The Nation July 23, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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VOL.05 N0. 1829

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NAFDAC Page3 Ibori’s trial may considers death start in November sentence for fake Niger Delta group demands release drug barons

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

N150.00

‘How we were engaged by businesswoman’s son to kill his mother’ Page 11

Fresh labour unrest looms Petroleum workers begin strike Monday NLC vows to resist subsidy removal Page 2

My daughter does not want 23 siblings

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- Kate

Henshaw

Declare state of emergency on corruption now, Oyedepo tells Jonathan Page

Bomb scare at UNIJOS

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2 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Alleged $35m laundering: Ibori’s trial may begin in November •Niger Delta group demands release

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Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), his wife Mrs.Omolara Olanipekun during the book presentation and 20th anniversary of call to the Inner Bar of Olanipekun, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday

•M.D Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Imoukhuede; Speaker House of Representatives, Waziri Aminu Tambora; Lady Veheoma Chukurudum, SSA to Anambra Governor on Liaison Matter at the event.

PHOTOS: MOSEHIN MOSES

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Fresh labour unrest looms

A fresh labour crisis is looming as the Nigeria Labour Congress plans to resist any move to withdraw Federal Government’s subsidy on fuel.

Already, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have declared that petroleum workers will commence strike on Monday.

The union is embarking on the industrial action to protest the sale of oil wells by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Also, the Presidency is weighing options on whether to deregulate the oil industry or simply strive to put the economy in a better shape to accommodate the after-effects of deregulation.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that although state governors are in favour of withdrawal of fuel subsidy to get more cash to pay the new N18,000 minimum wage, Labour is opposed to it.

The governors had in June urged President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw fuel subsidy.

But a top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Withdrawal of subsidy was not part of the wage talks between Labour and the Federal Government. We had the agreement without any precondition.

“The truth is that we will resist any move by the government to withdraw fuel subsidy. Our position is that the government cannot take back with the left hand what it has given with the right hand.

“That was why we asked the Federal Government and state governors to go back to the drawing board and devise means of paying the new minimum wage.

“Already, they are thinking of adjusting the revenue allocation

•Petroleum workers begin strike Monday •Labour vows to resist subsidy removal Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and John OFIKHENUA, Abuja formula. This is a preferable option to withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“If the economy cannot accommodate the new wage rate, we would not have agitated for it.

“So, what we are saying is that we won’t accept withdrawal of fuel subsidy either now or next year. That is another battle we are going to fight with the government.”

Responding to a question, another Labour source said: “The socio-economic situation of the country is bad and cannot accommodate total withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“According to the CBN, unemployment rate in the country has worsened from 13.1 per cent in 2000 to 19.7 per cent in 2009.

“The apex bank also claimed that a survey in 2009 showed that 22 out of 36 states had unemployment rates of above 15 per cent.

“With this grim picture, Labour won’t watch and allow the government to withdraw subsidy again.

Findings however showed that the presidency is cautious in its plans to deregulate the petroleum sector.

A presidency source said: “It is too early to assume wholesale that the government has concluded plans to withdraw subsidy.

“In spite of the fact that the governors have made a case for the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, the government has only been consulting on options available to it.

“Some stakeholders are de-

manding partial or gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidy instead of total withdrawal.

“A few stakeholders, like the NLC, have rejected any form of withdrawal of subsidy. With these divergent views, it is obvious that fuel subsidy palaver is a ‘time-bomb’ issue which the government may not be inclined to go into in a hurry.

“We also have another set of stakeholders who are saying that the government should grow the economy to a healthy level before withdrawing fuel subsidy.

“The government is weighing the options on whether to sustain the present trend of phased withdrawal of subsidy or jettison it for a while. You may think that fuel subsidy is purely an economic matter, but for a country like ours, it could trigger many political challenges for the government.

“That is why the government has not made any pronouncement even though the subsidy palaver is draining its revenue.”

All relevant government officials contacted on the matter preferred to speak in confidence saying repeatedly ‘it is a delicate issue, the government is looking at options.’

According to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the Federal Government subsidized petroleum products to the tune of N621.5 billion last year.

The PPPRA pricing template for June, 2011 shows that a litre of petroleum product is subsidized with N81.

The landing cost per litre of imported petrol, according to

the PPPRA, is N135.52, but the total amount per litre is N148.72 after the addition of distribution margins as follows: Retailers (N4.60k); transporters (N2.75k); dealers (N1.75); bridging fund plus Marine Transport Average rates (MTA) (N3.95k); and administrative charge (N15k).

Petrol is sold at N65 per litre.

Daily consumption is 35 million per litres.

Kerosene is subsidized to the tune of N111.01k per litre. Daily consumption is eight million litres.

The pump price is N50 per litre. It costs N161.01 per litre to get it to the filling station.

Meanwhile, a nationwide fuel scarcity is in the pipeline, as the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers last night announced that it would proceed on a threeday warning strike on Monday.

NUPENG’s President, Comrade Igwe Achesi, who disclosed this after its National Executive Meeting in Abuja, said the industrial action is predicated on workers’ protest against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited’s sale of oil wells.

The strike, he added, is also induced by the struggle against unnecessary termination of workers’ appointments and the non- remission of pension dues to the workers who served for about 15 to 20 years.

He said: “Most of the oil blocks have been sold. The fate of the workers cannot be ascertained.

We started this struggle in 1992 when we realised that there was no pension and gratuity for the workers after putting in 15 to 20 years of service.”

HE trial of ex-Delta State governor, James Ibori over alleged laundering of about $35 million may begin in November.

But the ex-governor is still kept in custody by the UK authorities pending the commencement of his trial.

A group, Niger Delta Liberty Initiative, yesterday demanded the release of the former Delta State governor.

Investigation showed that at the resumption of the hearing of Ibori’s case at the Southwark Crown Court on Friday, the ex-governor was absent because the court has not fixed a date for his trial.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Actually, the ex-governor did not come to the court, because he is still in custody.

“What transpired at the court was mainly on the commencement date of the trial of Ibori. Although the counsel argued for and against, the trial may begin on November 14.

“The hearing of the case was riddled with drama as pro and anti-Ibori supporters staged peaceful demonstrations at the court premises.”

Ibori had appeared at the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court on April 22, 2011 and next appeared at Southwark Crown Court on April 28, 2011 through video link.

The ongoing trial of Ibori ended almost four years litigation over the matter.

On August 2, 2007, an Application of Restraint was heard at Southwark Crown Court on Ibori’s assets worth $35 million.

The application was successful and made under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It related to business and private finances.

On October 1, 2007, the Application was reviewed at a further hearing at Southwark Crown Court and the Restraint was discharged.

It was also learnt that a coalition of activists and professionals under the aegis of Niger Delta Liberty Initiative (NDLI) yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the premises of Southwark Crown

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Court, London, calling for the release of Chief James Ibori on humanitarian grounds.

In an online statement, which was signed by Mr. Jaro Egbo, the group said the protest was with the permit of the Metropolitan Police.

The statement, which was made available to the media

by Ibori’s Special Assistant on Media, Tony Eluemunor, said: “The group believes that the recent hacking scandal involving Rupert Murdoch NewsCorp and the resignation of top police officials suggest that the British government Justice system may not be as perfect as it seems.

“We therefore call on the British authorities to release Ibori on humanitarian ground to return home to Nigeria, as the trial is more or less based on political struggle and rivalry in Nigeria leadership.

“We believe that the Nigerian government should learn from the Australian authorities on how to treat their nationals, as exemplified by the support extended to Murdoch in the hacking incident.

“The Nigerian government should not lose sight of the territorial implication of hounding their nationals to foreign jurisdiction under the pretext of fighting corruption.

“The Niger Delta Liberty Initiative (NDLI) will continue to make all necessary sacrifices and provide support within the sphere of the law to ensure that Chief James Ibori, who is a victim of highwire politics and conspiracy, is released and allowed to return to his home country, Nigeria, where he played and will continue to play a key role in the stability, peace and political evolution in the oil rich Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians across the globe to join the campaign for the release of James Ibori by the British authority on humanitarian grounds.”

Nnaji raises hope on regular power supply

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INISTER of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji has assured that Nigeria will soon experience uninterrupted power supply.

The minister, who arrived Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu amid fanfare yesterday, said the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was already working towards achieving stable power supply in Nigeria.

He, however, said that he could not immediately state whether the feat will be achieved this year or early next year. But he said the needed apparatus towards its actualisation were already being put in place.

He urged Nigerians to exercise patience, promising that the target was realisable.

Nnaji was on his way to a reception organised in his honour by his kinsmen at Umuode in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu state.

He said he was humbled by

Chris OJI, Enugu the people and the state for coming to give him a rousing reception, promising not to fail Nigerians.

On the high expectation from Nigerians from his ministry, Nnaji said: “You can expect that we are going to work extremely hard and fast to deliver what Nigerians expect.

Usually, the number one constraint is the Presidential will, and we are lucky that we have the Presidential will to move forward. So, with that you can expect that we will move very quickly to address the problems in the power sector.

“We are already working towards uninterrupted power supply, and I believe it will not be in a distant future that we will have that. Very soon does not mean next year or the year after, but I can assure you that as fast as it could be possible, we will be working to ensure there is reliable power.”

NEWS 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Stakeholders seek govt’s intervention at Onne Port Omolara AKINTOYE Port Harcourt and Tajudeen ADEBANJO

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•Bishop of Kubwa Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev. Duke Akomisoko (right); Bishop of Lokoja Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Egbunnu (left) and Prof. Akin Akindoyemi (center), during the Diocese of Kubwa First Synod 2011 held in Abuja yesterday PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

Presidency denies hosting British Prime Minister in Lagos for security reasons

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HE Presidency yesterday said it is not true that foreign dignitaries were running away from Abuja as a result of the activities of the fundamntalist Islamic sect called called Boko Haram.

The Presidency also explained that the hosting of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron in Lagos last Tuesday had nothing to do with the country’s security situation.

Besides, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, argued that Cameron was in the country on a working visit with already scheduled programme for Lagos.

This, he said, made Lagos the obvious place to receive the Prime Minister.

In his maiden interactive session with State House correspondents, Abati alo noted that President Goodluck Jonathan received the visiting dignitary at the State House, Dodan Barracks and not outside Government House.

He therefore described as mischief the report making the rounds that the foreign dignitaries were running away from the country capital, Abuja, as a result of the activities of Boko Haram.

He said: “Foreign dignitaries are not running away from Abuja. I mean Abuja is not under siege. You will recall, of course, that it was in this same Abuja that Nigeria hosted the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. And then, some people are saying that it was wrong to have hosted the British Prime Minister in Lagos and that it amounts to violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The truth of the matter is that the British PM was on Nigeria on a working visit. It was a distinct visit. A diplomat will tell you that there is a distinction

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja between a state visit and a working visit.

“And that working visit was targeted mostly at meeting with the business community.

And where is the business community principally domiciled if not in the country’s major commercial centre, which is Lagos?

“Secondly, the Prime Minister had been scheduled to give a lecture at the Pan African University in Lagos, and this was well reported. So, Mr President going to Lagos to receive him, I don’t see how it amounts to violation of sovereignty.

“The meeting was held in

State House, Marina and it is government premises. It wasn’t as if he was received in an hotel. And Lagos is a part of Nigeria. The President can meet with anybody in any part of Nigeria. I just thought this should be clarified,” Abati stated.

While also responding to questions from State House correspondents on government’s efforts at tackling the menace of Boko Haram, Abati noted that the government was working round the clock to ensure quick return of normalcy to the state. Part of it, he said, was the meeting with various groups and stakeholders. He explained that the meeting was aimed at finding a lasting solution to

the issue, besides the security steps.

He also noted that normalcy is gradually returning to the state due to some of the actions of the government.

He also assured that the President is concerned with happenings in Borno State as it is a national problem.

The president’s media aide, who also spoke on Prof. Wole Soyinka’s call on the President to reveal circumstances surrounding the death of former President, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, said the comment was not really to the President but only putting the Freedom of Information (FOI) to test. He added that the most difficult thing to do is the implementation of a law.

NAFDAC considers stiffer punishments for drug offenders

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HE National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has concluded plans to review the current laws against drug counterfeiters in the country.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr, Paul Orhii, gave this hint in Ibadan on Thurday during his remarks at the Nigerian Tribune Public Officer of the Year Award conferred on him by the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief (Mrs) H.I.D.Awolowo at the Civic Centre, Ibadan.

He said the reason for the review of NAFDAC laws against offenders was not unconnected with the enormity of the offence which demands stiffer penalty than what the current laws stipulate. ”It is rather paradoxical that we in Nigeria are at the receiving end of the effects of counterfeiters. We have very lenient laws which stipulate a fine of N500,000 or 15-year jail term upon conviction, compared to, for example, India and China, which have life term and death sentence respectively, “ he stated.

While admitting that the preponderance of fake and counterfeited drugs in the country has been drastically reduced to five per cent from

STAKEHOLDERS in the nation’s maritime industry, under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), have urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Alhaji Abubakar Dikko, to intervene in what they described as the unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering port operations in Onne seaport.

The Chairman of ANCLA, Onne Seaport Chapter, Mr Prestige Ossy, said that the protesting workers resolved to embark on strike and were not ready to return to work unless their demands were met by the authorities.

According to him, the fundamental challenges obstructing smooth port operations in Onne seaport, which he said has been affecting their businesses as clearing agents and freight forwarders, include extortion and the existence of an illegal taskforce set up by the Area Comptroller.

Ossy insisted that until the issues were addressed, the workers, especially those under the umbrella of ANLCA, would continue their protest, which he said was not in anybody’s favour, considering the billions of dollars that had been lost to the development.

In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer, Area II Command, Nigerian Customs Service, Onne Port, Mr Eyo Inuekim said that the commission had put stringent security measures in place at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone to forestall further disruption of port operations at the Onne Seaport.

Inuekim said security was beefed up at the seaport to guarantee the safety of lives and property of customers and workers.

He said those steps would ensure enough security for genuine port users, adding that the standard put in place by the Presidential Task Force on 100 per cent examination of goods was nonnegotiable.

CPC accepts PDP’s decision to appeal tribunal ruling

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HE Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday said it accepted the Peoples Democratic Party’s decision to appeal the ruling of the 2011 Presidential election petition tribunal.

The CPC is challenging the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 16 poll and has urged the tribunal to cancel results in 20 states.

According to a statement signed by CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin: “The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has noted with studied silence the decision of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to appeal the ruling of the Presidential election petition Tribunal, wherein the pre-

Gbenga OMOKHUNU, Abuja liminary objections to CPC’s petition were thrown out.

“Whilst acknowledging the rights of any citizen (corporate or private) to seek judicial adjudication over any matter, this desperate move by PDP to truncate the election petition with some obnoxious legal technicalities is befuddling. If all that have been parroted about the presidential election on April 16, 2011 (about fairness and credibility) is true in material and content, then the PDP-led Federal Government should be seen to be marshalling credible arguments in supporting these claims at the Petitions Tribunal.

Oseheye OKWUOFU, Ibadan.

45 per cent in the last two years.

The NAFDAC boss explained that the agency had already assembled a team of lawyers to bring to fruition the needed review of the laws against drugs counterfeiters in the country.

The use of the innovative technologies being employed to fight counterfeiting of regulated products, according to the medical doctor cum lawyer, had accorded the agency international acclaim, as well as respect for the nation by the international community.

The award was presented on behalf of Chief (Mrs) H.I.D. Awolowo by the Tribune Managing Director/Editor-in-chief, Rev. Sam Adesua.

Present at the colourful event were the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, represented by the Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Chairman, International Breweries Limited, Otunba Michael Daramola; Prof. Solomon Badejo, Head, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, among many others.

Air Nigeria set to launch flights to Sao Tome & Principe

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IR Nigeria, the country’s fully private sector flag carrier, is set to launch flight operations to Sao Tome via Douala and Libreville, in continuation of its regional routes network roll out. The launch of the new route is coming just as Air Nigeria recently introduced direct flights between Abuja and Enugu as well as Abuja and Owerri on the domestic route network.

The new flight, which will be inaugurated on August 18, is in line with Air Nigeria’s route expansion plan to further strengthen cultural and economic ties amongst African states, especially as the airline is building a hub at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos to seamlessly offer connections to passengers across West and Central Africa.

The launch of the Lagos–Sao Tome route brings to 10, the number of regional routes operated by Air Nigeria in Africa as it currently operates to some capital cities across the West Coast and the central African region. Sao Tome is an island in Central Africa which has a rich reserve of natural resources and is predominantly a holiday resort with vast expanse of beautiful beaches.

NLC, NECA may clash over minimum wage

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RGANISED labour in the country may be heading for a showdown with employers of labour in the private sector for the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, just as they are preparing for a confrontation with the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, for refusing to implement the new minimum wage.

Labour also commended the role played by Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in ensuring that his colleagues agreed to pay the new wages and for keeping faith with his constituency.

Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Secretary General of the Textile Workers Union, Issa Aremu, while speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the new Employees Compensation Act, said Jang was one of the governors

Tony AKOWE, Kaduna who insisted that he would not pay the new minimum wage.

Aremu said Labour expects the leadership of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Council would impress it on its members to implement the new minimum wage in order to avoid an industrial action in the sector.

He added that any stakeholder in the private or public sector who refused to implement the minimum wage would attract the wrath of labour.

He noted that rather than criticising the botched strike as illegal, NECA should advise its members to begin the process of implementing the new minimum wage, pointing out that by the law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan in March, no worker

in the country should earn below N18,000.

He noted that strike is only the means of getting employers of labour to implement the agreement, while the real issues at stake of the implementation of the agreement.

According to him, “the struggle for minimum wage is of benefit to all. For the state governors, two days after President Jonathan has agreed to look at the issue of revenue allocation formula.

“For having an agreement with NLC, the strike was also suspended. The economy has come back to life which would have been the other way if the strike had been implemented.

Implementation of the new Minimum wage will make workers to be economically secured thereby increasing their purchasing power and productivity.

4 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23 2011

Forum blasts Oyo workers over strike

Alleged rape of corps member: Community protests to Aregbesola, Assembly O

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UNDREDS of indi genes of Ilowa-Ijesa in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State yesterday protested to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the leadership of the state House of Assembly to intervene in the alleged rape case against their monarch, Oba Adebukola Alli.

The people of community, led by their kingmakers, were received at the Exco Chamber in the Office of the Governor by the deputy governor, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, and the

Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo Governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

The younger brother to the monarch, Prince Seun Alli, was in tears while narrating how Oba Alli has been critically ill in the prison where he is being remanded for more than two weeks.

The monarch’s brother, who pleaded with the state government to intervene in his case, queried why the accused should be remanded when he is on bail granted by the same court.

The Obala, second in command to Alowa, Chief

Lawrence Adebayo, who led other chiefs like Saloro, Isaac Oduremi; Loro, Ogundele Abe; Odole, Olatunji Jeje; Yeyerise, Emilia Olagunju; and Oba Odo, David Oduremi denied that the kingmakers are planning to remove Oba Alli from the throne.

Responding, the deputy governor told the community to rule out the thinking that case of their monarch was politically motivated, noting that Alowa had identified with the Aregbesola administration from its inception with the aim of advancing the Ilowa community.

She, however, promised to ask the state Ministry of Jus-

tice to study the case and advise the government accordingly, saying the accused had failed to furnish the public his own side of the story.

“All this while, all we read in the newspapers is the lady’s side of the story. This is the first time I am hearing your own side. But I want you to know that his problem is not politically motivated as some of you have said,” the deputy governor said.

Alhaji Adeoti, told the community that the state government under Aregbesola respects the principle of separation of power among the three organs of government, the executive, legislature and judiciary.

Bode DUROJAIYE, Oyo

YO indigenes, under the aegis of Pacesetting Forum, have condemned the continued strike action by workers in Oyo State, describing it as “retroactive and politically motivated”.

The angry-looking indigenes, who besieged The Nation office in Oyo town today to register their displeasure, wondered in whose interest the strike action was embarked upon.

Protem chairman, Mr. Olu Alaye, who led about 50 other members of the forum, said the strike was a calculated attempt to make the state ungovernable for the Ajimobi-led administration.

They stated that with the exception of Lagos State , no state in the country had paid the new minimum wage of N18, 000.

They further said: “Even the Federal Government said it could only implement the new wage beginning from next year. It only entered into an agreement with the labour leaders on modalities for payment which averted the national strike”.

The forum urged labour leaders in the state to toe the path of honour and decency and resist clandestine moves by some never-do-well politicians to use them as instruments of destruction and anarchy.

“It is an ill- wind that will blow no one any good, as right –thinking and good people of the state can now see clearly that the strike action left much to be desired. We vehemently oppose to the strike action, but want the labour leaders to show the world that they are not being used by some desperate politicians to circumvent peace and industrial harmony by allowing further dialogue with the state government,” the forum said.

The forum said the Ajimobi-led administration had exhibited much transparency and thoroughness by placing on table the finances of the state.

Hafsat Abiola, 11 others get portfolios in Ogun Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta

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•Covenant University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aize Obayan; Chancellor Dr. David Oyedepo, Guest Speaker and Executive Secretary, Association of African Universities; Prof Olugbemile Jegede; and Pastor Faith Oyedepo at the sixth convocation ceremony of the university at Ota, Ogun State.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

FG to spend N9bn on reconstruction of Lagos Airport Road

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HE federal government has earmarked N9 bil lion for the reconstruction of the deplorable Lagos Airport Road as well as its beatification.

This was revealed yesterday by the Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onomolemen, when he paid a courtesy visit on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the State House, Marina.

He explained that that the contract for the project would be awarded in the next few weeks, adding that Lagos is strategic to the Nigerian

Miriam NDIKANWU economy and most of the projects being embarked upon in the state are germane to the smooth running of the national economy.

Onomolemen also commiserated with the people of Lagos over the unfortunate flooding which ravaged many parts of the state two Sundays ago, adding that the floods had severely impacted on federal infrastructure in the state.

Onomolemen said topmost on the list was the ApapaOshodi Expressway whose contract was awarded and com-

menced earlier this year, stressing, however, that the slow pace of work on the road was due to a number factors, one of which was the inclement weather and the poor budgetary allocation for the project in the current year.

He said because of the spate of floods witnessed in Lagos recently, the federal government had decided to pay special attention to Lagos State because of its strategic status, adding that in months ahead, the government would come up with a list of priority projects, assuring that the Apapa- Oshodi Expressway

would be one of them.

“We would be sending you a proposal on how we can collaborate to make the ApapaOworonshoki Expressway motorable all year round and we shall be involving the Nigeria Ports Authority and the battery of tank farms whose activities directly impact the road’’, the minister explained.

Governor Fashola said as assets belonging to the people, proper maintenance of roads should be priority rather than ascribing ownership to one level of government or the other.

Octogenarian lawyer, others urge court to void award of SAN

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group of senior law yers have asked a Fed eral High Court in Lagos to reverse the recent award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on some legal practitioners in the country.

The lawyers, led by an octogenarian, Mr. Tunde Gomez, argued yesterday that the reversal became imperative in order to protect the sanctity of the court before which a case is pending, challenging the constitutionality of the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA), the law guiding the award of the rank.

Rights activist and politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, who led a group of lawyers for the plaintiffs, told the court that the defendants deliberately stayed away from the court despite the service

Eric IKHILAE of court’s processes on them.

With the permission of the court, Braithwaite proceeded to argue the plaintiffs’ application for interlocutory injunctions. The plaintiffs include Mr. Gomez, Peter Okoye, Foluso Fayokun, E. O. Otokhina and Seth Amaefule.

Named as defendants include the Chair, Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, (LPPC), the committee, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lagos State ’s Attorney General, Lagos State Judicial Service Commission and Chair, Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos branch, Chijioke Okoli.

The plaintiffs, in their application, prayed the court for orders restraining the LPPC

and its Chair from screening the list of shortlisted lawyers for the SAN rank, giving effect to the list and proceeding to award the said rank.

Braithwaite argued that although the process was almost concluded with the release of the names of those on whom the rank was awarded, it was not yet completed because they were yet to be inaugurated.

He urged the court to reverse the steps taken so far by the first and second defendants (Chair, LPPC and the committee) pending the determination of the substantive suit which is challenging the constitutionality of the LPA. He argued that it amounted to a slight on the court when the Nigerian Bar

Association (NBA), the LPPC and its Chair to proceed with the process of the award of SAN despite being aware of the existence of a suit challenging the constitutionality of the LPA under which they purportedly acted.

“The thrust of this action is the fact that there is a substantive action pending in court, where the constitutionality of the Legal Practitioners Act, under which the LPPC derives the powers to award the SAN title, is the subject.

“Until the constitutionality of the Act is tried, it is absolutely imperative that this court holds a balance. The main action, which is yet to be tried, goes to the root of the constitutionality of the powers of the LPPC to act in awarding the SAN rank,” he said.

AFSAT Abiola - Costello, daughter of the late business magnate and politician, Chief MKO Abiola, and eleven other appointed special advisers have been assigned portfolios by Governor Ibikunel Amosun with a call on them to bring their expertise to bear on the governor’s vision to rebuild the state.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, the special advisers are Arc. Segun Abiodun (Housing); Mrs. Yewande Amusan (Public/ Private Partnership); Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello (Millennium Development Goals); Mr. Wale Ogunyomade (Taxation and Revenue); Mr. Rotimi Adewunmi (Economic Adviser); and Mr. Leke Adewolu (Research and Documentation).

Others include Mrs. Bimbo Lanre-Balogun (Environment); Ms Busola Ogundele (Culture and Tourism); Mr. Tunde Sanusi (Social Development); Mrs. Ronke Sokefun (Lands); Mr. Femi Ogunsola (Commerce and Industry); Mrs. Funmi Ajayi (Governor’s Office); Chief Taiwo Fagbemi (Energy); Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe (Health); Mr. Bayo Adeyemi (General Duties); and Dr. Olumide Ayeni (Legal Matters & Governance Matters).

The Ogun State House of Assembly had on Tuesday approved 20 special advisers for the governor.

NAFDAC impounds containers of potassium bromate Wale ADEPOJU

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administrations and Control (NAFDAC) has seized three containers of potassium bromate during its surveillance at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

According to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, the potassium bromate estimated at N600million could serve 50 trailer loads of flour.

Orhii said the substance could pose serious danger to people’s health when eaten in food, adding that people who consumed food such as bread prepared with potassium bromate were likely to come down with kidney diseases and (or) cancer.

He said the agency would commence a nationwide analysis of bread products to determine whether they contained potassium bromate, adding that any bakery found to have used the substance for its bread would be severely dealt with.

“The ban on the use of potassium bromate as a bread enhancer is very much in force and the NAFDAC is determined to enforce this ban and prosecute any violator,” Orhii said.

He said the impounded goods declared as baby walkers were imported by Bumazak Enterprises Limited and cleared

by Blessed Alpha and Omega.

Olanrewaju Olutunfese passes on

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community and religious leader, Mr. Olanrewaju Adebayo Olutunfese, is dead. He is 64.

He died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to a family statement signed by Aramide Tola Noibi, he is survived by wife, Mrs. Iyabo Olutunfese of the Federal Ministry of Education, Yaba and children, sisters and brothers.

He will be buried at the Christian Cemetary, Ijebu Road, Ijebu Ife after a funeral service at the First Baptist Church, Isensi, Ijebu Ife, while the entertainment of guests will follow at his residence.

Oc

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Robbers kill two policemen in Nsukka

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ARE devil armed robbers killed two policeman yesterday at Nsukka and drove away with a Bullion Van belonging to one of the commercial banks in the area .

The robbers were said to have ambushed the van in the morning, shot sporadically before escaping with the money inside it.

An eye witness said the policemen died following a gun duel between them and the robbers.

It was gathered that the robbers tried to escape through Ikem community in Isi Uzo Local Government of Enugu but met a brick wall when they suddenly met barricades mounted by the police and civilians.

Akwa Ibom tribunal: PAC files appeal

•Two members of the gang killed in Ebonyi •Robbers vandalise vehicle, steal cash in Alausa Chris OJI, Enugu, Ogbonnaya OBINNA and Miriam NDIKANWU

They were said to have ran into thick bushes when they discovered the barricades at the area.

Confirming the robbery attack and the death of the two policemen, the Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, ASP Ebere Amaraizu disclosed that the command swung into action immediately it got hint of the incident.

However, the police in the neighbouring state of Ebonyi claimed that they gunned down two of the members of the 12 man gang that carried out the robbery in Nssuka.

Commissioner, Ebonyi State Police Command, Mr. Dipo Ayeni, yesterday said that of the 12 man gang armed robbers that blow up the bullion van at Nsukka , two were killed in a gun battle between the men of the Enugu and Ebonyi state police command.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the Police boss said that at about 10 am yesterday, the police command received information that armed robbers blocked a bullion van and with the aid of an instrument called accertacin gas, blew open the bullion van.

According to Ayeni, "at about 10am information was received that armed robbers blocked a bullion

van and with the aid of an instrument called accertacin gas broke open the bullion van and emptied all the money into their vehicle and speed off".

"The armed robbers transloaded the money into another vehicle, as they were going they also transloaded into a Peace Mass Transit bus and headed towards Ebonyi State".

Meanwhile, a gang of robbers yesterday invaded the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, vandalising a Honda car (2009 model) with Lagos registration number, LR 655 EKY and carted away an undisclosed sum of money.

The robbers, an eye witness disclosed, drove into the secretariat in a tinted Land Rover 2009 Sport Utility Vehicle

(SUV) with Abuja registration number GB 878 ABC. They were said to have traced the owner of the Honda car to the parking lot of the Ministry of Education, where they vandalised the wind shield at the driver's side, before taking away the money.

The incident which occurred at about 4pm, drew attention of workers and passersby when attempt to access the vehicle triggered off the alarm.

Sensing the danger, the robbers, said to be two in number quickly took away the money, jumped into their SUV and attempted to drive out of the secretariat, not knowing that the information has been passed round among security officers who promptly shut all exit from the secretariat.

Sensing that they have been boxed-in, the robbers drove to the parking lot of the block housing the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure, and Tourism, parked the SUV in a hurry and fled on foot.

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ISSATISFIED with the ruling of the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Progressive Action Congress and its governorship candidate, Steve Ibanga, yesterday filed an appeal challenging the ruling of the tribunal that dismissed its earlier petition on technical grounds.

Ibanga is challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Governor Godswill Akpabio and 13 other political parties that fielded governorship candidates, for non-inclusion of his name and party logo in the ballot papers for the April 26 governorship election in the state.

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Adam Onum of the Benue High Court, had in his ruling, struck out PAC’s application for failure to comply with relevant sections of the Electoral Act, saying there was no application for the commencement of the pre-trial notice.

Onum also held that the petitioner did not file a motion on notice but simply wrote a letter to the secretary of the tribunal for pre-hearing section instead of a motion. He insisted that mere correspondence did not have any legal force as it fall short of legal requirement.

The petitioners’ counsel, Livinus Udofia is seeking the relief of the appellate court for an order up-holding the validity of petition No: EPT/ AKS/GOV/08/2011 and directing that the petition be remitted to another tribunal constituted to hear and determine the petition on its merit rather than technical grounds.

The petitioner is praying the court of appeal to set aside the ruling/decision of the tribunal dismissing petition No: EPT/AKS/GOV/08/2011 as an abandoned petition.

Udofia in his appeal, said that counsel to Akpabio, Bayo Ojo (SAN), failed to comply with paragraph 18(3) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, which says a motion by the respondent applying for an order to dismiss a petition for failure by the petitioner to file an application for prehearing session, shall be returnable within three days.

Enugu ready to pay minimum wage

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NUGU State Government has confirmed its preparedness to pay the new minimum wage of eighteen thousand naira to workers in the state.

Governor Sullivan Chime made the government’s stand known during the State Executive Council meeting in Enugu.

Briefing the press at the

end of the meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, said that government and labour are still dialoguing to ensure the smooth and prompt implementation of the new wage.

Ugwoke said, “the Governor used the occasion of the meeting to reiterate the

preparedness of the state government to implement the payment of the minimum wage, even as government continues to dialogue with labour to ensure smooth implementation.”

Ugwoke also said that the state government at the meeting welcomed her indigenes resident in Borno State who recently returned home following the Boko

Haram crisis in that state.

The state assured all indigenes of other states living in Enugu of their safety.

The Commissioner was accompanied during the briefing by his Transport Ministry counterparts, Mr. Dan Anike, that of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Emeka Abugu and Mr. Victor Okolo of Housing and Urban Development

Minister pledges assistance for Asaba Airport VIATION Minister, Stella Oduah Ogiemwonyi has assured that the ministry would provide Asaba International Airport with global standard compliance assistance.

The minister, who spoke yesterday, after an inspection visit to the project site, expressed her satisfaction at the pace of development of the Airport, saying she was happy over the contribution of Delta State to aviation development in the country.

The minister during a courtesy visit on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, charged him to upgrade work on the airport to meet “global standard” in line with President Goodluck

A

Okungbowa AIWERIE, Asaba Jonathan’s transformational agenda.

While she acknowledged that there is no Nigeria standard in aviation industry, she reiterated the desire of the administration of President Jonathan to partner with the state in its investment drive.

She said, “I smell prosperity in Delta state when the

project is completed. The airport will be a model. We are talking; we are going to work with the state to realize the sweet dream.”

She said the plan of the Federal Government is to attract foreign investors to boost the airport’s operations with strict adherence to safety compliance rules and regulations. She urged the Governor to get in touch with relevant directors on

the issue of safety compliance.

Governor Uduaghan, who congratulated the minister on her appointment, said efforts has been intensified for wide bodied aircraft to use the airport just as he said a second run way was been constructed for the Osubi Airport and appealed to the minister to speedlygrant approval for the project.

Soldiers deployed in Delta community

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RMED soldiers have been deployed to Ekpan community in Uwvie Local Government Area to enforce a dusk to dawn curfew. The move, The Nation learnt,

was to forestall a breach of the peace by youths.

It will be recalled that scores have died and property destroyed during a clash by rival youth’s groups forcing the Delta

I

N a bid to further build capacity in the Niger Delta region, Federal Government yesterday sent a batch of 50 exmilitants for various skill acquisition programmes in Sri Lanka. They are to be trained in boat building, underwater operations, deep sea welding and underwater diving.

The training being carried out through the post amnesty re-integration programme will last for just six months at the Topher Zhang Vocational Institute in Sri Lanka.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku made this known while addressing the delegates at the Sheraton Hotel and Suites in Ikeja, Lagos, hours before they took off aboard Emirates Flight from the Lagos Airport.

With this development, 907 youths have been sent abroad for different programmes, either for skills acquisition or university education.

A forthnight ago the Federal Government sent similar delegates to four countries including Philippines, South Africa, India and Poland in areas ranging from maritime to Crane Operations and Pipe line welding.

The Specaial Adviser who was Represented by Dr. Ferdinand Ikwang cautioned the delegates urging them to use their time well and study hard to achieve their goals.

16 killed in Norway's twin terror attacks

•Riot policemen at the scene of the robbery in Nsukka after the incident yesterday.

Chris OJI, Enugu

FG sends 50 ex-militants for overseas training

State Government to slam a curfew on the community about three weeks ago. Night life and commercial activities have been affected by the curfew as shop owners are now forced to close early.

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ORWAY was yesterday hit by twin attacks - a massive bomb blast in the capital and a shooting attack on young people at a governing Labour Party youth camp.

At least seven people were killed in the bombing and another nine persons were killed in the shooting in an island outside Oslo.

One witness later said he had seen more than 20 bodies on the island, but police have not confirmed this.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, whose Oslo offices were among those damaged by the bomb, described the situation as “very serious”.

Norwegian media reports said the shootings on the island, on the Tyrifjorden lake, were carried out by a Norwegian in police uniform.

Police said the suspected gunman had been arrested, and later linked with the bomb attack. Reports described him as tall and blond. No group has said it carried out the attacks.

Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Store said the country was in “deep, deep shock”.

“Norway is today dealing with a double attack on its democracy, on its government buildings and on its finest youth wanting to engage in politics.”

Hours after the bomb struck Oslo, officials said some people were still inside the damaged buildings, some of which were on fire.

6 NEWS

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HE administrative block of the University of Jos, Jos was deserted yesterday morning over a bomb scare around the vicechancellor’s office.

In an interview with The Nation, an employee of the university, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We saw a strange man coming out of the administrative block.

The man did not look like any of our workers or students. We later discovered that the man was not even a visitor.

“We became afraid be-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23 2011

Bomb scare at Unijos Yusufu AMINU IDEGU, Jos cause before we challenged him, he had disappeared.

This development scared everybody in the administrative block, and we had to vacate the offices, suspecting that the man must have planted bombs around the office.”

The university authorities had to make a distress call to the police and they re-

sponded promptly by sending their anti-bomb squad to the school.

The P-lateau State Police Command confirmed the scare, but said the anti-bomb squad found no no bomb in the administrative block.

The command’s Public Relations officer, Apev Jacob, said, “The anti-bomb squad went in immediately and they combed the area, but found nothing harmful. The

anti-squad then encouraged the staff to go back to their respective offices”.

The workers later went back to their offices, but were not comfortable. Some of them alleged the man must be a Boko Haram agent.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Hayward Babale Mafuyai, was not around for comments. His information unit denied that the vice-chancellor was the target to dismiss the belief of some workers.

INEC loses bid to stop Tallen’s petition

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HE Governorship Elec tion Tribunal in Jos has dismissed the application by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which sought to stop the petition of Dame Pauline Tallen of the Labour Party(LP) against Jonah David Jang of the Peoples Democatic Party (PDP).

Pauline Tallen had petitioned the tribunal, alleging electoral fraud in the April 26 governorship election in Plateau State.

The tribunal had, at one of the sittings, ordered Tallen to furnish Gov. Jang and the tribunal with further and better information on the petition.

However, the INEC filed an application, asking the tribu-

Yusufu AMINU IDEGU, Jos nal to dismiss the motion based on the alleged noncompliance with the electoral Act 2010.

Stephen Ibyem, the INEC legal officer, in his application, requested for an order of the tribunal to set aside the pre-hearing conference notice and pre-hearing information sheet issued by the tribunal on July 5.

The INEC counsel argued that, “The grounds of his application are premised on the electoral Act 2010 which provides that all motions shall come up at the pre-hearing session, except in extreme circumstances with leave of tribunal or court.

“That the electoral Act 2010 requires the petitioner to make such application by way of a motion on notice.

“That the pre-hearing information sheet issued by the tribunal was not made in compliance with the electoral Act 2010 and that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to order issuance of a pre-hearing conference notice and prehearing information sheet as it did on July 5."

After listening to arguments of the counsel for the plaintiff and defendant, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Joseph Jella, in his ruling said: “The credibility of the argument of the INEC is not in doubt, but as competent as their argument is, it is con-

sumed by the fact that it is premised on technicality” Justice Jella said: “The INEC is embarking on technicality in its argument which the election tribunal frowns on.

The primary duty of the tribunal is to consider each case on its merit and not to capitalize on mistakes of the counsel which is inconsequential in this case.”

The tribunal adjourned hearing till Monday.

Counsel for the INEC, in response to the ruling of the tribunal, said: “The tribunal’s ruling is contrary to my expectation, but it has the final say in this case. I have no alternative than to comply with the ruling, though I m not satisfied

Oyedepo to Jonathan: Declare state of emergency on corruption

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HE Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday told President Goodluck Jonathan and his lieutenants how to stop corruption in the country.

He said the declaration of a state of emergency was the panacea for the vice.

“The President and the National Assembly should declare an emergency in the fight against corruption. An institutional stand of this nature will help to keep them accountable and will help their individual and cooperate resolve to combat the scourge of corruption since corruption monitors made it clear that government institutions and the political organizations are the fountain and bedrock of corruption,” he said Bishop Oyedepo said the federal government must henceforth compel serving and would-be public office holders to declare their assets before taking offices.

Government, according to him, must also give flesh to the Freedom of Information Bill passed by the last National Assembly so the public can have unfettered access to the goings in government circles since democracy is all about people’s participation in governance.

Bishop Oyedepo spoke at the university sixth convocation held at the Winners Chapel auditorium, Ota. His address was tagged: Combating the Dinosaur Syndrome: The Scourge of Corruption, the Greatest Threat to the Survival of the Nigerian Nation.

Other measures include removal of impediments in the nation’s legal system which stall or eliminate impunity in corrupt practices; arrest and prosecution of previous leaders that are found to have looted public treasury while in government, prudent management of resources by governments

Adegunle OLUGBAMILA and publications of their activities periodically for all to see, among others.

Oyedepo, who likened Nigeria to dinosaurs (animals that lived over 1000 years ago but are now extinct), feared that similarly, Nigeria, nay Africa, is fast heading in that direction owing to endemic corruption.

He lamented that while ordinary Nigerians had endured and continued to face hardships in the last 50 years of the nation’s independence, few of her citizens especially government functionaries and political leaders smile to the banks everyday. He said a good number of them who have consistently looted public treasuries now have their names feature in World Bank as some of the highest depositors.

“It is unfortunate that after 50 years of independence, the forlorn hope of the innocent citizens of this country is far from being realized.

The hopes of freedom that brought smiles and celebrations at independence in 1960 have largely been substituted with gloom, pessimism and despondency.

“Wasteful spending and extreme corruption cost us and still costing us a loss of identity and by that the abortion of destiny of a great nation. This experience has clearly marked us out for extinction in terms of our placements or relevance in the comity of nations. We curiously abandoned or shamelessly frittered scarce resources that would have been engaged in developing critical infrastructure, especially power, transportation, roads and housing. Today, the absence of these infrastructures have become an albatross on our development.”

He called on governments at all levels to revisit agriculture, the once mainstay of the Nigerian economy.

Oyedepo attributed the hike in corruption to the greed by Nigerian leaders to money from crude oil, a commodity that was discovered shortly after independence.

“We unfortunately neglected agriculture as a result of the discovery of crude oil and the subsequent boom that followed. I believe one of the reasons why corruption has thrived is because we neglected our true potential and endowments to go after the raw money from raw crude. We neglected our greatest resources in agriculture and turned a great nation into a beggar nation.

We refused to adapt to change and we embraced an

uncommon form of corruption that makes us to eat up ourselves without any concern for fellow citizens, and now we are moving straight to not only destruction but also extinction. God forbid!”

Alluding to the new Minister of Agriculture who recently disclosed that Nigeria spent a whopping N98 trillion on importation in the last three years, Oyedepo said Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State the CU sister university which started in April this year and received her first fruits of over 1000 students, last month, is ready to with the new minister to bring about food revolution in the country.

OUR ERROR Otunba (Dr) FATAI OLAJIDE OLUKOGA was refered to as Otunba (Dr) Fatai Olajide Olakoga in the advert on page 54 of The Nation, Thursday 21st July 2011. This error is regretted.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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8 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Help, the gods are angry!

F

IRST, I must apologise profusely for tthe inability of this column to appear last Saturday. The complaints I received from many readers in form of text messages showed how disappointed they were to find that the column was missing.

Some of them painted an awful picture of the sacrifice they made just to get copies of the paper so they might read the column only to discover that the week’s instalment was missing. Some of the aggrieved readers said they had to defy the heavy rains in their areas to go for the paper only to find that the column they sought was missing.

While I am humbled by this show of support and loyalty, I was particularly touched by messages that expressed concern about my well-being in the face of the flood that rocked Lagos to its foundation penultimate Sunday. No fewer than 10 people were believed to have been swept away by flood, including a brilliant couple, in Gbagada part of the city. Reports said theywere both chartered accountants.

Indeed, the wife was said to have graduated from the university with a first-class degree in Mathematics.

As the story goes, the two of them were indoors when it suddenly occurred to the husband that they had to attend a ceremony later in the day and would need some money for that. Pronto, they left their one-year-old baby with their housemaid and hit the road in their private car in

search of an automated teller machine (ATM) in the neighbourhood. But that turned out to be their last moment on earth.

They were caught in the vortex of the flood as they were returning home, and divers had to be recruited to recover their bodies from different parts of the city.

Of course, there were other equally disheartening tales of the disaster. There were cases of parents who watched helplessly as their beloved children were washed into eternity, those who were killed by live cables from fallen electric poles and those who, like the biblical story of Noah, were swallowed by the merciless flood after the walls on which they sought refuge had crumbled. One can only wish that the souls of the deceased persons would rest in peace, and also pray that God would grant their friends and relations the fortitude to bear the losses.

Now you see why as a Lagos resident I must appreciate the concern expressed by some readers about my well-being when they could not find my piece in the week of tragedy. Borrowing from our indefatigable statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, however, I dey kampe. But that is not to say that all is well , given the dreadful predictions that are still emanating from the Nigerian Institute of Meterology to the effect that Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the country, will witness more floods in the weeks ahead.

This is in addition to other rain-related disasters in parts of the country. In Bauchi, for instance, a whole family was reportedly wiped out by a thunderstorm that also struck a horde of cows dead. In Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, there were reports that it rained ice, and that each of the ice that fell from the sky was almost four times the size of normal ice cubes. Residents had to seek refuge as the boulders of ice broke

‘

How then do we explain the current scenario?

I think the gods are angry; angry that our rich men have been too daring to drive back the Atlantic to a point it can no longer tolerate

’

roofs and destroyed cars. As the nation was smarting from these, a prominent politician in Lagos fell into the lagoon in circumstances that leave everyone confounded.

Many residents of the Lagos elite settlements on Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula are still nursing the hangover of last week’s heavy downpour in the city. In an instance of the rich also crying, many of them have had to temporarily relocate from the Island to the Mainland. And if predictions emerging from weather experts are anything to go by, there is much more danger ahead than we are witnessing now because of climate change. There are reports, for instance, that in countries like Guinea and Gabon, a massive rise in the water level of the Atlantic Ocean could re-

sult in a surge that would overrun the entire coastal settlements from Lagos to Accra, Ghana.

A friend told me that I should leave the rich to solve their problem. “Didn’t they see the ocean when they chose to live beside it?” he queried. But I told him it is he and not the rich men that would suffer when the chips are down. How? In the event that those elite settlements are no more habitable, residents of Mushin, Iyana Ipaja, Abule Egba and other obscure settlements in the city will have to find new homes because their present abodes will be taken over by the fleeing rich men.

It is a matter of cash.

But what can we do to get out of this mess? I remember that when similar floods rocked Lagos in 1988, it coincided with the release of Send Down the Rain, the chartbuster of Nigeria’s reggae maestro, Majekodunmi Fasheke, aka Majek Fashek.

Many promptly accused the music talent of causing the downpour that left many parts of the city flooded. The musician shouted himself hoarse explaining that he asked for rain and not for flood. Perhaps for fear of Majek Fashek’s experience, Nigerian musicians have avoided rain-related lyrics like a plague, leaving us with no one to blame for our current ordeal.

How then do we explain the current scenario? I think the gods are angry; angry that our rich men have been too daring to drive back the Atlantic to a point it can no longer tolerate; that the government is not according the water that falls from heaven the respect due to it by constructing sufficient drainages to channel the excess back into the ocean; and that the existing drainages are being abused by a lot of people who pour their refuse into them instead of the dumpsite.

See reactions to this column on Page 10

When is enough truly enough? Knucklehead

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T is not funny when too many problems and contentious issues demand your attention – all at the same moment. Somehow, a columnist who feels concerned about numerous contending issues sometimes has to deal with the inability to come up with an engaging topic. However, that should not be a big deal in a society where all manner of issues crave attention. Yet, for hours, I just could not think of any catchy headline or any issue worth any critical analysis. Because the polity has become a huge canvas of controversies, the monotony of the discourse, I imagine, is beginning to weigh me down. Perhaps nothing could be more irritatingly perplexing than this tortuous task of playing the role of the bird with the broken beak while those that ought to make a positive change sit on their hands. How can the society change when it continues to pile one unresolved problem on another?

Sometimes, you just cannot help having this gut feeling that we may have surrendered our collective fate to the masochistic fatalists in government. It is shocking that, in spite of the harvest of tragic moments in our national life, elected and appointed leaders who ought to step up to the challenge of nationhood often wring their hands in submission to what fate has dropped on their laps. Why did they step into the kitchen when they could not stand the heat? Where you expect them to display exemplary leadership qualities, what you get are lame duck promises that get soaked in the waters of a fresh crisis. And, gradually, we immerse ourselves in the ocean of dreams and fantasies. Of course, if tough words were all that we need to heal our wounds; this nation would not be bleeding today. But because those words are mere dud promissory notes which are never backed with commensurate action, our nation is soaked in blood, weakened by an endless cry for help.

Come to think of it: how many times have we barked ‘enough is enough’ to those things that threaten our unity without backing such with appropriate action? How many of us truly believe in the oneness of this Lugardian contraption beyond playing to the gallery while, deep inside us, we are nothing but ethnic jingoists and tribal irritants?

Shame! Can anyone remember the last time we collectively agreed to confront the many evils of nationhood as one people without those contaminants of ethnic and feudal slant? Well, that is a topic for another day.

It just occurred to me that the truckload of crises weighing this nation down could be reduced if our leaders can put life into their ‘enough is enough’ canticles. The inability to put action to these words is at the heart of our problem. For instance, if something had been done in the past to rein in the so-called cabal that has taken the oil industry by the jugular, most Nigerians would not be suffering under the yoke of kerosene scarcity today. If simple agree-

ments had been complied with by willing parties, university lecturers would not be threatening to embark on another round of strike that has the potential of shutting down tertiary education and temporarily abridging the hope of many students. If the government had properly evaluated the consequences of an increased wage bill for all civil servants, it would not have signed an agreement that it now wants to implement in the breach. And so, the nation was almost shut down once again until the nationwide strike by organised labour, which remains a major threat to internal security in this season of anomie, was aborted at the dying minute! How can a country this blessed be recycling the same problems?

In all this, the most annoying was the cheap excuse tabled by state governors to justify their inability to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage. Agreed that, in a true federalism, the proper thing is to allow states to negotiate directly with their workers while the Federal Government does same. But, as we all know, that can only happen if the nation agrees to operate the principles of fiscal federalism whereby state governors will not have to do the monthly cap-in-hand trip to Abuja to share from the Federation Account. In fact, it has made some states so lazy that they have refused to fully tap from the potential within. The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of some states can barely take care of the bloated security votes of the executive governors or pay the jumbo wage bill of the leeches glued firmly to the governors’ knickers. They call them political appointees. But because there is a golden well where which everyone rushes to in Abuja, nobody is asking questions.

Nobody, not even the governors who are feeling the heat of our monolithic economy, is talking about diversifying the economy as a way out of the recurrent economic quagmire.

Instead, the agitation for the creation of more states is growing by the day. Interestingly, now that workers are asking to be paid something that, in reality, cannot be said to be close to a living wage, the governors suddenly remembered that crazy thing called fuel subsidy. That argument is, to say the least, tendentious. It is hogwash and cheap blackmail. How come they never think of doing away with fuel subsidy whenever they pad up their jumbo salaries and emoluments or when they appropriate billions of naira as security votes amidst the killing insecurity pervading the land?

It is amazing that state governors could make such a big fool of themselves by portraying themselves as victims of a forced marriage. They said they were not parties to the agreement reached between the Federal Government and organised labour, yet they sat back and never made as much as a whimper when the bill was signed into law! And the Federal Government? Maybe its representatives were under the influence of some psychoactive substances when they negotiated with labour to prune the initial figure of N52, 000 to N18, 000. Or maybe they were not thinking of the aftershocks when they

With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913

bargained for N18, 000 on the altar of political expediency.

Whatever it is, it is too late in the day for any of the parties to chicken out since the bill has become a law. Too bad. Enough of this needless distraction.

And still on the fuel subsidy issue, has it occurred to the government that the benefits hardly get to the poor? The socalled subsidy gets recycled into the pockets of the untouchable cabal within the system. If the government cannot clear the mess, it should, at least, be able to live with its incompetence instead of passing the bulk on a populace that has already been pummelled to a pulp. Why should the masses endure the most inhuman treatment from a monstrous cabal that has continued to feed fat on government?

I believe the time has come for whoever is in charge to take the bull by the horns and save the nation from this cycle of doom. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan already has his hands full with the threat posed to our national security through the activities of the Boko Haram sect. While the various security agencies are battling to restore peace to a society that seems to have been fragmented along religious lines and ethnic affiliations, it would amount to double jeopardy if something urgent is not done to forestall the planned strike by organised labour and university teachers.

I dare say that the Federal Government’s promise that occasioned the suspension of the strike may not be the end of the game. It is a known fact that the FG is an expert when it comes to broken promises. If you doubt me, ask ASUU. The coast is not clear yet. What we have is a temporary reprieve as the grumbling governors have reportedly gone to Aso Rock to ask for more money. The strike will truly be over when the FG fulfils its promises. National strike, no matter how short, poses a serious danger to the President’s transformation agenda. Regardless of what people say about Nigeria’s elastic capacity to absorb shocks, there comes a time when the leader stamps his authority and halts the drift to anarchy.

For Jonathan, the time for assertiveness is now! Will he live up to that role and back his usual tough words with action this time?

You cannot be too certain. I am not too sure either. Neither is the man next to you!

9

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

T

HE issue of phone hacking in Britain has generated such huge global following and interest that one can safely call it the most exciting piece of news so far this year . Yet with five commissioned inquiries set up by the British government of PM David Cameron it is apparent that what we have seen and heard so far is just the tip of the iceberg .What has captivated my interest in the whole affair is the joy , and an unhidden one at that, of many well informed people that at last the ubiquitous nosy and self opinionated journalists of the world are being brought to book and it serves them right . To many people Rupert Murdoch the owner of News Corporation the global news empire represents the dubious power and influence of the media in the world and his trial or his appearance before a parliamentary committee in the UK is a welcome and well overdue development . Such jaundiced viewpoint is what I want to discuss today as well as other events that happened during the week that show that institutional decay in terms of morals , ethics , lack of leadership competence , greed and avarice can lead to the unexpected demise or collapse of any political system - if such destructive tendencies in the social and environmental institutions are not nipped in the bud speedily by the powers that be in the society at large .

Britain’s phone hacking sleaze pits three powerful institutions at each other’s throat . The Parliament takes on the police for colluding with the media the fourth estate of the realm to violate the privacy and human rights of citizens through phone hacking . Yet it is parliament’s duty to make laws ; that of the police to maintain law and order ; and the duty of the free press is to monitor the rich and powerful to ensure that they rule and indeed live according to the rule of law . Which means that all three institutions have failed in Britain which may sound unbelievable but is very true .

This is because even though it is the turn of the police and the media today it was the turn of the politicians before with the last parliamentary expenses fiasco which cut across party lines and which led to the disgrace of many leading parliamentarians and the jailing of at least one for 18 months for misappropriating 18000 pounds . In more than one way , one could attribute - and would be right - the fervor and excitement of many British parliamentarians in the on going phone hacking saga to some vindictiveness and to their uncontrolled glee that the pay back time is here for the press and police who exposed and prosecuted respectively , with unbridled diligence and commitment , the politicians , during the parliamentary expenses scandal .

Yet phone hacking has brought opprobrium on both the press and police globally and not alone in Britain in spite of Rupert Murdoch’s pitiful apology and his defiance to accept full responsibility for the disgraceful hacking antics of The News of the World NoW -which is a subsidiary of News International which is the UK arm of News Corporation , the global news empire of Rupert Murdoch .In Murdoch’s own country Australia where his company News Ltd controls 70% of the

Leaders , institutions and decay

media the PM has asked that a sort of phone hacking due diligence be done on all deals involving Murdoch- connected companies for the last three years .Even a report of a committee which would have cleared a News Ltd outfit is being stalled by government while the Austaralian government has literally vetoed a recent big media sale to another subsidiary .

Of course in the US where the Murdoch owned Fox News subsidiary recently announced on its Twitter arm Fox Digital that President Obama had been assassinated on July 4 this year when he was not , the authorities are investigating whether the phones of 9/11 victims had been hacked by news media in the US owned by Rupert Murdoch . For the information of those in a quandary about the hacking we are talking about, this is the accessing of private voicemail messages on a person’s mobile phone from another phone . Other forms of hacking thrown up on the internet are – ‘blagging’ – where a journalist or private detective poses as someone else to obtain personal information without consent ; and ‘pinging ‘- where police and security services pinpoint a phone by monitoring which signal mast it is using and triangulating its location . Either way what you have is a sickening and dirty intrusion into privacy in civilized society .

This reached a crescendo in Britain when news broke that

A failed coup in Guinea – Conakry shows again the fragility of democratic institutions against the military in ECOWAS states . Although Guinea’s President Alpha Conde escaped being killed when his presidential palace was attacked by soldiers overnight this week there is real danger for Conde and democracy in that nation Milly Dowler a murdered school girl’s voice mail messages had been intercepted by News of the World journalists and British PM David Cameron had appointed as Director of Communications one Andy Coulson who had been NoW Editor from 2003 to 2007 .David Cameron’s judgement in employing Coulson against all odds have been questioned seriously in parliament where he was asked to apologise but the British PM held his own against the opposition in parliament and refused . He even managed to throw some spanner in the works for the opposition Labor Party by twisting suggestions that he was close to Murdoch when he said that at Murdoch’s previous day appearance before a parliamentary committee, the closest person he said he was close to in British successive governments in recent

times was former Labor Chancellor of the Exchequer and PM Gordon Brown .

Aside from Britain murkier news emanated from France and its former colony GuineaConakry this week . Similarly the UN- declared famine in Somalia and the pictures of emaciated living dead humanity in the south of that nation controlled by AL Shabaab the ascendant terrorist group there together with Al Qaeda give further evidence of leadership and institutional failure and decay .

The situation in Somalia should be compared to that in Borno State in Nigeria where the government has rightly ruled that the army should stay on to maintain law and order against the bombing of the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram in the state.

In France a distinct lack of respect for marriage as we know

it or moral and sexual laxity seems to be the order of the day and it has already pervaded the entire leadership of the Socialist Party which experts say would win the French presidential elections if they are held today . Aside from former and disgraced IMF MD Dominique Strauss Kahn – DSK - waiting for rape trial in the US while being investigated in Paris for attempted rape charge by French writer Tristane Baton, another front running Socialist presidential candidate Francois Holland has been accused by Tristane of knowing the antics of DSK in the Socialist Party Headquarters and keeping quiet about it .Worse still Tristane’s mother reportedly said that DSK had sex with her in a Socialist Party office and it was not a pleasant experience .Undoubtedly with the Left so preoccupied with the sexual excesses and pedigree of its leaders President Sarkozy who is so unpopular in France now may retain his office as president in the next presidential elections in France . That would really deprive France of much needed change in terms of leadership competence potential now truncated by moral and sexual laxity on the part of the French Socialist Party leaders .

The UN has declared famine in the southern part of Somalia controlled by Al Shabaab and Al Qaeda and the suffering of the people of the area are there for all to see . US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she has seen children so small like three month babies but whose emaciated mothers say they are six year olds . Aid needed in Somalia is put at about $1.6 bn and about $300m is needed urgently in the next two months , Yet both AL Shabaab and Al Qaeda control these areas and are implacable enemies of the US .The famine is said to be the worst in Somalia in the last 50 years . But USAID Deputy Director Donald Steinberg has said the US is willing to send aid provided such aid agencies involved are not taxed by Al Shabaab or forced to give bribes

to the terrorists controlling the area . Which really makes sense as the US should not be funding its enemies . One can only pray that good sense will prevail in S. S omalia and save the lives of the starving innocent people in that unfortunate nation .

A failed coup in Guinea – Conakry shows again the fragility of democratic institutions against the military in ECOWAS states . Although Guinea’s President Alpha Conde escaped being killed when his presidential palace was attacked by soldiers overnight this week there is real danger for Conde and democracy in that nation . Although some military officers including a former army chief General Nouhou Thiam have been arrested including members of the presidential guard of ex – military ruler General Sekonba Konate who reportedly has condemned the coup , there is no doubt that hard days are ahead for democracy in that nation .

The coup leaders must be tried but can the Conde government carry that out with the support of the military ?. That is the crucial Gordian knot for Guinea’s democracy to crack in the dark days of political uncertainty ahead of this latest violation of the Guinean constitution by the men in boots and braided caps .

Like in Somalia one can also pray for good sense to prevail in the way and manner the Federal government of Nigeria handles the Boko Haram menace . It was nice to hear that the government stood firm in its resolve to keep the army in charge of security in Borno state . That was a wise decision which should be sustained until the Boko Haram challenge to the Nigerian nation is fully and effectively crushed. The government should look over its shoulders and within its fold for secret sympathizers for the group who place religious sentiments above the sovereignty and security of the Nigerian nation .

Nigeria remains a secular nation and it is the duty of the Federal government to ensure that that assurance is not negotiable with not only Boko Haram but with any group that threatens the safety and security of Nigerians within its territory .

10 We pay a lot of dubious levies, but that of PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria) is blue murder, sickening and a poison to our peace. I pay an average of N5,300 monthly (PHCN assumed) for 26 days of chronic days of chronic darkness, that is N63, 600 for 312 days of darkness annually. Isn’t this a recipe for an uprising in this ‘dark’ country?

Ralph, Aba Your write-up on PHCN made me very happy, because I know for sure that by now, the stakeholders are having a second thought on the bill review.

080622107..

From Never Expect Power Always to Power House of Corruption. As far as corruption is concerned in Nigeria, they are next to the Nigeria Police. If the company is abolished today, it won’t be of any consequence to Nigerians.

Adeboye Lawal, Felele, Ibadan.

Now they are asking us to pay more even for service they have not actually provided us. Vincent, do you know that you and I would complain less about our thieving leaders if basic amenities like electricity, potable water and good roads are provided us?

The Arab uprising should have been a wakeup call for them to make us feel more human and relevant. But the vagabonds in power remain insensitive, believing that we are mumus (idiots) and would not consider the Arab option. Perhaps they don’t know that the Ghana option will be worse for them. We may not have the power, but wisdom surely resides with us.

Remi Adesina, Ibadan.

I live in a compound of six flats and every apartment has a generator or two. Our neighbours are always at the receiving end each time the sets run at the same time. This underscores the relevance of the PHCN. There is this younger brother of mine who repairs electronics. He has since abandoned the trade for Okada (commercial motorcycle) business because of “light”. There are many others whose expertise at riding the motorcycle now cannot be matched by any dispatch rider around. No thanks to the inactivity of the PHCN.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Reactions to Saturday Flakes Re: Power Holding Company or Power House of corruption?

Those who have managed to hang on do so at a great prize. Their gen sets are run and maintained at very high costs.

080739141..

Blame not the management of PHCN for increased tariff. All the payments made for bills are not receipted or stamped by the field officials of the company. They collect cash from consumers and enter whatever figure they like in their register. With just two points of light, my sister pays between N5,000 and N6,000 per month, and the payments are not receipted.

Engr. Eddy, Anambra State.

Was it not the PHCN that dug the borehole for Haliburton to succeed? You are too precious. Any power that plans to Boko Haram you will get a thunder equivalent of Boko Haram from the God of the universe. Amen.

Moob.

Whoever heads the ministry of power, the first assignment should be to flush out the never-do-well staff of the PHCN before anything good can come out from the power sector. Tariff increase? Under what condition? Is it the regular power supply consumers are enjoying?

Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

You guys are lucky still. As I write, my generator is at work. I paid my bill, N6, 289 for the month of June yesterday. Of course, it is an estimate. My metre has not read since May, 2010. My shop is a pharmacy. Worse still, you get this bill a day before or the same day they are disconnecting you. The excuse is that they have to meet certain targets given by their head office. I live in Abba. I wish these people are investigated.

Chuka.

Your article on PHCN is good. But you failed to show any proof that the 16 billion dollars was actually given to the staff of PHCN before you recommend their arrest.

080597113..

•Minister of Power,Berth Nnaji How else can we put it? President Jonathan lost his voice during his campaigns promising an improved PHCN if we voted for him. I tell you, it will be his greatest undoing if he fails to impact positively on Nigerians in the area of power supply. We are watching and waiting.

Tony, Silverbird, Jos. Power House of Corruption? Nigerians have given you a pass mark. Ride on, brother.

070366628..

Flakes, thanks for bringing the PHCN issue into focus. The PHCN should be abolished.

There has been no supply of electricity in the whole of Arochukwu Local Government in the past 15 months. The new 30 per cent increase in tariff is illegal because Nigerians cannot see any power supply.

Okoroafor Owoblo, Atani, Arochukwu, Abia State.

I am not the spokesman of the PHCN, but I was made to believe that the review of tariff was done under the auspices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission headed by one Dr. Sam Amadi. The increase, I learnt, is from the MYTO regime, for gradual removal of government subsidy, which commenced in July 2008. The PHCN has no hand in the pricing. So also are other independent producers of electricity.

Your write-up is misleading and smirk of hatred for PHCN. The staff of PHCN, who work with obsolete equipments and earn low salaries are still blamed by you for gulping the billions during the Obasanjo era. Ask Rep. Elumelu where the money went to. All the said calamities, including robbery and prostitution, which the PHCN has caused will be proven by you when we face the Almighty on the day of judgment, because lying is bad.

Try and educate yourself more on the power reform act of 2005, the roadmap for the power sector 2011. Write-ups like yours cause most of the malaise in Nigeria because of misrepresentation of facts. Thank you.

070326378..

I do not know whether Martin Luther King was referring to PHCN when he said “it is still one of the great tragedies of human history that the children of darkness are frequently more determined and zealous than the children of light.” But I think the history of PHCN tells the story of darkness.

Ehimare.

I have just read your write-up on PHCN. To say the least, it is the poorest I have seen in a long time. Are you talking of corruption because of increased tariff? Well, inputs in the generation, transmission and distribution have gone up. Even with the increase, there is still subsidy.

For your information, poor power supply is due to poor investment in the sector. Try some investigation before you rush to the press next time. Ignorant you will only spread more ignorance.

Andy Chamuke, Abuja.

Reactions to Knucklehead Uncle Yomi Odunuga, do you know that there are three Rivers State indigenes in the present Federal Cabinet? Why? Is it because the wife of the President comes from that state?

That is the question they must answer.

—Prince Kehinde (Ibadan), 08050349966 Yomi, governance in Nigeria since the days of ‘baale agbe’ has been greatly commercialized.

Think of the millions of naira sunk into the failed third term project. You can always imagine why Nigeria at all levels is being ruled by a few individuals who should never have smelt power let alone control it. Anyway, they have money to throw around. As for the ‘chop I chop’ ministry, the information minister hinted at the creation of one the other day. Also in the offing is the creation of the ‘Almajiri’ ministry and that of the militants. The president must have a smooth ride in governance and so must appease the powers behind his ascension as Nigeria’s democratically elected president from ‘yonder’. But for their violent disposition to their philosophy of education being a heresy, shouldn’t we all hail the Boko Haram Islamic sect for telling us the simple truth that education is evil? What is the essence of the education acquired by a fragment of the entire population only to be used as an instrument of oppression against the larger population?

—Kemi Adesina (Ibadan), 08023440497 You have succeeded in wasting our time by your one sided article on el-Rufai. Any good student of communication, which I thought you were, should know that you cannot make a good meaning by separating a message from the medium/channel. Please find something more meaningful to write on. Stop the sentiment.

—08034507660 Brother Yomi, your article ‘If it can happen to el-Rufai, then…’ makes an interesting reading as I equally begin to wonder if gold rusts, what becomes of brass? Government is simply intolerant of constructive criticism and allergic to uncomfortable truth (a product of bile duct). Very bitter indeed.

—Dr Taiwo Ademola Taye, 08075757474

Re: If it can happen to el-Rufai, then… are guilty of inciting Nigerian masses to revolt.

For everything, there is a season.

—08082043097 Yomi, thank you and more thanks to el-Rufai for exposing the looters of our treasury. It has now become clear that our money is being siphoned through three sources-namely PHCN, security votes and National Assembly.

In fact, if something is not done to redress or tackle these problems, then the Arab world scenario will visit Nigeria soon.

—Jonah, Jos. 08034640316

•el-Rufai Writing about el-Rufai is a lugubrious attempt to iconise your friend, whose case can be likened to the story of a man that ought to be subjected to the science of delunaticoinquirendo for claiming to be a saint while sinking in the ocean of sin. His days during obasanjocracy speak for itself.

—Ehimare, 08076823815 Hi Yomi, well done for write up ‘If it can happen to el-Rufai, then..’ el-Rufai figures remain authentic until reliably proven otherwise.

—Henry O, Kano, 08054556693 Dear sir, I read your intelligent and thoughtprovoking article on Mallam el-Rufai’s abduction by the SSS. It is painful that rather than for the security agencies to go after those stealing the nation’s resources, they would be arresting anyone that complains about the act.

Those stealing in government are the ones that

Yomi, el-Rufai is like me –bold and confident.

Some interpret it as arrogance. However, he should have been more careful given his new political sympathy and the state of insecurity in the country. The problem of insecurity in the country is embedded in the lack of professionalism in our security operatives. We need professionalism in all aspects of our national life including criticism.

—08028467471 Dear Yomi, it may seem personal, but far from it. Your Saturday piece on el-Rufai was very revealing but somehow hypocritical. If not, honestly and frankly tell us, the avid readers and admirers of your articles, the presidential nay the party you voted for during the last election. Nigerians had the opportunity to vote for Buhari-led CPC that we all knew had the capacity to fight corruption, but chose more out of sentiment than objectivity to vote GEJled PDP! —08084892586 Yomi Odunuga, your write-up on the above was aptly captured. The government is only adding to el-Rufai’s popularity. As long as one does not plan a military coup, there are three reasons why el-Rufai’s arbitrary arrest was rude, crude and unjustified: we are in a democracy; freedom of information is now in place; and el-Rufai’s data was not punctured by the SSS. —Lanre Oseni, Lagos, 08033518726

I think the machinery of governance has completely lost focus in the area of power supply and electricity even amid abundant available resources. Clampdown is a colonial mentality used by the power that to suppress the people. It is nothing but repression.

—Momoh, 08098205206 Yomi, now we can understand why it took them so long to pass the FOI bill. They insult our collective sensibilities and expect us to continue to keep mum. They act as if the laws of the land are only meant for the masses.

They know their actions and pronouncements are inimical to our collective wellbeing yet they go on as if we are no more than pawns in their hands. Yes, if el-Rufai could be so treated, other journalists and public commentators had better beware. But if the animals in George Orwell’s Animal Farm could revolt against their owners, true Nigerians in Nigeria will be ready to do even more.

—Remi Adesina, 08023440497 Yomi ,let’s hope there won’t be more arrest after el-Rufai. Those that voted for Jonathan with the hope that his presidency will make a positive change must have been disappointed by now. Whether Obasanjo or Jonathan, the PDP is one. Its leaders won’t welcome any contrary views except the voices of praisesingers.

—Alh. Adeboye Lawal, Ibadan, 08029877703 Yomi, your article ‘If it can happen to ElRufai, then… ‘ is quite insightful. We need more el-Rufais in this country. The SSS has continued to play roles that are out of sync with their establishment. They have turned into broad-day hunters of vocal people. Well, that should be understood. However, if they want to prove their efficiency, let them go undercover and obtain background information to break the vertebrae of the Boko Haram sect. That is what serious security outfits do. …Chukwunyere, Nsukka, 08038823685

'Never expect power always’

Thriller/19

‘I have a room set apart for shoes’

Social Scene 39

SCREEN / 23

World of mosttravelled Nigerian actress @ 40

11

Saturday

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

SPECIAL 'How we were engaged by businesswoman's son to kill his mother' A

suspect believed to have encouraged a young man to kill his mother and take her money has denied doing so, blaming the murder incident on a witch doctor. Thirty-six-year-old Rauf Anifowoshe had gone into hiding after the murder of a Lagos-based businesswoman, Alhaja Sikirat Idowu, who was attacked by a robbery gang including her own son, Adedeji Idowu, on her way back from the United States of America.

But following his arrest by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, Anifowoshe has said the murder incident should be blamed on a certain witch doctor who told Adedeji that his problems would end only if he got rid of his mother.

Confessing his involvement in the robbery and assassination of the businesswoman, who was returning to the country from the US on December 1, 2010, Anifowoshe said the w i t c h doctor had told Adedeji that the myriad of problems that troubled his life would persist for as long as his mother remained alive. But he said he had no intention to kill the businesswoman.

Rather, he said, he was only interested in robbing the late businesswoman of her money and valuable items, particularly jewellery.

“It was Ologede (a member of the gang) who shot her dead. That was where our own problem began,” Anifowoshe said. ”I ran into hiding when I heard that Adedehi and Ologede had been arrested by SARS, but my life in hiding was another hell.”

Continued on Page 12

12 •Continued from Page 11 The father of four and native of Owu community in Yewa part of Ogun State added: “To tell you the truth, I have been sick since SARS men started looking for me. Now that I am arrested, I feel a little safe and relieved. I was not the one who fired the shot that killed the woman. I don’t kill; I only rob. “I am already used to the police cell because I had spent four good years at Kirikiri Maximum prison in Lagos.

“While I was in hiding, I felt uncomfortable because I feared that SARS men might fire at me whenever they sighted me. But to the glory of God, I was captured alive. I wish to let you know that I was short paid after the operation.

I was paid N35,000 only while I was earlier promised more money.”

Asked how he became an armed robber, he said: “It is a long story.

I was born here in Lagos. I dropped out of secondary school in Form Four due to the death of my father, Mr. Anifowoshe a prolific writer and utility journalist. I later went for apprenticeship automechanic and was issued a certificate of proficiency. But after my freedom, I had no money to open a workshop. Hence, I applied to the Volks Wagen company in Ojo, Lagos, but I could not save enough money to open a workshop after working there for two years.

Therefore, I left and joined the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Ilasa Motor Park where I rose to the position of chairman.

“As the chairman I was not paid any salary. Rather I had a master we delivered money to on weekly basis, and whatever remained after delivery we all shared. I went home with N2,000 or N3,000 every day.

“I will also like you to know that I was a member of the Oodua Peoples Ocngress (OPC) before I joined the NURTW. I was once arrested when the Gani Adams and Fredrick Fasheun factions were fighting. I can’t remember the year now, but I was later charged to court and convicted. I spent four good years at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos before Dr. Fasheun came and released us and I went back to the NURTW. “That was where I met Muminu Olusojo aka Ologede, through whom I knew Adedeji, the son of the late Alhaja who we murdered.

“The plan to kill the woman was carried out in my NURTW office at Ilasa. We planned it twice and was the second attempt that worked. We took off from there on that fateful day, being December 1, 2010 with one Ambali, who is still at large. It was his BMW saloon car that we used.

“It may interest you to know that it was Adedeji who came to my office and told me that he had gone to a witch doctor who told to him that all his problems and failures in life were caused by his mother. He said the native doctor said his mother was using a charm to frustrate all his efforts to become successful, otherwise he would have become a billionaire. He said he would pay us handsomely if we helped him to kill his mother.

“We took off from my office and went near Idowu’s house to lay an ambush as Adedeji and one of us went to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja to welcome his mother and drive her home. The gateman was instructed by Adedeji to lock the pedestrian gate. Therefore, when Adedeji and his mother had

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

'How we were engaged by businesswoman's son to kill his mother'

•Adedeji Idowu

•Maminu Olusoji,

Ebele BONIFACE driven into the compound, he came out and pretended as if he wanted to go out through the pedestrian gate to buy sweet. As he opened door to go out we rushed inside the compound and started operation.

“We ordered the woman to lie down and surrender all the money on her, including her necklace, dollars, black berry handset and whatever we could set our eyes on at that particular time.

“The woman, who had been in the United States of America, did not resist. After the operation, we made to drive off, but I heard a gunshot and looked back; it was Ologede who had shot the woman.

“Immediately we realised that the woman had died, we drove off with our loot and went to Ologede’s house where we shared it.

“We had earlier taken an oath that nobody would betray any member of the gang and vowed to shoot dead any member of the gang who betrayed it.

“Initially I thought that Adedeji

‘

was lying that Alhaja was his mother, because for more than three months, woman was in the USA. I was shocked when I later found that Alhaja Idowu was truly his mother.

“As I was trying to see Adedeji to give me the balance of the money he promised, I heard that the police had arrested him, his wife and Ologede, so I went into hiding. I carried a bag containing two trousers, two T-shirts and two shoes and became a traveller without a particular destination.

“I slept in more than five hotels, drinking and meeting with women

The plan to kill the woman was carried out in my NURTW office at Ilasa. We planned it twice and was the second attempt that worked.

We took off from there on that fateful day, being December 1, 2010 with one Ambali, who is still at large. It was his BMW saloon car that we used

to cool off tension. When my money got finished, I went back to Ilasa Park and continued as the chairman, having realised that SARS men had not come there to look I had not been declared wanted by them.

“When I heard that Adedeji and Ologede had been remanded in prison, I felt more secured and continued my NURTW work.

“But one day, I arrested two robbery suspects and took them to Okota Police Station. We were with the robbery suspects at Ago Police Station when they sent a message to the station that Okota Police Station was looking for me. To my greatest surprise, the team of policemen who came was led by SP Abba Kyari, the OC SARS, and they picked me up and took me to the police headquarters at GRA, Ikeja Contacted for comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Jinadu said he was happy about Rauf’s arrest. He assured that the police would soon track down the remaining members of the gang who were still at large.

’

13

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Police arrest three suspects one month after they allegedly lured okada rider into the bush and killed him for rituals ‘

T

The suspects later confessed to luring out my son a few minutes before his usual closing time, to help them carry an antelope they claimed to have killed before they hit him in the head with a club several times.

They also said his body parts had been removed for ritual purposes.

They were led by detectives to the forest where they had kept his remains covered with the shirt he wore on the day of the incident

‘

WO men in Oru-Ijebu community, Ogun State have been arrested for allegedly killing a commercial motorcycle operator for ritual purposes. Semiu Adekoya (25) was allegedly lured into the bush by Kehinde Lamidi alias Igo and Kazeem Sikiru alias Inanjo on June 7, 2011 on the pretext that they had killed a big antelope and would want him to help them convey it home.

Unknown to Adekoya, Lamidi and his accomplices had laid an ambush for him. As soon as he alighted from his motorbike, the suspects hit him in the head with clubs and killed him. When Adekoya, who also owns a building materials shop at Olopomerin Bus-Stop in the community, did not return home in the evening, his wife suspected that something was amiss. She alerted her father-in-law on the phone. The family then launched a search for the deceased Okada (motorcycle) rider but he was nowhere to be found. The family then reported the matter at the AgoIwoye Police Station.

Luck, however, ran out on the suspects when eagle-eyed policemen found Adekoya’s motorcycle with one of the suspects on July 6, 2011, with many of its features already altered.

Findings revealed that Sikiru was riding on Adekoya‘s motorbike when he gave a female police officer in mufti a ride. On sighting some policemen at a checkpoint, he was said to have panicked and then told himself that he would brush through them. His comment was overheard by the police officer who rode with him and her suspicion was aroused. On getting to the checkpoint, the police officer signaled to her colleagues to arrest Sikiru.

Following Sikiru’s arrest, the policemen asked him to prove his ownership of the motorbike whose original number plate had by been replaced with a customised one on which Omo Ode was boldly written.

When word got to the father of the deceased, Mr. Kuye Adekoya about Sikiru’s arrest, he rushed down to the police station to see if the motorbike in question was his late son’s.

On getting to the station, the deceased’s father found the photocopies of the motorcycle’s particulars under its seat. The policemen then asked him to get the original particulars of the motorcycle for further verification. This prompted the 52 –year-old father of the deceased, accompanied by a detective, to rush to Orisun Microfinance Bank where his late son got the motorbike on installment and they were shown the original copies of the motorcycle’s particulars.

Upon interrogation, the sus-

•Late Adekoya

Kunle AKINRINADE pect opened up, telling the police how he and his accomplices lured Adekoya into a forest near Odo-Areru, Oru-Isale, Oru –Ijebu, Ogun State before killing him and removing parts of his body for ritual purposes.

A highly placed police source said that when the suspects were led to the forest where they carried out the crime, the remains of the deceased Okada rider were found on a wooden platform with virtually all the important organs in his body removed.

“We were moved to tears when we saw his remains with all his body parts removed. We could have doubted their (suspects) confession, but we saw a shirt

placed on Semiu’s remains and his wife identified it to be the one her husband wore the day he disappeared.

Speaking with our correspondent, the distraught father of the deceased said: “I am still in shock as I speak. Semiu is my third child and he was very enterprising. He owned a shop where he was selling building materials. At a stage, he decided to purchase a motorcycle from Orisun Microfinance Bank through a hire purchase arrangement. At the time he was killed by the heartless suspects, he had only N6, 000 left to pay up.

“After he started Okada business, he asked his wife to stay at his shop while he went out on Okada, but he usually returned

at 5 pm every day. On June 7, when he failed to come home, his wife told me on the telephone about the development.

But I asked her to exercise patience, hoping that he might show up later in the day.”

Speaking further, he said: “The following day, we organised a search party for him but our efforts did not yield fruits. We then reported the matter at Ago Iwoye Police Station on June 10, where we were assured of necessary action on the matter. On July 6, I was informed by chieftains of the Okada rider association at the park where my late son belonged that policemen had intercepted a motorbike with a strange number plate. I quickly rushed to Ago Iwoye Police Station.

“While trying to identify the motorbike, I stumbled on photocopies of its particulars, which unknown to his assailants, my son had tucked under the seat of the motorbike. I then alerted policemen about my discovery and I was asked to get the original copies of the particulars.

Therefore, I visited the microfinance bank that bought the motorbike for my son on installment and I was able to get the original copies which tallied with the photocopies.

“The suspects later confessed to luring out my son a few minutes before his usual closing time, to help them carry an antelope they claimed to have killed before they hit him in the head with a club several times.

They also said his body parts had been removed for ritual purposes. They were led by detectives to the forest where they had kept his remains covered with the shirt he wore on the day of the incident.

“Now, what we hear is that some powerful individuals have been trying to secure bail for the suspects despite the fact that they have committed murder.”

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi said the matter was being investigated, adding that the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and had been charged to court.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

15

Emir of Kano in dilemma as court reinstates deposed district head ‘

Following the outcome of the judgement, the Emirate Council is at a crossroads on what to do. Already, someone else is occupying the stool as the District Head of Gabasawa and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta

‘

•Front entrance gate to emir’s palace

Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano

•Ado Bayero

T

HE ancient city of Kano witnessed a significant judgement on Thursday, July 14 when Justice Muhammad Sadi Mato of Miller Road High Court gave its verdict in the case between the Emirate Council and Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, who was stripped off of his title as Sarkin Dawaki Maituta.

Dan Agundi was until December 2003 the District Head of Gabasawa and also one of the four principal kingmakers in Kano traditional dynasty. The other three kingmakers are Madaki, Makama, and Sarkin Bai. All these are holding hereditary titles of their respective stools as kingmakers.

Trouble started in the heat of the

2003 general election when some people from Gabasawa wrote a series of petitions against the District Head, accusing him of participating in partisan politics in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Before this accusation, it was gathered that the Sarkin Dawaki Maituta had been involved in a battle of supremacy with other kingmakers within the Emirate Council, a development that made him to lose the goodwill of the Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

In what many critics described as a grand plan to teach the fair-complexioned Kano chief a lesson, he was hurriedly summoned by the Emirate Council and deposed as a District Head while his revered title was taken away from him. Following this development, the embattled District Head resorted to taking a legal action. On February 23, 2004, Dan Agundi approached a Kano High Court presided over

by Justice Saka Yusuf for redress.

He prayed the court to declare that the title of Sarkin Dawaki Maituta is hereditary and must remain in the ruling House of Jamo of which he is a member. He also wanted the court to clarify the issue as to whether traditional rulers in the state are public servants. He prayed the court to reinstate him as the District Head of Gabasawa and the Sarkin Dawaki Maituta since his removal was done without due process. He said he was not summoned by the Emirate Council before its decision to remove him from the Emirate, as they merely acted on petitions written against him.

The case dragged for about seven years, but Dan Agundi did not give up. His boldness to challenge the decision of the Emir in a court of law was seen by conservatives elements in the Emirate as outrageous and embarrassing to the Emir. Indeed, a group of indigenous lawyers sympathetic to the Emir showed con-

cern, with about 50 of them offering to defend the position of the monarch and the Emirate Council in court.

Dan Agundi, determined to get justice, employed the services of a respected lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. While the case dragged in court, Dan Agundi was sometime in 2006 faced another victimization, as he was implicated in the murder of the wife of the first civilian governor of Kano State, the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Sada’atu, who was gruesomely murdered at their family home in Durbin Katsina, in the Kano metropolis. After months of incarceration, he regained his freedom through the court, after it was established that he had no hand in the killing of the wife of the late Kano politician.

Delivering judgement, Justice Sala Mato held that although a 1974 White Paper issued by the Kano State Government had pronounced that the title of Sarkin Dawaki Maituta remained the exclusive right of the Jamo Ruling House, there was no legislature backing the White Paper. Hence, the Emir of Kano had the discretion to confer the title to anyone, either from the Jamo Ruling House or outside it.

During the judgement, the court also declared traditional rulers in the state as public servants since they derive their authority from local government laws.

But the hallmark of the judgement was the one that Dan Agundi was erroneously removed from office by the Emirate Council since he was neither given the time to defend the petitions written against him nor written officially in form of a query to defend himself. On this count, the court ordered the Emir, the Emirate Council and their agents to henceforth recognise Dan Agundi as the District Head of Gabasawa as well as the Sarkin Dawaki Maituta.

Both the Emirate Council and the Kano State Government were also ordered by the court to pay all the

salaries Dan Agundi was entitled to from December 2003 to July 2011 in his capacity as the District Head of Gabasawa and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta, declaring his removal from office as null and void.

This, indeed, was a sweet victory for Dan Agundi whose supporters and well-wishers commenced colourful celebration right from the court premises. The judgement also elicited mixed feelings in Kano as people reacted to the judgement in various ways. While some saw the judgement as signalling a new era where “autocratic” decisions from the traditional institution would be curtailed, others see it as a monumental defeat of the larger-than-life image of the Emir.

Be it as it may, the victor, Dan Agundi, believes he got a well-deserved judgement. Speaking with journalists at the court premises shortly after the judgment, he maintained that the judgement was significant and, indeed, a triumph of justice over oppression and injustice. “I am grateful to the almighty Allah for the victory. I believe in God and God has done His work. I have nothing else to say other than to thank God. The ruling of the court is an indication that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man,” he said.

Following the outcome of the judgement, the Emirate Council is at a crossroads on what to do. Already, someone else is occupying the stool as the District Head of Gabasawa and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta. The Nation learnt that the Emirate Council has been holding a series of crucial meetings to decide the best way to resolve the crisis. It is, however, not too clear whether the Emir would be willing to appeal the judgment as his lawyer, Dr. Mamman Lawal Yusufari, could not give a definite answer to whether an appeal was being considered. He insisted that only the Emir could decide the next line of action.

But Dan Agundi says he is convinced that the case will be decided in his favour at any court of higher authority, since the judgement has been adjudged “thorough and meticulous.”

16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Eyewitness recalls last moments of demised Lagos politician:

I saw Abaniwonda fall backwards into the lagoon

Within the week, the news media were awash with the story of the late Mr. Al-Mustain Alade Abaniwonda, a politician and management consultant, who fell into the Lagos lagoon on Monday. His body was recovered in the early hours of Wednesday and he was buried later in the day. In this report, JOKE KUJENYA captures the memories that friends and family members have of the soft-spoken man, his values and high moral sense.

•Abaniwonda

A

S he joined in the celebration of his wife’s 55th birthday on Sunday, July 17, little did 56-year-old Mr. Mustain Alade Abaniwonda know that the day would be his last on earth.

The following day, he had to keep an early morning business appointment at Apapa. On his way back to his Victoria Garden City (VGC) residence in the afternoon, he told his driver, Wasiu, to parkthe car for him to ease himself.

By then, they had got to Leventis Bus Stop in Marina area of Lagos.

Wasiu pulled over and Abaniwonda alighted to answer the call of nature. He asked the peope he found in the area where he could ease himself, and some of the people, according to Wasiu, pointed to the public toilet beside the Marine Police post. Alade, as the late politician was fondly called by families and friends, headed towards the public toilet as he fumbled with the zip of his trousers.

A trader in the area, who recalled the moments before the tragic death of the ministerial nominee and senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos East Senatorial District in last April elections, told our correspondent who visited the scene of the incident on Thursday: “I saw all that happened. I was there on that day.

I am usually here selling my stuff to everybody. When the man came, we helped to look for Alfa, the man with the key to the zinc toilets, but we could not find him. So, the man (Abaniwonda) went down to this long side; then he came back this way and tried to stand beside the zinc toilets. But as we tried to alert him that the place was a bad spot, he fell into the river (lagoon).

“He fell backwards and went down with his back. I saw everything,” said the woman who placed laying her palm on her chest as she spoke firmly.

She continued: “People started running everywhere, shouting eni kan ti subu sinu omi, eni kan ti subu sinu omi... (someone has fallen into the lagoon).”

All the while, Wasiu sat in the black car in which he drove his boss

to Apapa, awaiting his return from the toilet. Then, someone knocked on his car window and told him that the man he brought to the place had fallen into the lagoon.

Wasiu said: “I quickly ran out of the car towards the place my boss had gone to urinate. On getting to the side of the lagoon, I saw my boss immersed in the water up to his waist line. He looked very frightened as he flapped the water for safety, urging me to get him help as fast as possible.

“Quickly, I jumped across the pile of broken canoes by the spot where he had fallen. I got to the side of the Marine Police and told the first man in uniform I met that my boss had fallen into the lagoon. The first thing the man said was ‘why did you jump across the boats?’ I told him I was sorry; that it was the emergency situation that made me to do so.

“Then they started harassing me, because two other men in mufti had joined him. They said it was an offence to jump across boats.”

Quickly, the driver jumped across a pile of ruined canoes to the office of the Marine officers to alert them that his boss had fallen into the shallow side of the lagoon on the other side. But, according to him, instead of answering him, they started harassing him for jumping across the canoes.

“I kept begging them. I quickly left the men and started running helterskelter, looking for help, because by then, my boss had been lowered to the shoulders and I saw the water pulling him. My boss was shedding tears and I kept begging some men and people were so reluctant until I turned back again and did not see my boss’s head again.

“At that time, I shouted, threw myself to the ground and wept bitterly.

I got up again and continued to beg people that they could still help us. It was then that someone told me that no one would want to help where the marine officers are stationed. That was when I called his son-in-law, Yomi. He came and the search continued until we found his body.”

The VGC home of the late Abaniwonda was a Mecca of some sorts when The Nation got there on Tuesday. It was a two-partitioned liv-

ing room. Each set of the sofa was a statement in beauty. Men and women who had come to express sympathy with the Abaniwondas over the incident filled every space in the cosy living room.

Sitting among them with her head bowed and eyes buried in her Quran was the wife, Mrs. Kuburat Abiodun Abaniwonda. She sighed several times within minutes as she encouraged everyone to accept what had happened to her husband as the will of God. All of a sudden she asked: “E joo, se won ti release Wasiu fun mi (has Wasiu been released from custody)?

She said: “I had to order that the driver should be quickly released when I learnt that he had been locked up. There is no foul play in the unfortunate incident that happened to my husband. I believe he could have been rescued if the Marine Officers had responded to the cry immediately it happened.

“But like I said, it is the way God wanted things to go. If not, it wouldn’t have happened. I am telling you however that, contrary to what a newspaper has written, my husband did not jump into the water; he was not in any foul mood. He was not such a man. He owed and fought with no one. He did not borrow any money to run his campaigns, because he did not overdo

Ministerial nominee and Lagos East senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Al-Mustain Alade Abaniwonda, who fell into the Lagoon on Monday in strange circumstances granted The Nation an interview that was not published before he died on Monday. The following is an excerpt of the interview conducted by KUNLE AKINRINADE.

I

NOTICED when I came in that your phone rang several times but you did not pick the calls. Is this what we should expect when you get to the Senate?

Let me tell you this: all the calls that I have missed today, I am going to return them before sunset. I don’t run from anybody. Even if I owe you, I will tell you to your face that my cash flow does not allow me to pay you, and that whenever I am able to get some money, I

anything during the period.

“As for the result of the elections, he took everything in good faith because he was never desperate about it. You can go ask his team of friends.”

Mrs Abaniwonda, during the period, continued to calm guests, smiling and telling everyone that a good Muslim must accept God’s verdict, no matter the circumstance.

A medical doctor, who also was one of the late Alade’s friends, told The Nation at the grave side: “I think Alade must have been dazed by the site of the water. When a person has phobia for water, like the lagoon, ocean or even mere swimming pools, it is better such a person keeps away from such sites. There is an explanation for it in Medicine, but this is not the time and the place for such.

There is, however, 100 per cent possibility that Alade felt dizzy on sighting that size of the water and he fainted and slipped as we have all witnessed.”

Sitting in the room was the deceased’s daughter, Ms. Omoyosola Alade Abaniwonda, 27.

Her eyes were swollen. While speaking on behalf of siblings said: “My daddy had an incurable phobia for water. He usually got petrified and never went near water. He even used to scold us when he learnt that we went to the beach to swim. And rather than take us to the beach, he would spend thousands of dollars to buy things to distract us from the waters. My dad was a family man to the core. He took care of our interests, including our education. He was the one that particularly saw to the wedding of my younger sister, Omorinsola, last month. I really

can’t explain you to you how much his absence would affect our lives.

Words cannot truly describe the kind of father he was.”

Mr. Wale Edun, former Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State, spoke on the person of the late Abaniwonda, He said: “That was a true gentleman. What befell him saddened, shocked and mystified us. He was a staunch member of our circle of like-minded friends. We sit to discuss issues of national importance, politics and the likes with focus on how we could contribute our respective quota. So, to hear that he is suddenly no more leaves us with more questions to ask than solutions to proffer.”

Also, former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, said: “Alade was a fine gentleman.

We met way back in the university days. With him, you will not be left in wonder that you have found a committed and passionate Lagosian. He was someone who believed that life was about moral value. And to the best of my knowledge, he did his best to live up to those values. And to the best of my knowledge, he was so particular about his family, but he never exceeded himself in anything he did.”

The late Abaniwonda, an indigene of Epe, was the Founder and Managing Partner of the Alade Abaniwonda & Partners, a management consulting firm and an investment company. His daughter, Yosola, added: “We had lots of business deals on our plate. I work with him. I was like his associate. When we get any business, he makes me work with other members of his team. His business was doing well.”

Late PDP chieftain,

May God touch

•Abaniwonda

will factor it in and pay you. I don’t have any problem with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), State Security Service (SSS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or INTERPOL. Therefore, I will not change my telephone numbers at all. I have got no foes at all.

And those who imagine that I am their foe, God almighty shall work on their hearts.

What has been your commitment to the well being of the people in your community?

I am a community leader. If you permit me to speak in Yoruba, “enu ofo kin dun yanmu yanmu” (an empty mouth makes no sound). I live in this district and we are currently building a N140 million mosque, of which I am one of the strongest

17

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

T

HE family of a 31-year-old school proprietor, Anthony Chohwora, a native of Ugwueli, Delta State are lamenting the abduction of their son, Anthony Chohwora by some gunmen since June 20,2011. Trouble began for Chohwora, the owner of Ultimate Scholar Tutorial Centre located on Ebute Road, Ibafo, Ogun State, when he could not register some candidates for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination a few weeks ago.

Chohwora was said to have been involved in an Okada (commercial motorcycle) accident while trying to register the candidates in his school for the examination and was admitted in a private hospital where he remained with fractured leg for many weeks.

The distraught wife of the school proprietor, Omolaja, explained how it all happened. She said: “My husband was supposed to register some of his students for the exam. Unfortunately, he had an okada accident while returning from where he had gone to do the registration. He was subsequently admitted in a hospital with a broken leg for many weeks. Hence, he could not complete registration for eight candidates.

“He, however, gave the job to one of his colleagues to help him complete the registration, but the man failed him. Because of this, the affected candidates stormed our residence on June 9, 2011 with some policemen from Ibafo Police Station. I was arrested and detained for nine days alongside my husband.”

She alleged that while at the police station, the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case named Etang went to their residence and packed their belongings without any warrant.

She said: “While we were being detained at the station, Etang went to pack our belongings from our residence without any warrant. He even took the sum of N250, 000 from my drawer among many other things. When I saw him at the station, he was wearing my husband’s necklace. I challenged him and he threatened to deal with

Police investigate officer accused of stealing detainee’s necklace Kunle AKINRINADE me when we took the matter to the Sagamu Area Command where the Area Commander reprimanded him for his actions.

“My husband was released on bail on June 19,2011. The following day, armed men numbering about 10 stormed our residence on El-Shadai Crescent, Ebute Road, Ibafo, at about 6 am, seized my children and demanded to know my husband’s whereabouts. On sighting him, they beat him seriously and tied his hands backwards and blindfolded him before they led him away to an unknown destination. ”They even tried to abduct me and my children but I bit their hand and they left me.”

She said while the armed men were dealing with her husband, she ran down to the police station to report the matter but she was not given any attention.

“While the gunmen who abducted my husband were beating him, I rushed down to the station to alert the policemen on duty, but I was not given any attention. Instead, I was told to go and solve the problem by myself.”

Chohworah wife said since he was abducted, his abductors had inundated her phones with calls, asking that the sum of N10 million be deposited at a spot beside Ibafo Police Station, thus fuelling the suspicion that the Etang was behind her husband’s plight.

She said: “My husband’s abductors have been calling me with a hidden number, asking for N10 million ransom. They asked me to deposit the money at a spot near Ibafo Police Station, adding that once I did that, I could go and pick my husband at the station.

“They said they had been feeding him

with the money they found on him and that I might lose him if I did not provide the money in time.

“Even a 12-year-old boy who volunteered information on the whereabouts of my husband to police was arrested and detained at the station for 10 days. I told them that only my husband’s freedom could guarantee the payment of such a huge amount, but they would not yield ground at all.

“I am now taking refuge in a family member’s residence with my two children because my life is not safe at our Ibafo residence. The N250, 000 taken by IPO Etang was meant for a business transaction, and it has affected my business in no small way.”

She appealed to the police authorities and other security agencies to help secure her husband’s release. She also called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter.

A member of th family, Chief Kayode Elabanjo, explained that all the efforts the family had made to draw the attention of the police authorities to the matter had not yielded fruits.

He said: “We have written several petitions to the Inspector General of Police(IGP),Zone 2 Police Command and even the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State who dismissed our petition as rubbish and unfounded. He said we were only trying to indict a police officer who was only carrying out his lawful duties.

“We were surprised at his comments because IPO Etang has not denied carting away the personal belongings of Anthony and his complicity in his disappearance.

“The request by the heartless abductors for a ransom of N10 million to be specifically dropped at a narrow path between

Al-Mustain Abaniwonda’s unpublished interview

Ibafo Police Station and a branch of a new generation bank also calls for suspicion.

“The Divisional Police Officer of Ibafo Police Station, Mr. Gbenga Megbope, who initially berated IPO Etang has suddenly turned against us, blaming us for trying to smear his image and that of his men. Where is justice in Nigeria?

“But for the intervention of the family counsel, Barrister Emmanuel Ofogu, who sent a petition to the Sagamu Police Area Command on June 11, 2011, Anthony would not have been released by police. It got to a point that Ofogu had to report the matter to the Sagamu Area Commander who ordered his release.

“Etang never knew who I was when he was threatening to deal with Anthony’s wife at the Sagamu Police Area Command for reporting him to the Area Commander.

He threatened to deal with the woman and her husband beyond their imagination. But I never thought he would carry out such act of kidnapping because Anthony’s abductors have been boasting on the phone that their sponsors are policemen from Ibafo Police Station.”

Speaking on the matter on the telephone, the spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the matter had been transferred to the Sagamu Area Command, adding that appropriate investigation would be conducted to confirm the veracity of IPO Etang’s complicity in the matter.

“The case has been transferred to Sagamu Police Area Command for proper investigation. Concerning the complicity of IPO Etang, since the family of the man has written a petition to the Ogun CP, don’t let us pre-empt the outcome of the investigation because the allegations against the policeman a r e weighty,” Adejobi said.

the hearts of my enemies supporters of the project in terms of finance. I am also the President of the Islamic Association in my community. I have contributed in no small measure to the development of communities in Lagos East.

I have a file in my office, which contains teller for payment into the accounts of so many people. If you come to me for N100, you may not get N100, but you will leave my office smiling. That is me.

Precisely, how many lives have you been able to touch?

This is no pride. When I used to be a top banker, I turned many people into millionaires, and some of them are still alive. Once I noticed that the proposal was good, I would assign my subordinates to take care of the proposal and ensured that we financed the project for which the loan was sought.

Can you share with me your background in politics?

I ran for the same (senatorial) position in 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), but party leaders asked me to step down for another candidate. So, this is not my first time of vying for a seat in the Senate. But I have been in politics since 1979. I was once the Ward Secretary for the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), when I was living

,

at the LSDPC Estate in Isolo. It is only those who don’t know my antecedents in politics that are spreading the rumour that I am a neophyte and that I am not a Lagosian. But I am a full-blooded native of Epe, Lagos State. My mother is from the Agidi family while my father is from the Edu Compound in Epe. What will be your focus if elected as a Senator?

The waters of Epe are deep enough to accommodate vessels of all shades. If elected, I want to push for the establishment of a sea port to decongest Tin Can and Apapa ports and create business opportunities for the people in that area. And it is not only in Epe but some other places in Lagos where the Lagoon stretches to. I will ensure that the waters are dredged for vessels to navigate so that we can have an alternative sea port in Lagos State and to redirect the ships there. That will no doubt have a multiplying effect on the lives of individuals and the economy of the state. I know the kind of economic benefits that could be derived from such a project, because when I was a boy, I visited the river on many occasions to play.

Apart from this, the Ikorodu Industrial Estate established by the Federal

It is only those who don’t know my antecedents in politics that are spreading the rumour that I am a neophyte and that I am not a Lagosian. But I am a full-blooded native of Epe, Lagos State. My mother is from the Agidi family while my father is from the Edu Compound in Epe

Government is lying in waste at the moment and no one is challenging the Federal Government for abandoning the estate. And there are so many of such infrastructures in Lagos State in a shambles. More importantly, I will commit the Federal Government to tackle flooding in my Senatorial District . So, I would see to the rejuvenation of serious concern for Lagos by the central authorities, because Lagos State deserves a special place in terms of development by the government at the centre.

Talking about flooding, which you just mentioned, how do you intend to make the Federal Government to intervene?

I want to see to the abatement to incessant flooding in the Ikorodu axis by using my influence as a PDP legislator to draw the attention of the authorities for expedient action on the problem, because a lot of people are usually cut off from the rest of the state whenever there is flood in the area.

What is your agenda for youth development?

I am convinced that the youths deserve special attention in the governance of the society. That is why one of my cardinal agenda is to focus on youth development and the establishment of skill acquisition centres across the various components of my senatorial district. Many of our ablebodied young men idle away on the streets without a means of livelihood, not because they don’t want to work but because there are no jobs out there for them. We have abundant natural and human resources in Nigeria enough to better our lives as citizens. What we need in this country are men who have the courage and tenacity of purpose to do the right thing for coming generations.

,

•Chohwora

,

18

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

19

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Saturday

THRILLER

'Never expect power always' At the mercy of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria

th

“This is our 10 month of blackout yet PHCN charged me N4, 200 for electricity I did not use last month.” Gladys Kayode, a peasant farmer

20

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

B

EYOND the last gatepost where lights shined, a thick fog enveloped the township in a bear hug; accentuating the darkness and blotting out numerous houses from the landscape. “This is the stable electricity which was promised,” said Ahmed Adisa, a welder. Then he lowered his goggles to scoff at the darkness.

Within and about his workshop, sleeves of darkness spread like a blanket to dampen his hope of completing the clothes rail he had been working at for three weeks. “It shouldn’t take more than four days to complete a clothes rail but I have been at it for three weeks now and that is because we do not enjoy stable electricity supply in Tetiku. I have been arrested twice by two different customers due to my inability to meet deadlines. I have lost more customers than I could count…these days I have to augment my income by working as Okada man (i.e. commercial motorcyclist). Yet those funny characters (PHCN staff) bring me outrageous bills at the end of the month,” said Adisa.

Consequently, the resident of Tetiku, Ogun State has learnt to redesign his work schedule; he works as “okada man” during the day and steals away from his wife’s embrace to his workshop the few nights the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) deems them worthy of power supply in Tetiku.

It’s not the absence of light that worries Adisa, “I have come to accept that we shall never enjoy power supply,” he said; “it’s the outrageous bills those PHCN boys bring at the end of every month that annoys me,” he said.

According to Adisa, he was issued a bill of N7, 200 in two months for electricity he “never consumed.” He said: Whenever they bring such bills, I ignore it like most people do in my area. Then I wait for them to come and disconnect my house from the grid.

When they come around, I give them N1, 000 or N500 depending on my purse. If they had disconnected my house, they reconnect me…sometimes they don’t even ask for reconnection fee, they simply ask me to buy them beer as part of their tip.”

Miles from Adisa’s Ogun State community, “PHCN staff go on rampage according to their whim,” disclosed Bisi Okegbenro. The Adeaga Street, U-Turn based grocer and ice retailer lamented the indiscriminate fashion in which PHCN staff comes to their neighbourhood to “terrorise” them.

“When we discovered their knack for charging us arbitrarily, we decided to apply for the pre-paid meter. But our efforts amounted to naught as PHCN staff made it very impossible for us to secure it.

Consequently, we are forced to settle for the old billing regime by which they have learnt to terrorise us. They bill us too exorbitantly and when we refuse to pay in protest, they come with ladders and hoodlums to disconnect us,” said Okegbenro.

Okegbenro may not be too far from the truth as The Nation findings revealed the brazen manner in which PHCN staff disconnect helpless citizens from the grid except the few ones who could part with a token of a meal, money and chilled bottles of beer. Investigations at Adeaga Street and environs revealed the modus operandi (MO) of PHCN staff. They are usually dropped off in groups of threes and fours by the company’s truck, at unfortunate streets.

Armed with bills of defaulting houses, a very long ladder and electrical tools, they visit defaulters haphazardly to cut them off from PHCN power supply.

Oftentimes, they employ the use of subtle or blatant threats to extort “reconnection fee” and “tips” from residents. In the cases of defaulters that are yet to be disconnected, they simply place their ladders against the nearest electric pole to their houses and assume a pose to disconnect them from the grid. Promptly, landlords and tenants contribute money to stop them in the act and get them off their property.

In the case of the PHCN staff that visited Adeaga Street in U-Turn, Abule Egba, they exhibited no inhibitions sharing the bribe extorted from residents even in the presence of such residents. “They are very shameless people. No sooner than they collect money from us, they begin to share it amongst themselves,” said Idris Olaotan who claimed that he had to part with N500 before his house was reconnected.

In Ifo, Olaide Iluyomade, a teacher, was forced to pay N2, 000 to PHCN staff to prevent them from cutting off her electricity supply.

According to Iluyomade, the PHCN staff had issued her a bill of N7, 900 as electricity bill for a month. “There is a pattern to the billing system and it’s very fraudulent. There was a particular month at the end of which they

•Many factories and homes currently depend on stand-by generators for their electricity needs

Never expect charged me N6, 000 even though they cut off power supply in our area, throughout the month. Yet they came to effect mass disconnection in the area because we refused to pay the outrageous bills they issued us.

We could not protest because they brought hoodlums with them…I wonder where they (PHCN) get their thugs,” said Iluyomade.

Unlike Iluyomade and co, Margaret Agbo, an Ikeja, Lagos based clothier suffers no tough luck. Agbo uses the prepaid metre and according to her she spends N2, 000 on electricity bills for four months “on the average.”

Likewise, a senior editor with a Lagos based newspaper revealed that since he acquired the pre-paid meter, he had been enjoying a relatively fair billing system. According to him, despite the load consumed by his household appliances, he pays a maximum of N1, 000 as electricity bill for two months.

That has to be convenient. It is. However, only a paltry few could boast of access to such cost-effective service. Despite the promises and hype generated by the government and PHCN at inception of the pre-paid meter initiative, the scheme currently excludes too many electricity consumers from its much touted benefits.

workload on PHCN officials.

The technology involves switching from the analogue billing system to the prepaid meter billing technology at relative costs. But this is where the problem starts. The prepaid meter attracts a cost of about N40, 000, made up of about N25, 000 for a single phase meter and a processing fee of about N15, 000. A three-phase meter goes for as much as N50, 000, apart from a N15, 000 processing fee.

However, a contradictory billing system allegedly run by PHCN staff attracts a cost of N50, 000 on immediate payment for a twophase meter while payment by installment attracted N56, 000. On the other hand, a single-phase meter was obtainable from PHCN at N18, 000 while consumers who paid by installment were made to pay an initial N22, 000.

The tariff structure under the scheme attracts N6 per unit (Kwh) of electricity and N4 on three and one phase meters respectively. The monthly maintenance fee of a two-phase meter is N500 and N220 as fixed charge while that of a single-phase meter is N100 and N30 respectively.

And to make it easier on electricity consumers, the system facilitates a payment plan allowing them spread the cost over a period of between 24 and 36 months; however, despite the noble intentions of the billing system, incessant complaints by electricity consumers about the payment regime reveals grievous inadequacies about the PHCN initiative.

Prepaid meter at a glance The prepaid meter billing system introduced recently by the PHCN was expected to eliminate the controversies characteristic of the credit meter billing system it initially operated. The system, which involves payment for electricity in advance via the purchase of power units in a variety of designated locations including PHCN offices, commercial banks and the Internet, was meant to minimise the

PHCN: A public utility like no other Gladys Kayode, a farmer and resident of Oke-Aro in Ogun State alleged that the PHCN should have just retained its old name: National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) which she scornfully translated to mean: “Never Expect Power Always.”

According to her, gross corruption afflicts the public utility. For instance, PHCN staff

Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor

frequently connives with certain community members and executives and Community Development Associations (CDAs) to defraud the community, she alleged.

“We suffered similar fate in my community. We are still suffering lack of power supply even though we contributed over N600, 000 three years ago to acquire a new transformer after the old developed faults. Asides the fact that we had to wait over one year before they brought the transformer, the so-called new transformer packed up about four months after it was installed. We later discovered that our CDA executives had connived with some PHCN officials to refurbish our old transformer instead of acquiring a new one. This is our 10th month of total blackout yet PHCN staff keeps bringing estimated and highly inflated electricity bills. They charged me N4, 200 last month for electricity I did not use.”

According to Mike Akpan, “Right from when it first started as Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, the PHCN was structured to be inherently exploitative and inefficient. The law that set it up protected it from being sued by any customer who suffers any damage arising from its poor services.

As a result of the monopoly it enjoys from its enabling law, the PHCN has institutionalised corruption through a series of trade practices that amounts to a rip-off of its customers.”

Akpan stressed that as an energy vendor, the PHCN is not in any way different from an operator of a filling station who sells fuel, another form of energy. However, unlike the fuel vendor who spends his money to buy, install and maintain his pumping meters at the filling stations, the PHCN compels those who require its services to pay for the purchase, installation and monthly maintenance of its meters. “Even when it decided to replace analogue meters with digital or prepaid meters, it short-changed existing customers by asking them to pay

21

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

•PHCN official pockets money extorted from residents on a disconnection spree on Adeaga Street, U-Turn, Abule Egba

•A PHCN official disconnects houses on Adeaga Street, U-Turn, Abule Egba

•The PHCN officials pause to perfect their strategy

•A PHCN prepaid meter

power always again for the meters and their installation,” he said.

Akpan is probably right on mark as not a few experts argued that existing consumers should not have borne the cost of the replaced meters since they had already paid for analogue meters. The worrisome aspect of “this exploitation” consumers alleged, is that throughout the year, no staff of PHCN turns up to maintain the meters for which the company bills customers monthly.

Apart from the monthly maintenance charge, there are also several other monthly charges which the PHCN imposes on consumers of its services. Among them are ‘fixed charge’ and ‘total arrear’ which reads gibberish to electricity consumers.

Asides these charges, electricity consumers are also forced to acquire everything they need to obtain the services they need from the PHCN even though such facilities ought to be provided by the electricity company.

These include the purchase of transformers and electric poles in many areas where such do not exist or need to be replaced, hire fees of the trucks that conveys the poles and transformers to their installation sites. Like the meters, the poles and transformers, paid for by the consumers, automatically become PHCN property after installation.

However, despite the excitement generated over the introduction of the prepaid meter, many electricity consumers nationwide lament their inability to acquire the electrical device. In spite of Christian Akamonu, Chief Executive Officer of the Ikeja Distribution Zone of PHCN’s promise in October last year that the zone had more than 24,000 prepaid meters for customers in the area, the latter are demanding refund of deposits they paid for pre-paid meters.

For instance, Modupeola Adio, an advertising executive claimed that although she paid N58, 000 to acquire a prepaid meter about two years ago but she is yet to be allotted the meter. Likewise, a consumer who

simply identified herself as Mrs. Okoro lamented that even though she had applied and paid for a PHCN prepaid meter, the electricity company has refused to give her the meter. And to worsen the situation, she lamented, “They keep bringing me ridiculous bills.”

Okoro complained that PHCN officials never come to house to read her analogue meter yet they charged her N19, 000 as electricity bill for two months. She said she would like a refund of the N52, 000 she paid for the prepaid meter as she has been unable to enjoy the least value for service purchased.

Till date, failure of the electricity distribution companies to procure adequate prepaid meters for their customers has been fingered as a major cause of the unavailability of the meters. According to a PHCN staff who pleaded anonymity, the prepaid meters acquired are just not enough to go round the nation’s electricity consumers.

That there may be light Marcel Essien, an electrical engineer suggested that to rectify the PHCN’s inefficiencies, a well grounded reform programme should be created to appoint an autonomous board of competent individuals with proven integrity. This team of experts will bring their background to bear in managing PHCN more efficiently. The blueprint of their actions should provide for the elimination of unplanned capital costs and the provision of the prepaid meter for all and sundry.

“They should be charged to ensure that public and private sector electricity subscribers pay their tariffs, all revenue leakages should be identified and blocked, grid loads must be scientifically established, consumer waste of energy or electricity should be curbed through proper enlightenment campaigns, accurate consumer census and accurate billing and collection index, should be established.”

The number of subscribers to PHCN must be established, tougher penalties must be instituted for illegal power users and bypassers and their accomplices among PHCN staff. There are so many things that can be done to improve the services of the PHCN if only the government will facilitate a dialogue and advice of those who know better,” he said.

Although stakeholders have suggested various measures geared to effectively eliminate the problems of accumulation of huge debts by customers for service usually not delivered, existent realities of the nation’s power sector does little to imbue the country’s electricity consumer with hope.

Currently, power generation in the country fluctuates between 3,200mw and 3,400mw, and while a vast majority of Nigerians, about 70 per cent, do not enjoy access to electricity, those who do often get epileptic supply, forcing many to resort to the use of powergenerating sets. Also the joy with which many Nigerians welcomed the introduction of the prepaid meter has dwindled to a trickle.

Supply of the electrical device has been halted due to reports of sub-standard specification and hoarding by PHCN staff.

More worrisome is the recent increase in electricity tariff by the Federal government.

The government had through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of PHCN to begin the implementation of an increase in electricity tariff from N8.50k per kilowatt to N10.00k.

The increase has predictably, generated discontent among electricity consumers who allege that even at the former price, they were not getting good value for their money.

However, NERC has decried the public outcry against the tariff stating that the hike has been in existence before the announcement.

The agency stated thus: “Let it be clear to all consumers that NERC has not reviewed

the existing tariff regime of Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO). The slight adjustment of the average cost of electricity from N8.50 to N10 from July 1, 2011 is part of MYTO that came into effect in 2008…This routine adjustment should not be misconstrued as price review by the Commission.”

Industry analysts are also of the opinion that the recent decision by government should have come after the currently ongoing review and reforms.However, the chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi has said that the commission recognised the concern expressed by the public about raising prices when power supply was still poor. To address this concern, he said, the NERC has extracted undertakings from the utilities to drastically improve services from generation to distribution to justify the recent adjustment in tariff.

Amadi who described the adjustment as ‘marginal increase’ explained that the decision was since approved in 2008, and stated that the commission has a responsibility to inform the public as part of its commitment to transparency.

He further explained that the recent adjustment in the average cost of electricity from N8.50 to N10.00 with effect from July 1, 2011, was part of the multi-year tariff order (MYTO) that came into effect in 2008, and should not be viewed as price review.

Making the clarifications, Amadi, said, “Let it be clear to all consumers that the NERC has not reviewed the existing tariff regime of multi-year tariff order (MYTO), the slight adjustment of the average cost of electricity from N8.50 to N10 from July 1, 2011 is part of MYTO that came into effect in 2008.

“It is in line with the provisions of Sections 76 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 that electricity tariff has auto-adjusted to reflect current cost of gas and general inflation. This routine adjustment should not be misconstrued as price review by the commission,” he explained.

22

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

My wife knows I won't entertain distraction when it comes to duty —Wole Olanipekun D

OES he have the time to share emotions with members of his family? Is he an ideal family man or a ‘part-time’ father? These would be some of the questions that rattle the minds of those who know the workaholic Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, who marked his 20th anniversary of his call to the Inner Bar in Lagos yesterday.

And they are not likely to be misplaced posers, for if the quintessential lawyer is not in court over varied cases, he would be elsewhere for a conference or lecture.

If he is not at a meeting as the current Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, he is outside the country for sundry official engagements, or in his office, even after church service on Sundays, attending to case files. Yet, he makes out the time to attend to community or family matters in Ikere, his Ekiti State home.

After several failed trials, The Nation got him to unravel the mystery on Tuesday.

The interaction only lasted 12 minutes, no thanks to his tight schedule. He shook his head and beamed a smile when he was asked if his unwavering com•Olanipekun mitment to law practice had not divorced him from domestic commitments.

Opening up, the legal icon said: “On family matters, one can only aspire to be like me in terms of commitment. But I’m lucky; my wife has remained ably in charge of the home front.

I’m not convinced that anybody who does not have a stable family will make a good lawyer, and I don’t think anybody can convince me.

“You have to make your home comfortable in order to be in the right frame of mind to concentrate on the job in your hands. You must maintain and sustain the family. When I’m in my office, I’m in constant touch with the home. Even when I am out of the country, we keep talking. There is a nexus between my wife, children and I. There is understanding.

Ours is a union. We are not just living together; we are like brother and sister, husband and wife, and friends.”

He added: “The world we live in is very competitive and I make my children to appreciate that fact. Two of them are here in my chamber. We work. In fact, the only way I rest is to work harder. The official closing hour

Dada ALADELOKUN, Assistant Editor is 7 pm, but we can work till 10 pm. I can close at any time. They have come to live with that and my wife is used to it. She knows that when it comes to my duty, I don’t entertain any distraction. She appreciates the fact that even after church on Sundays, I’m in my office.

“Even when we are travelling together, she appreciates the fact that I do some reading.

And at times, when I remember some facts, I hop out of bed, leaving her there. I may be reading some law reports, dotting some ‘i’s’ and crossing some ‘t’s’. I’m sure she got used to it while we were still courting.”

Olanipekun also spoke about his relationship with his children: “Our relationship is very cordial. We are friends. We crack jokes together. They make jest of me at times and I make jest of them. I hit them back (laughs).

“But in the office, it is different. I treat them like every other lawyer. I scold them when necessary and I thank God, they are disciplined. Though no lawyer can be perfect, I always encourage them to strive towards perfection. It is now in their consciousness and sub-consciousness. Here, everyone has access to any file. Nothing is shrouded in secrecy.”

Thanking God profusely for his children, the accomplished legal luminary said: “I have two boys and two girls. Two of them are practising in my chamber. The first one with a PH.D in law is a lecturer at the University of Lagos, aside from his law practice. The second has a Master’s in Law. The third, a lawyer too, is doing well. And my girl, the fourth, is in the Law School.”

With nostalgia, he recalled the day he was called to the Inner Bar on July 19, 1991 thus: “To any lawyer, being called to the Inner Bar could be regarded as the icing on the cake of his professional career. Some would see it as the ultimate, while some see it as a chieftaincy title. But for me, I felt challenged, sober and more reflective. I realised that as a lawyer, when I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976, I did not take any oath or swear by the constitution. We were all called to sign at the Supreme Court.

“But the SAN (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) matter was a different ball game. We were called one after the other to take oaths with either the Bible or Qu’ran. Becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was a fulfillment, no doubt, but it dawned on me that an onerous challenge had been foisted on me as a leader of the Bar. It dawned on me that I would pass through the valley of the shadow of death. It dawned on me that I had a Mount Everest ahead of me to climb.

“It thus occurred to me that I needed God

•Continued on Page 39

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 08077408676

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

23

World of most-travelled Nigerian actress

@

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STANDh BY! Wit

VICTOR AKANDE

Afro Hollywood Best Entertainment Writer 2009

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 08077408676 (SMS only)

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

THINK

SNAPSHOTS

nt part of An importa s of any the succes is its civilisation late the mu ability to e t led to the a factors th f other success o s.—Eric civilisation rt Reine

Rita Dominic to star in Kenyan movie

Swept by Durban’s wink, abated by SAA Once again, I found myself treading this reccurring path to a film destination. This urge to fulfil this particular obligation is key, perhaps, because looking at the content of Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), there is a strong link for African cinema to the rest of the world. A constellation of African films celebrated at one time and another in Europe and America are coming under one umbrella with the intent and purpose of raising the roof and creating a synergy that may allow for more African visibility in such festivals as Cannes, Berlinale and Toronto.

W

HY is Durban the next best thing for African cinema? The Pan African Film Festival otherwise called FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, may have charted a good course for African cinema; there is a tradition for each festival that stereotypes it. This loophole is the reason another festival should project the course of the continent from another point of view.

Sad as it is, film festivals of Nigerian origin have not received the needed support to make them truly international. There has been no point of reference to any film cutting its teeth from being screened or winning a competition in our local festival, not because first hand films cannot make it here but because logistics and popularity would not make them find their way here; a film festival is the exclusive effort of the originator in Nigeria and thus, their popularity is limited because the world is intoned with corporate endorsement and support.

I do not want to remind us about how the city of Cannes and the government of France treat the Cannes Film Festival like a heritage. And why it is not surprising that automobile companies, telecommunications outfits, IT firms, to mention a few, struggle to be a part of the festival and thus giving it the resources to be efficient as an international destination.

This is where Durban Film Festival has an edge over others, still on-going after Sithengi Film Festival (of same South African origin) died since its last appearance in 2006. DIFF which entered its 32nd edition this year is being organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University Of KwaZulu-Natal) with principal support by the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZuluNatal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, City Of Durban, Embassy of South Africa, Goethe Institute of South Africa, Industrial Development

Corporation and a range of other valued partners.

Within its attractive rule of engagement, DIFF plans to present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a special focus on films from South Africa and Africa.

Screenings will take place throughout Durban, as well as seminar and workshop programmes featuring local and international filmmakers.

This is why I seek, always, to be a part of history more so as I see DIFF as the modern and functional window to the outside world. This to me is where home is at the moment even though there is just one Nigerian film (Andrew Dosunmu's Restless City which could not show in February of this year in FESPACO due to technical itch and thus looking forward to an African Premiere at DIFF) making appearance at the festival. I guess you will agree with me that where Nigeria appears too small an abode, you are better off seeing Africa has home. Interesting enough too, the organisers of African Film Festival which found its abode in Nigeria from its debut edition last year will also be participating at the festival.

And thus, on the wings of South Africa Airlines, an airline that promotes its home as a tourist destination like none other, I take a prospective view of the exciting line-up of films that await my participation, not minding that I have lost few days from the festival that began on Thursday July 21.

I foresee an exciting moment with a repeat of Paul Watson's story, Eco-Pirate, on July 30. A man that Time Magazine called one of the 20 environmental heroes of the 20th century; a man that The Guardian says is one of 50 people who could save the planet. A man who has been denied visas, banned in certain places, and arrested on numerous occasions for his provocative activism. Often vilified as a

vigilante of the high seas, he has been called arrogant, and a terrorist, but who is fiercely committed to the cause of defending animal rights and ocean life in particular. This author of five books and the subject of a number of films is a special guest at the Durban Film Festival.

Then of course, the film entitled Mama Africa, directed by Mika Kaurismäki who will be in attendance. Mama Africa , an inspirational tribute to legendary Grammy Award-winning South African singer and activist, Miriam Makeba. This film, packed with five decades of rare archival footage, interviews and excerpts from the performances that exhilarated millions and inspired musicians like Harry Belafonte, Hugh Masekela and Paul Simon, is a must watch for me.

What about Nader and Simin, A Separation directed by Asghar Farhadi, an Iranian filmmaker? I want to be part of this film which I missed at the last Berlin Film Festival in Germany. This film, I am told, traces the break up of an Iranian family set against the political tensions of life in contemporary Tehran. I like the fact that this flick which won the Golden Bear at Berlin this year is starkly critical of life in Iran, particularly the massive class divide and I wish that Nigerian filmmakers will engage our political terrain with similar works. Then of course, a repeat of the much talked about Congolese film, Viva Riva, the Djo Tunda Wa Munga film which swept top laurels at the last AMAAs. Finally, I hope that upon return, I will stop over in Johannesburg to join Nigeria's Karen or Vina or both of them in lifting the USD200, 000 as winner(s) of M-net's Big Brother Amplified reality show which ends on July 31. See you!

WRITE TO US! Do you watch Nollywood movies? What do you think of the Nigerian motion picture industry? Send your review of any movie or short essay on any topic of your choice about the film industry in not more than 200 words. Send entries by e-mail to: victor_akande@yahoo.com or SMS your short comments to 08077408676

rehearsing with major Kenyan actors. She plays the role of a woman who tries to overcome the long term effects of years of neglect and child abuse in a middleclass home. “We have been following the Nigerian movie industry for some time and Rita stands out as a REAM House Production, a very outstanding, gifted individual who takes her craft Nairobi based seriously and passionately, fully entertainment outfit is seeking the services of Nollywood embracing the roles she plays,” stated Carol Nguta, Founder of screen goddess, Rita Dominic, to Dream House Productions. “This star in its debut film production is in line with our vision at Dream entitled Shattered.

House and we are working hard Produced by Carol Nguta and directed by Greg Lukalia, the film to make this project successful.”

Although Rita was in Kenya to which is already in preattend the 2011 AMAA production is scheduled to begin principal photography on August nominations party, this will be her first time filming in Kenya. The 1, 2011.

Known for producing elaborate actress who is excited about signing on to this project in Kenya musicals, live orchestras, and states, “I love Kenya, so this is an stage plays in Kenya, Dream opportunity to go back to my House Production is now home away from home. This is embarking on film production and is maintaining their vision to the first of many projects and I could not have chosen a better develop and showcase the company. Carol is passionate enormous untapped and about the arts. She is a unfulfilled talent in the Kenyan perfectionist so I have no fears at creative industry. all about the quality of the In a few days, Rita will be production.” heading to Kenya to begin

D

Jim Iyke acquires 35 pairs of shoes?

G

IST from the rumour mill has it that popular Nollywood actor Jim lyke who is known for acting bad boy role in most movies is a shoe freak.

Inside sources claim that the actor who was on a leisure and business trip to Houston went on over-the-top shoe buying. “I know that this may sound crazy, and I call it an obsession for shoes, but it is a fact. During this trip, I went shopping for shoes with Jim Iyke at several shops including Jimmy Choo, Gucci, and Kenneth Cole.”

“At the end of the day, he had purchased 35 pairs of shoes, 16 for himself and the rest for his Mum, Sisters, PA's and two for me. Talk about a fetish for shoes Jim will rightly come tops on the list, the source said.”

If this story is anything to go by, Jim Iyke works hard to earn a descent living and so it's not a bad idea if he decides to spoil himself a little says Snapshots.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

RE ELNEW S

T

Breeze backs investor education

HE multi-purpose hall of Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos provided the ideal ambience. And the audience, which comprised mainly Nollywood actors and actresses, as well as young journalists, was backed by capital market operators led by the DirectorGeneral of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunna Oteh. The essence of the gathering was the viewing of clips from a movie, Breeze, as a promotion of investor education by SEC. Breeze, produced by SEC is a feature length comedy movie that aims at delivering a strong message to viewers, encouraging and educating Nigerians on financial planning, investment options and the dangers of profligate spending.

Breeze is directed by award winning Kunle Afolayan.

With the production of the movie, SEC has opened a fresh vista for collaboration with Nollywood, which many described as one of the rare instances a public institution would be using Nigeria's far reaching movie industry to spread a message formally. Breeze is scheduled for release in October to kick-start a year-long series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of SEC in the country.

From Kunle Afolayan to Ayo Adesanya, Yemi Solade, Edmond Enaibe, Hafiz Oyetoro, Joan Agabi, Chioma Chukwuka and Janet Odogwu, (members of the cast and crew), their testimonies and experiences about financing while working with the movie's script were exciting and revealing.

Still, Oteh's remark encapsulated the essence of the long term partnership, which she described as a great opportunity to use Nollywood in explaining the importance of investment and saving for the rainy day. She disclosed that SEC is collaborating with the US SEC in sharing values of capital market, noting that the commission has learnt that 60 per cent of households in US have shares in capital

Ozolua UHAKHEME Assistant Editor (Arts)

market. This, she said, is a huge potential Nigeria, with over 150 million people, can offer given the right education.

“Today, we are crying of unemployment.

But one great thing about Nollywood is employment, which President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged. For us at SEC, it is something to think about and I have a message for investment…So, it is a great honour for us to collaborate with Nollywood. From little or nothing, the industry is now considered as second largest industry in the world.

This is because of the great men and women and veterans like Tunde Kelani who led the foundation,” she noted.

Oteh stressed that as the supervisory body of the Nigerian capital market, SEC is ready to regulate and monitor the market, thus remain as a key to

transforming the nation. For a wider reach, Afolayan explained that the movie will be produced in different media like CD, DVD and VCD to enable more Nigerians have access to it when it is released in October.

Breeze is a story that centres on a popular, loving, hilarious and extravagant character (Grace Onome Dada), who believes in 'self, skin and beauty investments.' She lives the good life and has a spouse who dotes on her and spoils her completely. The character has good intentions and is well meaning and quite intelligent, just completely misdirected. However, the key message in the movie is on how important it is to invest instead of spending lavishly.

Also present at the viewing were the executive commissioner of SEC, Ms. Daisy Ekineh, and Communications Adviser, Mr. Obi Adindun, among others.

• Arunma Oteh (4th left) Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria; Daisy Ekineh, Exec. Commissioner Operations,(2nd left), Kunle Afolayan, Movie Producer (middle), Tunde Kelani, Mainframe Production (3rd left) and some cast members, during the Media Presentation of the Breeze.

Emeka Mba is EMMY Award’s top brass!

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arely a month after he was elected Vice Chairman of the world’s first global Advanced Management Programme (AMP )in Media and Entertainment, Director General of National Film and Video censors Board (NFVCB), Mr, Emeka Mba has been admitted as member of the prestigious International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Signed by Chris Anderson, the offer letter portends that as a member of the Academy, Mba is expected to sit with other members and the Board to reflect on global issues affecting media and entertainment, take position on them and work to use such to drive and affect policies and strategies.

As an evidence of the Academy’s interest in the Nigerian creative content industry, the Board of Academy has also awarded to the NFVCB the opportunity to coordinate Nigeria’s hosting of the semi-final round of selection of entries for this year’s award.

Mba, who is said to be humbled by these recent responsibilities and recognition on the international front described his call-to-duty as a “learning curve in a rapidly evolving digital media and affords one an opportunity to know where the future is headed and for the regulator that is dealing with an industry that is increasingly dominated by digital natives, it is important to understand the challenges and opportunities offered in this new digital economy”. By this appointment, the Censors board boss will in September, 2011 join other members of the

Academy in Los Angeles, California, United States of America to deliberate on and take decision on issues of strategic media interest. The coming Board and Members’ meeting in Los Angeles will be hosted by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc; producers of the television drama, “The Bold and The Beautiful” at CBS Television City. A statement from the media department of the Censors Board states that Mba has consulted and set up a local coordinating unit to plan Nigeria’s hosting of the semifinal screening of the world wide entries for this year’s International EMMY Awards. to this effect, Nigerian members of the juror have been appointed and ratified by the Academy. Among the juror members are Usman Magawata, the Director General of Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, and Femi Odugbemi, a

renowned creative content producer and thinker.

The outcome of the screening is expected to be forwarded to the Academy office in Los Angeles, California.

Thereafter, the nominee announcement, according to a statement from the Academy, will be made at Mipcom, Cannes, France on 31st October, 2011.

•Mba

Black International Film Festival holds in October

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HE City of Birmingham in the UK th th will come alive from the 24 -30 of October when the Black International Film festival will take place.

The film festival incorporates music, live arts, education, while providing a platform for practitioners and artists to exhibit their creative talents. The Festival is a one week blissful mix of industry parties, showcases, networking events, screenings as well as Star Studded 'M Visas Video Screen Awards'.

Over the last 5 years, the Event has grown into a well known established entity in the arts calendar which continues to attract celebrities from the world of film and music. For this year's festival, the festival's board have decided to incorporate Nollywood.

Over the last five years, Nollywood has grown into a Multi million naira industry in Africa and it has gradually gained recognition in Britain and America.

There is more to me than just being a beauty queen —Miss Lacasera Miss Nwando Ebeledike was formerly presented with a cheque of N1million for emerging Miss Lacasera 2011. She was officially presented to the media at the premises of Classic Beverages makers of the soft drink.

She talks about herself and her plans for the future in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

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OW do you feel being Miss Lacasera 2011?

I feel amazing; I never expected to be named Miss Lacasera and I am just enjoying the times. It is amazing and I am grateful for the initiators of this pageant for deeming me fit to be crowned Miss Lacasera. It is a massive achievement for me and I only look forward for better things to come.

Did you ever dream of becoming a beauty queen while growing up?

I always wanted to be recognized and I knew someday I will happen but I never planned to be crowned Miss Lacasera and it came to me as a surprise when I was announced as the winner. I am currently having a good time with the people around me and it has turned out to be a good platform to showcase me a beauty queen.

Are your parents supportive of your quest to become a beauty queen of not?

My parents are extremely supportive of my career; I get text messages from them every now and then telling me how proud they are at my achievement.

My mum has been my chief supporter and she has been helpful thus far.

How much responsibility do you think has been placed on your shoulders now that you have been crowned as Miss Lacasera?

It is a huge responsibility because everyday I feel the urge to do something different. I am constantly thinking of doing things that will make people proud of me even after my reign. I want to make a mark that would be remembered for a very long time. It has also been really tasking trying to deliver something memorable but I know things will eventually take shape when the time comes.

What other talents do you have?

I write a lot! I write poems most especially and I do that when I have the time to. I also find time for interior decoration and that is one sphere I hope to develop myself in…

What would you be engaged in when your reign as Miss Lacasera eventually comes to an end?

I would most especially develop myself in the world of interior decoration and I would look to also make an indelible mark in that sphere too. I also hope to improve my skill in writing and probably have a collection of poems in the near future.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

To the average music listener here in Nigeria, not much is known about him. But in recent times, Tru South has been making the headlines internationally for all the right reasons.

The artiste was recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement Awards (the highest of the Presidential Call to Service by the American President) at a well attended event.

AHMED BOULOR was at the occasion and he reports…

Tru South: Singing his way to recognition!

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T was a cloudy Thursday morning and the rains were threatening, but the usual Lagos hustle still continued despite the threat. People were still going about their usual businesses and so were a host of invited guests who came in their numbers from far and near to witness honour being bestowed on Hip hop/Soul singer Tru South.

Sitting with his American manager, Laura Wilson, at the venue of the presentation, Delta State born Charles Atima, a.k.a Tru South, readily cuts the picture of a very determined artiste who is ready to make an indelible mark for himself in the world of music.

Tru South's songs which are humanitarian in nature are getting worldwide attention for creating humanitarian awareness for victims of natural disasters. In November 2010, he released a single dubbed ''Better Day'' for victims of the earthquake in Haiti; the single was used as a theme song for the relief foundation of American promoter Rick Hendrix and other national foundation ads.

With the release of his much anticipated single, “Best Friend”, hitting the airwaves in the coveted US and Canadian markets over the winter and his latest crossover hit, “Pathway to Hope”, now gaining appreciable airplay at the Armed Forces Radio Network in the States, critics have given Tru South thumbs up across the globe.

Due to the acceptance of the brand of songs that he delivers, Tru South inevitably got increased sales and popularity on music websites such as itunes and amazon as reported by representatives.

And as if that was not enough boost for his burgeoning career, Tru South received a positive shock when he was nominated in December 2010 for the Lifetime Achievement Award by President Obama's council based on his movement for positive music.

Tru South plunged into further ecstasy when he received a mail on the 8th of April announcing him as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievers Award - a feat which most close watchers observe as coming too

•Tru South award from receiving his Laurel Wil his manager, son

early in his career. my early stages I had to tap from what I had inside and I could only tilt towards That and more picture the make-up of positive songs and lyrics. the Nigeria-based artiste, whose talents have been recognized by the American “I always wanted to create songs that government. sound like what I have heard in the past.

The atmosphere at the Conference Hall of Music is spiritual; I am blessed and I have the opportunity of influencing people with the Quilinary Restaurant and Bar in Ikeja where the presentation took place could be my talent and I just choose to go positive,” he added. termed as electrifying as the enthusiastic guests which included press men and other Tru South also talked about the song he stakeholders in the music industry wanted did for earthquake victims in Haiti. “The to know more about the Nigerian artiste song I did for Haiti was a special request by who is being celebrated. my manager, Dr. Rick Hendrix. He called me up and asked me to do a After formal introduction and humanitarian song for the acknowledgement of the guests in earthquake victims in Haiti. So I attendance, Tru South was psyched myself up for the presented with the Lifetime challenge and went to the Achievers Awards on the studio to record the song.

14th of July 2011 by his Don't get me wrong; I also manager on behalf of Rick do a lot of songs that have Hendrix, delegate to the the usual swag and US Congress, and commercial feel but I President Obama's don't lose track of doing Council. songs that have a As an honoree of such positive message to pass an award, which is the across to the listening highest of the public. That is my Presidential Call to strength and trade Service categories, it mark.” means that Tru South Being presented with has willfully spent over the Lifetime Achievers 4,000 hours of his time on award would surely place a not-for-profit venture a huge responsibility on and is thus entitled to a the young shoulders of the personalized certificate, a artiste, but he says he is equal lapel pin and congratulatory to the task. letter from President Obama.

Tru South “The award places a whole lot But come to think of it, how of responsibility on my shoulders; come Tru South deviated from doing though it comes with its own criticisms commercial songs at a time when most Nigerian artistes now churn out songs that because there are some people that really expected me to emphasize more on are usually heavy on beats and low on commercial songs. It has made me to see message? The indigene of Warri in Delta things from a different perspective; it is State provides answers to that question: making me more focused and I am not “I grew up around positive music and making things get into my head. With the back in the days there were a whole lot of help of God I believe I am going to be a songs that were positive in terms of good ambassador and I know that I am message. The music of today is dogged with so much distraction; I was so into such equal to the task.”

Laura Wilson also revealed to the positive songs while growing and it has audience which listened with rapt attention helped in shaping the kind of artiste that I to how she came in contact with Tru South: am today. When I started doing music in

“There are so many talented Nigerian artistes in the United States and at the time I set up my management outfit I was looking for an artiste to start up with. Tru South was brought to my attention some years ago and I decided to listen to his song. One of his songs that really bought me over was 'Better Day' and thereafter, I contracted him in 2009. Tru South is really talented and he has a huge heart and his background can be felt in the texture of his songs.

“He's been working in Nigeria for a very long time and his music is different. His songs have an appeal and they are accepted internationally. That's the beauty of Tru South's songs; there is always this humanitarian angle to his songs and that somewhat endears people to his act.”

Tru South is considered a blip on the Nigerian music radar, yet the emerging Hip hop/Soul singer and rapper has devoted countless hours creating positive music. He also co-founded a foundation called “Highway 2 Hope”, which is focused on bringing awareness and help by improving personal and tangible needs in Africa.

He started his sojourn into the murky waters of the music industry in 2002 here in Nigeria and was later signed onto a company owned by Dr. Rick Hendrix (a leading promoter who is related to the success stories of established American artistes such as U2, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Hudson).

“We are possibly watching the next International star unfold,” a delighted Hendrix stated.

“I haven't found any artiste in 10 years I would invest my own money in, I have now,” laughed Hendrix. “We have heard from other artistes out of Nigeria that are trying to do what Tru does, there's no comparison. We have found the best Nigeria and the world has to offer,” he added.

The past few months have really been golden for Tru South who now looks ahead to more laurels and recognition in the near future. His recent achievement is even more gladdening as he became the first African to achieve such a feat for serving humanity with his time and music talent.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Asa joins exclusive list!

Clarence Peters jets off to America

s …Performs at the prestigiou Montreux Jazz Festival Ahmed BOULOR

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OT-IN-DEMAND music video director and producer, Clarence Peters, is set to make a trip to the United States of America.

Although details of his travel arrangement were not revealed we gathered that the award winning filmmaker will journey to God's own country at the end of July.

The talented producer is said to be excited about the trip and he is

•Clarence

handing over to a certain Joy Tongo who will serve as a link between him and his clients in Nigeria and beyond, while he will be away till the third week in August.

BUCKWILD Media shoo ts 2face documentary

OUL singer Asa recently joined an exclusive list of musical greats such as Quincy Jones, James Brown, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Wu Tang Clan and Nigerian legend Fela Kuti who have all at one time or the other performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

She performed at the 44th edition of the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival founded by renowned Swiss nationale, Claude Nobs.

“All the musical greats have been at Montreux,” Asa says, revealing that she has followed the festival closely and collected and studied videos from previous editions.

“It's exciting to join the list. This is huge!” She said.

This year's edition of the annual event was held from the 1st to the 16th of July. Apart from being one of the Nigerians to have performed on the platform of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Asa was also one of the youngest this year, alongside Grammy awardwinning jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding and others.

However, of all the young artistes, it was Asa who was selected to perform alongside Seal at the most prominent venue of the festival, the Stravinsky Hall.

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UCKWILD Media is set to shoot a documentary entitled The Rise of the Phoenix on the more rec ent life of Nigeria's most celebrate d contemporary artiste, 2face.

The documentary basica the last two years of 2face'slly chronicles reissue of the Unstoppable career. The experience at the 2010 Wo album; his One8 project; 2face Live rld Cup; the at 2face and Mario concert Eko Hotel; the in various causes he is involv London; the various awards he has wo ed in and the n in that period.

The Rise of the Phoenix dw triumph and rejuvenation ells on the fondly called after the var of 2baba, as he's and controversies that tra ious scandals iled his initial success as a solo artiste.

It arguably the second par looks at what is t of his career so far; his recent successes and metamorphosis to becom e biggest names in Africa one of the n music at the moment. This is akin to the legend of the Greek mythical Phoenix bir initially lived for 500 yea d which rs, then burnt itself to ashes and from those ashes arose another phoenix.Produce d Media, it is said that the by BUCKWILD documentary will be available for commercia the next month. There wil l release within syndicated broadcast of l also be a the documentary as a TV special on select ed just before the full releas TV channels e on Cds.

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•2face

Manna set to storm music industry

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PCOMING Afro-juju performer, Isreal Olayinka Ekundayo, aka Mr Manna, is working relentlessly to take a head in the music industry.

The Badagry-born artiste started his career as the leader of C&S's choir group and also formed a live band called “Manna Voices” in

•Manna

D’banj, Goldie, others for Acada Blackberry Fever 3

Adeyeni ADEYEMO

1994. He moved over to the UK and gathered some of the best Nigerian musicians London could offer and continued his career in 1999.

On completion of his secondary school education, he trained as a "lithographic printer" at Ebenkol Graphic Arts Company in Lagos Nigeria, and also studied "print proof” in London at 'The London Institute' (Elephant & Castle).

Manna, who is putting finishing touches to his next album which is to be out by early 2012, has performed in many concerts and has supported many other acts such as Jide Chord, Shina Peters and Yinka Ayefele whenever they are on tour in the UK. “In this day and age where there is an abundance of musical talents in all genre of music, it is not enough for a musician to have an Independent style that he can be identified with. A musician must be exceptionally good with his own creative style,” Manna emphasised.

S the third edition of Acada Blackberry Fever Summer Party gathers momentum, top Nigerian music and movie icons already have started to warm up for the event which is billed to hold at the popular celebrity hangout, Get Arena, Lekki, Lagos come Saturday 6th of August, 2011.

According to the publisher of the Acada Magazine, Mr. Biodun CastonDada, the essence of the gathering was to afford the users of

BlackBerry Phones, which constitute mostly youths and campus students, to converge under one roof to have fun and also to bring fun lovers together and create a platform for interaction.

“As it is known, the BlackBerry Phone, asides normal telephone functions, has become a strong tool for social networking.

“However, this year's edition promises to be bigger and better as it is enjoying the full support of the telecom giant, MTN Nigeria, who will be running a special promotion at the event. Guests will have a rare and unique opportunity of buying 1 BlackBerry phone and get another 1 for free,” he said.

It was said that there will also be raffle draws and various competitions to spice up the event and guests will have the opportunity of winning various prizes like Laptops, LCD TVs, Mobile Phones, Recharge Cards, etc.

Some of the celebrities and top artistes expected at the event

include , D'banj, 2face, P-Square, Asa, Darey, Julius Agwu, Warebi Martha, El Dee, Iyanya, Basketmouth, Yvonne Nelson, Goldie, Rukky Sanda, Tonto Dike, and others.

Behind the wheels-of-steel are top Nigerian DJs, DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Humility and DJ Neptune.

The event will be hosted by Owen Gee, Lolar Shon and Denrele.

•D’banj

Ore lights up for Maltina Dance Gig

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RE Town came alive for Maltina Dance Gig as Rhymes Richard, a budding artiste based in Ore, Ondo State, and the leader of a musical group called Born To Learn, recently had the opportunity to progress his musical career.

“If there is anything that the

show has done for me, it is the confidence of making me believe in myself that I can be what I want to be. With this confidence, I am looking forward to dropping my album very soon, because Maltina has given me that courage to really know that I can make it,” Richard, who came second in the male

category in the Ore show, said.

Just like Richard, Olaniyan Olaoluwa, the Overall Best Male Dancer, and Miss Opeyemi Abdul, the Best Female Dancer, Maltina Dance Gig 2011 held in Ore Town, with the theme, Show Your Swag, has thrown them into stardom as they prepare to take their individual careers to another level.

Maltina Dance Gig is a panNigeria musical roadshow which commenced last May and will touchdown with 325 activations in various locations all over the country by December, 2011.

Some of the cities where the roadshow had touched down so far include Badagry, Ajegunle, Ogbomosho, Iseyin, Ilesa, Offa, Birnin Kebbi and Kaduna. In all, 18 units each of 2.5 KVA generator sets, 21” TV sets and Home Theatre and lots of Maltina freebies have been doled out to winners in each of the cities.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

COVER COVER

RE ELNEW S

COVER COVER

‘My daughter is not even keen about a younger one, I have asked her!’

Top Nollywood actress and brand icon Kate Henshaw-Nuttal is arguably the most travelled Nigerian actress.

VICTOR AKANDE, Entertainment Editor, engaged her in a discussion as she clocked 40 on July 19, 2011.

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OMETHING tells me that you are the most travelled Nigerian actress…

Humn…humn; I don't know if I am o (laughs). Besides, what would you use to measure that?

Now let's look at these yardsticks…

Okay, I'm all ears… (Grinning) To start with, by the nature of your job as an actress, you are bound to be on the move just like any other actor. Then of course, as ambassador for two major brands (Globacomm and Onga Seasoning), I do know that you are always travelling to meet the aspirations of these brands where ever their customers may be; within and outside the country, and this is outside your personal holiday trips which I know you enjoy doing so much. Now, I want you to either prove me wrong or right…

Well, I have been travelling quite a lot, both within and outside the country, but what I don't know is whether I am the most travelled actress or not. Within the past three months for example, it's been more hectic. I have been going to different states and local government areas in Nigeria for the Onga Time Out with You programme.

And the new direction for the Seasons Four and Five which Onga Time Out with You takes the brand direct to the consumers at the grassroots level.

What is the participation for the local people like?

It's just for them to send in four wrappers of the Onga Seasoning and that qualifies lucky potential winners for a raffle draw from which we pick some one who is to represent their state to cook the most popular meal from that state and dress accordingly. And I also follow suit in my dressing. We also record the tourist attractions and other substances that are the pride of the states…

More like showcasing the cultural heritage of the people?

Yes, including knowing their major sources of income; be it agriculture, mining, etcetera. That done, we now come to the studios and shoot with the winner who eventually goes away with a six- or fourburner Gas cooker as the case may be, Chest Freezers, Blenders; Microwave Ovens, pot sets, etcetera.

What role, especially do you play; do you merely supervise or cook along?

I am the presenter. I present the programme and supervise the cooking because I wouldn't know what they are cooking because I am not from that locality, except when it is close to my state; then I can say that I know what they are cooking.

However, the person cooks the meal and I learn too from the exercise.

You have done like five years with the Onga brand now, I suppose?

December this year will make it the fourth year. I did two years from 2007 and it was renewed for another two years.

How long is this leg, Onga Time-Out with You, going to last?

It's going to last the whole year.

Remember we started with Onga Time-Out with Kate, and now, it's Onga Time-Out with You. So far we have shot 26 Episodes for two quarters and we are already half way into the year. But the direction of the promotion is evolving. For example we are

•Kate Henshaw

already into another initiative tagged National Onga Campus Cooking Competition which flagged off on June 1, this year at the University of Lagos and this is covering the 36 states and FCT. For you personally, how many states have you covered so far?

Oh God! I have done Ekiti, Ogun, Rivers, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Kwara… so many of them that I am trying to remember now. And this is both for the Onga TimeOut and the Campus cooking competition.

For instance, I just returned from Calabar for the Campus cooking competition.

What is the major travel challenge?

You know that most of these areas do not have airport, so you can imagine what it is like travelling these local areas by road. The journey actually started in the West here; going to Ibadan from Lagos, then to Ogun State, all by road. It's quite a long journey and the roads are horrendous but it's just fun going about with the crew and visiting the tourist sites like the Olumo Rock, Water falls and what have you.

That means that you are privileged to be at these places courtesy of the Onga brand…

Oh yes…!

Before I come to the question of how all these have opened you up as a person in terms of experiences, I like to know if Onga is worth all the troubles…

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Definitely, it's a brand that I have grown to love, and as I said in some of my previous interviews, I didn't know anything about the brand until I took up this appointment. Now it's a brand I love and have convinced a lot of people to try.

Looks like you are pre-empting me here because I was also going to ask you how you have been able to impact on the brand.

I think it would be best to ask the producers of the brand; but even then, I do know that their market share has increased.

This they told me themselves. They are a very open and straight forward company.

They say it as it is. And I am happy because it's not about me collecting money. It's a symbiotic relationship that I am glad is playing out well.

How competitive was it for you both at first and during the renewal, or was it just a solo selection?

I was just picked. I didn't compete with any one; the MD just called me and asked me if I could take up the appointment.

So where did that connection come from: your manager, being an artiste, or through your husband?

Humn… My husband. He just talked about me; he told them his wife could help boost the brand and they decided to give it a shot.

With that, I believe now that you are so busy travelling around, he has no reason

whatsoever to complain since he initiated this for you.

(Laughs) I don't know if he is complaining since it was him who added to my duties. If he is, it's a pity, because I have come to love it more than anything else (sips) Really?

Oh yea! I really enjoy it, I really do.

Don't you get this feeling of regret by him? Like him saying to himself that if I know say this job no go gree you siddon for house, I for no get am for you o…

I have a feeling that he does… this feeling of you-are-not-always-around… and when you are, it's either you are attending one event or another. I feel it; I sense it. I know it's tough, but hey, looks like I can't help it.

Are you not afraid that some ladies might take advantage of this situation?

If that happens that means he wants to be taken. If he wants to be taken, he is a free person. My dear, marriage is not a bondage o Victor. If he decides to roam around, well… in any case, you men always roam…

I don't know what you are talking about (general laughs). But I want to know the extent to which you would be protective of your marriage, because, God forbid, if anything goes wrong, the media will feast on it and the people, as often is the case, will point fingers at you for not making it work, especially as a celebrity that you are and a woman.

You are right, the society always blames the woman, but I believe that every woman should be independent; but let me tell you something, if you want a person to stay when the person does not want to stay, there is nothing you can do about it. You can only do your best and leave the rest to God. I believe every woman should be working or doing something instead of just sitting at home. God forbid if anything happens and you don't have anything to fall back on, too bad, you will be lost. I have come to a stage now that all I do is to make myself happy and do what I think is right.

People will always talk no matter how good you are.

Talking about making yourself happy; now that you have turned 40, tell me more about those 'New Year' resolutions, as they often say, or is it 40th year resolution?

On my job I am going to be more professional than ever. Having come this far, if I am going to be a part of anything it must be something that would distinguish me from the ordinary. I want to be more confident than ever. Although I still have energy, so I am not going to talk about adding energy to what I do. I have so much energy that I don't even feel like I am 40; I feel like a 25 year old. I feel like jumping and climbing the mountain like a younger person. And I thank God for thus far he has brought me, because many people have died before 40.

Talking about cherishing your job and protecting your future as a woman, don't you think your eyes have been opened to this reality, because in the first place you have a liberal husband and one who is not a Nigerian or what people call the typical Nigerian man?

No-o-o! What about Omotola (actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde)? Her husband is a Nigerian and she is travelling all over the place. She runs an NGO and a music career that puts her on the move… there are so many other people and it doesn't matter the

I feel really guilty most of the time for not being around her, but good enough, she seems to understand. And the little time that we spend together, I try to make quality out of it. We talk at length, we go to the cinema and do all sorts together. race; if a man is a good man and he is confident in himself, he will let you be what you want to be. Because that is what completes both of you; that is what makes both of you happy, bringing whatever you have been able to make to the family.

Okay, I'll like you to prove to me further that it's not a matter of race. You have cited a very good example of Omotola, who…

(Cuts in) What about aunty Joke (Actress Joke Silva)?

Good! Let's say you have been able to establish the Nigerian angle; would you give an example of a Nigerian/foreigner marriage that has failed, just to prove that not all foreigners are liberal to such marital issues the same way that not all Nigerians are intolerant…

Of course there would be people I don't know about locally Of course let's not even talk about marriages that have broken in our local environment here. Let's not invite trouble.

Now what about J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez) and Mac Anthony, they have split up after six years of marriage. I don't know for whatever reason, but you and I know that she is busy and he is busy and I know that she is busier than he is. May be there is an effect there; may be some kind of threat or insecurity.

But that's the fact, when they part ways they are not enemies, each person wishes the other person well and life moves on. That's how marriage and divorce should be. There shouldn't be any rancour especially when children are involved. I mean, my mum left my dad and hey, it hasn't affected me… sorry, it did at a point but I have moved on.

Now let's talk about your daughter…

Humnn.. I don't want to talk too much about that one o How do you make it up to her, the few periods that you may be around?

I feel really guilty most of the time for not being around her, but good enough, she seems to understand. And the little time that we spend together, I try to make quality out of it. We talk at length, we go to the cinema and do all sorts together. She does understand that this is the nature of my job.

There was a time she came home and said, 'mummy, are you on twitters?' and I said yes, then she said one of her friends in school said she follows me on twitters. And I said oh, that's embarrassing - but you know she is so grown up now and her speech so profound.

What's her age now?

She will be 11 by September And you think she is not lonely?

She is…, she is sometimes. Because even her dad is busy; he works and travels and that is what you get when both parents are the busy type. But I try during the holiday season to create a family time by trying to let go what ever trip that is not so compulsory.

Talking about the two major brands that

you're ambassador for; aren't there times that you experience a clash?

Good enough they don't. There is a calendar for what I do especially when it has to do with travelling and logistics. They give me notice ahead of time, and try to ask me when I will be available. The two brands quite understand that I have other responsibilities. God has just managed to arrange everything for me.

What about your acting career; have there not been complaints of you collecting money for a job and not showing up because of your other engagements?

Never! That can never be said about me. I have never taken two acting jobs at a time. I can't do it. If you want me so badly, you wait until I have finished with one job before coming on your set.

Is it because you are comfortable or because you are disciplined?

I am disciplined. I made that decision years ago. I told myself I would not compromise. If you look at it from another angle, you will find out that it is stressful jumping from one set to another; doing that, you tend not to master your characters well.

Don't you think that your 'ambassador' engagements are gradually dragging you away from acting?

It's good to diversify. Acting is not a 24/7 and 12-month thing of the year.

Let's talk about your passion for the stage Hmmmmm (beams with excitement) it keeps growing, every time, every day. I have never thought I would love it this much because there is no money in it. No money at all. You will rehearse for a month or two months and they are not paying you for that, but I just tend to love it so much, from the Virgina Monologue and a couple of other plays like Ahmed Yerima's Little Drop and The Wives.

Talking about passion, I like to commend your iconic roles in NGO projects like Nigerian Women Trust Fund; Project Alert (an NGO on gender based violence); National Cervical Prevention Programme; and recently the Lagos State Blood Donor Group.

Thank you Victor (Smiles) But what is the Nigerian Women Trust Fund all about?

That's a project that facilitates women's participation in governance so that they can be assisted with

finance enough to equate them with their male counterparts. Women who contested in the last election got a lot of money from the trust fund.

I recall that you were going to do something remarkable on your 40th …

(Cuts in) Oh Victor, you are a wizard, but I am not going to disclose anything further. I don't want to talk prematurely of the project. But you will get to know that when the time is ripe. I am following your footsteps; you did it with the launch of two books during your 40th, Shaibu, your friend, did the same… it's a noble idea my dear. I mean people want to find out a lot of things about you. They want to know how you got to where you are, what the challenges are.

Every worthy role model should leave an imprint for people to refer to.

Finally, tell me about your low moments My low moment is such that since I have turned forty, I should try and spend more moment with my daughter really. I think about this a lot and it bothers me. And I intend to effect that change. As she is growing up, before you know it she's gone to boarding house and I won't be seeing her as much. Before you know it, she is already 20 and she is going to her husband's house and I hardly know her… I intend to spend more time with her.

Including giving her a younger brother or sister…

I don't know about that I guess she hasn't given you pressure enough She doesn't even want, funny enough. I have asked her. Let me reveal this to you and you know what her response was?

You tell me…

She said Ah! Is she not eno ugh for me, and I said oh, you are enough for me my dear. And I like it like that. So what are we talking about?

And from your husband, no pressure?

No, no pressure at all, I'm cool.

•Kate Henshaw

BBA: Nigerian Housemates named finalists

O

F the ten Housemates left in the Big Brother Amplified House, the two Nigerian contestants; Karen and Vina have been confirm to slug it out in the finals that leaves two winners clinching the sum of USD200, 000 each. The third finalist is Sharon, the Housemate from Uganda.

However, those Housemates, out of the other seven who may succeed the eviction trial this Sunday will be added to the list of finalists, depending on Big Brother's choice of number for the final battle.

Those on the firing line are; Hanni, Kim, Lomwe, Luclay, Millicent, Vimbai and Wendall. Karen fortuitously finds herself in with a chance of taking home one of the two major prizes after Vina crucially saved her and put Lomwe up for eviction in her place with Karen only up for eviction after she had once again refused to nominate anyone in the first place! Big Brother cut short an uncertain Vina's ramblings in the Chat Room and asked that she deliver her 'save & replace' decision and she chose fellow Nigerian, giving her an automatic spot in the final next week.

Earlier in the day, Hanni, Luclay and Karen had bizarrely refused to participate in the nomination sessions. Hanni told Big Brother that she didn't have the right to make a decision about who should stay or go, Luclay wouldn't really give a reason for his refusal to nominate any Housemates, while Karen simply told Big Brother to put her up for eviction.

Wendall and Vimbai both nominated Kim and Millicent, with the former claiming that Kim's personality had changed since she stopped drinking, while he felt that Millicent was being horrible to some of the other Housemates.

Vina also nominated Kim, saying that she was a strong competitor and then nominated Wendall because he is too competitive.

Millicent also chose Wendall, because she felt he hadn't opened up to her. Her second nomination went to Karen, since “ Nigeria still has two representatives in the House”.

Sharon O shared Millicent's sentiments on Karen, while she nominated Vimbai because she wouldn't like to go up against her in the final week.

Lomwe nominated Hanni because she is the Housemate he has bonded with the least and Luclay as part of a strategy to remove all the other men in the House and help get him closer to the prize, while Kim nominated 'strong contender' Vimbai and Vina, to see if Africa would save her.

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

I

N life, what kind of son was Olubayo to you?

He was a good son, not only to me but to everybody, irrespective of whether the person is Hausa or Igbo as long as he knows the person.

If Bayo meets 10 people sitting he will prostrate to greet 10 times. He will greet them all one by one. He was not a proud child even if it’s a six-month old child he will. greet and go his way. He doesn’t look at the face of a person. He was a shy person and he was not proud and he takes life that this life there is nothing there. That is how he was, he was a good child to his older ones, the younger ones and everyone he knew and those whom he didn’t know, so long as he was greeted.

Was there anything mummy that you would have loved to tell him but that you did not while he was alive?

Whenever we met we talked together. You know it was once in a while that he comes home, it was once in a while but even that once in while that he came he acted with love. He loved people, he is not touchy. He was the type that drew people close to himself but since that incident happened, I have been in this world that day happened to be the saddest of my life. (with a choking voice) but I thank God if God does not have a hand in it (it could not have been) but I am also thankful that he rose with Christ because we are in resurrection period, he rose with Jesus that is why I am thankful. Everything is in the hands of God. Supposing they said he ran mad or if his two legs had been cut off what would one have done? It was God that called him and I believe he is at the right hand of God. When we will meet it will be with dancing and joy that we will meet.

Did you have any reservation about his moving to Greece?

There is nothing one can do; it is the land that will be good that God will direct one to. It is the Spirit of God that directs one. If one does not put everything in the hands of God, one cannot do (things on) ones own if one is doing it he cannot succeed.

It was God that purposely called him here it was not a human being and God knew that the place was good before he led him to the place.

When was the last time you spoke with him before he passed on?

The last time I spoke with him was February w h e n t h e y came to p l a y (Sierra

• Titilayo Adefemi

AKINLOYE AT LARGE

LATE SUPER EAGLES DEFENDER’S MUM

I believe another Olubayo is coming Leone), when Siasia and company came to play (in Lagos). we spoke on phone What do you remember most as regards your relationship? I heard that he played a lot with you. What things do you remember most about him?

He addressed me as mama e, and he will say “how you dey?’ how your body? How your business? Hope nothing? I will say nothing (he will say) take care of yourself, take care of yourself. They grew up in the barrack that was where I gave birth to them so it’s the barracks slang that he uses. (He will ask) wetin you dey eat now, send to me o, me sef I want to eat o, I will say it’s okay. He will play with me on the phone and I will say thank you God bless you, it is well with you and he will say ‘amen.’ He will say ‘pray for me o, pray for me o’ (and) I will say okay, finish.

With this sad experience how would you advice parents?

It is only the person that does not have faith that will be doing that.

Once you have faith in the God you are serving and you are allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you, the Holy Spirit of God is the most important in ones life. Once the Spirit of God has directed you that ‘my child don’t do this thing’ there is no need (to do it). Let the Spirit of God direct you. You see, when one is struggling, hustling, when God’s hand is not in it, the book of Ecclesiastes said ‘vanity upon vanity’, once God has a hand in it, it may be sand that he will pack to make his wealth. I have faith in the God that I am serving because God is the only King that can be relied upon, He is the only King that can be relied upon, he is the King that promotes one, he is the King that does not disappoint, He is the King that says yes and no one can say no. he is the King that can open a door and no one can close it and the King that closes and no one can open. He is the King that has everything in His hands and that does everything.

There is nothing we can do behind God, He is the living God. As I am I have faith in Him because it is now that I will now carry my cross. The bible that I carry there is victory in it, there is good in it.

Everything is there and if one relies on it and holds on to it, it will never disappoint the person and I will not backslide, I will serve Him (God) forever.

And I know that He is in front of me, on my right,

It’s already 96 days since the demise of Super Eagles defender, Adefemi Olubayo. The late international footballer left behind a beloved mother as well as siblings. Two days after his burial in Lagos, OLUSOJI OLUKAYODE was at the family house and spoke with his mother, Titilayo Adefemi. The bereaved mum whose husband died in 2000 had fond memories of her beloved, and departed so, but more, she declared that the day of his death remains her saddest in life

•L-R: Olubayo’s sister, Oluwabukola Adeite,mother, Titilayo, brother, Abiodun and his wife Olayinka two days after his burial when Nation Sport visited the family home.

PHOTO: Olusoji Olukayode children, none of them is proud, it

left and behind me. He is directing me and my children. He is the one we will serve, we won’t serve idol because anyone who serves God with mammon cannot have any success. Even God said it that is the person that knows God that sees affliction but that in all he has won.

He said in the affliction if we call on Him he will answer us (and) He said He will do everything that we want for us. He said if we have faith, there is nothing people (may) say. I will not because of it (the loss of Bayo) not serve God. Do you attend the same church?

I attend Anglican Church but when he comes (home) he attends Redeem.

I thought you belong to Celestial sect Hmm, it’s the elder brother (Abiodun) that attends Cele, I attend Anglican Church. He doesn’t toy with God. Whenever he arrives it is he and his bible and he is off to church.

So, with the situation now, you can still permit your offspring to go

and play football?

Why not, his elder brother (Abiodun) sitting here played football more than him, only that he did not want to make it a profession.

Why not, it is the way God wants that he does His things. I know that the glory that has begun in this home, if anyone says it has ended, God has just started because the glory that is more than that of the past will burst out. God will raise out of (my) offpring up that his glory will spread all over the world, I believe.

So what you are saying mummy is that by God’s grace we will see another Olubayo come out of this family By the grace of God, (one) that when his glory will spread it will be more than the former. Another Olubayo is coming, I believe that.

With the good comments that came from many Nigerians concerning him, how happy are you?

If anyone opens my stomach, if

such a one rides a horse in it he cannot fall because a good name is better than gold and silver.

Some have lived up to 1000 years yet they have not heard of them.

People reported how people were many that if he had lived to an old age it wouldn’t have been as honourable as it was. I am thankful because people we don’t I know have said (he was different). Some fell sick because of him, many of them I don’t know. But in everything, anytime we are on the face of the earth let us do what we can. The good one has to do, do it. Don’t be proud and say I am in a particular position and there is no one that can be as I am, no it is where your own stopped that another’s began. (a person seen as not able today) will tomorrow build a mansion that even you would be surprised and say ‘it it the child that we thought cannot do anything that has one this.’ I thank you (God) for all my

is not I o, it is God. Bayo has respect more than anything. Once he puts his face cap on you won’t even see his face. Even if he sees the wives

in the family he will prostrate and greet, he is unconcerned (about pride) and • Late Adefemi Olubayo that was how we brought them up in the barracks. If we cook a pot of soup then it can finish at once, some will come from outside and eat that is how it ought to be, I thank God. What will you tell Nigerians who are still bemoaning his loss?

They should cheer up because it is God that moulded us and he is the one that has called him to Himself.

I now, I will dress up now and go to church.

There is nothing we can do. If we stay inside till tomorrow, if we sit inside the house till 2020 he cannot return. But you see that which they did for him is the most important. Even those we don’t know, it pained them more than those of us that gave birth to him as a result I give thanks to God if you have the opportunity to say anything to Bayo where he is now that is if he can hear you what will you tell him?

There is nothing I can say except that God should give him good rest, I even have the faith that God has given him good rest because he rose up with Christ and he has become an accepted person (in Heaven).

Thank you very much ma.

•L-R: Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) vice president, Mike Umeh, Super Eagles Chief coach, Samson Siasia and goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu at the Atan Cemetery, Lagos before Late Adefemi Olubayo was committed to mother earth.

PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

Will suleiman fix the ruins?

I

S it possible for Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman to be Sports Minister and not Football Minister?

I think it is possible. Very, very possible. It would be possible if he champions the cause of freeing football from the apron of the National Sports Commission (NSC) by making the National Assembly repeal Decree 101. The tendency to hold on to football will be high for the Minister. It is the king of sports. It takes the largest chunk of the budget every year. It has porgramme all the year round and it is opium of society. The tendency for Alhaji Suleiman to want to hold on to the most popular sports in the land is high.. Pretty high. If he holds on to football, he will be in the news almost all the time. The Presidency will see him to be doing something which is different from rebuilding the ruins of the past. But it won’t help him. It won’t help Nigeria. It won’t help football and it won’t help other sports. It will ensure that he leaves no mark on the sand of times. It would be better for the mInister to work behind the scene than to be in the news and be doing nothing.

Nigerian sports in ruins and its needs a rebuilder. Will Alhaji Suleiman step forward? Something tells me he is not the rebuilder but he has all the time to prove me wrong. He has maybe four years to prove me wrong. I would want to be proved wrong because Alhaji Suleiman could be the underdog. Others may have failed but he could prove to be the right man for the job.

He has four years to clear the rot in sports and lay a foundation for a better tomorrow. But a better tomorrow will come if the Minister chooses to be a rebuilder of the ruins and not sit on top of it.

Table Tennis and Athletics were next to football in popularity in those days. Then they had retinue of sponsors who kept the sports in public glare and they churn out stars. An encounter between Atanda Musa and Yomi Bankole threw Lagos into frenzy. The winner was to take away a brand new car.Table Tennis had a strong followership in the country with what was happening in Lagos and the kids keyed in to it by playing ping pong on any available space. The sports were busy and we had no problem turning out athletes for our international comitments. That has become history. The sponsorship has dried up and the tracks and knock up halls are overgrown with cobwebs. The sponsors pulled out because they were not getting mileage for their money. The corruption that rules the Federations made it impossible for them to continue with their commitment. Gone arethe days that Nigeria can produce quality five teams in table tennis. Gone are the days when the country ruled Africa and the Commonwealth. Gone are the days when the first three players in Africa were Nigerians. The All Africa Games holding in Maputo will determine how deep Nigeria has slidden in the ping pong. We used to rule the sprints and quatermile, but the days are gone. Now, it is difficult to predict whether we will come among the first three in those events. We have fallen so deep backward for a country which used to produce the first three in 100metres. We produced Mary Onyali, INNOcent Egbunike, Falilat Ogunkoya, Maria Usifo, Olapade Adenekan, the Ezinwa bothers and many others who went on to be stars internationally. They ruled Africa and world athletics with iron spikes and we were happy that we were happenning. They were produced by school sports. Now, school sports has fallen from grace to grass. They moved on to compete in the National Sports Festival, now, the festival has become a shadow of itself. It does not produce quality athletes anymore but speck of dots in the sky. With Egypt in turmoil, we can’t beat our chest that we will lead African sports in Maputo with the new strenght of South Africa.

Mobil Championship used to be the crown of athletics. Now, the crown has fallen off. They did tried for track and field and a letter of commemdation should go to them for having supported the competition for that long.

Tennis had a string of sponsors too. We produced the David Imonities and Nduka Odizors. At a point, we even dreamt of winning the Wimbledon through Odizor who had the the fastest serve that particular year. The dream has turned a nightmare as we hardly cashed in to produce future stars. The sponsors have all withdrawn over the mileage issue and embedded corruption. We thought the appointment of Engineer Sanni Ndanusa who has sports background as minister is what is needed to turn things around. It was canvassed in many fora that a sports inclined minister is what we need for sports. His failure in even turning tennis which he used to be the President put to shame those who canvassed the position. And Alhaji Suleiman is a breeze of fresh air.

Squash was bee-hive of activities in those days. They had sponsors throwing money on their laps in that Federation. Now that is history. They have lost all sponsors and the courts are empty. We ruled Africa. We pulled our weight in international competitions outside and within our borders. WE availed very much. Now, Squash needs fresh air, ideas and hands to turn things around. WE can talk about boxing, weightlifting, hockey and handball with retinue of sponsors. The sponsors have all gone away, all complaining of the same thing:mileage and corruption.

What am I saying? The ruin in sports is massive. IT would take more than four years to rebuild. Holing up in Abuja will not help sports. Sponsors need where they can be seen. They need an atmosphere where their products can reach as many people as possible. Lagos is the business capital of Nigeria even if it is not official.

Lagos is mini Nigeria. IT is wrong to move those sports Federations out of Lagos. It is killing them.

Let Alhaji Suleiman quickens the freedom of football so that he can face the herculian task of remoulding other sports. Let football go. There is no point in holding to a sport that can hold out its own. The rot has set in into football. Let football go before the rot consumes the Glass House.

But, will Alhaji Suleiman rebuild the ruins?

SIASIA AND OKORONKWO CONTROVERSY I beg to disagree witrh the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the issue of Samson Siasia and Solomon Okoronkwo.

Siasia had invited the foreign based player for the friendly match against the Ghana Black Stars in London on August 10, but the technical committee thought otherwise. I am of the opinion that the committee has gone beyond its brief by rejecting the player. By rejecting Okoronkwo, they have put a vote of no confidence in the ability of Siasia to pick his players. I think Siasia should be given the free hand to pick his players and his team. It is the responsibility of the coach to pick the players he wants to use in the team. The team is his and the technical committee is there to give him the necessary support. What Siasia owes the technical committee is the defence of his team list. Once he has defended it, it is the responsibility of the technical committee to give their nod. His list should not be tampered with under any circumstances as we had in the past when the technical committee tampered with the lists of coaches under it. We want to know who to praise when the team wins and who to blame when the team loses.

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THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

NATION SPORT

A season of redemption I in Colombia T is a season of redemption of sorts in Latin America. It is indeed redemption time for the host country, Colombia, for the organizers, FIFA and for Nigeria, a great opportunity to restate our stake in youth football. In just about a week from today, a new page will be turned in the history of world football governing body, FIFA and Colombia, a modest South American country that made headlines in the 1970’s to the late 1990’s albeit for the wrong reasons.

The Colombian drug wars instigated by Pablo Escobar, the Ochoa brothers, Rodriguez Orejuela and Santacruz Londono and many others that made up the Cali and Medellin cartel became subject of movie productions and for some misguided youths in far away countries, models in criminality. In between this, came the assassination of Andreas Escobar (no relation of Pablo) for an innocent own goal in the semi-finals clash with the USA; an incident that again bookmarked Colombia on the wrong side of history, diminishing the achievements of the country on the field.

But those negative headlines inched away in the period between 1993 to 1995 when a number of Colombian youths captured fancies of football coaches and historians across the world.

Faustino Asprilla, Carlos Valderrama and El Loco, Rene Huguita turned global attention on Colombia from the raging drug wars to football artistry at the Copa America and the World Cup. Who will not remember Huguita’s famous ‘Scorpion kick’ that stopped Jamie Redknapp’s goal-bound effort at the Wembley Stadium in a friendly match against England in 1995? Like the ef-

By Harry Iwuala

fects of the drug war on Colombia, corruption allegations arising from the recent World Cup bid decisions tainted FIFA so much that most of the gains of global football almost came crumbling resulting in the sacking of a number of its high ranking executives.

It is for this reason that football again is thought to have come to the rescue. For FIFA, it is another opportunity to look at the bright side of football administration and remove the shadows cast on its leading personalities. For the government and people of Colombia that seem to have won substantial victory in the war against drug cartels, there can be no better image purification than the attention of the over one billion members of the football family that will be turned to eight

cities hosting the world youths championship from July 29- August 20.

From Bogota to Cali, Manizales to Pereira, Armenia to Barranquilla and Cartagena to Medellin, the world will have an opportunity to enjoy the future stars of the world and behold the rich heritage of Colombia as seen in their beautiful emeralds, cut flowers and the world’s finest coffee.

Of interest for us in Nigeria in the first round of the hostilities will be the activities in Pereira and Armenia where the Coach John Obuh managed lads will take on Guatemala, Saudi Arabia and Croatia in Group D for a place in the quarter finals. Obuh has had what by far can be considered the best pre-tournament build-up by any Nigerian team in recent times.

For the African Championship which the team claimed

in South Africa, they trained and played a good number of trial matches in Turkey, Dubai and Nigeria. This time, they have camped in Portugal, played friendly matches against good opposition and participated in a tournament in Panama.

In the face of the disruptive activities from some quarters, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board deserves a commendation for being able to provide the enabling space for the coach and the players to plan their charge against the other 23 teams and give Nigeria the first FIFA U-20 diadem. Nigerians reluctantly accepted Obuh’s second place finishing behind Switzerland in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup giving the circumstances of his advent on the job. This time, excuses will not be accepted as no effort seems to have been spared in putting his team on a pedestal to succeed.

Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

Another view of National school sports revival project Cont’d from last week

H

OWEVER, it also operated a model where the winning schools represented their state at some zonal level before reaching the national finals. While the successes of that venture continues to win acclaim, it will be interesting to subject the many years of the competition to serious interrogation to determine the impact it has had on football development in schools, identified talents that has risen to the heights of Odegbami, Amiesimaka,

•Flying Eagles Ganiyu Ogungbe in action against a Gambian player during the Africa Youth Championship in South Africa

By Harry Iwuala

Keshi etc. For any endeavour to record progress, stock-taking is germane or we would be like lost sailors winking in the dark. It is also observed from the make-up of the National Working Committee that states have been relegated to nominal guest membership whereas they should be an integral part of the concept for it to work. The committee is still operating the same flawed federal structure that has been the bane of governance in the country.

Academicals as the term goes has its origins in schools and therefore this program must be jointly owned and driven by the Education sector. An experience we had as university students was that the school curriculum had no place for sports beyond budgeting for the sports unit that most times was not led by an academic. It therefore happened that students who played football for the school suffered academically except the few bright ones that had the capacity to manage their sport(s) and study.

Towards the 1990 University Games hosted by University of Calabar, we were training for the games and the school authorities scheduled the semester examinations as though the Games were for some other students and were only compelled to postpone the exam by protests from the entire school.

Or are we expecting to raise academicals that will drop off school after secondary school?

Corporate organizations that identify with the Academicals in the first year may find it difficult to do an encore if they can’t measure the benefits in real terms represented by a number of indices ranging from sales, brand awareness and platform for brand resonance. A match between two

schools during the state finals will definitely attract higher attendance than the one between selected players representing a local council area.

University Games became a hit in the 1980’s to 1990’s because it was school-based and not state based. Shell Cup till date remains school-based and so also are so many other national schools’ competitions such as the NIPOGA and College of Education Games. It is easier to make heroes out of the students within their catchment location in schools than local council areas.

Reference have always been made to the past when the nation had a rich harvest of academicals such as Chief Segun Odegbami (MON), Barrister Adokie Amiesimaka (MON), Henry Nwosu (MON), Stephen Keshi, Adeola Adekola, Felix Owolabi (MON), Dr. Patrick Ekeji (MON) and many others.

Were these great players and athletes such as Mary OnyaliOmagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya, Brown Ebewele, Chidi Imoh and the Ezinwa brothers discovered at a national school sports event? The answer is an obvious NO. They were discovered at state organized school sports and gained national prominence at National Sports Festivals. It is important to correct the misconception that this is a burden of the federal government when what we require is a federal framework for the states to key into.

It is therefore submitted that the organizers should take a second look at their implementation modules and re-jig it to what is realistic rather than what will be convenient. Nigeria cannot afford another effort at ‘spending the budget’.

Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

VOICE OF SPORTS

With Clement Nwankpa Jnr. sportswar@yahoo.com

Better Eagles Series EAGLES’ ‘DESTROYERS’ (2) Today, I continue the ‘Better Eagles’ Series with the concluding list of midfield enforcers who should shield the back four and provide the requisite base for Mikel and Joel Obi to bomb forward. Those mentioned in the first part were Obiora Nwankwo, Femi Ajilore, Julius Ubido, Yusuf Ayila, Olufemi Oladapo and Dickson Etuhu. Check out the rest; SANI KAITA Ehee! You are looking for the best water-carrier for the Obis?

Look no further than Kaita. We already have the creativity in the middle of the pack, we now need the steel. This is what Kaita provides. He doesn’t bother himself with the flashy stuff but sits in front of the back four and ‘destroys’ the opposition’s forays.

Siasia is used to him; he also has my vote; we just have to forgive him for that World Cup red card. The fact is that we need Kaita!

FENGOR OGUDE Fengor is the only defensive midfielder that regularly makes Siasia’s list of invited players these days. I have also noted that the moments this Valeranga of Norway enforcer replaced either Mikel or Joel in the middle of the pack, there was some defensive stability. He is hardworking and comes with a different ingredient from what the Obis provide but he needs some more caps to cement that position. We are talking football at full international level here.

RAMON AZEEZ This guy is the future. Imagine a Ramon as a side-kick for Joel someday. That’s very appetizing. When that day comes, it is hoped Ramon would have added more steel to his renowned ball handling skills. That dream day may be some way ahead but for now, he should busy himself with captaining the U-20s to a good WYC outing in Colombia. Afterwards, Austin Eguavoen should accommodate him in the U-23 squad for the Olympic qualifiers.

ENEJI OTEKPA This lad was a revelation of Eguavoen’s short stint as Eagles chief coach last year with an impressive debut against South Korea in a friendly. He comes with a lot of promise but in a nation like Nigeria where holding midfielders don’t come in short supply, dating back to the days of Muda Lawal, the standards for measuring success in this position are very high. I don’t think Eneji has ample energy to weather the storms.

STANLEY OKORONKWO Sharks’ Okoronkwo is one of the best midfielders in the domestic league. Little wonder he features regularly in Siasia’s homebased Eagles. He has a sweet left foot and is a two-way midfielder with a knack to burst from deep like a Michael Essien. He also weighs in with some sumptuous goals like the second of his brace against Kaduna United. The ‘destroyer’ needed in the current Eagles should have the discipline to sit behind Mikel and Joel.

This guy is too offensively disposed for that task.

YAKUBU ALFA Talking about educated left feet, they don’t come better than Alfa’s in the holding midfield. Left footed holding midfielders remind me of Argentine legend, Fernando Redondo. Alfa was Rabiu Ibrahim and Lukman Haruna’s water-carrier when the Golden Eaglets won the U-17 trophy at Korea 2007 helping himself to one of the goals of the tournament against Colombia. But he failed to impress in the ill-fated Egypt 2009 U-20 squad. I have doubts over his defensive abilities.

Sometimes, he cuts the picture of a playmaker who is made to play deeper because there is no better option in the holding role.

The Eagles need a truly defensive midfielder, not an improvisation.

MY VERDICT I have now listed 12 defensive midfielders, one of whom should always start in the Super Eagles to provide the requisite balance.

In fact, there are the likes of Gabriel Reuben and Sunday Stephen who, for lack of space, couldn’t be well espoused here. The question is; why would Siasia opt to file out a starting 11 without a defensive midfielder, given this avalanche of enforcers still carrying Nigerian passports? It is bad enough that the defence is easily the weakest department in the team but it is worse when there is no shield for the back four from the midfield. The defensive frailties would be reduced by a ‘destructive’ midfielder who would serve as a third centre back. Siasia has to be flexible with his traditional two-man midfield to accommodate a third midfielder-the ‘destroyer’. This is because both Mikel and Joel come with varieties that can’t be dispensed with.

Of the lot, the most suitable defensive shield for the Obis is Kaita.

The new Germinal Beershot recruit has a lot going for him. He has the requisite experience, has severally played under Siasia and would not be new to the Mikel combo having partnered him in the midfield at the U-20 World Cup in 2005. Most importantly, he has the discipline and tactical alertness to shelve the flamboyance and simply do the dirty work for the Obis.

Next week, I will continue the ‘Better Eagles’ Series by taking a more in-depth look at the creative midfield. Why has World Cup revelation Lukman Haruna not made Siasia’s lists so far? By the time I’m done with this series, I would have touched all the departments of the team as we count down to Siasia’s first year on the saddle. EAGLES MUST BE GREAT AGAIN!

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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NATION SPORT

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AN we meet you?

My name is Honourable Baraladei Daniel Igali, The Technical Adviser of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation.

How was wrestling event at The Garden City Games?

It was fantastic. We had about 105 athletes, the biggest so far we’ve had in any competition in the past. We had lots of young athletes that came into the competition, we did not have any injuries, and we had no fight.

Delta State did exceedingly well, they were very prepared and won 4 gold medals and they will be very happy ahead of the next Sports Festival.

What can you say about the standard of the competition?

The standard is appreciably high but my only concern is with this zeal to win. The coaches have laid more emphasis on winning than the actual wrestling itself. So you’ll see people stalling, just doing everything to win which at this stage, I want to see people going out to win and it does not matter if they make mistake. They can actually correct the mistakes when they get older, that’s when you can get the best out of them As a former wrestler, how would you compare your time when you were growing to what is happening now?

It’s about the same thing. I think it’s an impression that I need to correct from the coaches. Sometimes the coaches are responsible for the stalling in wrestling. Stalling is when somebody doesn’t want to wrestle, but just want to defend because he’s gotten one point. That is the same environment I grew up, that was the same mentality I was thought until I traveled abroad. It is there I was thought that to win you have to wrestle. You have to keep taking the person down and that is what I’m trying to preach. But Festival is a big game for lots of kids, they want to win medals but we have to balance it against good wrestling and that is what I am preaching.

You must have discovered new talents, what are your next plans for them?

We’ve discovered quite some athletes here. Most of the gold medalists and even some that were not gold medalists, but are good with potential of getting a gold medal in the future, we’ve identified them.

2011 ALL AFRICAN GAMES WRESTLING

IgaliruesNigeria’sabsence Daniel Igali is the Technical Adviser of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation.

Igali represented Canada on the world stage. At the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, he won a gold medal in the Men's 69 kg freestyle wrestling. He also won a gold medal in the Men's 74 kg freestyle wrestling at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

In this chat with NationSport duo of AKEEM LAWAL and FLORENCE NKEM ISRAEL during the just concluded National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, Igali, who is now a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, believes his new political role will not deter his commitment towards developing wrestling in the country. Excerpt.

This is a long term project, these are not people that will get into the National team by the way, though maybe one or two, and that is essentially what the National Sports Festival is for. That is why some who has gone to two to three

sports festivals can’t compete here.

Someone who has traveled twice internationally can’t compete here.

It is to get new talents which means we have to nurture them, we have to give programmes. Most of them are 16, 17, 18, but 19, 20 is even the upper

limit. So we will get most of them into our cadet team which is 16, 17, our junior team 18-20 and hopefully we can graduate them to the senior level.

Talking about our coaches, how are they familiar with the changing

techniques of wrestling?

We are picking up. Over the last few years, we’ve been able to expose our coaches to lots of tournaments.

What is now left is for us to go to coaching clinics even just observe.

A lot of observation will help a lot of

“

I’m a wrestler and I’ll be a wrestler till I die. I’m the chairman, House Committee on Sports at the House of Assembly.

Hopefully it will get to a point where I might not even have to rely 100 percent on the NSC to do what I can for the athletes and that is very invigorating. When you know that there is some independence you can do as a person. But in terms of coming and staying in camp, morning, afternoon and evening, I won’t be able to do that anymore, but the ones that ‘I have targeted might come and stay with me because we don’t sit till 10 am, we can train from 78.30 in the morning. We don’t sit everyday, we sit Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, so I have 4 days full time, we still do a lot.

•Azubuike Ewa from Ebonyi in red against Toyin Adebiyi from Ogun State, in wrestling competition

PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

our coaches and sometimes to bring technical experts in to help with coordinated approach. But so far, I can now boast of about 8 coaches that knows their onions very well.

Wrestling is not among the sports that will feature at the All Africa

Games, what is your take on that?

Yes wrestling is not in All Africa Games, sadly. But I’m not too bordered by it because the world championship is in Istanbul in September and we have lots of our athletes that we are planning to pick Olympic spot at that tournament that may not have been able to go to All Africa Games, it’s just 7 days in between. So while lots of them will miss out on the preparations, the financial emolument that goes with it, from the preparatory point of view, I’m not too bordered.

So what are your preparations towards the World Championship?

We’ve been doing some internal arrangements. I’ve been bringing them to Bayelsa so that they can train with me. I’ve picked about 6 of them and at the World level we can’t go with every body because we don’t even have the finance. The National Sports Commission does not have the finances to cater for a whole team of 21 people. So we are going with about 6 and the fact is at the World Championships, we might go with just 4. My plan is to ensure that we qualify for three if we can.

Now that you are in the House of Assembly, how will you be able to combine the two?

I’m a wrestler and I’ll be a wrestler till I die. I’m the chairman, House Committee on Sports at the House of Assembly. Hopefully it will get to a point where I might not even have to rely 100 percent on the NSC to do what I can for the athletes and that is very invigorating. When you know that there is some independence you can do as a person. But in terms of coming and staying in camp, morning, afternoon and evening, I won’t be able to do that anymore, but the ones that ‘I have targeted might come and stay with me because we don’t sit till 10 am, we can train from 7-8.30 in the morning. We don’t sit everyday, we sit Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, so I have 4 days full time, we still do a lot.

How would you use you office to develop the sport in the country?

I’ve already been doing a lot to develop the game, the office is just an add-on and I’ll still keep doing what I’ve been doing which is a lot for wrestling.

•Igali

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THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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NATION SPORT

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HE Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (International Student’s Edition) defines academy as “a school or college for special training”.

Indeed. An academy, in the real sense of the word, is a school, or college, for development of the human potential in a particular sector or endeavour, for the purpose of improvement over time, for the human being to become a better person in the interest of himself/herself and the immediate society at large.

During the week, I was going through my file when I saw a document which the Nigeria Football Federation made public sometime in February, 2009: “The Nigeria Football Federation hereby notifies the general public that in view of the mushrooming of football academies all over the country, most of them without meeting appropriate standards for the setting up of such, it has decided to set guidelines for the establishment of a football academy in Nigeria”, began the notice.

The notice went ahead to state that only the Pepsi Football Academy, Lagos (so brilliantly coordinated by Coach Kashimawo Laloko, a former NFF Technical Director) and the Football College of Excellence, Ilorin (an excellent project spearheaded by the Kwara State Government) could be said to meet the standards expected of a football academy.

Also at the time, individuals and corporate bodies interested in establishing a football academy were urged to contact the offices of the Football Association in their respective States, obtain a copy of the guidelines and also the form for registration.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, which took place on Thursday, 8th January, 2009, the following guidelines were approved for the establishment of football academies in Nigeria: Any Football Academy to be registered with the Nigeria Football Federation must go through its State Football Association.

The facilities of the Football Academy will be inspected by the Nigeria Football Federation through the State Football Association. These facilities must meet the minimum standards set by the NFF before operational permit is granted.

All developmental activities, or related activities of the Academy, must be approved by the Nigeria Football Federation.

The personnel of any Academy must possess appropriate educational/ professional qualifications for their jobs as they are dealing with Youth Development.

The Nigeria Football Federation will, periodically, evaluate each Football Academy to certify the appropriate maintenance of operational standards.

Each Football Academy may seek partnership/sponsorship with individuals or corporate organizations.

Contents of Contract Agreements between Academies and their trainees must be reviewed periodically, and copies of such agreements must be kept with the relevant State Football Association.

Any Football Academy to be registered with the Nigeria

Inside The Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Football Academies of our Dream (2) Football Federation must pay a registration fee of N20,000 and an annual affiliation fee of N10,000, subject tp periodic review by the NFF. I have fully captured the details of the guidelines set for the establishment of any football academy in Nigeria in order for people to be aware that there are set standards.

These set standards are designed in the interests of the young child, the academy itself and football in general.

I was a Member of the NFF Executive Committee which took these decisions and approved the above guidelines, and I still subscribe to them. It is important that people follow these standards in order to give credibility to the running of academies in Nigeria.

While enforcement might have been somewhat slack in the past two years, it is going to be different now. During the week, I had a meeting with the Deputy General Secretary (Technical), Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and we agreed that these guidelines MUST now be followed.

While people are keen, even desperate to set up football academies, most are not inclined to follow the guidelines. This would have to stop. The NFF has made things a lot easier by empowering the State Football Associations (our Members) to do most of the checks and reviews necessary.

At a recent dinner for Management and players of Kano Pillars Football Club and Kano Pillars Basketball Team at the Government House, Kano, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso disclosed that English Premiership club, Sunderland FC has expressed interest to pool resources with the Kano State Government towards the establishment of a football academy in the state.

For sure, this is a laudable move.

Governor Kwankwanso also said that a committee has been set up to advise the Government on how to actualize the project.

He rightly pointed out that the major problem of sports in Kano State (and I dare say, other States of the Federation) is lack of facilities and inadequate exposure of sportsmen and women. The Governor also noted the importance of sports to social and economic development of any society, reflecting that all over the world, sport has become a major employer of labour, as sportsmen and women sometimes earn more than academic heavyweights and top politicians.

I am enamoured by Governor Kwankwanso’s

pledge to make the proposed Football Academy a model for other academies, and indeed for other States.

Should we have States of the Federation taking up this challenge of establishing football academies and doing things the proper way, it would indeed help our football, nay sports. The mushrooming of ‘football academies’ over the years has not helped Nigerian football because a high percentage of proprietors are only interested in shipping these young men and women abroad to make their own quick profits.

Watching the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Mexico and the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Germany set one thinking hard about what some other countries are doing about football development that we are not doing. This introspection, from Members of the NFF Executive Committee to Management Staff, has set us thinking about the holistic approach to improving the start-up for our youths.

The Nigeria Football Federation is determined to pursue a public-private partnership venture in the establishment of a model Football Academy that will teach others how to do it. We are looking at the possibility of combining football training programme with formal education in a wellblended curriculla.

This should not be exclusive to the NFF. Corporate organizations and well-to-do individuals can come up with similar ideas, all conforming to the above guidelines, so that we can start to look at a near-future assured and insured, football-wise.

Most of the football played at in Mexico and Germany showed that it is not just enough to know how to ‘brawn’ all over the field.

Intelligent Quotient, derived from some education, does play a part. Where you are supposed to feign and dribble and feint, if you don’t have the IQ, you simply bobble around blindly and waste gilt-edged opportunities.

Formal education also comes with knowledge of guile, which most of the time is the gulf between the winner and the loser in a football match.

Welcome, Honourable Minister...

I am very much convinced that the new Honourable Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman means well for

Nigerian sports. I have had the opportunity to meet him a couple of times during the week at formal meetings and I am happy that he has come at the right time for Nigerian football, which is where I am most concerned.

The resolve of the new Honourable Minister/ Chairman to settle all differences and help fasttrack the process of getting our Bill on change of name passed at the National Assembly is the kind of resolve you would only see in people who mean well for their sector.

His resolve alone can move mountains. And the NFF will repay his genuineness of his intention with determination to engender reforms that will please all true lovers of the Nigerian game.

Wake-up call for Flying Eagles...

Many Nigerians might have been disappointed with the 0-2 defeat of the National U20 team, Flying Eagles, by their Portuguese counterparts at the Copa de Presidente de la Republica on-going in Panama City.

But I chose to see it as a wakeup call for the team ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

The two teams had earlier played to a 0-0 draw in another friendly in Lisbon a week earlier. This means the Portuguese studied our team well from that match and were able to activate a gameplan that worked well against our team. This is a lesson to the technical crew of the Flying Eagles. They should know that Colombia 2011 would be no picnic (what with their 0-0 draw with Panama on Monday) and that accurate gamereading will be key to success.

Players and technical crew must also hearken to the charge of the new Honourable Minister/ Chairman, National Sports Commission, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman that the team must do Nigeria proud in Colombia.

Tsunami at the Copa...

The previous weekend, it all went against the bookmakers at the quarter finals of the Copa America 2011, when hosts Argentina lost on penalties to Uruguay, Peru defeated Colombia, Paraguay eliminated Brazil and Venezuela kicked out Chile!

What a tsunami! All the top teams losing out. Yet, it all goes to show that football does not respect myths or pedigree or previous achievement.

• Alex Nwora, coach of Cape Verde team poses with Nigerian player Gift Achiuwa

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Nigeria’ll fall —Alex Nwora

OACH Alex Nwora's vast knowledge of the game of basketball has taken him from a humble beginning where he was discovered from one of the basketball courts in a little town in Anambra State, to an enviable height in Cape Verde where he heads the Cape Verde Basketball National team.

Presently he is in the country to oversee a camp which is designed to give coaches and teams the opportunity and atmosphere to take the dunk and slam game to another level. His technical expertise will afford him the opportunity to take young basketball players through defensive and offensive instructional sessions, practice, opportunities, weight room clinics and live play with other camp teams. Athletes will practice, and play one-on-one and three-on-three as well as many other live situations.

The camp which has continued to enjoy an immense commendation from Coaches in the United States, according to Nwora has been able to give leverage to African players and European players alike.

Nwora said:"Every year more international players are getting drafted into the NBA. So that shows you that, the level of basketball in Europe and Africa is rising to compete with the States. This can be attributed to the camps we organise. We teach basketball players the basics of the game. The kids are more disciplined. They are more down to earth and that is what coaches over there want to see in the National Basket Association (NBA). And these are the type of players the coaches want to see. They don't want kids that want to choose when to practice. They don’t want kids that just want to dunk the ball.

However, funding the camp is no mean’s feat. But with the support of a religious foundation, The Samaritans, Nwora stated that Nigeria is among beneficiaries that the organisation intends to support fully.

"As the name implies, the Samaritan is a religious foundation that gives back to the kids. We are trying to give ten million kids within five or ten years worldwide sneakers.

"We are here to run a camp and also do some shoe donations to the underprivileged kids. The Samaritan Group hopes to make a donation of five hundred sneakers to Nigerian kids and also orphanage homes.

Immediately after the camp we will be going to Port Harcourt to extend the gesture to kids from the Niger Delta."

Nwoke is projecting ahead of

By Stella Bamawo

the five day camping session which will have him going back to his base in Cape Verde. His priority will be to ensure that Cape Verde wins the trophy for his basketball team. In this regards, Nationsports asked what will be his aim if by chance he meets the Nigeria Basketball team.

He said: “I am going to beat them,(Nigeria Basketball Team) it is not personal . This is just business. Nobody is going to a competition to lose, it is part of the game, we are playing to win. We have a lot to look for especially in this All Africa Games as we did not have the chance to go to Madagascar, We have to make a statement with the all Africa Games holding in Mozambique later in the year. We have got a lot of chips on our shoulders.”

Nwoke who also serves as the head coach of Erie Community college in New York and the founder of Global Sports advantage in the United States believes that in Cape Verde, the Basketball game has grown to be a force to be reckoned with .

He said: “Their federation is very effective, they work very hard and they are very involve with the youths. The kids are also enthusiastic about the game.”

Nwoke however found it difficult to give an assessment of the Nigeria Basketball teams: “That is a question that will not be fair to me to answer because I have not being on ground, so I won’t be able to give a proper assessment. I will just talk like a layman; I can’t ever give an accurate assessment. I am in the United States coaching my team, so it will be difficult for me, because I don’t follow basketball here. I don’t know much what is going on here until I am here. I can’t give you a good assessment. People like Sam Ahmedu who are on ground will be able to give you a good assessment. I cannot judge anybody with what I don’t know. But I know that we have talents that are very raw. They need to train and get better than what they are now. Then they will have a very good chance.

Although they have very good coaches, they just need more competitions, exchange programme and support to do a lot better. There are lots of coaches and talents and I have a lot respect for them. But they need to train to get better, they need more competitions and they should be allowed to go the United States for exposure, which I am willing to do with them.They will do a lot better.

They still need to go for lots of training and coaching courses to get better.”

Olubanwo Fagbemi

On Sport Sport On SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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e-mail: deewalebf@yahoo.com

Siasia’s way

COUNTDOWN TO MAPUTO 2011 ALL AFRICA GAMES

Tricky and testy times for U Patrick Ekeji

NLESS the National Sports Commission (NSC) co-opt elite coaches into the track and field team, our below average athletes may perform below average Olukayode Thomas reports Love him or hate him, one thing you cannot take away from Patrick Ekeji, Director General National Sports Commission (NSC) is his special place in Nigerian sports history.

Ekeji was the first sports administrator to lead Nigeria to top the medal table in the All Africa Games. He achieved the feat at the Abuja 2003 edition.

Four years later at the Algiers 2007 Games, Ekeji had vacated the seat for Amos Adamu, who led Team Nigeria in Algiers.

Ekeji’s major outing since returning to the NSC was under Hon. Ibrahim Isa Bio as Sports Minister and Chairman NSC. The duo recorded one of Team Nigeria’s best performances at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010.

With the All Africa Games just weeks away, Ekeji is set for his second major outing with the new Minister of Sports and Chairman NSC, Yusuf Suleiman.

With Suleiman fresh in sports, only a fool will blame him if Team Nigeria fails in Maputo.

Federation officials, who are fond of taking credit when teams succeed, but blame NSC when they fail, will readily blame Ekeji and the NSC if Team Nigeria fails.

This is why Ekeji needs to be proactive and scrutinize the list of athletes and coaches being submitted by each of the federation going to Maputo.

The NationSport has made Ekeji’s job easier by analysing the list submitted by Evangelist (Chief) Solomon Ogba, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

THE BONE OF CONTENTION Evangelist Ogba’s list is made up of average athletes who need tutorial from elite coaches to succeed in Maputo.

But the Isoko Chief did the unthinkable by leaving Nigeria’s elite coaches out of the list. More worrisome is that, of the 51 athletes that will represent Nigeria in Maputo, 28 are female and 23 male, yet the Evangelist did not include any female coach in the team.

The 10 officials selected by the Evangelist are good no doubt, but Nigeria has better coaches who know what it takes to handle elite athletes in major championships. These are the coaches that Ogba ignored for reasons one cannot explain.

Or how does one justify Ogba’s exclusion of Innocent Egbunike, arguably the best elite athlete coach Nigeria has.

Egbunike has led Team Nigeria to record many successes including winning the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He has also achieved success elsewhere, notably in America

•Blessing Okagbare

where he coached Angelo Taylor to win the Olympics gold medal in 400 hurdles at Beijing 2008.

When it comes to managing elite athletes, Egbunike towers above all the coaches currently in camp.

At the Beijing Olympic Games, Egbunike successfully managed Olusoji Fasuba, an athlete most of our local coaches could not even give instructions.

Tony Osheku is another good elite coach overlooked by the federation. It was Osheku who coached Falilat OgunkoyaOmotayo to win two Olympics medals at Atlanta 96 Games, and she became the best quarter-miler in the world two years later.

Osheku coached Seun Ogunkoya to become one the best sprinters in the world between 1997 and 1999. Then, big names like Ato Bolden, Maurice Green and Donovan Bailey dreaded Ogunkoya, others include Mercy Nku, late Sunday Emmanuel to mention a few.

We know excelling in the quarter- mile is not in the DNA of North Africans, but Osheku coached Libyan Mohamed Ashour Khowaja to become the best quarter-miler in Africa at the last African Championship, he also won the event at the last

Mediterranean Games in Pescara (Italy).

Rotimi Obajimi, the trainer of coaches recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federation, as one of their better instructors is also ignored.

Ditto Pat Itanyi the West Virginia University trained coach who has about five athletes in camp.

Ironically President Goodluck Jonathan is increasing the number of women in his cabinet and urging other to do same, the AFN has ignored the only female coach who has the highest number of athletes in a team that has more female athletes than male. What an irony.

Of all the athletes that were at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, three athletes that tested positive to performance enhancing drugs from Nigeria were track and field athletes: Damola Osayomi, Samuel Okon and Folashade Abunga.

Commonsense dictates that the federation should take the issue of doping seriously, but ironically, one of best doping experts in Nigeria, who is a member of the AFN and heads the Doping sub-committee Dr Ken Anuwegje, was not considered worthy of being

among the 19 0fficials the federation has called to camp.

More worrisome are the media officers. One of the banes of our athletes and officials is media relations.

Eucharia Uche’s recent outburst in Germany about lesbianism is a clear example.

Where the federation’s choice of Duro Ikhazuagbe is perfect, the choice of Emelia Sturham as Media Officer beats one’s imagination. The name is strange, not only to many of the athletes, but even to sports journalists.

ATHLETE’S CHANCES The chances of our men at the games are very slim.

Zimbabweans, Zambians and even North Africa, South Africans, and Cameroonian are ranked ahead of Nigerians in the men 100m, 200m, and 400m, we are not even in the first four in all these events.

With our athletes not many among the ten, hope for medals in the 4x100m and 4x400m are rather slim. It is the same story in other men events that we intend to enter athletes in long jump, high jump, decathlon, only triple jumper Tosin Oke is sure of a gold medal.

Our prospect in the women events are good especially in 100m, 200m, 4x400m, long jump, 400 hurdles and high jump. Our chances in the other events are rather slim.

Our chances in the 4x100m and 4x400m are very bright, but then this is not the first time that we will go to a major championship with very good athletes who have very good chances of winning medals in the relays, but poor baton exchange, in-fighting and absence of elite coaches with strong personally will mar our chances.

That is why Ekeji needs to tinker with the coaches in camp and invite coaches that have what it takes to manage athletes.

The interest of Nigeria is bigger than any other interest.

The earlier Suleiman and Ekeji act, the better for Nigeria.

The Coaches 1 Harrison Mommah Relays 2 Gabriel Okon Relays 3 Paul Obodoechina Sprints 4 Daniel Etsebiminor Sprints 5 Solomon Abari Long Sprints 6 Saheed Akinpelu Long Sprints 7 Lati Obisesan Throws and Combine Events 8 Gabriel Opuana Throws and Combine Events 9 Olu Sule Vertical Jumps 10 Yussuf Alli Vertical Jumps 11 Adebayo Kola Horizontal Jumps 12 Sunday Bada Long Sprints/ Technical Director 13 Solomon Aliyu Hurdles 14 Gad Onumaegbu Hurdles 15 Navy Capt. Nesiama Omatseye Camp Commandant 16 Emelia Sturham Media Officer 17 Duro Ikhazuagbe Media Officer 18 Rita Akande Chaperon 19 Maria Wophill Team Manager Evang. (Chief) Solomon Ogba, JP President.

I

N the end, Samson Siasia will be judged by influence on tactical monoeuvre as much as disciplined approach to Super Eagles team matters. While he may not be held responsible for the undisciplined antics of star players, he will be for charitable invites and team bonding.

Confirming widespread views of the coach’s unnerving commitment to youth team faithfuls, he elected to have the former youth team ward of modest achievement, Solomon Okoronkwo, replace Colombia 2011 World Youth Championship-bound Ahmed Musa in his 22man list for the August 9 clash with perennial West Coast rival Ghana in London. There was no place, again, for Brown Ideye on the block.

It is not for want of requisite good form, however, that Dynamo Kiev’s latest livewire is designated stand-by in case any of the original 22 does not make it. Since gatecrashing the South Africa 2010 World Cup finals, and despite bags of goals for Sochaux in the French top flight last season with apparent extension of the same shape with Kiev ahead of the forthcoming term, the forward has struggled to earn international notice.

Indeed, some would think him a more worthwhile inclusion than Okoronkwo. But as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rightly noted, fitting replacement for Musa should come from the domestic league if only to encourage the budding group of home-based players.

On the strength of consistency in local league and mostly B international appearances, few would have scruples with the inclusion of Ekigho Ehiosun, Chigozie Agbim, and the Heartland FC duo of Chibuzor Okonkwo and Gege Soriola, even if they are scant reward for preceding clamour for Siasia’s engagement by domestic players and the enterprise subsequently demonstrated by them during camping exercises.

Beyond overall potential of the mainly tested squad selected, however, is import of the previous feud between Siasia and star act Osaze Odemwingie on team fortunes.

For leaving camp after marginal contribution to a 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in Abuja and missing the friendly against Kenya in March without the coach’s approval followed by a rash vent of misgivings on social network site Twitter, Odemwingie descended rapidly from hero to villain in public view.

He was subsequently excluded from the June 1 international friendly against Argentina and the Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia four days later as the coach sought to preserve team discipline and assuage widespread ire. Critics sniggered, but fans and players backed Siasia’s decision to blacklist the errant West Bromwich Albion hotshot and were encouraged by thumping results secured in part by the return of erstwhile talisman Ikechukwu Uche from a long injury layoff.

Hinting that the affair was probably stage-managed to legitimately excuse the team’s most important player against minnows Ethiopia and an evidently third-rate Argentina squad, I wrote at the time that the allegedly tired and unfit player might be indulged in keeping with the dangerous precedence of choosing matches set by his national team predecessors.

Siasia’s convenient recant ahead of a busy schedule that also includes a critical reverse 2012 Nations Cup fixture away to Madagascar on September 3 and a possible friendly with Argentina in Dakah, Bangladesh afterwards suggested as much. Said the coach after a fence-mending meeting with Odemwingie arranged by the football federation: “He has been pardoned. He called me and explained the circumstances that led to whatever happened and asked to be pardoned and I have forgiven him. I made him understand that what he did was not the best for team spirit and he agreed with me.”

Consider the player’s well-timed mimic of his coach’s sentiments: it was all “a misunderstanding” as a result of “communication breakdown”.

Without relating the involvement of offended team mates in the parley, Siasia underscored Osaze’s relevance to Nigeria’s senior football ambitions. Some, given reasonable evidence of greater service by distinguished ex-internationals and the evidently humble disposition of Ike Uche before he copped a career-threatening injury in Spain, would counter the position, of course.

On the basis of exceptional form and committed displays for club and country, however, the 30 year-old winger cum striker is Nigeria’s most accomplished player of the past two years. Unfortunately, the stellar statistics are sometimes blurred by run-ins with his coaches as witnessed recently with Siasia.

Nonetheless, with the matter resolved in-house as issues of national importance in other spheres of politicised human endeavour invariably are, thought must now shift to the event of a successful run and eventual cup win. Thus will fans rubbed the wrong way by the Osaze affair savour the gains of steadfast support for the Eagles.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

BACK ST AGE

Tinsel enters Season 4 …Celebrates 500 episodes

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-NET'S Tinsel, one of the most exciting TV soap in the country is in its fourth season. The series started with a lot of expectations.

Aside being a creative concept to entertain fun-loving Nigerians, it was creatively positioned as an economic agenda to keep hundreds of Nigerians gainfully employed while they entertain the viewers.

Tinsel was originally created by Yinka Ogun and produced by the trio of Femi Odugbemi, Jaiye Ojo and Lemmy Adebule. With over 80 cast and crew from Nigeria and Ghana, the soap was in pre-production for over 90 months. Its Season One's 65 episodes of 26 minutes each was shot in the Frame 24 Studio located in Ojota, Lagos for over 100 days.

Season Two delivered 156 episodes and aired thrice weekly while Season Three had 261 but aired daily. With a few more episodes in the current Season Four, the soap has reached a watershed landmark of 500 episodes, and this calls for celebration!

Tinsel's synopsis at the beginning defined the soap with three thematic focuses: As a power struggle; as a tale of infidelity, and as a love story. These three themes wheeled the progress of the plot in the first season, creating a tension-soaked relationship between two leading film companies Reel Studios and Odyssey Pictures led by Fred AdeWilliams and Brenda Mensah respectively.

In 2010, M-Net's investment in Tinsel increased and subsequently the number of weekly episodes to be screened in Season Three was increased to five spanning Mondays through Fridays.

At the launch of Season Three, M-Net Africa Managing Director, Biola Alabi, said, “M-Net is delighted that Tinsel continues to be a popular series and that it is growing from strength to strength as Nigerian audiences positively react to its storylines and its characters.

Tinsel Season Four has begun with new dynamics and a promise of more

thrilling episodes to come.

It still screens five times a week within the primetime belt. DStv viewers will see changes in the soap, which hitherto had been restricted to the studio.

Veteran actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), makes a debut appearance in Tinsel Season Four. He has joined the league of Nollywood stars that have appeared in Tinsel since 2008.

Actors that have made Tinsel a must watch include: Victor Olaotan (Fred), Bimbo Manuel (Dan), Abiola SegunWilliams (Titi K), Gideon Okeke (Philip), Omar Shariff Captain (Reginald), Uzo Egeonu (replaced with Funmi Holder as Amaka), Matilda Obaseki (Angela), Chris Attoh (Kwame), Kunle Coker (Ziggy), Gbenro Ajibade (Soji), Iyke Okechukwu (Chuks), Damilola Adegbite (Telema) and Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi (Brenda), to mention but a few.

Nollywood stars who feature in Tinsel include: Jide Kosoko, Kalu Ikeagwu, Nobert Young, Njemanze Ann, Carol King, Jude Orhora, among others.

The portent for all this eclectic mix of actors is that Nigerian film/TV industry

will benefit immensely from capacity building and exposure.

While the producers of Tinsel deserve all the plaudits coming their way for a slickly produced soap that has captured the imagination of a lot of Nigerians, it is important that the production continues to raise the bar on its production values and not relent on its oars. As the Tinsel juggernaut rolls on and the audience keeps being intrigued by the terrific tales woven in Season Four, MNet continues to prove that it has indeed got the magic to keep viewers entertained and inspired. Long may it continue as we raise our “collective glasses” to the next 500 episodes!

Tinsel's synopsis at the beginning defined the soap with three thematic focuses: As a power struggle; as a tale of infidelity, and as a love story •Nobert Young

•Jide Kosoko

•RMD

39

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

‘Myself, career and family’ •Continued from Page 22 more than ever before as my guide and guard.

I saw myself as the cynosure of all eyes more than ever before. Above all, it dawned on me that I had to take the profession as a way of life in every sense of it. Suddenly, I saw myself sitting at the Inner Bar with giants like Richard Akinjide, GOK Ajayi, FRA Williams, the late Akpamgbo, Afe Babalola, Abdulahi Ibrahim, Fani-Kayode and a host of others.

“These are men seen as role models, icons of the profession; those we regarded as the legal potentics. It never occurred to me that in the profession, I would be what I am today.

That is why I said it’s not by my power, strength, diligence, knowledge, hard-work, but God’s boundless grace.”

On how his family celebrated the day, he recalled: “Our last child, Tope, who is now in the Law School, was very fond of me. She was just three then. Early on that day, she played nasty with me; sat on my laps and shared jokes with me. Then, I took my bath without putting on my wig and gown. She was still very friendly.

“But when I got to the Supreme Court, I wore the wig and gown and wanted to take a photograph with her, she ran away (laughs), exclaiming: ‘No, this is not my dad! What kind of thing is this?’ Everybody burst into laughter. I removed it later in the day and we became friends again.

“Back at home, everybody was happy. My wife was especially joyous. Then, I was hosted by friends. First among them was Justice Saadu Kawu of the Supreme Court. Even some clients of mine from Oro Community in Lagos hosted me.

“You won’t believe it; the next day, I was in court. I told my wife, ‘work has started in earnest. She just smiled because she had got used to it.”

As he had prepared himself for it, he recalled his few experiences in the ‘valley of the shadow of death’: “I have every cause to thank God without ceasing. I suffered physical attacks. God used us to change the jurisprudence of impeachment in this country.

Hitherto, the fashion was that the House of Assembly could throw out a governor and that would be the end. It was like the sword of Damocles, an albatross hovering over the nation’s political landscape.

“All that changed when we took up Ladoja’s case in Oyo with other articulate lawyers under my leadership. At a point in the court premises, we were surrounded and harassed by thugs on the orders of a political warlord who is dead now. We learnt that the thugs were ordered to terminate our lives. But the opposing lawyer, who I respect a lot, came in. He told them: ‘You want to do that? Then, kill me first.’”

Olanipekun further revealed: “There were times nobody would know where I was

‘

I have two boys and two girls. Two of them are practising in my chamber. The first one with a PH.D in law is a lecturer at the University of Lagos, aside from his law practice.

The second has a Master’s in Law. The third, a lawyer too, is doing well.

And my girl, the fourth, is in the Law School

’

•Olanipekun with wife and children sleeping except my wife. There was a time I was travelling to Akure from Lagos for a case.

I branched at Ibadan and met Justice Omotayo Obalaja. He asked: ‘Wole, where are you going?’ I told him and he advised that I must not go on that day, saying that I should spend the night somewhere.

“I have received countless threatening text messages and strange telephone calls. On January 6, 2009, I had gone to reconcile feuding factions of a company with the assurance of the police commissioner. I was there with a faction which was my client, waiting for the other faction. Before one could say Jack Robinson, there were shootings everywhere.

In fact, they killed an Indian director of the company right in my presence.”

Asked to recall a particular case that has given him much fulfilment in the last 20 years, he replied: “To me, every case is important.

That is why I put my all into it. I don’t attach personal emotion to cases. If a judgment is given against me, I go to the Appeal and possibly, Supreme Court. I neither compromise nor cut corners.

“And I have realised that some against whom you have earlier taken up cases later in life come back to seek your services. Yes, you can tell a client that you know how to get a judge on his side on a case or do other things contrary to professional etiquette, but you will succeed in giving the client a lasting negative impression about your ability and integrity as a lawyer. You won’t be in his good books when he’s asked to pick a diligent lawyer.

That is why naked professionalism rooted in uprightness is my watch word.

“Every case is important to me. I put everything into every case. To the public, some might be more important than others. We have successfully handled many cases at various strata across the country. Thank God for the Ajero of Ijero, the Olowo of Owo, the Emir of Borgu, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oloye of Oye

Ekiti, politicians, bank managers and countless viable companies across the land, land owners and educational institutions. The list goes on. God has used us to settle cases for many out of court.”

To make a success of the legal profession, he further explained, one needs total concentration. “You need to insulate yourself against the distractions of the society, nay the world, so that you won’t be swept away by the wind. I don’t do business. Not that I don’t invest in it; I don’t take contracts. I have committed my life to legal practice. I have practised in virtually all parts of every state in this country.

“I’ve seen the ups and downs of the profession. I’ve been lucky to be Attorney General of the old Ondo State; elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); served on the Privileges Committee for four years; served on the National Judicial Council (NJC); Disciplinary Committee of the profession and one-time Acting Chairman, Council of Legal Education. I thank God that in all these, I have been able to keep my integrity, reputation and credibility intact,” he enthused.

Expatiating on his books that were

presented yesterday, Olanipekun said: “It occurred to me that I should bequeath something to my society as a means of appreciating God and humanity. In the last 20 years, I have delivered 400 papers, 100 of which border on education, religion, politics and other issues including literature. With suggestions by my colleagues in the chamber, we realised that they could be condensed into books for future generations. I’m still going to write on the civil, criminal and other aspects of the law. It will be my own contribution to legal literature.”

His delectable wife, Omolara Olanipekun, an Offa, Kwara State princess, is a graduate of English. She is a business woman. Hear her on Olanipekun: “He is not only my husband, he is my best friend, caring brother and whatever you can call him. He is everything to me. We are always together psychologically and spiritually. I have for long known his dos and don’ts. He is a wonderful partner. Any moment with him is like one in the warm arms of my biological parents. I’m convinced that it pleased God to give him to me as a dependable friend indeed.

“Above all, he is the ideal loving husband any good woman would pray to have for life.

Despite his commitment to duty, he would still squeeze out time to make us feel his presence at the home front. He is a wonderful family man, a humanist and workaholic of no mean order.”

Emphasising her commitment to keeping the home front, Princess Omolara added: “I have never allowed my business to affect my role as a mother because it would be a disservice to my husband who does so much to keep the home on a sound economic footing if I abdicate my bounden role as the Internal Affairs Minister of the family.

“At the appropriate time, I’m in the kitchen to give him his choice meal. I have to take care of the home front to give my husband the psychological impetus to face his God-given career squarely and thus continue to be a dependable pillar and ambassador of our home.

I bless God for him.”

Citing his annual Chief Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme, Princess Omolara also described her man as a humanist who has used his hard-earned income to lift many an underprivileged Nigerian. “We always appreciate him for that too,” she enthused.

Olanipekun’s eldest child, Dr. Dapo Olanipekun, described his father as “a very loving father and reliable friend who will go to any length to make you become whatever you choose to be in life.” Further describing him as a model in diligence, Dapo, however, added: “He is an unrepentant disciplinarian who won’t take nonsense from any child in matters of honesty, integrity and hard work.”

•Olanipekun and wife

40

T

HE human nature is no doubt very dynamic. It is grossly unpredictable. People change from time to time; and there is little or nothing anybody can do about it.

With the change of one's nature and behaviour comes the change of how people relate in a relationship.

Some people fall in love and remain perpetually in love with a particular individual; while some others fall in and out of love at will.

Well; who can blame them?

We can just comfortably call it human nature. A man can be "in love" with more than one lady dating them for some time without any of them finding out about his escapades.

When it comes to keeping - Please forgive Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) I think his concept that love is blind is quite true. Is it easy to see pretence beguiled as love even when the two eyes are wide open? Gory tales abound of abusing, acid-bathing, beating, poisoning to stabbing of spouse. One can only suggest that intending couples should subject themselves to psychiatric test like other medical tests because some individuals are just eclectically eccentric, besotted and bestial in nature. Of what need is the stay in a wedlock of pus? Does it not pay ‘for better’ to quit such affair than ‘for worse’ to happen.

Seun Osinkolu, Ogbomoso - I agree with you, no two ways about it. Love comes natural, although it can be nurtured. When it gets out of hand, the divorce is the only solution. Happy birthday Vera, you are the best thing anybody can think of and have many more years in return. Thank God we have you in our midst.

Franklin - Wow! Such a wonderful angel you are. I appreciate you and your work. You deserve the best in life, more power to your elbows.

J.D, Calabar -The wise gambler is the one who knows when to hold on, when to play and when to walk away. Marriage in this age has become a gamble for many couples. Walk away if your life is threatened, no matter your religion, indoctrination.

Abunike, Port Harcourt - How do I describe you?

Because you are exclusive, expensive, expressive, explicit, exhilaration, exciting, exquisite, excellent. You are extremely extraordinary.

Thank God for adding a year. More grace to you!

08073849151

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Should a lady keep an extra boyfriend? relationships, ladies are more conservative. They are more careful. It is more difficult for a lady to double date. For a woman to keep more than one relationship, she must be a guru or a smart ass; if you like. It takes guts. The ideal thing for a woman is to stick to one partner at a time. But over the years, some women are of the opinion that "putting all eggs in one basket" sometimes does not work.

A colleague's experience will suffice here. She dated one guy for many years, spent her money, her body, her time on him; turned down so many suitors for his sake. The guy equally remained helplessly and madly - What an abominable act to beat your wife to death.

That is why I believe that family background is influential. I have seen men who inherited such characters from their dad. Moreover, several women stay because they know that they won’t attract attentnion outside that roof an attractive lady can not condone such.

Ugwu Greg, Obudu - Same here with me. My take, I will rather stay unmarried and alive than die married in an abusive relationship. God forbid.

08033927629 - Happy birthday, long life and prosperity. I want every body to know that before a family can live in peace and harmony, there is need for consistent prayer and total submission to each other, because starting from the day of wedding, enemies begin to monitor.

Tim, Ondo, 08063542144 - A man that batters his wife is a beast and does not deserve to live in the midst of civilized men. I can not imagine myself battering my wife. If my dad does I will not forgive him for life. It is callousness, absurdity and a play of irresponsible fellow.

Cejetan Akuta, Owerri, Imo State - I think marriage vows in our churches modified into…do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, do you promise not to assault her, batter her and murder her all the says of your life, if I break this vows, may I be held laible on earth and in heaven. Also, the section of the penal code that allows for “reasonable enchastisement’ of spouse (woman) be abolished. I think it will be unfair to people (children, parents, siblings etc) that care about you, and a sin to remain in

in love with her. He was very faithful. Throughout this period however, the guy was jobless. But things changed almost immediately the young man became an oil executive.

Then, he suddenly discovered that his girlfriend was no longer the type of woman he wanted.

My colleague has now started self re-branding so that the other guys she turned down could give her a second look now that she has been dumped.

The other case study involves my cousin, Nneka.

Nneka was into a relationship with a guy from her part of the country. The fellow

treated her like a piece of trash. His behaviour towards her was if he was doing her a favour by dating her. Regardless of his attitude towards her, my cousin still remained criminally in love with him.

But along the line, another guy, from another part of the country came into her life, treating her like a queen, doing everything humanly possible to win Nneka over but she stuck to her guy. Nevertheless, she did not completely turn the second guy down; she kept him on the waiting list. But hey! who says love is about tribes.

Their tribal difference neither deterred nor changed his

Text messages

feelings towards her.

Suddenly, her boy friend announced to her that he 'accidentally' impregnated a lady who would not agree to abort the pregnancy. Besides, his parents, according to him, insisted he must get married to her in order not to have a child out of wedlock.

That Nneka was heart -broken would be an understatement. She was devastated and shattered. The good news however is that she still had the waiting arms of her alternative guy to comfort and nurse her broken heart. What would have been her lot had she given the other guy the cold shoulder. Eventually, they got married and are to-

Re: Until murder did them part an abusive relationship. It is just like suicide.

Ralph Agbo - Your article, “Until murder did them part” is a unisex bomb. There are male and female abusers. Abuse may be violent or non-violent. The motive is always a selfish passion. The end is untimely death. Do not for any reason in the world wait for it. Run for your life. Do not please the society. Please your God. James As, Maraba - If my sister will not leave her best husband or whatever) and he beats or butchers her to death, then she should expect me at her burial for committing suicide in disguise of love. For those women still committing suicide I say kudos, at least the coffin sellers have money through them to nurture their own wives.

Ekong - The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams as you celebrate today as your birthday my you Val 1001 reasons to thank to my father for blessing wisdom.

- Be unmarried for life! It is unfortunate that some men are callous. It is better you adviced one to seek for counseling from a qualified personnel than to die in silence.

Every woman needs a man, needs her children, her own family. The monthly flow, God did not out it there to waste forever!

Atuks, Abuja - The greatest writer of our time, my own opinion is that every couple should be tested against mental disorder. Keep on using your God given talent.

Oloyede Gabriel - Happy birthday Vera, as

hell hath no fury last Saturday, taught me to be diplomatic nothing I;m not to alone to this realities.

Jolly, Obudu - I am one of your regular readers, the story is indeed a sad one. Since the lady is a banker, with good pay packet, at least she would have opted for a divorce. At least she can conveniently take care of herself, even with her baby. I think there is more to story.

08098482772 - There is no substitute for hard work.

Keep your good works.

Habby birthday.

Moore

to speak for you as you happily celebrate your day of coming to this world, a good period to join your weekly respondents.

Segun Makinde Vera, Re: Until murder did them part” Only God can reward you with your write ups. Is priceless, keep it up. But let the concern party look before they leap.

Iyiola from Ilorin - We must as persons learn to take charge of our lives and stop making excuses.

day blessed with three lovely children and right now, if you ask me, she couldn't be happier.

In every lady's life, there are two categories of men; the first are those dying to date and marry us. These ones pamper their women and spoil them with gifts and things they need and don't need. The other group is made up of those that the ladies are madly in love with but who do not reciprocate.

Ladies, search your consciences and you will discover that you have at one time or the other come across one of these categories of men.

I am not insinuating that it is okay to date two guys at a time, no; in fact far from it. I am only suggesting that ladies should watch out for the guys that are 'dying for us' rather than the other way round.

Sometimes, some of us prefer the guys that will stand us up at dates, forget our birthdays, the guys that are not too proud of us publicly. Some of us know that some guys are bad for us; yet we hold on; until our hearts are stolen and shattered; and then we are left to pick up the pieces.

A friend once said to me, if you fail to plan; you are planning to fail, so; tell me, what do you think?

There is no religion or tradition or convention that says a woman or man must stay in marriage with a homicidal partner. Life is serious and ernest. The strong with the will to damn the odds and survive, live. The weak with fear and self pity, die Aloysius, Abuja - I quite agree with you, it is better to stay unmarried and alive than die in married in an abusive relationship.

The man in question is a disgrace and psychologically sick and need help to overcome this maladaptive behaviour.

Happy birthday to our counselor. We love you.

Aliyu Kano

- I wish you long life and prosperity, happy birthday to you.

From this day henceforth, favours shall locate you and your heart desires will be granted, enjoy your day.

Your write up fan.

Eric - I’ve been a reader of your column since four years ago, is it not your opinion on this week did not clash with last week, however, you have been dazzling me with your ever resourceful write-up on Saturday, may God continue to flounder your ink.

Segun Makinde, Ibadan - Before going into marriage the signs would be there if the person you are getting married to is an abuser. My take is that a broken courtship is better than a broken marriage.

Love you, take care.

Chinedu, Enugu - When Grace is at work all protocols are suspended, formalities are waved, supernatural gift flows unhindered. I command that Grace

•Sultan Omogbolahan Ajasa during the celebration of his 5th birthday anniverssary

Saturday

42

SPECIAL

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

With KAYODE OLANSHILE-ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com TEL:08035733605

imi T n e e w t e b p u What's ? o g e r a D i n a b g Alaibe and A

Rasaq Dada pushes on

T

he charming dude who sits atop Sheriff Petroleum Resources, Rasaq Oluwakemi Dada, delved into partisan politics a few years ago on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), which later transformed into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He has since become one of the key players in the politics of Ogun State; a move which has made him a household name in the state and beyond.

Dada, who has carved a niche for himself through his multi-million naira empowerment scheme, yielded to pressure from his kinsmen in Ijebu Ode a few weeks ago to contest for the local government chairman's seat.

Though soft-spoken, the ACN chieftain is known as a goal-getter, and was believed to be one of the pillars behind the emergence of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun as the Governor of Ogun State.

The banking and finance graduate of the Ogun State University now Olabisi Onabanjo University grew up in Mushin area of Lagos, but with a modest upbringing from a strict and disciplined family. He thereafter joined the family business, from where he diversified into big time importation and exportation of commodities and later to oil and gas sector.

F

ormer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Timi Alaibe could well be listening to the tunes of love again. Since his wife died about two years ago, he has not been romantically linked to anyone, and many believed it was because he was still mourning his beloved wife, Alaire.

He, however, threw himself into work and even emerged as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State during the last general election. Happenstances recently sighted the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan with former Miss World, Agbani Darego, who won the crown in 2001 with her rare beauty and graceful gait.

But a source said their relationship is nothing more than one between a brother and a sister.

Senator Ashafa gets grandchild A

CN Senator, Bareehu Gbenga Ashafa, is in a celebrative mood. The Lagos politician has just been blessed with a grandchild.

His son's beautiful wife was delivered of a bubbling baby girl, ushering in a moment of joy in the senator's life.

Happenstances gathered that being his first grandchild, Ashafa has been in an ecstatic mood.

As would be expected, congratulatory messages have been pouring in, and those who are close to the family said a mega party had been held in honour of the baby. The party meant for A-list personalities was said to have been held at Grandview Plaza, Magodo, Lagos.

For the new grandfather, it was a double celebration, since he opened his Lagos office on that the very day a party was held in the baby's honour. The christening, however, took place in London.

Waiting for Reuben Famuyibo

O

tunba Reuben Famuyibo is one man who likes attention.

The Chief Executive Officer of Frontage Satellite Television had entered the nation's private satellite television sector with a lot of showmanship. He went everywhere declaring that he had travelled abroad to import the best of equipments to force his competitors out of business within the shortest possible time.

On this account, many Nigerians trooped to town to acquire FSTV dishes in anticipation of better service and cheaper rates than those imposed by other operators of satellite television.

But his outfit had barely commenced operation when he ran back to town to regal his customers with tales of how his major rival, DSTV, had resorted to employing tactics aimed at muscling him out of business. Today, FSTV exists only on paper while other cable television companies that came after his are still in business.

He had taken a shot at ruling Ekiti State, but he could not go beyond the primaries. Right now, the handsome dude, whose close friends are people who make the social scene tick, has slowed his roll. He hardly attends high-octane parties like the days of yore when he was the ultimate rocker.

Where is Kennedy Alogaga?

Saturday

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

SPECIAL

TEL:08035733605

Behind Stella Oduah's crashed marriage

Careful watchers of the Nigerian social scene must have observed that one of its leading lights, Kennedy Aloganga, is missing from the radar.

The Italy-bred young man was a clothier under the aegis of L'uomo, which had offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

Apart from stocking top-of-the-range wears, Ken's L'uomo was the hottest shop for chic eyeglasses. When Federal Government placed a ban on the importation of textiles in 2005, Ken and many other clothiers were put out of business. He closed L'uomo stores.

Ken, who was married to an Italian, later resurfaced on the social radar with Waka Restaurant and Bar on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. In the early days, Waka hosted a few top-notch events and the society wedding of Bikuro Dennis, a Kaduna-born model in May, 2002.

But before the business would begin to yield real dividends, it was already fighting for space in the footnotes of history.

Today, the premises that hosted Waka now plays host to IBTC Bank. Since then, Ken has ceased to appear in high society shindigs or celebrity journals.

F

ollowing President Goodluck Jonathan's recent offer of a ministerial appointment to Chris Ogiemwonyi's wife, Stella Oduah, everyone concluded that a new day had broken for the couple. But joy is said to be fragile, and this seems the case in the Ogiemwonyi family.

But Stella is currently in pains over the collapse of her long standing marriage with Chris.

Those who had congratulated the beautiful minister, who played a significant part in the Goodluck/Sambo campaign, are currently sympathising with her over her crashed marriage.

Since the crash, speculations have been rife as to the reason, but none seems to meet the mark. While some are of the opinion that Stella's appointment must have annoyed her husband greatly, others say she displayed an arrogant attitude that inflaming her husband's temper.

But Happenstances gathered that the estranged husband was displeased with his erstwhile wife's thirst for power, coupled with the fact that she failed to add Ogiemwonyi to her name, preferring to bear Stella Oduah as minister.

Some sources have also said that Stella was the key reason her estranged husband was dropped from the ministerial list and even refused his former portfolio. These, many believe, are enough reasons for a man to send his wife packing, particularly when she is the third wife. Yet others are of the opinion that Stella had proven her worth in the past when she stepped down for her Chris to take a post that should have been hers by right.

43

All set for Olu Priddy's burial in London

O

lu Priddy, the grey-haired boss of Bacchus Night Club, was the father of beautiful Louise Priddy who runs the popular Posh CafĂŠ in Lagos.

He was a renowned businessman who served on many boards of companies and headed many others. Among them are Ebani Consultants Limited, John Holt, La Fayette Furniture Showroom and Art Gallery, Bacchus and Six Degrees North.

The fun-loving father of four had been battling with cancer and had on a few occasions been taken out of the country for treatment.

In spite of his medical trips to India and the UK, however, he gave up the ghost on Thursday, July 14.

Of course, the development shook his family, particularly his wife, Valerie, who sat by his sick bed all through the trying period. She is said not to have got over the shock and pain of losing her soul mate yet.

His children and members of his extended family are also mourning the amiable businessman believed to have meant everything to them.

Plans are already underway to give the night club boss a befitting but quiet burial in the city of London this weekend.

The return of Paddy Adenuga Following his absence from the social scene for quite a while, many people had concluded that Paddy Adenuga was gone for good. And their thinking appeared to be right as days rolled into weeks and weeks into months without a sight of him at any major social function. But like the phoenix, the charming prince and son of the chief executive of Globacom Nigeria Limited, Mike Adenuga, has re-appeared on the scene.

On Saturday, July 9, 2011, he was sighted at Deuces Night Club, driving a Porsche Carrera, with a retinue of aides. Although he did not spend a lot of time at the club, his presence did not go unnoticed. Looking handsome as usual, he appeared every bit the perfect answer to the fantasy of ladies who desire well-built men.

Lagos socialite, Yemisi Awe, plans Ashiru 50th birthday party

F

or party goers, all roads will lead to Ogudu Recreation Centre in Lagos tomorrow. This is because Yemisi Awe, the delectable and youthful lady of means would be celebrating her 50th birthday.

For those in whose minds the name does not ring a bell, she is the CEO of Paragon, a Lagos-based business outfit. Those in the know told Happenstances that Awe is leaving no stone unturned for a grand party, with the support of her husband and kids.

Happenstances also gathered that the guest list features the names of fashion icons, socialites, celebrities and other eminent persons in the society.

Deji & Paddy Adenuga

brothers take centre stage

T

he Yoruba say that two brothers do not see evil at the same time. They, however, forgot to add that they can experience joy simultaneously. For that is the case the Ashiru brothers.

Only a few months ago, there was a rumour to the effect that Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the Head, Corporate Communications and Social Responsibilities at Stanbic IBTC Bank, had been listed as a commissioner-designate in Ogun State. Within the same period, his elder brother, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru was nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial appointment. Now they are no longer rumours as the two brothers are already occupying the different positions.

Bimbo Ashiru has proved to know his onions, particularly with the success he recorded in the banking sector. He is reputed as a goal-getter who is also relentless in pursuing a cause he believes i n .

Otunba Bimbo makes friends everywhere he goes and he is known for surrounding himself with intellectuals. Those who should know say the stylish banker is set to take the Ministry of Commerce in Ogun State to a new level; a fact they say was evident in his dazzling performance during his screening at the Ogun State House of Assembly.

44

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Although she is a South African, the Country Manager of South African Airline in Nigeria, Thobi Duma, sees herself more as a Nigerian after staying in the country for just two years. She tells KEHINDE FALODE that her passion for Nigeria stems from the enterprising nature of the people, their lifestyles and the kind of food obtainable in the land.

W

HAT does your job entail as the C o u n t r y Manager of South Africa Airlines?

As the SAA Country Manager, I am in charge of everything from sales and marketing to finance, incorporation, human resources and passengers issues. In short, everything that has to do with the operation of airlines.

The ultimate goal, of course, is profitability.

SAA appears to have less cases of plane crash than other airlines. What is the secret?

One of the things that SAA will never compromise is safety. We have the most highly rated technical department on the continent. We have won awards for our technical department, and it is a business on its own. If there is any risk, we do not mind cancelling flights for the safety of our passengers. Everybody offers almost the same products.

So, it is about the extra service that you provide. It is all about individuality of the people. We make sure that we understand the culture of the countries, because the way I deal with the people is different from the way I communicate or even take care of your needs in another place.

For example, with meals, we have to make sure that we listen to passengers. Now, in all our flights, there is the option of jollof rice. This was something we didn’t have a year ago. This is one of the menus we offer on board and it is so popular. It came from listening to our passengers. We make sure that we cater for the needs of the different communities we happen to be working with. It is not just our policy; that is how we run things in SAA. Since Durban is now the new tourist destination of most Nigerians, what are you doing to have a direct flight from Nigeria to Durban without stopping over at Jo’burg?

You mean Lagos to Durban? It all depends on the volume of passengers going to Durban. And that is what we are working on now. We are trying to show people that there are other provinces in South Africa besides Johannesburg and Cape Town, which are beautiful. We want to give people options. And the more volume we start recording, the easier for us to have a direct route to Durban. For example, we saw that there was business coming in from Abuja and there was increase in air volume. They connect from Lagos to Jo’burg. So, before the end of the year, we will have our flight from Abuja direct to Jo’burg.

How does it feel to be the only female country manager of the airline?

(Laughs) But my CEO in South Africa

•Thobi

‘I'm addicted to pounded yam and egusi soup’ is also a lady.

We are talking about Nigeria; not South Africa...

It is amazing. In the airlines community, I speak with other colleagues, even Kenya Airways.

Despite the fact that they are not part of our star alliance, we still have a good relationship with them. People talk about competition.

Competition is healthy. We all have a wonderful w o r k i n g relationship because we all respect each other as professionals in the industry.

Besides, I think your work, not your gender, is what is most important.

How long have you been in Nigeria?

Two year. Before that, I was in Mozambique for four years also as a country manager.

What is your opinion of Nigeria and her people?

Well, Mozambique was laid back.

So, it was quite a transition coming here. I think I have learned more in Nigeria than I learnt in all the years moving from country to country as a country manager. I owe a lot of practical experience to my being here in Nigeria, because it enhanced my business sense. The way I do business now brings out more results than the way I would have done it anywhere else. It is educative.

In dealing with different countries, you deal with authority and you just make sure that you adapt to the policy of the country.

You embrace the people and everything about them. And I think that is wonderful. I cannot dream of being anywhere else than Nigeria. When I first came, i came with all sorts of perception. I was a bit skeptical but l always encourage people to come and experience it themselves. It has been a wonderful experience and I want it to last longer.

You must have a very busy work schedule.

How do you manage your time?

My Monday to Sunday belong to the SAA. Until our flight is in the air every day, I have to be at alert. I have to make sure that I am available. But the key to managing all of that is making sure that you surround yourself with the right team, and I have been fortunate to have that. I’ve got supervisors that handle some areas. Without them, I don’t think it will be possible to be successful at all in Nigeria. It is about the team. It is about the work and the environment. That is how I manage. it is just all about having the right team and support. Also there are lots of stakeholders that we rely on, on regularly basis. South African embassy is a great partner, but we also work with a lot of local

authorities. For example, at NCAA, we have a very beautiful relationship with them. They taught me so much about how to keep my customers in Nigeria happy.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am in my thirties. My passion for travel started in 1996 with COME Air, which later became British Airways. My family is from the Kwazulu Natal family. My full name is Thobi Duma but when I am in Lagos, I am Oluwatobiloba, and its means God is great.

My passion is always in travels. People ask what I will be doing when I leave this industry. I think my other passion is music. I used to sing. My first international trip was to go and sing in Austria. Those two together keep me happy. As much as I like hard work and I like result to come out of it, I also enjoy relaxing with friends. So, I know how to also enjoy myself and unwind.

How do you unwind?

I love to dance. Like I said, I love music.

Music and dancing are my passion when I am in the right place, because Nigeria is not lacking. There are plenty opportunities to go with. And I love the maturity of this industry.

That you are in a certain position does not stop you from going out and having fun. I love movies and I use it as my past time. I am a reader. When you fly all the time, you will want to read. Travels is my other passion and I love shopping. Whenever I am travelling, I love to shop, and I am passionate about it. It’s terrible. I can’t hold myself back as I buy mainly shoes and bags. I think being here also makes me to love shoes. I have a shoe-room in my house with shelves just for shoes. I love gadgets, but I don’t use them as much.

Who are your all time shoes and bags designers?

You know what? I love Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Naughty Monkey, Dorothy Perkins and I love Michael Kors clothes. I love most of the American designers. There is a way they understand the fuller figure (plus size) women. Also in Nigeria, I have my clothes tailored a lot.

Who are your favourite local fashion designers?

House of Moofa. They do a lot of lovely Ankara mixed with denim. When I go home (to South Africa), I am unique. I love Tiffany Amber and I am addicted to her design. It was my first Nigerian designer.

What is your Favourite perfume?

Waooh! My main perfume that I always love is in green bottle is Eden by Cacharel. It is just a simple bottle but the smell is going to last forever. Now I fight with my mother for it. It has always been my favourite. Of course, there is Tom Ford Black Orchid, which is lovely. It also lasts very long. My new favourite has being Goyard. It’s amazing.

Do you mix them?

There are certain ones that complement each other. It is also about learning, because sometimes you mix. Anytime I saw my mother when I was growing up, there was a smell that came to mind. She used to love Victoria Secret in red doll. Those are two perfumes. So, anybody who wears that, I just feel like holding them, and it brings back memories.

What is your favourite colour?

I actually love burnt orange and pink. If you walk into my house, that is my colour. I just love burnt orange.

What determines what you wear?

My mood does. Of course, I also check my

45

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

‘Medical ethics dictate you must dress nicely’ Dr. Ayoade Adesokan was recently appointed the Governor of the District 404B of the Lions Club Nigeria. In this interview KAYODE ALFRED, he talks about his plans for the club and the some laudable projects the association is undertaking.

H

•Thobi

diary for the day. Normally, from Monday to Thursday, we dress corporate. On Fridays, we dress down, and it also depend on the meeting I will be attending. In Mozambique, when it comes to dressing, people are laidback. Nigeria taught me a lot about dressing up after work. I love the fact that we (Nigerians) take our time when dressing before we come to work. That also come into my life, and that is what I do. People buy the package before they buy what you have to sell. Also, comfort is important. But I always say, especially when it comes to shoes, it must look good first, then comfort is number two.

I don’t think everybody thinks like that. I truly believe that the way you package yourself create people’s impression about what you want to present or package for them.

What is style to you?

One of the things I think about style is that it has to be timeless. It is trends that come and go. I always say a stylish person is a person who wears something very classic and can wear it after a very long time and still look good. That is what I aim at. Most of my clothes are from ages ago, and I try to do away with trendy things which cannot evolve into the next phase. So, style is comfort. We have to also bear our body in mind. It is not enough to wear certain things because they are in fashion or it looks good on somebody else. Get advice or feedback from people around you. I listen to the people around because we don’t know it all.

Unfortunately, this is the month of grooming. We have different themes for different months in South Africa Airlines. We have been talking a lot about image: what type of dress you should wear, the cosmetics, and so on. Dressing starts from the head to the toe. It is not just about the dress you wear alone. Are your hair and makeup in order?

Total packaging is very important. And then understand what works for what time and type of events.

What is your favourite Nigeria meal?

No doubt about it, I love pounded yam and I always have it with egusi. That was the first meal I had in Nigeria and since then, I have been addicted to it and I keep tasting it everywhere.

Can you pound?

I pound the powder (laughs). Also I just learnt how to make jollof rice, which is something I have always liked. I don’t eat banana, but since I came to Nigeria, I eat my plantain with a passion.

ow does it feel to be named the Governor of District 404B Nigeria?

I feel great that after serving the organisation for more than 25 years, I am considered worthy to be the number one Lion of District 404B. Of course, I feel fulfilled as a Lion, that I have been serving the less privileged for more than two decades. Also to be given the opportunity to lift this great international organisation for that matter, I feel fulfilled. I always like to give, and I will lead others and motivate them to give hope to the hopeless and succour to the needy.

What values do you hope to inject into the association?

You can see that we are taking off with information dissemination. We have done a lot in Nigeria, but we need to publicise what we are doing. We need to inform, educate and, if possible, attract new members, because the more hands we have, the more we will be able to serve the less privileged. I have chosen restoration of sight to the visually impaired as my main project. How do we go about it? We will go round motor parks and Oba’s palaces all over the areas that we cover and screen people for sight problems. Those who require glasses will be given; those who require medications will be given; those who require cataract surgery will be operated on.

We are partnering with agencies like Sight Savers International, to carry out cataract surgery on those who cannot afford it. In Lagos, it costs between N100,000 and N150,000 for one eye. That is to the extent that we can raise funds for people. We have a budget of about N33 million. If we are able to raise up to that, we will be able to impact positively on as many people that require our services. We will also make sure that there is information technology. We are in the Internet era, so a lot of information dissemination, training and re-training of Lions are required, because a well enlightened Lion is an asset to the association. He would be able to project the image of the association.

We will also screen for diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Recently, we partnered with the Federal Government and other state governments, and it is ongoing for measles eradication campaign. In the area of advocacy and social mobilisation we indulge in. Depending on how much fund we can raise during the investiture of the President, some will build hostels or blocks of classrooms in their various localities, some would drill boreholes in the areas where there is no water, especially in the poor areas.

How do you intend to raise the millions of naira required for these?

Lions know how to raise funds. There are very rich Nigerians and we will look for them. For example, at my presentation to the public on July 31 2011 at the Events Centre, CBD, Ikeja, we will invite dignitaries who will donate towards this cause. We have been doing it and we are confident we will raise it.

Will the money be raised from just anyone?

No, no, no. It will be raised from credible organisations, The MTN is partnering with us. I know of so many other companies who are already partnering. Also, there are individuals who are very rich but don’t even know what to do. We will tell them that this is what we want to use it for. Lions Club International is the most credible service organisation. You could see that very recently when the tsunami problem

occurred, we were there. The earthquake in Haiti, we were there. In Japan, we were there. In New Zealand, we were there. We are all over the world. So, Ford has certified the Lion’s Club International Foundation.

Very recently, they donated money to us to partner with the Federal Government on the eradication of measles. About 15 years ago, we were given 2.1 million dollars for the eradication of river blindness in Nigeria. We will also apply for grant in addition to whatever we can raise, so that we can touch as many lives as possible.

In terms of humanitarian services, do you think Nigeria is getting there, compared to other countries?

Not really. In fact, our problem is membership. We want to make sure we recruit more members, because the more members you have, the easier it is to cover a lot of ground. So many Nigerians don’t like to give. We are about 140 million. If I tell you that we are less than 4000 in Nigeria, you will be surprised. Even if it is just 2 per cent or 5 per cent of the population, we will be able to do a lot.

Generally, Nigerians don’t like to give, but we will look for them. There are some that are kind-hearted; we will show them what we intend to do. They will be moved and some of them will donate to the cause. We are partnering with the state government in these areas as well.

As the Governor of District 404B, which area does your jurisdiction cover?

There are two districts in Nigeria, namely 404A and 404B. The demarcation starts from Lagos Island, using Western Avenue through Lagos-Ibadan expressway, down to the North. So, those clubs that fall on the left side, that is, Ikeja, Satellite Town, Ota, Abeokuta, Oyo State, Kwara State, Osun State, they are all under District 404B. Those that fall to the right of this road, like Yaba, Lekki, Ikoyi, Ikorodu, Ijebu Ode, Akure, Benin, Warri, Port Harcourt, they are all under District 404A. A lot of NGOs are springing up and people are using them to siphon money and giving the country a bad image. What efforts are you making towards eradicating this problem?

Well, it is left for government agencies to scrutinize them. As far as we are concerned, we are already welcoming the youths to join us. Whatever money we get, we push it back into the society. We cannot be concerned with the mushroom NGOs that spring up here and there. You know there is economic problem in the country. Lions Club is a credible organisation, which is attested to by many. As far as that is concerned, we keep to our own rules and regulations. We don’t do anything in secret.

What informed your decision to join Lions Club?

A friend of mine called me back in 1986. I was a young doctor at the University Teaching Hospital Ilorin. He said I should come and join Lions Club, and I asked what it was. He had a small pamphlet at the time and I went through it. The first thing that fascinated me was the motto: “We Serve”. I saw that they served the underprivileged in the society in a coordinated form, and it was an international thing. This is very similar to our own ethics in the medical profession.

If I may just quote one aspect, when we were graduating from LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital) in 1980, we took an oath thus: “I will consecrate my life to the service of humanity.” You see the similarities? Of course, that attracted me and I started serving. I never looked back until I was given this opportunity to lead this association as the District Governor, 25 years after I joined.

Could you tell us about beginnings?

Dr. Ayoade Adesokan hails from Oyo State in Nigeria. I attended Oroyan Grammar School and Government College Ibadan and then to the University of Lagos Medical School. I was a university scholar while I was in school. I made a First-Class in Medical Biochemistry and then continued Medicine and graduated as one of the best students in 1980. After that, I did my Housemanship at LUTH in 1981. I went for the NYSC (National Youth Service) in Kwara State. At the end of the service year, they didn’t allow me to leave Kwara, as I was given automatic appointment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. I was also doing my post-graduate in Medicine.

Sometime in 1985 when the military coup came up, the military government decided to scrap our association. I was then the Vice-President of resident doctors at UITH. So, I established a 25-bed hospital in Ilorin, fully equipped with surgery, auto scan and all the rest. About 10 years ago, I was invited to the medical school and I saw my Oga (boss) of those days. He said: “Dr. Adesokan, are you still in Nigeria?” I told him yes. Then he asked if I could assist to teach medical students. I told him that I had my private hospital, and he said government allows one to do so. I said okay. Immediately I joined, I did Master’s and Ph.D. Right now, I supervise Master’s students. I go around universities as a visiting professor and, of course, I still continue to do my service as I know best.

How would you combine all that with being the District Governor of Lions Club?

Leadership is about being able to delegate appropriately. I am here, the hospital is running. I employed a doctor and a matron, and they are there taking care of the hospital. On the university front, I am presently on leave. I have accumulated leave that I haven’t used before, so I took everything. So, from now till October, I am free. That is my first four months, and that is the most important because I’ll be very busy.

What are the criteria for joining the Lions Club?

We want to assist the underprivileged.

Your three-square meals must be assured.

You must have a good job, and speak common languages like English. Even if it is school certificate, you must be endowed or have your business. The problem of taking three-square meals is not a problem to you, and you can pay the entrance fee and some little donations. For example, in the next two weeks, we are off to the U.S. Some would go for the convention. So, if you are in that, you can afford it. We go for the African Forum in Congo. We go to ISAME (India, South Asia, Africa, Middle East Forum), Lebanon and so on. It is not compulsory. But if you are endowed, you can go, because of the exposure and the chance of being an enlightened Lion.

Can you tell us some of your beautiful childhood memories?

I must say first that by the time you are getting aware of your environment, you are in secondary school. I was a Senior Prefect. I had the best school certificate result. I was fulfilled. I had a vision that I wanted to be a very good doctor, and I have achieved it. So it is like having a dream and seeing come to reality; you feel fulfilled. I tell them in my hospital that when people come in, please treat them. If they don’t have money, they will struggle.

Their relations will come and with happiness, they will pay. Those who cannot, they will pay the little they can and release them.

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Society

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Day Tinubu dazzled at Chatham House At a forum at Chatham House, London on Monday, Nigeria’s de-facto opposition leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, set out the broad outlines of the opposition agenda and served notice that his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is poised for greater electoral victories in its determination to seize the reins of power from a PDP leadership bereft of ideas, SUNDAY AKIN DARE

reports

It was vintage Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, leader of Nigeria’s most potent opposition party, who seized the pulpit at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in far away London on July 18, 2011, to offer what could become the most lucid analysis of the recently concluded 2011 general election and deep reflections and insights into the state of Nigerian democracy, the electoral battle ahead and the shape of things to come. Speaking on the topic, “ Democracy and the Rebirth of the Opposition in Nigeria”, Tinubu, in a well-laid-out speech, did not just speak as a politician; he also spoke as a political thinker and respectable statesman by probing into the burning issues in the country and proffering viable alternatives towards their resolution.

He was at his oratorial best as he started out by narrating Nigeria’s political history, featuring the epochs of military rule and attempts at democratisation. He lashed out at the previous administration of Olusegun Obasanjo, at whose doorstep he laid the blame for most of Nigeria’s current political and economic crises. According to him, “President Obasanjo had the chance to become the father of democratic Nigeria by using his tenure to accelerate the drive for federal democracy by establishing a fair and tolerant political culture.

Instead of raising a unifying banner and standing as a father to the nation, he became a hector, who

fought all and sundry. In the end, his great failing was his attempt to superimpose a barracks mentality on a fledgling democracy.

“Thus, he entertained themes such as a one-party state. He and his close acolytes resonated with undemocratic anthems such as the PDP ruling for 60 years or a millennium, as if this were the blossoming of a Nigerian Reich. He even attempted to rewrite the constitution to rule for a third term” After a clinical analysis of the 2003 and 2007 elections in which he highlighted the brazen electoral malpractices and manipulations carried out by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tinubu submitted that Nigeria’s democracy was still imperiled. “Actors with democratic phenotypes but authoritarian genotypes abound in the current political landscape,” he noted. “Our country’s democracy remains a parody of true democracies. Ours mimicked some essential aspects of military and authoritarian rule.”

He described the 2007 elections as a low moment for democracy in Nigeria. “That election was a monumental embarrassment and a mortal threat to the pursuit of democracy. Things at that juncture seemed very bleak for the opposition,” he said.

He warned that in present day Nigeria, there are many people who are all too willing to take advantage of the democratic process.

“They advocate democracy up to the point of gaining power and no

•Tinubu (right) and the chairman of Chatham House, Alex Vines

further. Once in power, they eagerly whittle down the very democratic mechanisms that enabled their political ascent. Upon making it to the rooftop, they kick aside the ladder to prevent others from making a similar climb,” he noted.

The electoral rascality of the ruling party was instructive for the

ACN in particular and the opposition parties in general. It was clear that the 2011 elections would be more or less the same as the previous ones, and unless vigilance and demand for electoral reforms became the armour of the other parties, the PDP would again run away with underserved electoral

Where?

Onoja, Osun Deputy Governor, Ataoja of Osogbo at Oladepo’s son’s wedding

T

HE solemnization of Holy Matrimony between Titlope Adetola Oladepo and Oluwatimilehin John Adigun was held recently at the Redeemed Christian Church of

Nneka NWANERI God, Solid Rock Parish, Ojodu Lagos.

It was their day of Joy and they rejoiced as Timilehin led his heartthrob down the aisle after

and

What

victory. The legal battles won by the ACN in Edo, Ekiti and Osun bolstered the opposition and provided the tonic that energised the progressives going into the 2011 elections.

Indeed, the opposition was unrelenting in its call for electoral reforms, using CODER and

•The Couple Titilope Adetola Oladepo and Oluwatimilehin John Adigun

•Couple’s Parent Mr and Mrs Adigun (left), Engr and Mrs Oladepo

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Society

47

•From left: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Kayode Fayemi and other guests at the lecture

•From left: Chief Bisi Akande, Alh. Lai Muhammed, Prof. Adebayo Williams, Chief Pius Akinyelure and other guests at the lecture

popularising the one-man-one-vote mantra.

Ultimately, the stage was set for a gruelling political battle in the 2011 elections. The ultimate outcome of the elections, where the ACN seized control of several states from the PDP and won hundreds of national assembly seats was adroit testimony to a prowling political machine led by Ahmed Tinubu. More significantly, it signposted the rebirth of the opposition in Nigerian politics; a case made

by Tinubu, who argued strongly about the value of opposition in any emerging democracy such as Nigeria’s. “We cannot talk about the vitality of Nigerian democracy without talking about the vitality of the political opposition, for there is no democracy without diversity in substantive opinion and political affiliation,” Tinubu noted.

Offering further insight into why his party, rejected the offer to be part of the new government, Tinubu argued in favour of the vital role of the opposition in checking government abuse and misrule. He said: “To underscore this fundamental concept, our party spurned an offer by the ruling party to join a nebulous ‘Unity Government’. Our ground of rejection was that our democracy would be better nourished and better served if we, as a minority party, remain outside the loop of power to nurture the culture of opposition.

promise to pursue fiscal federalism, constitutional democracy and fundamental electoral reforms.

Not one to gloat over such superlative electoral victory secured against all odds, Tinubu, in a solemn manner, admitted that the opposition made some mistakes in their bid to capture power at the centre.”To be honest, the opposition did not run a strong enough and sufficiently coordinated campaign with a unifying message. The major opposition parties began their serious work too late. We got distracted by the electoral reform gimmickry employed by the PDP-led National Assembly. Already faced with a short election season, we waited too long to make important decisions and to get our campaigns off the ground.”

In an admission that resonated across the main auditorium at Chatham House, London and perhaps across Nigeria, Tinubu captured what happened poetically: “In the end, the opposition parties danced with each other but did not embrace. Our constant dancing, however, confused the public and partially doused some of the public’s enthusiasm. It was a learning experience that will not be repeated in the next election.”

Going forward, the ACN as the biggest opposition party is starting out early to rally

exchanging marital vows. Guests later moved to Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos for a befitting reception to welcome Titilope into her new home.

A very colourful engagement was held the day before at the Ashton Gardens, Ogba Lagos. The heavy rains did not deter guests, who happened to be society Alisters and notable Osun State politicians.

Some of whom were led by the Deputy

“I must report that the ruling party appeared to have bought the idea when it excluded cabinet nominees of a string of small parties groveling to be part of the government.”

For Tinubu, the 2011 elections, though an improvement on the previous ones, was not entirely free and fair. He faulted the fable widely disseminated that they were Nigeria’s best elections. “The 2011 elections were not of the high quality the government and many international observers proclaimed. In a way, international observers have done Nigeria a disservice that will become apparent in the future,” he said.

He had both sympathy and advice for the international observers who, based on urban monitoring and the excitement of observing Nigerians line up neatly to cast their votes, were oblivious of what took place at night and at the collation centres. “They ended their watch just as the agents of malpractice would begin their craft. Observers made a broad final conclusion based on a thin filament of information. They judged a complicated play solely by viewing one of its several acts,” he argued.

The ACN leader dwelt extensively on the political economy of Nigeria and offered alternatives from the opposition in terms of the Governor of Osun State, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Senator Mudashir Hussein; Benue Action Congress of Nigeria Chieftain Gen. Lawrence Onoja; the Ataoja of Osogbo and his Olori, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun; Hon Lai Oyeduntan, Hon Dele Ogunsakin among others.

its troops, fashion out a more specific and progressive agenda that sets it apart from the ruling PDP and, above all, develop a communication strategy that will unleash on the populace the much needed information to make the right political choices. “While the opposition has a duty to lend support on existential issues of security, we likewise have a duty to draw a distinction between us and the PDP on key matters affecting the political economy. We must alter the landscape of Nigerian politics. We have to remove the obstacles of region, ethnicity, religion and personality so that people can see the substantive issues more clearly. Should we do this, the public will begin to see the profound difference between the progressive Nigeria we want and the static Nigeria of the PDP.” The interaction at Chatham house provided the opportunity for both the international community and Nigerians to feel the pulse of Nigeria’s democracy and preview the trend of things to come. More importantly, it had on offer the man credited with the resurgence of the Nigerian opposition, who in unmistakable terms sent out powerful messages to not just the present administration in Nigeria but also to Nigerians inclined towards democracy and the international community. The stage is set and the march is on.

Prince Awofisayo gives away daughter

C

OME Saturday, July 30, chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and their counterparts from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will put politics aside as Prince Felix Awofisayo, an ACN chieftain from Osun State and the national leader of Oranmiyan worldwide gives out his daughter Temitope Adetomi in marriage to Adegboyega Ogunlewe, the son of Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Minister of Works and chieftain of the PDP from Lagos State.

The solemnization of the Holy Matrimony which will be held at the Bola Memorial Anglican Church, along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja beside Sheraton Hotel, will be preceded by the traditional engagement on Thursday, July 28 at the Grandeur Events Centre, Billings Way, Oregun also in Ikeja. The reception for the wedding will held at the Blue Roof of the LTV 8, Lateef Jakande Road, Opposite CocaCola, Agidingbi, Lagos.

•Awofisayo

Justina Amaku dies at 54 Mrs Nsa Justina Amaku of the family of Amaku of Odukpani Local Government, Eniong Abatim, Cross Rivers State is dead. She died on June 22 2011. She was aged 54. She has since mbeen buried at Atan Cemetery.

•From left: Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria Publicity Secretary Mr. Sunday Akere and Alhaji Fatai Diekola, Osun State Action of Nigeria chieftain

•Amaku

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

•Nkechi AlliBalogun •Jennifer Eliogu

•Bimbo Taiwo

•Model

How to look good in plussized dresses RE you on the plus side and you worrying a lot about what to wear and how to look upto-date in the fashion scene? You need not worry about such anymore because you can now easily buy trendy larger size party dresses. These dresses are made with plus-size (voluptuous) women in mind. Gone are the days when the fashion industry focused attention mainly on women with hour glass bodies (slim). This is not only unjust but also unreasonable because God created women with same … features but in different shapes and sizes. Ranging from slim women, hour glass body shape, pear-shaped, muscular and plus size women.

There are different ways to wear plus size party dresses and the most common advice given to plus size women is to wear black clothes in order to look slim.

However, your wardrobe will look boring and unattractive, if you only have black clothes. Besides, plus size party dresses should also look fun. For example, if you want hide or cover up your flabby arms, you should wear a party dress with butterfly sleeves or loose sleeves to hide your arms. If you are the type who has curves despite being on the heavy side, you can show off your figure by wearing something that tapers at the waist.

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•Princess Aisha Hiris

-You can choose bright colours such as red, blue, green or yellow.

-Do not be afraid to take a risk when it comes to party dresses.

-You can also wear prints and patterns When it comes to choosing patterns, choose something that will not emphasize your weight. For example, if you want to wear stripes, wear vertical instead of horizontal stripes that will make you look a bit slimmer than your actual size.

-If you love polka dots, choose small dots instead of big dots. Choosing the right pattern can greatly affect your outfit.

-Wear your accessories right Another tip for wearing plus size party dresses is to wear the right accessories. For formal functions like corporate events or weddings, pearls are the perfect accessories for your evening gowns. If you are attending fun parties like a friend’s birthday party silver accessories like bangles or hoop earring are perfect, they are the rage now and they come in different sizes and pattern. Picking the right accessories can do a lot to your party dress.

Shoes and bags They are also important part of your dressing.

Wear low heeled shoes and sandals for casual event, official parties will most likely require you to wear high heels.

For bags, go for sequined purses for night event and shoulder bags or handbags where you can put your things like makeup, tissue, wallet and mobile phone for daytime event/ informal

•Model

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

•Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Arts

Helsinki: A travel experience like no other I

left Nigeria’s shores on June 17 to attend a conference in Helsinki,Finland. The conference was the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Congress with the theme “Power to make a difference”.

It was graced by women from all over the world:Americans, Germans, etc. Every country was well represented. And Nigerians?

I tell you; at the risk of sounding immodest, we were outstanding.

Decked in our ankara and aso oke , women could not stop asking us for group photographs. The most striking part of my experience was the cold weather.

It was seriously cold. Even when the sun was shining; the wind was unfriendly, at least for some of us that came from the more temperate climate. Fine, we spotted our cardigans; caps; hand gloves and even stockings; but the weather was still very unfriendly.

Helsinki, the host city for the conference, is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is located in

‘

Also notable is the locals’ way of greeting. I observed that both male and female indigenes shook hands to greet. No, there were no hugs. Just handshakes; firm and friendly. I also observed that while we were shopping, the black residents were quick to approach us for brief introductions

’

Vera CHIDI-MAHA southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland with a population of 588,941, making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland.

The Helsinki metropolitan area is the world’s northernmost city and the it is the northernmost capital of a EU member state. Altogether 1.3 million people, approximately one in four Finns, lives in the Greater Helsinki area.

In 2009, Helsinki was chosen to be the World Design Capital for 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.

Helsinki was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 as the town of Helsingfors which he intended to be a rival to the Hanseatic city of Reval (today known as Tallinn).

Although the conference was grueling, we were given a half day off for a tour of the city. The tour was with a tram and we had a tour guide who explained quite a lot about the Helsinki: the people, their culture and landmarks. It was really enjoyable. One of the places we visited was the Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Arts, Kiasma.

Also notable is the locals’ way of greeting. I observed that both male and female indigenes shook hands to greet. No, there were no hugs. Just handshakes; firm and friendly. I also observed that while we were shopping, the black residents were quick to approach us for brief introductions. Obviously, they were elated to see their fellow blacks.

Whilst there, we were humbled by their transport system.

Cars and trains stopped at the signal of the traffic light.

Commuters crossed the roads strictly at the zebra crossing; not before it or after. They crossed at their pace. No running across the road. The roads were heavenly, well tarred, almost like our Abuja roads and some roads in Lagos.

Unlike Dubai, which is a tourist attraction, the traffic of tourists in Finland is very minimal. And their food, oh, their food. I could not eat it .

Okay, we sometimes got to eat chicken and chips.

The hotel we lodged in had breakfast facilities, and, of course, for breakfast, we had fa-

miliar diet like bread, tea, fruits etc.

Those were fine.

On the third day, I was dying to have an Africa meal. You know, egusi, ogbono, even peppered stew. On the fourth day, one of us had to travel to Sweden to visit her friend who prepared thick egusi soup with stockfish. When she came back, it was over 15 of us that descended on that soup.

In Helsinki, we came across two beggars so neatly dressed we did not know how to give them alms. Only then we were relieved.

Most of us later became homesick.

We could not wait to get back to our homeland. All through our stay there, we did not witness any nightfall. We went from day to day. They were two hours ahead of us. The fact

that there were no power outages should be no news now. But it is important that one mentions it, in passing.

When we got to Nigeria, we were elated. We were grateful to God. We knew we were home.

As I was being taken home, I began to thank God for the traffic, power outages; bus drivers blaring horns; it was almost deafening for me, considering the fact that I had not heard horn for weeks. For the okada riders, I was happy to see them.

In all, the trip to Helsinki, apart from giving me the opportunity to meet with professional women from all over the world, it also offered me the chance see life from another perspective.

•L-R: May Aruh, Johanna Marius, a German journalist, and Vera Chidi-Maha

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Transforming Imo through tourism

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OURISM, as it is defined by the World Tourism Organization, is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes.

It involves people who “travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for either a short period or more usually more than 24 hours. Hence tourism, in most parts of the world, is not just being viewed with the eyes , it has become a big money spinning business to the extent that the industry in some countries has become the mainstay of the economy.

Besides, a recent report has it that global leisure activity in 2010 growth was in the region of 6.6 per cent with over 940 million international tourist arrivals,while international tourism receipts grew to US$919 billion (euro 693 billion) the same year.

The increasing interest in tourism has also increased the activities in the service industry, hotels and resorts and this also explains why hotel business also strives in such countries that understand the importance of tourism. Also in this era when states are groaning over the new N18, 000 minimum wage, tourism presents

Vincent IKUOMOLA a more veritable means of raising revenue. But this, however, is not the case in the country as tourism is still being relegated, despite its numerous benefits to the states and the country.

However, the policy of public private partnership has encouraged many investors, both local and foreign, to tap into the potential in the industry. And this explains the involvement of Chief Athan Nneji, a private investor who decided to invest in his state, Imo, with the singular purpose of making the state a model in the country.

He is the Chief Executive of Mathan Nigeria Ltd and Gee Plaza Hotels Limited. For this purpose, he acquired the headquarters of the defunct Progress Bank headqarters complex in Owerri which was then under construction and decided to convert the abandoned building into a five-star hotel. Work is currently going on on the project.

Also, because of the proximity of the ongoing project to the moribund state-owned Imo Hotel, Nneji bought 60 per cent stake from a private hotelier. The essence, Nneji had argued, was to boost tourism in the state, generate employment for people and

improve the economy of the state.As part of his plan to help develop tourism in the state, thereby making the state a tourist destination, Nneji said he was going to put a mega mall of international standard that will attract people from far and wide because Owerri needs something to attract people, something that is not in existence in the entire South East.

The hotelier, who likened his dream to the building of

Dubai, said if the desert could attract people from all works of life, Owerri could do the same thing.

So the plan is to build something that will attract the entire South East and even the country to Owerri.

Anybody travelling around the zones will be attracted to stop and shop at the mega mall.

To demonstrate his readiness, Nneji has already turned the defunct Progress Bank building which he ac-

quired into a hotel. For him, money is not the problem as, according to him, contractors have been mobilized to develop the mega mall.

Not minding the fact that the return on his investment would have been higher, if such a huge investment was made in either Abuja or Lagos, he said he was ready to bear the risk.

On so many occasions, he told many that his projects were about helping to develop Owerri where he comes from

and create jobs with a view to ending poverty among the people. The benefits of making the state a tourist attraction, according to him, are enormous. It will create employment opportunities as thousands of people will be employed.

He also looked at the linkage effect on the state as it will encourage other people, particularly those from the state who are very wealthy, Continued from Page 51

•Artist impressions of Gee-Plaza and Ultra Modern Hall, Owerri

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Mbatata (sweet potato) cookies Health and nutritional value of sweet potato

Foluke ADEMOLA Huh this is delicious! Is what I said immediately i ate these cookies and I think you should try it? Its orig in is from Malawi in Africa. It can be eaten at anytime depending on the way you want it. It is love by children try one today.

Ingredients •1 cup mashed/ripe sweet potato •1/4 cup milk •1 egg, slightly beaten •4 tablespoons melted butter •1 1/4 cups sifted flour •2 teaspoons baking powders •1/2 cup sugar •1/2 teaspoon salt •1 teaspoon cinnamon

•1/2 cup raisins Method •Boil, drain, and mash the sweet potato. You should have about 2 cups and make sure you Preheat oven to about 350°F. •In a large bowl, mash the banana, add the Cream margarine and sugar together. Mix with sweet potatoes, milk, and melted butter and beat well then Stir in the sweet potato and vanilla.

•Combine dry ingredients, and add to sweet potato mixture and sieve together.

•Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes.

•Or chill 1-2 hour then turn onto a floured board, knead lightly and roll out 1/2 an inch thick. Cut with a cookie cutter. Place cookies on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle some cinnamon/sugar mixture on top.

Sweet potato, not only is just sweet to your taste buds but also good for your cardiovascular health. This starchy root vegetable is rich source of flavonoid anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber that are essential for optimal health.

It is also good for various illness and body growth below are few: •Nutritious sweet potatoes are low in calories (provide just 90 cal/100 g, on comparison with starch rich cereals) and contains no saturated fats and cholesterol; but are rich source of dietary’s fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.

•They are storehouse of starch, a complex carbohydrate, which raises the blood sugar levels slowly on comparison to simple sugars; therefore, recommended as a healthy food supplement even in diabetes.

•They also contain good amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium that are very essential for body metabolism.

•It helps other nutrients that have been shown to prevent heart disease. One study showed that eating just two sweet potatoes a week may cut your risks of suffering a heart attack by as much as 86%.

•The sweet potato is effective in curing congestion of nose, bronchi and lungs, thereby giving relief in asthma. Its typical

aroma helps in this.

•It also helps in the lowest glycemic index among root veggies because it digests very slowly, causing a gradual rise in blood sugar which helps you feel full longer. It’s time to move sweet potatoes to the “good” carb list. Many of the most popular diets these days have already.

•Diabetics can eat sweet potatoes without worry as sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index. The glycemic index of a food reflects the food’s effects on a person’s blood glucose level. Fast glucose absorption, a rise in blood sugar and its resulting dive happens with high-glycemic foods and is not desirable. It’s better for the body to slowly absorb any gluclose, sustain a moderate rise in sugar levels and experience a

gradual return to the regular level. Since white potatoes, rice and flour have a high glycemic rating, diabetics will benefit from eating sweet potatoes instead. •Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, which is great for the eyes. Vitamin A, along with other antioxidants, helps prevent night blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration and more •The fiber content of sweet potatoes is higher than that of common potatoes and it tastes good too. When these two factors are combined with other minerals like magnesium present in sweet potatoes, it makes an excellent facilitator for digestion. Sweet potatoes are easy to digest too, since they mainly contain starch.

They are soothing for the stomach and intestines too.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Franchise: NTDC to close down hotels T HE Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) said it would soon close down some hospitality outfits for the using of international hospitlity brands without properly obtaining the proper fanchise from registered owners.

This development was made known by the NTDC boss at a press conference in Lagos.

He said the consequence of such infringements by these few hotels in the country is robbing the country of huge investment by some hospitality outfits as they are weary of doing business in an environment whereby their registered names are infringedd upon. The NTDC boss said the issue was a major topic at the Hotel Investment Forum in Cape Town, South Africa where

the NTDC DG delivered a paper on behalf of Nigeria.

He said on the basis of this , the NTDC, by its statutory responsibility as the body in charge of registering and supervising hospitality outfits in the country, would give these hotels improperly infringing on the names of international hospitality owners to effect a change immdediately or have their hotels closed down.

In addition, the NTDC boss said the corporation would soon embark on the closure of tourism and hospitality outfits that have failed to register as stipulated by the law.

Meanwhile, the NTDC DG has applauded the decision by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to host the wives of the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker

and Governors at a retreat in Obudu Ranch Resorts, Cross River State .

THE NTDC DG in a statement said the holding of the retreat at one of the leading tourist destinations in Africa is a further proof of the take-off of the much awaited domestic tourism in Nigeria .

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan made Obudu his choice for his retreat shortly after the April elections.

According to Otunba Runsewe, the decision of the First Lady to host the wives of these public officers at the Obudu Ranch Resort would further help in branding Nigeria as a preferred tourist destination of which the citizens are proud of.

“We at NTDC have been advocating that Nigerians

should visit our destinations.

We don’t have to abandon our own for other lands, or how do you think we will develop that way. I give the First Lady kudos for following the President’s example”, Otunba Runsewe said.

The Director General, therefore, called on other public office holders, elected politicians and the leading private sector players to emulate the President and the First Lady for their initiatives, therefore, strengthening and supporting the campaign for Nigerians to spend their holidays and leisure in Nigeria.

“We have world- class facilities in Nigeria, be it serene environment where nature is at its best, hospitality facilities, shopping facilities and white sand beaches, all you can feel and appreciate across the country”, Otunba Runsewe added.

Effrakatta partners Best Western

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member of the world’s largest hotel chain, Best Western The Island Hotel, Bar Beach, Lagos and an upscale entertainment firm, Effrakatta,have entered into a strategic partnership meant to take leisure to higher heights.

Tagged “Francophonie Nite”, the initiative, which was launched in Lagos last month, is targeted at promoting the best of pan-African/world music.

The promoter of the initiative, Mr. Jimi Sadare, said the idea was to provide an evening of unparallel fun for matured minds, upper level business executives and members of the diplomatic corps who can relate to such music in an exclusive and conducive environment.

A statement by the organizers reads in part: “Beginning from Friday,July 29, and every last Friday of the month, the Francophonie Nite will feature music from countries like Congo, Bénin Republic,Matinique, Cuba, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Sénégal, South Africa, Togo and Cameroun, among others.

“Guests will be treated to a potpourri of music, such as zouk, logobi,rhumba, lapouka, salsa, makossa, zoblazo, soukous and kwaito, among others.”

The evening will give spouses and lovers a unique opportunity to rediscover themselves through the age-old “blues dancing”.

Demuren promises support for crash victims’families

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IRECTOR General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has promised family support for crash victims, saying “One of the things we are trying to do, that will be our new phase, and our target is zero accident. But every time we have an accident, we find that people come to sympathise with the family, but after that, we go back to sleep. Nobody remembers the families of the victims. I want to start the family assistance programme. In case anything should happen, we want to make sure that they are also not forgotten.”

Demuren spoke in Abuja while receiving the “Travel Personality of the Year” award conferred on him by the African Travel Quarterly (ATQ) magazine, organizers of West Africa’s only travel market, Akwaaba,and African Travel Market (AFTM). The award was part of the maiden edition of Abuja Bantaba, a travel event designed to serve the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the northern part of the country.

The DG made the promise while laying out the programme for a four-year development plan for the aviation industry, saying that the federal government, among others, is making the renewal of infrastructure at the nation’s airports a major priority. He said it was no longer tolerable for the nation to continue with the kind of infrastructure dotting its airports, hinting that the federal government is determined to embark on a massive infrastructure renewal in the next four years.

Transforming Imo through tourism

•L-R: Hon K.G.B. Oguakwa, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye and Mr. Ikechi Ukoh, publisher, ATQ magazine

Naija 7 Wonders unveils final top 15 sites

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FTER 16 months of research, the search for Naija 7 Wonders finally reveals the Top 15.

The announcement was delayed to allow for transition in government. In one and half month’s time, the final 7 will be presented to Nigeria.

The top list approved by the committee are: Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River; Winner Chapel, Otta, Ogun State; Sukur Kingdom, Adamawa State; Osun Groves, Osogbo Osun State; Badagry Heritage sites, Lagos; Kano Walls, including the emir’s palace; Benin Heritage sites, Edo State; Idanre Hills; Gashaka Gumti/Mabilla Plateau, Adamawa State; Yankari Game Reserves, Bauchi; Alok/Ikom Monoliths, Cross River; Ogbunike cave, Anamabra State; Kainji Dam/National Park, Niger State; Ikogosi Springs, Ekiti State and National War Museum, Umuahia, Abia

State The Naija Seven Wonders is a project aimed at developing interest in tourism in Nigeria and building

national pride in Nigerians about their environment. The countdown started with release of about 55 tourist sites in Nigeria by the Naija

7 ‘Committee of 50 Wisemen’ that was inaugurated in March last year. They later shortlisted 25 sites after nine months of work.

Ministers to discuss recovery of tourism

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HE fifth and largest UNWTO Ministers’ Summit held in cooperation with World Travel Market will look at how the travel and tourism sector can prosper following the global downturn.

Tourism ministers and industry leaders attending the November 8 summit – How Tourism Can Prosper Following the Global Downturn – will discuss and agree on actions the sector should take to consolidate recovery.

The 2011 UNWTO Ministers’ Summit at WTM is poised to be the biggest yet with almost 200 ministers and aides expected to attend.

The debate will look at how the private and public sectors can work together to tackle current industry challenges.

Ministers and business leaders will review and debate: The impact of fiscal consolidation and increased taxation in Europe; the effects of the developments in the MENA region on tourism; consumers’ greater control of the market; technology and new booking patterns and the growing importance of emerging markets.

Senior industry executives will again debate with ministers how the private and public sectors can work better together.

Previous industry par-

ticipants include TUI Chief Executive, Peter Long; Thomas Cook, Chief Executive, Manny Fontenla-Novoa and Co-op Travel Managing Director, Mike Greenacre.

“The UNWTO Ministers’ Summit at the World Travel Market is a key moment for us. It constitutes a unique platform for debate between the ministers of tourism and between the public and the private sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

“We are extremely pleased at our long standing relationship with the World Travel Market which has been decisive in making this event a success,” he added.

Continued from Page 50 to bring their investments home.

The state government policy has also encouraged private investors in this direction,and this is not surprising to Nneji who said, “There is no sensible government that will not encourage the private investors to come in. Imo State is not a rich state. Government should not concern itself with business. Government is supposed to put the necessary infrastructure and conditions in place to encourage investors to come in.

“The incumbent governor, like his predecessor, is a very intelligent person. Anayo Rochas Okorocha is a businessman. He came into government after he had successfully engaged in business. I am sure he knows the importance of investment and he will encourage investors to come into the state. I am very sure.”

The project engineer, Engr. Solomon Younes , a Lebanese, said of the hotel, “ It is a five- star hotel that will contain all facilities of any standard five- star hotel in the world. Our finishing is going to be alucopond- a new material made of aluminum, no painting, no maintenance and it has its own values.

“The hotel is well situated as it is sited between two roads.

It is a prime land. We have the Bank Road from this way and Douglas Road from the other way. It is in the heart of the city.

It is a good investment that will boost the economy of Imo State. More so that there are no standard hotels in the state.

The completion of Gee Plaza Hotel is 15 months, that is, we are likely to finish in September 2012. Imo Hotel is on the drawing board. The plan is to have a mega mall, a cinema hall and a hotel comprising of suites. It is expected to take off before the end of the year.”

The General Manager, Imo State Tourism Board, Mr. George Ekezie, is also in support of the private sector participating fully in tourism.He said: The government cannot do it alone. What government will do is to provide the soft landing base, including security, for investors to come in.

He also advocated the masterplan on how to distribute all these tourism facilities and sites. “Imo State is still on the verge of tourism development. The state has the potential to develop the industry. It boasts of Oguta and Abadaba lakes, among other.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Training: A vital key for raising Godly children (III)

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EAR Reader, Welcome back to this great week. Last week, I shared with you the importance of child training. I said among others, that child training is profitable. When you obey God by training your children, you are the one to eat the fruit of it.

This week, I dare to speak on what I captioned, How To Effectively Utilize The Key Of Training! Parents need two essential tools in order to train their children correctly and effectively.

These are Love and Control.

These two go together; neither can be effective without the other. An uncontrollable child cannot be loved, neither can unloved child be controlled.

Now, let’s further discuss each tool: • Love Christian parents should spend time with their children in the Word of God, since God Himself expresses His love for us through His Word. God’s Word says: Thy word is a light unto my feet, and a lamp unto my path (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word is the ultimate in training a child in a bid to raise godly children unto the Lord.

So also, in order to eliminate fear in children, a relationship of mutual trust should be developed with them, as is the case with perfect love. Learn to demonstrate your love to your children. Show this by carrying them, hugging

them, buying things for them sometimes, complimenting them when necessary, and remember not to lay undue emphasis on their weak points.

When you show your children love, it makes it easy for them to know and understand God’s nature, which is love, and walk in it.

The life of your children is patterned after the words you say to them. You must always keep to heart that the words uttered to your children ultimately make or destroy their future. Therefore, words of love, not of condemnation should be spoken to your children on daily basis.

It is not proper to ask a child to do what you won’t do yourself.

That is why training a child actually means showing him/her what to do by example; it means to instruct the child by practicing same.

• Control A child cannot be effectively trained without control; that is, control on the part of both the parent and the child. The child is not supposed to control his parents. There are homes where the child dictates to the parents. How

do I mean? For instance, the child dictates the menu, whether to go to school or not, where daddy and mummy should go, and so on. This is not supposed to be, because before such parent knows it, the child takes control of the affairs of the home.

You, as parents, have been commissioned by God to train, give direction and control your children, not vice versa. If the excesses in a child are not controlled early in life, those excesses will later control and may eventually destroy him/her.

God speaking highly of Abraham said: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (Genesis 18:19). We all desire to have great children; some of us even have great promises of God in His Word, to which we hold on to. But very few of us take the time out to observe to do what God has commanded us to do, in order for us to reap the ben-

Which vitamins do you need?

What you need and how to get it V ITAMINS and minerals are essential to any diet, and research suggests they may help prevent cancer and heart disease, not to mention other health problems.

But reality check: Many studies have been conducted on vitamincontaining food, but not necessarily supplements.

In fact, if you eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fortified food, you’re probably getting all you need. But supplements do offer an easy, just-in-case form of health insurance.

Do you need them? Here’s a quick guide to beneficial nutrients and what they can do for you.

Beta-carotene Found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and green peppers, among other foods, this antioxidant is converted in the body to vitamin A and is important for healthy vision, a functioning immune system, and good skin. But the evidence isn’t really there to recommend it for staving off cancer.

In fact, a 2004 study found that supplements may actually raise the risk of lung cancer in smokers.

Skip the supplements if you’re a smoker, and try to get your betacarotene from fruits and veggies, whether you smoke or not.

Calcium Our bodies need calcium— mostly found in dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese—to maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis.

Supplements aren’t a bad idea if you hate dairy (and can eat only so much kale and canned sardines), but you may want to skip them if you’re prone to kidney stones or are a female over 70.

A 2010 report linked supplements to heart-attack risk in older postmenopausal women.

If you decide to go with supplements, don’t take more than 500 milligrams at a time, and

pair them with vitamin D to improve calcium absorption.

Folic acid Folic acid, which prevents neural tube defects such as spina bifida in babies, is found in fortified breakfast cereal, dark green vegetables, legumes, citrus fruit juice, bread, and pasta.

Getting 400 micrograms a day of this B vitamin, and 600 if you are pregnant or lactating, is a nobrainer. That amount should come from food, supplements, or both. The physicians’re still out as to whether folate combats cancer, heart disease, or mental illness.

Iron You may not love the foods highest in iron (liver and other organ meats), but the mineral is critical for the proper functioning of red blood cells and, therefore, the prevention of anemia.

Try to get iron from dietary sources, which also include lean meats, seafood, nuts, and green, leafy vegetables. However, you may need a supplement if you’re anemic, or your doctor might prescribe them before surgery, says Jessica Anderson, a registered dietitian with the Coastal Bend Health Education Center, at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, in Corpus Christi. Women, especially those who are pregnant or menstruating, might also benefit.

Multivitamin There is limited evidence that multivitamins may help prevent breast cancer, and a health panel in 2006 wasn’t convinced that popping the pills was worth it.

Neither is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which said the only benefit could be to reduce cancer risk in people with poor nutrition. And a large 2009 study failed to find any beneficial effects of the vitamins for

cancer or deaths among postmenopausal women.

Multivitamins aren’t a bad idea if “you’re on the go,” Anderson says. “But don’t expect major lifesaving benefits.”

Potassium Potassium can lower blood pressure, even out irregular heart rhythms, and counteract the effects of too much sodium. It’s found in bananas, raisins, leafy greens, oranges, and milk.

Consider a supplement if you’re taking potassium-depleting diuretics for a heart condition, or if you’re African American, a group that’s at higher risk for hypertension and heart disease.

Keep in mind that too much potassium can be harmful to older people and people with kidney disease.

often exposed to secondhand smoke. But there seems to be little point in upping your intake to combat sniffling and coughing.

Vitamin D Vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium, is necessary for bone health. It’s mostly accessible through sun exposure, not food. Too little vitamin D can contribute to osteoporosis and rickets in children. Some evidence suggests that the vitamin may reduce the risk of type 1 and 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, but the jury’s still out on these benefits.

Even though very little sun is needed to get your quota of vitamin D, and some foods are fortified with it, deficiencies

efits we so badly desire. It is my prayer that after this teaching, your eyes of understanding will be opened to what God has packaged for you.

Have you been born again? If your answer is no, then you cannot effectively utilize this tool of love and control in training your children to become the best you envisage. If you want to be born again, say this prayer of faith: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins.

Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8; 07026385437.

For more insight, these books authored by Pastor Faith Oyedepo are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Understanding Motherhood, Raising Godly Children, and Marriage Covenant.

aren’t unusual. Supplements might be a good idea, especially if you don’t have much sun exposure, are over 50, or have dark skin.

Vitamin E Once upon a time, researchers thought this antioxidant could protect the heart, but a large trial published in 2005 found that 600 international units (IUs) every other day neither prevented cancer nor lowered the risk of heart attack or stroke in middle-aged and older women. (More recently, a 2008 study found no benefit of 400 IUs every other day in middle-aged and older men.)

Forget the supplements and get your vitamin E from food (oils like safflower, peanuts, eggs, fortified cereals, fruits, and green, leafy vegetables).

Bear in mind that cooking and storing foods with vitamin E can reduce the amount you’re getting.

Selenium The body needs only small amounts of this antioxidant, found in meats, seafood, eggs, and bread. A study found that taking 200 micrograms daily reduced the risk of prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers, but other studies have been “complete flops,” Anderson says. That includes a 2011 analysis.

Don’t count on selenium to lower your chances of getting or dying from cancer. It’s likely you’re getting enough from food sources, anyway.

Vitamin C This much-touted cure-all, found in citrus fruits, berries, broccoli, and green peppers, just doesn’t make the grade when it comes to common-cold prevention. One study did suggest that taking vitamin C regularly might reduce the length of a cold by a day.

Try to get enough vitamin C through your diet. It’s fine to take a supplement, especially if you’re a smoker or nonsmoker who is

•Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon. Ademorin Kuye assisted by Chairman of Ojokoro LCDA, Hon. Benjamin Olabinjo (right) and Mrs Sade Tinubu-Ojo during a tree planting exercise in Ojokoro, recently

53 Coping with diseases

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Avoiding childlessness:

with Prof. Dayo Oyekole

Family health issues

Genital herpes

H

Good day, I read your article on tubal blockage in the newspaper of 18th June 2011. It struck me because my better half was found with a similar condition after an HSG was done some few months ago. We saw a gynecologist who told us the only option available was IVF. We did a sono HSG which confirmed the bilateral blockage.

We had a repeat sono HSG with chymotrypsin with partial patency more on the left. We are still waiting on the Lord. I would be glad if you could offer some assistance by way of advice and remedy.

Dear Reader, I am sorry you have to go through this problem. We sometimes face problems whose only solutions seem like extreme difficulties but miracles do happen. Your gynecologist has given you expert service and offered you a remedy that you do not seem to want to pursue at this time. If you want to explore other less cumbersome options first, such as massage therapy, check on the Internet but beware of quacks and profiteers.

Type “blocked fallopian tube” into any search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

I would not personally recommend something through this column but some of the information you get through your search may be a source of inspiration and may actually lead to a satisfactory solution.

Hold your peace always and enjoy the best in your life as it is. You already have chosen faith over fate so I wish your dream comes true.

Hello Dr, Thanks for the FAMILY HEALTH column. I am 48 years plus. May I know if taking peak milk is injurious to my health? Also, is physical exercise good for a hypertensive person?

Thank you. J.A. Dear Reader, Thank you for your interesting questions. I have always believed that Peak™ milk is supposed to be healthy. It has been around for decades. When you sent this request, I got to know that the company producing it is not publicly known and other people have been trying to get information (except its name) about it in vain. I personally believe that all producers of foods, drugs, cosmetics, and other human consumables should be clearly listed and have open information about their companies and contact information (no matter what business concerns they have about rivals, competitors, or taxes, etc.). The consumer population’s health is at stake if there is no accountability. These days, we are seeing alarming statistics of diseases that are unbelievable therefore all well-meaning producers should be concerned that they are seen as transparent and truly serving the needs of their consumers and sincere about any adversity of their products. Back to milk: we know that some humans may have differences in their bodily-make-up or bodily-function that affect the way they handle what goes into their body or that affect their vulnerability or resilience towards

harm. Proteins and other substances can elicit (allergic) reactions in vulnerable individuals but this is not a known peculiarity of Peak milk. Some people have lactose (milk sugar) intolerance. If for you, it seems that Peak milk affects you adversely in some way (e.g. you experience headache, skin rash, fever, or diarrhea, etc.), then you should not hesitate to avoid it. It may also be that you have been taking a drug that contributes to a reaction to Peak milk. Try also to observe if there is a difference between the imported version and the locally produced version of Peak milk; there should not be a difference in composition or in standards. Fortunately, there are other brands you may use if a particular brand is not good for you so that you can drink milk with peace.

On your other question, physical exercise is good but each person should know what kind of exercise is good for him or her and how much of it is good. Over-exertion, especially for a hypertensive, can spell doom.

The exercise you do should match your physical condition and level of fitness, should be regular (daily, every other day, once a week, etc.), and should produce result: improving your heart function and blood circulation, improving your lung func-

tion and the way your body takes in oxygen and utilizes oxygen, improving your performance at work, improving the way you feel or your sense of wellbeing, helping to reduce body fat and excess weight, helping to reduce tension, anxiety, stress, depression and negative emotions, and improving your sleeping habits. Typically your exercise schedule should include stretching (e.g. arms and legs) and then aerobics (e.g. walking, jogging, skipping rope, or treadmill).

Some (muscle) building or reinforcement exercise may be added. Your exercise should follow a pattern which includes a gradual warm-up, the actual exercise level, and a gradual decrease of the exercise and return to rest, all of which could be done in twenty minutes or a longer period, if you wish. Sudden changes, start or stop, are not good for hypertensive conditions. Avoid exercise after a meal; wait a couple of hours first. Do exercises that you enjoy and this will help you not to skip your exercise. It helps if you have a companion who enjoys the same thing such as table tennis, lawn tennis, basketball, golf, and other games. Avoid over-exertion by checking that you can still talk at the level you are going. Improve your knowledge of exercise by using the Internet. Be fit and fine.

P

PID and infertility (2)

vomiting.

•Your symptoms may be worse at the end of your menstrual period and during the first several days following a period.

If you are experiencing the following symptoms, you should see your health care provider: •Abdominal pain that does not go away •Irregular vaginal bleeding •Foul-smelling vaginal discharge •Unusual vaginal discharge •Fever, nausea, vomiting Given the long-term complications PID can cause, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy, it is recommended that you seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these symptoms: •Lower abdominal pain or tenderness •Fever greater than 101°F (38.3°C) •Abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge Adult women with PID are either closely monitored or admitted to the hospital.

More aggressive treatment may take place in the hospital for adolescents, who are at a much higher risk of not following treatment plans and of having complications.

You may be admitted to the hospital if any of the following are true: •The diagnosis is unclear.

•Ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis cannot be ruled out.

•You are pregnant.

•An abscess (an infection) is suspected.

•You are acutely ill or cannot manage your illness at home.

ELVIC inflammatory disease (PID) is infection of a woman’s reproductive organs.

Infection spreads upward from the cervix to the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding structures.

Bacteria can infect the fallopian tubes and cause inflammation. When this happens, normal tissue can become scarred and block the normal passage of an egg. You may become infertile (unable to become pregnant). But if your tubes are partially blocked, an egg may implant outside the uterus and cause a dangerous condition called an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding and even death. Scar tissue may also develop elsewhere in your abdomen and cause pelvic pain that can last for months or years.

•The two most commonly

involved bacteria that cause PID are those of the sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea and chlamydia.

0. PID can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Some women can be very ill and have severe pain and fever.

Others can have no obvious symptoms or even appear ill.

Thus, PID is not always easy to diagnose. But it is important for you to seek medical attention if you have any risk factors for PID or symptoms of PID. •PID affects more than 5 million women in the Nigeria per year. Nearly 500,000 women are hospitalized annually because of PID. •Sexually active women younger than 25 years are at greatest risk, although PID can occur at any age.

I have attended to many a women in my years of practice and lot of them have come back with joy as God answered them through administering our remedies.

There are some of them that their husbands refused to follow to our office initially but when their problems were solved those same husbands brought them to our office to acknowledge the wonder in herbs.

A woman came to me early this year,specifically five months ago with the complaint that the stomach get hot all the time and not only that, she always feel pain in her lower abdomen and these are symptoms of PID. She told me someone told her the pain was normal for women until we attended to her and today she doesn’t feel those pain and not only that she is today an expectant mother, someone who had been married for nine years without any issue.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Causes Pelvic inflammatory disease is caused by germs that are transmitted through sexual contact and other bodily secretions. Bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia cause more than half of cases. Other organisms found in the vagina can also cause PID but are much less common.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Symptoms •If you have PID, you may have any of these symptoms: ( Abdominal pain (especially lower abdominal pain) or tenderness ( Back pain ( Abnormal uterine bleeding ( Unusual or heavy vaginal discharge ( Painful urination ( Painful sexual intercourse •Symptoms not related to the female reproductive organs include fever, nausea, and

•Dr B. Filani is the Chief Consultant of Sound Health Centre, Lagos. You can contact him on 08023422010 or on facebook or email soundhealthcentre@yahoo.com.

ERPES is a generic name for a group of viruses that cause a variety of diseases. The ailments people generally associate with herpes are those that produce small blisters on the skin, which open and are replaced by a crust before they heal completely. Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex (HSV2), which causes crusted sores, commonly around the lips and mouth (“cold sores”) and the genitalia. The infectious condition itself is also known as herpes simplex.

The virus is intermittently present in the mouth of healthy carriers and is spread by personal contact; genital herpes is spread by sexual contact with an infected person and is a venereal disease. Although some forms can be transmitted through the air or by contact with infected articles (especially towels) used by someone with active herpes, infection usually occurs through direct physical contact.

An attack begins with itching of the skin in the affected area, quickly followed by redness and swelling. Within a few hours fragile blisters (vesicles) appear and rupture to exude a sticky serum like fluid which rapidly crusts. Unless secondary infection with bacteria occurs, the lesions heal without scarring within about a week.

Because herpes blisters individually are the size of a pinhead or smaller, they may not be easily visible. Generally, the affected area will be red, tender, and mildly to severely painful. Fever, headache, and general malaise may also be present.

Genital herpes infections may cause a painful cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) in women, with ulceration and a vaginal discharge. The results of recent research studies have suggested that women who develop herpes cervicitis may have an increased risk of developing cancer of the cervix in later years. The condition is now seen as a reason for regular screening by Pap smears, which can detect early cancerous changes at a stage when treatment is simple and curative.

In men the genital infection is usually less severe.

However, those whose immune response is impaired (such as cancer patients, HIV/AIDS sufferers or organ transplant recipients) can be very susceptible to herpes infection.

Genital herpes may be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby during delivery.

Babies infected during birth by their mothers’ active genital herpes are very likely to die or suffer severe brain damage because they have little or no resistance to the virus.

Once the virus enters the body, in stays there for the rest of the person’s life, unless a natural remedy is applied.

Recurrent attacks may occur, usually during periods when the person is feeling run down, anxious, or depressed, before menstruation, or after sexual intercourse.

In holistic lifecare, the best prospect of prevention and total cure of genital herpes is in going back to nature in terms of personal hygiene, protected sexual contact and use of potent herbal remedies. Also, a body kept healthy by proper nutrition and exercise has the best chance of keeping the virus under control.

The holistic remedy being suggested for total cure of Genital Herpes is a combination of natural extracts of Eugenia caryophylatta, Citrus lemonis, Euphorbia unispina, Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea augustifolia.

For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-3303897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

54

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

•Jonathan

Mulling over single-term tenure F

ROM all indications, the Seventh National Assembly which officially took off on Monday, June 6, already has some goals set for it. And one of these goals would be to ensure that a constitutional amendment takes place before the expiration of its four-year lifespan.

The 1999 Constitution, which the country currently operates, has already witnessed three amendments in the last 15 months.

Hope that an amendment would take place for certainty has already been firmly established by the two most senior principal of-

Augustine AVWODE, Assistant Editor, and Musa ODOSHIMOKHE ficers in the legislative arm of government at different fora.

President of the Senate and the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator David Mark, at a grand reception in his honour by his kinsmen in Otukpo, Benue State, declared his commitment to ensuring that another round of constitutional amendment takes place which should provide an op-

portunity for the creation of more states in the country.

The previous amendments carried out in 2010 dwelt mainly on electoral reform and electoral related subjects. But the Senate president used the occasion of his home coming, a week after his historic re-election as the Senate President for another four years, to assure his kinsmen that their dream of an Apa State could still be realized. He stated that the creation of additional states would be in the interest of Nigerians, as it

would spread development to every nook and cranny of the country.

His words: “I am committed to it and I believe that creation of additional states will be in the interest of our people because development will be nearer to them.”

Less than two weeks after Senator Mark gave the hint of the determination of the Senate to amend the Constitution, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also hinted of a plan to amend the constitution when he said the House will soon propose an amendment to the Nigerian Constitution to make provisions that will guarantee the autonomy of the Houses of Assembly across the country. The Speaker stated this while receiving members of the 5th session of the Delta State House of Assembly who paid him a courtesy visit in the Green chamber.

Interestingly, Senator Mark’s optimism which was reinforced by Tambuwal’s declaration has, at once, opened a window of opportunity for both state creation and “other urgent issues of national interest” to be brought to the amendment table.

And among the other issues of national interest that have been identified are the clamour for true and fiscal federalism, the tenure of elected executive office holders, indigenes and settlers dichotomy and others not immediately relevant to this analysis.

In the last three weeks, following the euphoria elicited by the declaration of the senate president, the political circuit has been abuzz with talks about tinkering with the tenure of executive office holders, specifically, the president, the vice president and the governors of the 36 states of the federation with their deputies.

The talk in town has been that the presidency plans to engineer an amendment of the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution that deals with the tenure of these political office holders in the country.

According to Sections 135 (2) and 180 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, the president, his vice and the governors and their deputies are to enjoy a tenure of four years that could be renewed, making it a total of eight years for any individual to hold such an executive office.

Since 1979 when Nigeria adopted the presidential system of government in the Second Republic, the tenure of these officers has been pegged at four years which is renewable.

The presidency, it has been alleged is proposing a single term to replace the two terms of four years each as has been the practice.

Just now, between five and seven years of a single term is being touted as the preferred choice of the presidency.

According to available information, Aso Rock is uncomfortable with the sheer viciousness and the must-win attitude of some incumbents seeking a second tenure. This attitude has been identified as the major factor which fuels electoral violence and tension across the country during campaign and election periods.

The argument has been that elections would be less tense and would come with minimal violence where the incumbent’s job is to simply ensure that he grooms a successor if he does not want his own party to suffer defeat at the polls.

In recent times, failure to return to an office to do a second term has been interpreted and seen as terribly odd and a thing of shame. And with the enormous power at their command and being in a position to dispense patronage in a country that is so badly riddled with poverty makes every other person a man with a price that could be bought and as governors or the president, they can always get people to do their biddings by paying the right amount. Beside, in a country where praise singing and sycophancy have been elevated to an art, even the incumbents are largely held hostage by courtiers, hangers- on and sundry

55

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011 elements who capitalize on electoral campaigns to get as much money from the person involved as they can. And because they don’t want to rock the boat, those concerned simply tag on, almost helplessly.

It has, therefore, been argued that for a saner electoral climate and higher probability of free and fair elections, these powerful executive posts should be made a single term.

Beside, there is also the argument that the electoral system stands to gain as it would automatically translate into staggered elections in the country. While the legislative and assembly elections take place this year, the executive, that is, the presidential and gubernatorial elections could come a year or two after. The immediate advantage of this would be that the electoral umpire will be able to concentrate on one election at a time. Secondly, all eyes would be focused on it with the aim of pointing out the shortcomings. That way, the electoral process would become finer as the days go by.

Presidential signal Signs that the tenures of governors and the president could be tinkered with emerged a few days before President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as President and Commander - in - Chief on May 29.

At the “2011 Presidential Inauguration Lecture”, in Abuja with the theme, “A Transformation Agenda for Accelerating National Development,” Jonathan, in his remarks noted that a four-year tenure was too short for a president and governors to make significant impact.

Jonathan had remarked: “I will not talk about the tenure of the government. The constitution has said four years, though some believe that the tenure is too short to make any change which I also believe. I believe because if you are a new person and you are elected as a governor today, it will take one to one and half years for you to really stabilize. And you also know that some members of your cabinet are not good and that is why in most cases, after one year or two, Mr. President reshuffles the cabinet and by the time you want to go for another two and half years, it is another election and you are all busy about winning election. That is a constitutional problem”, he declared.

Analysts say it was a subtle way of saying the four-year constitutional prescription is no longer a reliable prescription and that the presidency might have given the go ahead signal to get the necessary machinery in motion to amend the provision.

From Jonathan’s analysis, for a governor or a president to make meaningful impact, he would need about a year to “settle down.” And if he has another five or six years to work, then he would very most likely do something reasonable. On the contrary, with one year gone out of four, the governor or president has just about two years to work as he must face re-election challenges which would be a veritable source of distraction and, therefore, may not be able to do much even if he has the best of intentions.

The pros and cons Expectedly, Jonathan’s subtle suggestion on tenure has drawn both supporters and antagonists more or less in equal proportion even though the suggestion would not be the first of its kind. In the past, calls for this vital aspect of the constitution to be tinkered with have been made. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had, during his second term in office, added his support to the proposal. But many believe that the call by Obasanjo lacked national interest as it was aimed at extending his tenure which later played out in the third term agenda.

Those who support President Jonathan’s argument that a single term of four years is too small for elected office holders to make

•Mark

•Tambuwal

appreciable impact point to the Russian example where an individual can only hold the office for a single five-year term and could run for it again provided it is not consecutive and it has helped in stabilizing their democracy which was rooted in brutal dictatorship.

Again, those in favour of the proposal have also said that political office holders barely do anything in office in the later part of their administration because at that point, the only important task for them is usually geared towards securing another mandate to their offices or another one. They also posited that huge amount of state resources are devoted for election by politicians seeking second term in office.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West, who pleaded anonymity, said it would reduce corruption and tension in the polity. “For me, I support the idea. I think it will be better because it will ensure that the elected officials will not need to worry about planning for re-election in four years. It will allow them to focus on doing the wishes of those who elected them into office”.

They also contended that it was glaring during the last April election that the machinery of government in many states and even at the centre was grounded at a time because of the politics of second term.

In many states of the federation, organs of government were almost paralyzed as a result of the infighting within the ruling parties as governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives were active participants. These are part of what proponents of the single term agenda are saying would be eliminated if it is eventually carried through.

Festus Okoye, legal practitioner and National Coordinator of the Independent Election Monitoring Group(IEMG), however, feels that the two terms of a four- year ten-

ure should be maintained.

In his reaction to the issue, Okoye submitted that: “The hallmark of democracy and democratic elections is the opportunity and promise of choice at designated and agreed intervals. The promise of choice and the hope and opportunity of exercising democratic franchise and affirming or rejecting a mandate are the hallmarks of democratic elections. It is on this basis that most democratic regimes through the constitution pegs the terminal date of most regimes at four years and requires that thereafter that mandate must be renewed or extinguished.

“It is this process of mandate renewal and the fear of rejection that makes leaders accountable because they have to renew their mandates at intervals and or be voted out at such intervals.

It is also important to realize that a one off seven-year mandate has inbuilt dictatorship in it. This means that the occupant is not looking forward to or towards any tenure renewal and can act with impunity and do things that are antithetical to democratic ideals.

“Such is not good for a developing society like Nigeria. It is not good for development and it is not good for accountability and transparency in governance.

“Moreover, a four-year period is enough for any president or governor to carry out projects and engage in enduring policies.

What is required is that people and their parties must prepare and not grope in the dark and spend six months in office before appointing their ministers and commissioners.

“It is, therefore, dangerous for Nigeria to adopt a single seven-year tenure for the president and the governors as they will never be accountable to anybody. Open societies are accountable and dictatorships are problematic”, Okoye opined.

Comrade Yerima Shetima, National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Fo-

‘ of the government. The I will not talk about the tenure constitution has said four years, though some believe that the tenure is too short to make any change which I also believe. I believe because if you are a new person and you are elected as a governor today, it will take one to one and half years for you to really stabilize ,

rum (AYCF), also knocked the proposal in his reaction. Speaking to The Nation on the phone on Thursday morning, Shetima said his fear for a single term that will make it impossible for the electorate to decide the fate of the governor of the president is that every new person who comes into government will always strive to destroy the legacy of the past ruler in a bid to make himself more popular.

“Four years may not be enough, but the truth is that our democracy is not mature enough. If we have a single term, I can assure you that everybody who comes into government will not think of continuity but find ways and means to quickly erase the legacy of his predecessor and replace it with his own programme”.

Dr Abubakar Momoh, Political Science lecturer, Lagos State University (LASU), said that neither one-term or two-term tenure is Nigeria’s problem. He identified corruption as the problem that will make it impossible for holders of the office to perform.

“The problem lies in the issue of succession. Even if we adopt one single term of ten years, it does not solve the problem of corruption? Does that translate into efficiency, regular power supply?

“I think what the political parties should address first is the case of internal democracy which will allow for an acceptable candidate. The people should be able to choose those they want. In fact, the idea of one single term of six years without adequately addressing the mechanism that thrusts forward these candidates is a subversion of democracy”, he declared.

Cleric turned politician, Reverend Chris Okotie of the Fresh Party described it as “a misplacement of priority by the PDP government to think of the idea at the moment.

It shows the ineptitude of the current administration to governance. The best thing to do at this point that Nigeria is seeking direction is for the PDP to reflect deeply and see how it addresses the basic needs of the people than the longevity of administration”, he stated.

A member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Hon. Hamzat Ganiyu, feels that the current arrangement is good enough. “The current arrangement of four years of two terms is better. I do not support the idea of one single term of six years.

And if they go ahead to achieve that, those who should benefit from it are those to be elected later and not the current ones”, Hamzat said.

56

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

‘Paucity of funds hinders our programmes’ Elder Godsday Orubebe is the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. In this interview with journalists, he identifies paucity of funds as the major challenge facing his ministry. DELE ANOFI was there.

Excerpts:

F

OR over a year, the level of work done by the ministry is not encouraging A lot of the contractors are not working today because the funds are not there for the projects to go on. If you look at 2011 budget, there are contractors we owe over N7 to N8b. But the budget has a provision of N1.5b, so how do they work. People who don’t understand these things will say the Ministry of Niger Delta is not doing anything.

Now look at our skill centres. We have 9 skill centres that are under construction, and one skill centre on completion will cost up to N5b in furnishing and equipment and now the entire budget for the work is just N2b. When the budget is out, every contractor is aware of it, so no contractor will put his money in the project when they are not sure of when theyare going to get their money back and these are the serious problems that we have. Take for instance, the Amnesty Programme, it is purely geared towards training and empowerment of the former militants, but the Ministry of

•Orubebe

Niger Delta organized another programme to generally train the youths . Now we have an intake of over 14,000 to 15,000 youths and we said we needed money to train these youths.

Last year, we put up a programme . We trained 1,200 youths, but we want to train reasonably 14,000 to 15,000 youths in practical programmes that they will be self- employed when they come out. A lot of the people we trained went into agriculture. Today, they have their own farms.

The last time I went to Warri, I went to inspect one of the fish farms of one of the people that

was sent to train in fish farming. . How do you hope to overcome this problem of paucity of funds?

I had to deliberately tell the National Assembly that we had to find an alternative funding for the development of the Niger Delta.

We have to do it because two things are very fundamental: First as I told them, Nigerians generally have said that we must develop the Niger Delta. The other question we should ask is what is the effect of the development of the Niger Delta? Once the Niger Delta is developed, peace will generally return because people will be engaged. The area will be opened up, then a lot of industries

will spring up. There will be a lot of employment opportunities for people. There will be economic empowerment which means that there will be general peace and once there is general peace in the Niger Delta, oil production will increase and once oil production increases, you will earn enough money for the development of the entire nation. Remember where we are coming from in 2007 and 2008. We went down to as low as 700,000 barrels a day, but today because of the peace encouraged by the amnesty idea and other programmes by the government, oil production has gone up to btween 2.3 million and 2.6 million barrels a day. But the question is where is the money going to? The money is going into the development of the entire nation. That is why the scheme is important; the Niger Delta must be developed, so that we can have peace that will provide the needed oil production which will provide money for the development of the entire nation.

So these are the things the ministry is doing.

But government has to attend to other needs too…

Definitely, I now think that our present focus will be to work towards an alternative funding for the programmes of the Niger Delta. The programmes are there like I told the National Assembly. The framework, structure and capacity are there. What to do and how to do it are known. What is left is funding and Niger Delta cannot be developed through these annual budgeting processes.

We have to look for funds outside the box to develop the Niger Delta and think that this government will do everything possible to see that something is done for the development of the Niger Delta.

Was the recent termination of

contracts in the region a sign of the new direction in the ministry?

Yes, and I am not someone that would just talk for the fun of it.

Moreover, these Niger Delta projects are dear to the heart of Mr. President whose desire is to complete them in the life of this administration. Mr. President cannot stay in office and after 2015 we will still be talking about who to develop the Niger Delta. People will not forgive us. We have to start now doing the right thing to ensure that the needed development is brought to the Niger Delta.

I want to assure you that this is not political talk because the days of patronage have gone. This is the time to show that the government is committed to the transformation of the region. We will look for more capable hands to handle the projects immediately any one is found deficient.

As a ministry, we are actually not satisfied with the performances of some of our contractors and we have gone there to see the level of work done so far barely after three days of resumption in office. Having discovered that some of the contractors have displayed their incapability to handle the projects, we set in motion the process of terminating their contracts. Those contractors we sanctioned have not exceeded 10 per cent progress since March 2010 when the contracts were awarded. We cannot be talking of 10 per cent after one year. That is unacceptable because the Niger Delta is in a hurry to be developed. The little resources that we have must be utilized effectively.

So any contractor that is not showing capacity to go along with the ministry will definitely be subjected to review.

Opposition planned to create disaffection in Osun ACN – Awofisayo

N

OTWITHSTANDING recent harsh criticisms levelled against the style of administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State, by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the President of Oranmiyan Worldwide and a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prince Felix Awofisayo, has declared that the state has now returned to the path of socio-political and economic development.

Awofisayo, in a telephone chat with The Nation early in the week, said for a long time the state had been in the hands of political pretenders and usurpers of the people’s mandate, but God wrestled power from them for the people.

“We are not disturbed by pretenders and usurpers of people’s mandate. They know that in Osun State, they have no legitimacy of any kind. For almost eight years they pretended to be administering and developing Osun State, but we now know that they were actually administering themselves and developing their own bellies.

They are trying to make political capital out of a meticulous move to reposition the state. Of course, they don’t know and they cannot know. Theirs is to make noises and not watch so as to learn from those who know and are trying to do the right thing for the people.

Awofisayo, who was reacting to insinuations that the approach to governance by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is slow and likely to affect the pace of de-

Augustine AVWODE velopment of the state, said since the coming into power of the current administration seven months ago, there had been evidence that the state which he described as “formerly lost in the woods” before now being gradually redirected into the path of development.

“Osun State is on its way out of the locust years of the PDP . For close to eight years, political pretenders and specialists in usurping the mandate of the people held the state to ransom. Any PDP man that is talking just doesn’t have any sense of shame. You know the previous administration has no single legacy to point to in the state after eight years, yet they have the temerity to criticize a government that is assiduously working to correct the damage they did in those years.

“Those who are medically knowledgeable know that what is called ‘corrective surgery’ is not what one handles with levity because you are expected to correct a previously ‘bad or wrong’ correction. It will task your intellect, commitment and sense of organization. It is not what one should rush into only to rush out with a bad result because there is no room for guess work or failure. Osun is not in the mood to accommodate wrong policies in governance any more. The governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is meticulously working out a framework that will stand the test of time and ensure that the state is put on an irreversible development gear. Don’t

•Awofisayo forget that this is an ACN administration. That alone imposes a lot of burden on the shoulders of the governor. And what is the burden?

Simple! He knows there is no room for excuses. What the people want is development, good governance, touching their lives in ways that make life worth living.

“And I can tell you on my honour that the governor knows what he is doing and he will not fail the people of Osun. Those who are praying for him to fail will be put to shame”, he stated.

Awofisayo said people criticizing

the governor had even gone ahead at a time to recommend individuals as commissioners for him are jesters who planned to sow seeds of discord in the ACN. He asked: “What was their objective of selecting people and publishing their names as qualified and competent people that should be appointed as commissioners. Their antics is not lost on us. They want to divide and break the rank of the ACN. They want to sow seeds of discord in the party. But we are wiser than them. The governor knows who is capable and who he wants to work with. And all of us know that it is his prerogative to pick whoever he wants. There is job for everybody, but round pegs must be put in round holes. That is our tradition in the ACN. In their own case, they put the wrong peg in the wrong hole, and deliberately so, because their goal was never to serve the people but to impoverish them. “ The Ife prince warned that it could be counter-productive to stampede the governor into doing what would, in the long run, serve only the interest of a few people than the generality of Osun indigenes.

In his words: “We must be wary of all these self-appointed advisers who are bent on stampeding the governor into doing what could, at the end of the day, serve the narrow interest of only a few people. I am sure they have heard the wise crack cautioning against unnecessary haste. That is why the white man says ‘more haste, less speed”.

Awofisayo argued that were things to be in order and had the previous administration not turned

things upside down with the intent of making the process of settling down difficult for the present administration, nobody would feel compelled to want to suggest individuals as commissioners for the government.

“How did they run the state? What success did they record? For eight years they were here, what did they do? What is their legacy? This administration is determined to leave a lasting legacy, and, as a result, it cannot afford to put the wrong foot forward”, he stated.

The Osun PDP had not long ago suggested names of ACN members to Governor Aregbesola, whom the party insisted, he could appoint into his cabinet.

On whether he was sure the ACN had come to stay in Ifeland, Awofisayo said there was no doubt about that. He blamed the PDP for giving the youths in the area wrong orientation that exposed them to political violence and thuggery, but expressed joy that things have changed since the assumption of power of Governor Aregbesola.

“The general thinking is that the PDP is still in control of Ifeland. That is a misconception please. The April general election showed that in any free and fair election, the PDP cannot withstand the slightest of political wind. And you saw how they were blown away into pieces. ACN is in control of Ifeland. Take that from me. Again let me say that the youths of the area are now being refocused to enable them harness their potential in life. Before now, they were exposed to thuggery and political violence as a way of life. But that era is gone”.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-07-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 6

Quotation(N) 0.50 7.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 38,000 19,000.00 42,100 316,750.00 80,100 335,750.00

Quotation(N) 2.50 7.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,100 7,750.00 319,825 2,256,914.39 322,925 2,264,664.39

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.07

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 258,900 129,450.00 570,338 1,177,966.37 829,238 1,307,416.37

Quotation(N) 6.73 0.87 5.10 2.80 6.06 2.33 12.25 0.54 14.79 9.31 1.00 1.22 0.67 6.46 0.89 1.47 5.27 2.50 0.81 0.96 14.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,266,476 62,157,200.89 2,986,712 2,530,666.21 2,301,224 11,651,076.88 101,665 281,379.90 1,155,371 7,041,482.00 4,227,139 9,839,695.97 13,721,300 168,389,857.75 6,411,479 3,417,988.06 18,036,133 264,438,446.30 307,552 2,880,987.36 2,941,443 2,925,367.70 6,366,890 7,587,571.23 6,267,262 4,285,644.82 14,318,872 91,877,266.85 778,929 652,410.40 1,959,862 2,876,431.26 2,454,178 12,888,118.06 1,368,427 3,385,158.55 1,743,500 1,435,535.00 1,284,023 1,225,137.69 43,068,896 637,392,111.57 141,067,333 1,299,159,534.45

Quotation(N) 243.00 90.00

Quantity Traded Value 212,630 394,292 606,922

of Shares (N) 49,098,150.67 35,597,179.71 84,695,330.38

Quotation(N) 20.21 8.54 119.50 45.60

Quantity Traded Value 293,546 23,675 353,024 242,487 912,732

of Shares (N) 5,915,123.87 211,293.58 42,100,886.30 11,184,125.75 59,411,429.50

Quotation(N) 8.96 28.00 0.91 10.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 8,500 72,420.00 110,129 3,062,003.62 1,250 1,137.50 3,265 32,682.65 123,144 3,168,243.77

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 41 42

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 14 19 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 117 37 45 14 63 65 493 49 647 31 48 207 47 129 51 28 84 93 18 26 275 2,567 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 66 123 189 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 52 6 55 44 157 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC I. P. W. A. PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 24 1 2 31

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 25 1 26

Quotation(N) 3.15 3.82

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 330,545 1,033,779.25 1,300 4,719.00 331,845 1,038,498.25

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 3.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 27,918 86,266.62 27,918 86,266.62

Quotation(N) 38.00 6.43 1.03 39.03 26.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 89,546 3,379,540.59 1,250 7,637.50 635,545 654,611.35 482,085 18,824,825.81 181,394 4,895,797.56 1,389,820 27,762,412.81

Quotation(N) 2.66 50.82 0.50 3.47

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 237,509 604,400.75 8,000 393,450.00 1,204,163 602,081.50 40,000 145,600.00 1,489,672 1,745,532.25

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 47 1 18 32 44 142

Delisting: NBC scales through shareholders’ meeting

A

MIDST protests by some minority shareholders, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, yesterday secured the crucial statutory shareholders’ approval to execute its scheme of arrangement. These include purchase and cancellation of shareholdings of minority shareholders and eventual delisting of the company from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

With Coca-Cola Hellenic, the foreign core investor in NBC, which is seeking to buy out dissenting Nigerian shareholders and delist the shares of the company from the NSE, staking its 66.21 per cent equity stake behind the scheme, the company muscled up additional votes from grudging shareholders to secure 99.63 per cent overwhelming support for the delisting. Statutorily, business combination only requires 75 per cent votes to see the scheme through.

With the shareholders’ approval at the court-ordered general meeting at the weekend, NBC is on the way to become a private limited liability company after nearly four decades as a publicly quoted company. The delisting would shave off about N57 billion from the market capitalisation of equities on NSE and shut the door against more than 100,000 shareholders. NBC is expected to transit into a limited liability company by September 7, 2011.

Speaking at the meeting, chairman of NBC, Mr. Olusegun Apata, said the company did all it could to maximise shareholders’ value in the disengagement process, noting that it had raised the

No of Deals 24 6 5 1 36

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 2 6

Quotation(N) 2.30 0.54

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,606 24,393.80 10,600 5,724.00 21,206 30,117.80

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 33 16 130 48 5 17 31 34 2 1 2 337

Quotation(N) 45.00 17.01 16.00 11.65 84.50 4.25 4.94 43.25 402.00 24.70 0.50 0.68

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 18,746 845,345.50 203,916 3,563,979.74 45,370 725,920.00 4,780,939 55,670,452.52 337,011 28,449,838.88 29,700 120,318.00 228,296 1,113,125.73 426,974 18,205,473.88 14,966 6,020,901.48 1,568 36,800.96 33,480 16,740.00 1,949 1,266.85 6,122,915 114,770,163.54

Quotation(N) 1.10 1.80 25.10 3.88 1.62

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 464,632 509,448.88 50,211 90,304.05 21,078 527,157.80 77,355 308,855.75 52,000 80,080.00 665,276 1,515,846.48

Quotation(N) 6.53 1.46

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,036,001 13,294,476.53 14,960 21,841.60 2,050,961 13,316,318.13

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 22-07-11 LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 4 9 7 10 46

No of Deals 6 2 8

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 19 21

Quotation(N) 7.45 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,500 10,805.00 220,829 1,313,001.41 222,329 1,323,806.41

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 16

Quotation(N) 0.61

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,770,130 3,519,094.10 5,770,130 3,519,094.10

Quotation(N) 0.69 1.05 0.50 2.77 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.47 0.50 0.51 0.52 0.54 2.01 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,591,387 2,519,393.56 10,464,042 10,987,244.10 252,635 126,317.50 47,475 135,927.50 500 250.00 50,000 25,000.00 1,250,500 625,255.00 1,134,350 1,680,966.50 250,000 125,000.00 249,750 126,892.50 6,173,815 3,215,543.80 1,739,090 896,086.38 553,000 1,110,260.00 5,000 2,500.00 30,800 15,400.00 60,000 30,000.00 428,230 214,115.00 46,080 23,500.80 26,326,654 21,859,652.64

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 3 3 3 1 1 8 17 3 3 27 24 6 1 1 1 2 1 149

Quotation(N) 0.96

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,297,971 1,217,433.32 1,297,971 1,217,433.32

Quotation(N) 1.06

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,107,022 2,177,474.18 2,107,022 2,177,474.18

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 104,800 52,400.00 104,800 52,400.00

MARITIME No of Deals 61 61 MEDIA Company Name DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 3 42 46

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 0.53

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,000,000 20,000,000.00 213,210 106,605.00 3,646,749 1,869,817.40 43,859,959 21,976,422.40

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 17 17

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

scheme price form initial N37 per share to N47. 71 per share.

He said the company could not go beyond the offer price but assured that the company would not take charge of unclaimed dividends, which currently stands at N455 million.

He pointed out that the scheme of consideration in the processes would terminate in 12 years effective from the date of commencement of payment.

He added that owners of unclaimed dividends can always apply for them at the appropriate time through the order of the court pointing out that the funds are only being held in trust by the company and it would not abuse such trust.

Several shareholders however, expressed their dissatisfaction with the impending delising and the scheme price.

A shareholder activist, Mr. Nonah Awoh, said minority shareholders were shortchanged with scheme price. noting that the current value of the company’s assets was not factored into the scheme price.

According to him, minority shareholders that are losing investment of many years through the delisting deserve better value as the fair value of the company is currently at about N65 per share.

President, National Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Mr. Timothy Adesiyan said it would have been better to allow stakeholders to vote for the right price since ordinary shareholders are no longer partowners of the company.

He lamented that the process of disengagement could not be stopped because of the statutory rights of a going-concern and majority shareholders noting that the capital market operates on a free entry and free exit basis.

Meanwhile, NSE sustained its upward trend yesterday with the All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation appreciating by 0.58 per cent each. Market capitalisation improved by N44 billion to close at N7.650 trillion while the ASI appreciated by 138.41 points to close at 23,925.72 points.

Investors traded a total of 244.328 million shares worth N1.735 billion in 4,233 deals with the banks contributing 57.74 per cent of the volume.

Banking sector traded 141.067 million shares worth N1.299 billion exchanged in 2,567 deals.

This was followed by mortgage companies and insurance sectors with 43.860 million shares worth N21.976 million and 26.327 million shares worth N21.860 million respectively.

On the price movement tables, 42 quoted companies recorded price change with 36 appreciating while the remaining six recorded a decline. On the gainer table, 17 banking stocks made the table with Sterling Bank and Continental Reinsurance leading the list with the five per cent maximum gain. Others on the top five were Capital Hotel, UBA and Guaranty Trust Bank.

On the losers table, the only six stocks with price depreciation were Academy Press, Evans Medical, Bank PHB, Dangote Cement, IBTC and Bagco with price drop of 17 kobo, 4.0 kobo, 1.0 kobo, 161 kobo, 9.0 kobo and 1.0 kobo respectively.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Company Name NIGERIAN ENERGY SECTOR FUND ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 552.20 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100 52,459.00 40,710 20,355.00 40,810 72,814.00

Quotation(N) 2.34

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,475,541 14,696,441.99 6,475,541 14,696,441.99

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 78 78

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 12 22 3 11 12 105 9 178

Quotation(N) 0.50 67.22 36.01 4.30 19.28 157.50 40.50 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 21,100 10,550.00 5,823 379,517.58 46,571 1,653,066.63 6,660 27,239.40 17,737 341,969.36 9,330 1,397,903.28 1,002,658 40,329,162.17 6,521 1,296,510.00 1,116,400 45,435,918.42

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 3 11 15

Quotation(N) 3.33 5.60 5.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 110,880 369,230.40 14,000 74,480.00 128,279 641,108.60 253,159 1,084,819.00

Quotation(N) 19.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 167,817 3,195,991.80 167,817 3,195,991.80

Quotation(N) 0.59

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,474 4,409.66 7,474 4,409.66

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 13 TEXTILES

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 16 16

Quotation(N) 14.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 535,935 7,794,061.00 535,935 7,794,061.00

4,233

244,328,008

1,735,018,263.66

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA

Nigeria names U-20 W/Cup squad

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IGERIA Under-20 coach John Obuh has retained majority of the players that won the African Youth Championship in South Africa for the World Cup in Colombia.

Captain Ramon Azeez and top scorer at the AYC Uche Nwofor are included in the final 21-man squad of the Flying Eagles.

Injury knocked out Lazio of Italy's Onazi Ogenyi, while defender Jamiu Alimi of Belgian club Westerlo was also omitted.

Local stars Gbenga Arokoyo, Kelly Godwin and Chidi

Osuchukwu also missed out on the final cut.

Despite dominating the African scene, Nigeria are still chasing their first success at the World Youth Championship since it started in 1979.

The Flying Eagles finished as runners-up at the 1989 and 2005 editions, losing to Portugal and Argentina respectively.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group D against Guatemala, Croatia and Saudi Arabia.

Cameroon, Egypt and Mali are the other African representatives

at the World Youth Championship which is scheduled for 29 July - 20 August.

Nigeria's final squad for Colombia 2011: Goalkeepers: Danjuma Paul (Nasarawa United), Kazim Yekini (Kwara United), Gideon Gambo (Sharks) Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (Standard Liege/Belgium), Chiemezie Mbah (Warri Wolves), Gani Ogungbe (Gateway FC), Emmanuel Anyanwu (Enyimba), Terna Suswan (Vitoria Setubal/ Portugal), Felix Odoh (First Bank Lagos) Midfielders: Philemon Daniel (Kwara United), Abduljaleel Ajagun (Dolphin), Sani Tahir (Vejle/DEN), Ramon Azeez (Almeria/SPA) Strikers: Ahmed Musa (VVV Venlo/ Netherlands), Uche Nwofor (Enugu Rangers), Bright Ejike (Sharks), Olanrewaju Kayode (Asec/Cote d'Ivoire), Sani Emmanuel (Lazio/Italy), Omo Ojabu (Dolphin), Terry Envoh (Sharks), Egbedi Edafe (unattached).

Sibi Gwar set to increase goal haul

• Ahmed Musa

Turkish match-fixing scandal threatens Aruwa’s foreign deal ADUNA United player, Sani Aruwa has informed NationSport that he does know the direction which his ongoing trials with a Turkish club would go owing to the current match-fixing scandal which enveloped the Eastern European side recently.

Aruwa an important member and captain of Kaduna United had to travel out of the country to fulfil his wish to play away from the domestic league but his dreams may take some time to come to reality with the club he intended joining also embroiled in the matchfixing brouhaha.

He told NationSport that it has not been easy for him since he came to Turkey and that the match-fixing problem is threatening his switch to the Turkish League.

“My brother, it has not been easy out here. My club I am training with is among the club being investigated regarding the match fixing scandal and for two weeks now I have not been able to

K

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

train with them. I hope the issue is resolved on time for me to know my fate,” Aruwa expressed.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri IGER Tornadoes’ ‘goal king’ says besides getting the three points at stake today against Sharks of Port Harcourt, he is expecting to increase his goals tally by the completion of the Week 34 NPL clash at the Bako Kotangora Stadium, Minna.

Gwar whose injury has prevented him to add to his ten goals he has plundered in the second half of the current league season assured NationSport that seeking the three maximum points remains his target,while scoring at least a goal in today’s encounter is his other personal wish.

“We want to steer clear of the relegation zone and the only way to do that is to continue to win our remaining matches.

We want to teach Sharks, football lesson today at home.

I will also like to add to my 10 goals to end the season on a high note.” The Plateau born former Kwara United player boasted.

Tornadoes with 43 points from 33 matches stay in 13th position on the log and are about seven points away from relegation zone while Sharks are on 50 points from same number of matches and placed 7th also on the table.

N

Afolabi on Rangers' radar

A

LLY MCCOIST has admitted his interest in signing former Red Bull Salzburg central defender Rabiu Afolabi on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old Nigerian was heavily linked with a move to Eintracht Frankfurt but could be in line for a move to the Scottish Premier League. Afolabi holds a Belgian passport and would not require a work permit to move to Scotland.

McCoist also confirmed on Friday his interest in Romanian defender Dorin Goian, who plays for Palermo, and Roland Juhasz, who is contracted to Anderlecht.

A move for Carlos Cuellar remains in the balance, with the Aston Villa defender who is currently injured having yet to respond to Rangers' contract offer.

The Rangers boss, however,

said he did not expect any transfer movement ahead of the weekend's game with Hearts, but was optimistic of signing a new player in time for Monday's UEFA deadline, in which club can register one additional player for their Champions League qualifier with Malmo FF. Afolabi has played in Europe since 1997, joining Belgian side Standard Liege.

He spent six years at the club, while also having a short spell on loan with Napoli, before moving to Austria to sign for Austria Vienna in 2003.

Sochaux secured his services in 2005 and he made 123 appearances in four years in France, before returning to Austria in 2009 to join Red Bull Salzburg.

Afolabi also has 20 international caps with Nigeria, featuring for his country at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA

Sports Minister canvasses corporate sponsorship for sports

N

EWLY appointed Nigeria Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Yusuf Suleiman has called on corporate bodies and all well meaning Nigerians to take up the challenge of sports sponsorship in Nigeria.

The Minister made this call

Thursday, 20th July, 2011 in Abuja in his inaugural meeting with the Presidents of sports Federations as well as the representatives of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

Alhaji Suleiman noted that one major challenge facing sports development in Nigeria is the issue of paucity of funds.

He stated that “if the private

bodies take the lead in financing sports, it will then leave the government enough time to concentrate on policy formulation and implementation”.

The minister maintained that as ‘giant of Africa” we should always strive to be tops at all times and this he said we can only achieve if all hands are on

•Action recorded at the ongoing Gulder 5-Aside football screening competition at the Kwara Football Academy KFA sports complex, Ilorin, Kwara state

GULDER 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL:

Gunners FC, KFA FC emerge Ilorin Regional winners •As Makurdi comes alive for North Central qualifiers

T

HE Gulder 5-A-side Football zonal elimination series that started Tuesday July19 in Ilorin came to an end on Thursday July 21 with Gunners FC and KFA FC emerged as the winners and runners up. The two teams will represent the zone in Lagos for the knock out stage scheduled to hold on September 15, 2011.

The Gunners FC had earlier defeated All Stars of Ilorin by 20 in the first semi-final while KFA FC, in a tension soaked match, beat Okoto FC by 3-1 in the second semi-final.

For the overall winner, the two teams, Gunners FC and KFA FC had to settle scores with penalty shootout after playing 1-1 draw at regulation time.

However, Gunners FC eventually outshine KFA FC by 3-2 at the end of the penalty shoot-out.

The Chief Coach of the Gunners FC, Coach Best Wesley who will accompany the team

to the knock-out stage in Lagos, expressed happiness for being the last coach standing in the zone, noting that he was more than satisfied.

He said that they will intensify training activities for his players so as to prove themselves in Lagos. “What we are going back to do now is to intensify our preparation by concentrating on tactics and pace. We are going to put the team through the principle of football ethics, tactical discipline, team spirit and responsibility”, Wesley disclosed.

The regional qualifiers, consisting of 52 club sides that came in from Kwara, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Minna, took place for three days at the Kwara Football Academy Ilorin.

Expressing his satisfaction on the successful kick off of the regional qualifying series in Ilorin, Gulder Sales Team Manager, Ibadan District, Mr.

Jude Edemode said "The regional matches have truly been an explosion of raw talents.

We have had incredibly high energy and amazing turn-out of spectators and dignitaries alike.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone in all the states that participated in the regional qualifier here in the Ilorin zone, either as players, parents or football loving fans and supporters of grassroots football."

Edemode described the Gulder brand as a brand for distinct men and “as you can see today distinct teams have emerged”, adding that “though Gulder 5-A-side Football is different from normal football championships, all the team that participated so far in this elimination processes have exhibited great skills and talents which have showed that we have abundant hidden football talents in this country, let me tell you that one of the teams from here will emerge winner in Lagos” Edemode wished.

Ike Uche to remain with Zaragoza

F

IFA licenced agent and ally of Real Zaragoza of Spain Super Eagles player, Victor Macdonald has assured that Ikechukwu Uche would not be leaving his Spanish club at least this season.

Macdonald who hails from Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo State made this known to NationSport on Friday in the wake of the burial of his mother madam Patricia Uwabingaonye Ukozor which took place at St Joseph Catholic Church in his country home.

Macdonald stated that Uche decided against exiting the struggling La Liga side in order to pay them back for standing by him and seeing to his upkeep while he was down with career

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri threatening injuries recently and added that it would amount to betrayal of trust if he dumps the Primera division side for another club after all what they did for him at his time of distress.

“No He has to stay there (in Real Zaragoza) even though there are several offers for him. The club has been so much faithful to him during his injury induced break. I think changing a club now for Ikechukwu may not augur well at all because it is like betrayal of trust on his part. The club waited for many months for him to recover and they were still paying him his salary and other entitlements. For now there are no immediate plans for him to change his club.” Macdonald

assured in a chat.

At the burial ceremony proper which heralded who-is-who in football like the chief coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Yebowei Siasia, Amodu Shuaibu and the FIFA Media Officer and CAF General Coordinator, Paul Bassey among others, Macdonald stressed that he found it difficult to believe that his mother had died and he described her as humble and unassuming servant of God. “Death is a painful reality whose finality is inescapable. I still find it difficult to believe that you are gone? you were the solid rock were relied upon for wisdom, advice and warmth.

You will forever remain in our hearts.” Macdonald stated.

deck to ensure the development of all sports.

On the issue of foreign training tour for athletes involved in the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, the Minister revealed that it became imperative for the NSC to step down the planned training tour in view of the challenges encountered in procuring entry visas.

He stated that the selected countries’ embassies came up with stringent visas requirements which made it impossible for the National Sports Commission to get visas for the athletes and officials.

He, however, promised that the NSC would arrange for foreign Technical Experts to strengthen the coaching crew of each sporting federations in the country.

This decision he said was part of the resolutions reached in an earlier meeting held between the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Patrick Ekeji and the Presidents of the national sports federations on Thursday, 14th July, 2011.

Other resolutions included the Commission’s support of the AAG teams’ participation in international competitions within the Africa continent to boost their readiness for the Maputo 2011 games.

The contingent is expected to depart for Maputo on the 20th of August.

Okoro, others finally arrive F/Eagles’ camp

T

HE trio of Stanley Okoro, Mohammed Aliyu and Azeez Ramon who are the last set of the Nigeria Under 20 players to arrive Panama camp of the Flying Eagles.

In a chat with a close source in the team, the three players arrived yesterday after the endless wait for them by the officials of the Nigerian side.

The chief coach of the Under 20 team John Obuh holds the key to their availability at the

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri Colombia 2011 World Cup although an impeachable source hinted NationSport that they would make the cut eventually owing to their antecedents in the team.

Nigeria will leave for Colombia on Sunday for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup and they are Grouped alongside Croatia, Saudi Arabia and Guatemala in Pool D.

Pelican Stars to return

W

OMEN football fans in Nigeria will soon see the return of Pelican Stars to the top of the Nigerian football ratings if the words of Basil Obertan are anything to go by.

Basil Obertan is the Cross Rivers State Sports Commissioner and he assured KickOffNigeria.com that plans are in top gear to change the fortunes of the former Nigeria League and FA Cup Queens, Pelican Stars.

"We know that for a very long time Pelican Stars gave the Falcons and Falconets most of the players they used to performed well at the World Cup and Olympic Games so Nigerians know that Pelican Stars helped in

no small way to make the Falcons the force they are today," Obertan said.

"The club did not die as such. Yes, we have not done as well as we should have or as well as before but these are the days of rebuilding and we have them in our plans."

"We still have members in the national teams and I know we are not below average. We will still come back to where we were before and that is a promise to fans of the club," Obertan enthused.

Pelican Stars won the Nigerian FA Cup five times in 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 while they got the League six times in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005.

Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.5, NO. 1829

It is therefore a sign of myopia on the part of new legislators to be pushing for creation of more states, when most of the existing states are crying for manna from oil and gas to enable them pay 18,000 naira minimum wage —Ropo Sekoni

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday

The crossroads

N

IGERIA’S qualification for the 2012 Af rican Cup of Nations is at its cross road. Those who should steer the team through have chosen to gamble with the selection of players for the Super Eagles.

Bench-warmers, tired legs and recuperating players are picked ahead of regulars in European clubs. Is the Eagles camp a rehabilitation centre?

Samson Siasia got the Eagles job when Nigeria had an arithmetic chance of qualifying for the competition. All Siasia needed was to win the four games left. But, that looks like a mirage, with the draw against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

Now that it is increasingly becoming difficult for us to grab the ticket, one only hopes that we know who to blame.

Our situation is such that even if the Eagles beat the Madagascans by 2-0 in Antananarivo and the Guineans whip Ethiopia by 6-0 (God forbid) in Conakry, we would be out of the tournament, if the Eagles fail to drown Guinea in goals in Abuja. Siasia is the coach; he knows the players to pick. I wish him good luck.

Nigerians rooted for Siasia’s appointment based on feats achieved at the junior level. Not a few have begun querying his choice over Stephen Keshi? They cannot see any significant change in the Eagles in the last six months.

One cynic was amazed that Siasia could be worried about the team’s shaky defence. He felt strongly that Siasia’s poor tactics and reliance on off-form players accounted for the Eagles’ inconsistent and abysmal showing so

far.

Again, Siasia’s list against the Ghanians at the Vicarage Stadium in England is being questioned.

A technical committee comprising Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Christian Chukwu, Austin Okocha and Victor Ikpeba should be able to tell Siasia the truth about his selection. If he cannot trust these men, then he has a very big problem. Onigbinde is in the technical body of FIFA and CAF. Chukwu is a tested coach.

Okocha and Ikpeba are accomplished players, his team mates. His refusal to heed the warning from informed people amounts to pressing the distraught button. I’m glad to know that he has been left alone.

But the crossroad in this (let-him-carry-canif-we-fail) stance is that a loss to Ghana on August 9 would put Siasia under pressure expecially if the defeat arises from mistakes from the controversial stars that he included in the team.

If the 4-1 whiplash of Argentina in Abuja last month didn’t propel the Eagles to trounce Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, 72 hours after the Argentine conquest, I wonder what a defeat would do to the players’ psyche when they confront the Madagascans on September 3 in Antananarivo.

We cannot afford to secure a draw in Antananarivo because the Guineans are at home against Ethiopia. Victory for Guinea and a draw for Nigeria would make the last game in Abuja a friendly tie. And I doubt if our players will honour such a game, given the fact that the European leagues would have started then.

We have very good players to beat the Madagascans, irrespective of the result against Ghana. But Siasia has stuck to the players that

he likes. Countries that excel parade fit players based on their club performance. Why is Siasia’s different?

Ambrose Efe’s mistakes cost Nigeria dearly against Ethiopia, yet Siasia retained him in the squad, leaving out Danny Shittu, who did well at the South Africa 2010 World Cup. Shittu was shut out because the coach felt that his boys Dele Adeleye and Ambrose Efe were better. He knows better now hence, he dropped Adeleye, leaving Efe, who is recovering from a heart condition. Will Siasia swallow his pride and invite Shittu (he is younger than any defender in the present Eagles, having been born in England)?

Time will tell.

Siasia has no scruples inviting Solomon Okoronkwo ahead of former Sochaux FC of France’s jewel Brown Ideye, who scored a brace for Dynamo Kiev last week, after having scored 15goals last season in the French league 1.

Siasia’s defence that he wants a winger, not a striker is ridiculous because Ideye is a left winger who scores goals when the opportunities beckon. It simply means that Siasia hasn’t watched Ideye. Ideye scores goals, unlike Okoronkwo, who is a bench-warmer.

Is it not also laughable that Siasia has tagged Ideye as one for the future, yet he tells us that he is rebuilding the Eagles for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? What I see is that Siasia enjoys the controversies. He stirs one to heat up the polity. Unfortunately, Nigeria football would suffer.

He has lost the chance of using the August 9 tie against Ghana to prepare the Eagles for the must-win game in Antananarivo.

Siasia has turned the Eagles camp to a rehabilitation centre for his former players. He

doesn’t see anything wrong with that. That is okay. The pain is that Siasia would have blocked the opportunity of another Nigerian coach handling the Eagles.

Our players’ sojourn with European clubs has made them more sophisticated, such that it would be foolhardy to expect any Nigerian coach to groom them to play exciting football with accompanying results.

What we celebrate as feats for Nigerian coaches was achieved using over-aged players to prosecute kindergarten and intermediate football competitions.

Now that these age-cheats are being expected to blossom, having dazzled the world in agegrade competitions, they gasp for breath, unable to match the pace, creative skills and tenacity of most teams today.

In this dilemma, we ought to have contracted foreign coach, who is eager to succeed by rebuilding the Super Eagles, using the new boys who are doing well for their European teams.

Such a foreign coach would not have the mindset of the Nigerian coach, who is not ready to take any risk in the discovery of new players.

Most Nigerian coaches are biased towards players who they groomed. They thrive on quick fixes and see the national team job as an avenue to change their fortune, having wasted money acquired in their playing days.

Most times, Nigerian coaches given national team jobs come unemployed. Their period of unemployment compels them to grab any offer. They compromise in their selection of players for matches because they see any game as a bazaar. Who is losing? Our soccer, of course.

And when will this stop? Does anybody know?

Patrick Vieira: I miss the English game I

N the broiling afternoon heat of a poor district of Los Angeles this week, Patrick Vieira’s new life as an ex-footballer began. Not that he has completely let go of the old one just yet.

Asked if he ever thinks about a famous confrontation with former Manchester United captain Roy Keane in the tunnel at Arsenal in 2005, Vieira smiled and delivered a telling reply.

‘Of course, I still remember it,’ he said.

‘And I still watch some of the videos of it on YouTube at home. It makes me smile because it was a special moment.

‘It makes me laugh, it makes me happy and I’m proud to watch it all the time. They were fantastic moments.’

The thought of Vieira sitting at home in front of his laptop running through classic footage is an amusing one. Certainly it is hard to imagine Keane doing the same.

The two men were different away from the field, of course. Keane carried his anger around with him like a bad cold. Vieira left his game face on the field at full-time.

‘For me it was about the match,’ said the former Arsenal captain. ‘Back then I was feeling so strong about myself, feeling like I could play every two days.

‘I was at the top and felt like nothing could touch me. I am sure Roy was the same. I had big respect for Roy, despite the rivalry. We shared similar qualities. When you play in the position we played you always want to prove something, you always want to fight against the best and he was one of the best. The intimidation, his quality as a footballer ... it was all there.’

Vieira is in California this week with Manchester City, the club he joined when he returned to England from Italy in January 2010.

This is a pre-season tour that hasn’t required him to bring his boots, though. Now 35, Vieira retired at the end of last season.

So, while his former team-mates enjoyed a day off by playing golf and sitting on the beach, he was at a children’s day centre in his new role as the club’s football development executive.

•Vieira For the former France midfielder, taking the post is intended to be the first step on the way to a career in coaching. He hopes that career will keep him in England, the football environment in which he always felt most at home.

On Wednesday, Vieira looked at ease as he spoke to a group of around 100 under-privileged children who will benefit from an artificial pitch City are about to lay at the Boys & Girls Club of East LA. It was great to end my career on the day City ended their trophy drought. Amazing.

An intelligent man with an easy nature, it is easy to understand why City were keen to recruit him as an ambassador.

It will take a while, though, for one of the Barclays Premier League’s most iconic figures to accept that his 17-year career is over. Players like Vieira, Keane, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville wrote their names in the fabric of English football’s recent boom years. This season the game will move on without them.

‘I can’t speak for the others but I knew it was time because I couldn’t play like I wanted to any more,’ he admitted. When you have been

at the top for quite a long time and play one game and don’t perform the way you want or expect, you feel disappointed and get to a point where you have to stay “Stop”. It’s really difficult because it is such a part of your life. It is your life.

‘England was where I was really able to express myself, that was where I played my best football because my mentality and my approach was the same as the English. It is not something I had to find, or try to change about my game. I had that in me already. ‘The English game was made for me. So I will miss it.

‘I saw the players last night because there was a small barbecue and I joined them and it was quite nice. We stayed after dinner and we were talking and laughing, and of course I will miss it.’

Vieira will be the first to admit his contribution to City’s recent success on the field was modest. He featured in only 29 League games in a season-and-a-half and appeared only as a late substitute in the club’s FA Cup final win over Stoke.

At Arsenal it was different. For the best part of a decade the tall, imposing midfield player was central to all Arsene Wenger achieved as the London club won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

A graceful, elegant player, Vieira was fearsomely robust, too. Silk and steel. These days it appears Arsenal satisfy only one half of the requirements for domestic achievement.

‘There is a big difference between the Arsenal team now and the one I played in,’ Vieira said. ‘Look at the goalkeeper, the back four the personality of David Seaman, (Tony) Adams, (Steve) Bould, (Martin) Keown, and myself and Emmanuel Petit in midfield.

‘It was a big, physical team. We could play as well but I honestly believe that the Arsenal team now are playing better then we ever did.

The difference is we put silverware on the sideboard. That is what people remember, not how you play. Only Barcelona play (like that) and win silverware.’

During our meeting, Vieira talked at length and with candour about his former club. At one point he stopped, stressing that he didn’t

want his comments to make ‘big headlines’. It was hard at times to move away from the subject, though. Few people, after all, are better qualified to talk about Wenger’s philosophies and troubles.

‘I am gutted for him because I know how much hard work he has put into Arsenal and how he loves the club,’ Vieira said.

‘He arrives early and leaves late and spends more time on the training ground than he does with his family. But you can understand the frustration of the fans. They are used to winning and haven’t won anything for six years.

For a big club like Arsenal it is difficult to go a season without winning a trophy. It is the same for City now.

‘As I said, Arsenal play better football than in my time. But our team was more physical and responded better to the English game.

Maybe now Arsenal lack the physical aspect.

You need a balance to win trophies.

‘If you look at (Manchester) United, Chelsea and City, the physical aspect of the game is there. The season is really long and hard and players get tired and perhaps need to work harder.

‘But in the end what is important is when everyone works out who has won what in the last few years.’

Sitting in the sun as young Hispanic kids swarmed around looking for autographs and mementoes from a genuine role model, Vieira’s dissection of the Arsenal conundrum had been decisive and clinical.

His own football carried similar qualities but Vieira’s career had moments of which he was not proud. He admits his own family questioned him at times, but there are no regrets.

‘Not just family but friends as well,’ he said, smiling. ‘They asked me because when they saw me outside the game and on the field they saw two different people.

‘But my answer was easy. I just said to them that I was myself.’ .Patrick Vieira was speaking in East Los Angeles, where City have announced plans to create a state-of-the-art football facility for local children.

Source: THE DAILY MAIL

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