Theniche june 05, 2016

₦200

June 05, 2016

Vol. 2 No. 43

Duru: My persecution

by PenCom

Biafra: Before the deluge

PAGE 54»

PAGE 7»



Lagos - 32oC

SUNDAY WEATHER



Abuja - 31oC

PortHarcourt - 23 C o

Jafaru, Prisons boss, in age falsification scam Northerners now head all paramilitary agencies

N14,000 daily allocation to prisoners pocketed by officials

By Ishaya Ibrahim and Onyewuchi Ojinnaka

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has fully cornered up for Northerners the top jobs in all the five paramilitary agencies, with the appointment of Ahmed Jafaru as new controller general of prisons (CGP).

But more curiously is why the Presidency overlooked allegations that Jafaru has falsified his age twice.

TheNiche reported exclusively on April 17 that he was born on September 30, 1956 but has al-

legedly changed his date of birth first to 1957, then to 1959 to remain in service.

Jafaru succeeded Peter Ekpendu who retired last month after attaining the statutory age of 60.

His appointment has generated bad blood among officers, especially those from the South West.

Ogundele ignored Emmanuel Ogundele (South West) had earlier been appointed acting CGP, only for Jafaru to be made substantive CGP seven days later.

The government ignored Continues on page 5

Sources alleged that Jafaru had filed false information about his age; he was scheduled to go on retirement on September 30, 2016; yet Abuja appointed him.

He did not answer calls to his telephone line or reply to a text message when TheNiche sought his reaction.

BUSINESS How Nigerians can benefit from Finnish firms, by Eneh

PAGE 54»

Jafaru

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

CLOSE UP

POLITICS 15» JUDICIARY 25» LIFE 31» FAITH 40» BUSINESS 51» SPORTS 59»

Nollywood is not dead – Osuofia

Another sack gale sweeps banks

PAGE 38» Page 53

2

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

News Windows and limits of taxing the economy (1) “The government could make up for the deficit by reviewing the tax system with a view to compelling the rich to pay more.

That is how to moderate capitalism and the acquisition of private property.

Every big economy does that.”

Plans by the government’s economic management team to raise more money locally to finance the 2016 budget may help or hinder economic recovery, depending on how tax windows are harnessed.

Correspondent SAM NWOKORO reports.

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari said before presenting the budget to the National Assembly (NASS) that his administration would look inwards to raise funds to balance the N6.8 trillion budget.

The budget has about N2 trillion deficit, meaning borrowing or taxing to bridge it. Borrowing comprises local and foreign components.

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, said the government would borrow about $5 billion and the balance would come from improved revenue collection and expanded tax base.

Most people agree that the economy is bad in every sector, notwithstanding bailouts by previous administrations, yet development experts believe some tax windows exist from where the government can derive sizeable revenue.

Chucks Osuji, an economist and a public affairs analyst, recommends taxing the rich by looking at tax rebates and incentives given over the years, some of which may have expired.

“The government could make up for the deficit by reviewing the tax system with a view to compelling

the rich to pay more. That is how to moderate capitalism and the acquisition of private property. Every big economy does that,” he explained.

“The United States has done it right from the time of Bill Clinton up to the time of Barack Obama.

“Clinton focused on workers’ retraining and expanded the frontiers for the middle class and youth.

Obama followed a similar pattern and achieved more in healthcare reforms.

“Buhari can also attempt that through various forms of tax incentives for small businesses and increase the tax paid by the rich and vulgar, most of whom have benefitted from the high wire byzantine deregulation era of the Olusegun Obasanjo regime down to the Goodluck Jonathan era.”

Osuji said most incentives in the form of bailouts and rebates given since 2006 may have expired by now, so the beneficiaries should start paying tax to revenue collection agencies.

Below are some of the other tax windows available to the government: Aviation There are about 200 private jets in Nigeria worth

Buhari over N1.8 trillion or $6.7 billion, some of them used for commercial purposes.

In 2013, the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) introduced general aviation charges of $3,000 for private jets used for commercial purposes, but private jets used for private businesses were exempted.

The then FAAN spokesman, Yakubu Dati, explained that “Nigerian registered aircraft in this category would pay $3,000 or about N480,000 per flight while aircraft with a foreign registered number would pay $4,000 or about N640,000 per flight.

“The charges are not meant for everybody that has and operates private jets but for those who use them for commercial purposes, including those who use foreign and locally reg-

istered aircraft.”

However, the FAAN has not been faithful in implementing the charges since the announcement in 2013.

The government should thoroughly enforce the charges which are being implemented haphazardly because of the clumsiness that enables some private jet owners to dodge the tariff.

An aviation security practitioner, who gave his name simply as Adewole, said: “That discriminatory charge on private jets, nonscheduled jets and locally and foreign registered ones left a lot of holes that make it possible for some to pay while others do not pay up to what others pay.

“I think the government should harmonise that. All private jets, whether locally registered or not, whether

used for commercial purposes or not, should pay the same charge.”

Enforcement policy

of

forex

Another revenue devise the present administration has forced down the throats of Nigerians is the policy of the Central Government of Nigeria (CBN) that listed 41 items whose foreign exchange (forex) needs should not be sourced from the official window.

The calculation, both by economists and lay men, is that the policy would kindle productivity, engender patronage of locally produced goods, and gradually firm up the naira against other currencies, aided by the growth of foreign reserves.

In the long run, according to this permutation, an expanded productive base opens tax windows for non-oil internal revenue generation, in addition to creating employment.

However, the problem is, how long and how well can the government do the policy engineering, implementation, and monitoring of compliance to due diligence?

Former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, has carpeted the forex policy saying, “it encourages corruption and rent seeking now similar to the fuel subsidy regime.

“The country’s woes are now being exacerbated with the currency peg, and restrictions in forex market are creating a lot of speculator and precautionary demand.

“Exporters and investors are holding on to foreign currency as no one would sell at the rate the government is setting while the government does not have the reserve to keep the exchange rate at its official level in the market.”

VAT Another sphere where the government is expect-

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Adeosun ed to scrounge for revenue is Value Added Tax (VAT).

There is a school of thought that the VAT bracket should expand to include luxury goods and services that were not in existence when VAT was introduced in the 1990s.

Such goods and services that are affordable only by the rich include spas in upscale areas, boat leisure cruise, and review of permits for use of government premises for personal social activities.

Pius Okwu, a tax expert, said the authorities should set up an effective tax tribunal as is done in some advanced countries.

He added: “Economic activities are getting complex and almost every human

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

activity is regulated by law.

“Nigeria has weak institutions, including the judiciary. Law suits connected to the economy need not stay too long in the courts. They need to be disposed of as quickly as possible.

“So, there needs to be a VAT tribunal to convict and penalise tax evaders. That way VAT payment would raise a lot of money for the government. Many enterprises and people do not pay tax in Nigeria.”

Expired tax rebates It is possible that many companies, enterprises, and individuals are still enjoying tax holidays since the scheme was introduced in 2006.

There are about 200 private jets in Nigeria worth over N1.8 trillion or $6.7 billion, some of them used for commercial purposes. “All private jets, whether locally registered or not, whether used for commercial purposes or not, should pay the same charge.”

Tax rebate is a financial incentive packaged to give tax holiday to some category of businesses, especially those in Free Trade Zones. Others include businesses in agriculture – rice production, sugar plantation, et cetera.

An economist, Goodluck Nwakanma, said: “At this period Nigeria needs to look back at most of those companies that have been enjoying rebates over the years.

“We, and any business for that matter, are inclined to dodge paying tax if convenient.

“So the onus is on government agencies to find out those businesses whose rebates have lasted for up to 10 years and cause them to commence paying the appropriate taxes.

“Most of them are in the free trade zones scattered all over the country. I think those rebates and tax holidays have run their course.”

Property tax Property tax in Nigeria is poorly evaluated, and collection and remittance are characterised by compromises between property owners, especially real estate owners, and tax collection agencies.

The real estate sector is poorly taxed because of the uncoordinated and

Sanusi

“Exporters and investors are holding on to foreign currency as no one would sell at the rate the government is setting while the government does not have the reserve to keep the exchange rate at its official level in the market.”

multifarious operators and their modus operandi.

Church, mosques, charities Another tax window is non profit organisations (NPOs) or non governmental organisations (NGOs).

Most of them are faithbased, especially churches and mosques.

Statutorily, they are not expected to pay tax on their income, even though some have subsidiaries like blue chip companies in all sectors of the economy.

The secular business are subsumed in the name of the church or mosque, and by this method, they do not pay corporate tax; denying the government that provides security for them its legitimate revenue.

Some big churches and Islamic groups with foreign

3

networks and affiliates perpetrate forex round-tripping. Advocates argue that the government at all levels should tax faith-based NGOs. “The problem with us is hypocrisy and interest peddling,” said an associ-

ate professor of philosophy in a federal university, who did not want his name and that of the school in print.

“It is high time churches and mosques in this country started doing things the way things should be done.

Elsewhere, charities are taxed on the income they make.

“Religious bodies in Nigeria do not even deploy their income on charitable purposes for which they enjoy tax exemption.

“How many of them have true empowerment projects? They do all kinds of crooked things under the cover of religion, even dodge paying legitimate taxes. It ought to stop.”

• Continues in next edition.

Facts Sheet • New luxury goods in Nigeria should be covered by VAT. • Charges on private jets and other niche services at airports should be increased and effectively collected.

• Property tax mired in poor administration.

• Companies with expired tax rebates and bailouts should be made to pay tax.

• Tax windows exist in non-profit organisations, most of which engage in taxable businesses.

4

TheNiche June 05, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

News Jafaru, Prisons boss, in age falsification scam

Ali Continued from page 1 Ogundele, who reportedly did well at the interview and has an impeccable record of service, according to Prisons sources.

Jafaru mum Sources alleged that Jafaru had filed false information about his age; he was scheduled to go on retirement on September 30, 2016; yet Abuja appointed him.

He did not answer calls to his telephone line or reply to a text message when TheNiche sought his reaction.

All the Northern men Jafaru is from the North West, so is the new Comptroller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede.

All the heads of paramilitary agencies in the Interior

A source in the NPS said the Interior Ministry allocates N450 per prisoner per day but N400 of it is stolen by warders, leaving only N50 for each inmate The N14,000 official allocation may well be true on paper while all but N50 of it is pocketed by officials of the ministry.

Key security posts

Babandede

Other Northerners who occupy key security posts are Chief of Army Staff, Major-General, Tukur

Ishaya Ibrahim Acting News Editor 0807 204 0241 iib1000@yahoo.com

5

Dambazau

Garba

Ministry are from the North, and officers feel that by this latest appointment, Buhari has shown gross contempt for the constitutional provision for federal character in appointments into offices.

Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who oversees all paramilitary organisations except the Customs, is from Kano State in the North West.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), headed by Hameed Ali (Kaduna State), is under the Finance Ministry.

The heads of three out of the five paramilitary agencies in the Interior Ministry – Customs, Immigration, Prisons – are from the North West; those of Civil Defence and Fire Service from the North Central.

Immigration is headed by Babandede (Jigawa State), Civil Defence by Abdullahi Mohammed (Niger State), and the Fire Service

by Joseph Garba (Plateau).

June 05, 2016

Buratai (Borno State); Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sadique Abubakar (Bauchi State); Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall Monday Morgan (Benue State); and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno (Borno State).

The other contestant who did not get the post of CGP, Aminu Suley, a Fulani from the North, is serving under Jafaru (Kebbi State) who is eight years his junior in rank.

Civil society gathers evidence It was learnt that civil society groups are gathering evidence to challenge the appointments Buhari has made so far because they are in total breach of the federal character principle.

Joint Action Front (JAF) Executive Director, Achike Chude, faulted the appointments, saying Buhari is not working with the dynamics of administration.

“His appointments give room for suspicion that he has a regional agenda. There is a growing belief that he is doing it deliberately because he could have been more careful and tactful,”

Chude said.

But both Centre for Democracy and Development (CCD) Executive Director, Idayat Hassan and Nigerian Network of NGOs (NNNGOs), Executive Director, Kunle Idowu, declined to comment.

Also, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, did not answer calls to his telephone line.

Interior Ministry allocates N450 per prisoner per day.

N14,000 daily allocation false

“That is why we have been making the case that the NPS should be moved from the Interior Ministry and merged with the Ministry of Justice,” he stressed.

Investigation by TheNiche showed that the claim by Dambazau that the government spends N14,000 daily on every prisoner is false.

According to another source, up to N400 of the N450 is stolen by warders, leaving only N50 for each inmate.

TheNiche learnt that the N14,000 allocation may well be true on paper, with our source saying the money is probably pocketed by officials of the Interior Ministry.

Prisoners are still poorly fed and badly accommodated.

Prisoners and prison officials told TheNiche that many inmates cook their meals to avoid the concoctions usually served by the authorities.

When prison vehicles breakdown, they added, awaiting trial inmates are asked to contribute money for repair or risk missing court hearings.

Dambazau claimed in Kaduna on May 10 that the government spends N10 billion yearly on feeding prisoners, which translates to N14,000 per day for the 57,000, inmates across the country.

Stripped down to N50 A source in the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) countered that the

Mohammed

6

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

News I’ll deliver good governance in Edo, Odubu pledges

Ahmed seeks greater sugarcane production

•Iyamu says ‘Oshiomhole can’t stop me’ from becoming gov

By Ayo Bada Senior Correspondent

By Tony Campbell

Special Correspondent, Benin

E

do State Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, promised to deliver good governance if elected governor when he met All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates during a tour of all councils.

But he faces opposition from Governor Adams Oshiomhole – who wants Godwin Obaseki to succeed him – and from Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a pastor, who says he is determined to occupy Government House and that Oshiomhole cannot stop him.

Ize-Iyamu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was the secretary to the state government (SSG) during the administration of Lucky Igbinedion, and has some following.

Odubu reiterated, nonetheless, that having been elected twice into the House of Representatives and twice as deputy governor no one else possesses his experience and understanding of development matters in Edo. He promised to encourage huge investment in agriculture through domestic and foreign instruments in order to create jobs and wealth.

Ize-Iyamu

Odubu He also promised that industrialisation, particularly through small and medium scale businesses, will be boosted so as to drive state economy.

Under his watch, he added, rural communities will get social infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals and drugs, pipe borne water, and electricity, in order to improve the rural economy and reduce rural-urban drift.

Odubu said given the development that has taken place in Edo under Oshiomhole, only his

deputy who has participated in the conceptualisation, planning and execution of projects can hit the ground running upon assumption of office.

He urged the delegates to vote for him at the APC primary on June 18, assuring them that, if elected, the APC will get appointments and contracts through due process.

However, Ize-Iyamu, the other aspirant to the office, said those who hope that he will not contest in the election in November will be disappointed.

"I have a God who is insurmountable and my hands are clean," he declared.

He was reacting to a statement issued by the state government on his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the disbursement of N700 million meant for the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said he was aware of funds that came to the Edo PDP for Jonathan’s campaign but did not take a kobo from it.

Ize-Iyamu promised that “ha-

rassment from any quarter will not deter me from speaking on issues affecting Edo State.

“So also will the antics of a desperate state government not stop me in my resolve to champion the change of leadership by democratic means.

“No amount of blackmail, harassment or witch hunt can stop us from crying out over how our state has been mismanaged and plundered by a government we expected to do a lot better than previous ones."

Police arrest 59 in Lagos, deny killings in Onitsha •Officers anticipate reprisal in Ogidi, Amawbia •Obosi residents flee from herdsmen

By Okey Maduforo Special Correspondent, Awka

P

olice have confirmed the arrest of 59 suspects in Lagos in a new push against crime but denied killing members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Anambra State Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma, insisted that nobody was killed in the violence on Monday, May 30, even though other sources said over 40 people were gunned down.

He told TheNiche in an interview in Awka that investigation by his command in most hospitals, clinics, and health centres showed that nobody died in the clash.

He added that officers who contacted and visited mortuaries in Onitsha, Obosi, Nkpor, and Ogbunike were told that no corpses were brought in from the scene of the violence.

“People say 40, 50 or 30 persons were killed but I can tell you clearly that nobody was killed,” Karma insisted.

“We have gone to hospitals, health centres in clinics, even mortuaries, and there was no report of people brought there on account of being hit or killed by the police.

“I urge members of the public to come up with reports or

evidence of any of their friends, relatives or whoever was killed or injured during that Monday incident.

“We have been making investigations ever since and we are not getting any report of somebody that was killed.”

However, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Publicity Secretary, Ifeatu Obiokoye, criticised the handling of the incident by the security forces.

He told TheNiche that “much as APGA as a political party has nothing to do with the MASSOB and IPOB, it is imperative that our security operatives should appreciate that these are defenceless Nigerians who have the constitutional right to make their voices heard.

“The manner and style of brutality by the police, army and the rest of them is unbecoming and I urge the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to call his boys to order.

“This was to be a peaceful protest that was hijacked by hoodlums in Onitsha and the police cannot use that as an excuse to attack innocent Nigerians.”

Fear of reprisal There is fear in major police formations in Anambra that Biafran activists launch reprisal.

The activists allegedly target Onitsha area command, Ogidi police station, and the marine base police station.

When TheNiche visited the

state police command in Amawbia, near Awka, the major road across the police headquarters was closed on the instruction of Karma over fear of attack.

Security is beefed up at Onitsha area command and major streets in the area are under police surveillance.

But Karma told TheNiche that he is not aware of any likely reprisal even though the command is ready for any eventuality.

“You can see that vehicles are passing through the road. Actually it was blocked but a man wrote a petition against it and we have to remove the blockage and the road is free now.

“On the issue of IPOB or MASSOB coming to attack us, well I am not aware but I wish to reiterate that we are battle ready to checkmate whatever they may be trying to do.”

Obosi residents flee homes Still on insecurity, residents of Obosi near Nkpor and Onitsha have fled their homes in fear of attack by Fulani herdsmen.

They were seen carrying personal belongings and relocating their children out of Obosi to avoid being caught up in the attack.

Obosi, which has a large swath of green vegetation up to Oba, has in the past hosted several Hausa/Fulani settlements.

Most of them fled after the killings in Enugu State.

Two Fulani men were reportedly attacked by street urchins

last week which led to their death. Their relatives took the corpses for burial with a threat of retaliation.

Karma said the story is not true and the command has been in contact with the town leaders and vigilante groups.

“In as much as we are highly prepared for any eventuality, people should go about their lawful activities without fear.

You knew that people are in the habit of raising false alarm in order to create tension.”

Combing criminal hideouts in Lagos In Lagos, police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arrested 59 suspected social miscreants during a raid on criminal hideouts.

The raid was part of the routine exercise of the RRS to check criminal activities as well as restore order in areas prone to crime and violence.

The suspects were picked up in Oshodi, Ojota, Oregun, Mile 12, LASU/Iyana Iba Junction, and Mile 2 after surveillance based on information volunteered by members of the public.

Forty-six of the 59 suspects were released to their relatives after screening by RRS investigators who said the remaining 13 are alleged drug addicts and pickpockets who were sent to the State Environmental Taskforce for prosecution.

The RRS is questioning two suspected cult members arrested along with 12 other suspects

in the Oregun area in Lagos.

The police gave their names as David Seun (17) and Ahmed Sulaiman (17) and that they confessed to be members of 12man cult gang terrorising Oregun and Olusosun.

Seun, a tailor, said he was forced to join the gang by his friend, Sadiq.

“He invited me out and I was initiated in Oregun High School, Oregun. Kehinde is the leader of the cult group, Eiye. He lives in Ikorodu but I don’t know his house,” Seun said.

“He comes to our meetings occasionally. It has been long since I saw him. The group took all I had on me the day I was initiated. They took my N6,000, my phone, wrist watch and shoes.

“We meet at Ita Egbe in Oregun. Other members of Eiye cult in Oregun are Ayo, Eyo, Bobo Olusosun, Last Born, Don Banny, Elewedu, Two Yansh, Pepper, Little 9 and Akube. We meet at 7pm.”

Sulaiman, an orphan, said he was forced to join the gang by Seun, who tutored him.

Police are on the trail of other members of the cult, the suspects disclosed exist in Oregun and its environs.

State Police Public Relation Officer, Damasus Ozoani, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the arrests and warned that the police are determined to sanitise Lagos from the menace of social miscreants.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, wants national sufficiency in sugarcane production through increased plantation.

That, to him, will reduce raw sugar import which amounted to about 1.045 million tonnes last year.

He made the plea at the flag off of the sugar cane planting season of Lafigi Sugar Company (LASUCO) in Lafiagi, headquarters of Edu Council.

“It is worrisome that although Nigeria is endowed with the required manpower, raw materials, cultivable land and excellent climatic conditions to produce enough sugar for local consumption and export, the country's dependence on raw sugar import could rise to 1.7 million tonnes,” he warned.

Ahmed said the sugar subsector makes huge contribution to employment, development of subsidiary industries and the rural economy, therefore, Nigeria should be self-sufficient in its production to save foreign exchange and enhance economic growth.

He explained that this is why the state government identified agriculture as a major strategy for job and wealth creation.

"We are encouraging farmers through the Off Taker DemandDriven Scheme and expanding access to finance and other crucial inputs such as the Kwara Agro Mall, a one-stop shop for farmers.”

The location of Kwara as the gateway to the North and South, its vast arable land, and closeness to River Niger confer comparative advantage on the state.

Ahmed advised investors to take advantage of the policies of the government by setting up more sugar production businesses in the state.

LASUCO Group Executive Director, Kabiru Rabiu, said when fully integrated, the sugar mill with refinery will have capacity to crush about 7,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day and produce over 140,000 tonnes of pure refined white sugar, about 25 million litres of ethanol, and generate 35 megawatts of electricity.

DPR seals up fuel station in Benin

By Tony Campbell

Special Correspondent, Benin The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed up Petom Oil and Gas fuel station on the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Benin with a warning that stations that fail to regularise and renew their licences within two weeks will be sanctioned.

State DPR Head, Maynard Oriafo, said this is to enforce the official pump price of between N135 and N145 per litre.

“Anyone who violates the official pump price will have his station sealed and licence suspended, while repeated offenders will have theirs revoked,” he warned during a tour of fuel stations along with other DPR officials.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

The Week Ahead Dasuki returns to court June

The alleged diversion of N13.6 billion case against former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, resumes on Monday, June 6.

Justice Huessin BabaYusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court had ordered that Dasuki be given access to his lawyers in the

year. It said Japaul failed to supply the product despite repeated demands.

But Japaul claimed that it is very solvent and the money in its account is far more than the money involved in the transaction.

It said there was only a delay in supplying the product and not a case of inability to pay debt.

Okiro in court June 8 A Federal Capital Territory High Court will on Wednesday, June 8 hear a property suit against former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro.

He was sued by his landlord, Kundu Nigeria Limited, who wants him to vacate the property he currently occupies.

Nigerians remember Abiola's June 12

This year marks the 23rd of the presidential election

Again, Rivers raises hope of a glass of water to drink

courtroom during working hours.

He said that would enable them get information from Dasuki which would aid his defence.

On trial with him are Shuaibu Salisu (former director of finance, office of the NSA), and Aminu BabaKusa (former executive director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation).

Also being tried are Acacia Holding and Reliance Referral Hospital.

Court hears suit against Japaul Oil June 8 A Federal High Court has fixed Wednesday, June 8 to hear a suit seeking to liquidate Japaul Oil. The suit was filed by AYM Shafa Limited which accuses Japaul of failing to pay it a N153 million debt.

AYM Shafa alleged it paid Japaul N153.2 million for the supply of two million litres of petrol to be delivered between October 5 and 12 last

7

on June 12, 1993 in which Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).

His victory was annulled by military President Ibrahim Babangida for undisclosed reasons.

Abiola later died in detention under suspicious circumstances.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Olabode Ayinde, now wish to be known and addressed as Atoyebi Oyeleke Olaniyi. All former documents remain valid. My bankers and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Ebanehita Isuman, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Blessing Ebanehita James.

All former documents remain valid. My bankers and general public please take note.

Wike

By Joe Ezuma Assistant Editor, South South

R

ivers State is in the ironic situation of “water, water everywhere, but not a glass to drink” – the lot since the 1990s when taps built in the colonial era finally dried up due to neglect by local managers.

Governor Nyesom Wike is trying to raise a new hope, by picking up from where his two predecessors, Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi, left off.

Up to $328 million is expected to be on the table in the drive to satisfy patched throats, $280 million of it sourced from the outside as loan.

Wike has launched the Urban Water Reform as part of his vision to provide potable water in urban centres, and ensure food security, in a state full of fish and crude oil, the liquid gold.

According to the administration, the Port Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation Project, will address the poor water infrastructure in the city and its suburb of Obio/Akpor Council.

It will also help solve sanitation problems in the two urban areas.

Hope raised, dashed A lack of portable water is not just in Port Harcourt called the Garden City, it is the same tale of raised and dashed hopes in many other urban centres in Nigeria.

Experts say development is the ability of those who hold the levers of power to provide the basic needs of the people – food, shelter, water, electricity, housing, roads, education, healthcare, and security.

A sociologist at the Ministry of Education, who craved anonymity, said the penchant of politicians for white elephant projects is one of the factors that has fostered corruption in governance and public service.

Colonial era During the colonial era, every dwelling in Port Harcourt

Taking up the gauntlet, Wike launched a three-pronged Urban Water Sector Reform, Port Harcourt Water Supply Scheme, and Sanitation Project to “create women entrepreneurs, youth employment, and provide safe drinking water.”

had pipe borne water, apart from public taps. But the city has never enjoyed such luxury since the 1990s.

Rivers has one of the longest dreams and promises of drinking water provision among states in Nigeria.

Odili, Amaechi The administration of Odili and that of his successor, Amaechi, sank billions of naira into trying to provide drinking water. All turned into a mirage.

The Odili administration in collaboration with the then Water Resources Minister, Festus Ngelale, made much political capital of suffusing the state with portable water.

A contract was signed with a South African company but it became another futile attempt to erect water pumps in cities and remote villages.

In the new administration, Information Commissioner, Magnus Abe, recently told journalists (most of whom live on premises that have endured dry taps for over 15 years) that there is water everywhere in Port Harcourt city and environs. $280m loan logjam Back in July 2014, the state House of Assembly approved $200 million African Development Bank (AfDB) and another $80 million from the World Bank to be used for water and sanitation projects, which would be repaid in 22 years.

Amaechi wrote a letter containing the request, dated June 23, 2014, addressed to Assembly Speaker, Daniel Amachree.

The letter read in part: “The Rivers State government has

successfully obtained approval from the boards of the African Development Bank and the World Bank respectively for the Port Harcourt water supply and sanitation project.

“The purpose of the project is to provide sustainable and safe access to clean and hygienic drinking water and sanitation in the city of Port Harcourt.

“The project, which is being taken by the Federal Ministry of Finance for onward lending to Rivers State, is to enable the state government commence the project at the earliest possible time.”

The plan drew much opposition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which accused Amaechi's administration of harvesting funds for the 2015 election under the guise of sourcing for loan for water project.

But the then Information Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari, insisted that the loan was not new but had been on the table since 2012: She said the state government “applied for and secured a loan package from the African Development Bank and the World Bank in 2012 for the World Bank-assisted water scheme in Rivers State. ''The rule is that the national government would need to endorse the release of the loan after the Rivers State House of Assembly would have approved. ''Everything else was done but for reasons unknown to the Rivers State government, the responsible officers in the Ministry of Finance failed to sign off the release of funds, thereby delaying the Rivers State government’s robust water sector’s complete overhaul

and rejuvenation and thus denying the people of the state access to good water.”

New direction Taking up the gauntlet, Wike launched a three-pronged Urban Water Sector Reform, Port Harcourt Water Supply Scheme, and Sanitation Project to “create women entrepreneurs, youth employment, and provide safe drinking water.”

Wike, represented at the launch by Agriculture Commissioner Onimim Jacks, said the scheme is key to the development of Rivers.

"The project is in line with our promises to the people of the state as clearly spelt out in our blueprint that we shall provide safe drinking water,” he stressed.

He commended Abuja for selecting Rivers as one of the pilot states for the Portable Water Scheme, and promised that the state government will pay its counterpart funds when due.

Wike also pledged that his administration will always collaborate with the federal government in areas that would benefit the populace.

Water Resources and Rural Development Commissioner, Ibibia O'Walter, explained that the project is part of a sectorwide institutional reform coordinated by the National Urban Sector Water Reform Office of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

He said funding will come from the AfDB ($200 million), World Bank ($80 million, and Rivers State government ($48 million).

"The project is in line with our promises to the people of the state as clearly spelt out in our blueprint that we shall provide safe drinking water.”

8

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Notes

From

Nnanna Okere okere_nnanna@yahoo.com +358 4684 74258

Finland

Helsinki to host African-Nordic business conference

S

pringboard Afro-Nordic Business Platform (SANBP) based in Finland will host the African-Nordic business conference on September 22, 2016 in Helsinki.

The conference provides advisory services for Nordic and African clients looking for business and development opportunities.

It will also afford players from Africa and the Nordics to find out why investors and business sharks are looking to this diverse continent for innovative opportunities and high-growth ventures.

SANBP co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian-born Kingsley Ify, disclosed at a media briefing in Helsinki that Africa’s amazing growth potential is generating a huge buzz worldwide.

He said rapid economic growth, increasing political stability and a growing young and well-educated middle class are causing Nordic involvement in Africa to pivot from a development role toward exploring joint opportunities for trade and

innovation exchange.

His words: “In the current economic environment, we feel that it is especially important to contribute to entrepreneurship and growth by exploring new business opportunities in an area where we have some expertise.

“Growth in Africa has outperformed the global average and we believe Nordic know-how can tap into and further develop that momentum.”

Nordic countries are home to some of the most progressive businesses and organisations in the world. With enormous proven strengths in innovation and knowledge transfer, they are well-positioned to compete in the global economy. They are uniquely able to support the development of opportunities in Africa by building on their traditional drivers for growth – a focus on shared values, entrepreneurship, regional integration, infrastructure development, and public-private partnerships.

SANBP con-founder and Head of Operations, Suvi Ify, disclosed that the conference aims to help individuals and or-

Kingsley and Suvi Ify

Participants at the media briefing ganisations looking to start or expand business in Africa and to understand the latest African market trends.

It will also provide the knowledge, insights, and contacts to navigate this rich region.

Current forecasts put private equity growth in Africa at 8 per cent in 2018 and predict that total investment potential will reach $50 billion by 2020.

Collective Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the continent now stands at $2 trillion, and consumer spending is expected to rise to $1 trillion by 2020.

This is supported by a population of young people aged 15-24, now estimated at 200 million – 12 million of whom will have tertiary education by 2030 – and a labour force reaching 1.1 billion by 2040.

The continent boasted 29 billionaires in 2014, and the number of households with discretionary income is expected to rise to 128 million by 2020.

Themed “Africa innovates!”, the conference will feature addresses from business leaders and top investors from both the

Finland’s population hits 5.48m

T

he Finnish population is now 5,488,543, according to preliminary data supplied by Statistics Finland.

The population increased by 1,235 persons between January and March 2016, which is 1,001 persons fewer than the figure in 2015.

The reason for the population increase was migration gain: the number of immigrants was 2,647 higher than that of emigrants.

There was no natural population growth; deaths exceeded births by 1,412 persons.

A total 12,985 children were born between January and March, 386 fewer than in the corresponding period in 2015.

The number of deaths was 14,397, which is 443

lower than a year earlier.

Altogether 6,167 persons immigrated to Finland and 3,520 emigrated in the first quarter of 2016.

The number of immigrants was 277 higher in the previous year, and the number of emigrants 449 higher.

A total 1,482 immigrants and 2,449 emigrants were Finnish citizens.

Inter-municipal migration reached 53,870. This was an increase of 302 over the first quarter of 2015.

The population grew only in Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia, and Aland.

Uusimaa grew by 3,598 followed by Pirkanmaa (242).

Relative to the population, the increase was highest in Uusimaa (2.2 per mil), followed by Aland (1.2 per

mil), and Pirkanmaa (0.5 per mil).

Population loss was highest in absolute numbers in the region of Satakunta (389).

The population of EtelaSavo decreased by 334 persons. Relative to the population, the biggest population loss was also in Etelä-Savo (2.2 per mil).

Most migration gain from intra-municipal and international migration was collected by Uusimaa (2,511 persons); next Pirkanmaa (246).

Most migration gain in relative terms was attained by Varsinais-Suomi (5.3 per mil), and Uusimaa (1.5 per mil).

In absolute numbers, migration loss from total net migration was biggest in the region of North Ostrobothnia (151). In Ostrobothnia, it

was 140.

In relative terms, the biggest migration loss from total net migration was in Aland, (3.3 per mil).

Migration between regions totalled 23,170. The highest gain was in Uusimaa, Paijat-Häme, Pirkanmaa, and Aland.

In absolute numbers, the highest gain from migration between regions was received by Uusimaa (1,400).

Relative to the population, population increase was also highest in Uusimaa (0.9 per mil).

Migration loss from migration between regions was biggest in North Ostrobothnia, (286). In relative terms, migration loss from migration between regions was biggest Ostrobothnia (1.5 per mil).

Nordics and Africa, as well as case studies from entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses in Africa.

Expert panels will explore market potential in infrastructure, consumer goods, education, energy, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare, ICT, and cleantech.

Participants will be helped to understand and manage financial, legal and reputational risks involved in working in Africa, and will benefit from additional networking opportunities in a related business fair and “meet

the buyer” event.

SANBP is an independent company of specialists offering a range of business-to-business services.

It helps clients, both African and Nordic, with strategic decisions which have implications for business development and investment opportunities.

It also brings together professionals from diverse disciplines and with complementary skills.

The depth of expertise takes on complex and strategic projects in Africa.

Refugees return home voluntarily

A

record number of asylum seekers returned to their home countries through the assisted voluntary return system at the beginning of the year, says the Finnish Immigration Service (FIS).

February saw the highest ever number of returnees, 176. Almost as many, 173, returned in March.

Iraq is still the most common country of return. In March, 60 people returned to the Middle East country.

The second highest number of people, 42, returned to Albania, and the third highest, 30, returned to Afghanistan.

Up to 871 people have returned to their home countries in the past nine months.

In the late autumn of 2015, the system experienced backlogs when a high number of asylum seekers who had just arrived in Finland decided to return home.

The backlogs have now been cleared and it is usually possible to return home in a few weeks’ time,

Finnish Prime Minister, Juha Sipila

said the FIS. Preparations have been made for increasing the number of asylum decisions and resources added so that voluntary returns are arranged quickly and smoothly despite the increasing number of returnees.

About a quarter of those who have returned through the system received a negative asylum decision.

The majority of returnees have cancelled their asylum applications.

Criminals launder €100b in Germany yearly, says report

G

ermany is considered an El Dorado for criminals who want to launder their money, a study for the Finance Ministry has found.

Money laundering deals outside of the finance sector go largely undetected in Germany, meaning a large proportion of all illegal business is never found, the report claims.

These illegal transactions take place in the housing market, car trading, and on the art market.

Between 15,000 and 28,000 are believed to take place every year.

The report estimates that the volume of money laundered in Germany each year, including in the gastronomy and betting sectors, is more than €100 billion – roughly double figure previously assumed.

Professor Kai-D. Bussmann, from the Martin Luther University in Halle, who conducted the research, said: “The total volume of money laundering in the financial and non-financial sectors

in Germany taken together exceeds €50 billion and is probably more than €100 billion per year."

The Finance Ministry recently admitted that there are serious deficiencies in the fight against money laundering, which is largely conducted at the state level.

Germany is particularly attractive as a location for money laundering because of its economic robustness, with most of the money to be laundered coming from abroad, the report claims.

The ministry is considering imposing an upper limit of €5,000 on the amount of money one can pay in cash in a single transaction.

But the plan met with a fierce public backlash when it was announced in February.

Rather than a necessary measure to fight organised crime, many people saw it as an attempt by the state to increase its ability to pry into citizens’ personal affairs.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

PhotoNews

Information Minister, Lai Mohammed (right); Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi (middle) and Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari, at the flag-off of Ogoniland clean-up.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (2nd left); Deputy Minister of Land, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Republic of Tanzania, Angeline Mabula (2nd right) and Head, Affordable Housing and Buildings, Lafarge ReadyMix Nigeria Limited, Ms Jumoke Adegunle, during the exhibition at the 35th Annual General Meeting and Symposium of Shelter Afrique at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Suspected cult members who allegedly beheaded two students of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, as they were paraded by the men of Department of State Services (DSS) in Umuahia.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Commissioner of Police, Enugu, Emma Ojukwu, when the governor visited the new Officers' Mess in the state.

June 05, 2016

9

L-R: Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima; President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Board Member, Dangote Foundation, Mrs. Erelu Angela Adebayo; and CEO, Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, during the governor's courtesy visit to Dangote Industries Corporate Office in Lagos.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, HRH (Amb.) Eheneden Erediauwa (right), during a visit to the Crown Prince by some members of the Progressives Governors' Forum, at the palace.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State acknowledging greetings from the crowd on his arrival for the official flag-off of the reconstruction of Aba/Umuahia dual carriageway in Umuahia. With him on the right is Engr. Usama Mostapa, M/D, Arab Contractors and on the left is Commissioner for Works, Eziuche Ubani.

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle); the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Nicholas Okoh (right); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left); Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma (2nd right) and Archbishop Friday Imaekhai, shortly Mr. President received them in his office.

10

TheNiche

Diplomacy

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Pro-Biafra massacre: Implication on Nigeria’s foreign relations The recent killing of dozens of members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) further worsens Nigeria’s profile globally, writes SAM NWOKORO

A

s if confirming the string of bad reviews which attended President Muhammadu Buhari’s one year in office, Nigerian security agencies last week upped the ante in civil repression of dissent views and escalated public umbrage against the government. A battalion of Nigerian troops pulled the triggers on innocent unarmed citizens who were preparing to stage a peaceful protest to re-emphasise their demand for a separate nation, the Republic of Biafra – a part of the country that fought for secession in 1967 but could not succeed.

The invasion of the civil gathering by Nigeria’s security agencies could pass far a case of human right violation and repression capping previous ones since the regime took office one year ago.

According to reports, it appears the clampdown on Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) could well pass for one triggered by inexplicable paranoia about some untoward predictions and perhaps some faulty security briefs the government might have been receiving.

Many groups and senior citizens have denounced the clampdown which took place in the South East

Kanu

and some parts of South South.

Simply put, the government has allowed a huge dose of schizophrenia take a better part of its ways, compounding its not-so-clean profile. This, for now, is public interpretation of last week’s IPOB/ MASSOB clash with security agents that left in its trail blood of both security agents and civilians.

Murmur and skirmishes Media and Publicity officer of IPOB, Emma Powerful, carpeted the clampdown. He said the group’s protests had always been non-violent, but that overzealous security men provoked confrontation: “Peaceful assembly is not a crime. It is enshrined in human rights documents to which Nigeria is signatory. Even if they are in procession demanding Biafra, are they bearing arms? Why would they go and disturb an orderly procession and peaceful assembly?”

He wondered why a government that claims to follow due process of law would deny Nnamdi Kanu, a British citizen, whom a court had ordered his release, freedom.

“It shows that Nigeria is behaving like a lawless country that is not working in sync with United Nations conventions and protocols it signed.

“When does possession of dual citizenship be criterion to deny

someone bail?

Does this government even know the kind of world we live in today?” he queried.

Human Rights Agenda said: “Over 10 people lost their lives during the protest against the continued detention of Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Various others sustained various degrees of injuries as security agencies clashed with protesters. Security agencies must restrict themselves to the rules of engagement.”

Reacting to the clash, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the public presentation in Abuja of the book, We are all Biafrans written by social critic and rights activist, Chido Onuma, called for a restructuring of the country, based on the ongoing allegations of marginalisation by some Nigerians.

Buhari, he said, is yet to learn from the past on farmers/herdsmen clash.

Atiku said: “The structure of the country is heavily defective as it does not provide the enabling environment for growth and progress among the 36 component states of the federation.”

He reminisced how Nigeria once operated a federal system at independence that allowed the regions to retain their autonomy, raise and retain revenue, promote development and conduct their affairs as they saw fit, while engaging in healthy competition with others.

The former Vice President also said: “Agitations by many rightthinking Nigerians call for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralised, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities. As many of you know, I have for a long time advocated the need to restructure our federation. Our current structure and the practices it has encour-

aged have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of our country. In short, it has not served Nigeria well, and at the risk of reproach, it has not served my part of the country, the North, well. The call for restructuring is even more relevant today in the light of the governance and economic challenges facing us, and the rising tide of agitations, some militant and violent, requires a reset in our relationship as a united nation.”

Fuel to fire The latest clampdown and the security siege that has been built around the Eastern flank of the country paints grimmer picture of a nation gradually sinking out of control of its managers. In the past one month or more, Nigeria’s crude oil export has fallen drastically from a relatively manageable production level of 2.3 million barrels per day before the present government assumed power in May last year to barely 1.6mbpd as at mid-May. With latest blow-ups by the militant groups fighting for a better politically-structured Nigeria, Nigeria’s export capability may come to zero level if the attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta area continue.

New militant groups like Niger Delta Avengers who are unhappy with government’s response to their complaints have emerged since the beginning of the year.

Bleak outlook Most commentators on foreign affairs are of the view that continuous rights violations can undermine the credibility of the present administration. Professor Jon Muoma says: “Human rights violation under the present government is no longer in the interest of the nation. It can wipe away whatever little goodwill he claimed to have achieved with the series of foreign travels he has made in recent time.”

Civil protest is a normal order in a democracy, he added, arguing that since Buhari came to office with good dose of foreign support and they have extended goodwill for him, he ought to be on the watchout for the sentiments and values they hold dear and gauge his reactions to civil activism.

UN view on self-determination The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, September 13, 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, four (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) against and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine).

While as a General Assembly Declaration it is not a legally binding instrument under international law, according to a UN press release, it does “represent the dynamic development of international legal norms and it reflects the

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Diplomacy

Ken Coates

Iroanya

commitment of the UN member states to move in certain directions”. The UN describes it as setting “an important standard for the treatment of indigenous peoples that will undoubtedly be a significant tool towards eliminating human rights violations against the planet’s 370 million indigenous peoples and assisting them in combating discrimination and marginalisation”.

UNDRIP, which codifies “indigenous historical grievances, contemporary challenges and socio-economic, political and cultural aspirations” is a “culmination of generations-long efforts by indigenous organisations to get international attention, to secure recognition for their aspirations, and to generate support for their political agenda”, according to Canada Research Chairperson and faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan, Ken Coates. He argues that UNDRIP resonates powerfully with indigenous peoples, while national governments have not yet fully understood its impact.

The UNDRIP has always been the springboard with which many new nations,. South Sudan and Palestine obtained political independence, a fact that has always bolstered agitations for the resuscitation of Biafra.

Reacting to President Buhari’s policies towards Biafran independence, key agitators for Biafra, IPOB and MASSOB, have said that “Buhari cannot stop” them from actualising their dream.

The groups were reacting to Mr. President’s comment on Al-Jazeera television that he would not tolerate Biafra.

IPOB, whose leader, Kanu, is undergoing trial for treasonable felony in an Abuja High Court, and the two factions of MASSOB led by Ralph Uwazur-

uike and Chinedu Madu, dismissed the President’s statement as empty, saying that he was just deceiving himself.

Coordinator of IPOB, Clifford Iroanya, who spoke in Onitsha, Anambra State, lambasted the President, saying that the Al-Jazeera interview only exposed him.

“Buhari made mockery of the issue during the interview by asserting that because someone was not born before or during the war, he should not work towards the restoration of his nation of Biafra. General Buhari must understand that the Arabs started fighting Israel in June 1948 which was 16 months before Benjamin Netanyahu was born, yet the Israeli Prime Minister is still fighting the Arabs till today. Just because someone was not born before the war does not mean that the person should continue to live a life of slavery as is the case of all Biafrans living in Nigeria.

“During the interview, Buhari urged Biafrans to come together and vote for an additional state within Nigeria. We are hereby telling Buhari that statehood within Nigeria is not on the shopping list of Biafrans. What Biafrans want is the total sovereignty of the nation, Biafra. We do not want to exist inside Nigeria as one of its states,” he said.

“Buhari made an awkward statement that Biafrans are interfering with ‘the troops’ and the ‘economy’ and that because of this, Nigeria will not tolerate Biafra. One begins to wonder on which occasion did Biafrans ‘encounter and interfere’ with Nigerian troops other than the fact that Nigerian soldiers are always looking for defenceless Biafrans and mowing them down with their AK47 rifles.

“If we may ask, in what ways are Biafrans interfering with the economy of Nigeria? Did Biafrans cause the dwindling price of crude oil? Perhaps,

11

Buhari needs to explain more on what he meant by interfering with the troops and the economy.”

The Biafra territory Biafra is a territory demarcated to the west by the lower reaches of the River Niger and its Delta, to the east by the Obudu plateau and the highlands of Oban and Ikom, to the south by the Bight of Biafra and to the north by an administrative boundary following, approximately, the 70N latitude. The total area is over 29,400 square miles. Thus Biafra, almost as big as The Gambia and Sierra Leone put together, is bigger than Togo or Rwanda and Burundi combined, and is four times the size of the Republic of Israel.

The territory is well-watered throughout the year, lying to a large extent in the basins of the Niger River, the Cross River, the Kwa River and the Imo River.

Three quarters of these river basins are lowland, less than 400 feet above sea level. The Niger Delta, which extends through two of the 20 provinces of Biafra, occupies about one-fifth of the lowland. North of the lowland, the nation rises gradually through open flat land to the Oban hills and Obudu plateau in the east and the Nsukka and Udi hills in the west. The Obudu plateau rises to over 6,300 feet and is one of the coolest and mast delightful parts of West Africa. There are also beautiful uplands in the provinces of Okigwe, Orlu and Nsukka.

Biafra is wholly located within the tropics, being only a few degrees north of the equator. But the climate, although humid at some periods of the year, is on the whole not too hot. Monthly average temperatures range between 700F and 900F, and average rainfall from about 60 inches in the north to about 140 inches in the Niger Delta. Like the rest of West Africa, the territory has two main seasons: rainy and dry. The former generally begins towards the end of April but remains mild until June to September when the rains become heavy,

Uwazurike though intermittent. There is usually a short break in the rains during the first two weeks of August. The dry season which, in most parts of Biafra, lasts from November to March is characterised by relatively light rainfall.

A prominent feature of this season is the dry harmattan wind that blows from the Sahara southwards between the months of December and February.

The tropical climate of the country favours the growth of luxuriant vegetation. Mangrove forest covers a depth of between 10 and 40 miles of

the coastal lowlands, including the Niger Delta. Beyond this belt is the rain forest which extends northwards for approximately 80 miles.

In the few places where the forest is still virgin are to be found many species of giant and medium-size trees with a thick evergreen canopy of broad leaves which restrict the penetration of sunlight.

North of the rain forest, as far as the northern boundary of Biafra, the vegetation thins out into rich grassland or Guinea Savannah which is characterised by tall grasses and medium-sized trees.

12

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Civil Society Platform Pollution: Imminent turn-around in Niger Delta Today, June 5 is World Environmental Day. Senior Correspondent, ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA, x-rays the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region, its effect and measures to address it.

O

n Thursday, June 2, 2016, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in Ogoniland, Rivers State, with a federal government delegation to flag-off the clean-up of oil spill as well as development of the area.

Necessitating the clean-up and development project, which reports say will take up to 30 years, is the many years of oil exploration in the Niger Delta.

President Muhammadu Buhari would have performed the flag-off, but the threat by Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group that specialises in the destruction of oil installations, to kill him if he dared step his foot on Ogoniland might have made him to stay back.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), years ago, ordered AngloDutch Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to effect the clean-up, but the order was ignored until Buhari assumed power in 2015. In August, barely three months into his administration, Buhari approved several actions to fast-track the long-delayed implementation of the UNEP report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated annually on June 5 to raise global awareness on positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet. It is one of the principal vehicles through

which the United Nations (UN) stimulates worldwide awareness on the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The day, established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, is globally observed to create awareness about environmental problems facing the world or a particular country.

Another resolution, adopted

by UNGA the same day, led to the creation of UNEP. The event is hosted annually by a selected country and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5.

The theme of this year’s edition, which is being hosted by Angola, is ‘Fight Against the Illegal Trade in Wildlife’.

Objectives of WED WED is celebrated to create awareness to the common public on environmental issues; encourage common people from different societies and communities to actively participate in the celebration as well as become active agents in developing environmental safety measures; to let them know that community people are very essential in the inhibition of negative changes towards the environment and to encourage people to make their surroundings safe and clean to enjoy safer,

cleaner and more prosperous future.

Pollution in the Niger Delta Joining Nigerians and the international community to mark the 2016 WED, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed concern on the earth’s degradation, especially within the Niger Delta, and canvassed that urgent steps should be taken to save the region.

As part of the programmes marking the event, the commission sponsored a tree planting campaign in Port Harcourt. While launching the campaign, the Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said: “We all owe future generations a responsibility to preserve biodiversity of the Niger Delta by becoming agents of change, who will make positive impact on our environment.”

Making reference to the theme of 2016 WED, Ugolor Semenitari

said that illegal trade on wildlife had eroded earth’s precious biodiversity and robbed Nigerians of natural heritage and threatened species.

“Tackling the scourge of illegal trade in wildlife requires concerted action because illicit business of wildlife has damaged the environment, livelihood, communities and security,” she said.

“There is need for people to change their habits and behaviour because if we change our attitudes, demand for illegal wildlife products would fall.

“Killing and smuggling of wildlife were hazardous to the

environment as they undermined economies and ecosystems, fuelled organised crime and encouraged corruption and insecurity across countries.”

Also speaking at the event, the president of Nigeria Environmental Society, Prof.

Lawrence Ezemonye, disclosed that his organisation was committed to protection, development and sustenance of the environment.

Rights organisations’ concern As the world celebrates WED, rights groups and activ-

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Civil Society Platform

Ben van Beurden ists have expressed worry over the continuous environmental problems in the Niger Delta. One of such organisations is Amnesty International (AI) which expressed concern over the failure of SPDC to accept responsibility for continuous environmental pollution in the Niger Delta.

AI business and human rights campaigner, Joe Westby, decried the massive pollution from Shell’s oil facilities, including at least 130 oil spills from 2015 alone which wreaked havoc in the environment that led to several emergencies.

“Scores of oil spills from Shell operations in Niger Delta have yet to be properly cleaned up and even sites the multinational company claims to have cleaned remain polluted. To make matters worse, there were at least 130 oil spills from Shell operations in 2015.

“The Niger Delta is one of the most oil-polluted places in the world because companies like Shell are failing to prevent or clean up spills years, sometimes decades, after they happen. Shell cannot rely on the Nigerian government to clean up its dirty work for it,” AI stressed.

The organisation regretted that Shell’s activities caused thousands of Niger Deltans their livelihood. But sadly, the oil giant continued to shift blame, “lie about fictitious clean-ups” instead of accepting responsibilities. AI noted that there were evidences showing Shell’s grave guilt in the environmental pollution of the region.

Westby said: “Whatever their cause, Nigerian law still says that the company which operates the pipeline has to clean up, that is something Shell has failed to do for decades.

“The start of the clean-up is a much needed, long-awaited step from people who have lived with polluted waters and farmlands for decades. They have a right to be sceptical. They have seen clean-ups promised and people paid to do the work in the past, only for little

improvements to be delivered. This time, the rhetoric must translate into action on the ground.”

Founder and president of Crusade for Justice (CJ), Richard Nwankwo, who spoke to TheNiche on pollution in the Niger Delta, described WED as a day set aside to have a global overview of the planet; a day to take stock on how much damage “we have done to planet earth”, the extent and its effect on the people.

He said: “One radical thing is that Nigeria is tactfully asleep when environmental views are being addressed.

We have attended various environmental conferences but not been able to implement the decisions reached.”

Nigeria, he said, is incapable of dealing with environmental issues, and that what is happening in the Niger Delta is in a tragic and catastrophic dimension.

Nwankwo cited the issue of non-biodegradables like plastics which is not being addressed.

“The big oil companies are not living up to expectation. They only pay lip service to environmental remedial issues. “We are very much heading for more disaster. No capacity, political will and technology to replenish environmental degradation and forestation.”

He tasked the government to be proactive and put in place aggressive programmes that will alleviate the suffering of the inhabitants of the region who have lost aquatic food and water due to pollution.

The CJ president recalled the killings in Ogoniland, saying that it is still subject for discussion. He enjoined the government to appoint a minister for environment who is really out to tackle environmental issues.

“We shall cage the oil giants. They should be responsible for clean-up for spillages. He however said that Nigerians should appreciate that fact that government would not be involved in keeping our environment, adding that the citizens should also participate.

A non-governmental and civil rights organisation, African Network on Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), while commenting on environmental situation in the Niger Delta, drew the attention of the President to other areas of the Niger Delta region yelling for clean-up.

Executive director of ANEEJ, Da-

13

Chino Obiagwu vid Ugolor, mentioned such areas as Isoko, Olomoro and other communities that are affected within the region.

“Mr President should pay attention to the following areas; extension of the clean-up exercise to other parts of the region like the Isoko, Olomoro and communities in Bayelsa and Cross River states which have equally been polluted by crude oil spill. Rather than a military approach, innovative and scientific ways should be employed to protect oil and gas facilities to check the obnoxious trend of pipeline vandalism and oil theft.” Ugolor said.

Legal Defence and Advocacy Project (LEDAP) executive director, Chino Obiagwu, recalled that around 2011, UNEP, in one of its reports assessing the level of environmental pollution in Niger Delta, recommended the government to clean up Ogoniland.

PIB Obiagwu also mentioned the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the National Assembly, which contains provisions that would improve the lots of the Niger Deltans when signed into law.

Some of the provisions in the bill which sought to control environmental pollution, involvement of multinational oil companies and provision of succour to the inhabitants of the region include: Emissions The federal government shall, to the extent practicable, honour international environmental obligations and shall promote energy efficiency, the provision of reliable energy, and a taxation policy that encourages fuel efficiency by producers and consumers.

In accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the federal government shall introduce and enforce integrated health, safety and environmental quality management systems with specific quality, effluent and emission targets for oil and gasrelated pollutants, without regard for fuel type such as gas, liquid or solid, to ensure compliance with international standards.

Community development The federal government shall, in cooperation with the state and local gov-

ernments and communities, encourage and ensure the peace and development of the petroleum-producing areas of the federation through the implementation of specific projects aimed at ameliorating the negative impact of petroleum activities.

Nigerian content The federal government shall at all times promote the involvement of indigenous companies and manpower and the use of locally-produced goods and services in all areas of the petroleum industry in accordance with existing laws and policies.

Where any contract for work or service is considered to be within the capabilities of Nigerian companies, in accordance with any law relating to Nigerian content, the tender list shall be restricted to Nigerian companies.

All companies involved in any area of the upstream or downstream petroleum industry shall, as a condition of their licence, lease, contract or permit, as the case may be, comply with the terms and conditions of any law relating to the Nigerian content law in force at the time.

Failure to comply with the terms of any local content law as determined by the Inspectorate shall be a ground for revocation of a licence, lease, contract or permit that may have been previously granted to the company that failed to comply with the said terms.

Effect of pollution For decades, oil extraction in the Niger Delta has led to wide-scale contamination of the environment. However the full extent and intensity of this contamination was never clear to authorities and the public. To address this, Nigeria asked UNEP to conduct an independent assessment of the environmental and public health impact of oil pollution in a particularly strongly affected part of the Delta called Ogoniland.

The assessment was carried out by the Post-conflicts and Disasters Management branch of UNEP and covered the contamination level of land, groundwater, surface water and sediments. UNEP also looked at impact on vegetation, air quality, and public health, as well as issues having to do with oil industry practices and local institutions.

14

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

News

International Moroccan solar plant to bring energy to a million people A giant plant using energy from the sun to power a Moroccan city at night has opened.

T

he solar thermal plant at Ouarzazate will harness the sun's warmth to melt salt, which will hold its heat to power a steam turbine in the evening.

The first phase will generate for three hours after dark; the last stage aims to supply power 20 hours a day.

It is part of Morocco's pledge to get 42 per of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

The United Nations (UN) has praised Morocco for the level of its ambition. The United Kingdom, a much richer country, is aiming for 30 per cent by the same date.

The Saudi-built Ouarzazate solar thermal plant will be one of the world's biggest when it is complete. The mirrors will cover the same area as the country's capital, Rabat.

Futuristic complex Paddy Padmanathan of Saudi-owned ACWA Power, which is running the thermal project, said: "Whether you are an en-

gineer or not, any passer-by is simply stunned by it.

"You have 35 soccer fields of huge parabolic mirrors pointed to the sky which are moveable so they will track the sun throughout the day."

The developers say phase one of the futuristic complex will bring energy to a million people.

The complex stands on the edge of a gritty, flat, rust-red desert, with the snow-clad Atlas mountains towering to the North.

It is part of a vision from Morocco's King Mohammed VI to turn his country into a renewable energy powerhouse.

The country has been 98 per cent dependent on imported fossil fuels, but the king was persuaded of the vast capacity of Atlantic wind, mountain hydro power and scorching Saharan sun.

The king's plans are being enacted by Environment Minister, Hakima el Haite.

She told me: "We are convinced that climate change is an opportunity for our country."

As part of its national commitment to the Paris climate conference, Morocco has pledged to decrease CO2 emissions 32 per cent below business-as-usual by 2030, conditional on aid to reach the renewables target.

Currently Morocco imports electricity from Spain, but engineers hope that will not last long.

Padmanathan predicted: "If Morocco is able to generate electricity at seven, eight cents per kilowatt – very possible – it will have thousands of megawatts excess.

"It's obvious this country should be able to export into Europe and it will. And it will not need to do anything at all … it needs just sit there because Europe will start to need it."

'True revolution' Morocco's previously useless slice of the Sahara is proving a blessing for solar power.

Solar thermal technology only works in hot sunny countries.

The price is falling, and its growing capacity to store energy is arousing interest.

The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is falling much faster but the International Energy Agency (IEA) expects them

both to play a part in an energy revolution which is likely to see solar as the dominant source of electricity globally by 2050.

Ever ywhere solar prices are tumbling. Thierry Lepercq, CEO of the Parisbased Solaire Direct, said (controversially) Rows of curved mirrors capture solar energy. that large-scale ground-mounted solar could already be built without subsidy even in a country like the UK. "Solar is a true revolution – that's the way we define it," he said.

"The $50 mark (per megawatt hour) is now being crossed and prices are going down.

"The long-term Melted salt inside this tank holds heat into the evening. decision-making that is prevalent next couple of years based on being fundamentally reasin the energy world is being previous decisions but what is sessed." disrupted; so you are certainly certain today is that in all the It is, he said, a moment in going to see some coal proj- boards of directors of energy history. ects coming to fruition in the companies, those things are • Culled from www.bbc.com

This is why Iran could be the best place to be born today It comes down to what really makes a country — or a company — ripe for opportunity.

I

f you could be born anywhere in the world today, where would you choose? What makes a country or a company full of opportunity — for everyone?

These are among the topics that several LinkedIn Influencers weighed in on. Here’s what two of them had to say.

Ian Bremmer, president at Eurasia Group “In Tokyo, I got a left-field question: Knowing what you know and believing what you believe, if you could be born today anywhere in the world, where would you choose?,” wrote Bremmer in his post Where Would You Want to Be Born Today? He came up with three answers.

“It’s hard not to choose the United States, and not just because it’s my home,” he wrote.

Bremmer doesn’t come from a privileged background, he grew up in the housing projects south of Boston and his father died when he was four

years old.

The family had little money.

“But my mother made sure I got a good education.

On that foundation... I invented my future,” Bremmer wrote.

“Even the most patriotic of us knows that America continues to have real problems, and equality of opportunity remains an aspiration.

“But if you are born female, if you are born to an ethnic minority group, if you are born gay, if you are born with some sort of disability, you’re likely to meet fewer obstacles.”

Bremmer’s second choice might be more surprising: Iran.

“Maybe you want to be part of a nation that is building its own future.

The end of sanctions lifts legions of young Iranians on a wave of hope.

For the first time in their lives, their creativity and ambitions matter.

“This is a diverse country with a

diverse economy… with a lot to look forward to. Being part of that is an awfully attractive possibility.”

His final selection: the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, a place he sees as filled with a quest for wisdom and happiness.

“When I visited there a few years ago, I saw people with time and space to think, breathe, and engage one another,” Bremmer wrote.

Josh Bersin, principal and founder, Bersin by Deloitte If you’re looking for a workplace where you really fit in then 2016 could be the best time to find it.

Will 2016 be the year of diversity in business”, asked Bersin in his post Why Diversity and Inclusion Will Be a

Top Priority for 2016.

His answer is yes.

“In today's working world, your ability to attract and engage people of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, and types is paramount to your business success,” he wrote. “Research proves that companies with great diversity outperform their peers by a significant margin.”

Firms with strategies that are integrated with inclusion and diversity, for instance, had “2.3 times higher cash flow per employee [and were] 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their market,” Bersin wrote.

Of course, some strategies have more impact than others.

“The two most important areas, those that correlated with the highest impact on business performance,

are all about inclusion and diversity.

Inclusion is the goal… and diversity is the measure of success.

“This requires embedding inclusion and diversity into hiring, performance management, succession management, leadership development, learning, and specifically measuring diversity and holding leaders accountable for inclusive behaviours and diversity results.”

Why is this? Perhaps it’s obvious but, “people perform best when they feel valued, empowered and respected by their peers,” Bersin wrote.

When that happens, “in today’s global business environment, companies that build a truly inclusive culture will outperform their peers”.

• Culled from www.bbc.com/capital

15

PARLIAMENT THE GRASSROOTS

TheNiche

June 05, 2016

Politics

www.thenicheng.com

Big Issue: Emeka Alex Duru Editor, Politics & Features 0805 4103 327 e.duru@thenicheng.com nwaukpala@yahoo.com Daniel Kanu Assistant Editor 0805 618 0203 kanuemperor@yahoo.com d.kanu@thenicheng.com

INTERVIEWS

PAGE 18»

Rage of Niger Delta Avengers FEATURE

»

PAGE 20

Between Umahi’s family interest and Ebonyi political dev

ANALYSIS

»

PAGE 24

Revisiting Nkpor/Onitsha killing fields

How to salvage Nigeria, by Ebigwei Sylvan Ebigwei, President-General of Aka-Ikenga, intellectual think-tank of Ndigbo, in this chat with Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, speaks on vital national issues, proffering the way out.

16

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Interview How to salvage Nigeria, by Ebigwei

A

t last, the budget, which dragged for close to a year, has been passed. What do you expect of the economy?

I don’t think there will be any magic, and what is on the ground does not show that things will pick up soonest. What is a budget in the first place?

It is simply an intention or expression to spend money. Year in year out budgets have been drawn, money appropriated, but usually there is nothing to show for it.

So since we have the slogan of change, let us hope that this change will bring the desired and genuine transformation. Seeing is believing; let us wait and see what the All Progressives Congress (APC) will give us. They have inundated us with so much promises, so much sweet talks. What Nigerians are waiting for now is its translation to reality, its ability to positively touch the lives of Nigerians.

There was so much needless brouhaha over the budget which I saw as ego trip. They should talk less and do more.

My impression is on the mindset of people around the budget. It is the duty of the executive to propose, and it is the duty of the legislature to appropriate.

I think one group tried to usurp the func-

tion of the other by padding the budget. I think that brought a lot of bad blood between the executive and the legislature. The legislature, I think, overstepped their bounds by trying to introduce items, projects that were not there when the budget was presented to the National Assembly by the Presidency.

The executive perhaps felt that the National Assembly was trying to usurp the constitutional rights of the executive and that resulted in the confusion that surrounded the delay. But we don’t need all this digression.

Buhari and his government must hit the ground running, and given the ovation that greeted his arrival, he has no excuse to fail.

From now on, every segment of governance should know its bounds.

Looking at the situation so far, what are the key areas you think government should give priority attention?

If you want to salvage Nigeria, you must get priority issues right. The first thing government should do is to establish an economic team of wellknown economists in the country, and even outside. Without a very strong economic team advising the government, they will go nowhere. After establishing the economic

team, they streamline or itemise areas that will bring succour to the economic development of this nation.

The issue of energy.

Without power, we will go nowhere because electricity is needed to power the industries and whatever plans we have for the future. We have litany of power generating plants in this country, but due to lack of gas to power them, Nigeria has fallen short of what it desired.

Government should open up the coal industry and use it as the nucleus of energy generation in this country. That is what America, China, Poland and many other countries are doing.

Solar is expensive compared to coal. What they are now urging the third world countries to do is too expensive for us. Production of energy through coal is very important, especially when we look at our political situation in this country. There is no stability, especially in the area where gas is being produced.

The owners of the land feel that they are being short-changed. There youths are very restive.

That is why they have taken up arms, blowing up the gas pipelines.

So our major source of energy should be coal.

The second area is for us to develop our agriculture. So there will be enough food for the average family. Nigeria has arable land from North to South. Zones

could be created and encouraged to produce what they are good at.

The federal, state and local governments as well as private entrepreneurs should pump money into agriculture.

Once Nigeria is selfsufficient on food, we can export as we were doing. We were exporting cocoa, groundnut, ginger, palm oil, etc.

We can go back, because no matter what we do, people must eat food to survive. We should strive to start industrialising, so that we can process them here and export the finished products.

The third priority is education. If people are educated, they will know their rights, and when people know their rights, there will be less conflict in the nation.

The country should also prioritise the judicial system. People act with impunity in this country, depriving the nation and the masses what belongs to them.

The amount of corruption and stealing that go on in this country is mind-boggling. Unless that is eclipsed, Nigeria can never be developed. People take our resources abroad, using such money to power the economy of other countries. It is worrisome. Punishment does not visit crime in this country. The more criminal you are, the less you get judgment in a punitive way.

Those that commit big crimes get away or do not get commensurate punishment.

What is your take on federal government’s

anti-corruption crusade?

For me, we only hear when they arrest people and they make headlines in the media.

After that, nothing goes on. We hear of billions and billions of naira.

What we hear now is that people who took billions are now returning millions. How about the rest? How about the punishment?

If you don’t punish people for the crime they committed, other people will continue committing such crimes, knowing that when the time comes there will be plea bargain. They return some of the proceeds and hide the rest.

So the impunity will continue. To me, we are only hearing noises.

The various security agencies should work silently, make less noise

TheNiche

Interview www.thenicheng.com

but be deadlier. It is better when we hear that somebody has been imprisoned, not when we hear that he has been arrested. That will make the nation know that the agencies are functioning. But all these noise making will get us nowhere.

Are you saying the performance of this government has not been satisfactory?

It will be wrong to make a blanket condemnation. For the first time in the history of this nation, many heavyweights have been brought to book in terms of arrests being made, in terms of money returned. Unfortunately, after the arrest, we don’t hear much again. How many people have been jailed? Unless you incarcerate them and deprive them of all those things they have stolen, every effort will amount to nothing. The corrupt properties they have all over Dubai, America and Europe belong to the nation. Asking them to keep some and bring some means you are still promoting corruption. Every asset must be confiscated. People thrown into jail. Not after stealing, they are still walking the street.

But the executive would say their own is to arrest, that it is the judiciary that will convict?

That is why I said the judiciary must be strengthened and made to sit up. Corrupt judges should be flushed out, corrupt lawyers removed from the bar. We should create strong institutions in order for this nation to survive. The institutions should be stronger than the personalities. In Nigeria today, some personalities are stronger than institutions and they become untouchable.

What is your take on this herdsmen issue ravaging everywhere?

It is surprising that the herdsmen have become one of the deadliest terrors we have in this nation, according to CNN report. In my village, we interact, drink together, make merry, and we buy cows from them. They are just like the villagers. But that is not so anymore. In recent times, herdsmen carry guns, AK47 rifles. It is very strange. I don’t think they are the real Fulani peo-

ple. I believe that since the military have denigrated Boko Haram, some members of Boko Haram now wear the toga of herdsmen, because an ordinary Fulani man cannot do what they are doing. It has become expedient for the government and security agencies to look deeper to know the calibre of people rearing cows, whether they are the Fulani or the runaways from Boko Haram.

The federal government should set up committees. Not just one committee; they should allow the states to set up committees. The committees should even go down to the local government areas and investigate these herdsmen, wherever they may be, know the type of people they are, take their biodata, village to village, because Nigerians must still eat cow.

All these grazing areas they are proposing; I don’t believe it is going to work. The grazing areas as being proposed, from what we read in the media, is a path to war. My own people in Delta State, for instance, can never allow any government to come and take their land and give it to another set of people, calling it grazing area. Anybody who wants grazing area should approach the community to give them the land on certain terms.

It should be on lease. And once such land is leased, they cannot go beyond that area, because if you see what they do to farms, you weep. I have a farm, but I have to fence it. Assuming you took N10 million loan or more from a bank for farming, and after planting, the herdsmen bring their cattle and destroy your farm, how do you pay back that money? They have ruined you forever. What they are doing is unacceptable. Government will have to do something because if they continue, and the government pretends that nothing is happening, ethnic militia will spring up in every community in this country. And nobody is going to hold them. There are a lot of guns in people’s hands now, especially in the Niger Delta and other areas. People are just keeping quiet. But if these herdsmen go beyond the red lines of many communities, there will be war that will be impossible to contain. How many fronts will the army fight? Land is the mainstay of many communities; so they don’t joke with their land. The federal

June 05, 2016

government has to be very careful in handling this sensitive issue. If they are creating grazing zones, it will be planned in such a way that communities will not be shortchanged.

What is your reaction to the attacks by herdsmen on Nimbo, Enugu community, recently?

Owners of the land should get together and compel the strangers who are coming with their cattle to have their limit. There must be nogo areas. It is not advisable for the government of South East states to fold their arms, and strangers known as herdsmen come over and destroy the farmlands of citizens without compensation. This can lead to civil disobedience. The ‘Bakassi Boys’ and various ethnic militia are regrouping, all because of the herdsmen. People that had gone to sleep are now re-grouping. This portends great danger for this nation.

The South East governors must come together and call the herdsmen to order. They must use the law enforcement agents to ensure that these herdsmen are disarmed. Anybody carrying arms should never be allowed into any community. The police, army and civil defence must check these herdsmen and disarm them immediately. They are not above the law. We are in the same country. In the same country, how can some people be carrying AK47 walking across the streets while others don’t even have knives to defend themselves? There must be justice, equity and fair play.

Do you think Nigeria is winning

17

the war on terrorism?

In a way, the federal government, from what it has done, is trying. Of course it is a continuation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts. No matter how you drive Boko Haram, there must be some dissidents within them that will continue the struggle.

What the federal government needs is to flush them out from the forest, and get out the Nigerians they kidnapped, especially the Chibok girls.

If you meet President Muhammadu Buhari today, what would be your advice to him?

He is trying on the issue of anticorruption. But let us see more people imprisoned. Let us see more of the looted funds repatriated. Let us make more seizures of the proceeds of corruption, and put it back into the public till of this country. He must tell Nigerians how much he has realised so far. Second, the judiciary must be sanitised and strengthened, so that we can deepen this democracy. Without good judiciary, there will be no good democracy. Some people are controlling the judiciary. Tackle the issue of power frontally. Let us have coal power plants in this country to complement the gas turbines.

Address the issue of the militants in the creeks, so that they will stop blowing up pipelines. Using military force can never achieve anything there. Accept every Nigerian as your ward, as father of the nation, not just your party. Diversify the economy, develop agriculture, open up industries, encourage the businessmen to their businesses without hindrance.

18

TheNiche

Big Issue

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Rage of Niger Delta Avengers Amid warnings and threats from the presidency and military authorities to crush the Niger Delta Avengers and halt the bombing of oil facilities, the group has become more emboldened under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch, writes Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU.

B

y Thursday, June 2, it became apparent that the crisis in the Niger Delta has taken the form of a full-blown combat. Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the new face of militancy in the oil-rich region – has vowed to cripple Nigeria. And they are making good their threat through open confrontation and colossal damage of oil pipelines.

Given the heightened tension in the region, President Muhammadu Buhari had to cancel his scheduled visit to Niger Delta that Thursday to flag off the clean-up of oil spillage which has devastated the land over the years.

NDA told Buhari not to come for the flag-off exercise, if he still valued his life.

Same Thursday, they blew up another pipeline in Bayelsa State, taunting both the Presidency and the military.

In fact, the group has vowed to launch its rocket bomb on Tuesday, June 7, as well as endanger the airspace.

The Avengers are daring. They had threatened to permanently shut down operations on all oil blocks reportedly belonging to Northerners. On Thursday, May 12, it gave a two-week ultimatum for the evacuation of workers from the locations or have them blown up.

“It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations and leave,” the Avengers in a statement forwarded by the group’s spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, threatened.

Already, oil firms are evacuating workers and

some closing shop from the troubled region.

The genesis Of course, the problem of the region did not start with Buhari.

Successive governments have suffered confrontations with some vocal militant groups from the region such as the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), but NDA seem to be the latest emergence with the mandate not only to cripple the Buhari government but to seek sovereignty for the Niger Deltans.

Hostilities with previous governments lead to the Odi massacre in 1999 during the Presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo as well as the Gbaramatu mayhem in 2009 under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

While Obasanjo approached the situation with military force, Yar’Adua delved deeper in solving the situation as he produced repentant militants amnesty.

The reason was simply to give the area, noted as the greatest producer of the nation’s wealth via oil, greater sense of belonging in terms of infrastructure, environmental and human development. Even a Niger Delta Ministry was created by Yar’Adua to ensure the region was no longer neglected. This was aside other interventionist government agencies in the area like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, a Niger Deltan, who was Vice President during the

Yar’Adua regime, was known to have sustained the amnesty programme during his tenure and even improved the benefits enjoyed by the area.

Most of the youths from the region were empowered, and as a result youth restiveness ebbed.

Buhari in the opinion of most political observers is seen as having a hard stance on issues concerning the region.

Many also believe that the defeat of Jonathan, an incumbent, in the 2015 presidential election may also not be unconnected with the angst in the region.

Most people from the region feel that Jonathan was pushed out of office not because he did not perform, but by a well coordinated underground gang-up championed by the North to wrest power from the minority Ijaw ethnic group.

Many oil wells gone; more to go?

So far, the country has witnessed the bombing of Forcados pipeline, Bonga Oil field, Chevron trunk lines and other oil and gas installations.

Just before midnight on Thursday, May 26, the strike force of the Avengers successfully blew up an oil trunk line belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Also, it was with the same daredevilry that this new face of militancy had similarly tweeted that it blew up a deepwater crude pipeline belonging to American oil giant, Chevron, near Abiteye in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

There are growing lamentations by the federal

Militants

Abubakar government and other stakeholders about the huge financial losses due to the drastic cuts created by the series of oil facility bombings, just as the electricity supply in most parts of the country hit very low levels owing to the shortage of gas supply to the electricity generation companies (Gencos).

Despite the fall in oil price in the international market, the volume produced is decreas-

ing by the day owing to the attacks on pipelines.

For instance, Chevron, after suffering loss due to the attack on its Okan offshore production platform, said it was losing 35,000 barrels per day.

Currently, Nigeria's crude oil production ahs ebbed to 1.6 million barrels per day from more than 2 million barrels per day.

The mayhem unleashed by the group seems to be increasing by the day, as

the Avengers have vowed to make the country ungovernable for Buhari.

They had further warned via its Tweeter handle: “To the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the Nigeria military, watch out! Something big is about to happen and it would shock the whole world.”

FG combat-ready Buhari has vowed that the group must be eliminated immediately

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Atiku

Obasanjo to end “their vandalism”. The President gave fresh orders for the new militant group to be hunted down and destroyed.

“The President gave special instruction to the military, especially to the Chief of Naval Staff, that this ugly development of vandals in the Niger Delta should end immediately,” a presidential aide that pleaded anonymity disclosed.

While assuring that government can checkmate the threat of the Avengers, Mr. President urged the militants to embrace the peace being offered by government.

At the moment, Abuja is not handling the issue with kid gloves, as it has deployed five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta, in response to continued bombing of oil and gas pipelines by the Avengers. This heightened tension in the coastal communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, even as military helicopters were seen hovering at low altitude in the predominantly riverine council.

It was gathered that while the air force deployed the fighter jets and helicopters, the army swooped on Ijaw communities, particularly Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West, searching for the militants.

Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. General Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the directive. “We have the order from the President and we are monitoring the activities of the new group. All efforts will be made to bring out those behind it.

“The suspects, who perpetrated the first vandalism, were apprehended and paraded...

The President has come under mounting pressure to deal with Niger Delta militancy recently.

“These ones are not going to be different. We are going out on our operation to stop and apprehend them in accordance with the presidential directive.

“Nobody is happy about it, but we are not deterred from doing what we are doing.

And more proactive measures would be put in place. What they are doing is complete economic sabotage; it is economic terrorism,” the General said.

TheNiche gathered that all security operatives in the country are currently on their toes following security reports that the Avengers promised to resume hostilities after the expiration of its two-week ultimatum.

A house divided A big minus in the struggle by the NDA is that its house does not appear to be in order.

The perception by some other communities within the region is that it is an Ijaw affair.

Ijaw is one of the ethnic groups in Niger Delta believed to be dominating others.

A coalition of youths drawn from some oil and gas producing communities in Delta condemned the violent activities of the NDA. According to the youths drawn from Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri and Ndokwa in the state, the militant group does not enjoy their blessings, warning them to desist, as the region does not belong to the Ijaw ethnic nationality alone.

President of Urhobo youths, Terry Obieh; and his counterparts from Itsekiri, Esimaje Awani; Ndokwa, Benjamin Onwubodu; and Isoko, Egbo Okemena, in a communique issued during the week condemned the recent attacks on oil facilities in the region.

19

Part of the statement reads: “We also know that the socalled Avengers do not represent the reasonable Ijaw ethnic nationality whom they try to muddy through their shadowy disposition.

“The Ijaw ethnic nationality has since submitted to and continues to benefit from the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“Their various associations have also issued statements to this effect. We therefore find it preposterous for a band of misguided fellows claiming God-knows-what nationality to be unleashing daylight violence on the entire region while giving the entire region very bad names.

“You cannot engage in one wrong to cure another wrong, and to that extent the purported Avengers’ struggle is actuated by an overarching ambition with which we will not be identified.

“There are more peaceful ways to draw the attention of government to a cause, however germane, and not through the unconscionable and mindless destruction of the facilities that serve the entire nation.”

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has also cried out, saying the activities of the NDA qas taking a great toll on the economy and development of his state.

And the solution is…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the Niger Delta issue should be handled with a stick and carrot approach.

Commenting on the issue on Tuesday in Abuja where he was the chairman at the launch of a book, We Are All Biafrans written by Chido Onumah, he cautioned that wrong tactics would

not produce the needed result.

“I think the Niger Delta should be handled with a stick and carrot approach. In 2007, before I ran for President, I met with various stakeholders on the Niger Delta issue and they came up with a policy. Part of the recommendations was that the ministry be moved to the Niger Delta and not Abuja. We have had administrations that did not do their homework on the Niger Delta.

“If I had won, I would have sold 10 per cent shares in the NNPC; that will give me $20 billion which would build infrastructure for the Niger Delta.

But we always end up with accidental leadership.

“Bring peace and development to the Niger Delta, they will stop blowing up pipelines. Then, we will get gas and then power can be stable. But until then, we will not get it,” Atiku noted.

Acting president of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Charles Ambaiowei, said the plethora of failed promises by successive governments was responsible for the anger the nation is witnessing today. For him, the neglect of the region has reached a boiling point that has become unbearable hence the unrest in the region.

Ambaiowei disclosed that all correspondence their congress sent to Buhari was not responded to, cautioning that government must apply an approach with a human face. He suggested the need for government to dialogue with leaders from the region to set the tone of genuine peace.

“There are leaders of the ethnic nationalities in the region, and government needs to open communication with them. We are not in support of what the

Avengers are doing, so you cannot punish the entire region because of few individuals that choose to be outlaws. There is the need for strategic, meticulous and undelayed process to fix the region,” he suggested.

Security consultant, Capt.

Umar Aliyu (rtd.), said the situation in the Niger Delta “is very delicate”, cautioning that there should be a pragmatic approach.

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has asked Buhari to toe the path of wisdom and apply the late Yar’Adua’s approach and improve upon it.

Fayose

20

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Feature

Between Umahi’s family interest and Ebonyi political development

Umahi

Elechi

Anyim

Ekweremadu

The decision of Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, to put his family members in positions is causing division among stakeholders in the state, Special Correspondent, CHIJIOKE AGWU, reports.

E

bonyi State governor, David Umahi, is currently facing concerted opposition from critical stakeholders, especially National Assembly members from the state over his agenda at empowering some of his family members through political patronage.

His elder brother, Laz Umahi, had earlier in the year emerged the new traditional ruler of Umunaga Community of Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

Few weeks later, the governor appointed another of his brothers, Roy Umahi, as the Secretary of Ebonyi State Pipes Production Company.

During the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congresses in the state, his step-brother, Maxwel Umahi, emerged Deputy Chairman of the party.

But the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the emergence of the governor’s immediate younger brother, Augustine Umahi, as the new South East Zonal PDP Vice Chairman in the recently concluded zonal congresses of the party.

influence of his estranged aide.

He also sacked all the appointees loyal to Senator Sonni Ogbuorji (Ebonyi South); Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), Linus Abba Okorie (Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency) and Chris Usulor (Ezza South State Constituency).

Sources close to the governor told our correspondent that the above lawmakers were suspected to be instrumental to Odefa’s insistence on contesting the election against the governor’s wish.

The source, who begged not to be mentioned, noted that the sack of the appointees loyal to the aggrieved stakeholders was a clear indication of Umahi’s readiness to do battle with the stakeholders.

According to our source, “At Okpara Square, the venue of the congress, the gang-up against the governor was unmistakable. Senator Ogbuorji was openly barking at the governor and threatening fire and brimstone. That was when governor knew that the gang-up was strong. What he has just done is to tell them that he was ready for the battle”

Local Government Area; Darlington Okorie Liaison, Officer Onicha Local Government Area; Victor Ogbonna, Liaison Officer, Onicha Local Government Area; Monday Oroke, Liaison Officer, Ezza South Local Government Area; Mike Ishienyi, Liaison Officer, Onicha Local Government Area, and Ogbouefi Ndidi, member, Local Government Advisory Committee.

While the confusion lasted, there were fears and speculations on impeachment moves against the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Odefa Obasi Odefa, elder brother to the embattled Odefa.

But an official of the Assembly who spoke to our correspondent, dismissed the speculations as “too baseless for response”, stressing that t the Deputy Speaker was not involved in the gang-up against the governor.

He said, “No, it is not true. That is too baseless for response. I don’t think he is in support of his brother. You can see that none of his loyal appointees was affected by the tsunami,” the source added.

Umahi, stakeholders draw swords The emergence of Augustine as the National Vice Chairman of the party for South East Zone has set the governor on collision course with critical stakeholders of the party in the state as well as some of his loyalists. One of his supporters that rose against the action was his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internal Security, Ali Odefa, who incidentally, expressed interest in the position.

Odefa, former South East zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, had reportedly resigned his post to contest for the position, after repeated efforts to get the nod of his boss on the move had failed.

Curiously, it was alleged that Umahi, did not receive Odefa’s resignation letter until the day of the election.

In what seemed a fast move to pave way for easy victory for his brother, Augustine, the governor reportedly petitioned the congresses committee to disqualify Odefa on the basis that he did not resign his office as SA on security before coming to stand election, a situation that contradicts the stipulations of the party’s constitution.

The storm gathers The appointees, who were relieved of their appointments are as follows: Mr. Okporie Agwu Nnachi, Coordinator Edda West Development Centre; Ogbonnaya Oti, Coordinator, OnichaWest Development Centre; Akas Oko Ibiam, member, Edda West Development Centre Management Committee; Felicia Egbe Ann, member, Edda West Development Centre Management Committee; Chidi Oko Arua, member, Edda West Development Management Committee; Paul Obasi, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Sunday Igwe, member, Onicha West Development Management Committee; Blessing Nwali, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Elizabeth Ngwu, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Mrs. Ikechukwu Nwite, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Mrs. Chukwu Chinenye Adaeze, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee, Mrs. Ozoemena Offia, member, Onicha West Developemnt Centre Management Committee; Mary Okoro, member, Onicha West Development Centre Management Committee; Ngozi Elechi, member Ezza South Development Centre Management Committee; Ikechukwu Aliobu, member Ezza South Development Centre Management Committee; Chukwuma Nwinya, member, Ezza South Management Committee; Oke James Friday, member, Ezzama Development Centre management committee; Monday Olisa, member, Ishielu Development Centre Management Committee; Mrs. Constantine Eze, member, Ishielu Development Centre Management committee; John Ali, Liaison Officer, Onicha

Kinsmen disown Odefa, Ogbuorji Even at that, Odefa’s kinsmen from his Onicha Local Government Area of the state, on Monday, May 16, 2016, stormed Abakaliki, the state capital in solidarity with the governor.

They accused him of disrespecting constituted authority and embarrassing the state.

The people who were made up of chieftains and supporters of the party as well as leaders of thought numbering over 2,500, assured the governor of the support of the people of the area, saying that the absence of Odefa and his followers should not diminish the governor’s support in the area.

The former Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, who is also the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Donatus Njoku, who led the delegation, said that his people were dissociating themselves from Odefa and his group.

The following day, Tuesday, May 16, 2016, the people of Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state where the Senator representing Ebonyi South in the Senate, Sonni Ogbuorji hails from, also stormed Ebonyi Government House in solidarity with the governor.

They also threatened to recall the senator if he failed to stop opposing the governor through his “undemocratic tendencies.”

The delegates, numbering over 3,000 who carried placards during the peaceful protest at Government House, Abakaliki, with various inscriptions such as “Sonni Ogbuorji you are a confusionist”, “Sonni Ogbuorji you have failed PDP in Ebonyi state”, “Ebonyi South Senatorial zone is recalling you, Sonni Ogbuorji” among others, disowned the senator.

Reading a communique signed by major stakeholders of the area during the protest, the state

Ekweremadu intervenes It took the intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for Odefa to escape outright disqualification from the contest.

Although he eventually lost the position to Augustine, there was the feeling that the last may not have been heard on the festering feud.

That, perhaps, accounted for why the governor, upon returning to Abakaliki shortly after the Congress, confirmed and accepted Odefa’s resignation letter and thanked him for the services he had rendered to the state.

The governor, in one breath, also approved the sack of his appointees he said, he made under the

Commissioner for Finance, Dennis Ekumankama, said, “We condemn in strong terms the inglorious attitude, antagonism and disloyalty exhibited by our representatives at the National Assembly led

by Senator Sonni Ogbuorji during the South East congress of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu State on May14, 2016.

“We disassociate ourselves and Edda clan from the inexcusable display of undemocratic tendencies and unwarranted show of shame by the said Senator and his group.

The Edda people also lauded Umahi for his political sagacity and legerdemain which has fetched the state the zonal vice chairman of the Party.

“We congratulate His Excellency, David Umahi for his political sagacity and foresightedness that has won the state the position of National Vice Chairman South East zone of the PDP in the person of Chief Augustine Umahi.”

Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff Government House, Emmanuel Offor Okorie, who received the protesters on behalf of the governor, condemned the Senator’s alleged conduct during the South East PDP congress, and urged them to call him to order, even as he promised to relay their message to the governor.

While the intrigues played out, there were suspicions in some quarters that Ebonyi was perhaps, set for the repeat of what transpired during the first tenure of the former governor, Senator Sam Egwu, when Abuja-based politicians headed by the then Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, battled the then governor, over political leadership of the state. ,But on Saturday, May 28, the governor took what appeared a preemptive measure against a return to that ugly past in the state. In it, he recalled about 25 of some of his aides who were relieved of their appointments on account of the PDP incident.

He however directed that they would undergo screening in the state House of Assembly as they had done earlier.

Umahi, who described the incident at the congress as “a mutiny”, added that they are penalties for mutiny.

“The incident that happened in Enugu during the South East PDP congress, was a mutiny and everybody knows the penalty of mutiny.

“But in the spirit of forgiveness, all the coordinators and management committee members who were sacked because of the matter will be given fresh appointments.

“They have to go back to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. We have forgiven you but tell your masters that Ebonyi problems can only be solved here in Ebonyi State and not outside the state,” he said.

The governor added that he had also forgiven Odefa, adding however, that he would be redeployed to another wing of the government.

From the states www.thenicheng.com

TheNiche June 05, 2016

21

Male opponents no threat to me, says Agbarah All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and only female aspirant for Edo governorship election, Tina Agbarah, tells Special Correspondent, TITUS OISE, her reasons for running, the challenges so far, among other issues.

T

he campaign so far So far, it has been going on well. We thank God for the wisdom. By his grace, we are doing well in the field, meeting delegates, meeting the people.

Message to the delegates There is nothing much to preach than to talk about our people because we have calm atmosphere to campaign due to what the comrade governor has done. That is why we can go about campaigning. The man has given us a level-playing ground based on what he has done. With that, we can tell the people that we already have structures, schools, hospitals, good roads, etc. But one man cannot do it all. That is why I have to come out to also build on what the governor has done and improve on it.

I can tell you that I have been into politics for the past 35 years. I have worked with several political parties – United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP), National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

I was a woman leader in National Republican Convention (NRC).

Expression of interest now Before, there were

some leaders you could not dare. That is why I am very proud of my party, the APC, and the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole who has equipped me politically.

He appointed me into the governing council of the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and several others.

I am also deputy state woman leader (of APC).

I see everybody in the field. They are well-to-do people. Unfortunately, as a woman, when you attempt to come out, they would push you down.

We are not saying the men are our enemies; but because they are greedy, when you make attempt to come in, they will push you down.

Only female aspirant in the race I think it’s a laudable development, a joyful moment that all the women in Edo State must be proud of irrespective of the political party they belong to. Even beyond Edo, I think we should be proud and happy that, at least, we have seen a woman who has dared to do what people thought was impossible. God has made it possible for me. I am not standing on my own.

I am standing on behalf of Edo women, no matter the political parties they belong to. Therefore, I am asking all of us to wake up

from slumber; I am asking all of us to join hands. I am telling the women that “united we stand divided we fall”.

Intimidated amid the men Not at all. I don’t know what is called intimidation. While it may be in Agbarah the dictionary, for me it does not exist because each of us has one vote.

My Governor brought the idea of one-man onevote, one-woman onevote, one-youth one-vote.

I also want to tell you that most people who are saying they want to contest don’t even know how the party started.

We formed the party that gave birth to the APC from Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Mrs. Modina Emovon (of blessed memory), Mrs. Adams and myself were the first three females among the 10 people who were holding meetings at Edo Motel.

Because we came in from Grace Group, they

thought it was a joke. I Free and fair primary recall the then governor in APC calling us ‘AC’ (air condiWhy would one be tioner) without compresafraid? It is a game you sor and we were looking know that at the end of for people to come in the day, out of 10 or 20 and contest. I bought contestants, only one forms for almost five person will win. So, what people, but they couldn’t is your fear when you are contest. At Uromi, Esan contesting? Are you seeNorth-East, we were ing it as a do-or-die situalooking for a man and no tion; that is, if am not the one was ready.

I can tell you that I have been into politics for the past 35 years. I have worked with several political parties – United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP), National Party of Nigeria (NPN). I was a woman leader in National Republican Convention (NRC).

governor I will die? If you are afraid, then go and work hard. I am not bothered because I believe we will be provided with a level-playing ground.

The governor has assured us. The party at state and national levels has reiterated that it is going to provide a level-playing field for everyone and that the primary election

will be transparent.

Therefore, I am not afraid. I also urge my colleagues outside there not to be afraid. We should go to the field. Nobody was begged or forced to pick form. So, if you have got the will and the mind to go in, you should be ready to take any challenge that comes your way.

22

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Perspective Biafra: Before the deluge

Buhari

P

By Uma Eleazu

resident Muhammadu Buhari is quoted as saying that he “will do everything necessary to keep Nigeria as one political entity” (Vanguard, May 10, 2016). Further, he wondered why “some people who were not yet born then (during the Nigeria/Biafra war) are saying they want to divide the country”. He also said, “For Nigeria to divide now, it is better for all of us to jump into the sea and get drowned” (Daily Sun, May 10, 2016, page 12).

On a previous occasion (interview with Al-Jazeera), he asked in his characteristic laconic way, “What do the Ibos (sic) want?” Coming from a person of his standing, and being President of the country, these questions need to be faced and answered.

How come boys who were not yet born when we fought for Biafra and lost are now agitating for the actualisation of the dream of an independent Biafra? The name Biafra must have a certain fascination for them or represents a kind of future that they are not seeing in Nigeria. So, that being the case, Biafra must convey or conjure a virtual reality which they think is physically realisable. Why do they reject Nigeria? Before now, people

Kanu

of my generation who fought the war and lost had more or less decided to eat the humble pie and do whatever we can to make the Nigeria project a workable proposition. At each point, all we get is a slap in the face. And our children see it.

At the end of the civil war, we were promised Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. Forty-five years down the road, it has not happened. No government at the federal level has done anything appreciable to reconstruct the dilapidated schools, devastated hospitals, roads, and lives of the people.

For rehabilitation, those with bank accounts were given 20 pounds each to start life again, no matter what their bank balances were. The rest of the money was confiscated or forfeited to the state. Thanks to the Finance Minister, Obafemi Awolowo. Our houses were “captured”, declared as “abandoned property”, and confiscated. Besides, the area that was Biafra was balkanised in the name of state creation.

But it was to alienate our fellow citizens of Biafra and make them hate us. They were not all deceived. The alienation of the Easterners was finally enshrined in the Constitution (1979 and 1999) which changed the nature and character of the Nigerian state we

inherited from the departing colonial powers. At Independence, we inherited a federal structure whose political dynamics was based on liberal democracy. What we have now is a centralised state with power concentrated at the top and whose political dynamics is that of prebendal feudalism. As if that was not enough, the ruling oligarchy wants to turn Nigeria into a caliphate. Prebendal politics is anti-democracy and that is what is alienating not just Ndigbo but all other ethnic nationalities.

Contrast this with the Boko Haram war which is not yet over, but the federal government has already set up a North East Reconstruction Commission. Good money has been appropriated for it in the 2016 budget. In 2012, the Boko Haram jihadists ransacked and killed many people in Kano (many of them from the South East and South South). As they were leaving in droves, the Boko Haram went and bombed the buses bound for the South. Did the federal government do anything to help? No! Only platitudes were mouthed. “We will leave no stone unturned, blah blah blah”. Instead, then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, went and donated N100 million to “victims” of the carnage. Who received the money? No compen-

sation was paid to the bus owners or to the families that were bereaved. Who then received the CBN money? He is now Emir of Kano.

In April of the same year 2012, Ndigbo from Adazi were slaughtered in Mubi, Adamawa State. The federal government did nothing and so a group that called itself Biafra Liberation Council was formed to protect Ndigbo in Adamawa and to take care of the young widows left behind. Any time a fire burns a market, Ndigbo are usually the losers. Our children do take notice and ask questions. These are just a few examples to show that the youths of Igboland do not have to be born before the war to sense the antipathy of the Northern-dominated federal government towards the Igbo to begin to ask questions about how we found ourselves in this situation. As the atrocities against Ndigbo in recent times pile up, so is the angst against the country that is rejecting them.

The recent incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu is what has created the upsurge of agitation for not only the release of the director of Radio Biafra, London, but also the call for re-creation of Biafra. Former President General Olusegun Obasanjo was nearer the truth when he noted that it is the condition of hopelessness

created by the action and inaction of the governments at federal and state levels that is fuelling the new Biafra movement. There are many Nigerians who will not want to hear the word Biafra again, but in the mind of those of us who lived through it and are witnesses of what is going on now, there is a heavy misgiving and foreboding about the project Nigeria. Some of us, who, much as we do not want to see our children made cannon fodders for the triggerhappy Nigerian army and police, are becoming sympathetic to the cause our children are now championing, even if we don’t agree on modalities. And that is to put it mildly. Somehow, the ghost of Biafra keeps coming up. It has refused to die and be buried.

So, when a sitting President says he will do everything necessary to keep Nigeria as one political entity, one hopes he knows what he is talking about and that he is not just barking out the usual saberrattling order to the military “to go and deal decisively” with the people concerned which usually means “go and shoot them”.

Perhaps, the President needs to be reminded that he is not a military head of state, but an elected president operating under the rule of law; that the citizens have certain rights which have to be respected under the law; that he

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

Abacha cannot declare a war against any section of the country, not even a state of emergency without the concurrence of the National Assembly. Or need we remind him that there are probably well over six million young people under 40 years of age in the area that was Biafra. How many of them will he shoot before deciding when it is time to drown the rest of the country in the sea?

Second, Biafra is not coterminous with Ala Igbo and Ndigbo are not the only group agitating for a break-up of Nigeria into its natural ethnic nationalities.

Third, there is nothing sacrosanct about Nigeria as a political entity. It was put together at a point in time and held together by duplicity and force of arms. Our forefathers acquiesced to the situation they found themselves until at another point in time when their children came up and agitated to free themselves from the yoke of colonialism and imperialism. In the process of negotiating with the British imperialists, the leaders of the various nationalities agreed to stick together under certain agreed conditions, to throw the foreign invaders out first, and then start the arduous task of forging a nation out of the various nationalities enclosed in Nigeria.

Perhaps our brothers in the defunct East African Federation were wiser in rejecting federalism before independence. What is now Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were once one political entity. Similarly, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe were in one political entity called Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. It did not work. Instead of going to drown themselves in the Indian Ocean, they went their separate ways and they are not the worse for it. The case of Malaysia is almost like ours. Singapore was pushed out of the Malaysian Federation just about the same time that Eastern Region of Nigeria was forced out of the Nigerian Federation and under similar circumstances. The rest of Malaya did not go for “police action” to bring them back as Gowon did in the case of Nigeria. Before we knew it, what was called “police action” turned into a full scale civil war. Let us not forget that. Look at where Singapore and Malaysia are today. Sometimes, separation may be a

June 05, 2016

Gowon win-win situation.

If the powers-that-be in Nigeria are not delivering on their promises, people will like to go their separate ways and to hell with one Nigeria. Mr. President, nobody is happy with this contraption called Nigeria except perhaps all those who have been or are feeding fat on our common patrimony. Gen. Yakubu Gowon is probably the only person in Pankshin who loves one Nigeria. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma is probably the only happy man from Jukun, Taraba State. The Tivs have for long rejected Islamism and they are not happy being dominated by a few cattle-rearers who now want to take over their land. Similarly, the Itsekiri and Urhobo are not happy either. Neither are the Yoruba happy. Are Edo people happy to have their ancient kingdom be subjected to another Kingdom? Berom, Gwari, Jukun are being treated as serfs in their own country. The Efik-Ibibio nation is not happy either; not to talk of Ogoni and Ijaw whose land has been devastated by rampant, exploitative capitalism. When their sons protested about the degradation of their farmland, they were rounded up by gen. Sani Abacha and hanged. People are not happy because Nigeria is suffocating them. People want to be free to live their lives and be in control of their own affairs. Not everyone will take up arms to back their cause as Boko Haram is doing.

Since 1979, Nigeria has been standing on a deeply-flawed foundation and a house built on a weak foundation cannot stand. The 1999 Constitution is a fraud foisted on the Nigerian peoples by agents of those who want to impose on Nigeria an Islamic hegemony as opposed to the liberal democratic constitutions which the founding fathers of modern Nigeria negotiated for between 1954 and 1960. Since July 1966, this ruling oligarchy has steadily eroded the basis of unity of the country.

There are today two contending ideologies in Nigeria – liberal democracy and Islamic theocracy. In so far as these two contending ideologies are fighting for supremacy, there will always be debilitating instability

23

Obasanjo

in the system. The 1999 Constitution does not meet the aspirations of various segments of the country. All kinds of insurgency and militancy have arisen to challenge the status quo.

The first major challenge was in 2001 when 12 Northern states declared themselves as Sharia states. That in itself was a flagrant unconstitutional act. The governors were allowed to get away with it. Even Buhari pledged in a speech to the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (August 2001), “I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria … And God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country.”

The sharia movement culminated in Maitatsine, Boko Haram, and the Shi’ite Islamic Movement and these are all armed insurrection.

On the other hand, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Biafra Liberation Council (BLC), Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and lately Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) all have arisen because the Constitution has been bastardised and cannot hold the disparate nationalities and ethno-religious groups together. To the best of my knowledge, the Biafran movement is not an armed insurrection. Why are some people so bent on killing it? It is high time someone summoned up courage and called a conference of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to discuss the conditions for staying together as a nation.

If the President really wants to do something positive to keep Nigeria as one political entity, he should call for and read the report of the national dialogue called by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, especially the section entitled The Nigerian charter of National Reconciliation and Integration.

Towards the end of that report, the conferees attached what I consider to be the main achievement of the conference in that they tackled some of the fundamental issues plaguing the country. Issues of

citizenship rights, federating units, ethnic nationalities, the root cause of conflicts, and various fissiparous tendencies in the body politic of Nigeria. They therefore produced and appended what they called “The Nigerian Charter for National Reconciliation and Integration” Two sentences in the preamble struck me as worthy of being at the root of any reconciliation: “Conscious of the fact that these historical grievances have produced resentment, nurtured bitterness and sustained distrust amongst Nigerians, against one another and against the Nigerian State…

“Determined to heal the wounds of the past, to forgive past sectional wrongs, to let go of the past sectional grievances, to close the book on our troubled past, to open up vistas of greatness and to embrace our future…

“Now, therefore, we the people of Nigeria proclaim this charter for national reconciliation and integration as the basis of our union.”

Are we ready to do that? If not, every tinkering with the constitution is a waste of time. The house will not stand.

It is important and instructive to note that acceptance of this charter is considered to be a pre-condition for negotiating a new constitution. The President should therefore get his own small committee to study the whole report and recommend how to implement this aspect of national charter in the report. He should not just throw away the baby with the bath water simply because it came from the past administration. This is where the mantra of change should begin. We need to go back to the foundation and change the constitution. Every other thing should flow from that.

It will be a worthy legacy for the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to produce for us a people’s constitution before the end of Buhari’s first term in office. What will hold this country together is not the force of arms but love for one another, peace, unity of purpose and good governance based on the rule of law.

24

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Analysis Revisiting Nkpor/Onitsha killing fields There may be more to the recent crisis in Nkpor and Onitsha axes of Anambra State, leading to the death of many members of MASSOB/IPOB, Special Correspondent, OKEY MADUFORO, reports.

U

ntil last Monday, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Hosea Karma, had literally become a celebrity.

Karma had been celebrated as a success story in battling violent crimes in the state. That towering profile, however, got dented following the excessive use of force by men of his command against armless members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), last week. The confrontation occurred when IPOB members and their Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) counterparts embarked on rally to commemorate the declaration of the defunct Republic of Biafra by Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (of blessed memory) on May 30, 1967. The encounter left dozens of Igbo youths dead.

At the moment, Karma is struggling to explain away the crude antics of his trigger-happy subordinates in killing defenceless protesters in Nkpor and Onitsha towns as exercise borne out of extreme provocation.

The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Ali Okechukwu, had earlier confirmed that 26 suspects were arrested, without putting figures on the number of deaths, which he claimed was exaggerated.

Embattled residents of Nkpor and Onitsha, however, accuse him of being economical with truth. In fact, by the time the smoke of the Nkpor/Onitsha disturbances had ebbed, sources

indicated that more than 50 youths of various ages had been decimated by the illtempered security agents.

Unfortunately, Karma told TheNiche in interview that nobody was killed. That was even after military authorities had confirmed that five IPOB/MASSOB members were killed.

Mrs. Beatrice Nwankwo, a restaurateur, who witnessed the Nkpor killing, swore to TheNiche that the members of IPOB and MASSOB who took part in the rallies had no arms with them and were only chanting protest songs when the security operatives opened fire on them.

“I closed my shop because I was afraid of what might happen. Then some of my colleagues’ (shops) were open and people gathered around the shops to drink.

“Once in a while, they would sing pro-Biafra songs and danced around the main road. Some of the policemen entered where they were dancing and there was a fight. I cannot say exactly what led to it. Soon, the policemen went back and all we saw and heard were gun shots.

People started running for safety and those that were unlucky were hit by the bullets.

“Policemen were not the only ones engaged in the shooting; soldiers also participated,” she said.

Narrating his ordeal, a trader in Obosi Market near Nkpor, Marcel Adimora, said he had visited a friend at the community when he got trapped in the protest.

“I quickly said my last

prayers awaiting death to come. A young man in his late 20s or maybe 30s was standing behind me when he was hit by the bullet. It would have been me. The boy just shouted loudly and fell by the road side.

He had no gun on him. He was not with the crowd that was protesting. But he was shot dead by the soldiers,” Adimora lamented.

Police and military authorities, however, insist that the officers acted in self defence, blaming the protesters for the ugly development.

At the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, the Commander was said to be away on official assignment, and no one offered to speak on the matter.

But inside a canteen within the barracks, some soldiers spoke in hushed tones about the killings.

“That (the shooting) was unprofessional on the part of some of these security personnel. Even under extreme provocation, you can only fire tear gas or hot water. You do not go into combat with them because they are not trained,” one of the soldiers was overheard speaking.

His colleague however countered, hinging the blame on human error.

“We are all human beings and not all of us can withstand the provocation.

These people are all touts and they can go to any length to annoy you. They started firing those local guns by aiming at you. So you have no choice but to defend yourself. That policeman that died was killed because he was trying to play by the rules

Arase and they killed him. He had a good gun to protect himself, but he did not,” he argued.

Obiano shares in the blame Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, is also being blamed for the high death toll. Unconfirmed sources alleged that information had filtered out two days before the date for the rally about a proBiafra protest, adding that the authorities in the state were in the know, though unofficially.

The source insisted that Obiano could not claim to be ignorant of the move and should have taken appropriate measures. The failure to do so, he said, accounts for why he is being blamed for those lapses that saw the rally going awry.

To worsen matters, Obiano was even accused of ordering security operatives to shoot at any protester on sight.

Commissioner for information. Tony Nnacheta, has however denied this.

“I want to make it clear that at no time did His Excellency give any order for shoot on sight. He will never ever do that and he is mindful of its grave consequences at this point.

The security operatives know what to do and not shoot on sight,” he said.

Obiano He blamed a section of the press for not presenting what happened appropriately.

Nnacheta regretted that the peaceful demonstration by youths who allegedly belong to MASSOB and IPOB to mark the Igbo Day was hijacked by hoodlums whose designs were antithetical to the peace and security of the state.

The elements who infiltrated the peaceful demonstration, Nnacheta alleged, turned violent at Nkpor; fired live bullets at the policemen who were detailed to watch the procession and ensure that it was peaceful and burnt down a patrol van to send a dangerous signal to the entire neighbourhood that Anambra had lost the peace it had all enjoyed for two unbroken years.

MASSOB/IPOB not cowed Spokesman for MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, and his IPOB counterpart, Emmanuel Powerful, denied any charge of their members carrying arms, stressing that even with what the groups had passed through, they would not be cowed.

“We were not carrying any weapon as being claimed by the security operatives, but we were only showing our love for the

late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who declared Biafra on May 30, 1967.

“As we were working along the road, these people (security agents) swooped on us and opened fire. Most of them who were not lucky died immediately, while others sustained gunshot injuries.

“We are not violent; we do not know why anybody would shoot harmless people. But look at what is happening in the North East and Niger Delta. Why is our own in Igbo land different?” they asked.

They alleged that the killings were indications of the federal government’s attempts to silence the Igbo, vowing however not to give in.

Arase joins the fray But with the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, ordering his men to disarm the MASSOB/IPOB agitators that have all along maintained their non-violence posture, there are fears that the disturbances in the South East may not be over yet.

This fear takes root in the likelihood of overzealous policemen or those intending to settle scores arresting even non-members of the groups on trumped up charges.

TheNiche

Judiciary www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

25

Onyewuchi Ojinnaka Email: onyewuchi_ojinnaka@yahoo.com 0811 181 3060

After Buhari’s one year: Agbakoba’s elixir for Nigeria Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, assesses President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration after one year. Senior Correspondent, ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA, writes.

T

he clamour for the production of a people’s constitution (to replace the document imposed on Nigerians by the military) which will address national agitations on issues like true fiscal federalism, resource control and restructuring of Nigeria by various regions prompted the convocation of two national conferences. One was under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo and the other under Goodluck Jonathan.

They were aimed at addressing knotty issues that tended to pull the nation backwards. Unfortunately, the implementation of the reports of the two confabs never saw the light of day.

It has been noted that the issues that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria were discussed extensively at both conferences and solutions were proffered; but perhaps due to change of baton in the leadership of this country, the recommendations are yet to be implemented.

However, reports are rife the some individuals and groups are clamouring for another conference, for the same purpose.

Against this background, former president of Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, expressed the need for a comprehensive review of the previous confabs rather than going through the rigours of another conference, which he described it as superfluous.

He advised President Muhammadu Buhari to resist the lure of another wasteful ‘jamboree’, positing that it will be very difficult but not impossible task.

While appraising Mr. President at 365 days in a briefing with judicial correspondents in Lagos, Agbakoba pointed out that the key in arriving at a new constitution is in isolating

what Nigerians will immediately agree to. He recommended that a graduated process of constitutional amendment should be introduced to replace the failed holistic attempts to write new constitution in one fell swoop.

“We must strive for a balanced federation and decentralisation of powers from federal to state government.

“The centre is too strong and can pass responsibility out of the 98 items under its exclusive control to the states. This will balance up the federation,” he posited.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) submitted that creating a new national order would be very difficult but not an impossible task, adding that the effect would be stabilisation and national rebirth.

Other issues, he asserted, that need to be looked into seriously for the country to stabilise include corruption, security, economy and foreign exchange (Forex) policy.

Corruption According to Agbakoba, “corruption is endemic in Nigeria, and to reverse it requires new strong institutions”.

For the fight against corruption to be successful, he said, there must be root and branch reform of the anti-corruption agencies. He cited the voting of 25 per cent of the national budget for salaries and emoluments of legislators (by the legislators themselves) without approval by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), describing it as unconstitutional.

“Stopping this outrageous conduct on the part of the legislators is, with due respect, the litmus test in assessing the sincerity of the anti-corruption agenda.

“Corruption is also manifest in over-bloated budgets

for the presidential villa and houses, corrupt/weak public procurement procedures and abuse of discretion of ministers in the award of contracts.

“All these have taken a major toll on our resources and encouraged corruption.

The first crucial challenge is for the President to stop these aspects of corrupt practices and introduce major spending cuts,” Agbakoba averred.

He advocated the reformation of anti-corruption agencies in order to slow down corruption, even before thinking of reversing it.

Corroborating Agbakoba on this issue of corruption, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Anselm Ozioko, admitted that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society.

Ozioko told TheNiche that it would take somebody who is not corrupt to fight corruption either within the judiciary, outside the judiciary or even within the Nigerian society. To fight corruption, cases that come to court should be expeditiously heard and disposed.

His words: “In corruption cases, the court should not grant (defendants) bail.

Once the defendants are not granted bail, these cases would be disposed off very speedily. The defence counsel will be begging. Even the defendants themselves would be demanding accelerated hearing of their matter, so that their fate would be determined timely.”

Insecurity Appraising the administration of Buhari on the state of security across the nation, Agbakoba noted that prior to the 2015 general elections, Nigerians were struggling with massive insecurity, weak political structure, empty treasury and widespread corruption which prompted a change

Agbakoba

that threw up Buhari as the President.

However, coming on board, the Buhari administration “decimated” Boko Haram insurgents, but the Niger Delta crisis seems to be out of control, with the Niger Delta Avengers blowing up oil installations and blood flowing in the South East.

Agbakoba urged the President to adopt a more flexible approach on the Niger Delta crisis and proBiafra agitators.

“The President must go back in history and borrow a leaf from President (Franklin Delano) Roosevelt who dealt with the shock of The Great Depression that ravaged the United States of America when he became the United States president in the 1930s,” he said.

For him, Nigeria is in utter chaos and disorder which have greatly affected the nation. The cankerworm of disorder has eaten deep into the national fabric and the absence of order has badly damaged the national psyche, he added.

“Love of country is absent,” he stressed.

Submitting that the issue of national order is linked with a new constitutional order, the SAN recommended that priority should be given to the national question, which would be resolved urgently. “The nation will not settle or move forward without solving the issue of disorder.”

Economy Agbakoba noted that from the fourth quarter of 2014 to first quarter of 2016, Nigeria has been in dire economic straits. He solicited that the critical nuggets to turn things around must be put in place forthwith because they are not there.

“Confusion as to whether we are liberalising or regulating different aspects of our economy is keeping investors away.”

He suggested that the only way Nigeria can grow and sustain development is to have a deregulated economy, making it less dependent on imports.

Pursuing economic diversification will make the economy less vulnerable to the boom and bust cycles

of oil and natural gas prices, Agbakoba further said, citing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that successfully divested out oil into new revenue sources.

Forex policy Nigeria’s forex policy is unclear and uncertain, Agbakoba said. “We have CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) rates, rates for fuel importers, rates at autonomous markets and rates at the parallel market (black market).” He posited that the policy breeds corruption from differentials in the four markets.

Scorecard He opined that the absence of a national order hampered the President’s ability to deliver on most of the issues, advising the Buhari government not to look at the rear view mirror, but develop a clear political and economic vision for the country which does not exist at the moment.

“Therefore, I have moved from being cautiously positive to cautiously negative,” he remarked.

26

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Editorial

» PoliticsXtra

With Sam

sidonlookme@yahoo.co.uk 0805 618 0195

Imperative of restructuring We Are All Biafrans... but are we all Biafrans?

Nigeria

W

hen last week former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, called for the urgent restructuring of Nigeria if the country is to make any progress, he did not say anything new.

He cannot be said to hold any patent to such a call because many Nigerians hold the view and have advocated it publicly.

But Atiku’s call has gained appreciable traction for two obvious reasons. The first is the person making the call and the second is the timing.

Many Nigerians believe, rightly or wrongly, that of all the regions in the country, the North is the least receptive to the idea of restructuring of the polity which will necessitate a weak centre and promote stronger federating units.

So, for such a call to come not only from one of the leading lights of the north but also a Hausa/Fulani elite is significant.

The second reason why the call has resonated so well is the timing. Except during the 30-month civil war, Nigeria has never been at such dire socioeconomic and political crossroads as it is today.

At no time have all the fault lines that define our nation-state acted as centripetal forces pulling the various component units away from one another.

So, Atiku was spot on when he called “for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralised, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities ….

“Our current structure and the practices it has encouraged have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of our country ….

“The call for restructuring is even more relevant today in light of the governance and economic challenges facing us. And the rising tide of agitations, some militant and violent, require a reset in our relationships as a united nation.”

We salute Atiku’s boldness and courage.

Most of the schisms that now characterise our national life – rebellion in the Niger Delta, renewed agitation for an independent state of Biafra, cries of marginalisation by the minorities in the Middle Belt and Far North, quest for Sharia states, Fulani herdsmen and sedentary pastoralists – are all different shades of the resentment against the status quo.

It then goes without saying that the status quo has neither served Nigeria as a whole nor any part of the country well, including the North.

In which case, the often quoted refrain by self-serving political leaders that the idea of one united, indivisible Nigeria is not negotiable flies in the face of reason.

The only way that could be achieved is the use of brute force as the federal government is doing in the South East against unarmed youths agitating for Biafra.

While that may work in cowing some agitators, history bears eloquent witness to the fact that ultimately there is a limit to which a people repulsed by acts of injustice to seek self-determination can be held down by the force of arms.

In any case, if Scotland could seek to exit Great Britain after centuries of mutually beneficial union, what makes the idea of one Nigeria sacrosanct?

While the idea of one Nigeria is alluring – and we believe many Nigerians would prefer to live together – for it to endure, it must be a federation erected on the solid foundation of equity and mutual respect.

Skewed federalism is a recipe for crisis as we have in Nigeria today. For the country to work, there must be fiscal federalism with the federating units surviving on their own rather than being appendages of an all-powerful centre.

And for that to happen, the country must be restructured. The various groups that make up the country must come together to decide what they want.

Fortunately, the 2014 National Conference report serves as a roadmap. There is no need to convoke another conference unless to subject the report which has far-reaching recommendations to a referendum.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s outright rejection of the report is ill-advised.

For us to have our dream country of peace and prosperity, Buhari must show that he is still committed to the Nigerian project based on fairness, equity and good governance, and not by talking down on people who have genuine grievances against the Nigerian state as presently constituted and run.

T

he headline sounds strange? I agree. Give me a few seconds to explain; please.

We Are All Biafrans is the title of a new book by Chido Onumah, a prolific opinion writer described by Professor Odia Ofeimum as someone who has raised “opinion-making about Nigeria to the standards of great, uncompromising art.”

As stated in my previous writings, I get easily excited about books. The launch of a new book is, to me, more like the birth of a child.

On Thursday last week, I took delivery of seven publications sent from the United States. All, except one, are on the American Senate and House of Representatives. Most were written long before I was born.

Two of my friends who saw me with the books quickly concluded that I must be preparing for a career in politics; and in the legislature. A secret service agent who was present asked: tell us the truth so that we can start the necessary preparation.

The truth is that politics is not good at old age; except you want to be a lazy bench warmer. That ended the discussion.

The U.S. legislature, or what they call the Congress, is reputed as the most stabilised and influential in the world. It is good to know how they did it. How did their system evolve to be where it is now?

My only concern is that a hungry man can hardly read with understanding. It doesn’t matter, I’ll keep the books until the price of garri drops and tomatoes are purged of Ebola.

For your information, books don’t get old.

Or let’s put it the other way: the older the books, the more nutritious they become; especially historical materials.

The reason is that ideas hardly fade. They can be improved upon; but they are hardly outdated. Yes, digital age has replaced analogue. So what!

Please don’t be misled; the book by Chido Onumah is not about Biafra – a geo-political contraption, though a hugely necessary one, spearheaded by the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu in the late 60s.

The author, Chido, as we all call him, has a way with words. The use of Biafra is merely metaphorical.

His previous two books Time To Reclaim Nigeria and Nigeria Is Negotiable: Essays on Nigeria’s Tortuous Road to Democracy and Nationhood, as you can see, have hair-raising titles also.

We Are All Biafrans is simply “a participantobserver’s interventions in a country sleepwalking to disaster,” according to the author.

It is “a book that aims at reawakening our consciousness to the precariousness of our present situation. The intention is not to scare us but to highlight the urgency of addressing our existential crisis in order to avert the looming catastrophe.”

That is where the metaphorical application of the term Biafra comes from.

The title of the book, on a closer look, comes from a statement by Ojukwu in Because I am Involved. In that book, Ojukwu did note that “all over Nigeria, there is Biafra, but that the Biafra of today is the Biafra of the Nigerians and not the Biafra of the Igbos, the Biafra of the mind not the Biafra of the fields.”

On another day, I will try to respond to that unacceptable and curious description of our dear Nigeria by Chido as a “... a country sleepwalking to disaster.”

For today, I will allow him to enjoy the peace and fresh fame the public presentation of his book splash on him.

Chido’s book, though a compilation of his writings on both the conventional and online newspapers in the last three years, is timely and unsparing. He argues that many, if not all of Nigeria’s problems, are rooted in the structure of the country.

That is vintage Chido, an apostle of a proper federating structure for Nigeria.

In the book, he proposes a socio-political restructuring of Nigeria; contending that the country needs to properly engage what he calls episodic convulsions that are threatening its very foundation.

These include Biafra, June 12, Boko Haram, the National Question, Citizenship Rights and what he has coined “militocracy.” He left out the Niger Delta militancy.

Let me quote an analysis of the book by a

Observations from...

Letter to Muhammadu Buhari Dear Muhammadu Buhari It is a shame to us when the Ethiopian economy relies heavily on Ethiopian Airlines and Nigeria, the so called giant of Africa, doesn't have a national carrier.

The absence of a master plan has provoked many questions on how far ministers can tackle the myriad of challenges in the industry.

The solution lies in creating the right environment to attract private and foreign investments into the sector and ensuring airport security, particularly tools for personnel.

We want you to fulfil the promises you made to millions of Nigerian youths who voted for you.

We support your change agenda; that is why we are bringing ideas to help solve some of the problems in our dear country.

We don't want anyone over 40 years old as sports minister because he may not know new trends and what will develop sports.

We want youths to participate in nation

building by channelling their energy into productive ventures. There should be sport activities database for students from primary to tertiary institutions.

We should make sport compulsory in the grassroots. The government should build sport facilities in each state, such as mini stadia and recreation centres with proper maintenance structure.

Budgetary allocation for sports should be spent wisely for it to have a positive impact on youths.

Sports will channel youth energy into productive ventures and also reduce unemployment and poverty.

Youths believe in your change agenda and we are watching. Give us a chance to participate actively in nation building.

God bless you as you fulfil the dreams of millions of Nigerians.

• Olatunbosun Akande Founder of Fans For Fun/Football For Fun: Not Violence

TheNiche on Sunday welcomes letters, maximum 250 words, from readers. Send to oguwikeng@yahoo.com

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

27

On the beat Oguwike Nwachuku

certain anonymous reviewer: “In We Are All Biafrans, Onumah takes on Nigeria’s indolent and reactionary ruling elite – civilian and military – and their allies, as well as bandits in uniform, scoundrels posing as statesmen, and conservative ideologues, religious bigots and ethnic chauvinists posing as patriots.

“He raises the fundamental questions: What is Nigeria and who is a Nigerian? If Nigeria is a federal republic, what constitutes or should constitute the federating units?

“He posits that the different manifestations of Biafra may well be a metaphor and, to that extent, we are all Biafrans as long as we seek to confront the clear and present danger.”

The great Edwin Madunagu, states in a prologue to the book: “The young Nigerians now threatening to actualise Biafra should forget or shelve the plan.

“In place of ‘actualisation’ they should, through research and study, reconstruct the Biafran story in its fullness and complexity and try to answer the unanswered questions and supply the missing links in the story.”

We Are All Biafrans is a compilation of beautiful narratives by one of Nigeria’s radical commentators.

You may not agree with everything Chido says but you are likely to agree with the manner he says them.

He fires straight; no pretensions. My conclusion is that the Biafra in all of us is gaining roots and deserves in-depth examination.

oguwikeng@yahoo.com, o.nwachuku@thenicheng. com

Nigeria now a killing field?

A

popular refrain today in Nigeria is “don’t allow yourself to be killed.” Everywhere you go: from East to West, South or North, “don’t allow yourself to be killed,” or “don’t just get killed” is on the lips of Nigerians.

That phrase is what parents tell their wards every day as they set out to school.

School authorities preach same to students during assembly, the way friends counsel loved ones.

It is the reality of today’s Nigeria where life has become meaningless, worthless both to the government that swore to protect citizens, and law enforcement agencies paid from people’s taxes.

It is difficult to say whether the most recent killings in the country last week are worse than the ones before.

Rather than comparison, the intensity of brutality, the bestiality of the perpetrators that seem to portray our country once more as a killing field in a democracy, and the feeling that the lives of Nigerians are worthless are worrisome.

Often, Amnesty International (AI) accuses our security agencies of brutality and extra judicial killings, which the agencies deny.

In April, the United States released another damning report on Nigeria, accusing the government of injustice, brutality and inflicting pain on poor citizens.

The report, by the U.S. Department of State, accused the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the military of gross abuse of power, including citizens’ brutality and arbitrary detention.

It said: “Security services perpetrated extra-judicial killings, and engaged in torture, rape, arbitrary detention, mistreatment of detainees, and destruction of property .…

“The country also suffered from widespread societal unrest, including ethnic, regional, and religious violence… and restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and movement ….

“Although President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration began initial steps to curb corruption, authorities did not in-

vestigate or punish the majority of cases of police or military abuse.

“Authorities generally did not hold police, military, or other security forces personnel accountable for the use of excessive or deadly force or for the deaths of persons in custody ….

“Security forces’ use of excessive force, including live ammunition, to disperse demonstrators resulted in numerous killings.”

Citing the clash between the Army and Shiite on December 12, 2015 as example, the report said: “The army troops killed an undetermined number – possibly hundreds according to some credible reports – of members of the Shia group Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Zaria, Kaduna State, following an altercation at a roadblock that disrupted the convoy of the chief of army staff.”

It said in May 2015, following the killing and mutilation of six soldiers by cattle rustlers, “Army troops killed dozens of civilians and razed scores of houses in Wase District, Plateau State.

“Community leaders accused the military of storming several villages at night and firing indiscriminately.

“They also alleged government forces had previously killed more than 80 persons in similar attacks ….”

It said despite evidence, the military denied killing any civilian and promised to investigate, saying there were no reports of any investigation as of December 2015.

“In May, Amnesty International (AI) released a report documenting mass arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, and torture by security forces in the North East.

After the report’s release, Buhari vowed to investigate.

“This report followed a 2014 AI report alleging the routine and systematic practice of torture and other mistreatment by security services .…”

According to media reports, Alice Orobogha Akparobi, 53, was killed at Jakpa Junction, Effurun near Warri on April 30 when a soldier opened fire on a tricycle taxi conveying her and others to her

daughter’s wedding.

The driver allegedly did not obey the soldier’s order to stop when he approached the junction on an environmental sanitation day when movement was restricted until 10am.

Akparobi, a mother of four and civil servant in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Council, was gunned down by the soldier who probably thinks the riffle is given to him to kill just anyone.

Again, what is happening in the South East and South South with the Army and police killing citizens like fowls is not acceptable. To say the reason for their being mowed down every day is because of their right to protest in a democracy is even repulsive.

On Monday, May 30, a team of soldiers and police killed dozens of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Onitsha, particularly in Nkpor, Anambra State who were marking the 49th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra on May 30, 1967.

The peaceful protests in Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Ebonyi States got disrupted in Onitsha by security agents who killed, maimed, destroyed property, and arrested IPOB and MASSOB members.

The Army said troops acted in self-defence when their intervention to restore law and order was resisted.

Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Colonel Hamza Gambo, claimed the protests were designed to mar the Democracy Day celebrations held nationwide on Sunday, May 29.

His words: “Instructively, troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, as the lead agency of the security agencies, had to invoke the extant Rules of Engagement (ROE) to resort to self-defence, protection of the strategic Niger Bridge, prevent reenforcement of the pro-Biafran members apparently surging ahead from the far side of the strategic Niger Bridge at

Onitsha.

“In the aftermath of the fire fight that ensued, many of our troops sustained varying degree of injuries .… Similarly, five members of MASSOB/IPOB were killed, eight wounded while nine were arrested for due legal actions.”

The Army worldwide is noted for professionalism. But it remains to be seen if it is so with the Nigerian Army, talk less of the police.

The position of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that the killings could not be justified, no matter the provocation, is apt.

The military often claims the people they kill extra-judicially are the first to attack them. It made the same claim in its vengeful invasion and brutal attacks on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Zaria.

In Onitsha, the military is saying the same thing of IPOB/MASSOB members.

But could it be true the protesters who were unarmed fired at soldiers first?

Buhari must call the military and police to order and end their rampant, unprovoked aggression against unarmed civilians.

That the military/police kill unarmed protesters everywhere in Nigeria and the president is quiet is the reason AI and the U.S. insist that there are extra-judicial killings in the country.

Buhari had better speak up now or his silence means endorsement of such acts.

The essential element in a democracy is that people are able to freely express themselves, using such as peaceful marches, rallies, processions, and protests to make their voices heard.

Repression, oppression, and suppression of freedom of speech, conscience, and movement are simply negative signposts in a democracy.

Funny World

m or o.nwachuku@thenicheng.com or thenichenewsroom@gmail.com

© copyright. All rights reserved 2014

A Hilarious Cartoon By Sahara Reporters

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikechukwu Amaechi Executive Editor Oguwike Nwachuku Editor, Politics/Features Emeka Duru Editor-at-Large Sam Akpe Assistant Editor, North Chuks Ehirim

Chief Operating Officer / FM Eugene Onyeji Human Resources Manager Kehinde Okeowo Advert Manager Vera Iyere

28

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Words &Worlds

T

Remi Sonaiya

»

Skills for 21st century living he necessity for citizens of the world to acquire skills relative to life-long learning was one of the vital “tools” for the 21st century identified by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the turn of the century. Conscious of the pace at which change was happening around the world – and not only in the scientific and technological sectors, which were quite spectacular – the UNESCO looked to experts in various fields of endeavour to come up with recommendations which would help prepare people to properly engage with the challenging times that lay ahead.

Great attention was paid to the young people of the world in particular, and among the recommendations made by one of the committees was that the learning of foreign languages should be actively promoted in educational institutions.

These UNESCO committees of experts worked during the final decade of the last century, that is, in the 1990s, and one is bound to wonder how far their recommendations have been applied in various countries, and how effective the recommended tools have been in enabling citizens cope with the demands of 21st century living.

It is not difficult to imagine how useful and readily applicable in today’s world a skill like the knowledge of foreign languages would be. The world has been bitten by the travel bug, and for that purpose languages become very useful.

While tourists do not necessarily feel compelled to learn the language(s) spoken in the country of their destination, what has become striking is that the service providers in the tourism industry themselves are paying more attention to offering their services in an increasing number of languages. On a Lufthansa flight I recently travelled on, the crew had competence in some seven or eight languages among them, and passengers were impressed when that was announced.

Obviously, foreign language skills would be an additional advantage in the recruitment of stewards and air hostesses. Some hotels in high tourist destinations equally conduct foreign language training for their staff. An American friend of mine was employed by a hotel in Phuket, Thailand, for several years, and her job was to teach English to the hotel’s staff in order to enable them communicate easily with guests. There were probably other language teachers for the hotel staff Japanese, Chinese, Spanish or French as well, depending on where most of the tourists in the hotel came from.

Another important skill to acquire or develop in the fast-paced world of the 21st century is that of the mastery or the management of time. This is the reason time management has become an important seminar and workshop topic in recent years; unfortunately, it is an area where many Nigerians (not to say Africans) fail woefully.

In countries where wages are

calculated by the hour, that is a clear indication that productivity is of utmost concern. The world has become highly competitive; those who make the most of their time are definitely going to be ahead of the pack. As we look forward to our profile rising on the global scene in the years ahead (hopefully, after totally defeating Boko Haram and meting out justice to the corrupt people who have stolen our common wealth), could we begin to deliberately teach time management, not only in our educational institutions, but to the general populace as well? Timeliness and time-consciousness must be institutionalised in our public life; time is a resource we must learn to manage if we aspire towards a higher level of development. We could begin with some basic steps: starting our meetings on time and consciously reducing how long they last (for example, by limiting the jokes and not giving “another round of applause” to speakers!).

Apart from such clear and tangible skills, however, one wonders what others would be required for life-long learning? In a world where television and the internet constantly bombard us with stories and images of sometimes momentous changes happening in various places, one needs some kind of emotional and psychological preparedness or stabilising force to handle all that is thrown at us. The world is in a flux, constantly, and it requires nerves of steel, almost,

to be able to withstand the assault from the news which come rushing at us or, even worse, the unsettling events in which we might find ourselves caught up.

It is not certain that the UNESCO experts made recommendations regarding how to prepare for 9/11, or ISIS and Boko Haram. What skills could they have recommended for coping with terror, war, rampaging Fulani herdsmen, or the crashing of the economy of one’s country, as it has happened to us? Of course, governments do not give themselves such responsibilities and, indeed, such occurrences are typically not planned for. Unfortunately, however, these kinds of occurrences are becoming more and more prevalent in the world, and an increasing number of the world’s citizens are being subjected to traumatic experiences for which they were hardly prepared. The effect is being seen, I wish to suggest, in the increasing cases of hypertension, mental disorders, anti-social behaviour and other maladies which we have been witnessing. It would appear that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, more importantly, religious bodies must begin to teach in a more deliberate manner how to handle such eventualities – that is, the twists and turns that life brings.

Doing that might involve teaching the skill of greater detachment from that which is purely physical and material.

Echoes from my past (3)

Mac Odu

rubber or wood. He cannot claim to be a current professional. But he is loved and respected by the high and mighty for his capacity to host. He has enviable humour and the capacity to drink which he shared with his elder brother, the late Ambassador Leslie Harriman. I will return to Uncle Leslie further down in this work. In the meantime, it is sufficient to mention that Leslie belonged to Apapa Boat Club with me. I found out from this association that he was of similar nature with his brother, Hope. He was a great Nigerian Ambassador also with the capacity to host as he became ambassador to top nations like France and United States of America. He also loved glamour. He and his brother loved recognition immensely. But Leslie was more modest in throwing himself on people than Hope. Both of them had problems coping with women in and outside marriage. Perhaps we share some similarities there, as the reader will soon come to appreciate. Quite a bit of time was spent sorting out complaints of women they married or kept.

At Harriman and Company, I was a stickler for decent professional conduct. I was on my desk at 8am and did not leave it for some

INDELIBLE MARKS

0806 8909 467 profmarkodu@yahoo.co.uk

H

e had invested heavily in shares of foreign-owned companies that had been affected under the indigenisation law in force at the time. He was desperate to be economically potent. He spent large sums of his income from the practice hosting important people to parties and even feting them with Champagne made in his personal label and shipped to him. There seemed to be something driving him to assert himself on the socio-economic landscape. At the time, I thought that he was being driven to that behavioural extreme by the fact that his father was a Briton. His mother was a citizen of Itsekiri land. He needed, I thought, to etch himself deep into the minds of Nigerians perhaps to consign his antecedents to oblivion. He achieved that glamorously, I grant. He needed money to achieve that. He had to play at the high league level. He did.

But it cost him attention to the profession.

He is today an industrialist or baron of maybe

flimsy personal reason. I never liked to be reprimanded by my superiors. I also did not miss any opportunity to come heavily against unfairness of any sort.

I once handled the defence of a client whose building was marked for demolition

by Lagos City Council of those days. The client, Intra Motors Nigeria Limited, had contracted Foundation Engineering to investigate and design foundations for its headquarters building at Ijora in an area of Lagos that was being prospected by industrialists as relief to intensively developed Lagos Island. Foundation Engineering completed its work and Foundation Construction was awarded the contract to construct the foundations. Both companies belonged to same proprietors, Costain West Africa Limited. The edifice, shortly after construction and at only about five years of use, started developing cracks that showed foundation failure. Lagos City Council was alarmed and had to mark it for demolition on account of its unsafe status to users. That was when Lagos City Council was manned by people who knew about safety and ran proper people-oriented administration.

Harriman and Company was called in as valuers to advise on the compensation payable to Intra Motors Nigeria Limited for all the

rights extinguished for them by the negligent professional work of both Foundation Engineering and Foundation Construction who were owned by Costain. I went to do the survey, and when I was satisfied, I compiled my report and found for a value of about £84,000 payable by both companies to Intra Motors. The report was compiled and sent to the negligent group.

In British style of diplomacy, the negligent group contacted their home office in England and one top lawyer and negotiator was dispatched to discuss with me. He hosted me to a handsome lunch at Quo Vadis Restaurant on top of Western House on Broad Street Lagos, to see if he could persuade me to change my value finding. I respected his highbrow style of negotiation but did not yield for any reason. It did not matter to me one bit who was being hurt. What I found could not be changed at all. The gentleman whose name I do not remember was satisfied with the work in the end and the compensation I had found adequate was paid in settlement of the dispute. I became an instant professional to be trusted with serious work. It was another notch for me beyond Shell assets, which I had creditably dispatched by computer process earlier in my acquaintance with Harriman and Company.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

South East as Nigeria’s killing field

29

Email: nwaukpala@ yahoo.com Tel: 0805 410 3327

»OpenCopy

with Emeka Alex Duru

W

hen really did Nigeria’s military start seeing the South East as veritable ground for experimenting the capability of its marksmen or efficacy of its weaponry?

When also did the Easterners develop the suicidal tendency of daring their killers even when not armed in any way?

Since the disturbances of Monday, May 30, in Nkpor and Onitsha, Anambra State, that saw many Igbo youths slaughtered by soldiers and men of the Nigeria police, I have not been able to push these two nagging questions off my mind. This is especially as the Monday mayhem fell into what had happened in Aba and Onitsha earlier.

The first leg of the questions, I must confess, is not original to me. It was actually my 11-year-old daughter, Chidiogo, that actually threw it up. I only strengthened it. While watching the news on the encounter between the country’s security agents on one hand, members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and their Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) counterparts which led to the death of dozens of the agitators, she had asked, “Daddy, why are the police always killing these people?”

I was thrown off-balance instantly.

As a parent, I owe it a duty to tell the truth at all times to my God, myself and my family, at least. But in this instance, what would I tell her? What would be my explanation for the constant onslaught on

her people? And what really should I tell her is their offence that would make her understand?

A common denominator in the agitation

by IPOB and MASSOB is revalidation of the Biafran enterprise that was interrupted in the 1967 to 1970 Nigerian Civil War. Ordinarily, that revalidation agenda should have been driven by those who saw action in the days of the confusion; those who knew what the Biafra Dream represented and what they stood to gain from it if it did not encounter its sunset at dawn.

But the present-day agitators for Biafran independence are mostly young men and women who never knew anything about the defunct entity, except what they might have picked from story books or tales from their parents and elderly ones.

But these stories are usually laced with notes of caution – perhaps, a deliberate attempt to dissuade the listeners from being drawn into similar exercise, apparently on account of the ugly experiences that trailed the engagement.

It then becomes difficult to understand why many South East youths have not been successfully steered away from their growing attachment to Biafra. For one, the geographical environment that constituted the defunct republic is no longer intact.

The situations now cannot also be said to have strictly fitted into what it was when Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (of blessed memory) declared Biafra on May 30, 1967. But the fire burns in the youths and their mental picture gets enlarged every day.

This leads to the second leg of the question; the audacity of today’s Biafran youths against all odds.

Coming from the ashes of the field hostilities in 1970, the Igbo were meant to believe that the war was over. They were promised Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. Even with obvious insincerity in implementing the policy as demonstrated in the paltry 20 pounds being handed to everyone with deposits in the banks no matter the volume of money previously kept, they bore their pains with dignity.

The parents, of course, did not derive any joy in regaling their children with these tales of a lost battle. They rather believed in Nigeria. Some even went as far as giving their children such names as Oguebego (the war is over), not as mark of cowardice but in forging a new beginning.

It is these children that are now asking questions and raising issues on unpleasant developments around them. They see in their region of birth abandoned or dilapidated federal government projects. When they cannot move between Onitsha and Enugu on account of the death trap that the expressway has turned to, aside other incidences of insecurity; when the same fate confronts them on Enugu/Port Harcourt highway; when they are being forced to connect flights from other zones to fly out of the country due to non-functional international airport in their area, their disillusionment in the country easily finds expression. When they are discriminated against in job recruitment and placement, admission into federal institutions not on

the basis of non-qualification but because of the so-called quota system, you would see why their belief in the system is seriously shaken. Most painfully, when they are treated as second class citizens in places where they live and fulfil their civic obligations, it can be understood why their anger knows no bound.

So, when President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Al-Jazerra interview asked, “What do the Ibos (sic) want”, the answers were actually not far. And they are not.

The Igbo, by nature, do not seek preferential treatment. They do not ask for special attention. All they demand are equal opportunities.

These, successive Nigerian administrations have shied away from. Buhari, who sarcastically asked what the Igbo wanted, has even shown more culpability in this regard. This can only explain why of the 53 appointments made by his presidency so far, aside the constitutional ministerial slots, only one position – the DirectorGeneral Voice of Nigeria (VON) is, assigned to a South East, Osita Okechukwu.

If Buhari compares this tokenistic gesture with his North West that has 28 appointees, North East (8), North Central (5), South West (5), South South (6), he should not require anybody to tell him what the Igbo really want.

By the time he does that, he will also realise that his vow of keeping Nigeria as one political entity does not necessarily require turning the South East to Nigeria’s killing field; it only requires dialogue and fair play. He will also agree that the people are never suicidal. If anything, they are enterprising and fun-loving.

From Cana in Galilee, some planning tips patazurunwa@yahoo.com 08023033488 (SMS only)

Trademark Lines With

PAT AZURUNWA

F

or the discerning mind, lessons abound everywhere. They may not come easy, as nothing good is picked on a platter. For every breakthrough in research, insight, contemplative learning and a change of thought-process, the senses must be alert; intuition must be carefully analysed before it is accepted as fact resulting in a change of the status quo.

What can be taken up for rigorous academic work can simply be summarised by an event without a conscious effort at addressing the subject matter.

Every Christian knows the story as told by St. John in John 2:1-10. There was a wedding ceremony in Cana, in Galilee, to which our Lord Jesus Christ and His mother, Mary, were invited. In the course of the ceremony, they ran out of wine. Mary drew Jesus’ attention to the situation and after an initial hesitation by Jesus, Mary simply asked the servants to do whatever He directed them to do. Jesus told them to fill the six water pots of stone containing about 20 to 30 gallons each with water. They filled them to the brim. Jesus then asked them to “draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast”. The water had become wine! I shall return with the concluding part of this remarkable miracle presently.

Expectedly, Christians always whip themselves up into a frenzy anytime this Jesus’ feat is re-told as it enriches their belief in the awesome power of our Lord. Interestingly, however, only a few people may have wondered why they ran out of wine. Was it for lack of planning or just due to some extraneous factors? Let us examine some possible reasons.

First, more people than were actually invited might have turned up. The love for free food and drinks did not start with this generation. To avoid overcrowding and the attendant shortages and tension on the part of event planners these days, six-pack men-bouncers are deployed at the entrance. Those without cards are turned back. In very strict situations, a card admits only one, even a couple cannot gain access with only one card. Who says today’s planners do not read John 2:1-10 as part of pre-event lessons? For our nation, Nigeria, it is possible that our founding fathers called a party for 30 million people. Alas, 170 million people showed up. Little wonder then that the food and drinks finished even before the conclusion of the opening prayer.

Whereas a party or event owner can send uninvited guests out, Nigeria is owned by all. Our men who could have been at the gate as bouncers did not get any part of the food and drinks, and so, they are hangry and lacking in strength to do the job of bouncers. The artificial methods of population control have not gone down well with some religious teachings. What to expect then? A continuing population boom in the face of economic gloom. The verdict? We

have failed our planning test as a nation.

Second, there might have been mistakes by the service boys and girls. At parties, those who know those in charge of food and drinks are served first, and given more.

What is meant for 50 guests can be given to 20 “known” guests who may even take some home, while a majority of others at the party would go hungry. This is a classic example of the Nigerian situation. Our leaders who are meant to serve us now serve themselves, their godfathers, their illegitimate “principalities” and other sundry partners-in-crime.

The favoured few get the oil blocks, import waivers, concessionary taxes, right-of-firstrefusal in contact awards and political appointments. The sum-total is corruption. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that 16 years was not enough to clean up the mess created by the military in its cumulative 30-year (mis)rule.

Ironically, corruption during the “corrective” PDP years grew exponentially. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is already alerting us that a period of one year is no time at all to scratch the surface in patching the mammoth plundering of the nation by the PDP. The APC generally appears to be enjoying a sumptuous meal with some hand gloves covering some dirty fingers. Can we ever have service boys and girls who will not make deliberate mistakes? The way it is going, may be not in God’s own time. Verdict? Very poor result.

Third, the event planners might have under-estimated the appetite of the guests. In a normal situation, a plate of food and a bottle of drink should suffice for a guest. But when the guest does not trust how soon after he will avail himself of the next opportunity to

be feted, he will literally expand his tummy to “take care of tomorrow”.

Last, it was a divine arrangement for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to perform His first miracle. I will not delve deep into this spiritual scheme, lest the pen in my hand turn into a chewing stick.

The concluding part of the Cana history was that the miraculous wine, which was served later, tasted much better than the one first served to the guests.

What can we take away from this Cana narrative? It is imperative to note that whenever top dignitaries are invited to an event, a large crowd follows them. Many of the guests at the wedding must have gone there to share in the company of Jesus and Mary.

Next is that whoever gives never lacks.

Jesus came to the rescue of the bridegroom because He knew that the bridegroom genuinely wanted people to share in his joy.

Again, with hard work, focus, determination and open hands, your best is still to come.

The latter wine proved to be the crowning glory of the day and confirms that it is really not over until you quit. Our leaders should take a cue from Jesus, who solved a problem when it cropped up, and never took the microphone to advertise Himself after performing the miracle as our politicians are wont to do for even no work done.

So, as you plan your next celebration, may only the required number you have adequately planned for show up; may the service boys and girls divorce themselves of nepotism; may your guests realise that they eat to live and not live to eat, and at the end, may you have a special guest who will cover your shame and embarrassment if your plans fail you. Amen.

30

TheNiche

Event

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Godian Ikebuilo laid to rest

On Friday, May 27, 2016, Gordian Ikebuilo (Ichie Okenyi) of Enugwuaja village of Ichi, Ekwusigo L.G.A, Anambra State, was laid to rest in his country home after a Mass at All Saints Anglican Church, Ichi.

Ngozi Okonkwo dancing to welcome her husband and his entourage

Bishop Okonkwo (left) and Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

Children of the deceased at the Mass

Andy Ubah Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

Ingram Osigwe (left) and Sam Okonkwo

Chris Ubah

L-R: Benita Chukwuka, Bene Nnoruka, Uche Umeofia and Nonye Ani

Orji Okoye (left) and Ifeanyi Chukwuka

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Jonathan Okafor (left) and Joseph Momah (Ajose)

Annie Okonkwo (left), Victor Umeh (2nd right) and Bishop Okonkwo

Sunny Okonkwo (left) with Arthur Eze (2nd left).

Bishop Okonkwo (right) with former Governor of Anambra, Virgy Etiaba

Jerry Alagbaoso (left) and Emma Eziokwu

HRH Igwe Lawrence Okonkwo, Obi Ichi (middle) with members of his cabinet

Umeh (left) and Deputy Governor of Anambra Nkem Okeke

John Udeagbala (left) and Okonkwo Ben Obi Tony Nwonye

Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Chris Ezike, flanked by Sam Ubachukwu and wife

31

L-R: Tony Ezenna, Alagbaso, Alex Otti and Ezike

Former Governor of Anambra, Peter Obi

TheNiche

Atiku Abubakar: Ra bar in agric value c www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Profile

32

The recent flag-off of the construction of an automated animal feed production plant by Atiku Abubakar’s farm is an encouraging attempt to create agriculture value chain, which will also encourage ranching and curtail the menace of cattle grazing, writes SAM NWOKORO

F

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar must be a man with vision. He seems to be a good listener, especially to happenings around him.

He has not been found spattering in the mud of controversies with busybodies since he left public office nine years ago. Yet he, more often than those currently manning the state, would be among the first to condole with the bereaved family of a valuable compatriot. He is ever attentive to how the ship of state is being driven, though he was one of the pillars that brought the current ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) into being.

Atiku, as he is fondly addressed, is different things to different people: an astute politician, a public servant, etc. The man has maintained a stoic, stay-by-the-side attitude and by that conduct has relatively mellowed political tempers in the land.

The former number two citizen recently spewed some milk of patriotism from his inside.

Tackling animal feed problem One of the problems in Nigeria’s effort to attain protein sufficiency is the quality of meat Nigerians eat. Scientists have disclosed that Nigerians consume poor quality meat, because what the animals themselves are fed with adds little or nothing to their health. Even at that, those poor quality feeds, largely grass, are difficult to come by these days due to desertification of most parts of Northern Nigeria.

Consequently, the nomads who rear the cattle are left to endanger both their lives and those of their herds as they wander long distance in search of pasture and water for their cattle.

The dangers posed by wild animals and rustlers forced the herders to arm themselves, since they must give account to their masters.

To say that the herders are inconsequential in the developmental matrix of the agriculture sector is to run away from what calls for urgent and effective mechanism to modernise their operation, for them to produce enough meat to feed Nigeria’s about 170 million people at a time the scarcity of foreign exchange is making availability of imported meat more expensive.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the country’s population is proteindeficient.

Here lies the essence of Atiku’s multimillion dollars automated feed mill which was recently flagged off in Niger State.

Feed mills to the rescue To many, what the former Vice President has done in the auto feed mill was a timely intervention in the face of the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

In 2013, a director in the Livestock Department of the Federal Minis-

try of Agriculture, Joseph Nyager, said government was focusing on six priority value chains of meat production (cow, pig, sheep, goat, poultry and dairy). He disclosed that the ministry was collaborating with the private sector to strengthen the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) to facilitate the production of dayold chicks at cheaper prices.

“We are collaborating with FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc to facilitate another milk collection centre in Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These steps will reposition the beef industry to process and provide wholesome meat and milk products at affordable prices for Nigerians and for export,” he said.

Professor Francis Ahamefule, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), said the country must step up efforts to discourage the traditional production method and embrace intensive livestock production. “Conscious efforts should be made to settle the nomadic pastorals who predominantly are in control of more than 90 per cent of Ni-

TheNiche

aising the chain www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

geria’s livestock. Settling them would create positive awareness towards accepting best practices in animal agriculture,” the don added.

And the Registrar of Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Godwin Oyediji, observed that Nigeria imports $1 million worth of milk for local consumption daily.

“The current parlous state of our production structure, which is in the hands of nomads, is unsuitable. We sink so much money to import those products that we can produce locally. If we can effectively harness our livestock potentials, there is no doubt that the nation’s 170 million (people) offer a ready market for farmers and investors. So we must explore meat production as a viable business,” he said.

Project of inestimable value According to the former Vice President, the establishment of feed mill factories for a wide range of livestock has the ability to help defuse the conflicts between herders and farmers currently costing too many lives and livelihoods in Nigeria.

The Turaki Adamawa, who spoke in Abuja during the ground-breaking ceremony of Rico Gardo animal feed factory, to be sited on five hectares of land at Idu Industrial District in the FCT, described the venture as a partnership between his farm and a worldclass firm in Portugal that specialises in feed production.

Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria, which is a limited liability company, was incorporated in 2013 as a joint venture agreement between GeseDerdirabe Holdings of Yola, Adamawa State, owned by Atiku Abubakar, and Rico GadoNutracao, S.A. According to Atiku, the first Rico Gardo factory, which was commissioned in January 2015, in Yola, is already reducing the expanse of land required to feed cattle.

His words: “The

Yola

mill produces 20 tonnes per

hour of carefully balanced and locally sourced quality fodder for a wide range of livestock, including poultry, cattle, goats and horses.”

A noble man Atiku comes across as a consummate politician who knows when to move, when to slow down and when to dodge. He takes whatever comes his way, and for much part of his political life played the politics of principles, never wanting to see any position or electoral contest as a do-or-die affair.

This much he demonstrated throughout his tenure as Nigeria’s Vice President between 1999 and 2007. By hindsight, it is a measure of the regard fellow politicians have for Atiku that when he won election in 1999 as governor, he was transmuted to the position of Vice President by popular acceptance of party men. Notwithstanding the schism that took place between him and the henchmen in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his insistence that Obasanjo should serve only one term, as reportedly agreed within the PDP then, experts have since come to the conclusion that the man was only insisting on rules laid down to guard party politics. Due to the inability of PDP members to stick to their own rules that led to its implosion.

Any serious political party that understands the essence of a god following would still see as Atiku an asset.

His out-of-service life has been most utilitarian and egalitarian for the fatherland.

He has been risking his life in Boko Haraminfested Borno to improve on his agricultural venture.

Not oblivious of his position as an elder statesman, Atiku has contributed immensely in the provision of humanitarian aids to the internally-displaced persons (IDP) in Borno and beyond. His elite school, the ABTI-American University, has been churning out first class graduates in critical areas of national developmental need like technology.

His pro-western intellectualism and his cute spirit in the discernment of social issues in a fiercely anti-western enclave like North East reveals so much of the clean spirit this Muslim leader carries in his bowels.

Atiku was born on November 25, 1946 to a Fulani trader and farmer, Garba Abubakar, through his second wife, Aisha, in Jada village of Adamawa. Atiku became the only child of his parents when his only sister died at infancy. Atiku’s father and mother divorced before his father died in 1957, and his mother re-married.

Eventually, his mother died in 1984 of heart attack.

Atiku could not start school when he ought to because his father was opposed to him obtaining western education. His father was consequently arrested

33

and jailed until he paid a fine. Atiku later got registered into Jada Primary School at the age of eight. After his primary school, he was admitted into Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, Yola, in 1960. He finished his secondary education in 1965 after he made Grade 3 in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE).

He then proceeded to Nigerian Police College, Kaduna. He left the college for a work as Tax Officer in the Regional Ministry of Finance. Later he got admission to study at the School of Hygiene, Kano, in 1966. In 1967, he graduated with a Diploma. That same year, he was admitted for a Law Diploma at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on a scholarship. He graduated in 1969 and got employed in the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) that same year.

The Turaki Adamawa married Titilayo Albert in December 1971, in Lagos, and she gave him four children: Fatima, Adamu, Halima and Aminu. In January 1979, he married Ladi Yakubu as second wife, and they had six children: Abba, Atiku, Zainab, Ummi-Hauwa, Maryam and Rukayatu. In 1983, he married his third wife, Princess Rukaiyatu, daughter of the late Lamido of Adamawa and she gave birth to Aisha, Hadiza, Aliyu, Asmau, Mustafa, Laila and Abdulsalam. In 1986, he married Fatima Shettima and she gave birth to Amina (Meena), Mohammed and two sets of twins (Ahmed and Shehu, Zainab and Aisha), and Hafsat. He also married a younger wife called Jennifer Iwenjora who later became Jamila Atiku-Abubakar, and she gave birth to Abdulmalik, Zara and his youngest child, Faisal.

Atiku later proceeded for further studies at both Police College and Customs Training School, and thereafter manned the Idi-Iroko, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic, then under Lagos Airport, Apapa Ports, and Ibadan Customs Command between 1974 and 1979.

He moved to the North and served in the Kano Command in 1976, then to Maiduguri (as Area Comptroller) in 1977, from there to Kaduna in 1980 and back to the Apapa Ports in 1982. In 1987, Atiku was promoted to the post of a Deputy Director in charge of Enforcement and Drugs. In April 1989, aged 43, Atiku voluntarily retired from Customs.

He is active in different businesses, including real estate, agriculture and trading.

Atiku’s business also includes a beverage manufacturing plant in Yola.

He was active throughout the Third Republic politics and was popular on the various constitutional conferences that ushered Nigeria back to democratic rule in 1999. He became Obasanjo’s running mate and served until 2007 as Nigeria’s second most powerful man. He was popular in the struggle that frustrated Obasanjo’s third term bid, which pitted him with the Ota farmer.

34

TheNiche

June 05, 2016

Spotlight

www.thenicheng.com FAITH

PEOPLE CULTURE FOOD FASHION ENTERTAINMENT FAITH HEALTH

»

PAGE 40

TERH AGBEDEH Assistant Life Editor 0805 215 3875 t.agbedeh@thenicheng.com terhagbedeh@gmail.com

Is it important for women to cover their heads in church?

TEMITOPE OJO Women's Editor 0708 479 6140

Nollywood is not dead – Osuofia PAGE 38

»

ARTS

»

PAGE 47

Down the Rabbit Hole with Logor

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

35

nicheEntertainment with Terh Agbedeh

Keke, D1 transformed Nigerian music – Mike Aremu

S

axophonist Mike Aremu has declared that Kenny Ogunbe (Keke) and Dayo Adeneye (D1) of Kennis Music are responsible for the transformation Nigerian music industry has enjoyed in recent years.

He made the declaration in an interview with TheNiche while promoting his up-coming concert, Sax Appeal 5, to be headlined by American soul singer, India Arie, in Lagos on June 26.

“They are great people as far as I am concerned. People don’t actually give them the due credit; they are responsible for where Nigerian music is today.

Quote me anywhere, I would say that they brought the transformation, they pushed it and some people who had no idea are reaping from the sacrifice of the duo that started Kennis Music. I salute them,” he said.

About insinuations that he and the two whose label signed him on for his first album did not part on a good note, he said that was contrary to reality.

“The contract ended. I mean, I always say I owe it to God and Kennis Music. No matter what happened or what

transpired, one is growing and realising that God actually used these people.

So, I will never say anything against them,” said the artiste who started music in a church in Minna, Niger State.

Apart from Aremu, others on the bill for the evening of jazz on June 26 at Eko Hotels and Suites will be Timi Dakolo and Praiz.

Aremu said the small number of artistes is so that those who attend can enjoy the artistes and enjoy his music.

“We are going to have at least a 60-minute set or more each,” he said.

Born in Kaduna State, Aremu grew up in Minna, where he started music by playing and every other instrument like the keyboard, drums, the guitar, ‘talking drum’, trumpet then picked up the saxophone, which eventually became his major instrument.

In 1999, he was signed on to Kennis Music, where he released his first album, Dance, and then a follow-up, No Shaking. In 2005, he did his third album, Unveiled, with O’jez Music. In 2010, Coat of Many Colours was released.

Aremu

Ibom Unity Concert: Akpabio joins Emmanuel on dance floor

T

he forthcoming concert organised by the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Akwa Ibom State chapter, is expanding by the day.

The organisers told TheNiche that the immediate past governor of the state, now Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, will join his successor, Governor Udom Emmanuel, to grace the event now renamed Ibom Unity Concert.

According to the chairman of the state chapter of PMAN, Enefiok George Akpan (a.k.a.

Chaiker Banton), the organising committee headed by vet-

eran music producer, Lemmy Jackson, is working round the clock to make the show one of its kind in recent times.

Senator Akpabio is expected to join the governor on the dance floor to open the show.

Apart from the indigenous artistes, the event has been expanded to feature some international artistes as well as top Nigerian stars. For this reason, the governor has personally asked that the event be moved to the last Friday in June, to allow for an elaborate planning and execution to meet international standards.

Speaking through his aide, Sam Edoho, during a courtesy visit to Government House at Uyo by members of the organising committee, the governor expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by musicians in the state to foster unity among them as

well as celebrate with him.

“I am pleased with you for coming up with this event. I have personally invited my predecessor, former Governor Godswill Akpabio, and many other personalities from all walks of life to join me and my dear wife to open the show. I implore you to plan the event to meet international standards and possibly make it an annual event. This is why I ask that the event be moved to end of June to give enough time for proper planning, co-ordination and execution, especially after the May 29 activities. You have my full support on this,” said the governor.

Media consultant to the project, Sunny Okim, has said the confirmed list of artistes invited to perform during the epic event will he released by second week of June.

Chaiker Banton Chairman PMAN Akwa Ibom State

36

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

nicheEntertainment with Terh Agbedeh

Grace Edwin-Okon ready with Deeply Cut

Favourites

Diana Bada Song: ‘Don’t Rock My Boat’

by Bob Marley Music Video: ‘Where they from’ by Missy Elliot ft Pharrel Movie: Hair Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Birthday

Tope Tadela

Omeli, Edwin-Okon and Badmus on the Deeply Cut set

G

race Edwin-Okon has produced yet another brilliant and educative short film, Deeply Cut – The Hepatitis B

Dilemma.

The screenwriter, author, producer, actress and former beauty queen told TheNiche that it is one of two short films she recently made.

Deeply Cut, with executive pro-

ducer as Kehinde Omoru, she said, tells the story of Bili’s greed that leads her to desperate measures to make extra money. This leaves in her trail a lot of possibly infected casualties, which include her bosses.

“It also educates people about Hepatitis B,” she added.

The project stars Eniola Badmus, Kiki Omeili, Ashionye Raccah, Saeed Mohammed (Funky Mallam) and Judith Audu, while the music is

by Glowreeyah Braimah. Post-production is by Roxanne Care Options and Derwin Productions.

Edwin-Okon conceptualised and set up the Derwin First Shot Initiative to give young men and women their first shot at shooting their first “feature film”, by providing the needed funding, professional guidance and support required for them to do so. Mrs. and Mrs. Johnson is a product of the initiative.

AFRIMA unveils 2016 calendar

T

he All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), organised in conjunction with African Union Commission (AUC), has unveiled its calendar of activities for 2016. The activities for this year’s edition tagged AFRIMA 3.0 were announced at the AUC-AFRIMA Joint Conference in Banjul, The Gambia.

Attended by officials of the AU, AFRIMA 2015 winners and stakeholders in the creative/ entertainment industry in Africa, media executives and musical artistes, the Head of Culture, AUC, Ms. Angela Martins, declared the activities open at the event.

She said the AU was push-

ing forward its developmental agenda and policies through the AFRIMA platform.

The calendar opens with submissions of entries via the online platform, which started since May 30 and closes on Saturday, July 30.

President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, urged all artistes, managers, producers, record label owners, publicists and agents to submit their works or those of their artistes within the stipulated time, to stand a chance at the awards.

“No matter how popular an artiste or their works are, if they don’t submit them for the awards, they will stand no

chance of winning, as the AFRIMA jury will not go sourcing for artistes’ works themselves,” he said.

He explained that the AFRIMA Jury would screen the nominees from August 2 to 16, while the full list of nominees will be announced on August 17.

However, he announced that the voting period for the general public commences from August 26, while that of the AFRIMA Academy will start on September 26. The entire voting process will close on November 5.

Also, there will be a Nominees Party in Nigeria on November 3, while the Africa Music Summit where the African

music industry will be discussed and AFRIMA Music Village will hold on November 4.

This year’s grand finale holds in Nigeria on Sunday, November 6, in a yet-to-be announced city.

AFRIMA is developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potential and values of the African culture and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world.

Nobody’s Died Laughing to premiere at DIFF

k

ykNET films and Vry Films in association with Lion’s Head Productions and Who Projects have announced that Nobody’s Died Laughing, will have its world premiere at the 37th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on Sunday, June 19 at 6pm at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

The film is a theatrical-actiondocumentary that celebrates the life and work of performing artist and activist Pieter-Dirk Uys.

A statement from Sharlene Versfeld, publicist for the festival said that in Nobody’s Died Laughing a film crew tries to keep up with one of the hardest working artists in South Africa on a journey from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Grahamstown, Stellenbosch to London, Berlin and his home in Darling.

The film takes a closer look at the man behind all the famous characters, the humanitarian and his educational AIDS awareness

work, for which he has received international acclaim.

“This film captures a man and a lifetime commitment to a country by using satire to affect change,” explains filmmaker Willem Oelofse. “I started researching Pieter-Dirk Uys in 2014 and spent time with him in his personal archives in Darling.

I found it fascinating that after 50 years in the entertainment industry he was still working at the same pace and with the

same vigour as when he started.

In 2015 we simply picked up a camera and started following him around wherever he went: performing in Berlin or the Cape Flats, and watching him teach a room full of teenagers about safe sex. I believe audiences will be intrigued to experience more about the man who refuses to be silenced while using the arts as his weapon against discrimination and confronting intolerance.”

Award-winning actor, Tope Tedela, is a year older today. Born TemitopeChristopherTedela,he came to acting limelight with his role in A Mile from Home, which won him the Best Actor in a drama at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).

The mass communications graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has since been on award-grabbing spree with trophiesfromtheNigeriaEntertainmentAwards(NEA),Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards, Express Star Awards and the Nollywood Movies Awards (NMA).

Apart from his role as Julian on the television series, Edge of Paradise, he is a voice-over artiste and broadcaster.

New music

‘Best Rapper’ Rapper, MIN (Music is Natural) has released a new single titled ‘Best Rapper’ featuring two otherrappers,Paybacandthe Hennessy VS class captain, Blaqbonez. If there was ever a tight rap song, pundits are saying that this is it. It is therefore no surprise that it is enjoying a lot of play on terrestrial and online radio.

Location

Flash of Pain The movie, Flash of Pain, is currently in the making with cast and crew on set. Directed by Emma Anyaka, it stars Rachel Oniga, Seun Akindele, Adibeli Ify, Chiwetalu Agu and a host of others.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

37

38

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

Close Up June 05, 2016

Nollywood is not dead – Osuofia Nkem Owoh is well known for his antics as ‘Osuofia’.

But he is a different character in Yvonne Okoro’s Ghana Must Go, which hits Nigerian cinemas this week. In this interview with Assistant Life Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, he talks about his role in the film, Nollywood and what he has been doing all along.

W

hat in your opinion is the film, Ghana Must Go, all about?

The film highlights a social problem, even political problem, using the negative to bring about the positive. I think that is what this film is all about.

What is your take on the scripting and production?

Scripting is fine; in fact, that is what attracted me.

If the script had been flat , I don’t think I would have involved myself in it. But seeing the twists and cliffhangers in it, I was impressed. I know that this kind of script can bring countries together instead of separating them.

What would you count as the challenges you encounter in the industry?

There are a lot of challenges, just like the ones we used to have. When we get to that stage where the challenges will be minimal, that means we have come of age like we have in Hollywood, Bollywood where you can build your own set, create your own things technologically. You may not even stress yourself

so much because technology has taken care of a lot of things in film.

One couldn’t help but notice that you seemed to have been a little restrained in this role; you were not the Osuofia that everybody knows. What really happened?

No, but the thing is that I don’t have to be Osuofia because this is not an Osuofia film. If you look at the structure of the film, you find out that you are in somebody’s house and it is your culture that you are trying to see if you could transfer. So you are not supposed to go there and become so vulgar. You are in somebody’s house, in somebody’s country, and courtesy, at least, demands that you have to mellow down on certain things. But Osuofia in London is like a wild guy; I wasn’t in anybody’s house. This one shows that you don’t come to people’s place and begin to... it is not in our culture.

Is that what we should expect from you in the future?

No, I don’t have to fixate myself to that. There are a lot of things we can do . It is just that we have challenges. If you bring a script that talks about

something else, we will face that one.

Do you have any Ghana/Nigeria experience that you would like to share?

No, not in this Ghana Must Go thing. I was around when the thing started and I had my views then. But I was not that politically enlightened at that time to know... When I came up, I said okay, probably through this film we will be able to explain certain things to the people who are coming up because all the people who have caused the rancour are no longer – probably they are less active now – living.

Some people insist that Nollywood is dead considering, for instance, that more movies were produced back then than now.

It is not dead. The person (that said Nollywood is dead) has dead creativity. We are passing through a phase.

When did we start? We started just the other day.

How many years ago? So we must have some of those things, you know; just like in governance, they say when any of the presidents comes on board, they will tell you we are learning and then they learn for (several

Nkem Owoh years). So I don’t think it is something peculiar to film production. That we have maybe a drop in the vigour of production unlike it was then when we started doesn’t amount to death.

Are you producing a film of your own any time soon?

In fact, I am working on not producing just any film; I have been producing films. I am an executive producer-cumproducer.

How soon is the next one?

Yes, I have a lot. But you see, just like you said, if one angle of pre-production begins to go low, you wait for it to rekindle. Right now, distribution is the thing that is (bothering) everybody in this line. Myself, particularly, I produce a lot of films and I want

to produce a film that will create an impact and then make me have my money.

What do you have to tell those who may want to come and see Ghana Must Go? Let them get the message and imbibe it. It is not just coming to watch it to laugh because this man makes people laugh.

When watching the film, concentrate and find out one or two things that can help you, your own creativity, that you know that you can use. For instance, Ghana Must Go sounds very corrosive to a Ghanaian, but when you begin to watch it, you see.

Ghana Must Go creates the impression of a stigma between Ghanaians and Nigerians...

There was. But if you watch towards the end, you will see the recon-

ciliation. The character I played even started to sermonise, to tell them, look, don’t mind us, young ones, please relate, forget about the ills, the mistakes that we the elders must have made in the past. Forget it and then blend and come together. All that is very clear at the end.

Is this Ghana Must Go issue such a big one that the General in the film would hold such a very strong view?

There are some of these old ones, and at times the implication is that they transfer it to the younger generation. So, what this film tries to do is to say, leave it with the old generation. If there is any one of them that still has it in mind, let the person go with it; but please don’t involve yourself in the separation and differences.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Relationship Protecting marriage from third party intrusion “They are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6).

Marriage is designed to be an all exclusive club, a two-person arrangement that provides a safe place for each spouse's soul.

There is no space for a third party to receive an equal share in a marriage, because that can easily disrupt the safety of the relationship. With a third party present, our love gets divided.

A part of our heart is unconsciously taken away from our spouse, where it belongs, and brought to an outside source.

For instance: a wife may tell her best friend how unhappy she is with her husband's behaviour without really letting her husband know how she feels.

A husband may be more invested in his parents than in his wife. A spouse makes her child a confidant and becomes closer to him/her than to her spouse.

Other forms of marriage intruder that compete for our love, and sometimes get be-

tween us and our spouse and diminish our relationship are: • Work – a typical scenario is a workaholic husband whose wife has the impression that he loves his career more than her, outside hobbies and interests.

• Sports – during football season, nothing competes with the attention of the man of the house, whether it be church, financial involvements, television, internet (social media), illness, addictions or affairs.

Such situations as stipulated in the above scenarios do not necessarily arise out of bad intentions, but nevertheless betray the trust between the spouses and fracture the union that God had intended to develop in the marriage.

Such situations are painful and unjust, because a third party receives what is due to your spouse. Yo ur spouse never hears from you what you tell others about him.

No one says you shouldn’t keep friends; we certainly do need close friends in whom we can confide and who can confide in us. But if that drives us away from our spouse, we

certainly stepped over the line.

Equally, if you put yourself in the situation where a friend confides in you but not in her spouse, be aware of the dangers of that situation.

In spite of your good intentions and willingness to help, you may actually drive the couple apart if you don't insist that your friend talk to her spouse first.

For love to grow in a marriage; there is a need to feel secure. When there is safety, we can come out of our isolation and self-centeredness and work together on our individual weaknesses.

But with a third party involved, there is not enough safety for these parts to emerge and the bond between the couple to grow stronger.

Saying no to others; whether to people, things, or tasks is not easy.

Sometimes it is hard work, causes anxiety, and may upset others. But in order to say yes to your marriage, you must be able to say no to other things.

You simply do not have the time, resources, and energy to do everything you want and to

please everyone around you.

If you do not learn to say no to others, you will eventually find out that you have been saying no to your marriage all the time. Sometimes, third parties intrude our marriage because we have never learned to say no to other people.

For example, we don't know how to turn down the boss or customer who always asks for extra work time.

We don't want to disappoint our church by refusing to join the third committee. We don't want to hurt our elderly mother who feels so alone unless we spend every other evening with her. We give everything for the people around us and people love us for this.

While the only one person who is disappointed is our spouse, even when he seems to love our noble character, the willingness to sacrifice. But he suffers from the fact that we belong to everyone, not just to him.

If you find yourself in such a situation, you need to realise that your problem is not all those demanding people in your life but your desire for ap-

Virtual dating, pornography on my husband’s mind Dear Agatha May God bless you for the wonderful work you are doing. I recently saw some of your advice to people on the internet and thought of asking you for advice as well.

My marriage is a little over a year and blessed with a daughter. I was doing something on my husband’s system and could not find it again so I had to go look in the history column.

While doing this, curiosity got hold of me as I started checking what he has been doing on his PC and to my surprise I saw various dating and porn sites, I felt bad and the trust I had in him varnished.

I later called him to let him know he needs to end things that are not beneficial to his family and personal life on the internet without telling him how I got to know. He was really disturbed that he kept thinking all day what I was talking about.

The problem now is that I don’t hold back on issues if any arises but I don’t want to tell him about what I know and at the same time I can’t help but think of it when he is busy with his system in the pent-house.

Do I just keep praying he remains faithful, or tell him how I got to know and hear what he has to say?

Another issue is that I have had no job since I got married a few months after my youth service.

To avoid constantly asking him

for money when I need personal things as a woman, I told him to please deposit some money in my bank account. But he has refused, even though he said when I made the demand that I didn’t need to tell him as he has the desire to do so when we become financially buoyant.

My problem is that there are times we have more than enough for him to give me.

Please how do I make him see reason and have a change of heart?

I feel that he is taking advantage of me as I consider myself a conservative person when it comes to spending money.

Anonymous.

Dear anonymous This is what a woman gets when she goes through her husband’s phone or personal computer. The fact that you are both married does not mean he or you should not have your personal files on your computer or phones.

One thing you must never do is go through his files, to avoid creating unnecessary problems in your marriage. One thing that destroys marriages is a woman going through the personal things of her husband.

Now that you have the information, would it change what he is into? Who has sleepless nights worrying over the discovery?

You! You are the one who is all stressed up with thoughts of why he is doing it and whether you should tell him or not.

As far as he is concerned, it is business as usual. To tell him would be to betray his trust in allowing you to use his personal computer.

This would only create tension between the two of you, a situation you should try as much as possible to avoid, given the issue of finance you have with him.

It will only make you react in a way that might cause a major challenge between the two of you. This stage of your marriage is very critical.

This is the foundation laying phase. Any mistake now could wait for you in the future; so do not make a big issue of what you saw.

If the truth be told, he is just one in the majority of adult men and women who patronise the internet for such ecstasy. You will be surprised how many women compete with X-rated sites for their husbands’ attention.

The trend is such that some women also visit such sites to upgrade their performances in order to sustain the interests of their husbands in them.

With sex so cheap to access these days and some business persons opening sex toyshops, resist the urge to make a big deal out of what you saw, or else you might be making the big mistake of forcing him to fashion another means of getting himself high.

Do not be discouraged by what you saw, it is not worth it.

You still have a very long way to go in this journey and you should never allow issues such as these to get under your skin at all.

When the critical challenges marriages go through chance on yours, you will realise this is but a child’s play.

Contrary to the old tradition when sex was regarded as an under the table business, the internet and all the modern gadgets that give instant access to it have demystified sex.

These days, anybody, including very young children with imaginative minds, can go to these sites to watch and download the same films your husband is watching.

If the under-aged have access to these adult sites unhindered why make a fuss of it when a mature mind goes there?

Sincerely, you are lucky that what you saw was not of him and another woman. So many things are wrong with modern marriages that a woman who wants to stay sane in her marriage tries to avoid tension points as much as possible.

If you are so bothered, what you can do is stimulate your conversation with him after lovemaking to the subject of adult films. Cleverly brew up a story of how your friend is feeling bad about her husband’s penchant for those sites.

Ask him what he thinks of Xrated films and probe further to

39

Tinu

Agbabiaka Certified relationship expert 0817 313 7189 info@pclng.org, botl@pclng.org

proval and possibly a great fear of losing love, coupled with the misconception that love is tied to being good.

And you’re probably less afraid of turning down your spouse than your boss, or your pastor, as if working on our relationship with these people would be more important than caring for your spouse.

Although you have responsibilities to the outside world and should be faithful in your job and active in your church, your top priority should be your spouse.

Marriage involves more than keeping the love between you and your spouse alive. It also means forsaking, or leaving behind other things. This is not easy.

Many newlyweds feel disheartened to find that they have to say no to so many things to maintain their mar-

riage. Before they got married, they could take care of career, friends, and many other activities.

But now they are restricted by their marriage and they almost resent their partner for this. One thing to realise is that, marriage is not an extension of singleness, where you take your spouse along. It takes time to build the connection between the two of you, a lot of time is involved, and this time has to be taken away from others.

Marriage means forsaking some freedom in order to gain growth. You can't have both at the same time.

If you don't make forsaking a part of everyday life, you always risk the danger of adding the wrong thing (bad influence) to your marriage and subtracting the good (closeness and honesty) from it.

Auntie Agatha 0805 450 0626 (sms only) gathedo@gmail.com know if there are things couples can learn from such sites.

If he is not too forthcoming, tell him you would want to visit such a site with him to see how it can improve your sex life since you want to be the best for him.

He may have kept his interest to himself for fear of what your reactions would be. If he senses you are willing to explore the options these films offer to your sex life, he may agree to your request by opening up.

Also, be careful you do not become negative and begin to condemn him or the film if he decides to allow you watch with him. This might make him never to trust you again.

Being interested in this aspect of him would also reduce the likelihood of him having an extra martial affair with a woman who has no such inhibitions against the menu of the sites he appears hooked to.

There are so many women out there ready to do anything to make a man happy as long as he allows them get close enough to be his wife or mistress.

In all sincerity you have nothing to lose by joining him at times; after all, you are both licensed for this kind of adventure if that is what it would take to make your marriage work.

As for the financial aspect of

your marriage, be careful also. Issues to do with control of money must be managed with care in marriage, like the sexual aspect.

For you to know if he has more than enough to give, you must know how much he earns. Out of this money, how much goes for feeding, house maintenance, rent, electricity bill, and other miscellanies in the home every month.

How much is he left with? It is out of what he is left with you should premise your demand on.

From the amount he is left with, how much do you think would be reasonable for him to give you at the end of the month?

Believe me when I say I know what it is like to be completely dependent on one’s husband, but you just have to be patient to overcome this challenge. If he is refusing to pay some money into your account, do not fight him.

Allow him be.

Just cost your personal needs for the month and ask him to add it to the house keeping allowance. As long as the amount is reasonable, he would not mind adding it to your house keeping.

It is when the amount you are asking is far too much for him that he would react. Just show a little bit of understanding to get your marriage off this point.

Good luck.

40

TheNiche

Faith June 05, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

Is it important for women to cover their heads in church?

F

By Temitope Ojo irst Cor 11:5-6: “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

“For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”

The above Bible passage has become a controversial subject among churches today, as it generates argument among Christians. The interpretation of this passage varies among believers as to whether the covering is spiritual, garment, or hair.

Some consider the text as completely cultural and identify all parts as the custom of contention.

Some believe what Christians should bother more about is the Great Commission, which is to evangelise and win more souls for the kingdom of God, to avoid them perishing, rather than occupying themselves with doctrinal issues that have no direct impact on the great task.

To them, souls are perishing. They wonder if it is not a waste of time and energy.

“Why should we bother ourselves with this oldfashioned tradition of head

covering? If it is so important, why do most of our churches not practise it today?” a respondent asked?

Some sisters who cover their heads when praying and prophesying do not know why they do so, and most brothers and sisters who keep their heads uncovered do not know why they do so.

However, some maintain that it is a must to abide by this injunction.

Dosa Denayon of the United African Methodist Church said 1 Cor 11:2-16 make it clear that “it is a must for a good, Godfearing woman to cover her head when in church.

“The text reveals, ‘But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering’ (1 Cor 11:15).

“By a woman’s head being uncovered, this was the same personal shame as having her hair sheared or shaved (1 Cor 11:4-6).

“Starting from verse 4, this passage is about what will personally shame the woman’s head. Verse 5 indicates that it is a personal shame for a woman to shear or shave her head.

“As other Scriptures explain, the woman who elaborately arranges her hair uncovers her head and

“The text reveals,‘But if a woman has long hair, it isa glory to her; for her hair is given toher for a covering’ (1 Cor 11:15).

“By a woman’shead being uncovered, thiswas the same personal shameas having her hair sheared or shaved(1 Cor 11:4-6).

“Starting fromverse 4, this passage isabout what will personally shamethe woman’s head. Verse 5indicates that it is a personal shamefor a woman to shear or shave herhead.”

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

41

“Somehow, the angels are connected to, and are interested in the order of, creation outlined above.

“So, when angels are present in a Christian assembly, there is something that is communicated to them when they see a woman that covers her head in worship.”

disregards her God-given glory and God’s headship.

“The only condition that has been laid down for a woman not to cover her head when in the presence of God is when she has natural long hair, not an attachment or artificial hair.

“With long hair being a glory to the woman, the Scriptures teach that the Christian woman should cover her head by letting her hair down in subordination to God’s order of headship and thereby glorify God, Christ, and man (1 Cor 11:3-6).

“It requires total submission to God-giving order and chain of command. A covering on the head is used as an illustration of the order. The head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. “Therefore, a woman’s submission to God-delegated authority over her is an example to angels.

This covering not only means a cloth but also can refer to a woman's hair length (1 Cor 11:14-15).

“Therefore, in the context of this passage, a woman who is wearing her hair longer marks herself out distinctly as a woman and not a man.

“God also wants women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold.”

On the argument that the practice is ‘tradition’, Denayon quoted 2 Thessalonians 2:15: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

He insisted that believers are under God’s clear instruction to follow Biblical traditions.

“What the Bible is against is when the traditions of men, or the traditions of denominations, are exalted above the Word of God. Just like the Pharisees were doing in the days of Jesus Christ (Mark 7:13).

“The traditions that the Holy Spirit sent to the church through the apostles must be fully kept.

Biblical traditions are good, and to downplay or ignore them is to be in disobedience to the Lord.”

“If a sister is still in doubt about what this passage of Scripture teaches, let her consider this: Isn't it better for her to do more rather than less – and especially so – when there is no inconvenience or cost involved.

“What will she lose by covering her head when she prays and prophesies? Nothing.

“But think of what she will gain by covering her head, if she discovers at the judgment seat of Christ that this was indeed God's command?

“She will have the joy of having

pleased her Lord on earth, in spite of what other Christians taught and practised.

“So, every woman, if she is wise, will cover her head with a covering, when she prays and prophesies.”

Will a woman who does not cover her head go to hell?

“The obedience of a child of God is not based on the motive of avoiding hell fire. A child of God obeys Him, first of all, because he knows that his obedience pleases the heart of God (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

“And, second, because a child of God is saved unto a life of obedience (Ephesians 2:10). He has no other way of life, except the way of obedience (though he may stumble occasionally).

“A believer whose heart is not fixed on pleasing the Lord by obeying His commandment, but who is more concerned about doing only what he needs to do to avoid hell, will most likely end up there one day.

Why does God answer the prayers of women if He is not happy with their heads uncovered?

“The fact that we get answers to our prayers is not an automatic indicator that God is happy with us.

It is the character of God to send rain on the just and the unjust.

“So, in His sovereignty, God may choose to bless all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons as He wills.

“So, miracles and answered prayers are not an automatic proof of anything. Some people may perform miracles in His name and still end up in hell (Matthew 7:22-23).

“There are times that we may not be in a right standing with God, and He will answer our prayers, with the expectation that His goodness will lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

“But when we persist in disobedience because we are seeing the mercy of God, one day judgment will knock. So, following the commandments of God is the yardstick of our obedience, not just answers to prayers.

Denayon prayed that the Lord will grant His children understanding as they seek to know His will on this subject, and as we appropriate the available grace to obey

“There are times that we may not be in a right standing with God, and He will answer our prayers, with the expectation that His goodness will lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

“But when we persist in disobedience because we are seeing the mercy of God, one day judgment will knock. So, following the commandments of God is the yardstick of our obedience, not just answers to prayers.”

Him. “Simple obedience is all that God requires. And that is the true mark of every true child of God.” Grace Smith of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) added that “head covering/uncovering tradition is rooted in God’s order of spiritual hierarchy as we see in 1 Cor 11:3.

“Here are the three reasons the Holy Spirit gave us through the ministry of Paul: • “God’s order of creation (verses 7-9): Man enjoys his supremacy in God’s hierarchy because, by virtue of his being created first, he is the image and glory of God. “The woman is the glory of the man (verse 7). Man is not from woman, but the woman is from man (verse 8). Man was not created for the woman, but the woman was created for the man (verse 9).

“In God’s sovereign design, this is what gives man the supremacy. But please, please note that supremacy does not mean superiority in the Christian faith.

And submission does not mean inferiority.

“Even Jesus Christ Himself lived in submission. In submission to His Father, and in submission to His earthly parents when He was under them – and there is nothing inferior about Jesus Christ.

“Submission is simply a role, not a stigma.

• “Because of angels (verse 10): The second reason is that, somehow, the angels are connected to, and are interested in the order of, creation outlined above.

“So, when angels are present in a Christian assembly, there is something that is communicated to them when they see a woman that covers her head in worship.

• “What God teaches us through nature (verse 14-15): God is very particular about distinction between the male and female sexes.

“Through nature, God communicates and teaches us this distinction through the difference in the length of the hair of the man and the woman.

“Nature teaches us that a man’s hair should be short, and that a woman’s long hair is her glory.

42 The Nigerian Charter A brief history of Nigeria (1) TheNiche

June 05, 2016

N

igeria came into existence as a nationstate in 1914 through the amalgamation of the North and South protectorates.

Before then, there were various separate cultural, ethnic, and linguistic groups. These peoples lived in kingdoms and emirates with traditional but sophisticated systems of government.

The affairs of the colonial administration were conducted by the British until 1942, when a few Nigerians became involved in the administration of the country.

In the early 1950s, Nigeria achieved partial self-government with a legislature in which the majority of the members were elected into an executive council; most were Nigerians.

Nigeria became a federation of three regions in 1954 and remained so until its independence in October 1960, with the Lagos area as the Federal Capital Territory.

Three years later, on October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a republic.

The country operated the parliamentary system of government between 1960 and 1966 when the military struck in a bloody coup assassinating the Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; the Federal Minister of Finance, Festus Okotie Eboh; the Premier of the Northern Region, Ahmadu

Becoming the best Ituah Ighodalo

Fifty-five years after independence, 14 heads of state, two systems of government and various reform programmes and a population approaching 170 million, Nigeria in 2012 still ranked 142 out of 169 nations in the Human Development Index (a compara-

Senior Pastor, Trinity House tive measure Zion Center of life expece-mail:pastorituah@trinityng.org tancy, literacy, education and standards tined to fall apart, defied all odds of living for and remained one nation. countries worldwide).

But despite this success, it is Other indices for 2012 indicate also a nation that is still very much that the population living below divided. $1 per day stands at 30 per cent.

One of the main reasons for NiThat number goes up to 70 per cent at population living below $2 geria’s stagnated development are the persisting conflicts between per day. ethnic groups, between rebels For ease of doing business (Nigeria ranks 137/183); Economic and the government and between north and south. freedom index (rank) 111/179; One of the oldest conflicts is Corruption perceptions index that between the Islamic north (rank) 134/178; Press freedom and the Christian south. Although index (rank) 145/178. great cultural and ideological difInfant mortality rate stands at 86 deaths per 1,000 live births. Life ferences exist within both regions, they are outweighed by the differexpectancy at birth is 48 years on ences between the regions. the average.

On an ideological level, the All these despite being blessed south fears the Islamic north and with natural gas, petroleum, tin, the desire of some northern states iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, to install Sharia law. lead, zinc, arable land and human But the conflict has an economic resources. dimension as well.

Apart from the economic The south controls most of failures are the social and political Nigeria’s oil fields and as such failures also. its population is richer, better In 2010, President Goodluck educated and generally more Jonathan celebrated Nigeria’s developed. In contrast, most of the 50th birthday by stating that it is nothing short of a miracle that the population in the northern states relies on agriculture as its main country still exists. And he is very source of income. right.

In the southern states and esHe went on to marvel over the pecially in the Niger Delta, armed fact that a country as large and rebels routinely attack the oil diverse as Nigeria, a country des-

sense data during near-death experiences when the physical sense organs are incapacitated because of anesthesia or shock.

The senses are compared to attendants of the queen. They serve her by bringing information and performing activity. Together they comprise the array of material intelligence and sensory capabilities, all formed from subtle but nevertheless material energy. They manufacture a sense of self, with which the king becomes entranced and falsely identifies.

The body itself, the City of Nine Gates, is made of gross material energy, of the kind that can be manipulated by ordinary physics and chemistry.

The body is powered by five subtle airs, listed in the Ayur Veda, the Vedic medical science, as prana, apana, vyana, samana, and udana. In the Puranjana allegory the five airs, comprising the vital force, are represented by a five-headed serpent.

Unknown Origin In the allegory, Puranjana asks about the identity and origin of the queen and her attendants. The queen replies, O best of human beings, I do not know who has begotten me. I cannot speak to you perfectly about this. Nor do I know the names or the origins of the associates with me. O great hero, we only know that we are existing in this place. We do not know what will come after. Indeed, we are so foolish that we do not care to understand who has created this beautiful place for our residence.

My dear gentleman, all these men and women with me are known as my friends, and the snake, who always remains awake, protects this city even during my sleeping hours. This much I know. I do not know anything beyond

this. You have somehow or other come here. This is certainly a great fortune for me. I wish all auspicious things for you.

You have a great desire to satisfy your senses, and all my friends and I shall try our best in all respects to fulfill your desires. I have just arranged this city of nine gates for you so that you can have all kinds of sense gratification. You may live here for one hundred years, and everything for your sense gratification will be supplied.

The king's questioning the queen represents the self's asking material intelligence for the answers to ultimate questions. The answers provided by the queen, as well as her fundamental attitude, reflect those of modern science, which prides itself on avoidance of certain questions and the tentativeness of whatever answers it may provide. "I cannot speak to you perfectly about this. ... We only know that we are existing in this place." Essentially, the queen provides a monist, materialist answer to the king's questions about his situation.

Description of the Gates The Bhagavata Purana then provides a more detailed description of the nine gates of the city inhabited by the king and queen. Seven gates are on the surface (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth), and two gates are subterranean (anus and genitals).

Five gates face east. The first two gates on the eastern side are called Khadyota ("glowworm") and Avirmukhi ("torchlight"). To see, the king exits these two gates and goes to the city called Vibhrajita ("clear vision"). On this journey he is accompanied by his friend Dyuman (the sun, the ruler of the subtle visual sense).

In other words, the king encounters qualia by sensory contact through the physical gates of the body. Qualia are

Bello; and the Western Premier, S.I. Akintola.

The period between 1960 and 1966 was characterised by severe political conflicts within and between regions. The military ruled the country for the next 13 years under four regimes with two successful coups and a bloody aborted coup.

The next stage of civilian rule witnessed the introduction of the presidential system of government, which lasted only four years before another military incursion in 1983. Democracy would not be introduced into Nigeria again until 1999.

Since the return of democracy; the country has had five elections.

Between independence and now (a total 55 years) Nigeria has had 13 heads of state/presidents (14 if you count Ernest Shonekan), with two of them (Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari) having double runs as military heads of state and civilian presidents.

Where we are now

Senses and sense organs

A

ccording to the philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana, the senses are different from the physical sense organs. The senses, along with mind and intelligence, are part of the invisible subtle material covering of the soul. The physical organs of sensation (eyes, nose, tongue, ears, skin, legs, arms, mouth, anus, and genitals) are part of the visible gross physical body.

The distinction between subtle senses and physical sense organs is important and offers consciousness researchers a valuable conceptual tool.

Let us consider, for example, the problem of phantom limbs. Persons whose legs or arms have been amputated often report that they distinctly feel the missing limb, and even experience quite distinct sensations, such as twinges of pain or itching. The City of Nine Gates allegory provides an explanation for this mysterious phenomenon. Let's take the case of someone whose arm has been amputated but who still feels the presence of the arm. The arm is one of the working senses. It is composed of two elements, the subtle grasping sense and the physical organ of the arm and hand. Amputation removes the physical organ through which the subtle sense operates, but the subtle sense itself remains, and therefore its presence may be mentally perceived.

Since the subtle sense is material, it may be able to act upon gross physical matter without going through the related physical sense organ. This model may therefore explain some of the phenomena reported in connection with ghosts and apparitions, and in connection with mediums, particularly the mysterious movement of physical objects. This model may also explain how persons are able to experience

www.thenicheng.com

industry and its infrastructure. In addition, kidnappings and rapes are commonplace.

Rebel groups demand a share in the oil receipts and blame both oil companies and the government for their failure to create social development.

The fact that even in the southern states oil revenues fail to trickle down to other parts of the economy bolsters their argument. As does the high poverty rate and the extreme corruption that holds the country in its grip.

More recently is the spate of terrorism in the north by a group called Boko Haram (which literally means ‘Western education is a sin’.)

Facts emerging now indicate that the threats posed by the group could have been curtailed if not for the extra-judicial killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, along with dozens of his followers.

Also is the fact that the sect is being used for political purposes and financed by those in positions of authority.

However, the hydraheaded monster has now become uncontrollable and hijacked by Islamic fundamentalists.

• Continues in next edition.

Self-discovery Kavikarnapura Das

iskcon.lagos@gmail.com 0706 601 1800, 0812 324 5864

secondary properties of objects, such as color. In consciousness studies, the question of how we perceive qualia is a much debated topic. Do they exist in their own right, in the objects with which they are identified, or do they exist only in our own minds? According to the Bhagavata Purana system, qualia, such as colors, exist as subtle sense objects. They have a reality of their own and are not simply produced within the mind.

That the king goes out through the gates of the eyes to contact subtle sense objects in a city of visual impressions suggests that the seeing process is not simply one of passive reception, but may involve an active process of image acquisition (as in sonar or radar).

This may explain such phenomena as traveling clairvoyance, whereby a subject can mentally journey to a particular location, beyond the range of the physical sense organs, and then accurately report visual impressions. This model could also explain visual sensations reported during out-of-body experiences. The exact relationships between the physical sense organs, the subtle

senses, and the subtle sense objects are not easily understood, but could perhaps be clarified by experimental work based on the overall model of the City of Nine Gates.

In the eastern part of King Puranjana's city there are, in addition to the eyes, two gates called Nalini and Nalini, representing the nostrils. The king goes through these two gates with a friend called Avadhuta (representing breathing airs) to the town of Saurabha ("odor"). The last gate on the eastern side is Mukhya ("mouth"), through which the king goes with two friends to the towns of taste sensation and nourishment.

Through the two gates on the northern and southern sides (the ears), the king goes to places where different kinds of sound are heard. Through the gates on the western side of the city, the king goes to the towns where sensations of evacuation and sexual pleasure are experienced. During his journeys, the king takes help from two blind men, Nirvak and Pesaskrt, who represent the arms and legs. We will shed more light on this next week.

TheNiche

Health www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

43

Health benefits of mango When you savour succulent and delicious mangoes every season, you probably don’t think about the immense health benefits of every bite. TEMITOPE OJO explains some of them.

M

ango, “the king of fruit”, is one of the most nutritious and delicious fruits on earth.

A mango is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

As such, eating it is a healthy decision you make for your body while enjoying a sweet fruit.

Mangoes are used to soothe stomach aches because, like papayas, they contain certain enzymes with stomach comforting properties.

As the popularity of mangoes has spread, many food manufacturers have introduced jellies, jams, squash, pickles, marinades, and spices that include pure mango flavour.

Vitamins, minerals Some of the health benefits of eating mangoes are in the nutrients. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals.

Mangoes have vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin E, and Selenium which helps guard against heart and other diseases, such as colon and cervical cancer.

Vitamins A and C in mango are also a great source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, muscle contraction, and keep bodily processes working efficiently.

The high iron content is beneficial to people with anemia, and to pregnant women, if eaten regularly.

Mangoes also contain Vitamin E, which helps hormones function efficiently.

Antioxidants Antioxidants are nutrients in food that work as slowing or preventative agents against oxidative damage to our bodies.

Mango contains antioxidant, an agent called phenols. Phenolic compound is said to have powerful anticancer effects for the human body.

Antioxidants – like quer-

cetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid, and methylgallat – in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia, and prostate cancers.

Acidity, digestion Mango can also treat acidity and poor digestion because of an enzyme in the fruit which soothes the stomach.

These enzymes are also partially responsible for feelings of contentment, which is helpful for a healthy lifestyle.

Fiber The high amounts of fiber in mango help prevent constipation. Fiber can also guard against certain types of cancer (for example, colon), high blood and cholesterol levels, and some degenerative diseases, especially those regarding the heart.

Weight gain Consuming mango is one of the easiest ways to gain weight. A mango weighing 150g has around 86 calories, which can be absorbed easily by the body.

Mango also contains starch, which transforms into sugar that aids in gaining weight.

Those who want to put on weight should add mango to their diet. Mango milkshakes accelerate weight gain since they also contain milk.

Keeps cholesterol in check Mango has a high content of vitamin C, pectin, and fibres that help lower serum cholesterol levels.

A fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, an important component of cell and body fluids that help control heart rate and blood pressure.

Skin cleanser: Mango helps unclog pores and adds freshness to the face. This applies to any skin type. It

helps clear clogged pores that cause acne.

Slice a mango into thin pieces and keep them on your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then take a bath or wash your face and see the results.

Regulates diabetes: Mango leaves are healthy, too.

People suffering from diabetes should boil between five and six mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through the night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning.

This helps regulate insulin levels.

Cures anemia, helps in pregnancy Mango is rich in iron, which makes it beneficial to

people suffering from anemia. A regular, moderated intake of mangoes can help eliminate anemia by increasing the red blood cell count in the body.

Mango is also very beneficial to pregnant women, since iron requirements during pregnancy is extremely essential.

Doctors often prescribe iron tablets during pregnancy, but instead of supplementation, you can enjoy a healthy iron-rich diet with juicy mangoes.

The taste buds during pregnancy usually lose some of their sensitivity, so mangoes will be the delight of your day for more than just its health benefits.

Mango contains antioxidant, an agent called phenols. Phenolic compound is said to have powerful anti-cancer effects for the human body.

Antioxidants – like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid, and methylgallat – in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia, and prostate cancers.

Cures acne Mango is closely related to skin health. Apart from bringing a healthy glow to the face, it also helps lighten skin colour.

Mango effectively treats acne by opening the clogged pores of the skin. Once these pores are opened, acne formation will eventually stop.

Unclogging the pores of the skin is the most effective way to eliminate acne.

To enjoy this benefit, there is no need to eat mangoes every day. Remove the mango pulp and apply it on the skin for around 10 minutes, then rinse it off.

quantities of vitamin B-6, which is vital for maintaining and improving the brain’s functions.

These vitamins aid in the amalgamation of the major neurotransmitters that contribute in determining mood and the modification of sleeping patterns.

With mango as a part of your diet, you can be assured of a healthy brain and effective nerve functioning. You will also be avoiding medicinal supplements, which have a long list of possible side effects.

Glutamine acid in mango also improves concentration and the power of memory.

Slows aging

Boosts body immunity

Mango contains high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C, both of which help produce collagen proteins in the body.

Collagen helps protect blood vessels and connective tissues, thereby slowing down the skin’s natural aging process.

Therefore, mango can rightly be called an antiaging food. Diet supplementation is the best way to restore your youth in a natural and delicious way.

Similar to carrot, mango is rich in beta-carotene, a powerful carotenoid. This helps enhance the immune system and make it impervious to bacteria and toxins.

Excess beta-carotene is also transformed into vitamin A in the body.

Vitamin A is another antioxidant vitamin and gives additional protection against the free radicals that can harm internal systems.

Thus, mango is a great choice to add to your regular diet. It increases the chances of living a disease-free life, and is also a pleasure to eat with its magnificent taste.

Promotes brain health Mango has abundant

44

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Kiddies

Arena Brain tickler

ibilade@gmail.com t.adegboye@thenicheng.com 0708 479 6140

Historical personality

Thomas Adeoye Lambo (1923-2004)

A man lives in a small house with a farm as his back garden and has a river beside his house. On the other side of the river is a shop.

One day he visited the shop. He bought a chicken and fox for his farm and bought a bag of corn to feed the chicken. The man can only take one thing and himself across in the boat.

Without killing any animals or letting another animal eat an item or animal, how will the man get across?

Bring the chicken across. Bring the fox across. Take the chicken back across.

Bring the corn across then bring the chicken across.

Answer

I go in dry and come out wet. The longer I stay in, the stronger my surroundings get. What am I? Tea bag

Solution

Invention

Temitope Ojo

Oven

Ancient people first began cooking on open fires. The cooking fires were placed on the ground and later simple masonary construction was used to hold the wood and/or food.

Simple ovens were used by the ancient Greeks for making bread and other baked goods. By the middle ages, taller brick and mortar hearths, often with chimneys, were being built.

The first written historical record of an oven being built refers to the one built in 1490, in Alsace, France. This oven was made entirely of brick and tile, including the flue.

Around 1728, cast iron ovens really began to be made in quantity. These first ovens of German design were called Five-plate or Jamb stoves.

Around 1800, Count Rumford (aka Benjamin Thompson) invented a working iron kitchen stove called the Rumford stove that was designed for very large working kitchens.

The Rumford had one fire source that could heat several cooking pots, the heating level for each pot could be regulated individually.

One successful and compact cast iron design was Stewart's Oberlin iron stove, patented in the 1834. Cast iron stoves continued to evolve, with iron gratings added to the cooking holes, and added chimneys and connecting flue pipes.

Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist designed the first sootless kerosene oven.

Jordan Mott invented the first practical coal oven in 1833. Mott's oven was called the baseburner.

British inventor, James Sharp, patented a gas oven in 1826, the first semi-successful gas oven to appear on the market. Gas ovens were found in most households by the 1920s with top burners and interior ovens.

The evolution of gas stoves was delayed until gas lines that could furnish gas to households became common.

T

homas Adeoye Lambo was a Nigerian scholar, administrator and psychiatrist.

He is credited as the first psychiatrist in Nigeria and Africa trained in the West.

Between 1971 and 1988, he worked at the World Health Organisation (WHO), becoming its deputy director general.

Lambo was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He attended the famous Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta from 1935 to 1940. He then proceeded to the University of Birmingham, where he studied medicine.

To further his studies and become specialised, in 1952 he enrolled at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

Lambo in due time became famous for his work in ethno-psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology.

In 1954, after studying and working as a surgeon in Britain, Lambo returned to Nigeria where he was soon made the specialist in charge

at the newly-built Aro Psychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta.

He is credited as providing a platform for re-integrating mentally ill patients into a normal setting and environ-

ment, and to a certain extent shedding at least some of the stigma associated with those suffering from mental illness.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Kiddies Arena StarKid Romilogo Falobi The Floral School, Taju Bello b/stop, Ishaga, Lagos Colour: blue.

Career goal: Engineer.

Best food: Golden morn.

Be our StarKid: Send your child's full-sized photograph and details to ibilade@gmail.com.

Friendship After Love

45

Poems

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox After the fierce midsummer all ablaze Has burned itself to ashes, and expires In the intensity of its own fires, There come the mellow, mild, St. Martin days Crowned with the calm of peace, but sad with haze.

So after Love has led us, till he tires Of his own throes, and torments, and desires, Comes large-eyed Friendship: with a restful gaze.

He beckons us to follow, and across Cool verdant vales we wander free from care.

Is it a touch of frost lies in the air?

Why are we haunted with a sense of loss?

We do not wish the pain back, or the heat; And yet, and yet, these days are incomplete.

The Arrow and the Song

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; Be our poet: Send your poems to ibilade@gmail.com.

46

Arts TheNiche

June 05, 2016

with Terh Agbedeh

T

REVIEWS&PREVIEWS

he Difference newspaper lived up to its name when, penultimate Wednesday, it was perhaps the only media organisation that marked the Africa Day at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

The pan-African newspaper published from Lagos

by Sunbird Africa Media Limited held a colloquium to celebrate the anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Union (OAU), now the African Union (AU), which is 53 years old this year.

The ceremony takes place on May 25.

With the theme, ‘Economic hurdles on the path of African Integration (Examining 25 years of the Abuja Treaty and the African Economic Community)’, the event brought together personalities from the academia, business and media to discuss the challenges facing the formation of an appropriate economic community for African states and to chart a way forward for the continuing integration and economic transformation of the continent.

Joshua Bolarinwa and Sharkdam Wapmuk, both of NIIA, led the discussions on the issues impeding the realisation of the goal of complete integra-

tion and total economic transformation of Africa.

Attention was drawn to efforts over the years by some African leaders to create a fitting environment for development through enabling the creation of economic communities to transform the economies of these countries. At the national level for example, the late Kwame Nkrumah had a dream to make Ghana a paradise 10 years after independence, but this and other lofty dreams by other African leaders met road blocks, which include their mismatched ties to the former colonial lords and the world economic system.

These have continued to interfere with, if not frustrate, Africans’ ambitions of growing the continent by themselves.

African people and their leaders, according to the scholars, have done the right thing in their efforts towards drawing up a fitting framework for an African Economic Community (AEC) over the years that would first involve the strengthening of regional economic commissions. They however noted that much more needs to be done by stake-holding countries if the lofty objective is to be realised.

It was equally observed that almost all of these initiatives, including the

Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 which led to the Abuja Treaty of 1991 and the AEC, and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) have failed from the point of view of stated success factors and end dates in terms of achieving several of the milestones.

The scholars did not shy away from dissecting the different issues bedevilling the African economic integration story. One significant solution proffered was that African leaders should not be allowed to continue paying lip service to issues of economic integration.

Rather, they should be pressured into being more committed to African integration and development and not carrying on with the vain illusion that help in resolving the continent’s many problems would continue to come from other places.

Other impediments that were identified include the fact of some African nations not wanting to cooperate fully with others and the inability of state leaders to fully back and support the strengthening of such supranational entities as the Pan-African Parliament, as some of them think that the empowerment and growth of such organs would primarily undermine their own sovereign control over their national juris-

At 25, CORA holds special Art Stampede

Akinosho

Jahman

www.thenicheng.com

Making The Difference on Africa Day

R-l Resource persons, Dr. Joshua Bolarinwa and Mr. Sharkdam Wapmuk, both of NIIA and host, Richard Mammah of The Difference Newspaper dictions.

There are also problems of intra- and inter-regional coordination, inadequate finance, linguistic plurality and the lack of capacity to practically implement agreed objectives.

Internal political crisis and other forms of conflicts such as the Boko Haram insurgency and bombing of pipelines by militants in Nigeria as well as cross-border crimes are also some of the impeding factors.

African countries also

C

ommittee for Relevant Art (CORA), which turned 25 on June 2, will hold a special edition of Art Stampede to celebrate its anniversary.

The Art Stampede comes up on Sunday, June 5 (today) by 2pm at Museum Gallery, Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

A quarterly occasion, it is a discussion event where artists, art critics, art journalists and art connoisseurs gather to discuss topical issues relating to their sector.

To commemorate the anniversary, Programme Chair, CORA, Jahman

battle health challenges on a large scale such as Ebola and HIV/AIDS, even as the traditional support from international donor agencies are drying up.

At the end of deliberations, the colloquium decried the neglect by Nigerian governments of the celebration of Africa Day, being the anniversary of the creation of the OAU which is not marked in any significant way in Nigeria.

On its part, The Difference Newspaper pledged to continue to nudge the

conscience of the government and people of Nigeria to give Africa Day the deserved attention to make it a calendar event in Nigeria.

African leaders were finally enjoined to stop paying lip service to the treaties they sign on behalf of their people.

Accordingly also, efforts should be made to review, and not discard, existing treaties that are yet in force with a view to setting up more realistic timelines for their actualisation.

Anikulapo, said the CORA directorate would stage a special edition of Art Stampede which will focus mainly on reflecting on the past years of the organisation and projecting into the future.

CORA is committed, as a culture activist organisation, he said, to create an enabling environment for the growth and development of the arts.

“CORA has an agenda to do all in its powers to help create an enabling environment for contemporary arts of Nigeria to flourish in the forms of literature, theatre, music, fine art, movie making, as well as TV programme design and production,” he explained.

He highlighted how CORA had benefited art in Nigeria. “CORA is, at best, a facilitator of the sharing of ideas. It creates the sort of interactions that lead to birth of ideas or sharpening of existing ideas. Some of the most forward-looking initiatives in the Nigerian culture environment came out of CORAorganised talkshops, usually referenced as Conversation(s).”

Among its programmes and activities are: The annual Lagos Book and Art Festival, Lagos – The City Arts Guide, The Great Highlife Party, annual Book Editors’ Clinic, Arthouse Forum among other events.

TheNiche

Arts www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

47

Down the Rabbit Hole with Logor ALARA Art on Thursday, May 19, unveiled ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’, a conceptual installation of light and photography

by Logo Oluwamuyiwa “Logor” Adeyemi, featuring excerpts from his widely acclaimed ‘Monochrome Lagos’ and other works. The exhibition opened to the public on Friday, May 20, and runs until Thursday, June 30.

Logor, a photographer and filmmaker, works predominantly in ‘black and white’, taking the observer from ‘clash’ to ‘subtlety’, ‘noise’ to ‘calm’.

This exhibition showcases the artist’s unique approach

to conceptual documentation of the human carnival.

His first major project, ‘Monochrome Lagos’, is a unique reflection on the city of Lagos that strips down the noisy colours of the busy metropolis.

The works are a visual digital archive, a unique reflection on an old city, and an extraordinary expose of its idiosyncrasies and aesthetics.

He showcases the beauty of this extraordinary city in a poetic, mystical, mythical and romantic form, delivering a place to which none has hitherto been or seen.

Many of those who have attended the showcase

say it is a fresh perspective on a well trod path, presented in enchanting portraiture and landscape photography.

A statement from the artist explained that in its breath, freshness and daring, Down the Rabbit Hole achieves a true paradigm shift in how the city is presented and appreciated by a global audience, including local residents who typically rush past the unchanging beauty of this old town.

Down the Rabbit Hole is Logor’s maiden exhibition with ALARA Art and doubles as the debut exhibition in the ‘ALARA Emerging Artists’ series.

L-R: Reni Folawiyo (Founder/ CEO, ALARA), Logor Oluwamuyiwa and Tokini Peterside (Director, TP-Collective) during the private viewing of ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ in the ‘ALARA Emerging Artists Series’ in Lagos.

New faces playing out old roles

Title: The Hate Artist Author: Niran Okewole Genre: Poetry Publisher: Khalam Editions Pages: 67 Pages Reviewer: Femi Morgan The title of this collection of poems captures the conflicts of the artist in a millennial age, an age where art is largely beginning to lack a genuine voice because it is stifled by the forces against artistic and philosophic freedoms. I have decided to review some poems which form the first part of the trisegmented work, to explicate the ideas of the poems within the short space.

The Hate Artist opens with a poem, ‘The Word Shop’ which equates a bookstore to a supermarket in a cosmopolitan landscape, where the groceries are words, ‘letters stud cookies in cabinets’.

Yet words serve the clandestine purposes as the user can be in search of ‘con words, cum words/ Words in a cone of ice/Cream with

caramel dripping from the edge’.

There is violence against the ‘Key Words’ of humanity, a hint on the attack on the freedom of the text.

‘Lost Poems’ is more than a poet’s narrative of the poems lost in transit, it is more about the transits to which history has been reconstructed in such a way that unknown parts of history are filled with conjectures that eventually become sacrosanct. The poem presents a ‘black monkey’ trying to find out the truth behind the walls of western reconstruction. The poet resurrects the discourse that the civilisation of the popular Helen of Troy has Ethiopian and Egyptian roots, as argued by some scholars. Therefore, within that which we know as pristine historical facts there is loss. It is the trademark of this poet to extend classicist names to present discourses, to visit history and philosophy in the paths of his verse and to postulate extratextual ideas.

The title of the poem ‘Caliban’ is from Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Caliban is a subhuman persona who is uncultured, lacks knowledge and worthy of enslavement,

depicted as a black slave to his white master Prospero. The poet clarifies his extension of Caliban, with the negative depiction of Africa and Africans from classical times through the vehicles of literature down to popular film culture.

He creates a post-colonial argument that the depiction of Africans as brutes has a tendency to reward with Academy Awards while it continues to establish a psychological reality of the Whiteman as the cultured other.

‘First Breadth’ is a poem that celebrates the birth of a child, probably to which the poem is dedicated to. A child is born innocent, free from the ‘webbed capillaries’ of his mother, his first cry is a champion cry of the endless possibilities of the future. ‘Or a rock guitarist/Or Cape Town Heart Surgeon/Or an Earth Institute Don Winning Laurels/For a blueprint on ending poverty’. The poem fondles with hope amid the tensions of Weapons of Mass Destruction and rising inflation, which situates the poem in a timeframe that does not imprison the child.

Some of Niran Okewole’s poems need research for one to have a full comprehension of them. Readers who read poetry on the surface may begin to suffer from dyslexia if they choose their usual reading mode with The Hate Artist.

Okewole brings to his poetry an encyclopedia of ideas. In ‘Dropped Names’ he pairs Adler, the renowned psychotherapist, and Brecht, the Marxist playwright, in a narrative portraiture of many icons weighing their place in history. The poet tries to

evaluate how these names and the ideals they connote shaped history or have fallen short of the clarity that would have made the world a better place.

‘Zarathustra Blues’ tells on the life of a renegade, a life of a writer whose life revolves round other writers. The writer is in a self-imposed monastery with a ‘Pentium II Carcas’, where the infrastructure remains unpalatable. The writer’s role in the world is to subvert long-held notions through a strong will to question it. It was Fredrick Nietzsche who asserted that we must “hammer” all ideas and doctrines that bind us, realising our full potential as human beings. In extension, Nietzsche describes Christianity as problematic to nature and that the religion prescribes a passionless, less creative and less sincere mode of existence. Okewole’s poem subscribes to rule breaking of hegemonic cultures in the same spirit with Nietzsche.

‘The Elements’ is deeply rooted in the attention to transiting civilisations, from Communism to the Post-Industrial Age. It gives attention to the five elements. In the first element, Earth, the poet describes the failure of the Ujamaa, the Tanzanian socialist system of Julius Nyerere’s day due to the forces of world powers and capitalist trade.

With Air, the poet proceeds with the invention of the forge, the harnessing of air which brought about the creation and chemistry of weapons that have advanced mankind’s wealth of carnage. In Fire, similar to T.S. Elliot’s The Wasteland, the poet expresses fear

that the nations of the world have the ability to wipe humanity out.

The poet extends this to water and speaks of the environmental flaws created by man’s modern expansionism which will result in a flood and the silence of other beings in the landscape.

‘A Voyage Around the Bar’ can be called travel writing with bottles of beer. When intellectuals drink, the tendency is to discuss on end about the past, the history of the people, within and outside the spaces of the watering hole. The watering hole is a place of intellectual refuge, a Jazzhole, from the chaos of cosmopolitanism which becomes a reference to the logic of freedom of speech, of learning and of leisure. The poetry depicts a kind of travel of conversations around landmarks of bars across the continent. It goes beyond drinking to suggest why people drink (‘Bottled Angst’) and a search for clarity.

Okewole’s mind is a mobile library of new stories and old ones, his craft is unhindered by rules of watered-down simplification that has become the new order of Nigerian poetry.

The Hate Artist re-invents and engages cultural knowledge, history and socio-political evolutions in the world. The Hate Artist also codifies simple but important events with new faces playing out old roles without knowing it.

• Morgan is a content writer and the creative director of Fairchild Media, a Content Management firm in Lagos. He is the author of Renegade, a collection of poems with an avant-garde voice.

48

TheNiche

Fashion

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Temitope Ojo ibilade@gmail.com t.adegboye@thenicheng.com 0708 479 6140

8 Bars & A Clef premieres in style

The premiere of 8 Bars & A Clef at Genesis Deluxe cinema, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by the cast and crew as well as their friends and colleagues.

The premiere was preceded by a red carpet, where attendees took turns to strut their stuff.

Here’s a selection of what they wore.

Bimbo Akintola

Enyinna Nwigwe

Kemi Lala

Rita Dominic

Clarence

Adesua Etomi

Linda Ejiofor

Deyemi

Olumide

Wale Ojo

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Temple Muse launches ‘Shoe Lounge’ Temple Muse has launched the much-awaited ‘Shoe Lounge’ by Florence H. Guests delighted in the stunning new space adorned with exclusive styles from Sophia Webster and other heavy-hitters such as Giuseppe Zanotti, Sergio Rossi, Rene Caovilla, and Casadei.

Abisola Kola-Daisi, chief executive officer of Florence H, offered expert advice to guests on her passion, shoes.

Guests were also treated to new season deliveries from their favourite local and international designers and the arrival of Spanish red-carpet go-to brand Maria Lucia Hohan.

49

50

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

FOOD &DRINK Luxury kitchen appliances OU’VE got a sizable, well-arranged kitchen. But are the equipment and utensils worthwhile? A few people would agree to a fair amount of fancy kitchen look. Of course, for many home buyers, custom cabinets – high-end appliances, glamorous countertops, etc – are a vital part of a decent kitchen, and anything less is a remodel-in-waiting.

The amazing fact about a luxury kitchen is that we do not need a fancy kitchen to cook. But aside making cooking interesting, it can also make cooking much easier and faster, especially in the days where we find it hard to cook.

According to Wale Ewumi, Chief Executive Officer of Trends Kitchen, Nigeria, who has been in the kitchen industry for roughly 12 years, “There has been a huge gap in the market.

There are not too many continents that compete with the kind of kitchen we want.”

Let us take a critical look at must-haves for every luxury kitchen.

Skybar wine preservation and serving system This kitchen gadget is designed to chill up to three wines at a time to the perfect temperature, pour, and preserve them for up to 10 days. It becomes a necessity when one considers that it is difficult to control the temperature of liquids, and then have to pour at intervals.

Sonic steamer microwave oven The sonic steamer microwave can do a lot more than just warm your food. Aside that it can hold up to two massive crockpot trays, up to 13 inches long and four inches high each; it also has a sonic steamer built right in. It has also a toaster oven that bakes cookies, cakes or pizza without heating up the whole kitchen.

Stealth blender A lot of people do not like the sound that comes out of the kitchen when blending – people already know at what stage of cooking that you are. The stealth blender has been referred to as the quietest blender in the market. With pad controls, a powerful touch, a tightly-locked sound enclosure and with two jars, the machine has six blend cycles and a USB interface to upload and download 36 custom blend cycles online.

Dishwater Miele dishwasher has a turbo option, which reduces the duration of the average programme by up to 30 per cent. The extremely versatile lower basket allows for great plasticity when loading the dishwasher with size as well as type of load,

Almonds with up to 14 place settings, with the 3D flatware tray allowing excellent cleaning of larger utensils such as whisks and spoons.

The water-proof anti-leak system ensures that if any water is detected outside of the system, the water regulator is switched off, protecting your kitchen from any water damage.

Refrigerator Sub Zero refrigerators are the elite model of the brand, composed of 100 per cent solid steel. They come in two different versions, with one featuring a glass door. Both units have dual refrigeration, three evaporators and the same technology that is leading the revolution in home cooling. A Sub Zero fridge in your kitchen will not only keep your food fresher than ever be-

Drink of the week Courvoisier

I

n the Parisian suburb of Bercy in 1809, Emmanuel Courvoisier started a wine and spirit company with Louis Gallois, then the mayor of Bercy.

The two would originally act as traders for the best cognacs of the region, eventually deciding to relocate to the region and become producers themselves to guarantee the finest cognac.

The 200-year-old process has not changed since Courvoisier’s establishment in Bercy.

Napoleon Bonaparte visited Bercy in 1811 and was credited with saying he wanted his artillery companies to have a ration of cognac during the Napoleonic Wars.

Legend has it that Napoleon I later took several barrels of cognac with him to St Helena, a treat much appreciated by the English

officers on the ship, who named it "the Cognac of Napoleon".

Located 10 minutes from the town of Cognac, the main Courvoisier business still operates from the Château on the banks of the Charente river which was established in the 1870s.

With a focus on mixology, Courvoisier created what is referred to as “The Architectural Punchbowl” for an immersive brand experience with cocktails served from a structure filled with 4,000 litres of a punch containing Courvoisier.

The event was a homage to Admiral Edward Russell, who in 1694 created a large punchbowl that had to be served by a boy rowing across it.

Le Nez de Courvoisier, one of the first examples of sensory marketing, recognised the dominant aromas in each of the Courvoisier

cognacs and used them to deliver food pairing initiatives in partnership with leading chefs and music.

The oldest bottle of Courvoisier, with liquid dating back to 1789, was unveiled at Harrod’s for the Alchimie L’Atelier event. Discovered in Dutch collector Bay van der Bunt’s vault, the bottle was on sale for €90,000.

Courvoisier is a brand of cognac owned by Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. The production is based in the town of Jarnac in the Charente region of France.

It is exclusively marketed in Nigeria by Ekulo International Limited.

fore; it will also provide the modern look and feel that you desire.

These models can be either built-in to your existing cabinetry, to flush with your other applications, or you can use it as a free standing fridge.

Thermomix food processor This food processor can do many things to your food; it can chop it, beat it, mix it, crush it, squeeze it, blend, it, cook it, melt it and steam it. In addition, it can even weigh it. Indispensible for all manner of kitchen tasks, the food processor makes quick work. It can whip up a carrot-cake mixture in 30 seconds.

51

BUSINESS UNUSUAL FINANCIAL NICHE PERSONAL FINANCE MARKETING NICHE

TheNiche June 05, 2016

BUSINESS

www.thenicheng.com

INFLATION RATE

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK ICT

Inflation month Inflation rate

MONEY SUPPLY (Trillion)

April 2016 13.72%

OIL PRICE WTI INDEX $49.22

Broadmoney (M2) N20,727,909.47 Narrow Money (M1) N9,136,068.46

PER BARREL

Kelechi Mgboji Assistant Business Editor 0803 469 0996, 0811 181 3047 kckmgboji@yahoo.com

»

Gold

PAGE 58

Silver

$1,250.66

Tin

Platinum

PER OZ

$16.49

TROY OZ

$7.58

Copper

$1,021.29 $2.28

PER OZ

Nickel

$3.85

PER LB

Wheat

$481

GRADE A

» Lead

Palladium

Exchange Rates

$0.77

$608.25

Cocoa

$2, 991

PER OZT

N-$

N-£

N-€

RATE

RATE

RATE

198.8

288.62

How Nigerians can benefit from Finnish firms, by Eneh Ogechukwu Eneh, a Nigerian who has been contesting since 2008 to get into the Finnish Municipal Council, speaks to Special Correspondent, NNANNA OKERE, on business prospects between Nigeria and Finland and other issues concerning both countries.

Finnish Export Promoters The Finnish Export Promoters is a small and medium enterprises (SME's) trusted partner in the export markets.

The Finnish Export Promoters association (FEP) was founded 2014 to support Finnish SMEs to succeed in exports. FEP is an independent, non-profit organisation that is financed through membership fees.

FEP was created to help Finnish companies get support, guidance, and contacts that enable success on global markets.

FEP’s network includes the services and contacts needed to start your export business, to grow on new markets and to develop existing markets.

The membership begins with a discussion about your company's goals and the needs related to those goals.

FEP is a match-maker that helps you connect with suitable resources based on your needs.

PER BARREL

‘Nigeria shipping sector a far cry’

Duru: My persecution by PenCom

COMMODITIES SUMMARY

$49.30

Maritime

Company Focus

PAGE 54

Brent Crude

Benefits for Nigeria and Nigerians in Finland

Nigerians can benefit by finding for a Finnish company a Nigerian representative/suitable partner (distributor/agent) for its product in Nigeria.

They can help the development and aiding of the company to get started with its business in Nigeria.

A Harvard Business School study shows that American companies that employ lots of ethnic Chinese people find it much easier to set up in China without a joint venture with a local firm.

Nigeria benefits because Finnish products are durable, good quality, and genuine.

How Nigerians in the Diaspora can contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth Diaspora is a potent economic force.

There are millions of Nigerians living in Europe, the United States, Australia, Singapore, and China. The network of language makes it easy to do business across borders.

Cross-cultural skills and trust matter in emerging markets, foreign direct investment in Nigeria should pass through Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Modern communications make these networks a more powerful tool of business. Diasporas help spread ideas.

Continues on PAGE 52

Eneh and Alexander Stubb, former Finnish prime minister now finance minister.

220.02

52

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Cover

How Nigerians can benefit from Finnish firms,

by Eneh Continued from PAGE 51 Finnish Export Promoters The Finnish Export Promoters is a small and medium enterprises (SME's) trusted partner in the export markets.

The Finnish Export Promoters association (FEP) was founded 2014 to support Finnish SMEs to succeed in exports. FEP is an independent, non-profit organisation that is financed through membership fees.

FEP was created to help Finnish companies get support, guidance, and contacts that enable success on global markets.

FEP’s network includes the services and contacts needed to start your export business, to grow on new markets and to develop existing markets.

The membership begins with a discussion about your company's goals and the needs related to those goals.

FEP is a match-maker that helps you connect with suitable resources based on your needs.

Benefits for Nigeria and Nigerians in Finland Nigerians can benefit by finding for a Finnish company a Nigerian representative/suitable partner (distributor/agent) for its product in Nigeria.

They can help the development and aiding of the company to get started with its business in Nigeria.

A Harvard Business School study shows that American companies that employ lots of ethnic Chinese people find it much easier to set up in China without a joint venture with a local firm.

Nigeria benefits because Finnish products are durable, good quality, and genuine.

How Nigerians in the Diaspora can contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth Diaspora is a potent economic force. There are millions of Nigerians living in Europe, the United States, Australia, Singapore, and China. The network of language makes it easy to do business across borders.

Cross-cultural skills and trust matter in emerging markets, foreign direct investment in Nigeria should pass through Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Modern communications make these networks a more powerful tool of business. Dias-

There are millions of Nigerians living in Europe, the United States, Australia, Singapore, and China.

The network of language makes it easy to do business across borders.

Cross-cultural skills and trust matter in emerging markets, foreign direct investment in Nigeria should pass through Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Nigerians can benefit by finding for a Finnish company a Nigerian representative/suitable partner (distributor/agent) for its product in Nigeria.

They can help the development and aiding of the company to get started with its business in Nigeria. poras help spread ideas.

Many of the emerging world's brightest minds are educated at Western universities. An increasing number go home, taking with them both knowledge and contacts.

Diasporas spread money.

Migrants in rich countries not only send cash to their families; they also help companies in their host country operate in their home country.

Diasporas help rich countries to plug into fast-growing economies. The prospect of working abroad spurs more people to acquire valuable skills.

So, the Nigerian government can attract distinguished Nigerians in the Diaspora to contribute to national development through a kind of synergy and also through political appointment.

This will help them bring their wealth of experience to Nigeria.

Advice to Nigerians in Finland Learn Finnish language as soon as you arrive, integrate into the society by learning the culture.

Seek for a job, keep your dream alive and maintain a consistent step. Move forward and keep a focus on your dream.

Running an NGO to help Nigerians in Finland I have lived for 31 years in Finland. I speak Finnish language and have studied at one of the best universities in Finland.

I noticed that a lot of Finns do not have correct information about Nigeria. I wanted to represent Nigeria as a good citizen and at the same time build a good relationship between Nigerians and Finns.

My passion to work for humanity and to disseminate all the information and experiences I have acquired over the years of living in Finland spur me into doing so.

Running for Helsinki City Council I will be running for a position in the coming municipal election in Helsinki City this year. This will be the fourth time I will be participating as a candidate in the Finnish election since 2008 when I joined Finnish politics.

My message is clear: I am the long awaited candidate to build the bridge of integration in Helsinki City. I work with passion because I believe in participation and accountability.

The segment population I will reach with my message will be women, and men, single parents, students, young men and women who support globalisation, migrants, and second generation.

The challenges are many.

For instance, some people may think that I am not qualified, the media will make me a rep-

resentative for Africa, and some Nigerians have expectation of me as a woman.

Campaign takes a lot of time and finances; you have to work twice as hard to be considered to be “half as good.”

The media focus on what you wear and how you make your hair.

Finnish, Nigerian educational systems Teachers in Finland have a Master’s degree, their Nigerian counterparts have Bachelor’s degree.

Teachers in Finland spend fewer hours at school each day and spend less time in the classroom. They use the extra time to build curriculums and assess their students.

Teachers in Nigeria spend more time doing a second job to meet their financial obligations, and less time in teaching and assessment.

In Finland, students are encouraged to do exploratory learning. Students do rote learning. Children spend far more time playing outside, supervised by adults, even in the depths of winter. Homework is minimal.

In Nigeria, lots of homework are given by the teacher. The books used for instruction are outdated in many situations.

In Finland, compulsory schooling does not begin until age seven. There is no hurry.

Children learn better when they are ready.

What to learn from Finland generally Finland is a good model for democracy and transparency.

There is so much people coming from Nigeria can gain by learning this.

Truth is the foundation of a society. Equal opportunity and a minimal decent level of living for all.

Opportunities in Finland versus other Western countries Finland has cheaper medical care, smarter children, happier moms, better working conditions, less-anxious unemployed people, and lower student loan rates than we do. And that probably will never change.

The United States, Britain, and Canada have competition, minimal governmental intervention, more insurance services, profit, survival of the fittest, and playing down the effect of climate change.

Who is Oge Eneh?

Ogechukwu Eneh has a Master’s degree in education from the University of Helsinki, where she has lived with her family for 31 years.

She is a curriculum planner for Intercultural Education at the Helsinki Culture office, a politician, a consultant for the Finnish Export Promoters for the West African market. A mother and grandmother.

Eneh

The Nigerian government can attract distinguished Nigerians in the Diaspora to contribute to national development through a kind of synergy and also through political appointment.

This will help them bring their wealth of experience to Nigeria.

Financial Niche www.thenicheng.com

TheNiche June 05, 2016

53

Another sack gale sweeps banks •Ecobank 1,500; First Bank 1,000; Diamond Bank 200

More banks are likely to lay off a significant number of workers in the coming months as they battle bad loans, regulatory headwinds, and national economic problems.

An economic slump made worse by reduced crude oil price has fuelled a high NPL rate, causing banks to record a sharp decline in profits for the 2015 financial year and in Q1 2016.

Diamond Bank MD, Uzoma Dozie

Stories by Kelechi Mgboji

E

Assistant Business Editor

cobank has sent 1,500 employees into the cold labour market, at the tip of firings across banks scrambling against steep dips in profits caused by an economy based on oil that is depreciating in price, like naira value.

The latest layoffs bring to about 1,7000 the number of those sacked by the bank since late last year, the consequence of a banking industry heavily exposed to non-performing loans (NPLs) in the energy sector.

Diamond Bank Earlier last week, Diamond Bank announced the sack of 200 workers but unconfirmed reports raised the figure to about 400.

Information obtained by TheNiche confirmed that the lender aims to cut down a N800

First Bank Chairman, Ibukun Awosika

Adeyemi

million monthly wage bill and prune managerial cadre by 80 per cent.

The mid-tier bank claimed that the exercise is in line with its plan to right size its workforce to drive shareholders’ value, saying the performance of those fired is lower than the minimum required.

This came two months after it announced that profit before tax in the first quarter of 2016 (Q1 2016) fell to N6.04 billion from N7.94 billion in Q1 2015.

First Bank A few weeks ago, FBN Holdings, owner of First Bank of Nigeria, had also said it would reduce costs by firing 1,000 workers in phases.

FBN Holdings Group posted over 80 per cent decline in profit in the 2015 financial year.

More banks are likely to lay off a significant number of workers in the coming months as they battle bad loans, regulatory headwinds, and national eco-

nomic problems.

However, the federal government on Friday, June 3 advised banks to stop sacking workers.

An economic slump made worse by reduced crude oil price has fuelled a high NPL rate, causing banks to record a sharp decline in profits for the 2015 financial year and in Q1 2016.

Ecobank’s liquidity challenges The Nigerian subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI) is struggling with liquidity challenges, leading to severe cost-cutting since late February when it first sacked over 50 senior managers to reduce the wage bill.

Top officials sacked in February in a “corporate alignment strategy” included general managers, deputy general managers, and assistant general managers.

Before that round of lay off, the bank had announced the appointment of a new Managing Director, Charles Kie, and Ecobank Nigeria Board Chairman,

John Aboh.

Earlier, Group Managing Director, Albert Essien, was succeeded

by Ade Adeyemi in late 2015.

Ecobank is making a clean sweep of a recent past mired in alleged questionable transactions that weakened the integrity of both the group company (ETI) and its Ecobank Nigeria subsidiary.

Heavy overheads In what seemed a contradiction, a statement issued by the bank alleged that affected senior officials performed below expectation but that their sack is to realign “top heavy” structure, implying reduction in overhead costs.

The 1,500 staff fired across several cadres and departments finally offered the actual reason behind the gale of staff disengagements.

Steady profit decline Ecobank’s financial results

since after 2014 have been on steady decline with the 2015 audited financial result expected to be the worst.

It has already issued profit warning statement that the result will be worse than the numbers in Q3 2015.

“We expect our efficiency and asset quality metrics to be worse than targets. … We expect our full year 2015 profit in US dollar terms to be lower than the ninemonths to 2015 reported profit,” the bank said.

Group profit before tax in Q3 2015 was down 2 per cent to $398 million on net revenue of $1.598 billion (also down by 3 per cent).

Profit after tax was also down 5 per cent to $306 million and total assets 0.2 per cent to $23.4 billion.

Total equity jumped 10 per cent to $2.7 billion, indicating more shares issued to raise money and dilute stockholdings of existing shareholders before the result was released.

However, among the group,

Ecobank Nigeria alone accounted for over 40 per cent of earnings, with about 35 other countries contributing less than 60 per cent.

Toxic loans across the board Bad loans in the banking industry rose 78.8 per cent to N649.63 billion in 2015, a severe deterioration in the quality of the loan portfolio of all 22 banks, as in a report an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) presented to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

The report showed a general increase in bad/NPLs among the 22 banks, despite the 30 per cent decline to N5.78 trillion in new loans they granted in 2015.

Eighteen banks recorded increase in bad loans, and the number that exceeded the 5 per cent limit for the ratio of bad loans to total loans rose from three in 2014 to eight in 2015.

Three banks exceeded 10 per cent.

FG seeks foreign investors on London roadshow •Finance minister, CBN, DMO meet investors Tuesday

A

buja may have concluded arrangements for a roadshow in London in search of investors ahead of federal government bond sales

next week.

Government sources disclosed at fundraiser organised by Standard Chartered Bank that this is one of the options being explored to finance the N2.2 trillion deficit in the 2016 budget.

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, and officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Manage-

ment Office (DMO) will meet investors on Tuesday, June 7 to update the market on government policies.

Abuja intends to borrow as much as $10 billion from debt markets, with about half of that coming from foreign sources, to help fund a budget deficit worsened by the slump in oil prices that has slashed revenues and weakened the naira.

"It's non-deal roadshow to explain government policy to investors.

There's no transaction. It's been a while since the government came to London to update investors on what's happening," Reuters News

reported.

DMO Director General, Abraham Nwankwo, told Reuters last week Nigeria is likely to sell a eurobond this year.

Nigeria has pushed ahead with some reforms meant to free up cash to invest in badly needed infrastructure, but critics worry about the pace, given the loss of oil revenues and a currency peg that has caused the economy to contract.

In mid-May, the government hiked petrol pump price 67 per cent to N145 per litre, ending an expensive subsidy scheme that has cost it bil-

lions of dollars.

It used a rate of N285 to the dollar to set the prices, compared with an official rate of N197.

The move prompted the CBN to abandon its 15-month naira peg to the dollar to adopt a flexible currency regime, a policy U-turn designed to boost exports and local manufacturing and to stave off a recession.

But the bank has yet to clarify how the new policy announced last week will work, spooking foreign investors long worried about getting caught up in the middle of a devaluation.

President Muhammadu Buhari for

months rejected calls to devalue the naira. However, during his Democracy Day speech on Sunday, May 29, he backed the decision by the CBN to move away from a currency peg seen as overvaluing the naira.

A banking source in London told Reuters that the market was in the dark over the CBN’s new currency policy.

"The reason why Nigeria is reluctant to come to the market is that the government knows investors will ask about the currency issue," the banker said.

France reiterates Nigeria’s key role in investment in Africa

•As Elumelu seeks French investors

N

igeria remains strategic to French investment in Africa despite the economic challenges facing the continent’s largest economy.

French Senate President, Gerard Larcher, emphasised the point at the first ‘Colloque Nigeria’ on doing business and investment in Nigeria, organised by the French Senate at Palais de Luxembourg in Paris.

He said French investors are keen on Nigeria, which “remains the first destination of French in-

vestment in sub Saharan Africa.

We want to strengthen these privileged links.”

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Chairman, Tony Elumelu, also the proprietor of Heirs Holdings, was at the colloquium to woo French investors to Nigeria.

A speech he delivered stressed the profit potentials of the country despite economic challenges caused by the global slump in commodity prices.

“Nigeria remains a very viable, attractive and important investment and export destination for French companies …. I would argue that now is a good time

to come and invest in Nigeria, because it is an investor’s market.

“The fundamentals of the Nigerian economy remain strong,” he said.

Elumelu added that some of the trends supporting longterm growth are the increased use of technology by Nigerians, high consumerism, a young demographic, and increasing urbanisation.

He encouraged French businesses to discover Nigeria, would-be investors to find the right partner that would help them navigate the environment, and be committed to invest for

the long haul.

“Nigeria has always been a unique country. We are not only the most populous country on the continent of Africa, we are amongst the best educated and most-travelled people in Africa.

“We Nigerians are well known for our positive outlook and can-do spirit.

“Even more importantly, we have a strong culture and spirit of entrepreneurship. The smart investor knows that this is the time to enter our market because the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy remain strong, and where others

perceive risk and challenge, the glass is actually half full rather than half empty.

“The large Nigerian economy plays an important leading role in West Africa and beyond. So when you invest in Nigeria, the benefits spill over to our neighbours in dozens of countries.”

Elumelu thanked investors for their enthusiasm about Nigeria, and encouraged them to “believe in Nigeria; come to Nigeria; discover Nigeria; invest in Nigeria; help develop Nigeria and prosper with Nigerians.

“Most importantly, take an Africapitalist approach to enter-

ing and investing in Nigeria because what we are looking for are sustainable partnerships that will deliver sustainable development through the private sector going about its normal commercial activities.”

Larcher expressed delight at Elumelu’s contribution to the economic development of Africa, especially entrepreneurship where the Tony Elumelu Foundation – through its Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme – promotes business startups across the continent.

54

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Company Focus Duru: My persecution by PenCom First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL) founder, Chidi Duru, narrates his ordeal to Assistant Business Editor, KELECHI MGBOJI. Reason for licence The licence for First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL) was in recognition of the work I did in bringing to fruition the Pension Reform Act of 2014 which could be said to be my bill in the National Assembly (NASS).

FGPL has first generation of shareholders, second, and third. Eventually I brought 37 shareholders together to promote FGPL as a business.

Shareholders We started the process of incorporating FGPL in 2004.

Our original document show myself as the promoter, plus Nnamdi Anama, Mrs. Okpara (wife of Austin Okpara, former House of Representatives deputy speaker), Abba Aji (then Senate Committee on Establishment and Industry Committee chairman), and finally Echegba Ndu. These were the five initial names that were part of the start of FGPL. Aji did not invest in the business.

The second generation of shareholders took the list to 31, and the third raised it to 37.

like to undertake a ‘Target Examination’. That was barely one month after presenting to us its report for 2010 which categorised our firm as ‘The Most Improved PFA’.

The then Managing Director, Wilson Ideva, was relieved of his office for acts of insubordination and for acts that members of the board did not find as befitting his office.

Then PenCom started the Target Examination and when it wrote its report that was sent to the board in June 2011, the board members queried it.

The board drew its attention to what is required of PenCom under the Pension Reform Act, which is: “If a report is done by a regulator, the report will be submitted to the directors.

“Thereafter, the directors are bound by law to submit that report to the shareholders; and shareholders will vote on that report. And whatever is that outcome of that vote becomes the decision of the company.”

But PenCom didn’t allow us to go through that process. It insisted on that Target Report which it wanted to ram down on shareholders.

Origin of the problem

What PenCom said in the Target Report

The problem began in 2010 when FGPL became a profitable business. Before then, the firm was struggling because it did not have the required assets under management.

Assets under management make you receive the returns or commission for managing those assets. It was a long process of having a large pool of assets under management that made us become profitable.

We invited a group from South Africa, Novera, to invest in FGPL, and it invested a total N224 million staggered over a period of time. But what was more important was the technical skill they brought to FGPL. In 2010, the business became profitable and paid its first dividend.

On February 23, 2010, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) presented to the board its annual review of each PFA, in which FGPL was categorised as the most improved PFA in 2010. Every director was very happy with that.

I was surprised that on March 22, 2011, PenCom wrote us a letter that it would

PenCom queried the way FGPL was being run.

It also reported that one of the committees, the executive committee, which the board used to oversight the management of the company, was one committee too many: that it was getting more involved in the oversight of the company, which was not true.

The oversight function which the board detailed in the executive committee of the board was to help the management become profitable, well run and organised.

The result manifested in 2010 when the company became profitable, declared dividend, and was categorised as ‘The Most Improved PFA’.

The report also alleged that the meetings of the board were becoming too many; that the chairman of the board couldn’t have been chairman because he had insignificant shares in the company.

The chairman, who had over N20 million worth of shares in the company, could not be said to have insignificant shareholding.

We thought that our article

and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) did not provide qualification to be on the board not to talk of being the chairman of the board.

We did not agree with the report and proceeded to court in August 2011. Effective August 11, 2011, Justice Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja issued an exparte order restraining PenCom from implementing the ‘Target Report’ pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

But on August 15 PenCom dissolved the board and appointed an interim management into FGPL, which is still running it till today.

We felt outraged, our partners from South Africa felt outraged, shareholders were shocked and petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, on this disrespect for court order.

Adoke, in his two letters of August 18 and September 8, 2011 to PenCom asked it to obey the court order, revert to the status quo, allow the board to function and, more importantly, dismantle the interim management.

Like the court order, the letters and directive of Adoke were also discountenanced. No step was taken to reverse those decisions of PenCom. However, on June 18, 2012, the court delivered full judgment having heard all the parties.

It upbraided PenCom for being above the law, disrespectful to the law, for not obeying court order; and ordered that the interim management appointed in FGPL be removed.

The court requested the commissioner of police in Lagos, where we have our head office, and the police commissioner in Abuja to enable the board members take back their business.

That has not been implemented and the original directors are still kept outside the company. The shareholders are still kept out of the company.

And the company has not had an annual or emergency general meeting in the past six years.

PenCom is still managing the business.

Detention of your sister by the EFCC On Monday, October 3, 2011, which was a holiday because October 1 was a Saturday, operatives of the EFCC invaded my house and requested my presence in their office on a holiday.

Duru I had never before then received any call nor received any invitation by letter on any matter before. I was taken to their office and presented with a petition that Kashim Ibrahim Imam wrote to the EFCC to implement the Target Report

by PenCom. It was a surprise to me because the court had issued an order saying that the Target Report should not be implemented pending the determination of a substantive suit.

Kashim and five of the 37 shareholders had also gone to a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order of mandamus to compel the EFCC to investigate the Target Report issued

by PenCom. The court suspended that application as an abuse of court process since there was already a judgment of the court.

I was kept overnight with the EFCC and on October 4, my sister, Chinyere Christy Ekweonu, requested two directors to take me on bail, which they did.

We thought that was the end of the matter because the panel set up to look into the matter from the EFCC concluded that this is actually a business transaction that had gone wrong among partners

and has no business being before the EFCC. However, in 2012 – immediately the court gave the full judgment nullifying the Target Report by PenCom and mandating it to hand back the business to its directors and original shareholders – we applied to the police commissioners in Lagos and Abuja to help us take back our business.

A lot of activities then began to happen. One of the shareholders, Kashim, a friend of the then minister of police affairs, reached out to him and through him got to the then Inspector General of Police, M. D. Abubakar, who invited us to make a report on why we were disturbing the peace in FGPL. A complainant now became an accused. We showed the judgment of the court but that did not hold water. Before we realised what was happening, the EFCC and the police were both investigating the matter.

Then we wrote to Adoke and brought this matter again to his attention in January 2013, but the pressure was now mounting because the police and the EFCC were both inviting us.

Adoke then wrote to the police to stop as two agencies of the government couldn’t be

doing the same thing and that they should bring the file to him. The two letters were written on January 17 and 23 2013 asking them to bring the file.

However, the police continued and preferred a charge against me before a Magistrate’s Court in Abuja for alleged theft and forgery.

We went before the Magistrate’s Court on March 28, 2013, exhibited all the judgments of the High Court, including the order saying the police must stay action pending the determination of the case.

The magistrate ruled on March 28, 2013 that this was an abuse of court process and in conflict with judgments of the High Court.

However, I got a call from the EFCC requiring my presence on Easter Tuesday, April 3, 2013.

Unknown to me, it was an agreement between the police and the EFCC to hand me over to the police.

I was in their office from 9am to about 3pm when officers from the office of the IGP came to pick me. At 5pm, I was moved to Maitama police station to be kept overnight.

However, because Easter Thursday was a public holiday, the judge had not endorsed the order he gave crushing

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

the charge before his court.

He only signed that order on Easter Tuesday.

When my lawyers got that order, they quickly rushed to the office of the IGP and handed it to him. That was how the police sent their car to Maitama to return me to the IGP and then back to the EFCC. From EFCC, I was released to go home.

In January 2013, we became aware through a mutual friend that another charge had been preferred against me in a court here in Lagos.

We immediately went to court, got all the court documents, then realised that it was the EFCC that had come to Lagos as of October 5, 2015 to prefer a charge on the same Target Report before the High Court.

We made appearance at the court. The next date for hearing was February 16, 2016.

But the EFCC was not in court and the judge adjourned the matter for hearing of their preliminary objection on April 11.

It became very clear that somebody somewhere, whom we understand is Kashim, is stoking the fire again using government agency to undermine and persecute an innocent citizen.

We then petitioned the current AGF, Abubakar Malami, on March 8, 2016 to bring to his attention this matter once more.

On April 6, when our petitions were considered, Malami caused a letter to be written to the EFCC demanding that the case file be returned to his office for review. Nothing happened. He wrote a second letter and again nothing happened.

On April 27, I asked my lawyers to write the EFCC that, in view of the recent two letters of Malami, would it still be writing me to appear before it for a matter that has already been tried in court?

On April 11, my lawyers and the lawyers of the EFCC agreed on the preliminary objection.

So the ruling was fixed for May 11, 2016.

On May 10, I flew from Abuja to Lagos to be in court the next day. But the court did not sit because the judge was indisposed. The matter was then adjourned to June 8, 2016.

As we were leaving court, I received a call from my sister that the operatives of the EFCC were at her office looking for me and they had arrested her.

She informed them that I was in the court in Lagos where they charged me to.

They took her to their office and detained her.

What does Kashim Ibrahim want?

A filing that did not have the directors’ approval nor the shareholders’ resolution was filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on

June 05, 2016

December 11, 2011 which restructured the shareholding structure of FGPL. The shareholding of our foreign partners was removed as investors in FGPL and treated now as deposit for shares.

My shares were reduced by 50 per cent from 248 million to 122 million. There was no shareholders’ resolution; no shareholders’ meeting; nor was there directors’ meeting where this was approved.

The people that filed this were members of the interim management appointed by PenCom against court order.

On June 13, 2012 another illegal thing happened. Kashim was said to have been elected as chairman of FGPL. There was an order of the court restraining the convening of the meeting of June 13, 2012. The venue of the meeting advertised in their advertorial was Niger Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

But when they filed the purported resolution appointing Kashim as chairman and four others as board members of FGPL, they stated that the meeting held on June 13, 2012 at Valencia Hotel.

The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) says if you move the venue of your meeting to another venue, that meeting will stand adjoined till the following week and the new agenda and notice will be published for the shareholders.

So, you could not have a meeting that was purported to hold at Niger Hall in Transcorp Hilton in June 13, 2012 and that meeting now held in Valencia Hotel on June 13, 2012.

There was also a court order stopping and restraining that meeting advertised to hold in Transcorp Hilton. Again, this was an infraction of the law and order of the court.

So the matter was now filed and Kashim was now introduced in the CAC as the chairman of FGPL, which we are now challenging in the court.

What other shareholders are saying The Kashim group was initially comprised nine members. But six broke away and did requisition for an emergency general meeting (EGM) of FGPL in March 2016. In that meeting, they removed Kashim and one other as directors.

And they have on their own, all the shareholders, in a general meeting, taken a stand that • This business belongs to them and PenCom should hand it over to them.

• PenCom cannot claim to be properly running a business and has not conducted an annual general meeting (AGM) in the past six years to account to the shareholders of how the business is being run.

• Pencom cannot be properly running the business without an annual account and financial audit of the company approved and signed by the directors and approved by

55

shareholders in an AGM filed to the CAC. • Pencom cannot be properly running the business where dividends have not been paid to shareholders in the past six years.

The shareholders have been keeping track that they have over N4.8 billion in the bank and the money is growing by the day.

Corporate governance in FGPL managed by the interim management appointed by PenCom is at its lowest ebb.

The company has not paid any tax to any government, Lagos or federal. Why? Because it is under a management that is not known to law; with a history of abuse of court order and abuse of court process. The shareholders are not in control of their business.

And this is what the shareholders are crying for, give them back their business and let them run it like any other PFA in the market and then regulate the business. You cannot be a regulator and a manager at the same time.

Allegation that you did not buy the shares’ worth of money deposited with you by shareholders At FGPL, there were three names that led to the final name that we chose.

Initially, the name was First Provident Trust Limited. That name was rejected by PenCom. Then I changed the name to First Pension which again was rejected by PenCom. Finally, we changed the name to FGPL which was now approved by PenCom as the name that we have as a company.

Each investor and shareholder issued his cheque or instrument to one of these three names.

None of the investors or shareholders invested in the name of any platform other than the three names which finally evolved to FGPL. It was these instruments that were used as a proof of evidence to PenCom of the investments that was done by each and every shareholder.

It could not have happened that any shareholder or investor in FGPL could have given money to me or to any other person for his investment in FGPL in any other name.

The guideline by PenCom was that every investment must be made in the name of the proposed PFA on the basis of which it now issued Approval In Principle (AIP) to become a PFA. After AIP, we were given a final licence when we now presented the final instrument that each and every shareholder invested in FGPL. When other PFAs were raising N150 million, FGPL raised N235 million in the first tranche and later raised another N500 million to a total of over N880 million.

Duru And all those investments were done in one of those three names which were accounted for and registered in PenCom as proof of evidence.

Fate of foreign investor The South African partner went to court and successfully challenged their removal from the board.

They petitioned their embassy here in Nigeria; they petitioned the Ministry of Justice; and like every other shareholder, they are waiting for the resolution of the case

by PenCom. Allegation that you forged the signature of Ibrahim Imam in the shareholders’ agreement to admit the investment of Novera One of the charges they brought before the Magistrate’s Court in Abuja was the forgery of the signature of Ibrahim Imam in the shareholders agreement to admit the investment of our partners from South Africa into FGPL. That was surprising because, first, I am not the management; second, I have no role to play in it.

However, on November 13, 2008 when the then managing director presented to the board that the shareholders agreement permitting the investment of Novare into FGPL had been signed by the shareholders (there are two ways to obtain the agreement of shareholders – either by all the shareholders signing by

what we call round ribbon or at a general meeting of the shareholders) but this process was done through round ribbon.

The chairman at that meeting said since we had an AGM coming up on January 19, 2009, he would prefer that the question of investment of Novare be tabled and discussed at the AGM. He said he agreed with the managing director and company secretary that Novare had met every condition for a resolution of the shareholders to admit Novare into FGPL but that we had nothing to lose if we waited for the next two months to take the matter to a general meeting of the shareholders.

And that was carried as a resolution of the board.

At the shareholders’ meeting on January 19, 2009, the chairman said he had been advised that with the shareholders agreement as signed, we had met the requirement to admit Novare.

But he said he would like to keep the document aside as he wanted the shareholders to understand what they had signed which would dilute their shareholding because when Novare invested in FGPL, if you own 18 per cent for instance, it will come down to 15 per cent.

“At the end of the day, unanimously, without any dissenting vote, Novare was admitted to invest in FGPL. It was the resolution of that meeting that was filed with the CAC admitting the investment of Novare into FGPL.

If anybody knew that his signature was forged or he didn’t agree with it, he could have raised it at the AGM. So, this is part of the charge against me which the Abuja High Court quashed.

Where do you go from here?

We have appealed to the AGF who has requested the file to be sent to his office; we are hopeful that this will be done.

We are hopeful that they will now open the veil surrounding all the activities in FGPL and look at them with an unbiased mind and bring parties to question.

• If it is found that there has been any infraction on our part, let justice be done.

• If it is found that we have not done anything wrong and that some other people have misused their power and influence, let justice be done.

• There must be an order that FGPL must immediately convene a meeting of the shareholders.

• It must not continue that FGPL has not had any shareholders’ meeting in the past five years • It must not happen that FGPL has not filed annual return and accounts to the CAC for five years and the CAC is keeping quiet.

• It must not happen that for five years, FGPL has neither paid dividend to the shareholders nor tax to the government and the regulatory authorities, particularly now that the government is broke.

56

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Business Extra

Ebonyi banks on multiplier effects of youth training, empowerment Ebonyi State Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Sabinus Nwakwegu, explains to Special Correspondent, CHIJIOKE AGWU, in Abakaliki why the state government is training youths in horticulture.

He also speaks on other training and empowerment programmes of the ministry, including getting hawkers off the streets.

Affecting lives I am the commissioner for economic empowerment and job creation in Ebonyi State; and by the grace of God, I am also former deputy speaker of state House of Assembly.

This ministry used to be known as the Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation. It was changed to the Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Job Creation by our hardworking Governor, David Umahi, in line with his agenda of empowering Ebonyi people.

That is to say that the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of seeing that our youths are gainfully engaged through training and re-training – and empowering them, too – because our government believes that to tackle youth restiveness, unempl oyment needs to be tackled first.

We believe that they should be trained in various skills, including scridding. It is very unfortunate that in this country, if you are building a house and you want the house to be scridded, you have to engage Ghanaians, Togolese or Senegalese while our boys here are doing nothing.

That is why the governor said enough is enough, our youths should be engaged in meaningful ventures.

Again, under this ministry there is a programme going on in Abuja on horticulture which our youths are also participating in. The governor believes that when the youths are trained they can also train others in the state.

About six Ebonyians are currently participating in the programme. We selected two persons in each of the three senatorial zones of the state for the training.

By the time they finish the training, they will be settled to start their own.

Setting them up after training Our youth-loving governor has graciously approved that each trainee will be given N1 million to start his own business in horticulture when they come back from the training.

But we have the problem

of water. The geologist we engaged to get water for us at Juju Hill said the level of water there is far below borehole level.

So, when they finish their training I will go to Abuja for the closing ceremony and bring them back for the state to settle them to start their own businesses.

The money to set them up has been approved.

Ensuring funds are not misused We are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them. In the MOU, they will tell us how they intend to use the money judiciously.

We want multiplier effects. If they start the business they will train others, so that the thing will keep moving; and before you know it, a good number of our youths will be trained.

We shall be monitoring them to ensure judicious use of the money.

Juju Hill water problem and proposed water factory The issue of water at Juju Hill is different from the state government’s plan to establish a water factory.

Here, we are talking about water which horticulturists will use for their nurseries, not the lack of water for a water factory.

We are working on fixing that anyway.

Other programmes Another scheme we have in the ministry is the Youwin Programme of the federal government, which was started during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Our governor, being a highly innovative governor, likes the programme and directed my ministry to key into it and package our youths to benefit from it.

We started with a new Website (www.moeejc.com) with a scratch card to enable our youths access the website.

There are some questions you are expected to answer to test you to know whether you have a business idea. It is not a jamboree programme; we need serious-minded youths.

We want to know the youths

that can handle important projects or business plans. The moment we go through the applications, local government by local government, we will come out with those who are successful.

In Abakaliki Local Government, we have 26 youths, Afikpo North 15, Afikpo South five, Ebonyi three, Ezza North nine, Ezza South four, Ikwo six, Izzi six, Ishieli 10, Ohaozara five, Ohaukwu 13, Onicha six.

A total 116 persons have applied so far.

That is what we have got so far, but 17 out of these persons didn’t indicate the local government they come from. And that totally invalidates such applications because you can't come from the air.

Where you come from is one of the basic information we need while assessing you. All this information is on the website for intending applicants.

Requirements In the application you are required to submit your business plan for us to see and know how viable it is.

We want youths that will put our money to use and not people who, when you give them money, they will go and marry more wives and abandon the purpose for which the money was given to them.

The governor has said that the time of wastage has gone in the state.

Benefits of Youwin Programme The programme has a lot of benefits.

One, during the campaign, the governor promised that he would better the lives of Ebonyians – and he is doing it economically, infrastructurally, morally, and more.

He promised to take the projects one by one. If you had been to Abakaliki before Umahi assumed office, you will agree totally with me that things have drastically improved.

He is doing this because this government is anchored on a divine mandate.

When the people you are ruling are happy with you, you can sleep very well. That is also one of the benefits.

Furthermore, all this youth restiveness, youth exuberance, what are the causes? Idleness.

Because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

But the moment you keep someone busy, he can’t think about committing crime, and where crime is reduced the leader is happy because the state is calm.

IGR value in programme The state government needs IGR (internally generated

We are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them. In the MOU, they will tell us how they intend to use the money judiciously.

We want multiplier effects. If they start the business they will train others, so that the thing will keep moving; and before you know it, a good number of our youths will be trained. revenue) because our monthly allocation has dropped badly.

The programme will improve the IGR of the state because those we are training will train others who will also establish businesses. They will pay the government tax and thereby increase IGR. Our responsibility is to monitor them to see that they don’t misuse the money.

Sensitising the people on the benefits We have done a lot of publication and sensitisation to inform the people about our programmes. We have mounted billboards at strategic areas in the state.

We have also done interactive programmes on radio and television, including publication in newspapers, to sensitive them on the procedure of application and the benefits therein.

I can attribute the low application to ignorance on the use of the internet.

Financial empowerment of Ebonyians Yes, the governor has approved the empowerment of some selected Ebonyians with N50,000 each.

We are working on compiling the list of the beneficiaries

in all the 171 wards of the state, and as soon as that is done, the money will be disbursed.

those in Abuja have been calling me and talking about the good performance of our youths who are receiving training there.

Criteria for selecting beneficiaries

Challenges

The beneficiaries will be the poor people and not those who have viable means of livelihood.

We have held meetings at the council headquarters with the political leaders on how to select the beneficiaries. As soon as we are done, the governor will empower them.

We also talk of the sachet water factory which the governor and the executive council approved; and when that is done, lots of Ebonyians will be employed.

Other training schemes Our youths will be trained in various fields such as scridding, carpentry, masonry, fashion designing, and many more.

We will have training centres across the three senatorial zones of the state.

Vision of ministry We want an Ebonyi where youths are serious, vibrant, enterprising, and useful to themselves and to the society.

I am very happy because

One of our political grandees, Arthur Nzeribe, was asked what it takes to win elections; he said, first money, second money, third money, fourth money, money, money.

Our challenge here is money but we thank our governor that in spite of the financial difficulty, we are moving forward.

Rehabilitation of street hawkers We are also working on that, and very soon we will come out with a comprehensive list of all Ebonyians hawking in the cities with a view to rehabilitating them.

Just a few weeks back, we visited Lagos State and interacted with some of them. We disclosed to them the readiness of the Ebonyi State government to bring them back home and train them and also empower them.

They were very happy to see us and also expressed readiness to embrace the scheme. We are also looking forward to visiting other cities to meet them.

Certainly, very soon we will begin the exercise.

M toring www.thenicheng.com

Hyundai Elantra’s new value edition Stories by Foster Obi

Motoring/Maritime Editor

T

he Elantra compact car comes in saloon and GT hatchback body styles. It seats up to five people.

For frontline competitors you talk about cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, and Chevrolet Cruze.

All versions of the Elantra except the Sport come with a 1.8-litre fourcylinder engine. The Sport and the GT hatchback use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

Both engines are available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2016 Elantra is a new value edition which parades 16-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, keyless entry with push-button start and heated front seats.

The Limited model adds keyless entry with push-button start and automatic climate control.

Elantra still looks fresh compared with other small saloon cars, but the current generation debuted way back in 2011, and it exceeds all other major players for length of tenure.

The 2016 Hyundai Elantra saloon comes in four trim levels: SE, Value Edition, Limited, and Sport.

Standard SE features include 15-inch steel wheels, full power accessories, intermittent wipers, air-conditioning, cruise control, a trip computer, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and a USB port.

A Popular Equipment package is optional on SE, though only if you spring for the automatic transmission.

It adds 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, a driver blind-spot mirror, extendable sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, steering-wheelmounted audio controls, a sliding

Performance

Safety Standard safety features for all 2016 Hyundai Elantra saloon include antilock disc brakes, hill-start assist, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags.

A rearview camera is optional on the SE and standard on the other trims.

The blue link telematics system (standard on Limited, optional on Sport) provides services such as remote access via smartphone app, emergency assistance, theft recovery and geo-fencing (allowing parents to set limits for teenage drivers).

Interior design, special features The 2016 Hyundai Elantra's adventurous exterior design spills over to the cabin, where swooping lines and contours give the dashboard an unconventional appearance.

Most of the important controls are nonetheless easy to reach and figure out, while build quality seems generally solid.

Maintenance tips What ‘check engine’ light means When your car's "Check Engine" light comes on, it's usually accompanied by a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

The light could mean a costly problem or it could be something minor, like a loose fuel cap.

But in many cases, it means at minimum that you'll be visiting the mechanic to locate the malfunction and get the light turned off.

The Check Engine light – more formally known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) – is a signal from the car's engine computer that something is wrong.

The car dealer's service can diagnose the problem but with a lot of cost. But there's a way to preview what the problem might be.

In the United States, reports show that prior to 1996, carmakers had their own engine diagnostic systems, primarily to ensure their cars were compli-

ant with Environmental Protection Agency pollution-control requirements.

Starting with model-year 1996, automakers standardised their systems under a protocol called OBD-II, which stipulated a standardised list of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) and mandated that all cars provide a universal connector to access this information.

It's usually located under the steering column and is easy to access.

Interpreting the code Do-it-yourselfers can buy inexpensive code readers that connect to this standardised onboard diagnostics (OBD) port and search for the code's meaning on Web sites such as Engine Light Help.

Some code readers can even turn off the Check Engine light, even though this action alone does not actually repair the underlying problem. In many such cases the light will simply come back on later.

Experts say that many drivers confuse the "service required" light on the gauge cluster for the Check Engine light. These warning lights are unrelated.

The service required light just means the car is due for an oil change or other routine maintenance. It is not the indicator of trouble that the Check Engine light is.

Check Engine lights come in orange, yellow or amber, depending on the manufacturer.

If the light begins flashing, however, it indicates a more serious problem, such as a misfire that can quickly overheat the catalytic converter.

These emissions devices operate at high temperatures to cut emissions, but can pose a fire hazard if faulty.

Don't ignore that light So if the Check Engine light comes on and it's steady rather than flashing, what do you do?

The most obvious answer, of course, is to get the engine checked. But many people do

57

Carmagedeon

By Jonas Agwu 0805 316 6400 jonasagwu65@yahoo.com

Echoes on speed limiter enforcement

center armrest, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, voice controls, a 4.3-inch touchscreen display and a rearview camera.

The Value Edition starts with all of those items and adds a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

The Limited loses the sunroof, but it adds 17-inch wheels, projector headlights with LED accents, LED taillights, adjustable steering effort, a six-way power driver seat (with power lumbar), leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated rear seats and blue link telematics.

The Sport does without leather upholstery, automatic climate control, heated rear seats and Blue Link.

But it includes most of the Limited's standard equipment, substituting black exterior accents, a sport-tuned suspension and steering system and a more powerful engine (with an available manual transmission).

A 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 145 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque powers the 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE, Value Edition and Limited.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the SE, while a six-speed automatic is optional there and standard on the Value Edition and Limited.

During testing, an Elantra Value Edition sauntered to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, which is notably slower than average for the segment.

TheNiche June 05, 2016

nothing, perhaps fearing an expensive repair bill.

Some drivers with older cars want to squeeze out as many remaining miles as possible without visiting a service garage.

If the light is lit, there's a good chance the car is releasing excess pollutants or consuming too much petrol.

Ten per cent of all cars on the road have a Check Engine light on, and the drivers of half of these cars have ignored the light for more than three months, says Kristin Brocoff, a spokesperson for CarMD.com.

If the light comes on, experts say the driver should first see if the fuel cap is loose: That's a common cause.

A loose cap sends an error message to the car's computer, reporting a leak in the vapour recovery system, which is one aspect of a car's emissions system.

If the fuel cap is loose, tighten it and continue driving.

Even so, it will take some time for the light to go off, they say.

“What is the value of the life of a Nigerian?” my friend and brother, Patrick Adenusi, of Safety Beyond Borders, a non-government organisation on road safety, once asked a gathering of stakeholders.

Frank Nneji of ABC Transport echoed a similar view when he asked if the cost of speed limiter, no matter the amount, can buy a life.

This same type of question haunts me each time a road traffic crash claims a life on our roads.

It equally haunts me each time I receive a report of an employee killed by a driver for slowing him down from killing himself or maiming others.

The same thought ran through my mind when, prior to the April 1 deadline for the enforcement of speed limiter, I read stories questioning why the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would introduce the speed limiter, and its authority to enforce it.

In fact, ever since the resolution of the House of Representatives which halted the April 1, 2016 enforcement date, I have adopted the “siddon look” (wait and see) posture knowing that anyone who values life would naturally applaud the introduction of speed limiter.

My optimitism was boosted when I attended the public hearing of the House Committee on the FRSC in March where, overwhelmingly, the imperative for the initiative was drummed home by over 99 per cent of the stakeholders present.

Those who had reservations merely proposed that its implementation be complemented by other technologies.

Then my optimism was jolted again when I learnt of a litigation filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja by the International Human Rights and Anti Corruption Society challenging the powers of the FRSC to enforce speed limiter.

But I was relieved when the court dismissed the suit, describing the position of opponents to the device as lacking in merit, and affirming that the FRSC acted in line with its statutory powers.

The statutory powers the court cuted are contained in the FRSC Establishment Act (2007) and the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012.

Section 10 Sub section (m) of the Act empowers the FRSC in ‟determining and enforcing speed limits for all categories of roads and vehicles and controlling the use of speed limiting devices.”

It adds that ‟all motor vehicles plying the highway shall be in possession of good electric or air horn, jack, wheel spanner, tools, fire extinguisher, inflated spare tyre, first aid box, emergency warning triangles or cones, laminated windscreen and mirror, speed governor (speed limiter), wipers, insurance certificate and road worthiness certificate.”

The NRTR says, “a person shall not drive a vehicle on any public road which is not fitted with a speed limiter (speed limiting device).”

I am not a human rights activist and I have nothing against them. I am convinced that their passion is for our general good, which I believe should include buying into government strategies to preserve life.

These strategies include checking excessive speeding – which, according to my boss, Boboye Oyeyemi, in his presentation at the public hearing, is a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of road crash as well as the severity of injuries.

Speed affects the driver, the vehicle, other road users, and the environment.

Oyeyemi said the functions of the speed limiter are multi-dimensional. Among others, speed • Increases driver’s response time to objects and increases risk of collision.

• Reduces driver’s ability to steer safely and around curves and objects on the road.

• Extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle.

• Increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.

Between January and November 2012, Nigeria recorded an increase in road crashes. A greater percentage (35 per cent) was attributed to speeding, and over 58 per cent were speed related.

Road accidents have reduced since Nigeria began the campaign on speed limiter in 2012.

Speed violation (SPV) percentage has fallen, showing that the country has started reaping the benefits of speed limiter.

Among other benefits, speed limiter • Lowers speed, resulting in less fuel consumption by vehicles.

• Lowers speed, cutting down on vehicle maintenance cost.

• Slows down depreciation value thus a vehicle lasts longer.

• Helps change driving behaviour which has been hard to achieve over the years as the device reduces the speed of a vehicle to a pre-set limit, thus reduces overall crash risk and lessens severity of crash.

• Engenders good monitoring mechanism for vehicle owners/ fleet operators.

• Engenders compliance with ECOWAS mandate and UN Decade of Action.

• Helps the FRSC to fulfil its statutory functions through good practice.

• Helps eliminate losses through speed related crashes – vehicle loss, damage to roads and road infrastructure, house, goods, et cetera.

• Enables more relaxed driving and lowers insurance premium as a result of reduced crashes.

• Helps preserve lives.

Boboye said data from 33 countries using speed limiter prompted a technical study of road traffic in Nigeria, which led to a stakeholder’s summit on the matter.

Because of the advantages of speed limiter, several commercial fleet owners like ABC Transport, Peace Mass Transit, Abia State Transit, and others have voluntarily introduced it.

58

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

Maritime June 05, 2016

‘Nigeria shipping sector a far cry’ Stories by Foster Obi

Motoring/Maritime Editor

E

xperts believe Nigeria’s efforts at developing its shipping industry have not come up to scratch, even as this year’s World Maritime Day will be marked in four months’ time on September 29.

They advised the federal government to upgrade the sector or keep labouring for overseas countries to reap the harvest.

Some argued that while Transport Minister, Rotimi Amechi, has expressed desire to revamp maritime, his target of N500 billion given to each

revenue generating agency in the sector does not suggest an improvement in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if the target is met, the means notwithstanding.

Maritime presents a huge opportunity for economic diversification and job creation, but agencies like the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have to take the necessary steps.

According to analysts, the primary action to take in order to harness the maritime industry for greater yield is to develop the indigenous shipping industry.

This is why this year’s World Maritime Day is critical to Nige-

ria’s maritime development.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said the theme "Shipping: indispensable to the world" was chosen to focus on the link between shipping and the global society.

It is also to raise awareness of the relevance of IMO as the global regulatory body for international shipping.

“According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), around 80 per cent of global trade by volume and over 70 per cent of global trade by value are carried by sea and are handled by ports worldwide,” IMO said.

“These shares are even higher in the case of most

developing countries. Without shipping the import and export of goods on the scale necessary to sustain the modern world would not be possible.

“Seaborne trade continues to expand, bringing benefits for consumers across the world through competitive freight costs.

“There are more than 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally, transporting every kind of cargo.

“The world fleet is registered in over 150 nations and manned by more than a million seafarers of virtually every nationality.”

World Maritime Day will be celebrated at IMO headquarters on September 29 but other

NSC still Nigeria’s ports economic regulator, says FG

T

NSC CEO, Hassan Bello

he Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) remains ports economic regulator, says the federal government, despite protests from the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN).

STOAN has sued President Muhammadu Buhari to court in the fight for supremacy,

but Buhari has stressed the importance of the NSC as ports economic regulator.

He said the NSC was appointed to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness, and economic viability of the maritime sector.

But STOAN in its suit against Buhari, the government and the NSC, insisted that the appointment of the

NSC is unknown to law.

STOAN legal counsel, Femi Atoyebi, argued that the appointment of the NSC usurps the powers of the legislature to make laws under the Constitution.

Said he: “The basis of the action by STOAN is that under the separate Concession Agreements with the federal government (agreements which were signed on government’s behalf by NPA and BPE), only the NPA is recognised as the port regulator.

“And if that has to change, both the law creating the NPA and the Concession Agreements will have to be amended, the former of which has to follow Constitutional process of amending the Act and the latter of which cannot be done without the concurrence of STOAN. “It is important to stress that the offensive instruments in respect of which

the court action was taken out was not issued by the current government but by the past Goodluck Jonathan administration.”

However, Buhari explained at a seminar the NSC organised for judges at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja that the reform in the ports cannot be complete without an economic regulator to encourage transparency.

Buhari, represented by federal Solicitor General, Taiwo Abiboki, said the economic regulator is needed to enhance revenue generation and boost patronage of the seaports for imports and exports.

He urged both the judiciary and the legislature to support the reform for the sake of the national economy, and called on the NSC to produce viable blueprints for achieving maximum exploitation of the economic potentials of the maritime industry.

Stakeholders demand harmonisation of maritime laws

T

he Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) remains ports economic regulator, says the federal government, despite protests from the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN).

STOAN has sued President Muhammadu Buhari to court in the fight for supremacy, but Buhari has stressed the importance of the NSC as ports economic regulator.

He said the NSC was appointed to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness, and economic viability of the maritime sector.

But STOAN in its suit against Buhari, the government and the NSC, insisted that the appointment of the NSC is unknown to law.

STOAN legal counsel, Femi Atoyebi, argued that the appointment of the NSC usurps the powers of the legislature to make laws under the Constitution.

Said he: “The basis of the action by STOAN is that under the separate Concession Agreements with the federal government (agreements which were signed on government’s behalf

by NPA and BPE), only the NPA is recognised as the port regulator.

“And if that has to change, both the law creating the NPA and the Concession Agreements will have to be amended, the former of which has to follow Constitutional process of amending the Act and the latter of which cannot be done without the concurrence of STOAN. “It is important to stress that the offensive instruments in respect of which the court action was taken out was not issued by the current government but by the past Goodluck Jonathan administration.”

However, Buhari explained at a seminar the NSC organised for judges at Sheraton Hotel,

Abuja that the reform in the ports cannot be complete without an economic regulator to encourage transparency.

Buhari, represented by federal Solicitor General, Taiwo Abiboki, said the economic regulator is needed to enhance revenue generation and boost patronage of the seaports for imports and exports.

He urged both the judiciary and the legislature to support the reform for the sake of the national economy, and called on the NSC to produce viable blueprints for achieving maximum exploitation of the economic potentials of the maritime industry.

events and activities focusing on the theme will be held throughout the year.

Experts have stressed that developing the shipping sector is one of the major ways Nigeria can create jobs and activate genuine maritime productivity.

If developed, with a coastal stretch of over 800 kilometres, Nigeria’s cabotage trade can absorb five million people rendering services in the territorial waters and contributing to GDP. An investor in maritime and oil and gas, Emmanuel Iheanacho, asked NIMASA to brace up to the challenge of developing shipping in Nigeria.

He advised the new NIMASA Director General, Dakuku Peterside, to concentrate on growing

indigenous capacity through use of the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF).

Peterside “must also make the cabotage provisions work.

He would need to properly understand the difference and distinction between the administrative responsibility for the safety of shipping and the security of the maritime environment,” he said.

Iheanacho, who is a former interior minister, also urged Peterside to focus on the safety of shipping and costs.

Stakeholders advised that sincere and faithful implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, otherwise known as the Cabotage Act 2003, remains the way to go.

NIMASA to undergo reform

Peterside

T

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will undergo reform to gel with the changing times, increase capacity, and drive growth, according to its Director General, Dakuku Peterside.

He stressed that reform has become necessary in order to enable NIMASA productively key into President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘change’ agenda.

Peterside spoke when a delegation of the Oxford Business Group (OBG), led by its Country Director, Izabela Kruk, visited him.

He said NIMASA has the human capital to refocus and reposition itself and is determined to provide the missing link, which is a committed leadership.

He emphasised that NIMASA is developing a medium term strategic growth plan, which will help the management focus on its core mandate of promoting the development of indigenous capacity in international and coastal shipping as well as effectively regulating the maritime industry.

Peterside said NIMASA

under his leadership will completely change the negative perception of corruption, inefficiency, and abandonment of its core mandate.

He promised that the agency will ensure full compliance with the Cabotage Act 2003, which is necessary to fast-track maritime growth.

Kruk expressed the readiness of OBG to partner with NIMASA in documenting and publicising its activities in its widely read journal.

She highlighted the benefits of OBG’s partnership with some Nigerian agencies, including the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

She said the collaboration has yielded a lot of positive results for Nigeria, and OBG intends to do same for NIMASA. OBG is a global publishing, research, and consultancy firm.

It publishes economic intelligence on the markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, educating investors on the opportunities in these markets and how best to harness them.

59

FOOTBALL ATHLETICS

TheNiche

BASKETBALL TENNIS

FLASHBACK

SPORTS

June 05, 2016

www.thenicheng.com

a.bada@thenicheng.com

FOOTBALL Football

PAGE 61

Ayo Bada Senior Correspondent 0805 410 3980, 0803 332 2615 ayobad@yahoo.com a.bada@thenicheng.com

Enyimba, El-Kanemi to clash in Fed Cup Round of 32

FOOTBALL

»

PAGE 63

Blind, Mata set for Manchester United exit

Siasia aims for Olympic Gold

N

Siasia

igeria’s Under-23 Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has set his target to win gold in the men’s football tournament at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Siasia, who steered the team to runners up at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, believes it is good enough for gold in Rio in August.

“Not many people gave us a chance going to the African finals in Senegal. We love it that way because so much focus was on the other teams and we were able to concentrate on devising our own strategies.

“The last time I took the U-23 team to the Olympics, we won silver. This time, we will aim for gold,” he disclosed.

The players left the country last Monday for the final preparation with the Suwon Invitational Tournament in Korea, which ends tomorrow, Monday, June 6.

After the tournament in Korea, the team will train in Manchester, United Kingdom before heading to Atlanta, United States from where it

will travel to Rio. Atlanta was the setting for Nigeria’s triumph at the men’s football tournament of the Olympics in 1996 – a first for an African country.

Nigeria will play in Group B against Sweden, Colombia, and Japan.

Host Brazil, who lost 0-1 to Nigeria in a friendly in Brazil two months ago, heads Group A which also has South Africa, Iraq, and Denmark.

Germany, Mexico, Korea Republic, and Fiji make up Group C. Argentina, Honduras, Algeria, and Portugal are in Group D. Among the players picked

by Siasia are Captain Azubuike Okechukwu, goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, defenders Stanley Amuzie and Segun Oduduwa, midfielders Usman Mohammed and Stanley Dimgba, forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Saviour Godwin.

Others include Yusuf Mohammed, Sincere Seth, Ndifreke Effiong, Julius Emiloju, Erhun Obanor, Saturday Erimuya, Sodiq Popoola, Ubong Ekpai, Abdulrahman Taiwo, Nathan Oduw, and Tiongoli Tonbara.

60

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Basketball Nestle Milo Basketball Championship

Cross River, Bayelsa win Equatorial Conference

T

he Equatorial Conference final in the boys’ and girls' categories of the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship have been decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Stadium, Enugu.

The curtain raiser was the girls’ final which featured Marist Comprehensive Secondary School, Uturu, Abia State and St. Jude Girls’ Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State.

St. Jude Girls took control from the first quarter and never relented until the final whistle with scores at 26-11 in the team's favour.

In reaction, Coach Tony Nelson said: “I am happy my girls got the ticket to be in the national final in Asaba.

We are going to intensify our training.”

In the boys’ final, Government Secondary School, Barracks, Cross River State was a hard nut to crack by Ritman College, Ikot Ikpene, Akwa Ibom State in a well

contested match.

Government Secondary School took the lead in the first quarter with 7-4 and recorded 20-15, 24-23 before sealing victory 35-32 in the later quarter.

Coach Omini Ubi declared that his boys enjoyed team work, discipline, and accurate shooting.

“We played as a team. My players had good understanding and always playing to instructions,’’ he stressed.

Captain Michael Mba won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Susan Odiowei of St Jude Girls’ High School won the girls’ MVP award.

Enugu State Sports Commissioner, Charles Ndukwe, noted that the championship has engaged young talents across the country.

“For the past 18 years the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship has committed itself to discovering and developing players from the grassroots.

“The youths are kept busy with the championship all year round, which has

Golf

E

ngland's Chris Wood came from three shots down to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Wood, 28, carded a threeunder-par 69 on the final round to finish one shot ahead of Rikard Karlberg, who struck a stunning 65, including a hole-in-one.

"It is the biggest win of my career, I have always wanted to win the tournament and to win with my family here is amazing," Wood said.

Masters champion, Danny Willett, slipped off the lead to finish third.

A poor 76 in the third round cost Willett the title, as he finished on seven under par, two shots behind Wood.

Bristol's Wood was fifth after the third day, but held his nerve with one eagle and a further five birdies to claim his third European Tour triumph.

"It's such a massive release to get over the line," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I always think if you're within four shots going into the last day then you have a chance. It was such a bunched leader-

The boys' champions with their helped reduce social vices.

Enugu State government is looking forward to host the national championship in the nearest future,” Ndukwe announced.

Nestle Nigeria Branch

Manager (South East), Boladale Odunlami, reiterated that for nearly 20 years Milo has been in the forefront of basketball development in Nigeria.

And, he added, “the

championship has helped to produce many top athletes in the sport, a large percentage of players in both the male and female national basketball teams today passed through the Milo

Championship.

“The Milo spirit is to support their drive to succeed and enable them enjoy the true achievement of reaching their personal best."

England's Chris Wood wins title at Wentworth board going into the final round it could have been anybody's, but I came out on top."

Australia's Scott Hend, the overnight leader, finished tied 15th after suffering a shocking final round 78 that featured three double-bogies and five bogies.

Wood will now move into the world's top 25 and has an outside chance of making the Olympics.

Englishmen Danny Willett (ninth) and Justin Rose (10th) currently occupy the two positions in the Great Britain team.

However, Wood might have to rearrange his summer schedule in order to fit in Rio. "To play in the Olympics would be amazing, but I'm getting married the week after and my stag-do clashes at the moment with the Games," he said. "We'll have to keep an eye on it.”

Wood started the final day three behind and covered the front nine in 29. It helped him open up a four-shot lead, but then the tall Bristolian was oblivious.

He avoided looking at the leaderboard and that probably helped him in a shaky

finish with four dropped shots on the way home.

When his caddie told him to lay up at the last, he suspected a par would

be enough and duly obliged.

It was the third – and biggest – win of his career, taking him into the

top 25 in the world, and makes him a probable for Europe's Ryder Cup team and a possible for the Rio Olympics.

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

61

Football

Enyimba, El-Kanemi to clash in Fed Cup Round of 32

C

onfederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League contenders, Enyimba, will confront Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, El-Kanemi Warriors, in Round of 32 of this year’s Federation Cup competition.

Also, Ifeanyi Ubah and last year’s runners up, Lobi Stars, will do battle, while Cup holders, Akwa United, take

on Kwara United.

In other matches, Prime will tackle Kano Pillars; Sunshine Stars will battle Abia Comets; Dynamite will take on Flash Flamingoes; and Shooting Stars confronts Almar.

Top World will do battle with J. Atete; Crown will engage Niger Tornadoes; Plateau United will take on Dreams; and Kogi United will trade tackles with Wikki Tourists.

Lagos State champions, MFM FC, will play Katsina United; Rivers United will play Kaduna United; ABS will take on Enugu Rangers; Warri Wolves will confront Jigawa Golden Stars; Go Round will take on the winner between Nasarawa United and FC Abuja.

All the Round of 32 matches are billed for Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16.

El Kanemi players

Bello promises support for Kogi United, Confluence Queens

K

ogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has reiterated support for state-owned clubs, Kogi United and Confluence Queens, to win laurels and make the state proud.

Bello said at a novelty match to mark this year's Democracy Day that his administration would show interest in sports to discover and encourage hidden talents so that Kogi can reclaim its lost glory among sport leading states.

While being presented with the two clubs by the Chairman, Abdul Sule, Nigeria’s youngest governor promised that their welfare would improve under

Flying Eagles made us proud, says Nigerian embassy

his government, with determination and focus to give sports total attention.

He announced that inter-local government sports competition will be organised in some sporting events to discover and nurture talents.

Bello, however, called for calm from Kogi residents as life would soon return to normal and his administration would make the state proud.

In the novelty match witnessed by a mammoth crowd, the team led by Bello defeated the one led by his Deputy, Simon Achuba 4-1.

Bello opened the scores with a sublime half volley.

Bello with players and officials of Confluence

T

he Nigerian embassy in Burundi says the victory of the Under-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, over its Burundian counterpart in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Bujumbura is still the talk of town.

In a letter addressed to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, the embassy acknowledged the letter of appreciation from the NFF

and then wrote that “indeed, the presence of Nigeria U-20 Flying Eagles in Burundi has further strengthened the long existing relationship between Nigeria and Burundi.

“This was clearly exemplified by the massive support the team got from the Burundian fans in the stadium during the match that Nigeria defeated the host 1-0.

“The technical formation and discipline of the players on the

Flying Eagles players celebrate a victory

pitch is still the talk of the town and we are very pleased to be associated with this development.

“We wish the team and the NFF the very best in their future endeavours.”

Chukwudi Agor’s second half strike gave Nigeria victory in a match the Flying Eagles dominated.

Both teams will clash in the return leg at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday, June 11.

Super Eagles trashing of Luxembourg excites Green

N

igeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical and Development Committee Chairman, Chris Green, was pleased with the Super Eagles’ 3-1 win over Red Lions of Luxembourg in an international friendly at the Stade Josy Barthel last Tuesday.

After Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi fluffed a one-on-one chance with goalkeeper Anthony Morris in the 11th minute and Brown Ideye fumbled with an opportunity eight minutes later, Ideye himself opened the scoring nine minutes from half time.

He tucked home after Morris dropped a scorching Ogenyi Onazi shot from the edge of the box.

Manchester City starlet, Kel-

echi Iheanacho, who scored the only goal in the defeat of Mali in Rouen, France penultimate Friday, was a constant threat throughout, and had a shot blocked in the 24th minute before Morris was lucky to get a hand to his screamer on the dot of half time.

After a ding dong stretch in the opening period of the second half, Iheanacho tucked home Nigeria’s second in the 69th minute after Moses Simon capitalised on an error by Morris to run free of the home defence and square to the England-based forward.

Four minutes later, an audacious Moses Simon’s free kick went narrowly off target, and then substitute Odion Ighalo missed a sitter with 10 minutes to go.

Errors by Raheem Lawal and Kenneth Omeruo let in the impressive Vincent Thill on the dot of time, with a goal that gave real joy to the home crowd.

However, the Eagles would have the last word, with Ighalo shooting in from close range after good work by Iheanacho.

It was the first international goal for Thill, who plays for Metz in France and is courted by German champions Bayern Munich.

“I can say that now, we have a young and ambitious group that we can be proud of. With the exception of two or three people, this is the Super Eagles’ team going forward. I am happy at the output of the squad in these two matches,” said Green.

He watched the match alongside NFF Executive Committee

members, Ahmed Fresh and Sharif Inuwa.

“I am also happy about the technical crew. The changes they made in both matches turned both games around. The NFF will ensure that the coaches get good exposure and necessary education to become even better managers.”

Green disclosed that the focus of the NFF is now on the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in October.

“Yes, we see this team as the nucleus of the squad that will prosecute the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. For sure, the NFF will ensure that we make good use of the FIFA windows before then.”

Also at the match were officials of the embassy of Nigeria in Bel-

gium, which oversees the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Head of Chancery, Ahmed Gambari, and Administrative Attache, Isiaka Abdulkadir, both expressed delight at the Eagles’ performance.

“We heard of the victory over Mali in France and came here with a lot of expectations. We are very happy the Eagles responded immediately after Luxembourg scored, to leave the score line respectable.

“This young team has shown a lot of promise,” Gambari said.

The view was shared by the leaders of the 350-strong Nigerian community in Luxembourg, as expressed by the Chairman, Kayode Oke, and Secretary, Babatunde Otukoya.

“I can tell you we are happy be-

Green in France for the cause of this result,” Oke affirmed.

“We told the people of Luxembourg before the match that our country is very big and much stronger in football. Now, the Super Eagles have proved us right.”

62

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

Football June 05, 2016

Guardiola, Mourinho renew rivalry in Manchester

???????????

Mourinho

Guardiola

P

ep Guardiola took his seat at the Santiago Bernabiu, looked up at the cameras pointing his way from the back of the room, asked which one was Jose Mourinho’s, and concluded that they must all be.

It was the eve of the 2011 UEFA Champions League semifinal and Guardiola came out fighting. What followed was a long, pointed monologue aimed at his adversary, a settling of scores with a touch of the title weigh-in about it.

“In this [press] room, he is the puto jefe, the puto amo – the f*** boss, the f*** master,” Guardiola insisted. “And I don’t want to compete with him for a moment.”

Now he will have to, all over again.

Jose Mourinho versus Pep Guardiola has moved to Manchester. “I know him and he knows me,” Guardiola said that night.

They had worked together at Barcelona, captain and assistant coach; had faced each other as managers on either side of the clasico divide; and briefly met when Chelsea played Bayern Munich in the 2013 European Super Cup; this time they share a city, a rivalry renewed.

The two biggest names, elevated to comic-book or cinematic status. “Ah, Mr. Pep, we meet again … ” perhaps, or, “This town ain’t big enough for both of us.”

It almost feels as if it had to be this way; that once City got Guardiola, United had to get his arch enemy, a counter-reaction for every reaction; as if this was a decision driven by personality and status. Opposites who attract.

On some basic, emo-

tional level: if City has a big name, United has to have a bigger one.

On a footballing one: if City has Guardiola, United has to seek out a guarantee, the one man who can stop him. There may be others who could, of course, but that is how it is set up.

And so the pattern is repeated.

When Madrid signed Mourinho in the summer of 2010 his mission was simple: to defeat Guardiola and bring down Barcelona.

The mission stood before him daily. A life-sized cardboard cut-out used to be propped up in Mourinho’s office at Valdebebas depicting him sprinting across the Camp Nou turf, finger in the air, celebrating at the end of the 2010 UCL semifinal.

Internazionale had reached the final, Barcelona had not. For Madrid, there was relief and revelation: Mourinho had rescued it from watching the Catalan club lift the trophy at the Bernabeu.

Now he had to complete the job. The plan was one with which United is familiar: to knock its rival off it’s perch.

So Mourinho set about waging war, on and off the pitch. Conflict was his cause and it became increasingly personal.

Perhaps it always had been: even Guardiola had told Barcelona’s President Joan Laporta that it would be easier to make Mourinho Barca manager in 2008, but he had been chosen instead.

Mourinho, who once declared that Barcelona would be “forever” in his heart, wanted the job.

Then there was the task before him, an enormous one requiring shock tactics: Guardiola’s team had won

the treble in 2009 and the league in 2010. Only he had prevented them reaching a second successive European Cup final.

Mourinho sought to break up the relationship that had built between Madrid and Barcelona players who had just won the 2010 World Cup together with Spain, telling them that he had been there and he knew that their Catalan colleagues hated Spain and would never truly be their friends.

He bemoaned referees and committees, favourable fixtures and even teams that did not try; in short, a campaign against his club. Somehow Madrid and Mourinho were projected as the powerless little man, the victims.

His campaign against Barcelona was relentless – even if he rarely referred to it by name, preferring to cite “other clubs”.

He attacked its elevation to untouchable status and its image as the game’s good guys, their projection of themselves as the sole defenders of “football”, as if no other style was legitimate.

He railed against their “purity” and blamelessness.

He accused them of diving and pressuring officials, who favoured them.

He insisted that, behind the mask, he and Guardiola were not so different, prompting the Barcelona manager to promise he would revise his behaviour.

And on match days, he ordered his team into battle.

Almost literally at times.

The red cards received reinforced his narrative and it spilled over often.

Most famously of all, he sneaked round behind Barcelona’s assistant coach Tito Vilanova and poked him in

the eye. When he was asked about it after the game, he claimed not to know “this Pito Vilanova or whatever his name is”. He knew very well who he was, just as he knew that Pito is Spanish for “cock”.

So the spiral spun, the century-old rivalry seemingly more bitter, more intense than ever before.

Trenches were dug deeper, divides opening up even within his own club.

There may be excitement about the two men meeting again in Manchester but by the end of the battle for Spain, it was largely tiresome and unpleasant.

Perhaps a different environment, different teams, different demands, will change that. Or perhaps not.

Mourinho and Guardiola left a year apart, neither of them seeming happy or fulfilled, both a little burnt.

When Guardiola departed, he was asked about his memories of the clásicos, the biggest club game on the planet with the best players.

He had seen a 6-2, a 5-0, a 2-0 in the European Cup semifinal, some of the best moments in his club’s history, but his reply was telling: “I don’t have good memories of them,” he said.

Others looked back on those four clasicos in 18 days in 2011 and struggled to remember the football through the fog.

“We didn’t bring Mourinho here to make friends,” said Emilio Butragueno, Madrid’s institutional director.

Those he did make were determined defenders.

Some presented him as a crusader for the truth, fighting Madrid’s corner; others as paranoid and pernicious.

“I don’t fancy talking

about him,” Andrés Iniesta told El País. “But it’s clear that Mourinho did more harm than good; he damaged Spanish football.”

Mourinho responded by saying that Spanish football, which he pointedly noted had come to be seen as synonymous with the Catalan club, had been “damaged” because he had “ended Barcelona’s hegemony”.

In 2012 Madrid all but claimed the league with a 2-1 win at the Camp Nou, beginning a run of just one defeat in seven clasicos.

Mourinho is the only manager in eight years to take Madrid to the league title, and in his first season his team took the Copa del Rey from Barcelona.

Guardiola failed to win just four trophies out of 18 when at the Camp Nou, but three of the four were lost to Mourinho’s sides.

Yet, in two years of Pep versus Jose in Spain, Guardiola had won three major trophies, Mourinho two. A league title and a cup for Mourinho versus a league title, a cup and a European Cup for Guardiola.

When Guardiola went at the end of the 2011-12 season, it was as if Mourinho had been orphaned, without a rival to fight against.

Can’t live with him, can’t live without him?

He ended up fighting with his own players, finishing the season emptyhanded and 15 points behind as Barcelona, now under Vilanova, took the title back.

If some Mourinho defenders totted up Guardiola’s departure as another victory, proof that he had been beaten by the better man, it did not make Madrid winners.

They might have learnt.

Some gloated that Guardiola had lost it when he launched that puto amo rant in 2011, the night when a dam had burst and he gave some back, but what subsequently happened on the field suggested otherwise.

Mourinho had broken him, some said, really got under his skin; he had finally cracked with all the pressure.

But the response was planned and the following night, Barcelona won 2-0 at the Bernabéu, Mourinho whining “Why? Why? Why?” afterwards, going off on a wild rant about the dark forces of Unicef and Uefa.

“Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach,” Mourinho said, “but I have won two UCL titles. He has won [only] one UCL and that is one that would embarrass me.

“I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge and if he wins it this year it will be with the scandal of the Bernabéu. I hope that one day he can win a proper UCL. “Deep down, if they are good people, it cannot taste right for them. I hope one day Guardiola has the chance of winning a brilliant, clean championship with no scandal.”

Guardiola did win it that year. Mourinho has two as well. Neither has added to the tally since.

They headed in different directions: to Germany, where Guardiola won three league titles and two cups; and to England, where Mourinho won one league title and the League Cup. Now, their paths meet again, in Manchester.

• Courtesy: theguardian. com

TheNiche

www.thenicheng.com

June 05, 2016

Football

63

Blind, Mata set for Manchester United exit

J

ose Mourinho, who was shown around United's Carrington training ground

by Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward, and Bobby Charlton last Monday, is already planning his assault on the summer transfer market, and has identified a number of key targets.

Neither Juan Mata nor Daley Blind are expected to feature in Mourinho's plans for the forthcoming season as he builds a team, which he believes can win the Premier League, Sky sources understand.

It is understood Mourinho would approve the sale of both players this summer should United receive acceptable bids, with the expectation he can sign players to directly replace them.

He sanctioned Mata's sale to Manchester United from Chelsea in January 2014 for a fee in the region of £33.5 million, despite the Spaniard

being named Chelsea's Player of the Season six months earlier.

At the time, Mourinho was unhappy with Mata's work rate and pace, and also held doubts about his tactical suitability for his preferred system.

It is understood he has not changed his mind since, which in all likelihood spells the end of Mata's time at the club.

Meanwhile Blind, signed by Van Gaal for £14 million in his first summer transfer window after arriving at Old Trafford, does not fit the physical profile Mourinho looks for in his central defenders, deeming him also surplus to requirements.

Mourinho has a history of signing tall, fast, strong central defenders, such as Kurt Zouma and Raphael Varane at Chelsea and Real Madrid respectively.

The physical attributes of

Blind both players were seen as key factors in their recruitment, and Mourinho had no qualms in introducing them to the first team at a young age.

Blind was also critical of the manner of Van Gaal's sacking last week, just days after

Mata winning United's first piece of silverware since Alex Ferguson left the club.

He claimed Van Gaal should have been given more time in charge, making him seemingly at odds with Mourinho's appointment.

"I always worked well with

him and would have been keen that the co-operation lasted longer," Blind told reporters at the Netherlands' training camp in Portugal.

"Over the last six months he has not been treated fairly.

I think a manager like Louis van Gaal, who has achieved

Teams battle ready for Euro 2016

T

he 2016 UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 or simply Euro 2016, will be the 15th edition, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Europe organised by UEFA. It will hold in France from June 10 to July 10. The Spaniards are two-time defending champions.

For the first time, the final tournament will be contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format used since 1996.

France was chosen as the host nation on May 28, 2010 after a bidding process in which it beat Italy and Turkey

for the right to host.

The matches will be played in 10 stadia in 10 cities: Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Étienne, and Toulouse.

France is hosting the tournament for the third time, after the inaugural in 1960 and the 1984 finals. The French team has won the championship twice, in 1984 and 2000.

The winning team earns the right to compete at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup to be hosted by Russia.

Thirteen of the 16 teams (including hosts France) that qualified for Euro 2012 qualified again for the 2016 tournament.

Among them are England,

which became only the sixth team to record a flawless qualifying campaign (10 wins in 10 matches), defending European champions, Spain, and world champions, Germany, which qualified for its 12th straight European championship finals.

Romania, Turkey, Austria, and Switzerland all returned after missing out in 2012, with the Austrians qualifying for just their second final Euro tournament, after having cohosted Euro 2008.

Returning to the final tournament after long absences are Belgium for the first time since co-hosting Euro 2000; and Hungary for the first time in 44 years, having last appeared at Euro 1972, and

30 years since appearing in a major tournament, its previous one being the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Five teams secured their first-ever qualification to a UEFA European championship final tournament: Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Wales.

Northern Ireland, Slovakia, and Wales have each competed in the FIFA World Cup, but Albania and Iceland have never participated in a major tournament.

Both Austria and Ukraine also completed successful qualification campaigns for the first time, having only previously qualified as hosts (of 2008 and 2012 respectively).

Mesut Ozil set to roar for Germany

so much already, deserved more respect.

"Even though there was so much being written about him losing his job over the last months, he always looked to protect and shelter us. It is not easy for a coach if you are repeatedly being fired in the newspapers."

Poland's striker, Robert Lewandowski

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is most likely playing at his last major finals tournament

Shearer faults Hodgson’ dropping of Drinkwater

E

Drinkwater

ngland Manager, Roy Hodgson, opted for "reputation rather than form" by dropping Danny Drinkwater from his Euro 2016 squad, says former striker, Alan Shearer.

Leicester midfielder, Drinkwater, was left out of the final 23-man squad.

Shearer said by selecting Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson, Hodgson was taking a "gamble" on their fitness.

"Drinkwater should have been in. He's been one of the standout players this season," Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He'll be very disappointed, and rightly so because he's been absolutely magnificent."

Drinkwater, who has won three caps, was voted man of the match on his debut in the

2-1 defeat by the Netherlands in March.

Arsenal midfielder, Wilshere, played only 141 minutes in the Premier League this season following a broken leg, while Liverpool’s Henderson missed the final six weeks of the campaign with a knee injury.

Match of the Day pundit, Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 61 games for England between 1992 and 2000, said: "Once again England have gone for reputation rather than form. I hope the manager doesn't regret it."

The verdict of BBC Sport's England Euro 2016 team selector – after it passed one million users – matches Shearer's.

Although BBC Sport users are asked to pick an England XI, rather than a 23-man squad, one third of people

(358,000) chose Drinkwater.

In the total selections for midfield options, Drinkwater came fifth behind Spurs' duo Dele Alli (900,000) and Eric Dier (673,000), Manchester United and England captain, Wayne Rooney (580,000), and Manchester City winger, Raheem Sterling (378,000).

A Premier League champion with Leicester City this season, Drinkwater was a more popular midfield choice than Everton's Ross Barkley (322,000), Liverpool trio, James Milner (286,000), Adam Lallana (282,000) and Henderson (230,000), and Arsenal's Wilshere (253,000).

On Hodgson's other two omissions, BBC Sport users largely agree, with City's Fabian Delph (34,000) and Newcastle winger, Andros

Townsend (175,000) the bottom two midfield picks.

But few users chose teenage striker, Marcus Rashford (116,000) to start for England in France, despite scoring on his international debut against Australia penultimate Friday – perhaps seeing the Manchester United striker as an option from the bench.

On Rashford, Shearer said the 18-year-old was "ready" after an "incredible rise" this season and he "deserves to go because of his performances in the last three months".

"I'd be very surprised if he started," added Shearer. "If needs be he can come and make an impact if England are chasing the game. Once he gets on, he may force the manager's hand."

FREE SPEECH

www.thenicheng.com

05:06:2016

10 reasons Buhari’s no-show in Ogoniland is bad PR

P

By Kennedy Emetulu

resident Muhammadu Buhari failed to visit Ogoniland for the flag-off of the implementation of the UNEP Report on the cleaning up of the Niger Delta.

It was a shocking and depressing development and calls to question again the kind of advice he receives.

Cancelling that visit is the last thing he should have contemplated today. Here are 10 reasons why it’s bad: (1) Niger Delta Avengers threatened that he shouldn’t come; not going there, despite the whole show of military force, hands the initiative to the Avengers. They have showed they control the agenda of his government and his own movement within the nation.

Of course, the truth is nothing would have happened to Buhari in Ogoniland; but, again, perception is reality.

(2) Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, talked up Buhari’s visit, saying, he “would return to Ogoniland where he inaugurated a fish pond in 1984 where the once flourishing pond regrettably had been destroyed by oil pollution.

“The federal government is coming back to restore the ecosystem to what it used to be and as such restore the peoples’ source of livelihood.”

Mentioning that the president was going to Ogoniland again after his 1984 visit as a military head of state was a way of making the case that between then and now life has been snuffed out of the environment there and Buhari was now returning life to the people and that environment with his visit.

The symbolism would have been nice.

(3) Buhari’s visit would have been the most significant thing in Ogoniland since the judicial murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and

for Buhari, it would have been a personal victory and a personal exorcism of some sort as well.

Buhari was Sani Abacha’s head of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) that was spending the oil money at the time SaroWiwa was killed. Buhari supported that killing as part of that government and Nigerians and the world condemned it strongly.

Saro-Wiwa’s main message was not the political aspect of the Ogoni case, but the environmental. He was killed because he drew attention to the environmental destruction oil exploration brought to the Niger Delta.

Buhari would have used this opportunity to show with his presence his genuine commitment to cleaning up Ogoniland particularly and the Niger Delta generally. With that he would have come full circle from his Abacha days.

He would have used his presence to call for the unity of the Ogoni and the Niger Delta with the rest of Nigeria, so we all find solutions to the problems of lack of development and environmental degradation ravaging the area.

(4) One of the worst perceptions created by Buhari’s nonappearance is that it has sent more shockwaves through the Nigeria-related international business community involved in the oil business.

True, everyone has been hearing of the Niger Delta Avengers and all they’ve been up to, but there would have been no better opportunity to pooh-pooh their claim than landing at the epicentre of oil production and carrying on government and international business as if they do not exist.

This is what gives international investors’ confidence in the real sense. Not going there is simply a huge advertisement for the viability of the Avengers’ insurgency. Buhari has just inadvertently made them seem

stronger than they are in the eyes of the international business community.

(5) As with the cancelled Lagos visit, the real loss for Rivers and Nigeria will be economic.

Lagos is the business capital of the country and in a situation where the country is going through tough economic times and where the singular most important figure in government should be projecting the country as open for business, Buhari staying away did not help the Lagos and the national business community to make the case to the international community that Lagos is open for business.

The same thing is happening with this cancelled visit to the oil capital of the country. Buhari is simply telling the international press that’s been full of negative stories about the state of our oil business that it’s as bad as or worse than they’re claiming.

A visit would have sent out a more positive message with regard to the state of the oil industry in Nigeria.

(6) Even if Buhari does not know it, his advisers must know that his stock in the South South and the South East is really, really down.

After his ill-advised rejection of the 2014 National Conference report, here was an opportunity to show Nigerians and the Niger Delta that he is still committed to the Nigerian project based on fairness, equity and good governance.

The political symbolism of Buhari’s visit to Ogoniland, the first community to prepare its own Bill of Rights under the military pursuant to a National Conference, would have been immense!

In fact, he was bound to gain politically from it throughout the South South.

(7) Now, there’s also the problem of what passes for news in the circumstances of this type of impromptu cancellation. Every action of the president must have an explanation and where

none is provided, people will find something, because news abhors vacuum.

Call it rumour if you like, but it would serve. The president has cancelled a visit which up till that morning everyone thought he was prepared for. No matter what reason anyone gives now, alternative narratives will make more sense to some huge sections of the worried public.

For instance, when he cancelled his Lagos visit, it was interpreted in some quarters as a chastisement of Bola Tinubu for going to the Ayuba Waba faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) without clearance from the government, especially when Buhari was seen welcoming Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State to Aso Rock at the time he was supposed to be in Lagos.

This alternative narrative made Buhari appear petty against the background that everybody knows Amosun is the closest person to him politically in the South West from their days in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and it didn’t help that Amosun is viewed as some sort of rival to Tinubu for Aso Rock’s ear.

This alternative narrative is even worse in relation to this Ogoni cancelled visit. Everyone has been witnessing how Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has been ensuring that this visit went hitch-free, despite the report of a directive a few days earlier targeting him and Governor Ayodele Fayose over foreign travel.

Wike rose to the occasion and did not allow politics to blind him in preparing for this visit.

He warned politicians from all sides not to politicise the visit, he enhanced security in areas Buhari was visiting by banning motorcycles and was generally making sure he received a proper welcome.

He declared that Buhari’s “visit to the state is both historic and significant. It is historic because

it marks his first official visit to the state since assuming office as the president of this great nation.

“It is most significant because Mr president is not on a political mission, but to kickstart the largest environmental clean-up in our nation’s history, for which Rivers people and, indeed, the Niger Delta will remain grateful.”

But by cancelling the visit, it’s Buhari who would be seen now as politicising this, because people would think he is indirectly backing his Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, in his fight against Wike by ensuring that he is not seen standing with Wike in Rivers State as his guest.

That is pure pettiness; but it would be the story.

(8) Buhari is letting the impression stick that he is not interested in visits to states, but only to foreign climes. As funny as that might sound, many people take this view seriously when they claim he has made more than 30 foreign trips since his election a year ago, while he has only visited Cross Rivers State.

The implication is that he is a leader not interested in his own people.

(9) His non-appearance totally diminished the importance of the flag-off the UNEP Report to clean Ogoni and the Niger Delta.

From now on, over the time of implementation, every hitch would be viewed from the prism of the president’s absence. That cannot be good.

(10) Buhari had everything to gain by the optics of this visit.

The national mood needed it.

A no-show is simply not going to give him any plus, no matter what excuse he ultimately comes up with, that is if he actually comes up with one.

Gradually, he’s giving the impression that he’s being overwhelmed by the demands of being president.

• Culled from www.chidoonumah.com

Printed and published by Acclaim Communications Limited. Corporate office: 1A Agbareh Close, behind Best Western Hotel, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. P.O. Box: 6824, Ikeja, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch board: 01-454 3951, 01-454 3952. Editor: 0805 306 9019. Marketing: 0802 351 5775, Website: www.thenicheng.com e-mail: info@thenicheng.com ISSN: