP). Champion the cause of Nigeria’s MSMEs, as a means of creating jobs and achieving inclusive growth and attract proactively long-term local and foreign investment. I will expand on these pillars, starting with the first. Create an enabling environment for industry, trade and investment in Nigeria. We are working to position MITI as an enabler and facilitator of business and investment in Nigeria. We would like Nigerians and the world to regard MITI as the ‘Ministry of Enabling Environment’. Won’t that mean changing the core responsibility of the Ministry? No. When we say ‘Enabling Environment’, we mean one in which it is progressively easier to do business, policies are predictable and consistent, the government acts as a partner to business and investment, not a competitor or adverse regulator, and in which there is macro-economic stability. In the weeks and months ahead we will be unveiling a number of important initiatives aimed at addressing Nigeria’s consistently poor performance on various Global Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Indices. These concrete initiatives will focus on dismantling the many obstacles that stand in the way of business and business innovation in Nigeria. Infrastructure has remained the bane of industrialisation in Nigeria; people feel that the lip-service that had bbeen paid to it would continue in this dispensation. Do you agree? I’m delighted to mention that work is already going on within the government to create a dedicated fund to tackle the infrastructure deficit. This is apart from the fact that the 2016 budget proposes to spend on infrastructure projects, three times as much as the 2015 budget, despite the tough economic times we are in. I must add at this point that infrastructure refers, not only to ‘hard’ infrastructure like transport networks and reliable power supply, but also ‘soft’ infrastructure like transparent regulation, policy consistency,

the rule of law, and a culture of efficient collaboration and synergy among various government agencies and offices. Also connected to the idea of being an enabler, is developing a culture, within the Ministry and all its parastatals, of responsive and supportive service to all our stakeholders and target audiences. MITI will foster an attitude of ‘service’ to entrepreneurs, MSMEs, businesses and investors. We will constantly ask the question: ‘How can we help’? To make this easier, we are establishing multiple channels and mechanisms of engagement with the public, and would welcome feedback on all our policies and programmes. In the months ahead, we will be holding forums and meetings with a wide range of players and stakeholders. To tap into the opportunities for engagement provided by the Internet, we have created social media accounts – @ TradeInvestNG on Twitter, and ‘FMITINigeria’ on Facebook – and we are also currently revamping MITI’s official website. All of these efforts are geared towards affirming that MITI, like Nigeria, is open for business. Do you also agree that it is high time government commenced implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP)? Regarding Industrialisation, there is no doubt that Nigeria is long overdue to make the shift from being primarily an exporter of commodities and raw materials, to being an industrial economy. Manufacturing currently contributes only a tenth to our Gross Domestic Product, much lower than it does in other emerging market economies. Our Industrialisation ambition is hinged on the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), launched by the previous government in 2014. It is now time to move that comprehensive document from Plan to Action. It is now our duty to implement that Plan in light of current realities,

Enelemah

taking into consideration the lessons learnt in the two years since it was unveiled. We are focusing on identifying and supporting a select number of industrial sectors in which Nigeria has comparative advantage. We have seen success in our backward integration policies in the cement industry. Government seems not serious with development in the MSMEs sector? MSMEs are the unsung heroes of our economy, currently contributing about half of Gross Domestic Product, and possessing the potential to be even more productive, given the right incentives. Working through agencies like the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Bank of Industry (BOI), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and in collaboration with other Ministries and Agencies of government, we will be rolling out programmes and initiatives focused on supporting MSMEs with financing, infrastructure, technical support and training. As part of the Federal Government’s N500 billion Social Protection programme for 2016, over two million traders, farmers and artisans will receive micro-credit, through a fund to be managed by the Bank of Industry. Is it possible to attract investment is with current currency crisis the country is facing? One of the fundamental questions facing us as a government is: how do we increase the levels of domestic and foreign investment in Nigeria, especially for the purpose of closing our massive infrastructure gap. These challenging times we find ourselves in call for the deployment of innovative financing solutions, targeted at unlocking capital wherever it might be found. And we are well aware that this capital is available, within and outside Nigeria – in private equity and venture capital, Pension and Sovereign Wealth Funds, and so on – and like I pointed out earlier investors are also interested in investing in Nigeria. Our approach to attracting investments will be driven by a ‘Public-Private Partnership’ (PPP) agenda. Considering the scale of our infrastructure deficit, and the limits of government’s resources, Partnering with Private Capital is clearly the most sensible approach to financing our substantial ambitions. I must at this point add that the size and type of financing Nigeria requires suggests that our preferred partners will be those who show evidence of a commitment to a longterm partnership.

Business

Kayode Oyesile he internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the 36 states of the Nigeria dropped by 3.9 per cent in 2015, even as 11 states were able to record increase in their IGR in the review period. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest IGR report on Thursday named Ogun, Anambra, Borno, Edo, Bauchi, Abia, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba and Sokoto as the only states that bettered their 2014 records of revenue generation performance in 2015. The NBS, which relied on records obtained from the Joint Tax Board and states’ boards of internal revenue, said the IGR earnings in 24 other states declined from the levels attained the previous year. Among the 24 states that performed poorly included Kwara, Imo, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Yobe, and Zamfara. Ebonyi was the only state whose internally generated revenue records were not available. Overall performance of the 36 states showed that the total IGR realised for the year dropped by 3.69 per cent, from N707.86 billion in 2014 to N682.67 billion. Details of the respec-

SUNDAY APRIL17, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

States’ IGR drops by 3.9% to N707bn in 2015 tive states’ performances showed that Ogun State’s IGR records were adjudged best, with a 49.42 per cent increase, almost doubling the N17.5 billion revenue earned in 2014 to N34.6 billion. Anambra followed closely, with its IGR rising by about 29.32 per cent from N10.45 billion in 2014 to N14.79 billion, while Borno came third with a 21.8 per cent improvement from N2.76 billion the previous year to N3.53 billion. Other states with improved performances included Edo (10.95 per cent), Bauchi (10.2 per cent), Sokoto (9.75 per cent), Taraba (8.57 per cent), Abia (7.33 per cent), Nasarawa (4.59 per cent), Niger (3.98 per cent) and Kogi (3.05 per cent). Among the poor performers, the NBS showed that Kwara State topped, with its IGR declining massively by about 73.57 per cent, from about N12.46 billion realised in 2014, to about N7.18 billion in 2015. The state was followed by Imo, whose IGR in 2014 dropped by 48.3 per cent, from N8.12 billion to N5.47 billion the following year. Yobe State came third with a 36.53 per cent drop in its

IGR from N3.07 billion in 2014 to N2.74 billion in 2015. Others included Bayelsa (25.76 per cent), Jigawa (23.46 per cent), Plateau (19.42 per cent), Ondo (16.05 per cent), Cross River (16.01 per cent), Zamfara (14.88 per cent), Adamawa (12.19 per cent), Kaduna (10.8 per cent) and Gombe (8.61 per cent). Also included among the poor performers were Benue (8.55 per cent), Rivers (8.54 per cent), Katsina (7.46 per cent), Kebbi (6.73 per cent), Enugu (6.47 per cent), Akwa Ibom (5.99 per cent), Osun (5.45 per cent), Ekiti (4.99 per cent), Delta (4.93 per cent),

Oyo (4.11 per cent), Lagos (2. 96 per cent), and Kano (0.37 per cent). Among the oil producing states of the Niger Delta, apart from Edo and Abia, all others could not meet their 2014 IGR levels, with their average earnings dropping by about 6.6 per cent. In terms of IGR volume, Lagos State was ranked highest with a total of N268.23 billion during the year, followed by Rivers with N82.1 billion, and Delta, with N40.81 billion. At the inception of the present administration, no fewer than 30 states were said to be

distressed financially as a result of the declining earnings from oil exports. Global oil price dropped from an average of $100 per barrel to $24 late last year. Oil now sells for about $40 a barrel. To enable the states meet their minimum obligations, particularly in respect of payment of workers’ salaries, the Federal Government unfolded a bail-out package for all the states. But, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said only 19 of the affected states applied for and received various sums from the facility. Beneficiaries included

Kwara, Zamfara, Osun, Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Abia, Adamawa, Ondo, Kebbi, Ekiti, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun, Plateau, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Edo and Oyo states. Although Akwa Ibom and Rivers states were not among the beneficiaries of the bail-out, their respective legislative assemblies recently approved requests from their governors for various loan facilities to enable them survive. The two states are among those that receive the highest allocations from the federation account every month.

SON DG tasks states on MSMEs Stanley Ihedigbo

cting Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya has appealed to state and Local governments to assist Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) stand on their feet for overall economic and industrial growth. The SON Director General, told journalists during his courtesy visit to Governor of Enugu State that MSMEs was the engine of growth for any economy hence concerted efforts should be made by government at all levels to grow the sector. ‘There is no way we can diversify the economy without the active development and involvement of the MSMEs. They are the secret of economic prosperity. `` Let the state governments in Nigeria help MSMEs in their localities to survive, then SON as the regulator would come in, accredit and certify them. We have been encouraging and supporting them through trainings and sensitization programmes. We have offered in some

states and offering 25 per cent subsidy for their certifications. `` We want the MSMEs to flood the industrial and economic environment of this country, “Dr. Angya said. He said local industries and SMES could accelerate industrial growth, adding that they remained vital towards job and employment creation and checking ruralurban drift. He said that he organisation under the watch of the present Acting Director General flagged off nation-wide sensitization programme as well as 25 per cent subsidy on the sale of Standards of MSMEs. SON has also with the collaboration of the European Union (EU) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) trained SON staff for the purpose of assisting MSMEs and agroallied operators in Nigeria on how to process agricultural products for export. According to Angya, national economies across the world have since become export – driven, adding that Nigeria should look inwards in order to get the backward integration and economic diversification train on track.

L-R: First Vice Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Estate Survey and Valuers (NIESV), Dr. Patumola Ajayi; President, Olorogun James Omeru and Second Vice President, Sir. Roland Abonta, during the 46th Annual press conference in Abuja…yesterday, PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Nigeria `uninvestable’ due to currency policy, Exotix says

he London based Exotix Partners LLP has said that the foreignexchange controls of the Federal Government are undermining political reforms undertaken by President Muhammadu Buhari and making the country “uninvestable” for buyers who measure returns in dollars. The reorganisation of the state oil company’s structure, changes to the nation’s bureaucracy and Buhari’s efforts to curb corruption all point to “root and branch” changes to the country’s governance structures, Hasnain Malik, head of frontier markets strategy at Exotix, said in with Bloomberg. “All of that is a pretty powerful political and

governance reform story,” he said. “It’s undermined from a foreign institutional investor standpoint by a very repressive economic policy and specifically a currency policy.” “If you’re a dollar-based investor you can’t get over the fact that you could see either a major deterioration in the dollar value of your investment or your investment may be stuck,” Malik said. The Nigerian stock exchange’s All Share Index has lost 14 per cent of its value this year alone. Sharetrading volumes plunged to a seven-year low in the first quarter, as foreigners shun the market while they wait for a devaluation of the naira and as the country’s economy grows at its slowest pace in 17 years. Volumes

have recovered in the past two weeks as companies have paid out dividends and those who are prevented by the foreign-exchange policy from repatriating their funds are reinvesting, said Ali Khalpey, head of equities at Exotix. “A lot of our clients have got trapped naira sitting in Nigeria, so now we see recycling of that naira back into the equities market,” Khalpey said. “There is no point sitting in a foreigncurrency line not knowing when you are going to get given your FX. You may as well buy the stock that you like over the long-term and hold it.” While the amount of investor funds trapped in the country is unknown, it’s increasing, Khalpey said. “People aren’t allowed to take their dividends out,” he

said. “Clearly that number is growing on an daily basis.” Nigeria risks being kicked out of the MSCI Frontier Markets Index by the end of the month because of the currency controls. If the New York-based organization decides to exclude Nigerian stocks, the country could see about $480 million of equity investments exit, Oscar Onyema, the chief executive officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said in an interview on Tuesday. With the backing of Buhari, the Central Bank has rebuffed demands that it devalues the naira, a sore point for many in the market. “There comes a point when he needs to understand that the whole country has already devalued,” said Kato Mukuru, Exotix’s head of equity research.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

Auto beat

Outstanding mid-size premium car: The Mercedes Benz C-Class

Motoring tips Driving safety tips

on’t allow children to fight or climb around in your car (they should be buckled in their seats at all times). One accidental bump or too much noise can easily distract you from concentrating on driving safely. Cell phones can also take your focus away from the task at hand: arriving safely at your destination. Avoid driving when you’re tired. Be aware that some medications can cause drowsiness and make operating a vehicle very dangerous. Get the full scoop on drowsy driving. Always use caution when changing lanes. Cutting in front of someone, changing lanes too fast or not using your signals may cause an accident or upset other drivers.

What should I do after a car accident?

f you’re involved in an accident, first make sure no one in the car is injured. Next, check on the passengers in the other vehicle; or, if necessary, make certain that no pedestrians are hurt. Then, take these five things into account: Stay at the scene. Leaving can result in additional violations or fines. Call 911 or the police as soon as possible. They’ll dispatch medical personnel and a police officer immediately to the scene of the accident. Wait for the police to complete an accident report. If you’re on a busy highway, stay inside the car and wait for the police or an ambulance. It’s dangerous if passengers stand along a busy street.

C-Class

Paul Ogbuokiri

uperiority creates room for passion. The style of the new C-Class is sporty, emotional and impressive - an outstanding vehicle in the midsize premium segment featuring inspiring design and driving enjoyment. The customer has maximum configuration options between energizing comfort and refined sportiness. The new C-Class saloon appeals to a heterogeneous customer group - its alluring exteriors and interiors as well as a fresh, youthful vibe yields a classy appeal to its customers. When it comes to travelling in style, Mercedes-Benz is the first most reliable brand. Mercedes-Benz C-Class is here to stay particularly with its elegant features and specially assembled components. These features include: distinctive and powerful front end, use of high-quality materials, sleek exterior bodywork and an attractive colourful scheme, better performance and higher energy efficiency. Compared to its predecessors, the C-Class engine is with lower CO2 emissions. The C-Class has an intelligent drive system. These intelligent systems actively support the driver and noticeably relieve the driver’s workload. They help to analyse and monitor the vehicle’s environment in order to warn and identify potential dangers. Other generous safety functions include the attention assist, adaptive brake control system and the blind spot assist to mention a few. All C-class models use the company’s tried and true 7-speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is greatly minimized due to the Blue-efficiency function. This is

responsible for shutting down the engine while the vehicle is stationary or in a red traffic light situation. Its powerful four cylinder engine also assures environmental compatibility and diligence as regards fuel consumption. The new C-class has more legroom (due to the longer wheel base) unlike the slightly cramped feelings of rear seat passengers in the past as well as bigger boot space (with a capacity of 480 litres). Other available features in the C-Class include; leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, Audio-20-CD with touchpad, a Burmester audio system, Mercedes’ command infotainment system, navigation, a rear-view camera, parallel parking assist, front and rear parking sensors, a

head-up display, a Wi-Fi hot spot (requires subscription to Mercedes’ mbrace telematics service), pedestrian and cross traffic detection, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, rear wheel drive, active lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and a hands-free power trunk lid. Allwheel drive (4Matic) is available in both sedan and coupe models. The new C-Class saloon is an outstanding vehicle in the mid-size premium segment from Mercedes-Benz. The traditional high standard of quality as well as the various design options differentiates it from its competitors. Its strengths also include state-of-the-art safety equipment and innovative technologies, as well as the typical current Mercedes-Benz design.

What to do when pulled over

f you notice that a police car is following you with its emergency lights flashing, pull over to the side of the road safely and quickly. Wait inside your car for the officer to approach and talk with you and be prepared to: Turn on your interior light at night and keep your hands where the officer can see them, preferably on the steering wheel. Don’t reach under your seat or into your glove box. This may cause the officer to think you’re reaching for a weapon or hiding something. Give your license and registration to the officer if asked to do so. If the officer asks you to step out of your car, do so without sudden or threatening movements.

New Mazda MX-5 wins World Car of the Year 2016

azda’s MX-5 roadster has won the overall WCOTY title, with Audi R8 the best performance car and BMW 7 Series the best luxury car The fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 has been crowned World Car of the Year 2016. At the ceremony during this year’s New York Motor Show, the two-seat roadster was gifted the overall gong by a panel of expert judges. The MX-5 beat the new Mercedes GLC SUV and Audi A4 into runner-up positions. It also took the award for Best Car Design, beating the Jaguar XE and Mazda’s own CX-3. The new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car was awarded Best Green Car, while the BMW 7 Series took the gong

for Best Luxury Car. The Performance Car of the Year is the new Audi R8, which beat out the Mercedes-AMG C 63 and Honda Civic Type R . Nominations for each category are giv-

en by a committee of automotive journalists from around the world. Previous winners include the Mercedes C-Class (2015), and the Audi A3 (2014).

SUNDAY APRIL 10, 2016, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business

Clinical Consultant pharmacist EMMANUEL A.NWANKWO

What is Salt (3)

agmerendis@yahoo.com

08148877648 (SMS only)

he Sea salt is very good but more expensive. Sea salt also has traces of other minerals called trace minerals because it is not heavily processed, unlike table salt. Sea salt is a natural source of iodine which is good for the body. Patient has the right to know that Iodized table salt can also contain additional ingredient like fluoride and folic acid, for better health of the people. The Board of health in New York on September 9th 2015 required every chain eateries, restaurants (mama put) sub sandwiches, Movie Theater, pretzel milk shakes, and salads to have salt warning on them. This is a national push for healthier eating habits. Emblems to be on foods that contain more than the daily recommended salt intake of 2,400mg, so that people will know the amount of salt they are taking each time they use those products (food). According to Board of Health in New York they hope that this decision will help all the communities force eating places to cut down on too much salt in the food they sell to

Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that bread makers (Bakers) should reduce the amount of salt in bread especially in white bread because bread is blamed for American high salt intake, and the same thing may be applicable here in Nigeria the public. People have the right to know that there is a heightened alert to reduce too much salt in food. This will reduce the increasing cases of high blood pressure, heart attacks, kidney failure and gastric cancer, stomach cancer cases worldwide. WHAT STEP CAN YOU TAKE TO REDUCE YOUR SALT INTAKE? You need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetable. The best way to reduce salt intake is to buy fresh produce such as fresh vegetable, fruits, raw grains and fresh meat. Fresh food items are more flavorful and they contain potassium which is good for the body. Remember that cooking your own meals from scratch is a good way to control the amount of salt in your food. It is better to use spices when

cooking, use vinegars, paprika, Herbs, flavored oil instead of salt. If you want to buy packaged or processed foods it is very important to look for low salt or very low salt product. Read the label or ask the store person to explain to you about the amount of salt in the food item. PATIENT RIGHT TO KNOW Salt Guidelines: According to various health organisations, 2300mg is equal to 1 teaspoonful of salt daily but for people who already have salt-induced health problems they can use 1,200-1,500mg which is less than (1/2 ) teaspoon of salt daily. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that bread makers (Bakers) should reduce the amount of salt in bread especially in white bread because bread is blamed for American high salt intake, and the same thing may be applicable here in Nigeria. In January, 2015 the American heart association concluded that excess salt leads to high blood pressure and that excessive salt must be reduced in our meals (diet) WHAT IS THE ROLE OF NAFDAC IN REGULATING SALT IN NIGERIA? Answer: NAFDAC is playing a role in monitoring of salt iodization in Nigeria.

BRIEFS

Skye Bank takes promo draw to Ikotun

kye Bank is continuing in its bid to turn more lives around, as well as influence their savings culture. Through its Reach for the Skye Reward Scheme promo. On Thursday, the bank took the successful promo scheme to the popular Tama Spot Ikotun Main Market in Lagos. According to Skye Bank, the scheme has been put in place to build a long-lasting relationship with its customers, encouraging them to save, and rewarding them for their commitment through the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire’ Reward Scheme. The Skye Reward Scheme which is in its tenth month has consistently increased awareness of savings culture, while acting as a platform for some Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owners to expand their businesses. The last edition of the draw brings the numbers of millionaires to 30 in the ongoing promo, with winners emerging from different parts of Nigeria. Speaking on the scheme; Group Head, Retail Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli said the Reach for the Skye Millionaire Scheme is part of the Bank’s strategy to encourage customers to cultivate the art of saving and also give back to the society for their loyalty to the bank. Explaining the bank’s commitment to bringing more people into the banking system, Okoli said, “As a Retail focused ye Bank, Skye Bank is interested in impacting every neighborhood where it does business…”

OKWUDIRISM: My success quotes (9) Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

while ago, I started the ‘Okwudirism’ series, which is a review of my thoughts on this column, reduced to bullet points. I stopped in Part 8. I thought to revisit the series, to help us regurgitate on the lessons already taught in this column. Here we go. 275. Money is amoral. It can only be used to execute moral or immoral purposes. 276. Money takes on the character of its owner. 277. I have heard people talk of ‘blood money’. Well, what I know is that there is only one issuer of currency - the central bank. So, I don’t know where the blood is coming from. *Laughter* 278. Like water in a container takes the shape of the container, money takes on the character of its owner. 279. One reason good people must work hard to make money is so the influence of good in our world will outweigh the influence of evil. 280. Money is bargaining power. 281. The value of money is not in the currency paper, but in its bargaining power. Hence, whatever you have to offer that people can pay a price for is ‘money’. 282. Do not to limit your mental-

It is not enough to decide to be wealthy. It is not enough to have ideas. You must act, and in acting, you must be timely. An idea without a corresponding action is no better than an illusion ity about money to cash. Cash is just liquid money. 283. Money can be tangible or intangible. 284. Ideas are abstract money. 285. Seek value-creation above currency (cash) pursuit. This is because, at the end of the day, those with the cash (or figures) will come to exchange it for the value you have to offer. 286. Money responds to value. 287. Wherever money sees value, money goes there. 288. A NEEDY person is one who does not meet a NEED. 289. If you meet someone’s NEED, you cannot be NEEDY. 290. No one can be a BOSS by merely relying on BURSARY. 291. BURSARY does not make BOSSES. 292. Enough of the craze about ‘white-collar jobs’. If you don’t get a ‘white-collar job’, create a ‘black-collar job’, or even a ‘collarless’ one. 293. What we call wealth is

man’s ability to think. 294. Everything we see in our world today first existed as a thought. 295. The richest men in the world are some of the greatest thinkers. 296. Ideas dutifully implemented keep you at least a step ahead. 297. It is not enough to decide to be wealthy. It is not enough to have ideas. You must act, and in acting, you must be timely. 298. An idea without a corresponding action is no better than an illusion. 299. No matter how FANTASTIC an idea is, it remains a FANTASY if it is not executed. 300. Nobody has a monopoly of ideas. Ideas are nobody’s exclusive preserve. Other people think, like you do. Therefore, if you do not act on your idea, some other person may conceive it, act on it and take the patency for it. 301. Thoughts are like signals in the air. Anybody with an open mind can conceive them. A constant consciousness of this could be a cure for procrastination. 302. Ideas successfully executed boost confidence. 303. Successfully executing an idea boosts confidence, which is a vital tool for wealth creation and success in life generally. 304. An idea executed, even if it does not succeed, offers ‘experience’. You will succeed. Please follow me on Twitter @ VictorOkwudiri

L-R: Head, Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli; Deputy Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Onyemenam Ike Daniel; Area Manager, Greater Lagos 1, Skye Bank Plc., Taofiq Aminu and Head, Strategic Brand Management, Skye Bank Plc, Nduneche Ezurike, at the bank’s ‘Reach For The Skye’ reward draw held in Tama Spot, Main Market, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos…on Thursday

PZ Cussons pays 70% premium for dollars

Z Cussons Plc said it is paying as much as 70 per cent more than the official rate for dollars in Nigeria as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) trading restrictions reduce availability of foreign currency in Africa’s biggest economy. “Whilst the official naira exchange rate continues to be stable, a lack of availability at that rate is resulting in the majority of dollars being purchased at a premium of 50-70 per cent,” the Manchesterbased maker of Imperial Leather soap said in a trading update on Thursday. “The resultant cost impact is being managed through changes to relative pricing in an environment where trading conditions remain challenging. The situation in Nigeria remains extremely fluid.” While oil revenue and exports in Africa’s biggest crude producer have plummeted since 2014, the Central Bank has refused to let the naira weaken. It has pegged it since March 2015 at 197-199 against the dollar through currency-trading and import restrictions that have deterred foreign investment and made it tough for manufacturers to buy inputs from abroad. The black market rate has fallen to 320, around the level PZ Cussons implies it is buying dollars. Listed companies in Nigeria still try and source foreign-exchange from their banks at the official rate, even though it’s becoming harder. Unilever Plc, which like PZ Cussons has a subsidiary trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said last month it would be “very insane” for the country to persist with the currency policies. Nestle SA said its local unit has had to widen the number of banks it uses so that it can access enough foreign exchange. Last year, it was waiting as long as six weeks to be allocated dollars, according to Renaissance Capital Ltd. analysts.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

Bearish Market Sentiment Persists

he weak investor appetite for the Nigerian equities market was sustained in the week, as the bourse closed negative in four (4) out of five (5) trading days in the week. Subsequently, the NSE All Share Index (ASI) pared by 2.40% week on week, stretching the market’s Year to Date (YtD) return to -13.70%. Volume traded and market turnover however advanced by 24.85% and 18.16% respectively, even as market breadth (0.58x) skewed in favour of decliners (43) as against advancers (25). ETRANZACT, for the second week running, emerged as the top gainer at the week ended, after the counter advanced by 20.35% WoW to close at NGN4.08. Other counters that featured on the gainers chart included CAVERTON (+14.58%), OANDO (+12.59%), MANSARD (+9.68%) and GUARANTY (+7.48%). Conversely, LAWUNION (-16.44%), UBN (-14.82%), NIG-GERMAN (-14.22%), FIDSON (-10.26%) and PZ (-9.70%) were the worst performing stocks in the week. During the week ended, a number of FY2015 earnings scorecards (especially from the insurance companies) were released. Also, the market welcomed 3M2016 financial scorecards from UCAP, AFRIPRUD, TRANSEXPR, ETI and UNILEVER. Corporate actions from OKOMUOIL (NGN0.10/ share), NEM (NGN0.06/share), ETI (USD0.02/share) and SEPLAT (USD0.04/ share) also filtered into the market in the course of the week, however the news inflows were not sufficient to upturn the prevailing bearish sentiments in the market. spur investors’ optimism towards fundamentally justified equities with impressive earnings, we anticipate that downside risks from the negative news inflows (such as MSCI’s plausible exclusion of Nigeria from its Frontier Market Index) filtering into the market might outweigh the upbeats. As such, we expect the bearish market sentiments to be sustained in the coming week. This report reviews events in the current week, with emphasis on different segments of the financial market, while presenting our expectations for the coming week. Agric. Sector: Positive Trend Sustained Our MERI-AGRI index, which tracks the performance of the Agric Sector advanced by 1.73% in the week. This week’s gain further entrenched its position as the best performing sector within the Nigerian Equities Market, with a year-to-date return of 5.79%. Performance of the sector was buoyed on the wings of two sector players; PRESCO (+6.09% YtD) and OKOMUOIL (+5.61% YtD). Sector gainers for the week were OKOMUOIL and PRESCO, with respective WoW gains of 2.40% and 1.18%, while LIVESTOCK pared by 2.04% WoW, emerging as the lone decliner in the sector. ELLAHLAKES and FTNCOCOA recorded no price movements over the week. We view the sector’s ability to attract positive sentiments even in the predominantly bearish market as an indication of a consensus optimism towards the sector, owing to the current administration’s economic diversification strategy to develop the sector. However, investors are advised to take position in sector counters based on fundamentals, considering longer term investment horizon rather than short term sentiments. Banking Sector: Advances as Heavyweights’ Values Grow The banking sector shook off a 2-week lull this week after recording a WoW gain of 3.47%, as measured by the MERI-BNK index. Consequently, the YtD return of the MERI-BNK index stood at -18.87%. There were six (6) gainers and seven (7) decliners to peg the sector’s breadth at 0.86x. GUARANTY led the gainers, after appre-

…as NSEASI Trims by 2.40% WoW

ciating in value by 7.48% to peg its trading price at NGN15.37. The ticker was followed by UNITYBNK, ZENITHBANK, STANBIC, and SKYEBANK which recorded respective price appreciations of 6.06%, 4.47%, 3.49%, and 3.19%. On the other side, the decliners list was populated by UBN (-14.82%), ACCESS (-7.75%), ETI (-6.28%), FCMB (-6.12%), and WEMABANK (-5.41%). The sector gained during the week, as investors took advantage of the attractive trading prices of some of the sector’s stocks. We do not expect this to persist over the next few weeks, as consternation regarding exclusion from the MSCI Frontier market index grows. Consumer Goods: Negative sentiments Persist There was no respite for counters within the consumer Goods sector in the week, as only two (2) stocks advanced while eight (8) counters declined in value, to peg the sector breadth at 0.25x. Consequently, the sector returned -3.37% week-on-week (WoW), pushing the year to date (YtD) return to -20.77%, as indicated by the NSEFBT10 sector index. The advancers’ chart for the week featured only NASCON and UNILEVER, after the tickers advanced by 1.37% and 0.86% respectively. On the flip side, the decliners’ chart featured PZ, TIGERBRANDS, FLOURMILL, NESTLE, AGLEVENT, NB, HONYFLOUR, DANGSUGAR, and GUINNESS with respective WoW returns of -9.70%, -6.88%, -5.56%, -5.18%, -5.00%, -3.55%, -3.55%, -1.87% and -0.10%. The year-to-date return of heavyweights (NESTLE:-25.58%; 7UP: -19.23%; CADBURY:-13.88%; UNILEVER: -32.37%; NB: -22.06%) within the sector illustrates the persistent negative sentiments towards the sector so far in the year, as precipitated

by doubts regarding future financial performances of the sector’s companies in the near term. We do not anticipate respite in the near term, as investors continue to price in the current economic and operational risks in the sector. However, we note the opportunity for long term positioning in fundamentally justified companies at currently depressed prices. Health Sector: Bearish sentiment lingers Negative investor sentiments continued on the sector counters in the week, as equal number (4) of decliners from the prior week were recorded in this week. Consequently, the MERI-HLTH index waned by 0.22% WoW to further drag the Year-to-Date return to -26.61%. NIG-GERMAN (-14.22% WoW) steered the laggards in the week to close at NGN3.62. FIDSON, MAYBAKER, and EKOCORP were the other decliners, waning by 10.26%, 5.26%, and 4.84% WoW to peg at NGN2.10, NGN0.90, and NGN3.54 correspondingly. May & Baker Nigeria Plc (MAYBAKER) released its FY2015 scorecard in the week, indicating growths in revenue and profit-after-tax of 7.83% and 7.41% YoY respectively to settle at NGN7.57bn and NGN68.03mn accordingly. We maintain our position that we are not upbeat of a positive outing from the sector counters in the near term. Industrial Goods: Sector breadth pegs at 0.67x Negative sentiments prevailed in the Industrial goods sector in the week ended as the sector, measured by the Meri-IND index declined by 4.38% WoW to drag the YtD return to -7.22%. Only two sector stocks recorded upward movements in their share prices versus the three stocks that declined

in value. PORTPAINT and CUTIX were the only gainers in the week ended with respective price movements of +4.73% and +1.41% to close at NGN2.88 and NGN1.44 accordingly. BERGER emerged as the worst laggard for the week having shed 4.80% WoW to close its share price at NGN8.52. DANGCEM and WAPCO completed the price losers’ list with declines of 4.75% and 1.33% respectively. Although we do not anticipate favourable investor sentiments towards the sector in the coming week, our general outlook for building material companies remain strong. Insurance Sector: NSEINS10 advances by 1.80% WoW The sector’s performance as measured by the NSEINS10 Index showed that the insurance sector gained 1.80% WoW to trim the YtD loss to -9.05%. Sector breadth (0.50x) however skewed in favour of decliners, as four (4) counters waned in value, while two (2) stocks gained. MANSARD and CONTINSURE emerged the sole gainers in the week, recording WoW returns of 9.68% and 6.32%, to close at NGN2.04 and NGN1.01 accordingly. Conversely, LAWUNION (-16.44%), AIICO (-5.26%), CUSTODYINS (-3.70%) and NEM (-1.28%) featured as the sector’s worst performers. NEM released its FY2015 financial scorecard during the week, reporting growth in top-line (+9.48%), while bottom-line plunged by 53.21% YoY to NGN714mn. The company however proposed a dividend of NGN0.06/share, implying a dividend yield of 7.50% as at declaration date. STACO also released its FY2015 scorecard, showing 0.44% growth in top-line, while bottom-line dipped by 54.36%. We expect news inflows in the coming week to dictate the general market and sector performance. Oil & Gas Sector: NSEOILG5 index sheds 0.60% WoW There was a contrast in investor sentiments during the week, in comparison to the previous week as the sector pared by 0.60% WoW, as measured by the NSEOILG5 index. The sector’s breadth settled at 0.60x, as five (5) counters waned in value against three (3) advancers. Bargain hunting activities on OANDO resulted to an upsurge in the market price, which advanced by 12.59% WoW to peg at NGN4.56. SEPLAT (+7.04%) and ETERNA (+3.85%) also featured on the gainers’ list. Contrarily, CONOIL (-9.70%) steered the week’s laggards after closing at NGN18.15, with MOBIL (-6.63%), FO (-5.00%), MRS (-4.98%), and TOTAL (-0.93%) following accordingly. The price of crude oil as measured by Brent inched up further (+1.00% WoW) to settle at USD42.36pb, though expectations that a general consensus to freeze production outputs at current levels by attendant countries in the Doha meeting (17th April 2016) remain slim (given the existing high production levels of most of these countries). We anticipate low levels of activities on the sector stocks in the coming week, barring positive news inflows capable of spurring activities. Services: Sector continues to outperform market The services sector closed the week in the positive zone following a 0.72% WoW return which drove the sector’s YtD performance to 0.44%. Three stocks apiece made up the gainers’ and losers’ tables. CAVERTON emerged as the best performer for the week as it closed the week 14.58% up to NGN1.65, while ACADEMY and NAHCO appreciated by 4.69% and 2.57% accordingly.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

For whom the bell tolls Femi Fani-Kayode

“N

o man is an island entire of itself: every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were. Any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee’’- John Donne (Meditation XVII of Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, 1600) Today the bell tolls for Nigeria. The Department of State Security (DSS) have claimed that five Fulani herdsmen were abducted, killed and buried in a mass grave by members of IPOB in Abia state a few days ago. They have also claimed that there were up to fifty more bodies in that mass grave and that they are all Fulani. The implications of this announcement are obvious. It will create more tension and fear in the land and it will lead to reprisal killings in the north. Violence is never the way out and I have always believed that it has no place in any civilized society. Yet what I find curious about this announcement is the fact that it is unique and historic. I say this because thousands of Igbos, Yorubas, Niger-Deltans and Middle Belters have been killed by Fulani militants and herdsmen over the last 10 months since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power yet the DSS has never announced it and told the country about the details and ethnic identities of the victims. When one thousand Shiite Muslims were slaughtered in Zaria and buried in mass graves the DSS did not speak. When five hundred Idomas were massacred in Agatu by Fulani militants the DSS did not speak. When hundreds of southern and Middle Belt farms were raided by AK-47-wielding Fulani herdsmen who murdered, raped, burnt down and took over the land of their victims the DSS never gave us details of the victims or made any announcements. When our leaders in the south were kidnapped and when men witnessed their wives and children being raped and butchered by the Fulani militias before their very eyes the DSS made no announcements. When the International Terror Index told the world that the Fulani militias in Nigeria are the “fourth most deadly terror organisation in the world” the DSS said nothing and neither did they give us details about their activities or their victims. Worse of all is the fact that our government and our President, who himself happens to be a Fulani, has never deemed it fit or necessary to condemn the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and militants and neither have they expressed any sympathy or displayed any empathy for their many victims. Let me be clear: the murder of anyone, regardless of their ethnicity or faith, is unacceptable to me. I deplore murder and violence and in my view the killing of one innocent soul diminishes the humanity of every single one of us as a community and nation. However it seems curious that the minute that Fulanis are killed in the east the DSS is quick to rise to the occasion and express concern about it whilst they do not express the same concern when Nigerians from other ethnic nationalities are killed by the Fulani in their own homes and land. Therein lies the double standard and it is sad and unfortunate. Furthermore not only is it very dangerous but it also confirms the view that our government and security agencies are not only partial but that they are also attempting to implement an ethnic and religious agenda. Three questions must be answered: firstly who is funding the Fulani herdsmen and where do they get their weapons from? Secondly why does our government not only

DSS Director-Genernal, Daura

turn a blind eye to the mass murder and genocide that they regularly indulge in but also go out of their way to protect them? And thirdly why do the government and security agencies have so much hatred and contempt for those that the Fulani regularly target and their victims and why do they believe that those victims do not deserve to enjoy the full protection of the Nigerian Federal Government? Could it be because they are regarded as slaves and second class citizens? Is Fulani blood and are Fulani lives more important than others? Indeed do non-Fulani lives matter in President Buhari’s Nigeria? Are we compelled to begin a “non-Fulani lives matter” movement which is based and fashioned on the “Black Lives Matter” movement in the United States of America before we can draw the attention of the world to what is going on in our country? Is it not obvious and logical that when the security agencies refuse to protect the citizens from the murderous hordes and herdsmen from hell those citizens will eventually seek to protect themselves and go on the offensive? That is human nature and it is to be expected. Is it not clear to those in power that when a people are convinced that their government is no longer impartial in any conflict and that the security agencies of that government have been directed to go out of their way to actively and openly support those that constantly and regularly slaughter their people it will eventually lead to open war? Is it so difficult to accept the fact that no government and no force from hell or on earth can compel or intimidate a man into lying down passively and silently watch his family, loved ones and kinsmen being butchered and slaughtered morning, day and night without trying to protect them and without indulging in some form of retaliation? With the sort of things that are going on in our country today it is time to tell ourselves some home-truths. No-one wishes to accept it let alone say it but sadly war will come to Nigeria again within the next few years. I do not want war and I consider it to be the ultimate evil but I am constrained to speak the truth and say things as I see them. The fact that a war is coming is a testimony to the fact that we have all failed to manage the peace that God has given us since 1970 and the cessation of hostilities after our brutal civil war. We have failed so badly that the remote and immediate causes of that civil war are back with us today even though we hate to admit or acknowledge it. Our country is like Yugoslavia unfolding before it exploded and violently broke into five separate countries. All the signs are there. Anyone that knows about the history of Yugoslavia or that is a student of world history will agree with me and appreciate what I am saying. Consider the dangerous mix. A crumbling

economy. An inept, weak, failing and paranoid government. A hungry, angry and increasingly desperate civilian population. An ignorant, obsessive, arrogant, insensitive, corrupt and self-absorbed political class who are out of touch with reality. The ruthless implementation of an ethnic and religious agenda by a reckless and irresponsible government that refuses to consider the implications of taking such a course of action and that have an early-1960’s mind-set. The growing unrest, ethnic killings and sectarian murders. An ethnic and religious division within the Armed Forces and security agencies. A relentless clamp-down on and persecution of the opposition and all dissenting voices by the government and the use of fear as a tool of governance and control. The entering into a secret and covert treaty and military alliance with a group of Arab Sunni Muslim countries that seek to Islamise our country, that have, over the years, funded the most brutal and barbaric jihadist and radical Islamist terrorist organisations all over the world and that seek to impugn our national integrity and violate the secularity of our state. The constant and open abuse of power. The impunity and insensitivity of the Buhari administration to the plight of the masses. The hunger, hardship, poverty and suffering in the land. The failure of the government to get rid of the fuel queues and supply electrical power. The demonisation of peaceful and law-abiding self-determination groups and the unlawful incarceration of their leaders. The breach of the constitutional rights of the citizens and the ignoring of court orders and judicial processes by the government. The attempt to intimidate and control the judiciary and legislature by the government and so much more. The list goes on and on and history proves that such a mixture of circumstances is dangerous and can only lead to open conflict if not halted. The country is badly divided today and the people are suffering as never before. The division and hatred amongst some of our ethnic groups has reached pre-civil war levels. We must do our best to ensure that that division and hatred does not spill over into open war. This is because war is a terrible thing which must be avoided at all costs. We must also prepare for the very worst in case things get out of hand. If anyone doubts that they should consider the plight of the Bosnians of Bosnia-Herzogovina during the Yugoslavian civil war that took place in the European Balkans in the late 1980’s right up until 1992. They were the only ethnic group in Yugoslavia that was not prepared for it when the war started. They had no arms, no plan, no allies and no fallback position. When the fighting started they were caught unawares and for two years they suffered immeasurably for their stupidity and naivety

whilst their people were killed like flies and their women and children were raped and enslaved. God forbid this should happen to any ethnic group or ANY of our people in Nigeria The reason that they suffered for two years was because there was an international arms embargo placed on all the ethnic groups and warring militias and armies in Yugoslavia when the war started. And sadly the Bosnians were the only ones that did not buy and stockpile arms in preparation for war months and years before it actually broke out. Plagued by a cowardly and weak-minded ruling elite and a naive, self-serving, servile, ignorant and intellectually-challenged middle class the Bosnians just kept talking, writing newspaper articles, appeasing the aggressors and their tormentors, praying and hoping for peace whilst all the other ethnic and religious groups and warring parties were quietly preparing for war. Sounds familiar? They suffered immensely for their lack of understanding, insight and foresight and their civilian population paid a heavy price. For two years after the civil war started the Bosnians could not even buy a gun or bullet to defend themselves. Their towns were besieged and blown up whilst their women and children were raped, enslaved and butchered. Their men were rounded up into Second World War-like Nazi concentration camps and starved and tortured to death and their dignity and self-respect was taken from them. They were turned into an internally-displaced people and their land was transformed into a sea of desperate and suffering refugees. It was a nightmare from hell and suffering on this scale hawd not been seen on European soil since the First and Second World Wars. It was after the international community silently watched them being slaughtered by their Serbian and Croatian compatriots for two long years that they were compelled, as a consequence of pressure from the people of the world and on moral and humanitarian grounds, to lift the arms embargo on them so that they could buy arms to defend themselves. The war dragged on for more years after that but at least the Bosnians, though two years late, were now able to fight back and defend themselves. It took the intervention of NATO, the bombing of Belgrade by the international community, led by the Americans, and the eventual break-up of the entire country into five pieces to stop the carnage and barbarity of the Serbs and eventually bring the civil war to an end. It was during that war that the term “ethnic cleansing” was first used by CNN to describe what was being done by the Serbs to the Bosnians, the Croats, the Slovenians, the Kosovars, the Macedonians and the Monte Negrans, all of whom represented the other ethnic groups that made up the old Yugoslavia. Eventually the country broke up and each of them got their independence from the dominant Serbs and from one another. If such a thing could have happened in the heart of Europe in the early 1990’s why on earth would any reasonably intelligent person dismiss the notion that it can happen here? The only difference would be that if such a thing were to ever unfold in our country it would be far worse than what happened in Yugoslavia due to the sheer size of our population. Ours would be more like a cruel mixture of what is happening in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya today and what happened in the Lebanese and Yugoslavian civil wars in the 1980’s and 1990’s all wrapped into one. The signs are already there. I pray that I am wrong but as far as I am concerned, for Nigeria, the bell tolls. Femi Fani-Kayode, is a former Aviation Minister

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2016

Body&Soul

Colour by numbers

Sweet Porridge

here was a poor but good little girl who lived with her mother. They had nothing to eat. One day, the child went into the forest, and there an aged woman met her who was aware of her sorrow. She gifted her with a little pot, which when she said, “cook, little pot, cook”, would cook good, sweet porridge, and when she said, “stop, little pot”, it ceased to cook. The girl took the pot home to her

mother, and soon they were freed from their poverty and hunger, and ate sweet porridge as often as they chose. Once on a time when the girl had gone out, her mother said, cook, little pot, cook. And it did cook and she ate till she was satisfied, and then she wanted the pot to stop cooking, but did not know the word. So it went on cooking and the porridge rose over the edge, and still it cooked on until the kitchen and whole

house were full, and then the next house, and then the whole street, just as if it wanted to satisfy the hunger of the whole world, and there was the greatest distress, but no one knew how to stop it. At last when only one single house remained, the child came home and just said, stop, little pot, and it stopped and gave up cooking, and whosoever wished to return to the town had to eat his way back!

Crossword puzzle

Tongue Twister Did Dick Pickens prick his pinkie pickling cheap cling peaches in an inch of Pinch or framing his famed French finch photos?

Photo speaks

5 gbosas as Kendrick Nwaokocha turns 5 super years. This little man loves superman, batmna and spiderman. His favourite meal is noodles. Happy birthday darling!

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

COLUMNS

Xraying Obasanjo’s frequent visits to Aso Rock Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

Anule Emmanuel

From the

Green Chamber ternyam@gmail.com

Philip Nyam

udget details of controversy Since 1999, the presidency and House of Representatives have always collided on the issue of budgets. This is expected because while the executive proposes the appropriation bill, the legislature approves it and the president signs it into law. However, the current acrimony playing out between the two over the 2016 budget has unfortunately taken a different dimension. First, the bill was submitted late and subsequently it was declared missing and was later discovered debated and passed. Yet, the passed budget was transmitted to the president for assent without details. The president declined to append his signature until the details were made available. The National Assembly reacted promptly and furnished the president with details. But the issue of missing projects reared its ugly head with the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail line featuring prominently as one of the major projects dropped from the budget. Even as the matter

is yet to be settled, a more disturbing development broke up with allegations of the lawmakers, particularly the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin allocating projects to themselves (constituencies) without recourse to due process. The allegations against Jibrin’s are trending in the social media compelling the House to summon an executive session. Although, the spokesman for the House, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas denied that the closed door session never discussed the allegations against Jibrin, lawmakers who attended the session confirmed to the media that the issue was the main item of discourse. In fact, according to the lawmakers, the appropriation chairman was prevailed upon to resign honourably from his position. Speaker Yakubu Dogara was said to have pleaded with his colleagues to forgive Jibrin and that plea saved the day. What are those projects that Jibrin is being accused of personally allocating to his constituency - Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency of

rent dispensation, the former President served for eight years, placing him far above other leaders in the country with a unique and dependable experience. Definitely, the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba clan of Yorubaland is an enigma, whom many have described as ‘a necessary evil’. Obviously, after him, every occupant of the Aso Rock presidential villa has had cause to consult the Ijebu-born retired General to succeed. Right from the days of late Umaru Yar’Adua whom he handed over power to, through the government of Goddluck Jonathan who just left office in 2015, Chief Obasanjo’s consent has been sought on critical national issues. On several occasions, the former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would storm the villa late at night to hold crucial meetings with past Presidents, something that has also happened under the present administration. Who says that the experience of the General turned civilian is not needed in a government of change? Although, Obasanjo had declared he was going out

paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona at his palace in Jebu-Ode. Obasanjo was there. Definitely, Obasanjo is becoming very close to comfort with President Buhari and his government. For those who fear for the Buhari administration and have cautioned him to be wary of the former leader, their belief is that the Ogun born General aside his patriotism for nation, does have an ulterior agenda to protect., maybe his business umpires. A few who know the antics of Obasanjo like Senator Roland Owie have since warned in the renewed Buhari/Obasanjo relationship. Senator Owie in a statement recently in Benin cautioned President Buhari when he stressed that “you must run far from Obasanjo, if he can’t control your government, he will fight you.” This seems, however, not to be President Buhari’s headache. While attending a public function recently in Abeokuta, President Buhari rather acknowledged the contributory role the former president played in his political career. It was Obasanjo who appointed

Buhari as minister of petroleum for three years. In all these however, the concern is that the recent comment by President Buhari that the 16 years PDP ruled Nigeria were a wasteful period. He blamed the opposition for the economic woes and insisted that the party failed to save for the rainy day. Can Obasanjo be exempted from this perceived failure? That is the question on lips of a few Nigerians regarding the growing relationship between President Buhari and the former leader. Why are the other former Presidents including Buhari’s own northern brothers not visiting as frequent as Obasanjo? President Buhari, who is 73 years old, definitely needs not to be told who to befriend or seek advice from. He must never make the mistake, however, of surrounding himself with persons who will put the country in a retrograde. Nigerians desire to see this government make a difference and cannot afford the mistake of the past especially with regards to corruption which pervaded the country with impunity.

Budget details of controversy

Kano state? The lawmaker is accused of allocating 23 projects, which include: •N100m for Town Hall, Construction of roads in Kiru/Bebeji—N150m, Solar street lights—N300m, Badaf Road Construction— N405m, Pedestrian Bridges —N200m, Bebeji Earth Dam—N270m, Empowerment items—N100m and Entrepreneurship Development Training and Vocational Centre —N100m. Others are the rehabilitation of Gwarzo Kiru, Kwanar Maiyaki–N180m, rehabilitation of SharadaKwanar Dogara—N1.445 billion, construction of solar powered boreholes–N150m, supply of tricycles, grinding machines and set of women salon empowerment kits— N200m and small irrigation scheme ins in Kiru-N100m. Budget review: The controversy seems to have pitched the House against the senate because contrary to the position of the senate, the House has mandated Speaker Yakubu Dogara to seek audience with President Muhammadu Buhari with a view to re-examining areas of concern in the 2016 appropriation bill as passed by the National Assembly. The senate had earlier declared that it has complet-

ed work on the budget and would not take a second look at it. But chairman of the House committee on media and public affairs, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas in disclosing the decision of the House to re-examine the controversial budget said it was in the national interest. He explained that the lawmakers at the executive session received briefing from the appropriation committee chairman, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin and decided that though the executive has not officially communicated them on the budget, there was need to douse the tension created by media reports on the matter. “We decided this morning to have an executive session and the issue discussed was the budget. We were fully briefed by the Chairman appropriation committee and we agreed as a chamber, as a House and delegated the speaker to please go ahead and engage the executive to identify the areas of concern and that he should report back to us with the hope that these things at the National interest and see that this country move forward. “There are issues in particular, the Lagos-Calabar rail project that has been in the media, I want to re-

iterate here for the second time that the project was not among the project submitted by the President to the National Assembly. “We are not saying that as a house that the LagosCalabar rail project is not good, we know it is a viable project”, he stated. Asked why the House took a contrary position with the Senate, Namdas explained that “we are not working at cross purposes but for now our concern is how the president will sign the budget for it to be implemented. Now, if the Senate is saying it has closed shop on the budget, and the House is expressing readiness to discuss with the president and possibly review the controversial budget, if desirable what is going to be the converging point? The discordant tunes over the “missing projects” have not been reconciled and if the senate insists that it will not bend back its hand to reconsider the grey areas, what will become the fate of this budget? Both House must quickly harmonise their positions on how to resolve the budget impasse. The earlier this disagreement is put to rest the better for Nigerians and indeed the image of the government, particularly

the legislature. The revelations about the self-allocation of projects by lawmakers to their constituencies is not a good sign and does not speak well of the parliament. The National Assembly has the right to oversight the budget proposal and make inputs but is it right for the lawmakers to start inserting projects, which are perceived to be personal in the budget? For example, Hon. Jibrin is alleged to have allocated N100 million for the building of a town hall in his constituency. Is a town hall the most pressing need of the people of that constituency at this time in the life of this nation? What are the economic benefits of a town hall when majority of the people in the constituency are poor and cannot afford the basic necessities of life? What about allocating such a collosal amount to the building of health care centre? What about investing it in education or agriculture? Is this not a case of misplaced priority? I think the lawmakers should close ranks with the president, who many believe has good intentions to correct the ills in our society. Let’s depart from the old style of budgeting and embraced a changed attitude.

SUNDAY

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016

Liverpool, Spurs join race to grab €12m Nigerians star p.55

Leicester can almost feel the trophy – Morgan p.55

Zenith Bank WBL: First Bank vow to dethrone Dolphins p.55

SPORTS

Anthony Joshua: From London jailbird to world champion Dapo Sotuminu

t a tender age of 18, Nigerian-born British boxer Anthony Joshua, while at Watford in England was on remand, waiting for his sentence to a 10-year prison term for hydra-headed offences from fighting to being caught in possession of cannabis with the intent to supply found guilty on all offences. He was preparing for the worst. If he had been jailed, he would have been there until he would almost be 28 years old in 2018. Joshua has expressed an interest in chess as well as reading as a way to reinforce his boxing and tactical abilities. He was a bricklayer before taking up boxing full-time. If not for providence, Joshua whose Yoruba names are Oluwafemi Olaseni, would have still been in jail right now and the destiny turn around last weekend when he won a world title would have fizzled away not attained. Because of the criminal acts, he was banned from all boxing internationally and domestically for his club. He thought he was done with boxing. So he went back to Watford and started hanging around with his mates. It was at this point that Great Britain Boxing called him up and asked if he wanted to go to the European Championships, saying they were still looking into his case. In Joshua’s words on the change of fortune, he said: “My guardian angel decided I didn’t need to be punished with a jail sentence. But I was on tag for over a year and that helped. I became so disciplined when I was on tag. I would be at home by eight o’clock and because I had boxing, I lived the disciplined life. I started reading because I learnt that so many champions educated themselves. Joe Louis, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins. Before it was ‘act now, think later’ - but the discipline and reading changed me. “Before, I was just with guys my age or younger and we’d drive past fancy houses and say: ‘Oh, when I make my money I’m going to buy that house.’ But it was a far-fetched dream. People who do crime do it for reward. But

you end up in jail - that’s no reward. Through crime your ambitions are low. It’s strange but now I am being invited into these fancy houses. And I enter them polite and humble. It’s amazing how boxing turned me around.” Joshua was born in Watford to a Nigerian mother and a father o f

PROFILE Full name: Anthony Joshua Nickname(s): AJ Rated at: Heavyweight Height: 198cm (6 ft 6 in) Reach: 82 in (208 cm) Date of birth: 15 October 1989 Nationality: British Place of birth: Watford, Hertfordshire Boxing record: Total fights: 16 Wins: 16 Wins by KO: 16 Medal record: Men’s amateur boxing Olympic Games Gold medal - first place 2012 London Super heavyweight Competitor for England World Championships Silver medial - second place 2011 Baku Super heavyweight Nigerian and Irish descent. His cousin is fellow unbeaten professional boxer Ben lleyemi. The pair made their professional debuts together in 2013. Joshua grew up for much of his early years in Nigeria and returned to the UK

halfway through when he was seven years old to join Kings Langley Secondary School. Growing up on the Meriden Estate in Garston, Hertfordshire, Joshua was called ‘Femi’ by his friends and former teachers, due to his middle name ‘Oluwafemi’. He was a complete sportsman as he excelled in football and athletics where he broke the Year Nine 100 metres record with a time of 11.6 seconds. Joshua began boxing in 2007, aged 18, when his cousin suggested he take it up. Joshua won the 2009 and 2010 Haringey Box Cup. Going on to win the senior ABA Championships in 2010, in only his 18th bout and later turned down £50,000 to turn professional. “Turning down that £50,000 was easy. I didn’t take up the sport for money, I want to win medals.” He also went on to win the same tournament the following year. Anthony Joshua won the World Heavyweight title in just his 16th professional fight as he stopped Charles Martin inside two rounds last weekend. The pressure was on him to deliver as soon as he turned professional, following his gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and that expectation just kept on growing as he bulldozed his way through his first 14 opponents inside three rounds. Joshua went into the 2012 London Olympics as a novice on the international scene, despite being a world silver medalist. He received a tough draw in the last 16 of the super heavyweight event, in Cuban Erislandy Savón, ranked number 4 in the world by AIBA and nephew of the three-time Olympic champion, Félix Savón. On 11 July 2013 it was confirmed that Joshua had turned professional under the Matchroom Sport promotional banner. Joshua made his professional debut on October 5, 2013 at the O2 Arena in London in the Main-Event beating Italian Emanuelue Leo by a TKO in the first round. While newly crowned IBF champ Anthony Joshua says it’s “cool” to have won his first world title, the unbeaten heavyweight star - already a household name in the UK and closing in on international stardom - insists there is far, far more to come. In fact, the 26-year-old (young for a heavyweight, especially these days) says he wants to fight at the highest level for a further decade; until he turns 35. “I want to go until I’m 35 - I want to maintain this for a decade,” he said. “I think unifying the titles is possible by the end of 2017. I’m not getting carried away, but I’m slowly building towards it. There’s going to be some tough nights ahead. Let’s see what happens when someone really pushes me.” Can Joshua become one of the greats he often mentions as his heroes and influences - Ali, Foreman, Holmes, Frazier and Tyson being frequent names on A.J’s lips? It’s still way too early to say, but it’s going to be fun and expensive finding out.

Sport

Nigeria premier football league update

Enugu Rangers plot Giwa FC’s fall in Jos Dapo Sotuminu

igeria Premier Football League leaders, Rangers International FC of Enugu, have promised to pick the three maximum points against homeside Giwa FC of Jos when the two sides meet at the Jos Township Stadium in an NPFL week 12 encounter today. Rangers currently lead the table with 21 points from 11 matches. The Flying Antelopes Media Officer, Mr. Foster Chime, stated that, the away victory against Giwa today in Jos is most desirable for Rangers to wade off the hot chase by FC Ifeanyi Ubah and MFM FC for a place on top of the league table. He added that Rangers’ players are very determined to sustain the winning streak they had been posting for the past three weeks and they have promised to suppress Giwa FC despite the fact that the homers will be playing in front of their supporters. “Rangers’ victory against Ifeanyi Uba FC last weekend has given us the confidence to beat Giwa FC and maintain the leadership on top of the league table. The financial motivation by the Enugu state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and that of the club’s management are great motivations that has been spurring the team on as the season

ivers United manager, Stanley Eguma, has stated that his boys must be resolute in all departments of the game as they host four-time champions Kano Pillars today at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt in the Matchday 12 of the Nigeria Premier Football League. Eguma said the River United have mended all the loopholes noticed in the last game against Heartland FC of Owerri at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, as they face Pillars. “The game against Pillars is a big game and we have to work harder than we have ever worked so far this season to grab the desired three points at stake. We have been pushed to the wall after the defeat to Heartland so we have to ensure

F Isiaka Oladuntoye of Sunshine Stars of Akure, left, battle for the ball against Ikorodu United player

progresses,” Chime said. Chime noted that Rangers’ General Manager, Paul Chibuzor, had introduced measures aimed at giving players and officials some sense of belonging and oppor-

tunities to actualise their goals in the team. “The board recently introduced best players’ award and other financial benefits that will improve the teams’ welfare and morale.”

that they have put the defeat behind them and will now work towards ensuring that they bounce back insubsequent matches. “We put up a gallant fight here (Warri) but narrowly lost. This is not the end of the road for us. We will go back home, correct our mistakes and bounce back to winning ways,” Boboye stated. The former Sunshine Stars of Akure tactician commended his boys for their efforts during the game despite the odds against them insisting that victory could have gone either way. During the match, king Osanga scored the only goal in the 53rd minute and despite pinning their hosts to their own half for almost the entire second half, Abia War-

riors could not find the equalizer. Earlier, Uzezi Oghenovo had missed a controversial 44th minute penalty awarded the home side as Abia Warriors’ goalkeeper, Chinedu Anozie caught his well taken kick to the consternation of the Wolves bench who were desperate for a win after a slow start to the season which also saw the team eliminated from the CAF Champions league only in the preliminary round. Before the loss in Warri, Abia Warriors were the only unbeaten side in the top flight as they equaled Enyimba International’s 10-match unbeaten streak which they established last season. Abia Warriors remain second on the log with 20 points from 11 matches.

Okpodu sure Ikorodu Utd will escape drop

he Technical Adviser of Ikorodu United Football club of Lagos, Sam Okpodu, has expressed his optimism that the Nigeria Premier Football League debutant will escape the drop at the end of the season. “I am very sure that Ikorodu United will not go down; we may be passing through challenges but that is not the end of the road for us.” The coach blamed the half measure of the recruitment of

Eguma: We must be resolute against Kano Pillars that we beat our opponent today. Getting our tactics right on the day will be important and if we manage to do that, we will win.” The coach note that if any team wants to play against a team like Kano Pillar handled by a well experienced coach like Mohammed Baba Ganaru, such a team must be ready for a difficult game, adding that, “Ganaru is one of the best coaches in the league and I respect the work he has put in with Pillars over the years. Pillars are a great club in Nigeria and we respect them too. It will be a very memorable game and we need a perfect performance to win,” he said. Rivers United are seventh on the league table with 16 points from 11 matches, while Pillars are fifth with 18 points from 10 matches.

MFM manager llechukwu glad with players’ invitation

Abia Warriors’ cup ambition intact, says Boboye

bia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia Manager, Kennedy Boboye, has assured their teeming supporters that the 0-1 loss the team suffered in Warri against Warri Wolves FC, which ended the club’s 10-match unbeaten run in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will not derail the club’s ambition of winning the league or at least picking a continental ticket at the end of the season. Boboye, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the game ended at the Warri City Stadium, noted that he would have loved the unbeaten run to continue adding that the defeat was disappointing to him and the entire team. He, however, assured their fans

SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

the players on the team’s poor performance in the season so far. “What you see the players doing on the pitch is sadly the limits to what they could offer for the team. But we shall continue to work very hard to change the mentality of the players. “We have also set out our dragnets to pick some valuable players who will help us to swim out of relegation waters, who we hope to register in week 19 when the trans-

fer window opens for the teams to fortify their squads. “We can feel the pulse of the supporters and I want to tell them that, at the end of the season we shall put smiles on their faces when we escape the dreaded relegation.” Since the beginning of the current league campaign, Ikorodu United has won only once against Lobi Stars at home. It has, however, drawn three times while losing seven times.

idelis llechukwu, the chief coach of the Nigeria Premier League debutants, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football club, has expressed his delight that three of the club’s players were invited to the national Under-23 soccer team ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic soccer event. The coach said this after the Godwin Enarkhena-motivated team defeated visiting Wikki Tourists of Bauchi at the Agege Township Stadium in Lagos on Friday night. Ilechukwu whose team has been labeled the Leicester United of the Nigerian league going by their brilliance in the league despite

coming from the lower league, stated that, the invitation is a clear indicator that, he is doing a great job with the club, stressing that, the final selection of the boys for the Rio Olympics would give him bigger joy and fulfillment of the heart. IN the match proper, MFM striker, Stephen Odey, scored the only goal of the match in the 34th minute in the keenly contested game played under floodlights. It was MFM’s first victory in the last five matches, which the coach said he was delighted to break against a very good side like Wikki Tourists.

Maikaba: Wikki Tourists lost to fatigue

ikki Tourists chief coach, Abdul Maikaba, blamed his team’s 1-0 loss against MFM FC in Lagos to fatigue of traveling a long distance by road transport from Bauchi to Lagos. “My players were fatigued in the first half, which the MFM side turned to an advantage to score their only goal of the match. In the first half my boys tried to regain their fitness after the long travel, but this cost us the match. We came to Lagos with the mindset of picking at worst a draw, but this didn’t work out the way we planned.” Maikaba said his side were lucky to have ended the encounter with a surprisingly a low scoreline, looking at their poor challenge for the ball in the first half, but it is okay. “We did not play to our full potential as the 20-hour journey from Bauchi to Lagos affected us negatively, but we recovered fully only in the second half when the players settled down to play what we planned for the match. At this time it was too late for us to score as the MFM boys too took full advantage of the opportunity to continuously mount pressure on our defence. “This is the second time we are making such a long journey to honour league matches; the first was the matchday 8 clash at

Abia Warriors in Umuahia even though we came out unscathed on that occasion. Fatigue and loss of concentration as a result of the tedious journey did not help us one bit in Friday’s match against MFM. “I want to commend the marksmanship of the MFM players and I admit that they deserve to win. The officiating was very good. This one is gone and our netx attention has been shifted to our next game against FC Ifeany Ubah in Bauchi. “Though, we know FC Ifeanyi Ubah are very good but that won’t stop us from picking the three maximum points against them on our home ground.” NPFL Results

Nasarawa Utd 3 - 1 Giwa Sunshine Stars 2 - 1 Enyimba Warri Wolves 1 - 0 Abia Warriors MFM 1 - 0 Wikki Tourist NPFL Fixtures April 17 Nasarawa vs Plateau Utd Sunshine

El Kanemi

River Utd

Kano Pillars

Giwa

Rangers

Lobi Stars vs

Akwa Utd

Tornadoes vs

Ikorodu Utd

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY APRIL 17, 2016

Sport

Liverpool, Spurs join race to Siasia not worried by Rio 2016 draw grab €12m Nigerian star Dapo Sotuminu

wo English Premier League giants, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs have joined Arsenal in the list of admirers for Nigerian star Umar Sadiq, who has scored 19 times in 18 games for Italian league club, AS Roma, this season. After impressing with Roma at senior and youth level this season, the Nigerian striker is being chased by a trio of top Premier League clubs. The 19-year-old, who has scored two goals in six appearances with the Giallorossi, has been heavily linked to Arsenal but Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also now monitoring the youngster.

Sadiq

Despite not being a prominent figure in the coach Luciano Spalletti’s plans, the youngster is enjoying a remarkable season with Roma’s Primavera, with whom he has scored 19 times in 18 matches. However, it is also believed that French club Lyon have joined the race for his signature too and are keen on tempting him to France this summer. As Sadiq is currently on loan from Serie B club Spezia, Roma may plan on signing him permanently this summer before selling him on at a profit to other clubs. Giallorossi Sporting Director, Walter Sabatini, is well aware of the interest in Sadiq and currently values him at €12 million.

Aigbogun hopeful as Enyimba jet out to Tunisia for Etoile Du Sahel Dapo Sotuminu

nyimba International Football Club of Aba chief coach, Paul Aigbogun, has said that he has high hopes that the Nigeria champions will book the ticket to play in the next stage of the CAF Champions League as they are set to battle Etoile Du Sahel in the crucial final round second leg encounter. The former Warri Wolves handler told Sunday Telegraph at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Friday night that, Enyimba have the character and intensity to hold the highly-rated Tunisian side in the return leg after scoring three un-replied goals in the first leg. “You can see us training under the flood light on the Synthetic pitch of the Agege Stadium, this tells you that we don’t want to be caught unawares by Etoile as we

have the information that the return leg at the Sousse Stadium on Tuesday would be played under floodlight on a synthetic pitch. “We are ready for whatever antics the Tunisians would want to play to suppress us. The good thing is that my boys are ready to tackle the Etoile team skills for skills, wits for wits, and power for power. Nigerians should trust in us to return home victorious and pick a place in the group stage.” Enyimba will fly out of the country Sunday morning from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to Tunisia, a for the crucial CAF Champions League qualifiers Final Round return leg match against Etoile Du Sahel. Enyimba, winners in 2003 and 2004, take a healthy 3-0 advantage into the game slated for the Sousse Stadium on Tuesday.

Solution to Cross Word Puzzle

ead Coach of the Nigeria U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has disclosed that the draws for the football event of the Rio Olympic Games which saw his side pooled against Sweden, Japan and Colombia is not a bad one. The draws held during the week at the auditorium of the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, saw the Dream Team, the reigning African champions, drawn against Asian champions Japan, European champions Sweden and Colombia, who beat USA in an intercontinental play-off to reach Rio. Speaking from Rio de Janeiro after the draws, Coach Siasia said there are no good or bad draws, and he believes the Dream Team can qualify from the group. “For me, there is no good or bad draw, for all the teams played qualifiers to get here. Besides,

the Group B that we are in has two continental champions alongside Nigeria, so I don’t expect it to be a stroll in the park for us, but with quality preparations I am sure we will pick one of the tickets from this group. “My target in Rio is to pick the gold medal having won the silver medal in Beijing in 2008, so when I get back to Nigeria, I will put heads together with my assistants to work out our preparations for the Games. I am confident that with the calibre of players at our disposal, we will achieve our goal.” On the issue of which three over-aged players to select for the Games, Coach Siasia said: “Yes, I already have in mind the three over-aged players that I intend using at the Games. But I will not disclose their names for now as I think it’s still too early to do so.”

Zenith Bank WBL: First Bank vow to dethrone Dolphins Emmanuel Tobi

Morgan

Leicester can almost feel the trophy - Morgan

eicester City captain, Wes Morgan, admits the Premier League leaders “can almost feel the metal on the cup” - but has urged them to keep working. Claudio Ranieri’s side picked up a fifth win in a row with a 2-0 victory at Sunderland last week, meaning they need just three wins from their final five games to guarantee the most unlikely of title triumphs. Morgan concedes the squad are at last beginning to believe that the trophy is within their grasp, but warns that they cannot become carried away until the job is completed. “At Sunderland last Sunday, we saw our fans in the stands with flags saying ‘champions’ on them. We can’t get carried away with that. There’s still work to be done. But it’s a big, big possibility. I can’t deny that. It’s in our hands. We’ve got the chance to win the games to make it happen, to finish as champions. As a kid, it’s all I dreamed about: playing in the best league in the world, becoming a champion and lifting that trophy. So I can see the end, definitely, and I want to make the dream a reality. Morgan - whose side face West Ham today - also revealed what makes the approach taken by Ranieri with his players so effective. “He likes the banter!” he added. “He’s a very approachable guy. I speak to him a lot, being captain, and he likes a laugh. But when it’s time to get serious, he’ll get serious. And he doesn’t mind cracking the whip when necessary.

WEEKEND RESULTS Barclays Premier League Norwich 0 - 2 Sunderland Everton 1 - 0 Southampton Man Utd 1 - O Aston Villa Newcastle 3 - 0 Swansea West Brom 0 - 1 Watford Chelsea 0 - 3 Man City

layers of First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos have expressed their determination to win this year’s edition of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League after losing their crown last year to Dolphins Basketball Club. First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos continued in their quest to lift this year’s edition of the competition by walloping Coal City Queens 94-26 at the Asaba Township Stadium at the weekend. According to Captain of the team, Chioma Udeaja, “Our ambition is to win the title this year and we are doing everything possible to avert last year’s defeat to Dolphins in the final. That is why we always get to the

venue of the league early to get use to the environment.” Four-time Most Valuable player of the Zenith Bank League, Nkechi Akashi said her team has improved and they are ready for the title. “It was good we came here early and adapted to the hot condition in the hall. Other teams who came late are not finding it easy, but they are also not doing badly. “We have been in top form and winning our games since the second phase started just like we did in Abuja. So, we are not ready to suffer any defeat that is why we have raised our performance, she added.” In other games, Benue Princess beat Taraba Hurricanes, 56-24, Sunshine Angels lost to Plateau Rocks 31-35, while Dolphins beat Taraba Babes 92-58.

Omeruo dreams Nigeria Olympic squad

uper Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has disclosed that he has two goals from now until the end of the season - to book a place in the Europa League with Turkish League club Kasimpasa and to make the Nigerian national team for the Olympic Games in Brazil this summer. Speaking to the official Chelsea website Omeruo said: “I just want to finish the season as well as possible and try and help Ka-

simpasa into a European spot. After that we will start thinking about next season. There is also the Olympics which I might be involved in.” Kasimpasa are currently 5th just two points behind Istanbul rivals Basaksehir in fourth and 10 points off 3rd placed Konyaspor. Omeruo has established himself as a first team star in the Kasimpasa team that has one of the best defensive records in the Turkish league this season.

business

Mixed reactions trail Nigeria’s currency deal with China }43

SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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Anthony Joshua: From London jailbird to world champion}53

Professor Sagay misfired: EFCC is not a debt collecting agency

INTRODUCTION

My attention has been drawn to the caption in The Punch Newspaper of April 6, 2016, with the screaming heading: 'Sagay knocks Ozekhome for attacking EFCC.' Sagay, by way of history, is one of my most respected mentors, who helped me to change my course from English to Law in 1977, when English Department for three years refused my change over to Law Faculty, ostensibly for being " very brilliant” and “one of their best”. He personally took me to the then Dean of Arts, Professor Ekundayo, to release me to pursue my heart’s desire. I was just 19. I would therefore not ordinarily have joined ISSUESs with him in the public domain if not to simply set the records straight. Interalia, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, tonguelashed me for saying that EFCC is not empowered by law to be a ‘debt collecting agency’. I am correct in this assertion and I maintain it now and forever. Sagay referred to section 71 (B) of the EFCC Act, giving “the EFCC the power to commence investigations into the property of any person if it appears to the EFCC that the person’s lifestyle and extent of properties are not justified by law”. He also cited section 28 of theAct which provides that “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the court.” He argues that section 29 permits the assets of a person arrested under section 28 to be seized by the state.” Taking a swipe on me in a manner of reminiscent a headmaster on errant pupil, Sagay concluded that “When he wants to defend his friends, he should go and check the law and be sure of what he is talking about. Nigeria has laws that entitle you to recover properties and that is the emphasis for now because we need our monies and properties back from the looters.” The section Sagay probably referred to as section 71(B) does not exist. May be he meant Section 7(1)(b) of the EFCC Act. Does the above Section not run foul of the clear provisions of section 43 of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, which permits a person the right to acquire and own movable and immovable property anywhere in Nigeria, if interpreted in the cavalier way and manner defined by Prof. Sagay? Apart from Sagay quoting me out of context, Section7(1)(b) of it merely gives the Commission “the power to cause investigation to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.” It did not turn the EFCC into a “debt collecting agency”, his angst. I therefore maintain it. The purport of this section is to simply cause an “investigation to be conducted”. Section 28 of the EFCC Act also quoted by Sagay, provides that “when a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment from the court.” This seizure and attachment is only temporary, to enable a court decide. Many a time,

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08094777755 (sms only) such property reverted to their owners upon acquittal by the court. But section 29 which Sagay did not expatiate upon goes further to state that ”the Commission shall cause an exparte application to be made to the court for an interim order forfeiting the property concerned to the Federal Government, if the court is satisfied that there is prima facie evidence that the property concerned is liable to forfeiture, make such order.” The seizure of forteiture is predicated on “if the court is satisfied” not “if the EFCC is satisfied”. From the foregoing, can the EFCC ordinarily seize the property of an individual without recourse to a court order? Obviously, the answer is no. It is therefore erroneous for Sagay to conclude that “Section 29 permits the assets of a person arrested under Section 28 to be seized by the state.” Through what process, he was silent. I have the answer. It is section 29 which provides that no forfeiture or seizure can be made by the EFCC without a valid court order. This is contrary to the antics of the EFCC (which I had crticised), where it simply arrests, detains a person, and keep him in custody until he agrees, or is forced, under duress, to pay a certain amount determined by the Commission. The EFCC thus becomes both the investigator, accuser, witness, judge and executioner. One thing is clear: no one, including the EFCC, should be seen to be above the laws of the land. This is embodied in its self proclaimed motto. The rule of law must prevail at all times, notwithstanding the individual passion, enthusiasm and predilection of anti – corrupt appointees. Sagay also said: “When he wants to defend his friends, he should go and check the law and be sure what he is talking about ……”. I laughed. What does the law say, sir? I have checked it before now, and it says EFCC is not a debt collecting agency or a court of law, but an investigative body, and at best, a prosecutor. A communal reading of Sections 35, 36 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution dealing with rights to personal liberty, private and family life, and the right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria respectively, vitiate and torpedo Sagay’s position. THE CONSTITUTION IS SUPREME I totally agree with the eminent scholar that “we need our monies and properties back”. Yes. But, this must be done within the ambit of our constitutional organogram, which I had accused the EFCC of not doing. RECOVERY OF PUBLIC PROPERTY (SPECIAL PROVISION) ACT, (NO. 3, 1984) CHAPTER R4, LFN, 2004, Prof. Sagay also missed the point on the operation of this Act. There is nowhere in

the Act where an investigative authority is given power to confiscate assets belonging to a public officer without an order of a court. Nor is any investigative authority under the Act mandated to constitute itself into a debt – collecting agency. The relevant sections are 1, 3 and 8 of the Act. Under sections 1 and 3 of the Act, a panel is first constituted by the president to investigate whether any public officer (not non public officers that are being haraunded by EFCC), has abused his office, or contributed to the economic adversity of the nation, or enriched himself, or engaged in corrupt practices. The panel then issues a notice to the subject to declare his assets as in Form A in the schedule to the Act. The panel even has to direct a qualified person to check if the assets as declared are correct. It is an infraction of this that leads to such a person being charged before the Federal High Court, which, under section 8 of the Act, may by order, “prohibit any deposition of property, movable or immovable”, where it feels that a prima facie case has been made out. This is similar to the temporary seizure of an accused’s property under Section 28 of

the EFCC Act, pending trial.

NOW THIS It could be, God forbid, legal advice such as this that the erudite teacher and his presidential Anti-corruption committee give to the EFCC and other anti-corruption Agencies that embolden them to break the law with impunity and detain suspects without administrative bail, or arraignment before courts, until they are forced to cough out arbitrarily determined sums of moneys. It could also be the reason why their principal officers have since, like Prof. Sagay, glowingly abused lawyers, especially revered Senior Advocates of Nigeria, calling them thieves, common criminals, supporters of corruption, corrupt lawyers who aid corrupt politicians to loot the treasury, and other such unprintable names. The only “crime” of such lawyers is that they dared to defend accused persons who are themselves being prosecuted by lawyers engaged by Sagay’s anti – corruption agencies. AND THIS One final point sir. I am not defending my friends. That is an unfair statement. I am rightfully defending my clients, using the “CAB RANK RULE”, and based on my oath as a lawyer when I was called to the Bar in 1981, to help enthrone justice and the rule of law. Our criminal justice system remains acusatorial and not inquisitorial. In pursuing this my noble professional endeavour which you. Helped me to nurture, I offer no apologies to anyone, not even to SAGAY. Hope all are reading this Sunday sermon on the mount of the Nigerian project by Chief Mike A. A Ozekhome, SAN, OFR. • 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 6 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 17 18 20

Stubborn, (8). Attitude, (5). Crushing device, (3). Flattened circle, (4). Alabama, abbr. (2). At higher level, (2). Tellurium symbol, abbr. (2). Mile, abbr. (2). Prickly bush with ornamental flowers, (4). Masters in Bus. Admin, abbr. (3). Indicating outer space, (5). Semi-arid sandy savannah in Africa, (8).

Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5 7 12 13 16 19

President Jonathan's ex spokesman, (10). Lucky ____, Late Reggae musician, (4). Alberta, abbr. (2). Before expected time, (5). Former Delta State governor, (5, 5). Highest part, (3). Break without coming apart, (5). Drink made by infusion, (3). City in Ogun state, (4). Decilitre, abbr. (2). Turn to page 55 for solution

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