Saturday 19th 2016

S&P Revises Nigeria's Outlook to B+ Negative, Foreign Trade Drops to N3.65tn Devaluation inevitable

Obinna Chima in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja One of the biggest global rating agencies, Standards & Poor's (S&P) has revised Nigeria's sovereign credit outlook to negative, from the stable it was previously. Nigeria currently has

a B+ rating by the agency.

It also emerged on the same day that the country’s total merchandise trade fell to N3.65 trillion in the fourth quarter of last year compared to N4.02 trillion in the previous quarter.

In a note yesterday, S&P stated that Nigeria's foreign

exchange policy was creating dislocations in product and financial markets. It stated that the negative outlook it assigned to Nigeria reflected the possibility of downgrade in coming 12 months, "if there is deterioration of Nigeria's fiscal or external accounts."

Furthermore, it stated that the decline in oil prices had continued to hurt the Nigerian economy.

It added: "Nigeria's monetary policy has also weakened the country's credit profile, in our view."

The agency had last month

stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would have to devalue the naira at some stage, possibly by more than 15 per cent this year.

S&P had however predicted that the currency adjustments were likely going to be gradual.

Director of Sovereign Ratings

at Standard & Poor's, Ravi Bhatia, said: "Another devaluation is inevitable... they will have no option but to devalue."

But the Central Bank has maintained that its decision not to undertake a further Continued on page 8

Supreme Court Orders Kalu to Face Money Laundering Charges ...Page 8 Saturday 19 March, 2016 Vol 21. No 7633 Price: N150

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Saraki: Agabi Urges Court to Apply Same Standard Used in the Tinubu Trial Rotimi Jacobs: Tribunal discharged former Lagos State governor in error

Alex Enumah in Abuja At the resumed hearing of Senate President Bukola Saraki's trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday, his new counsel, Kanu Agabi SAN, urged the

tribunal to apply the condition precedent in the Tinubu trial to the Saraki case.

Agabi, a former AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was set free by the

tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfill necessary conditions before inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.

He maintained that similar decision should have been

Justice Umar to deliver ruling on jurisdication

applicable to his client having set a precedent.

Agabi also reffered to the case of ten former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration and were not referred to the tribunal after clarifying issues

associated with their declaration.

He therefore prayed the tribunal to dismiss the charge for being incompetent and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.

Responding, counsel to Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs

(SAN), accused the defendant of engaging in abuse of court processes, claiming that what Saraki was asking for had been determined by various courts.

He said the Ministry of Justice Continued on page 8

Why the Stakes Are So High in Today's Rivers Election Buratai: Military to investigate killing of personnel

Ahamefula Ogbu in Lagos, Tobi Soniyi in Abuja, Senator Iroegbu in Owerri and Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt As voters in Rivers State file out this morning in a re-run election to fill national and state assembly seats amidst violence, high tension and very tight security, the outcome is expected to have far-reaching political implications in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general.

Already, pre-election violence has claimed several lives. But the combined team of security operatives put together for the poll has assured that today’s 'do-or-die' election triggered by desperation to win, which present an ominous signal with far-reaching implications would be free and fair.

While Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party is aiming to consolidate on his political gains, he is also fighting a battle for survival as former governor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of the All Progressives Congress is fighting to supplant him and retain a foot hold in the state which had been taken

Over 200 killed in poll violence between 2015/2016

away from him.

The calculation being that should APC’s Amaechi win majority in the state's House of Assembly, he may rally the members to initiate impeachment proceedings against Wike and ensure his removal from power.

At the national level, the three Rivers Senatorial seats are up for grabs. The seats were won by the PDP in the last election but were annulled by the courts.

Should APC win any of the senatorial seats, the configuration in the Senate would change as APC would ramp up more power while the PDP would lose strength.

The calculus is that should APC win even one of the three senatorial seats, it would have whittled down the power and control of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and make him more vulnerable. Though, he is of the APC, he rode on the back of the PDP Senators who gave him block vote to emerge senate president against the APC favoured candidate.

If PDP maintains its former steam by winning all the seats as it previously did, it would be able to sustain its position L-R: Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, arriving

GRIEVING WITH THE OCHOLIS...

Continued on page 8

for the funeral service of late Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi; the wife, Blessing and son, Joshua which held at the Abocho village of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State …yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY Eyo Bassey

Pay Porte, Part of a Bigger Dream Results Drive Turns Me On I Married at 31 But I Wished I Had Married Earlier There Are Things I Wish I Could Change in My Life

Bassey

Debonair,delightfulanddown-to-earth,he’soneoftheyoungestchiefexecutiveofficersinthecountry.Asoftware developer, an entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Rom-Flex Group; Founder and CEO of Nigeria’s arguably most preferred and fastest growing online shopping website, Payporte.com. Suave and streetwise, 37-year-old Eyo Bassey is a poster boy for the growing army of young Nigerian entrepreneurs. With businesses in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Turkey, Bassey’s dream is to conquer the whole of Africa, starting with Sub-Sahara Africa. A purposeful dreamer and an energetic achiever, the Pay Porte CEO isn’t a typical businessman; his dream is to make business leaders out of his many young staff with entrepreneurial capacity.

Fatherless at the age of 11, he felt he was not going to make it in life. The story’s different today. In this interview with Azuka Ogujiuba and Tosin Clegg, Bassey talks about his childhood fears, pranks and transformation. He also discusses why his company made the bread-seller now model, Olajumoke Orisaguna its brand ambassador.

Married with three kids, Bassey wishes he had married earlier than when he did. He also touches on his love for education and the next level for Pay Porte

Y

our company just signed Olajumoke Orisaguna; why did you sign her amidst the brand ambassadors you already have?

Basically, we heard about Jumoke’s story which is similar to the Pay Porte story – being a Nigerian story from grass to grace. Pay Porte in e-commerce space is the only truly Nigerian brand right now. So it was very easy for us to connect to her story because this is just someone hawking bread on the street and suddenly she is in the limelight! That was the same thing with us because when we came in, other brands were there which had foreign investors and all but we were truly Nigerian. Here we are in the e-commerce space in Nigeria and we were able to connect the Pay Porte story with the Olajumoke story.

It was very easy for us to embrace her and sign her up to be a part of the family.

What makes Pay Porte different from e-commerce brands?

Just like I said, we are truly Nigerian. There are a lot of things that differentiate us from other brands. Pay Porte is the brand in Nigeria that is currently doing 24 hours delivery. We are the only

brand, regardless of the exchange rate, of which our base currency is dollars, that still does N160 on the currency. We are known for affordability. Pay Porte is the only e-commerce brand in the country yet to retrench or downsize. We are very stable and our business model is sustainable; bringing hope to people working with us. We are also the only e-commerce brand that has got physical offices in major economies in the world. We have offices in the UK, US, China and we just opened an office in Turkey; fully staffed and operative. These are the things that make us different.

Our delivery and pricing are good and these and more make us different.

Why so many offices?

We wanted to compete and get known for best prices. So we looked for where the products Nigerians are looking out for are and where they can be got at the best prices. Nigerians like a whole lot of American products and as we were colonised by the British, which we also like to dress like, so hence we have an office in Britain. We also know of China because a lot of household things and kitchen wares are brought in from there. We discovered a lot of Nigerian men wear Turkish suits so we opened an office in Turkey. So bringing affordability to Nigerians drove us to open

offices in these major hubs in the world.

Why is the company called Pay Porte?

Pay Porte is actually a part of a larger dream. We hope that one day we will become a switching company to be able to do transactions in form of payments and all of that but that space is highly regulated at the moment then we need to get a lot of licence(s) to get to that. So we felt the easiest entry to that space was to start with e-commerce and the name Pay Porte is going to be a destination for payment whether for goods and services or payments in terms of money transfers, bills and all so eventually we would metamorphose into that. So we got the name from the idea of a payment destination as you look at the words ‘Pay Porte’.

Is it true your firm is planning to support Jumoke’s education?

This is very true because anything we do we base it on sustainability because we know education is really key. For a woman in this time and age, education is a necessity. Inasmuch as she has shot into limelight, she has to be educated. So we decided to offer her what will take her for the most part of her life through

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

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SUPER SATURDAY I am Proud to be an Under-40 CEO...

Bassey

a solid foundation which other things she wants to do would revolve around.

What about her husband?

I would use this opportunity to reach out to corporate organisations to extend similar gesture to help him get educated. We wish Pay Porte could do everything but we hope that corporate organisations rise up to support Jumoke’s husband so that both of them can become an epitome of hope to other Nigerians who are in what they have been through.

How long has Pay Porte been in existence?

Well, we officially, in terms of operation, were one year on 25th of September last year but as a business we were actually registered in Nigeria January 2014 but opened up for business 25th September 2014. So we are one year and six months old. Pay Porte is wholly and solely Nigerian and belongs to a Nigerian but controlled by women. We have seven people in the management team but only two of us are male while the rest are female.

It’s truly a Nigerian company and we hope to be the largest e-commerce in sub-Sahara Africa.

What other things are you into?

Well, I am the Group Managing Director of Romflex Group and we are a software and system integration company. My background is actually software development. So at Romflex, what we actually do is look for a problem and provide solution to it and then implement it into the business. We are also into oil and gas, engineering and Pay Porte, which is e-commerce. Also, we have haulage solutions and our own vessels. Then we also have Rom-Flex which is a revenue enhancement system for state governments. We help them deal with their revenue issues. I superintend over all this.

What drives your passion?

What drives me is basically the excitement of results. Like I tell my people in the office whatever you do start from where you can get a little result which would give you an encouragement.

A drug mustn’t be bitter before it has effect on your body. What drive me are little things so when I look at Nigeria of today, I can’t but help to see how I can contribute my quota to the country. I work with a lot of young people and the average age is 25. We have over 210 staff and this group of people drives me. When I wake up in the morning and I come to the office and I see them, I am like these guys have hope in me. That drives me too. And I have been involved in laudable projects that involve young people and when I remember what this young people have achieved, it drives me. Results drive me and turn me on. Nigeria itself drives me on and the people around me.

What are your projections for the next five years?

In five years, we want Pay Porte to be the largest e-commerce company in Africa. That’s our dream and we are achieving it one step at a time. We are getting into Ghana in April and we have presence in Morocco and South Africa and then the whole of Africa in five years. Personally, I hope to retire in five years but my

Bassey and his wife initial retirement is in seven years from now but I hope to have achieved and affected so many lives. Personally, I should have been able to transfer all my businesses to those that will be able to run them and be able to bring up young Nigerians to conquer their own space.

How do you unwind?

I really hope I have time to while away; I am very busy. I try to get back to family because I am always away and also try to watch movies. I really like American high school movies as you see their lifestyles. I also love science fiction movies. Then, I get along with old friends.

Tell us about your educational background?

I have two first degrees. First is civil engineering at a very young age and went on to study pure and applied physics with options in electronics. Later, I went to do a Master’s degree in Information Communication Technology from Virginia State University and I am an alumnus of Massachusetts Institution of Technology. I am also an alumnus of the London Business School and I am yet to become an alumnus of Harvard University as I am running a few courses there.

Are you from an education-driven family?

Yes. My mum is a teacher and I have passion for school and I love going to school. I got a few courses to finish this year in Harvard and I hope to finish as soon as possible.

Do you have any nickname?

The first part of my secondary school was in Federal Government College, Minna. I was called ‘Alias Pluto’. The ceiling in the hostel was called Pluto so sometimes when they come to push us out for labour or school activities, I usually ran and hid in the ceiling. Since I was always doing that, they called me ‘Alias Pluto’ and that was JSS 1 to 3. But in my senior classes, I was called ‘Cute MC’ because I could dance but now I am called ‘Mr. B’ at the office but if you know me so well, growing up as a businessman, you would call me ‘Eyo B.’ But I miss ‘Alias Pluto’.

So you were quite mischievous throughout your secondary school?

Of course, I was mischievous between JSS 1 to 3! I was quite mischievous and one of the remarkable things I would remember was when my friend in the hostel was visited by his parents and gave him his pocket money; a N10 note. Then he left it on the bed and I stole it. Let me say so because I didn’t get his consent to take it. I hid it from him and he was now looking for the money but it was so difficult for me to push out the money from the pipe and I had to open up to one of my friends called Donald that I couldn’t own up to the fact that I stole the money but I was playing with him and it was a square pipe and I just put it in without thinking of how to bring it out. Eventually, it took us almost two weeks to bring it out and at this time the Senior Prefect had punished everyone in the hostel for this money, including me.

After we got it out, we took him and other hostel members to ‘Iya puff-puff’ to do a little party because I could no longer own up because everyone had been punished. But from senior classes to

university I was no longer mischievous as my perception of life had changed.

What does love mean to you as a person?

Love is about sacrifice; I am married and not just married but happily married. I have three kids. A nine-year-old called Lisa, a four-year-old called Daren and a seven-month-old daughter named Chloe. I love them so much. I love my wife and her name is Oluwaseun. Love to me means sacrifice and she has done so much.

How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife in my mother’s house. She came with one of my friends from school as they had something to do (in) Abuja and asked if they could stay in my house. I said no problem. So apparently she came to my house with my own friends and the next day, she had to leave early. They now said I should go and drop her. So on dropping her at the park, then GSM had just come out. She asked for my number so that when she arrived she would be able to call them. I gave her and that’s how we started.

Of course, I have known her since February 2003 and we got married in 2010.

What are things you wish you can change?

There are things I wish I could change. One of it is my earlier perception of life which I wish I can change because I lost my father at 11; so I felt certain things weren’t attainable for me. That affected me and it was after I got into secondary school that it changed. Also my perception about money; although I am a more comfortable person today, I wish I could change my management of money because I got exposed to it so early in life. Also, I wish I married my wife earlier because I made my first million after we met. Probably, if I did I would have made more money earlier.

There are other things I wouldn’t want to change and one of these is my mother. She has been my pillar and supported me so much.

But I am happy with life with only few regrets.

Who inspires you as a leader?

I have lots of them in terms of business. The guys from Google inspire me. Mark Zuckerberg inspires me in terms of e-commerce.

As regards leadership, Bill Clinton does and what made me like him was the (sex) saga that almost brought him down but he survived it to be one of the best presidents America has ever had.

He inspires me and of course, I am Christian and I read the Bible a lot.

How old are you?

How old am I? I am an under-40 CEO. I don’t think many people know my age but I am 37 years old. I was born on 2nd of January.

Which outfit do you relax more in?

I am a strong Gucci fan. I wear it a lot and got it all over. And I have got my wife and children involved in Gucci. I am also a strong lover of Zara. I support Nigerian works too. Vodi Clothing in Abuja sews most of my clothes. If he doesn’t sew at all, he does over 100 pieces in a year.

My Father’s Death Made Me Think Certain Things were Unattainable

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S’Court Orders Kalu to Face Money Laundering Charges I am ready, says Kalu

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the appeal filed by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu seeking to quash charges of corruption against him.

The apex court in a unanimous judgment said the appeal lacked merit.

In a swift reaction, Kalu said he was ready to face trial and reiterated his innocence.

Kalu had, in his appeal, sought to quash the charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A similar appeal by Kalu's associate, Udeh Jones Udehogo was also dismissed by the Supreme Court on similar ground.

Justice Suleiman Galadima, who wrote the lead judgments in both appeals, upheld the concurrent decisions of the

Federal High Court, Abuja and Appeal Court, Abuja in refusing the appeals.

The five-man panel of the apex court, in its unanimous judgments, directed the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to assign both cases to new judges for hearing.

The apex court directed Kalu and his associate to submit themselves for trial.

In relation to the appeal by Kalu, Justice Galadima, whose judgment was read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, said: "The appellant had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja to quash the charges made against him by the EFCC. "The Court dismissed the case. He went to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. He lost and approached this court.

"Having considered all issues raised and arguments by parties, I come to the conclusion that I cannot, but help in dismissing this appeal for lacking in merit.

It is dismissed.

"I affirm the decision of the court below, which rightly affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court, that it was not bound by the ex-parte order of the Abia State High Court as to vitiate the charges preferred against the appellant.

"The learned Chief Judge of the Federal High Court should assign the case to another judge for expeditious trial," Justice Galadima said.

Other members of the panel: Justice Mahmud Mohammed (the Chief Justice of Nigeria), Bode Rhodes-Vivour, sylvester Nwgwuta and Datijo Mohammed agreed with the lead judgments in both appeals.

In its decision on April 27, 2012 the Court of Appeal, Abuja division dismissed the appeal

by Kalu against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja dismissing his motion seeking to quash the charge against him and his company, Slok Nigeria

Limited.

Justice Ejembi Eko, who read the judgment on behalf of Justices Kayode Bada and Regina Nwodo resolved all issues in the appeal against Kalu and his company and dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

Justice Eko noted that the proof of evidence attached to the 97 count charge preferred against the appellants by the EFCC disclosed a prima facie case against the former governor and others.

Justice Eko said the facts raised in the proof of evidence established a prima facie case against the appellants.

He further said that as far as there was a link which prima facie is all about, the appellants had an obligation to stand trial to defend themselves.

He ruled that the ex-parte order of May 31, 2007 by Abia State High Court, asking the Federal High Court to stay all proceedings against Orji was a

racquet suit aimed at frustrating his arrest and subsequent prosecution.

“That order was an order at large, personal rather than definite. It was an order made as an ex-parte and not at the course of trial.”

He described the ex-parte motion as an abuse of court process.

Justice Eko said the claim of breach of personal freedom raised by Orji was sentimental in nature, adding that the claim bordered on the realm of conspiracy theory and is politically motivated.

He said right to personal liberty was not absolute.

On whether EFCC had the competence to charge the appellants, Justice Eko held that both the EFCC Establishment Act and the Money laundering and Prohibition Act, (MPLA, 2003, 2004) had given the commission power to prosecute offenders.

“EFCC derives its competence

to prosecute from section 6 and 7 of its Establishing Act. Equally, the definition of economic crime is quite wide,” he said.

The EFCC had on July 27, 2007 arraigned Kalu before the High Court in Abuja on charges of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds totaling over N5 billion.

On September 3, 2007 Kalu filed a motion before the court, asking for an order to strike out all EFCC charges against him and to vacate the terms and conditions of the bail earlier granted by the court. The court dismissed the motion, a decision Kalu appealed to the Court of Appeal.

Kalu: I am ready to stand trial…

Meanwhile, Kalu has expressed his readiness to face his trial and prove his innocence on the 107-count corruption charges brought against him by the EFCC.

He said: "The situation in the Niger Delta is presently being addressed. The activities of pirates, criminals and bandits will be checked, our troops are fully on ground and they have arrested the situation.

"The unfortunate incident of Thursday in Rivers state is something that we are currently investigating. We will deal with the situation as investigation unfolds in the area".

Rivers Government Raises the Alarm over Fake Soldiers…

The Rivers State Government has raised the alarm over alleged fake soldiers and security operatives “detailed to arrest members of the PDP” in today’s election.

“The government has therefore advised the leadership of the party at all levels to resist any form of intimidation and arrest by security agencies in the course of the elections,” said a statement from the government.

The statement issued by the office of the Security Adviser to the Rivers State Governor yesterday directed all PDP members to resist any form of intimidation and arrest by people he described as “fake SARS personnel deployed by the Rivers State SARS Commander, Mr Akin Fakorede to compromise election security and manipulate the electoral process in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

At least 200 killed in political violence…

Since the build up to the 2015 general elections and the subsequent re-run elections, at least 200 people have been killed in Rivers State in politically- related violence.

Rivers State, indeed Port Harcourt, the state capital, was

once known as the Garden City of the country, not just because of the green nature of the city but also because of the peace that reigned in the place.

But with the turn of the 4th Republic, the state has lost most of that reputation; replacing it with the uncanny reputation of a killing field, Rivers of Blood.

In the build up to the 2015 general elections, at least 150 people were killed in politicallyrelated violence. The major political parties accused each other of being responsible.

The killings spread through Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), through Ahoada East and West, Abua/Odual, Tai, Akukutoru, Asaritoru, Buguma, Khana, Gokana, Andoni, Opobo/ Nkoro to Obio/Akpor, Bonny and indeed almost all local government areas of the state.

The police, then, said most of the violence and killings were cult related.

But in ONELGA, one APC chieftain, Chief Christopher Adube, was murdered, alongside his three children, his driver and a relative at Obrikom on April 3, 2015.

The APC fingered the PDP in the death of its member, an accusation the PDP refuted. The police is yet to make a statement on the perpetrators of that killing.

In the build up to today’s re-run elections, the state has witnessed similar violence.

In Ahoada West Local Government area, for instance, at least 20 persons have been slaughtered in cult-related violence.

In Omoku, on February 13, suspected cultists killed 15 persons, adding to the gale of murders in the area.

The same week, a former

member of the House of Assembly, Monday Eleanya, who hails from the area, was murdered in cold as he left his Port Harcourt residence.

Just last Thursday, two soldiers; a major and a rating, were killed in Abonemma, in what was said to be an ambush by suspected pirates.

RIVERS' ELECTION TODAY: WHY THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH in the National Assembly while playing the role of opposition party more effectively.

However, should the APC make an inroad into any of the areas hitherto controlled by the PDP, then the power it is wielding will further increase while that of PDP diminishes.

Also, there are 12 House of Representatives seats to be contested for today.

The implication of who wins what at the House of Representatives may not be as consequential as that of the Senate as the pressure there is less than what obtains in the Senate. However should APC win any of the seats, it would increase its numerical strength in the lower house.

The status of Rivers State as an oil producing state appears to be an integral drive for its soul as Chairman of the APC, Odigie Oyegun once lamented the loss of Rivers and Akwa Ibom State, pointing out that the states in spite of the fall in oil price was strategic to their government.

Unfortunately, through the ballot and the courts, APC lost almost all the oil producing states of Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo, leaving only Edo State.

NHRC: Perpetrators of Electoral Violence in Rivers Will Be Prosecuted…

In a related development, the National Human Rights Commission yesterday issued an advisory to all the political parties and their supporters involved in today's re-run election in Rivers State to play by the rules and refrain from engaging in acts capable of undermining the electoral process.

In a statement released in

Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe warned that the commission would in exercise of its statutory mandate seek criminal indictment, prosecution and punishment of any person or party involved in election violence.

Angwe called on the leaders of the political parties to ensure that their members and supporters were made aware of the implications of participating in electoral violence including incitements, attacks and destruction of properties adding that perpetrators of such acts would bear criminal responsibility for the violent acts.

Angwe said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the commission will deploy monitors during the elections and will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law on such criminal elements under national and international law."

The commission noted that election was not a war and that those who are perpetrating violence in the name of elections were the enemies of democracy and should be treated as such.

Buratai: Military to Investigate Killing of Personnel in Rivers… also yesterday, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai said that the military had commenced investigation into the incident that led to the death of two Nigerian Army personnel Rivers State.

Buratai disclosed this yesterday in Government House Owerri, after addressing troops at the 34 Artillery Brigade Headquarters, Obinze.

He described the incident as unfortunate, assuring that Army had brought the situation under control.

S&P REVISES NIGERIA'S OUTLOOK TO NEGATIVE, AS FOREIGN TRADE DROPS TO N3.65TN devaluation of the naira was as a result of the need to safeguard the Nigerian economy from the shocks and negative impact this would have on the economy.

Foreign Trade Drops to N3.65tn in Q4 2015…

Meanwhile, Nigeria's total merchandise trade reduced to N3.65 trillion in the fourth quarter of last year (Q4 2015) compared to N4.02 trillion in the previous quarter. This is according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The country’s total trade value for 2015 stood at N16.42 trillion, which is N7.25 trillion or 30.6 percent less than the total trade value for 2014.

According to the Foreign Trade Statistics for Q4 2015 which was released yesterday,

the statistical agency blamed the 9.2 per cent drop in foreign trade last quarter on the sharp decline in the value of exports which fell from N16,304.0 billion in 2014 to N9.72 trillion in 2015, representing a drop of 40.3 per cent.

Nevertheless, a decrease of N676.4 billion or 9.2 per cent in the total imports in 2015 helped to mitigate the declining trade balance, which stood at N3.03 trillion, less than the N5.89 trillion in 2014.

According to the NBS, the crude oil component of total trade decreased by N4.94 trillion or 41.6 percent in 2015 as against the level recorded in 2014.

Total value of imports in quarter under review stood at N1.57 trillion, representing 6.6

percent decline when compared with N1.68 trillion in Q3 2015.

Compared to the corresponding quarter of 2014, imports showed a decrease of N454.6 billion or 22.4 per cent.

According to the NBS, the structure of the country's imports was dominated by the imports of machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuel, and food and live animals, which accounted for 32.4 per cent, 18.5 per cent, and 15.0 per cent respectively in 2015.

They further contributed the most to the value of import trade in 2015. Similarly, commodities including crude inedible materials, oils, fats and waxes as well as beverages & tobacco contributed the least, accounting for 1.6 per cent, 1.0 per cent, and 0.5 per

cent respectively to imports.

On the other hand, the value of the country's exports was N2.07 trillion in Q4, representing a decrease of N256.5 billion, or 11.0 per cent over the value recorded in the preceding quarter.

At the end of 2015, however, total exports from Nigeria stood at N9.72 trillion, representing a drop of N6.57 trillion or 40.3 per cent over levels recorded in 2014.

But despite a steep decline in crude oil exports by N4.94 trillion or 41.6 per cent in 2015, the structure of the country's exports is still dominated by crude oil exports which contributed N6.94 trillion or 71.4 per cent to total value of domestic export trade in 2015.

SARAKI: CCT RESERVES RULING ON MOTION CHALLENGING ITS JURISDICTION referred the trial of Saraki to the CCB on the strength of joint investigation carried out

by EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in which the defendant was found to have procured assets that were not declared in his form.

Reacting to the case of Tinubu cited by the defence counsel to buttress their defence, Jacobs however submitted that the code of conduct acted in error when it discharged the governor of the alleged charge.

Jacobs, further told the tribunal that the CCB did not need to invite the defendant to make any clarification on the discrepancies in his assets because Section Three, Part One of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution had removed such conditions as was applicable only in 1979 Constitution, adding that the defendant was relying on old law to push his argument.

The Prosecution Counsel also stated that CCB did not need to obtain any statement from Saraki before referring to the tribunal for trial because the defendant had already made a statement on oath while declaring his assets.

On the claim that the trial was initiated 13 years after Saraki had left as governor of Kwara State, Jacob said that there was no time limit for the prosecution to investigate or charge anybody to court. He then urged the tribunal to dismiss the motion for being spurious, unfounded and baseless.

After listening to submissions of counsel, the chairman adjourned till Thursday 24th Marh, 2016 for ruling on the motion.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has reserved ruling till Thursday, March 24, 2016, on whether or not to quash the charge brought against the Senate President, by the Federal Government.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar fixed the date after Counsels had canvassed their argument that the charge against Saraki be quashed.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government over alleged false declaration of assets as governor of Kwara State.

However when the matter came up for hearing last week,

Agabi filed a new motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter and the power of the Attorney-General of the federation to initiate the charge.

Following the acceptance of the motion and after due consultation with counsel, the trial judge fixed 18 March for ruling on the motion as well as commencement of the substantive suit.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Agabi appealed to the tribunal to quash the charge against his client on the grounds that the charge was not competent in law.

He premised his argument of preliminary objection to the charge on the grounds that the conditions precedent for arraignment of Saraki was not fulfilled.

Agabi claimed that there was never a time the Code of Conduct Bureau invited Saraki as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau.

He added that up till now, Saraki had not made any statement as a defendant to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.

The defence counsel stated that the Attorney-General of the Federation was wrong in law in initiating the charge because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigations of assets form and prosecution of the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force.

He said the failure of the CCB to fulfill the conditions precedent of summoning Saraki first to make statement on discrepancies on his assets was fatal to the charge before the tribunal and cannot operate to the detriment of the defendant.

"CCB is a peculiar institution; it has the duty to accept, to examine, to keep custody of assets declaration form submitted to it and also has power to accept complaints from the public on the discrepancies that may arise from any form submitted to it.

"In the instant case, there is no petition or complain before the CCB and that the power of the CCB to refer any offender to the CCT cannot be delegated", he argued.

9

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

Yemi

Adebowale Curbing Boko Haram’s Attacks on Soft Targets 07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

T

he attack on hapless worshippers in a mosque in Molai-Umarari Village, Borno State by Boko Haram on Wednesday which left over 26 people dead did not come as a surprise to many.

The truth is that the security situation in Borno State is still abysmal. The capacity of the terrorists to launch attacks is obviously yet to be degraded. There are so many security agents in and around the North-east, nonetheless, the terrorists move around easily and inflict deep cuts on ill-fated Nigerians. Persistent claims by the government that the terrorists have been decapitated; that they only attack soft targets is an embarrassment to this nation.

A forward-looking government should get serious with the war by critically and honestly examining how to reduce attacks on these soft targets. The military must truly recover all occupied territories, because this is where the terrorists plan and launch attacks on soft targets. The use of technology, intelligence- gathering and pragmatic community policing are also vital in protecting soft targets. It is not just enough to have the North-east brimming with thousands of soldiers. This year alone, the so-called attacks on soft targets have claimed over 300 lives. Some of them included the January 11 attack in Madagali which claimed seven lives; January 26 attack in a forest in Borno State during which five firewood traders were killed; the January 27 attack in Chibok which claimed 14 lives; the January 31 attack in Dalori Village which claimed 86 lives and the February 13 attack in Yakshari and

Dan-Ali

Kachifa villages in Damboa during which 30 people were killed.

Another big point that has been a major drawback to this war against Boko Haram and the tenacious attacks on soft targets is the dishonesty of the Buhari administration about the war. Stories about thousands of terrorists killed are rolled out daily, yet, attacks by the sect persist. In just nine months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch, about 3000 Nigerians have been killed by the terrorists. We cannot win this war with propaganda. Buhari’s story that the terrorists no longer control any part of Nigeria is all propaganda that will take us nowhere. I was shocked about two weeks ago when the Armed Forces Special

The Case against Power Generating Companies Electricity supply across the nation has gone from bad to worse. Most of us are now permanently on generator. I can’t remember the last time I got up to two hours of supply in a day. Manufacturers are spending billions of Naira to power their generators. For how long will these dark days persist? Already, this administration has wasted its first year doing nothing on improving electricity supply.

If it fails to do the needful swiftly, we would most likely remain in darkness for the next three years. Many are sick and tired of lame excuses pushed out daily by the government stating why the generation companies are unable to operate optimally. They attribute their failure to things like inadequate supply of gas, low water level and sabotage of gas pipelines. I am horrified that this

administration is making these excuses on behalf of the private companies running the generating plants. This amounts to failure of this administration and its regulatory agencies. The power generating companies ought to be told to go and source for their gas from anywhere and operate at optimum capacity. That was one of the reasons tariffs were recently increased. There should be new rules of engagement, with severe penalties for those who fail to operate at optimum capacity. After all, there are gas-powered electricity plants in many countries where gas is not produced. They simply source for their gas from anywhere in the world.

Our electricity generating companies should do the same. Hydro-electric power plants should also supplement their water supply with multiple mega boreholes.

Governor Amosun and Angry Civil Servants Civil servants in Ogun State have been on strike since March 7 over a long list of complaints against Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Union leaders say the five years of Amosun have brought immense pain on their members. They also say that most of their members have not been enjoying full salaries for a while now.

According to the General Secretary of the state’s Joint National Public Negotiating Council, Olusegun Adebiyi , “about 45 percent of our salaries are being paid and the government goes to the media to tell them they have paid salaries while 55 per cent of the salaries are being withheld by the government.” The workers are also angry about non-payment of gratuities and non-remittance of various deductions from their salaries. Gratuities were last paid in this state in October 2012. There is also a

huge unremitted contributory pension deduction. Workers in the 20 local government areas in the state also joined in the strike. Public schools and courtrooms remained shut. Everything has been at a standstill in Ogun for days.

Rather than engage the seething workers, Amosun, who reneged on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the workers sometime in January, has been going about threatening them with a sack.

Clearly, this is not the time to threaten these hapless workers. I don’t think Amosun will achieve anything with this. He needs to be reminded that we are not under a military regime. This governor has disappointed the workers on several occasions. Ogun civil servants have never had it so bad in the 40 years history of this state. Amosun should seek forgiveness and restitution.

Force (AFSF) announced that it had cleared all traces of Boko Haram occupation from Gudumbari, the headquarters of Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman told the nation that, “In continuation of the clearance of the remnants of recalcitrant members of Boko Haram terrorists in the various nooks and crannies of the North-east, the AFSF carried out successful clearance of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in Gudumbali general area.” Even displaced people celebrated the recapture of Gudumbali.

So, Gudumbali had just been cleared of terrorists? How do we reconcile this with stories by this administration that no Nigerian territory is under Boko Haram’s control?

Just as the Commander of the US Africa Command (USAFRICOM), General David Rodriguez, stated recently, Boko Haram terrorists are still holding territories in Northern Nigeria. “Boko Haram does hold some significant territory in Northern Nigeria,” declared Rodriguez.

This is a fact Buhari must face and address properly instead of resorting to propaganda and deceiving Nigerians. The terrorists launch attacks on soft targets from these strongholds. Lies come with huge consequences. This is why IDPs don’t want to return to their homes; they know that these places are still not safe.

Virtually all those directly involved in the war against Boko Haram have chosen to be economical with the truth. Anything built on falsehood will always crumble. If we are going to make progress in this war, we must learn to be honest; otherwise, we will be doing a great disservice to the ill-fated people in the affected communities. Just as Senator Baba Kaka Garbai representing Borno Central in the National Assembly reported recently, Borno State is still divided in equal measure between the terror sect and the Nigerian military. Only the truth can get us out of this mess. The government must stop telling us that the terrorists have been weakened while attacks occur regularly.

We cannot continue like this and expect a positive result.

Lessons from Governor Ganduje’s Freedom

It is heart-warming to know that Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State is now a free man. For almost 10 months, former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso practically turned Ganduje (his erstwhile deputy) into a puppet.

The man in Ganduje died, as he was taking instructions from Kwankwaso on virtually all issues. The former governor decided who got what, when and how much in the state. Contractors queued in front of Kwankwaso’s house instead of that of Ganduje. When Kwankwaso comes into town, Ganduje would abandon all functions to receive him.

That was how powerful Kwankwaso was until two weeks ago when the Kano State governor decided to rebel and take full charge of the state. Kwankwaso the godfather went to the extreme and was sacked, thanks to support from powerful indigenes of the state. Ganduje, who was just in government, is now in power.

The decision of the state’s House of Assembly to pass a vote of confidence in Governor Ganduje this week is a good development. The governor also needs to move quickly to dislodge members of the Kwankwasiyya Amana political movement in his cabinet in the interest of the people.

Ganduje is the first governor in this dispensation to sack his godfather.

This move is clearly in the interest of the people of the state as it offers an opportunity to get a clear picture of the

Ganduje

alleged rot left behind by Kwankwaso in the state. Also, the Kano State governor can now implement his own agenda devoid of external influence. Many other governors across the country are still under the yoke of their godfathers. Some of these ex-governors still maintain their apartments in the Government House while the incumbent governors are pushed to the backyard. Unfortunately, many of these incumbent governors are happy taking instructions from their predecessors. They are simply errand boys.

I hope the development in Kano State will motivate these eaglet governors to fight for their emancipation from the shackles of godfatherism.

Musings on Forex Restrictions Several months after foreign exchange and import restrictions were imposed by the Buhari administration, ostensibly to stabilise the Naira, the measures have failed to achieve the desired objectives. The Central Bank of Nigeria restricted forex supply, and fixed the Naira at N197 to N199 per dollar in the official market. These have created difficulties in accessing imported inputs and have continued to hurt the manufacturing sector. Hundreds of Nigerians are being laid off daily. According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, about 200 of their members may be forced to shut their plants by the end of the first quarter of this year if the problem persists. I witnessed the sack of about 120 workers at Niger Biscuit in Apapa two weeks ago. The experience was heart-wrenching as the retrenched young men and women wailed. These are the

victims of the archaic economic policies of this administration. Currency controls are evidently killing our economy, eroding confidence, slowing growth, fueling inflation and increasing joblessness in our nation. Just look around you and you will understand better what I am talking about.

The parallel market also responded to forex restrictions; at a point, it soared to over N400 to the USD. This led to a rise in the prices of goods and services in the country, as businessmen and other Nigerians turn to this market for forex. The huge gap between the official and parallel market rates has been encouraging fraud and round-tripping in an era of change. Where I am going is that the CBN and Buhari must allow our battered Naira to float in accordance with market realities. This is the way forward for Nigeria.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 19, 2016

NEWS

News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

CAN Tackles Buhari for Joining Saudi-led Islamic Coalition Paul Obi in Abuja

The National Christians Elders’ Forum (NCEF) wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari for taking Nigerian into the Saudi Arabia’sled Coalition of Muslims/Arabs against terrorism, arguing that, the move contravened Nigeria’s constitution, given that the country was a secular state.

The group at a briefing in Abuja opined that joining the Saudi-led coalition, alongside recent policies embarked upon by government were glaring signposts of an attempt to railroad Nigeria to an Islamic state, a move, the NCEF promised to fight vehemently.

NCEF Chairman and legal luminary, Solomon Asemota, SAN told journalists in Abuja that “In the build up to the 2015 elections, majority of Nigerians expressed great hope that there would be change in the nation. However, 10 months after the new government was sworn into office, credible apprehension can be expressed given the policy direction of the new administration. We hope that the build up to these policies do not result in full blown Sharia which President Muhammadu Buhari had promised Muslims in Nigeria.

“A number of worrisome issues readily come to mind: the apparent disregard for the Constitution, by Mr. President in many instances.

For example, N900 billion was released in bailout package for states without Appropriation, the government was run for five months without a cabinet, international commitment are being made without recourse to the National Assembly. All these are acts violating the Constitution.

“Including Nigeria in the Saudi Arabia Military Coalition of ‘Muslim/Arab’ nations would appear that the Foreign Policy thrust of the present administration is to make Nigeria a satellite state of Saudi Arabia. The strengthening

of the nation’s democracy and security for all should remain the greatest priority of Government. This we see to have been negated by the President’s fiat/ unilateral decision to enlist Nigeria in the 34 nations Muslim/Arab coalition. Given the emotive and sensitive nature of this unilateral Executive decision, it should have been handled by Mr. President in line with our democratic culture through popular discussion and participation by the citizenry, or at the very least, through the National Assembly.”

According to Asemota, “Attempt to fund deficit in the 2016 Budget through issuance of Sukkuk loan which is a ‘Sharia compliant loan.’ Nigeria is not a Sharia compliant nation. The consideration of establishing ‘free visa’ arrangement with Islamic D8 nations. These countries are: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, and of course, Nigeria. The apparent Islamisation of key security positions in the country.”

The group cited as an example “The apparent disdain and contempt of Mr. President for Christians in Nigeria as demonstrated during his interview on Al – Jazeera on the objection of Christians to Nigeria’s involvement in the Saudi led Military Coalition to fight ISIS. “We wish to remind Mr. President that he was brought to power through the votes of Nigerians, Christians inclusive. Mr. President should kindly remember that the over 50% non-Muslims in Nigeria did not vote for the nation to transmute into a Sharia compliant nation. Mr. President assured Nigerians that he is ‘a convert’ to democracy but we are disturbed by the direction of his administration.

“We are aware that there are presently Islamists in Government prepared to execute the Islamisation Agenda. Any nation in which Islamists believe that they are sufficiently strong to exercise

BUILDING FOUNDATIONS...

L-R; First Republic Senator, Senator Yinka Omilani; Chancellor Kings University, Pastor Mathew Asimolowo; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola; and the Ooni of Ife HRM, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwsi, Ojaja 11, at the Commissioning of the University , Investiture of the Chancellor and Maiden Matriculation of Kings University, Osun State, yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

influence rarely experience peaceful cohabitation amongst the divergent groups within it. This is the current situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the Sudan. Islamism thrives on injustice, inequality and unfairness. We urge Nigerians to remain circumspect so that the Islamists do not drag the nation down the path of destruction.

“We wish to express tremendous shock at the proposed Kaduna State Religious Bill. The proposed Bill contravenes Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. We should remind the Government of Kaduna State that religion is personal and no one has the right to legislate on how individuals worship. We call on the Kaduna State Governor to retrace his steps from this ill-advised venture.

“We are saddened by recent exposure in the country of se-

rial cases of forceful abduction of underage, forceful marriage, marriage without parental consent of the Christian girls and their forceful conversion to Islam. We condemn in totality this act of violation of the Human Rights of these girls and it is a degradation of our national values.

“Following these incidents of forceful marriages, NCEF also expressed reservations on the failure of ‘the Senate failed to pass the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill into law. We strongly recommend that this Bill should be re-introduced and passed into law urgently.”

They also addressed the incessant cases of communal clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, stating that, “we are dismayed by the inaction of the Federal Government to the carnage and destruction caused

by the Fulani herdsmen against legitimate native land owners and farmers, across the country. The most recent case occurred in Agatu area of Benue State in February 2016.

“According to eye witnesses, over 300 Nigerians were allegedly massacred by the herdsmen and many communities were devastated in the attacks. It is most shocking that till today, there has been no prosecution of any of these marauders. For years, the Fulani herdsmen have been murdering innocent Nigerians with impunity. The murderous escapades of the Fulani herdsmen has gained international notoriety to the extent that the group is now considered, internationally, as the fourth most dangerous terror organisation in the world.

“It is sad to note that Boko Haram, which is presently regarded

as the world number one most dangerous terror organisation and the Fulani herdsmen, considered the fourth are both operating in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the response of Government to the menace of the Fulani herdsmen has to date, been tepid and indifferent.

“One reason adduced to justify the perennial attacks of the Fulani herdsmen is the argument that they seek grazing fields for their cattle and as a result engage in conflicts with farmers. It was therefore proposed that ancestral lands of other ethnic groups should be allocated to them as grazing fields.

“However, the most sensible and economically wise approach would be to build ranches for the herdsmen in their states of origin.

This makes more sense and it is the internationally approved best practice under the circumstances."

Court Sacks Imo PDP Caretaker Committee

Amid Opposition, JAMB Insists on Computer Based Test

Amby Uneze in Owerri

Contrary to opposition against the continuous use of Computer Based Test (CBT) in conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the country, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday insisted that it will continue with CBT as any reversal of the system would amount to taking the nation’s educational system backward.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde told journalists in Abuja that calls for the return to paper type model in the conduct of JAMB examination was wrong-headed and would not be in the best interest of the country in its attempt to standardise the conduct of its examination system.

He said the protest against the CBT emanated from the move by a select few benefiting from the old method and were against the current innovations made so far in the conduct of the UTME. The House of Representatives had during the week mandated

A High Court sitting in Orlu judicial division, Imo State, yesterday sacked the Imo state chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) caretaker committee headed by Mr. Nnamdi Anyaehie on the basis that it had overstayed the party’s constitutional mandate.

Ruling in favour of the newly constituted caretaker committee headed by Mr. Vitalis Okafor, Justice Ononeze Madu held that for the fact that the sacked caretaker committee was given liberty to serve for the required three months period after the expiration her constitutional tenure did not allow for indefinite stay.

The court also held that the plaintiff could not blow hot and cold, having been a product of the national working committee (NWC) of the party, who had eventually decided to remove them, adding that one cannot fight the system

that put it in place.

Briefing newsmen in the Party Secretariat at 47 Okigwe Road, Owerri, the chairman of the new Caretaker committee, Vitalis Okafor who was flanked by other members of the 16-man caretaker committee expressed desire to reposition the party in order to “Fully apply the zoning principle of the party” and move the party to greater heights.

According to Okafor, “We are now fully ready to reposition the party, to apply the principle of zoning and to come and take power back to the people where it rightly belonged.

“Our opponents whom I know must have joined other political parties took the party to court and by the constitution of the party, sections 58 and 59 1(c) and (g) if you take the party to court such person(s) stand dismissed, but we have decided to wave such sections aside and ask them to come back and assist in rebuilding the party”.

Paul Obi inAbuja

JAMB to create an avenue where candidates would have the options of choosing between the paper type model and the CBT model, seen as more modern and backed by technology.

Ojerinde in his explanation observed that “In the middle of the journey towards the development of education, particularly the sensitisation on the conduct of public examination in Nigeria and our decision today will either take us back or move us to the next level.

“The Board began the journey towards the conduct of Computer Based Test in 2013 when it conducted the exercise using the three modes of Dual Based Test, Paper Pencil Test and Computer Based Test. This was as a result of the inability of the Board to device possible ways of containing the excesses and embarrassing irregularities associated with the Paper Pencil Test. This was an era when the Board was not comfortable with the happenings as far as its examinations were concerned even in the face of changes, reforms etc.

Our examination was more of a war, with candidates bolting away with question papers, parents and tutorial centres conniving to perpetuate all manners of malpractice.

“This unwholesome activity was a concern to us as a credible and responsive organisation saddled with the mandate to conduct Matriculation Examination. In view of the above, the Board looked at the best practice globally and decided to introduce the CBT as a recipe to the catalogue of problems bedevilling the sector particularly the conduct of its examination.

“Expectedly, the new regime was to come with a lot of challenges because change is always very difficult to accept. We were mindful of the fact that a lot of businesses will no longer be as usual and such individuals will certainly fight back.

And today our expectations are truly manifesting. However, we were determined to succeed seeing the prospects ahead.”

Ojerinde explained that “With each year’s exercise passing and

the policy becoming a reality with improvements, the opponent of the policy especially some of the Tutorial Centres became very desperate and more resolved to truncate the policy. Each complaint by candidate is seen as an opportunity for them to manifest their desperation.

“There is need to support the Board in its drive to improve on the quality of education through CBT which reduces examination malpractice to the barest minimum.

Our decision to go with CBT was actually a tough decision which we knew was going to come with a lot of resistance from individuals who were benefiting from the confusion associated with the Paper Pencil Test (PPT). However, we resolved to take the hard way given the many benefits of CBT. The JAMB Registrar conceded that “there are few challenges associated with the conduct which are expected with any new technology which we constantly admit but believing that with the active support of all, we will gradually get it perfected.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 19, 2016

11

NEWS

In Brief Chikwe Dismayed over Gender Equality Bill

TheNationalWomanLeaderofthePeoplesDemocraticParty(PDP),Dr.Kema ChikwehasexpresseddismayovertherejectionoftheNigerianGenderand Equal Opportunities bill by the Nigerian Senate, onTuesday. In a statement issuedonFriday,ChikwesaidtheimplicationofthrowingouttheGenderbill wasthattheincidencesofrape,domesticviolence,maternalmortality,poverty whichhadbeenravagingourCountrywillcontinueunchallenged."Onbehalfof theentirePDPwomen,Ijoinmembersofthecivilsocietytoexpressprofound disappointmentanddispleasureoverthedismissaloftheNigerianGender andEqualOpportunitiesbillbytheNigerianSenate,onTuesdayMarch,2016," she said. Chikwe noted that the bill was not just about women but that it is centred on the survival of the family system in Nigeria.

Okorocha Sacks Ejiogu, Imo SSG

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sir Jude Ejiogu with immediate effect. Ejiogu whowasappointedSSGatthebeginningofthesecondtenureofOkorocha sometimelastyearsucceededthecurrentMinisterofStateforEducation, Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwuka. Since his appointment, Ejiogu had remained faithful and dedicated to his duties in the affairs of the state. Before his appointment, Ejiogu was the Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri, as well as the Commissioner for Special Duties. Ejiogu was first appointed by Okorocha as the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, and Special Adviser, Internal Revenue General (IGR).

FOR REGULATED PRACTICE...

L-R: Assistant Secretary Geneneral, Nigerian Fertility Society, Mrs. Adewusi; President, Dr. Faye Iketubosin; Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris; Secretary General, Mrs. Bobo kayoed; Vice President, Dr. Yomi Ajayi; Director Health services Lagos State Dr. Femi Taiwo and committee members when the Association paid him a courtesy call on the Commissioner to set the rules guiding the practice

Benue House Caucus Condemns FG’s Attitude on Agatu Killings Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Benue State Caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned what it described as the lukewarm attitude of the Federal Government to the massacre of over 1000 people of the state in 2016 alone, adding that no concrete moves have been made to stop the killings in Agatu Local Government and other areas.

The caucus members said the massacre of the people of the state by Fulani herdsmen was a genocide being downplayed or being ignored until it spirals out of control.

Eight local government areas including Agatu, Buruku, Guma,

Gwer-west, Logo, Kwande, Gwer- East and Katsina- Ala , they explained, had been under perennial heavy attacks from the Fulani herdsmen since 2013.

Addressing newsmen Friday, the caucus leader, Hon. Orker Jev (representing Buruku Federal Constituency) lamented that despite the outrage which the Agatu killings ought to evoke, only a few headlines and sympathetic comments from high places were recorded.

Flanked by other members of the caucus, Jev described as ‘disturbing’ that every planting season in Benue was heralded by serial attacks from the herdsmen, who also return during the harvesting season.

He queried the sources of the sophisticated ammunition brandished by the rampaging herdsmen, and why it was taking the government time to apprehend them.

“We condemn the belated reaction of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau (rtd) who broke their unholy silence a week after over 500 people were killed and 10 villages razed in Agatu area of the state. It is curious that up till today, the Investigative Panel purportedly instituted by the Federal Government to inquire into the attacks had not been made public or inaugurated.

The caucus also queried

whether the Fulani herdsmen, who had allegedly been responsible for several attacks in other parts of the country, were currently taking advantage of their kinsman being President, to wreck havoc.

“We are saying this invasion must stop for we will no longer tolerate the violation of the integrity of our people. We want Mr. President to act like the soldier that he is now!…

Since the beginning of this carnage, how many of these herdsmen have been arrested?

We can no longer fold our arms, while our people are being killed like chickens by jihadists who camouflage as herdsmen,” he added.

Kogi has Highest Kidnap Stolen Vehicles: Police Urge AutoCases, Says State Chief Judge Workshops to Keep Records Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah has said that the state had the highest number of kidnapping cases in the country.

This is as gunmen in the early hours of Friday stormed the sleepy Ogrute community of Enugu-Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State and kidnapped a 34-year old nursing mother, Mrs. Rita Abugu, nee Ugwu whose husband just returned from the United Kingdom .

The Chief Judge who disclosed this during his yearly visit to prisons in the state to decongest them, expressed dismay over the high rate of kidnapping cases in the state, stressing that Kogi State had the highest number of kidnapping cases in the country.

"There is need for complete re-orientation of our youths to move away from committing crime and move towards a better society” ,he stressed.

Justice Ajanah who granted 14 inmates unconditional release and conditional release to 13 inmates, reviewed a total of 345 awaiting

trial inmates cases during the exercise.

He called on Federal Government to restructure the federal prisons, Dekina and Idah to make them more of a reformatory centre than a punitive facility.

According to him "The prison is meant to reform people but apparently the structures in some of the prison in the state especially that of Dekina and Idah are still old and I cannot see any change that will help reform people" .

He also pointed out that the section of the Constitution had stipulated the period an accused person could be detained, noting that continued detention of accused person without trial particularly when there were no efforts to continue the case would tantamount to breach of fundamental human rights under section 35(4) of constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria He therefore warned that no Magistrate should adjourn cases beyond two weeks, adding that very soon all Magistrates would submit the list of the cases they were handling, decided or disposed of.

Rebecca Ejifoma The Lagos State Police Command has urged auto-workshop owners to keep record of cars which come to their workshops for repairs so as to check the menace of car theft.

According to the Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, this move would make it easier for the police to trace stolen vehicles whenever there was need to check the auto-workshops.

THISDAY gathered that some autoworkshop owners, especially the road side workshops, had continued to lament the extortion by some policemen who had capitalised on the excuse of searching for stolen vehicles.

She debunked the report; adding that the search for stolen vehicles at auto-workshops was not an everyday activity of the police except there was suspicion that an auto-workshop harboured stolen vehicles.

"You know it's not a thing we can be bouncing on them all the time.

But in a situation where the police within the jurisdiction have reasons to suspect that a stolen vehicle is being repaired in the workshop, the police can go there and then it becomes an

issue when the workshop cannot come with the log book.

"It's a regulation that they are expected to do because ignorance is not an excuse before the law. If you are repairing a stolen vehicle and the police come in to ask for the owner of the vehicle and you cannot trace the person because you didn't log all the information you should have got from the owner, then we won't spare you", she explained.

Reacting to allegations that policemen often extort commercial motorcycles to enable them ply restricted routes, Badmos said that it remained an allegation until it was otherwise proved.

"The restriction on Okada in plying restricted routes is still on and it's on-going. We arrest daily.

We take about 200 to 300 task force.

But you know Nigerians, they like to deliberately disobey laws but when we travel out, we will be the first to obey," she said.

However, CSP Adebowale Lawal, PPRO in charge of zone 2 told THISDAY that police officers visit auto workshops because of the rampant case of snatching of vehicles.

‘Fayose’s Dictatorship Blessing to APC’

FormerSpeakeroftheEkitiStateHouseofAssembly,Hon.AdewaleOmirin,has saidGovernorAyodeleFayose’sallegeddictatorshipinthePeoplesDemocratic Party had been a tremendous blessing to the All Progressives Congress.

Omirin, who was the immediate past speaker, said the gale of defections that had hit the PDP in recent time confirmed the disenchantment of party members withtheallegedwinner-takes-allanddomineering tendencies ofthe governor.Theex-speakerspokeinAisegbaEkiti inGbonyinlocalgovernment areaonFridaywhilereceivingtheformerSecretaryoftheCouncil,Mr. Remi Osabusua and 39 other PDP Chieftains into APC. Omirin said: “The likes of SenatorArise,YinkaAkerele,AyodejiBabatola,Amb.JolaadeOnipede,Ropo Adesanya and many others left the PDP because we have a governor who has taken over the party and running a one-man show.

N’Assembly Owes Medical Interns

Nofewerthan84ScienceLaboratoryTechnicians,partofthemedicalinterns whoservedinthe2014/2015batchattheNationalAssemblyclinicareowed salaryarrearsrangingfromfivetosevenmonthsbythemanagementofthe NationalAssembly. ThemanagementoftheNational Assemblyhashowever assured that the arrears would be gradually cleared whenever funds were available.TheinternswhofinishedtheirinternshipinDecemberlastyearwere paid June and July 2015 arrears last week.Their monthly stipend which was assessed on Grade Level Eight, earning N133,950 monthly, was slashed by 50percenttoN66,975.Beforetheongoingpaymentoftwomonthsarrears, the interns were owed for between six to eight months.

Mexico Adopts BPP’s Procurement Software

ChairmanoftheIndependentCorruptPracticesandotherRelatedOffences Commission(ICPC),Mr.EkpoNtahassaidthatasoftwarepackageforelectronic management of procurement developed by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had been adopted by Mexico. He noted that the software had attractedinternationalattentionandsubsequentlyadoptedbyMexicoand several other countries. He made the disclosure when playing host to the Bureau of Public Procurement team led by the Acting Director-General of theBureau,Mr.AhmedwhowasonacourtesyvisittotheCommission,This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Press Secretary of the Bureau and made available to Journalists in Abuja.

Firm to Empower Women, Creates Jobs

Aphotography firm,Studio24isseekingtoempower50womenacrossthe countrybetweentheagesof25and60,aspartofitsexpansionplansthrough itsnewfranchiseprogramme.Thefirmwhichisthefastestgrowingcommercial photographycompanyinWestAfricahadalsoannouncedfranchiseplansin Nigeria,includingdevelopingnewoutletsnationwide.Studio24TeamLeader, Mr. Ifeanyi Oputa disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, where he stressedthecompany'sreadinesstosupportthepotentialfranchiseswith access to finance, and other tools. According to him, "The idea is to create a novel 1000 job opportunities in creative arts industry, reduce poverty, empower and support the business woman who understands franchising, intellectual property and wants to grow her personal business."

Adeleke Charges IBEDC on Stable Power

ThefirstciviliangovernorofOsunState,andtheSenatorrepresentingOsun WestDistrict,SenatorIsiakaAdeleke,hascalledonthemanagementofIbadan Electricity Distribution Company, to improve on its services to consumers inOsunWestDistrict,withaviewtoamelioratingtheunwarrantedhardship being encountered by them presently. Senator Isiaka Adeleke, in a release issued by his special adviser on Media and public Affairs, Olumide Lawal, saidthisbecomesimperative,inrelationtobarragesofcomplaintsreaching him from the people of Osun west District, as to the persistent black-out, they had been experiencing for sometime now.

Learn Africa Appoints Bala Hassan Acting MD

Foremosteducationalpublishers,LearnAfricaPlc.(formerlyLongmanNigeria), hasappointedAlhajiSalisuBalaHassan(FCE)asActingManagingDirectorto overseecompanyaffairs.HereplacesSegunOladipowhosetenureasManaging Director has just ended. Alhaji Salisu Bala Hassan (FCE) is an experienced professional, who joined the company as Sales Representative in 1996. In 2002, he was promoted to the position of a Senior Sales Representative and between 2008 and 2010, he was the Area Manager of the North-West DistrictinJos,PlateauState.HewaslaterpromotedtothepositionofActing District Manager in 2010, and became the substantive District Manager (North-West) in 2011. Until this new appointment, Alhaji Hassan was the Head of Sales (North) of the company.

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MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

A SPLASH OF RUBBISH

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The recently held Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards fell below expectations, writes Zik Zulu Okafor

he Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) which held recently at Eko Hotel, Lagos was curiously a far cry from the expectations generated by the perpetual hype that heralded the awards. But credit must first be given to the set design, the lighting, mood and racy tempo of the entire event. There was no room for sloppy, uninspiring speeches because of rigid adherence to time.

In local patois however, AMVCA was dry, very dry. There was no entertainment in the real sense of the word. Laughter was epileptic, musicians’ performances were drab, presentation very far from the excellent histrionics that characterised the past editions and importantly the classification of the awards and winners raised potent questions about the meticulous attention to details and precedents needed to avoid contradictions.

Let us begin with the presenter, IK Osakioduwa and Minne Dlamini.

Their presentation was utterly flat. Ik, a guy with an incredible sense of precision and penetrating humour, this time was laid back and seemed to worry more about presenters adherence to time. And Minnie spoke perpetually with a high pitch that breached coherence and flow with her co-host. And perhaps, because it was her first appearance on AMVCA, she made no attempt at humour and therefore came across stiff and colourless.

Perhaps, the organisers of AMVCA may need to take a look at 88th Academy Awards, hosted by Chris Rock. A host may not have Chris’ sometimes blistering and bruising teasers or scathing jokes, but the spring and zing that were the hall marks of his presentation made a pleasurable difference.

Now, if music performance is to feature in an award, what you expect to see is a performance that raises the bar. At AMVCA, the performances of Flavour and Yemi Alade looked more like they were doing AMVCA a favour. Flavor sang his famous Ada-Ada like a performer at an early rehearsal and followed it with an unknown track that none in the audience knew or even paid attention to. It was a dreadful performance that simply assaulted the sight of the audience. If he was applauded at all, it was courtesy of a few civilised minds.

Yemi Alade will only be remembered for her nice, skimpy sartorial cut. But her song and performance moved no one and nobody stood up to ‘shake body’. She was most uninspiring and one felt at that point that AMVCA managers should ask to know the songs a paid artiste is going to perform and do a professional assessment of same to ensure that it will rev the ecstasy of the show.

The comedy performances that often left the audience reeling on the floor with laughter and tears of uncontrollable excitement, this time were a serial flop from one act to the other. But for the brilliance of Uganda comic star, Salvador, the comedy interludes of AMVCA 2016 were drab and at best a mimicry of the laughter trade. It was far from the awesome South African comedian in 2015 that cracked the ribs of the audience with his explosive jokes and hilarious teasing of the white folks at Immigration in London.

Still the microphone used by presenters cut an awful picture. The mic was so low that each presenter and award winner had to practically squat to be able to speak through the mic. It was unbelievably shocking that none of the stage managers or technical crew noticed the incongruous picture that the dwarfed microphone created. The height of the flaws was when the M-Net Regional Director of West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, had to stoop to take her speech. It simply diminished her ever towering presence and the corporate poise that

THERE WAS NO ENTERTAINMENT IN THE REAL SENSE OF THE WORD. LAUGHTER WAS EPILEPTIC, MUSICIANS’ PERFORMANCES WERE DRAB, PRESENTATION VERY FAR FROM THE EXCELLENT HISTRIONICS THAT CHARACTERISED THE PAST EDITIONS AND IMPORTANTLY THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE AWARDS AND WINNERS RAISED POTENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAILS

comes in sync with it.

But perhaps the most worrisome flip side of this well packaged and high glamour event was in the awards. First is script. Both the television and movie scripts were joined in the same category. This is patently flawed. In the first place, a television series producer will not likely be allowed to submit more than two episodes of the series. This two cannot and will never give enough insight into the entire series to appreciate the story, language and style.

On the other hand, a movie has a beginning, climax and resolution and you are able to see all these in one movie making it much easier to appreciate the movie story, language and style in totality. No question, it gives the movie script an unfair advantage over two or three episodes of a television series, soap-opera or tele-novella that could best represent fleeting minutes in several hours of a soap. Movie scripts will therefore enjoy unfair advantage in terms of comprehensive assessment. There is also a huge question mark on the award of The Best Overall Movie which was given to Dry, a daring creative effort and insightful movie by Stephanie Linus. Dry deservedly won the Best Overall Movie but, strangely, failed to win Best Movie-West Africa, won by Road to Yesterday, a collaborative production of Genevieve Nnaji, Chinny Onwugbenu and Chichi Nwoko. This is simply strange for the simple reason that if Dry was good enough to win the Overall Best in West, East and Southern Africa, all together, then it must as a necessity be the Best in West Africa bloc where it emerged from.

Anything short of this is a product of abracadabra and not of the incisive, meticulous and professional considerations that AMVCA sign posts year in, year-out. The AMVCA jury needs a journey of serious introspection on this, to avoid a dreadful dejavu in the future.

It is still a curious mystery that the Best Overall Movie neither produced the best director nor the best cinematography. And the best picture did not emerge from the movie. So what gave Dry the Overall Best Movie? The actors? Screen play? It did not produce any of this.

And the movie that produced the best director in Akin Omotosho did not even win the best movie - Southern Africa neither did it win the overall category.

Apart from Overall Best Movie, Dry was given awards in Sound and Costume. These two alone couldn’t have won it the Overall Best Movie. There is a yawning gap. It is either Dry was denied some major awards or some other movie should have been given the trophy for Overall Best Movie. But what nobody is likely to say is that Dry does not deserve its award. It does. Yet, there is certainly an abysmal error of judgment somewhere that AMVC’s often robust jury must give some quality thinking.

AMVCA has already established an untrammeled integrity within its short life. Therefore, it must show no tinge of sentiment in anyway.

If a movie deserves eight awards, then let it win them. And if it deserves nothing, it should go empty no matter the hype, personalities or stars involved.

Beyond the flaws, however, AMVCA 2016 was a quintessential enactment of glamour and high profile marketing of the promises and possibilities of Nollywood and Movie Africana. It is extending the frontiers of hope for the industry and in particular some of those players seemingly shut out of the promise of Nigeria and left on the footnotes of history despite their professional accomplishments. The Bukky Ajayi and Sadiq Daba Industry Merit Awards are emblematic of this hope and soothing reward. And for this, AMVCA deserves our ovation.

ANOTHER GO AT BEING FRIENDS

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he slight face-off between organised labour and the administration of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku recently and the way it was amicably resolved, clearly demonstrated that civil servants in the state finally now have an ally at Government House, Jalingo. At the end of the unfortunate altercation which saw labour doing a two-day warning strike, both labour and administration understood each other in a way that would engender greater bond and a symbiotic relationship.

Every government needs that sort of synergy for growth and development. The era of activism on both sides is gone, making way for give and take.

When harnessed in a brilliant manner, labour unions could really assist in achieving the dreams of a stronger, unified regime. And for Governor Ishaku who is determined to be one of the best governors in the annals of the state, nothing could be more damaging than a long drawn out row with labour.

Taraba is a civil service state. What it means is that the workers and their beloved salaries are the only raw materials available for any governor to actualise his lofty dreams. Consequently, Jalingo only comes alive when salaries are paid.

Family life, businesses, relationship and other social interactions practically revolve around the monthly remuneration. Without salary, life almost grinds to a halt. As terrible as this may sound, this is the reality. I remember when the former governor of Taraba, Danfulani Suntai used to tell us that he must pay salaries no matter what happened. He would give us that hot look of his at cabinet meetings and say “my friends,

Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, has lots of respect for workers, writes Emmanuel Bello we can’t rest till salaries are paid.” With that pronouncement, government businesses almost came to a standstill as all that matter was the almighty salaries. But even with that, Suntai had his raw deal with labour which saw him going into re-election without civil servants support.

Indeed, his re-election became such a herculean task. Led by the iconic J. J. Kataps, labour ensured that Suntai’s road to re-election was strewn with thorns. Our saving grace then was that the TUC (Trade Union Congress) was not part of the show down. I doubt if any state’s helmsman can survive a labour action embarked on by both the NLC and the TUC. Governor Suntai however re-strategised and ensured that he carried the state workers along. His policies towards them never changed: prompt payment of salaries and ensuring that all entitlements arrived promptly.

I learnt a lesson there: all that workers want is speedy payment of their salaries. After that, they do not really bother what is happening at the centre. The average Taraba civil servant goes to work diligently all of the days in the month. His or her day starts with arriving the secretariat or wherever the post is. He or she clocks in and waits for duty.

As a commissioner, I noticed how energetic they could be. If they are not working, it is because they are not given a task. They are always punctual, happy and even loyal to a fault.

I remember my secretary and all the other staff who worked round the clock to ensure all went well. The cleaners and messengers took their jobs

seriously. Genuflecting and smiling, you could tell that they knew how important their roles were in ensuring a smooth running of the government machinery. I also noticed that they needed better motivation. The filing and accounting system is still medieval but they are working hard to ensure that they are upgraded. I see a greater appreciation of the computer as a means of documentation. My confidential secretary, Tabitha, was already getting computer literate before I left. But above all is the love for duty and work I saw in them. A director would sit up in his office late into the day even without much work to do. The permanent secretary was often the soul of the government. He or she tries hard to rise above the partisanship in government. One of my permanent secretaries, Lydia Ambituni, would always greet me almost on her knees. Don’t forget that she was light years ahead of me. Sarah too was amazing. A grandmother, Sarah had no problems calling me “sir” and almost kneeling in acknowledgement of my status. The directors too would show me such difference in spite of our age disparity. As I interacted with them, I noted that they were really intelligent - men and women of yesterday who are abreast with how things had evolved. I was their political head and the “oga” of the ministry but they were unarguably, the engine room with their wealth of experience. My best moments were when Uncle Taninga, for instance, came into my office to regale me with the modern history of the state and his own roles. These are not guys

you want to fight with. They are partners in progress. At the start of the now ended ruckus, I called Governor Ishaku who always picks his calls (unlike some big men). What he said touched me. He said “Emma, you know I have a lot of respect for workers. As someone who has transversed three federal ministries, I know what it means to have good relationship with workers.

But honestly things have to be done properly.

The Taraba worker stood with me in my time of tribulations. I would always be with them.”

A man of a few words, I understood clearly that he really is on the side of the average Taraba civil servant. Similarly, the deputy governor, Mr. Haruna Manu, expressed the same sentiment.

He told me that government isn’t antagonising workers unnecessarily. He said that the recent stand-off was a small matter that government has looked into. He stressed that his boss, Governor Darius, is very committed to workers welfare and wellbeing. According to him, government did not hesitate to sit with labour and carefully understand each other. In summary, therefore, the current government appears set to engage the state’s workers as a partner in the rescue mission.

In the coming months and years, Governor Ishaku and his team are committed to a robust policy aimed at providing the Taraba worker with an enabling environment to actualise its dreams. This is good news for both the workers and the government.

Bello, former Commissioner for Information Taraba State, wrote from Jalingo

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MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

International Islamic Conference on Peace and Stability...

Lagos: The Need For Intermodal Transportation

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pass to Agege Motor road; Bourdillon-Alexander-Gerrard; Ago Palace Way in Okota; agos population is estimated to be above 15 million people. According to the Commercial Avenue, Hughes and other roads in Ebute-Metta; Joseph Dosu in Badagry; United Nations projection, by 2015, the population will be about 20 million, Sunny Balogun in Abule Egba; Dr. Nurudeen Olowopopo, CBD Ikeja; Eric Moore, making it the 3rd largest city in the world. With over four million cars and 100,000 Akerele from Alhaji Mashaa to Ogunlana Drive and Bode Thomas in Surulere, among commercial vehicles on the roads (the national average is 11 vehicles per kilometre), Lagos daily records an average of 227 vehicles per every kilometre of roads. One of the numerous others, represent evidences of this commitment. This is addition to the 62 kilometre, 10-lane Lagos - Badagry Expressway being built with Light Rail and BRT major fallouts of this scenario is the scary Lagos traffic gridlock.

Corridor. For a long time, rail transportation was an exclusive preserve of the federal To address the situation, subsequent administrations have expanded and rehabiligovernment. However, current realities show that the benefits of rail transportation tated major roads across the state. Also, the Bus Rapid Transit scheme, (BRT) was need to be greatly exploited for states with high commuter ratio as Lagos. Hence, in developed to advance mass transit. Similarly, the Lagos State Traffic Management 2008, the state government commenced the implementation of the Blue Line Corridor Authority (LASTMA) was created for efficient management of traffic while the first as identified in the Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan. This is an ambitious traffic radio station in the country, Lagos Traffic Radio, came on board in May, 2012. project designed to tap the vast potential of this mode of transportation for the benefit Equally, the Lagos Drivers’ Institute was set up in June, 2008 to improve and moderate of Lagosians. Therefore, the ongoing construction of 27 kilometre Blue Light Rail tracks driving culture in the state. is yet another first by any state government in Nigeria. When completed, the Light Presently, the Ambode administration is working on other means to improve public Rail will transport over 400,000 passengers per day and reduce vehicular traffic along transportation in the state. It recently held a stakeholders’ summit on the way forward East-West Okokomaiko-Mile 2-Orile-CMS routes by about 30 per cent. The implemenfor public transportation in the state. Equally, the scope of LASTMA’s operation in the area of enforcement of traffic laws has been expanded. An exercise aimed at recruiting tation of the Red Light Rail Line is also at an advanced stage. more hands to strengthen the body has just been concluded. Mass transit development The State government has equally invested in the establishment of enabling strucis also on-going as evidenced in the recent launching of the Ikorodu BRT and injection ture, processes and regulations for water transportation. The development of water of over 200 new buses into the fleet is an integral part of this plan. Also, ‘Operation transportation is to further ensure an affordable and high quality network of integrated Zero Tolerance for Pot Holes’, which has led to the rehabilitation over 280 roads across ferry services with barrier- free navigation access for the benefit of all waterways users. the state, is in progress. Similarly, more inner routes are being developed.

This is done in such a way that it offers more choices to individuals, communities It is, however, important to stress that public transportation could only become and businesses while protecting, maintaining and enhancing the unique conservation efficient in Lagos with an effective intermodal system. Intermodal transportation status of the aquatic splendour which covers a total length of 180 km waterfront and system pertains to the availability of more than one form of transportation such as water area of 777.56sq kilometres. Five additional jetties have been established at road, rail, air and water on a single Ipakodo in Ikorodu, journey. It centres on the movement of Badore in Ajah, Mile passengers from one mode of transport 2 in Amuwo- Odofin to another, commonly taking place at a and Osborne in T H E S AT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU terminal specifically designed for such a Lekki. The Lagos DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE purpose. For instance, a good model of State Waterways MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO intermodal transportation should allow a Authority (LASWA) DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE commuter from Ikorodu to connect Lagos also undertook CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI Island by water while a commuter from the construction of EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN Orile could connect same place via light jetties and terminals rail and others by road. Over reliance on at Ebute-Ojo and inadequate network of roads has, over Ijegun-Egba as it also the years, been the bane of a developed resuscitated Agboyitransportation system in Lagos and Ketu and Epe jetties.

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D Nigeria in general.

Presently, passenger EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, A comprehensive policy of integrated traffic has grown ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU intermodal transport programmes for to over one million GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA Lagos was conceived in 1999 and passengers per month DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, subsequently reviewed in 2007 to become and it is increasing.

MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE integrated intermodal multi-modal This has also created DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI transport policy with strong commitment additional new jobs SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO to develop all transportation modes such with economic CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI as road, water and rail and integrate multiplier effects on GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI them effectively. Between 1999 and individuals, families GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE 2015, roads such as Awolowo Way, and society.

ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II Ikoyi; Itire-Lawanson-Ojuelegba in Tayo Ogunbiyi, DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO Surulere; Ikotun-Igando; Adeola Odeku; Ministry of InforTO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com Kudirat Abiola Way, Olorunsogo-Mushinmation & Strategy, Moshalasi, Akin Adesola and Ilupeju bye Alausa, Lagos

DeathThreats in Rivers State

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ne curious mettle consistent with the governor of Rivers State and which has unfortunately defined his administration’s trajectory is the embellishment of death narratives.

Official statements coming from the Government House has lost the panache of technocratic nuances imbued with the office. Allusion to threats and writing of will directed at innocent citizens and public officials is infantile.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan may be scored low on exchequer stewardship and allied non-success but he demonstrated unassailable passion for the inviolability of human life in ascendancy to any political advantage.

Wike’s brutish anecdotes unmitigated by his Supreme Court success is antithetical to our constitutional democracy.

The governor ought to know that his total control of the institutions of governance in Rivers does not guarantee a transcendent immunity and any governance negotiated on the blood of innocent political rivals would produce a comeuppance of blood in the lives of such inter-agents.

Rivers State cannot afford to work at cross purpose with security agents. For instance the governor ought to show more than vague interest in the police Assistant Inspector General’s security report revealing the array of hoodlums already lodged in various hotels in Rivers State.

It means that wherever the pendulum of victory turns violence is endorsed.

Bukola Ajisola, Victoria Island, Lagos

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MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Help, We Need Redemption

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ometimes pessimism seizes me and I feel we are a doomed people. At some other times, my belief in a better tomorrow waxes strong and hope bubbles up inside me.

But the fact is that our ways are hardly what they should be.

Everywhere I turn, I still see vestiges of the old order, yet everybody wants a new experience.

Because it seems that we are fundamentally depraved, every generation breeds its own monsters and social terrorists.

From the benefit of hindsight, I dare say that the campaign launched by then Information minister, Mr Walter Ofonagoro, Not in Our Character, was rather hasty and unduly protective of our shortcomings as a people.

Yes, there is no perfect society or people here on earth. But the flaws we see everyday amongst ourselves clearly indicate that we need much more than the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to change our ways.

I will not even talk about the very harsh deprivations and unkind cuts we get from our so-called leaders who are deeply greedy and selfish in their pursuits and exploits, those who hide $1million in septic tanks or those who steal N558 million every month from a system… etc, but to show that these flaws run in us, I will cite some very few and recent “lower case” examples that show clearly that we need redemption.

I was at a company’s ceremony during the week, somewhere in Delta State. The company had built a wing of a health facility and donated it to government as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

One of the top notch managers of the company had told me how the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital had laboured to frustrate and almost ruined the entire project because he wanted to be “settled”. The manager complained that “he (the Chief Medical Director) kept asking what is in it for me?” My source lamented that but for his insistence on seeing the project through, the CMD would have caused them to have an abandoned project.

At that same ceremony, the little reception organized for the few people who came witnessed another show of our depravity. Some refreshment packs had been arranged for the guests. Apparently, a catering outfit was contacted to put the victuals together. When it is time for refreshment, one of the organisers stood by the catering personnel and the sharing of the refreshment packs began.

I noticed that as soon as the organisers turned their back to attend to some other ceremony concerns, the caterer immediately stopped sharing, tied up the bag and ordered another staff to take it to their waiting van, despite the grumbling and protestation of the unserved people.

That caterer had been paid his/her full charge to serve a certain number of people. After collecting his/her money, he denies the guests of his/her service.

Yet, that same person will be loud in criticizing our leaders in Abuja.

What do we say of even clerks in government offices who are in the habit of hiding the files of contractors who don’t “settle” them? For months and even years, works are stalled simply because files of certain projects are missing. But whenever the contractor comes around and does the “needful”, that same file missing for a long time, surfaces the next day.

I am also aware of many communities where either government or oil companies want to execute developmental projects. And rather than being grateful and enthusiastic about such projects, some nefarious community leaders

Canticles...

When Change Hurts

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t is one year now that we all fell for the rousing gimmick.

Rousing gimmick? Which one is that?

I am referring of course to the APC propaganda machine that transformed the word “CHANGE” to a nationwide lingo.

OMG! Is that what you are describing as rousing gimmick? What gimmick was there? Didn’t Nigerians need a change? Were they not choking and literally gasping for breath? Do you know the amount of national relief and reprieve that we had as a people because of the change of persons and batons?

What is this change you are talking about? What relief are you referring to?

Have we not crashed into a deeper mess now? Are we not fainting because of this so-called change?

You don’t understand. The fact is that…

Lai Mohammed

draw up long lists of appeasements and settlements before they can allow the project to take place. Instead of facilitating the coming of projects to their communities, they frustrate and repel development efforts. They do not care if by the project, the community will now have pipe-borne water, or good tarred roads or stable electricity supply. Like that CMD, they are more concerned with the banal and baleful consideration of “what is in it for me”?

I guess it is in a nature; I don’t want to say it is in our DNA. I recall back then in the university, how some selfish and notorious students will ransack the library for any good resource material on any course. And whenever they find any such valuable book, helpful in any course, they will take it from where it is shelved, say in Humanities shelf, and go hide it in Civil Engineering shelf. At other times, they even go barbaric by slicing off the relevant pages from the book, just so that no other fellow student benefits from the book. Such people get out of school and become a danger to the larger society.

Recently too, a taxi driver who took me from the airport was lamenting the fuel scarcity and told the story of how the taskforce members set up to monitor compliance of Independent marketers (fuel station operators) with approved prices, collect bribe from the same people they are supposed to be checking and then turn the other eye when the marketers start selling above the approved pump price, even though on the meter, they retain the approved N86.50k per litre; but use a calculator to reckon what your bill is, aside what the meter shows.

So from where will the angels come down to re-order our lives? The NNPC management puts a taskforce in place to check nefarious marketers. The taskforce people are paid salaries and allowances, yet they connive to sabotage a system because of their illicit search for “what is in it for me”? So if the taskforce members are unable to tame the rougish marketers, how can Kachikwu (NNPC GMD) be able to rein in the crooks in the system? Who says we don’t need redemption as a people?

All that is discernable from these examples is that it appears inherent in us to cheat, undercut and even rob others, a phenomenon described as “Adamic Nature” in Christendom.

So, many of those who shout loudest today over system failures and acute corruption, are more likely going to follow suit or even do worse atrocities.

Only those with a very strong sense of discipline and self control will yet stand straight when tested. Little wonder that even the younger politicians in various offices have, as they say in conversational parlance, continued to “fall our hands”.

(cuts in) I really don’t understand. Nigerians don’t understand why there is no electricity. They don’t understand why there is only a recorded growth in the megawatts of darkness being generated.They don’t understand why even the basic Economics theories of demand and supply cannot be adhered to in the issue of fuel supply? They cannot understand why despite the earlier Kachikwu noise, our refineries are as silent as a poor man’s grave.They don’t understand why Dollar has become as scarce as a virgin in maternity ward. Everything is scarce.

Dollar is scarce, petrol is scarce, electricity is scarce, food is scarce, money is scarce, safety is scarce, even justice is scarce. Haba! They don’t understand why even those with very genuine need for foreign exchange cannot get it.They really don’t understand the economic direction or module of this administration.They do not understand why the generator market is still booming despite the promise of change.

They do not understand even the amount of heat ravaging the country as there is neither electricity nor petrol to power the generators to combat the heat.They do not understand why companies have to be shutting down and sacking people instead of expanding and employing more people as promised. Nigerians do not understand why despite the famous body language of Mr President, we are back to point origin on Boko Haram terrorism, on high-scale Buhari corruption. Or how do we explain the Budget padding saga? Pray what has happened to the body language magic? Is it that the body is no more speaking or the language is no longer audible? Look, Do you know if an election is to hold today, Buhari and his men will not even score 15 per cent? Do you know Nigerians are groaning and moaning? Nigerians are hurting.

Hmmm, Do you see why I said you don’t understand?

You do not understand that as a people, we were all in a cesspit of misery before now.

All that you are cataloguing as our challenges are the experiences of those trying to climb out of the cesspit of death and extinction which the previous administration had pushed us all. Can you imagine the revelations from the corruption probes? Can you imagine the revelations from the arms deal? Can you imagine the findings about the rot in NNPC where they are said not to have remitted N3.23Trillion to the national treasury even though NNPC says it is only N326,142,137,205.79 that it had not remitted. Question is: why was even that amount not remitted as required by law?

Just imagine a man who diverts N558 million every month for 15 months! You know what that comes to? Imagine a government office become such a generous super ATM machine.

Look, discerning Nigerians are happy that the handful of Nigerian elite who have been responsible for the untold hardship of other Nigerians and the dwarfing of the nation, are gradually and steadily being exposed. Nigerians are happy with Buhari that a lot of rot and mess are being corrected. The age of impunity is gone. Nobody can or should be seen trifling with our commonwealth anymore. Imagine using our money to buy plum and choice houses for their children in Nigeria and abroad. Haba! Enough is Enough!!!.

Nigerians would even be happy with PMB if it is only this corruption he helps to crush before leaving office. Imagine a top service man hiding $1million dollars in a soak-away pit. What is that? Are we in Rwanda or a Banana Republic?

You talk as if Nigerians voted for Buhari so he can undertake this endless forensic probe from sun-up to sun-down. Is that what will enable me pay my children’s fees? Is that what I will use to pay my rent and my other bills? Is it this probe that will give the many jobless Nigeria youths work? Yes, he should probe the bad guys of yesterday. But for crying out loud, that cannot be the be-all and the end-all of this administration.

Indeed, your pall of ignorance is thick. You just don’t understand how government works. Buhari is trying to reset the government structure and framework.

Look, governance is going on. If you cannot see it, go for Tinubu’s glasses. Don’t you know that unless we set the tone right, foreign investors will shun Nigeria and we shall be in a rougher mess? Are you not aware that the Swiss government recently returned over $723 million to Nigeria? Why was this money not returned all along? Do you know how much has been recovered from persons accused of corruption? Do you know how much goodwill the Buhari administration has attracted globally? Is it not a proof of seriousness in this government?

And you talked about unemployment. Did you not hear that the committee on that recently submitted their report, with Vice President Osinbajo promising 3 million jobs in three years?

All I will tell you is to be more watchful and patient. Nothing good comes easy. It is far easier to destroy than to rebuild. Buhari and his team mean well. Nigeria will rebound.

But for that to happen, all, I repeat, all Nigerians have to put their hands on the plough.

And there will be no looking back.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 19, 2016

NEWS

Flooding: Mimiko Allays Fears, Supreme Court Orders Re-hearing of Appeal in My Pikin Baby Teething Mixture Inspects Preventive Projects Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Supreme Court has faulted the December 2013 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which upheld the conviction of the manufacturer of My Pikin baby teething mixture and two employees.

The manufacturer, Barewa Pharmaceutical Company, its Production Manager, Adeyemo Abiodun and Quality Assurance Manager, Egbele Eromosele were in 2008 charged with production of the dangerous syrup which purportedly resulted in some deaths.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke, of the Federal High Court, Lagos on May 17, 2012, convicted the three and sentenced each to seven years for conspiracy to sell the dangerous drug.

He handed them another seven

years for actually selling the syrup, but ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

The judge, who retired a day after the judgment, ordered the company to be compulsorily wound up and its assets forfeited.

The charge was initiated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Court of Appeal, Lagos in its judgment in 2013 upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, but only set aside the aspect concerning the winding-up of the company.

In its unanimous judgments delivered yesterday in three appeals filed by the company, Abiodun and Eromosele, the apex court faulted the Court of Appeal, Lagos on the ground that it determined the convicts' appeals on an abandoned notice and

grounds of appeal.

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who wrote the lead judgments in the three appeals, ordered that the appeals be remitted to the Court of Appeal, Lagos for it to hear the appeals on the "valid notice/grounds of appeal" filed on July 3, 2013.

Justice Rhodes-Vivour's judgment was read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.

Justice Rhodes-Vivour noted that, of all the issues raised in the appeals, it was discovered that issue two was a threshold issue, to the effect that the Court of Appeal, Lagos division abandoned the operative notice of appeal and relied on the abandoned notice of appeal He said the three appeals were determined by the apex court on that ground alone and that there was no need going into the substance of the appeals.

"In conclusion, it is hereby ordered that this appeals be remitted to the Court of Appeal for hearing de novo (afresh) on the valid notice of appeal filed on 3rd of July 2013."

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who was part of the five-man panel said the court lacked the power to hear the appeal and determine it as requested by the appellants' lawyers.

"The provision of Section 22 of the Constitution is not available for such kind of practice because, the power of the Court of Appeal to hear appeal from the trial court cannot be usurped by this court.

The section places exclusive power, to hear appeal from the High Court, to the Court of Appeal. This court cannot exercise such power. If it does, it is just mere formality," the CJN said.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has allayed the fear of flooding, stressing that his administration had ensured continuous channelisation of erosion-prone areas across the State with a view to protecting lives and property.

Governor Mimiko, who gave the assurance during his inspection visit to the 200-meter channelisation project at Araromi in Akure, the State capital on Friday noted that his administration had been pro-active in tackling erosion challenges and in anticipation of the rainy season so that property and lives of the people could be protected.

He said that continuous channelisation had been going on in many parts of the State so that the people living around erosion prone areas could live peacefully without fear.

He however appealed to the people to ensure that no refuse was dumped in water channels so as to avoid blockages.

"The visit is to see the progress of this work, what we are doing here around Araromi axis is concrete channelisation. The

whole idea is to rescue this neighbourhood from perennial flooding".

"One good thing about our strategy is to ensure continuous channelisation as a preventive measure ahead of the rainy season.

In the last seven year, we hardly experienced any devastating flood because we are channelising all the time in anticipation of the next raining season.

"With this channelisation going on in Akure, Igbokoda, Ile-Oluji and other areas, the whole idea is to prepare all neighbourhoods that are prone to flooding ahead of the rainy season so that our people can live in peace", the Governor said.

On roads, he said, "This is a very important road and I'm very pleased with what OSARMCO is doing here. At the stakeholders meeting we held during the 40th anniversary of Ondo State and 7th anniversary of our administration, people specifically requested that we help them to put asphalt on this road. I'm very happy today that this road is done. This will surely add value to the lives of our people" he concluded.

Awobokun, Oando Marketing CEO, named 2016 Young Global Leader

SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT...

L-R: First runner-up of PZ Cussons Carex Chemistry Challenge 2015, Wajul Kareem; Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria, Mr. Christos Giannopoulous, first prize winner, Anthony Ike-Okoro and second runner-up , Samuel Joseph during the facility tour of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc headquarters in Lagos

FG Insists on Compliance with Local Content Procurement Policy Bennett Oghifo

The Federal Government has instructed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to reverse any transactions made

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) without the prescribed percentage of local content.

For this reason, the BPP met with the management of all MDAs yesterday in Lagos to sensitise them on the strict enforcement of the policy.

The policy, as stated in the Gazette, stipulates that goods purchased by MDAs must have 50 per cent local content, but

the threshold for procurement of vehicles is 30 per cent local content.

The information on government’s determination to enforce the local content policy for MDAs was presented in Lagos yesterday by two senior officials of the BPP, Mr. Eze J. Obasi, Director, Special Procurement and Adebowale Adedokun, Head, Research, Training and Strategic Planning Department.

Both officials, who visited the United Vehicle Assembly Limited (UVAL), said they were there to assess the plant for consideration as one of those to be included on the list of

plants that assemble vehicles in the country.

Already, three plants, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) in Kaduna, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Nnewi and VON Automobile in Lagos have been visited.

The BPP officials, who represented the Bureau’s Director General, Mr. Ahmed Abdu said MDAs had been instructed to buy from the assembly plants only, adding that when vendors bring their tenders, these assemblers would be notified to ensure they were not cheating.

They said any MDA that flouted the policy would be

made to face the wrath of the law, including a reversal of the purchase order, urging the assemblers and other stakeholders to provide information to them whenever there was contravention of the policy.

According to them, the facilities of the United Vehicle Assembly Limited (UVAL) were not up to the high standard they were presently when they drew up the list of plants to be patronised by the government.

They said they were going to present their report to their principal for decision to be made on the Uval Assembly multi-vehicle plant.

Court Convicts 14 Foreigners for Unlawfully Dealing in Petroleum Products Davidson Iriekpen Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday convicted 14 foreigners for dealing in petroleum products in Nigeria without lawful authority.

The judge found them guilty for dealing in 1,738.087 metric tons of petroleum product in Nigeria without lawful authority or licence as alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Buba sentenced 11 out of the 14 convicted foreigners to two years imprisonment with an option of N2million fine each.

The judge said the sentence would run from last year March when they were apprehended by the Nigerian Navy and handed over to the EFCC. Justice Buba, however, sentenced the remaining three convicts who had jumped bail and absconded to five years imprisonment without an option of fine. The three convicts who jumped bail are Russians.

The judge convicted and sentenced them in absentia and issued a warrant for their arrest, emphasising that their jail term would commence on whatever day they were re-arrested.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of the petroleum products and the

vessel into which they were loaded to the federal government.

He ordered the two companies convicted alongside with the foreigners to pay N5m fine on each of the five counts levelled against them.

The EFCC had on June 10, 2015 arraigned the 14 convicts on four counts before Justice Buba.

They were arraigned alongside their vessel - MT Anukt Emerald, and two companies - Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd. Their names, as listed on the charge sheet, are Arthur Pakhladzhian, Sergo Abbgarian, Vasily Shkundich, vitaliy Bilours, Hlarion Regipor, Laguta

Oleksiy and Cadavis Gerarado.

Others are Kretov Andry, Badurian Benjamin, Chepikov Olksan, Naranjo Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Caratiquit Beyan.

They were identified as citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Philippine and Japan.

The prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, had told the court that the men were handed over to the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy which on February 27, 2015 intercepted them with their vessel, MT Anukpet Emerald, loaded with crude oil estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.

Chief Executive Officer of Oando Downstream, Mr. Abayomi Awobokun has emerged as one of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2016 Young Global Leaders.

He was chosen among the 121 ‘Action-oriented entrepreneurial minds under 40 that were positively influencing global economies.

A statement from Oando said WEF was impressed with the pedigree of Awobokun and described him as, “CEO of Nigeria's biggest indigenous oil retailing major”, launched the Young Global Leaders program in 2004 as a platform to recognise outstanding and committed leaders from various fields including arts, business and politics.

The statement added that selected individuals went through an extensive nomination process and assessment based on rigorous benchmarks, followed by a five year fellowship to promote a better society based on collaboration, learning, and action.

“Awobokun, an energetic and in-

novative business leader, is responsible for overseeing the downstream operations of Oando PLC, a leader in integrated energy solutions in Africa.

Oando Downstream is Nigeria’s leading supplier and retailer of refined petroleum products, with product supply in excess of 2 billion litres annually, which accounts for 20% of the private sector supply of refined products into Nigeria. He also spearheads the trading and retail operations of the business in the United Kingdom, Mozambique, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Togo, and North Africa.

“Ideally, a Young Global Leader has a record of outstanding accomplishments and leadership skills, and extraordinary dedication to serve the society and world at large. Awobokun joins an enviable list of other honorees from all regions of the world including Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook; Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta, both of CNN.

IFAD Seeks Improvement of Rural Infrastructure in Nigeria Adebiyi Adedapo inAbuja The President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Mr. Kanayo Nwanze has recommended investment in rural infrastructure to stem youth exodus from rural to urban areas in Africa.

Nwanze made the recommendation in Abuja, at the 9th IFAD Annual Regional Workshop titled "investing in rural youths; how do we plant the seed for the future."

The workshop which draws participants from across West and Central Africa is aimed at re awakening the consciousness of all stakeholder to the role of youth in agriculture to the future of Africa.

Nwanze said investing in rural areas was necessary because it would ensure gainful employment for rural dwellers and improve standard of living of majority of the citizens.

"If we want young the people to stay and work in rural areas, there is

a need to be considerable investment in infrastructure. This includes investment in processing plants, electricity, warehouses, roads and ports. Doing this can reduce post-harvest waste and improve access to markets," he said.

He added that Africa could create a world where young people have something to gain, instead of a world where they have nothing to lose; a world where young people take up the tools for production, not arms for destruction.

Meanwhile, President Mohammadu Buhari at the workshop hailed IFAD and other development partners, saying they had over the years joined efforts with government to transform rural economy.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Buhari said in line with the theme of the workshop, the country was conscious of the fact that the youths were the future.

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SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016 T H I S D AY

Plus Stella Damasus At 16, I Was Already Popular and Making Money

INTERIOR AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGOUND FITNESS FASHION FILE

pg. 21 pg. 26 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 40 pg. 41

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 19, 2016

Plus

My Second Marriage Crashed Just After 8 Months –I Didn’t Blame Anyone A riveting personality; unflinching in her conviction and unapologetic in her decision; she is not afraid to swim against any tide. Young, gorgeous and graceful, Stella Damasus is one of the best actresses in Nigeria. Also a gifted singer, Stella is no stranger to the klieg light. Mesmerising in movie roles, aura and intelligence, she exudes humility tempered with straightforwardness. Young, rich and popular, she wanted to live life to the full; to get married young and grow up with her family. At 21, that wish was fulfilled; though she married a man she truly loved, the marriage did not last long. Another shot at marriage was short-lived. Once a widow, later a divorcee but now in a third marriage, Stella is unapologetic about marrying the ex (Daniel Ademinokan) of a fellow actress, Doris Simeon.

In this interview with Oge Ezeliora, Stella, a mother of two, talks about her short-lived marital bliss with Jaiye Aboderin, an eight-month marital flop with another man and her newfound love with Ademinokan. The actress also bares her mind on why celebrities endure abusive marriage

W

hat is your real name?

Stella Damasus (Stella Ojukwu).

What is your state of origin?

I was born in Asaba, Delta State.

Take us through your background.

I grew up in Benin City (Edo State) where I completed most of my primary education.

I was born into a family of six (five girls and one boy; he is now late). I also attended Greater Tomorrow Primary School and Idia College, both in Benin. I had my tertiary education at the University of Lagos where I studied Creative Arts and graduated in 2002.

Where did you meet your first husband?

I met my first husband Jaiye (now late), who was one of the children of late Chief Olu Aboderin – founder of The Punch Newspapers – at Jazzville Onike, Yaba, Lagos State.

And our (marital) union lasted for seven years which left me a widow for four years, before I decided to remarry.

How did you feel the first time you appeared in front of the camera?

My first Nigerian film was titled ‘Abused’ in 1992. So far I have done over 300 movies and have lost count of some of them. In 2009, I was nominated for Best Actress in a leading role at the African Movie Academy Awards.

So I have received so many awards that I can’t remember and I know more will still come.

At what point in your career did you divert to music?

Music to me happens to be an inborn thing.

As a child I sang in church. So I just decided to bring out another talent that God has given me. And the songs did successfully well in the market.

How did you cope getting married to your first husband, Jaiye Aboderin, at the age of 21?

I always wanted to start (married life) early. I always wanted to have children early. I wanted to have an early marriage; I wanted to grow with a family. I wanted to learn the inside of it. I didn’t want to wait and grow, and mature, and become big and famous then start to wonder ‘oh, will anyone marry me now’. I didn’t want that to happen because at 16 I was already popular. I was making money; I was travelling. So at that point looking at my life, I said, if I do this for another five, six, seven years and I don’t start a family, it will become more difficult for me later on. So, I decided if I find somebody who I love, who will love me back, we will go together. We will fight all the fight and make up; we will do whatever but we will grow old together. And that’s what happened.

But did you regret that decision?

I am happy I made that decision; because today I have a 17-year-old. I grew up with my children. When you see the three of us, and you see my daughters, you will think we are sisters. And we talk as friends. So it was an important thing for me to have a family (early). We have a tendency to be crazy and do whatever we like because we could get away with anything. We could travel all over

19

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus It’s Nobody’s Business If I Have 50 Husbands... the world. We could get people to like us like this (snaps finger); we had money to throw around. If I didn’t have that family unit to check me, I don’t know what I would have become and I won’t lie about that.

How did you recover from losing your husband then?

They say time heals. I say, I have a different definition. I say time numbs. It is not something that heals, and then that’s it, it’s gone; no. This is someone you planned to spend the rest of your life with, and grow with. Then, we made plans like every other couple. And when that happened…he died when I was 26 with two children. I just felt that my life had ended. So, but with time, this year, December 3rd will be 10 years, one full decade. So it is not healing, I won’t call it healing but I will say it numbs and once in a while, the pain is as fresh like yesterday. But it is how you deal with it that matters. And that’s what I have had to do for the past 10 years. I am very grateful for the family I have.

How true is your relationship with Daniel Ademinokan?

Let me put it this way; let me help you hit the nail on the head. One of the comments I have seen consistently, over and over again is, ‘Stella snatches somebody’s husband’; ‘Stella the husband snatcher’; which is what has been going on. And I had sworn that I would never talk about it or even listen or stress myself about the issue. But I have decided to talk about it now, so that I end it once and for all.

First of all, let me paint a picture for you and you let me know what makes sense to you.

Let’s go to the dictionary, when I looked up the word snatch or steal –it means forcefully taking something away from its original position or forcefully from its original position to another position; something that does not belong to you – that’s what I gathered from the word snatch or steal. So I looked at myself, Stella, and I wondered, how is it possible to go to somebody’s home, and take a man, and take his son, away from his home and say follow me. (Let’s assume) You are a man, and according to their story, he is happily married inside his home. With his family complete and I walk into that home, to forcefully take a man, able-bodied man, and a kid, away from somebody’s hand and you are there looking at me. How does that work?

So logically, if people actually sit down and think about it intelligently, how do you snatch somebody from somebody and the person is there looking at you? So when you see a man who has settled ties with a woman and decides to move on with his life and you feel that there is something in this man that you like and he likes you, is there a problem there?. I am not a kid. I am 36 years old. I am not about to start hiding myself. I was waiting for somebody to actually ask me this question, because all I have heard for the past two to three years are rumours. They said, blogs said, this said. Nobody has been bold enough to confront me and ask me. So I say, if I steal something from somebody, and the person is really the owner of the thing, you come and ask me, ‘You took something from me, give me back’. But nobody was able to do that.

And I am like, if I meet an able-bodied man that has left (his family) and moved on; that is not even in the same house with whoever and is not doing anything with whoever, and both parties had decided this thing (marriage) is not going anywhere, and they have gone their separate ways, why is it easier for the world to blame the woman that the man has decided to end up with? Why is it that it is always that woman that broke that home? The two people that did things that nobody was there; nobody said something must have happened between the two people. It is always somebody else that is the problem. And I always say I do not tolerate blaming anybody for your own problems. I have had problems. After my late husband’s death, I got married again and the marriage didn’t work.

After eight months, it crashed. People didn’t hear much about it; why? We were both mature to understand that we came together; we knew that the thing was not working and instead of us to become enemies we will remain friends; let’s just let it go quietly. And we let it go quietly. I didn’t blame anybody else for doing it (for not making my second marriage work). He didn’t blame anybody else for doing it. So I am wondering, two people come together and they later go their separate ways; this one meets somebody, all of a sudden, it is that somebody that is the problem. Did anybody ever ask, what went wrong? Why would a man pick up his son and walk away from his marriage? Was there any time another woman was the problem until the man moved on with another

I Married at 21 to Avoid Any Heartbreak and Start Raising Children Early woman? Nobody brought up Stella’s name.

Then, all of a sudden, ‘oh he’s moved on with somebody else (snaps fingers); it must be her’. How? I am still waiting for somebody to come with proof to say ‘oh when they were still in marriage, when they were still in a house, you came and did this.’ So the reason why I don’t like talking about it is that, there are some things I would say to you and you would look at me like ‘oh wow!’ but I don’t want to be derogatory. I don’t want to toe the line that other people have toed by saying bad things about people. I would never do that but the stories started coming.

At first I ignored the stories. I just kept quiet and then it was all over the place, Google, blogs, and I am like, one day, one day, I would tell my story. There’s a reason why I am respecting certain people, respecting certain legal issues that are going on. So there might be some things I may not hammer on, but whenever you hear this person snatched this person’s, you will ask the person, the person that they said was the original owner, what was the person doing when they were snatching the person from him or her? I don’t get it. Do you understand? So I look at it, I am not ugly, I am not dumb. Of all the men in the world, I will now go and look for somebody else’s own and say this is the one I want. If he didn’t come out of it and say I want to be with you and you want to be with me, how? Why would I come and grab…?

Am I that bad-looking? Am I that old? If I have 50 husbands, how does that affect you?

Does it change my work? I do my work, you enjoy it.

It’s not about what I do in my bedroom that is your issue because you don’t really know what happens in people’s bedrooms.

You don’t know what happens in marriages.

You don’t know why people like us are very weary of people knowing (about) our business. You don’t know how many marriages are suffering in silence. The issue of domestic violence that I am fighting for, it is part of it. There are marriages that they will tell themselves, especially celebrities we suffer from that. You are in a marriage and because you are worried about the press, the media, you stay in. You just stay in; you act, you play for the camera; you act like everything is okay.

Then you get home and everything is hell because you know the moment you take that bold step and walk away, the backlash will be so bad. But you now ask yourself, to stay in and become a monster or to just quietly leave and preserve my sanity. When you leave to preserve your sanity, then the world wants to make you crazy. You understand. So, it’s a matter of choice. People make choices every day. They’ve made theirs, I have made mine; if you can’t deal with it, no problem. It is my life. Live yours and I will live mine. And I am Happy. I am not ashamed; never a moment

of regret.

On Daniel Ademinokan’s relationship with his ex-wife, Doris, what is your view?

Whatever issues a man has with his wife, when they deal with it, they deal with it. I don’t come into it. And once you are done with it, and ready to move on, and you want to move on with me, and I want a life with you, it’s me and you. I don’t care what anybody else is thinking or saying.

People have said this; it hurts because of the impression people tried to create but I looked at myself and asked myself, ‘Stella in your heart do you believe you did anything bad?’

If my answer is no, then my dear, there is no looking back. Because I am not a kid for me to make a decision and say I want to be with this person.

What is your view about marriage and choosing a partner?

Ladies need to be careful when choosing a life partner. Women should strive to keep their homes; stop feeling too relaxed in any relationship because it could be dangerous.

Before a lady should profess her love for a guy, she should first investigate the man’s goals in life and weigh them against hers. It is not a must for a lady to get married to the wealthiest man. A lady should date a guy who has something meaningful doing for himself. One thing that I find that is the most prevalent among women is saying the man has potential. The truth is, we think that we just meet a man, we fall in love and we want to marry potential. We cannot marry potential; that is why we fall into the issues that we face every day in marriages. One thing that I have learnt through experience to people around me is that when you meet a guy, you start to date, you start to fall in love even before you get to that point where he decides to pop the question way before then. Your dating period should be a time where you get to know each other; not what he likes or who his friends are but who he is as a man in terms of his goals in life. If his goals in life do not work with your own, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • March 19, 2016

Loud Whispers with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

hospital, men . We find ourselves in the same situation today that checking out seems to be the only viable option.

Well, MR.BUHARI, here is my ultimatum, IF YOU DONT GIVE US POWER, FUEL and give me a NATIONAL HONOUR for UNCOMMON COURAGE in the face of HUNGER I will CHECK OUT!!!!!!!!! . If you think I am joking just ask your Brazilian counterpart and she will confirm to you that I have started talks with them in seeking asylum. It’s better to go join the naked Samba ladies carrying their underwear than this thing I am seeing here. You have been warned.

Victor Osadolor : remember me Kai! I jumped for joy with my towel falling off my waist leaving me stark naked in front of my 26 year old Calabar maid. The stupid girl instead of closing her eyes only just smiled.

Well, that is story for another day, stupid girl. It was the appointment of my ex friend now my best friend Victor Osadolor, as the new Deputy Managing Director of UBA. You see, I have a close affinity to this bank because of all my friends in the bank so I keep a close watch at happenings there. This appointment gladdens my heart not only because of the smooth transition that is becoming the mainstay of the behemoth but also because in Osadolor they have found more than a capable hand. He was my client while I was at BGL and whenever I went to his office I used to go with excitement because of the qualitative discussions we used to have. He once called me on the phone wondering why I was not scared of him like other UBA staff, I shrugged and told him that my mother in law was a witch and as such he was the one that should fear me. Osadolor is a brand, a suave intellectual. I saw this coming right from my first interaction with him. His fluidity and clarity on all issues plus the issue of my not being afraid of him always stood him out as a possible replacement for the legendary Tony Elumelu. Well my Lord, now that I have hailed you, may you not forget me in this your new dispensation.

Congrats bro!

Acting President Bukola Saraki?

Read somewhere that the Senate President almost became acting President as a result of the continued jamboree of our Ogas. Someone somewhere later told me that this story was denied but that did not stop me from imagining a Saraki presidency even if it was for just thirty minutes. My people laugh wan kill me even for this my imagination. Immediately after his swearing in, he will sack the CCT judge, change citizenship laws making Nigerians outside the country aliens effectively deporting and banishing Buhari and Osibanjo. He will deport Tinubu, APC Chairman and make Dino Malaye Chairman of EFCC.

Babatubde Fashola: Didn’t I Warn You?

I told him o, did he listen? .

He didn’t instead he went ahead and now he is dancing naked in the village square. When the announcement was made and he was given three major portfolios, I sent for him and as usual he came. He came with his beautiful wife and I sat him down begged him not to take the position. That it was a ploy to demystify him and kill whatever presidential ambitions he would be nurturing in the future. The baba did not listen, instead as I was talking he was watching a Manchester United Match on TV. Well, like his beloved coach, Louis Van Gaal he is fumbling and wobbling his way through Working with the Senate, probe the last elections and start a Babangidatype transition programme that would last four years and which will enable him continue his acting presidency until he hands over to Dino Malaye who by this time would have jailed all the APC people in his role as EFCC Chairman. You see why the prospects of a Saraki presidency even in an acting position is a major issue for the powers that be? I sincerely hope this would make them sit down and look at our issues instead of this continuous travel that is making them look like starry eyed tourists. No be me talk this last one oo, na Emeka for Surulere.

President Jonathan : this is it The waters are being tested for your eventual arrest. The signs are there and the vultures are circling. This is time for us to put on our bowler hat and start thinking of the way out. Well, after all these revelations and arrests of your people the best way out of this is to kidnap the President’s cows in Daura and hold them hostage until an Amnesty deal is worked out with the United Nations mediating. This in my mind is the only way out, any other thing is an exercise in futility.

The President loves the cows to pieces I hear he even has names for all of them and his favourite is called At....

one of the toughest periods in the life of this country. Fash baba is overwhelmed, power is now worse than it used to be, the roads are still filled with craters and killing more people by the day and there is still no housing. It’s really sad, the beautiful boy of Nigerian politics has now become the Lilliputian of our time. Well it’s not too late, he can resign and come back to Lagos. We did not drive him away in the first place, we will accept him gladly and beg Ambode to look for something for him to do maybe give him Commissioner of Sports since he loves Football so much. What a pity.

So my take is to hit him where it hurts most, otherwise, this baba go disgrace us o. But please I beg, as we move towards them we must make sure that we understand how to keep them safe and healthy otherwise if one dies in our custody you will see the battle of Armageddon live.

‘Tired meeen! I’m checking out’ How many of you remembered that TV commercial that was so popular during Buhari’s first coming. The one that had Andrew trying to check out. Well, in that piece Andrew had packed his bags and was leaving the country saying he was ‘tired men, No power, no water, no job, no road, no

Ifeanyi Ubah : what does he want?

I placed a call to my friend to hear him out on the situation of things in this country. A-five-minute call stretched to over one hour and I had to cut the phone at some point to reload my phone. Chief Ubah is a man with an opinion and his analysis always gets the better of me. He spoke at length about the forex crisis and the fuel situation. I have written to Etisalat to give me free recharge cards to reload my phone so that I can continue the conversation. I begged to be let off the call as the conversation became so passionate and oscillated between anger, concern and tears. Ifeanyi, no matter what anybody can say, really has a stake in this country and really wants to be taken seriously by the establishment. Let’s hear him out.

Fred Amata congrats This highly talented person has just been elected President of the Directors Guild. A versatile professional who has over the years been a pillar in the industry. Fred is a free spirit and someone I call a friend. He dey owe me small money sha, but that no matter at least now he will be in a position to pay me after five years. I once watched him on set somewhere in Lekki and the hard work he puts into his craft made me cringe. Fredo baba where is the party abi you want dodge again,me go impeach you o.

Congrats bro na Directors Guild of America remain after this one. Na you and Stephen Spielberg baba. Ko ni da fun wan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 19 , 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

21

INTERIORS EXEC Oluwadamilola Akinsete

Our Clients Love the Unique and Unusual Oluwadamilola Akinsete is the Chief Executive Officer of Home Inspirations. She is one of the big players in the Nigerian interior designs industry.

A graduate of accountancy from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Akinsete is passionate about what she does for a living. She speaks with Azuka Ogujiuba about her passion for the industry and reasons for going into partnership with FENDI…

T

ell us about the moment when you decided to follow a career in interior design?

I decided to follow a career in the field of interior design when I realised I have the creativity and passion for interiors.

Can you remember your first design project?

My first project was for the then managing director of Merchant Bank for Africa.

What is the most frustrating aspect of your job as a designer?

And most rewarding?

The most frustrating aspect of my job as a designer is when you are working with some clients who can’t see or understand your vision because they don’t have a clue of interior decoration or design. The most rewarding is when you are able to conceptualise your vision and it expectedly turns out fantastic and, most important, your client is very pleased.

Were you always intrigued by design as a child? What was your childhood like?

I was a tomboy and my childhood was full of fun, mischief and pranks.

I had no idea I was going to end up in the world of interiors, but then I always wanted the house or environment I lived in to be very neat and clean; as young as I was I loved to tidy up the house.

Could you describe your aesthetic?

Very methodical and organised.

What is your creative process like?

Every client is different so you can’t have a specific routine.

Where do you begin, and is your approach different in terms of each client or do you have a specific routine?

The function of the space, the clients peculiarities likes or dislikes and also the budget of the client.

What do you look for when you select a project?

The function of the areas and the space and the end result to be achieved at the end of the whole project.

What is your work process?

The first thing is conceptualise, second thing is the designs, the third is delivery and installations, the last is finishing touches like placement of accessories and adjustments of placements, if need be.

What inspires you as a designer?

Unusual or unique items; furniture pieces or ideas.

Do people often come to you after a divorce to design a new living space or for a redesign, if they are staying in the home that they shared with their ex?

The most frustrating aspect of my job as a designer is when you are working with some clients who can’t see or understand your vision because they don’t have a clue of interior decoration or design.

The most rewarding is when you are able to conceptualise your vision and it expectedly turns out fantastic and, most importantly, your client is very pleased Akinsete

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 19, 2016

INTERIORS EXEC

Akinsete

Our Clients Love the Unique and Unusual, are Open to New and Fresh Ideas A few men come for help after a divorce but not many women though.

What does it take to succeed in the interior business?

So many; but I think we may also need to consider some important ones. You must first set your priority right. I mean you must be able to, not only tell yourself but also convince yourself and others that, ‘this is what I want to do’. Your feasibility must be viable. Besides other logistics, you personally have to be very hardworking; there are no two ways to it at all.

Do new couples come to you to design their homes and what special advice do you give them about their furniture?

Yes and the special advice I give them is to do what they can afford and maintain whatever they get very well.

You must know a lot about psychology in order to work with people and design a home that reflects their personality. How does the process, or your process work from the time someone calls you and asks you to design their home?

The first thing is conceptualise based on the client’s personality, needs and peculiarities. Second, the design and third you present the design to the client.

Colour has such an effect on our spirit. Do you find that when people are suffering as they would be in a divorce or are getting married that they approach colour differently? For example; do they want brighter colours or would you have to talk someone who is blue out of the desire to have a home that was decorated in dark

colours when you know that six months down the road they won’t be happy in that environment?

Most times an event like divorce can actually make a client do something they know their ex might totally disagree with if they were still together as a sign of their freedom.

Marriage might also make the party or parties agree to use such colours they would not normally use just to please their spouses or maybe also because they are in a very happy mood and will now use daring or bright colours. Marriage could make the parties much more adventurous and the man might accept more feminine colours or hues just to accommodate his wife.

When someone is downsizing after a divorce, they may want to keep some items that are special, but what if large pieces of furniture or artwork don’t work in the new space?

You gently tell them to find an alternative for such items.

What is the most common mistake people make when they are planning their home design or décor?

To want to replicate somebody else’s home.

Do you have any tips for women who are starting a new life and want a refreshed or new space after a divorce but may not be able to afford to hire a designer?

Such women can try to do it themselves or enlist the help of friends or colleagues who are good in this area.

How would you describe your clients?

My clients are the discerning clients with taste, who love the unique and unusual, and are open to new and

fresh ideas.

What has been the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice is from the scriptures which inspire a true Christian believer to be and do the best in your chosen field and to work with the spirit of excellence.

Tell us briefly about the history of Home Inspirations and why you chose that name?

Home inspirations is about 22-23 years old and the name is simply as our logo says, we inspire you.

Home Inspirations is now a Fendi franchisee; so does it mean any type of furniture of Fendi can be ordered and got in your showroom?

Yes, we are the sole franchise holder of Fendi furniture in Nigeria and you can buy or order Fendi from us.

Why did Home Inspirations decide to go into business with Fendi?

As of the time we started bringing in their furniture no other furniture company did it. We wanted something new and fresh; also something very tasteful, sophisticated and unique, which Fendi furniture is all about.

What makes Home Inspirations stand out from the other interior companies in the country?

We are a class apart and number one in the industry as we only deal with first class quality. We are constantly evolving; you just can’t catch up with us.

As a designer of furniture which is your favorite colour?

Gold and purple.

Most times an event like divorce can actually make a client do something they know their ex might totally disagree with if they were still together as a sign of their freedom.

Marriage might also make the party or parties agree to use such colours they would not normally use just to please their spouses or maybe also because they are in a very gay mood or happy mood and will now use daring or bright colours.

Marriage could make the parties much more adventurous and the man might accept more feminine colours or hues just to accommodate his wife

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

WRITERS’ WORLD Pastor E. A. Adeboye at 74

The Power of Humility, Devotion and S.ervice

BISI DANIELS bisi.daniels@thisdaylive.com Blog: www.bisidaniels.com, 08093618000

For three days, two weeks ago, thousands of people packed the new three-kilometre-by-three-kilometre auditorium of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for its monthly Holy Ghost Service and to mark the 74th birthday of an iconic and revered man of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye. The beauty of the events was not all about spirituality, but the awesomeness of the structure, the serenity and the ant-kingdom-like orderliness as if somebody somewhere was using a remotecontrol.Thestory of the arena is for another day.Today is fortheBirthdayDaddy!

W

riting about Pastor Adeboye, leader of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in a small space has always been difficult for me because of the awesome accomplishments of a man revered by millions of people across the world as a true Man of God. But I love doing it!

The RCCG was founded in Nigeria in 1952 by Pastor Josiah Akindayomi at 9 Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

It moved later to 1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, which still serves as its headquarters.

As at last year, the church had spread to over 184 countries, with over 32,000 parishes in Nigeria alone and at least 540 branches in the UK and Ireland. Millions of people from all over the world attend the church’s conventions and the monthly Holy Ghost Congress at its Redemption Camp. And with the numbers surging out of available space, the Church had to go for a new auditorium called the Arena, which was used for the birthday events.

It is located on Simawa Road, a few kilometres from the current one-and-halfkilometre by one-kilometre auditorium.

On completion, it will seat 12 million people.

The RCCG is noted for miracles, signs and wonders and the salvation of millions of souls. And the life of Pastor Adeboye is itself one big miracle! For a man born to financially-challenged parents in the remote village of Ifewara, Osun State; who had no shoes at 18 years old; who was not a Born Again Christian until he was a mathematics teacher at the University of Lagos, growing a church into a visible presence and be loved around the world is, indeed, a miracle worth knowing. For this same man to remain infectiously humble, in spite of his enormous power, influence and popularity is also a miracle in itself.

Big Name Kills Small Dog

Curiously, some four years before God arrested Pastor Adeboye into the church, he had ridiculed it. Hear him: “In 1969, while doing my postgraduate programme in Mathematics, a friend of mine was doing his research on the coastlines of Lagos and so he needed to visit coastlines to take soil samples. He decided to go to Ebute-Metta, Lagos, for more samples.

Because we were friends and I was available, I accompanied him.

At Ebute-Metta, we saw a very large signboard which read, ‘The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).’

Looking to see what the big signboard was referring to, we only saw a very little church.

“I turned to my friend and said, “The big name killed a small dog.”

We laughed and left.

Since his arrest, God has used the miracle Birthday Daddy for millions of miracles across that world, some which he shares regularly to illustrate his sermons.

They are too many to count, and he of course may not have heard this one. As I discussed the subject one day with my friend Mr. Kunle David, a businessman and exporter, it promptly invoked his

pastor, and years after that my Father-inthe-Lord called me and said you are going to succeed me.

Haaaa! Being a pastor was bad enough.

General Overseer, no way!” But again God said “no”!

The “demotion”

Today, the story of RCCG sounds all beautiful and sweet and some critics think it is all about money, rather than serving God. How wrong! For the ever-praying and fasting Pastor, the early years as G.O. would have driven most people back into the comfort of university life. Here are instances in his words:

Birthday Daddy at 74 own testimony. Years ago, when Daddy G.O. was still laying hands (he can’t practically do it now for thousand and millions of worshippers who attend his programmes) on people to pray for them, Mr. David attended a programme at the headquarters of the church at Ebute-Metta and saw wonders.

Anointing flow

His account is so moving I choose to use his own words: “Towards the end of the programme, I was one of the many people who queued up for Baba to lay hands on.

Some pastors followed him as he moved from one person to another. It soon got to my turn and as he laid his hand on me and started praying, I felt the flow of anointing physically. It is an unforgettable experience. I felt my hair being combed endlessly. The rest of my body was charged tense.

“More wonders were to follow. After the programme, as I left the church, I prayed silently for God to confirm the experience. As it is usually the case where Baba preaches, the area was choked with people who attended the programme. I had to walk far away from the church to get a taxi.

“Hmmm! As I approached Ibadan Street, Ebute-Metta, several metres away, I saw a man, standing by a Mercedes Benz car, beckoning on me. Repeatedly, I asked to confirm it was me he was calling, but he said he had been waiting to take me home. Long story cut short, the man took me home for free. Only me!”

The Arrest

Pastor Adeboye was himself arrested

by God in 1973 during his quest for a miracle: Here is his own account of the moment: “July 29, 1973, was the day I had the ultimate encounter with God that completely changed my life. At the time, I was a senior lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Lagos. My wife, Folu, delivered all our children by caesarean operation and medical practitioners advised us to stop having children. Soon

after that, our new baby, the third, was afflicted with a strange disease. Sleepless nights and days of consulting orthodox and traditional medical practitioners as well as spiritual healers yielded no relief.

“My uncle, Rev. Fajemirokun, suggested I try The Redeemed Christian Church of God. There, the rather rowdy mode of worship, noisy prayers and the derelict environment were all strange to a man used to controlled religious ceremonies of the Orthodox Church. But because I needed a miracle, I endured.

Finally, the word of God touched me.

Sobbing like a baby, I ran to the altar to accept Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. I was rewarded immediately when my sick baby recovered.

“Two years after my baptism in 1973, when I first heard that I would be ordained a pastor, I thought it was a joke.

I prayed to God to change the mind of Pa Akindayomi, but it was too late. Nothing changed. “So on September 14, 1975, I was ordained a pastor. I soon became the interpreter to My-Father-in-the-Lord, who preached in Yoruba for me to translate into English.”

The Promotion

God did not stop there. Earlier, God had spoken to Pa Akindayomi about his successor. The Lord told him that the successor, who was not a member of the church then, would be an educated young man. When a young university lecturer joined the church in 1973, Papa Akindayomi recognized him in the spirit.

Two years later, the Church’s founder called him to his office and said, “God has told me to ordain you as a pastor.”

According to Pastor Adeboye, he asked himself “What kind of problem is this? I didn’t come to church to become a pastor, I came to church to have problems solved and in the process my soul was saved.

Beautiful but it should stop there. For fourteen days and fourteen nights, my wife and I fasted and prayed that I will never become a pastor. This is one of my prayers God didn’t answer. So I became a

Mushin Demotion: Prior to becoming the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I was the head of Department of Mathematics at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. I was living in a mansion with a two-bedroom guest quarters. I also had servants’ quarters with four bedrooms. All these were not part of the main house. But when I became the General Overseer, I had to live in a one-room apartment at Mushin (a relatively poor suburb in Lagos). I left my wife and children in Ilorin to be in Lagos to work in the church.

The 50 Kobo Gift: I recall when a young man gave me a 50 kobo note; I received it and blessed him. I told him I would spend the money on myself so that my heartfelt blessing will have an impact on him. That night, I thought over it and wept. I ruminated on how I had gone from being the head of the Mathematics Department of a University to being a full-time minister who would be excited about a 50 kobo gift.

Okra Meat Delicacy: In those early days of the Camp, sometimes my wife used to prepare dinner for the children without meat and I was touched. I remembered those days, when our mothers used to make okra meat. They would take okra and cut off its head and bottom, and throw it into the okra soup.

That was okra meat, very sweet.

One day, I reminded my wife how I used to tell her to cut cow skin meat, popularly called pomo in local parlance, into two, especially the very thick ones so that it could go round, and how I used to say that although the situation may continue for some time, the future was going to be alright.

Toll Gate: There were times when we couldn’t go to Lagos from the Redemption Camp because we didn’t have just one Naira to pay the toll gate fee. There was no money.

The sweep of Pastor Adeboye’s life and the scope of his accomplishments make it difficult to stop the story here, but stop we must to continue elsewhere. Notably, he gives it all to God. “If you do your business the way it has to be done, the Divine Partner will play His own part.

Things might be slow to start with but it will pick up. When you are in active partnership with the Almighty God, you will begin to have unusual victories.”

Let somebody shout Halleluyah, as even at 74, there is so much life in Daddy G.O., signaling a lot more to come!

24

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

EBERE WABARA

Grouse Against or About?

C

HARITY will begin at home today with this medium’s nonchalance to headline punctuation. Last week’s edition copiously erred thus: “Adeosun (a comma) at Customs, laments poor state of equipment” The commas here set aside where she made the lamentation.

“Nollywood star, Ibinabo (another comma) loses appeal against 5-year jail sentence for manslaughter” “Amapakabo wants end to Rangers (Rangers’) title drought” “Premiership big guns shift fans (fans’) attention to FACup” “Tough time awaits Fijabom, warns Beninois (Beninoi) opponent” “Market survey reveals Nigerians (Nigerians’) appetite for foreign products” The congratulatory advertorial for Donald Duke LLD (Honoris Causa) University of Calabar by the Cross River State Executive Council (1999-2007) published here last week on Page 49 was refreshingly different and unparalleled in uniqueness. The concept, copy (content) and design were outstanding! Kudos to the awardee and the celebrators!

NATIONALMIRROR Editorial of March 3 murdered the English language: “Eyewitness narratives said the suspect allegedly stabbed her husband on the shoulder and back with a pair of scissors….”

Arewrite: Eyewitnesses said the suspect allegedly stabbed her husband in (not on) the back with a pair of scissors…. “…and on his return back home….” Delete ‘back’ because of its redundancy. “…he was not aware that there was a suspect before the court, but a masquerade (masquerader).”

Amasquerade is the mask worn by a masquerader.

Still on National Mirror: “He not only emerged as the overall best out of 10,907 students that graduated at (on) the occasion….”

“Oyedepo urges FG to invest more on (in) education” “…a development, which before now is (was) not

allowed according to air-travel regulations” “TFAAsensitises youngAfricans on (to) leadership, citizenship” “TOAN raises alarm (the alarm) over imminent violence in Lagos tricycle parks” The Back Page of NATIONALMIRROR under review rounds off the lexical surprises: “…the four walls of many of our churches are filled with….”

All the facts, all the sides: the walls of many—no numbering “So horrible has (have) the crimes of Reverend….”

“The Supreme Court has put the final nail on his coffin of conviction….” Yank off ‘final’ from the extract.

“Court remands 189 Shi’ite members in prison” (National Mirror Front Page Headline, February 11)Arewrite: first, Court remands 189 Shi’ites; second, ‘remand in prison’ smacks of sub-literacy or muddled/loose thinking.According to Chambers Universal Learners’ Dictionary, International Students’ Edition, ‘remand’ (Verb transitive and formal) means to send (a person who has been accused of a crime) back to prison until more evidence can be collected: The judge has remanded him; He has been remanded for six months.

Let us now focus on THISDAY POLITICS of March 4: “Falana, who gave the charge at the 2016 National Conference Meeting of CDHR…said if after nine months the administration assumed office, the country is (was) yet to experience any evidence of change, then there are (were) problems.”

“Political interference hinder (why?) air transport safety regulation in Nigeria” Next on our stable is THISDAY of March 5, 2016, which disseminated errors right from its front page: “…adding that majority (a majority) of their members still generate electricity to power their machines.”

“Amid pomp and pageantry….” Get it right: pomp and circumstance or pomp and ceremony or simply pomp—the extract is Nigerian English!

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) last night said that (sic) nationwide power

generation had began (begun) to rise and was at….” “…some few weeks ago before it suddenly nosedived due to inadequate gas supply….” ‘Some’ and ‘few’ cannot co-function. “…about her dream for tourism in Nigeria, the challenges, the potentials (potential or potentialities) and the achievements of NTDC” “The girl child as endangered specie”Arewrite: The girl-child as endangered species “…she was awarded an oil prospecting license (oil-prospecting licence).”

“It takes nothing from Nigeria if and (or) when we make these concessions.”

Lastly from THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, under review: “…has become a hero to millions of young Igbos (Igbo) all over the world.”

“Arewa community begsAmbode to re-open (reopen) market” “Kidnapping: Oyo NURTW boss reads riot acts (the riot act) to commercial drivers” This way: commercial vehicle drivers From DAILY TRUST of March 11 comes this: “Replicate your performance to (in) your constituents (constituencies)” “Security at airports: Police deploys (sic) sniffer dogs at (in) NnamdiAzikiwe InternationalAirport, 5 others” (AIT News, 4 p.m., February 2) “Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Portuguese woman charged for (with) drug trafficking” “Thumb (Thumbs) up for Nigerian refs in Mali” “Obasanjo:Amaechi’s k-leg (knocked leg) has been straightened” The following five solecisms are from DAILY INDEPENDENT of February 18: “DHQ assures of continued offensive” Who did it assure?

“Battle for soul of Ecobank intensifies” So the battle intensified itself? “…who had at one point or the other (or another) been to Oyo State….”

“Tackling voters apathy in Nigeria” This way: voter apathy “The discovery was made when the SSS arrested some kidnappers in the state alleged to be the brain

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

(brains) behind high profile (high-profile) kidnapping in the state.”

“The SSS in the state said on Friday that it has (had) arrested….” “…motorists were made to watch a bizzare (bizarre) spectacle, (needless comma) as four policemen beat a man gave (who gave) his name as…to a state of stupour (stupor).”

“The policemen, who drove to the scene in a patrol van with registration number KJA284AX, threw caution the winds (sic) (threw caution to the winds).”

“Federal University Lafia, (otiose punctuation) matriculates 380 students” Would it have matriculated traders? Just yank off the last word in the extract!

“Community sends SOS toAmbode over harrassment” Spell-check: harassment, but embarrassment.

“AdewaleAyuba is one musician (music/musical) act who has been around for years. “ “My husband usually ask (asks) me to abort my pregnancy, woman tells court” Finally from SATURDAY INDEPENDENT, a voice of your own: “Movie directors threaten sanction on (against) actress” Next on focus is DAILY SUN of February 10: “They buy at N159 and sell at N167, the CBN has (had) addressed last year when….”

“But what the banks decided to do is (was) to even stop selling.”

“Middle aged (Middle-aged) man commits suicide in Jos…Police tries (try) to uncover his identity” “IITAcreates 40,000 jobs under cassava to ethanol (cassava-to-ethanol) project” “Edo: Court remands killer cop (killer-cop)…”

“CBN said money is (was) missing from federation (the federation) account.”

The next two mistakes are from DAILY SUN of March 10: “Buhari flags (kicks) off ‘Cleanup Ogoniland’ project” “We have no grouse against (about) MTN—FG”

PEOPLE2PEOPLE...with Oke Epia

In Nigeria, It’s Still a Man’s World

L

et me begin this piece by admitting that its title is quite suggestive. But I quickly clarify that it is not the kind of suggestion that would warrant gender activists to call for my head. In fact, on today’s topic I make bold to declare that I stand with the Nigerian woman. The headline is only chosen to draw attention to the sad reality of life facing the female folk who are forced by pride, prejudice and primordial praxis to live under the shadow of males in a society defined by chauvinism and charlatanism.

Yes, sociology teaches that society evolves with time and that education, civilization and cross-fertilisation of cultures are variables or catalysts that determine such evolution. The history of societies also teaches that there is resistance to change oftentimes. But such resistance is either made to peter out under sustained occasional pressure or forced to cave in when confronted with a greater force.

It is in this light that Nigerian women should see the shenanigans which played out in the Senate on Tuesday when the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill was thrown out of the red chamber in a fit of undignified mob action.

Whether the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria likes it or not change would come the way of Nigerian women even if it is not under theAll Progressives Congress (APC) administration which unfortunately rode to power on the promise of change. Ironically, most of the senators who opposed the bill and chanted ‘Nay’ to end its journey to become law are members of theAPC. But the burden shall surely be lifted from the shoulders of our mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. The subjugation imposed on women by society can only stand for long. Like the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Biodun Olujimi told reporters after Tuesday’s plenary, the battle for female emancipation may have been lost but the war is certainly not over.

Whether the likes of Senator Sani Yerima who adorns a shameless notoriety for his infamous child-bride scandals like a crown of glory, will be around for the next phase of the war does not matter.

Victory will come the way of women even if there are more Yerimas in reinforced or reincarnated moods. The truth is that good always prevails over evil no matter how long.

The only problem being that Nigeria would continue to be seen by the rest of the world as a country unprepared to allow the emancipation and advancement of women in certain respects. In a world where Hillary Clinton is cruising to possibly become the first female president ofAmerica some Nigerian men are stuck in the culture of herding their wives into hidden harems and handing out under-aged daughters to their age-mates. In a world where the rights of the girl-child are assuming prominence and widespread compliance, Nigeria is seething with disgusting stories of the Ese Oruru(s): scandals contrived and executed with the connivance if not collaboration of otherwise educated and civilized ‘big men’ in

PEOPLE2PEOPLE

OKE EPIA WITH

Telephone (sms only): 07059850016 Email: resourceman.oke@live.com.

Twitter: @resourceme

society. Sadly, the country’s law and its institutional enforcers are made to totter cowardly and genuflect before the allure of powerful palaces.

It is a shame that a bill meant to secure equal opportunities for both male and female gender can be thrown out of the senate by a ‘chauvinistic cabal’ of senators who hide under the veneer of culture and religion to disguise their sunken morality, insecurity and crass mediocrity. It makes little difference that they are in the hallowed chamber of the Senate.After all, it does not require much to manipulate the teeming uneducated almajiri electorate who feed on the crumbs from their tables during electoral soapbox seasons after which they disappear into unreachable cocoons of false comfort in Abuja and other world capitals. They only return home to make contact with their lucky nemesis when another round of elections is called. Let me return to the Gender Bill before I disgress any further.

It is not a compliment on Nigeria’s credentials as a responsible member of the international community that a bill meant to empower the enforcement of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is dealt a fatal blow by the nation’s apex parliamentary body. Nigeria has once again missed a chance to move towards the domestication of the Convention it voluntarily subscribed to and endorsed over three decades ago. The country has invariably earned itself a steep deep in global perceptions as a state where the full rights of women are respected and upheld in the breach.

By its decision to kill the Gender Bill, the Nigerian Senate has written for itself an uncomplimentary chapter in the history of the 8th NationalAssembly. For a senate with a supposed lofty legislative agenda trumpeted to engender positive change in the lives and living conditions of Nigerians, it has failed a major test: one for the pursuit of equality and the creation of an egalitarian society where neither gender nor circumstances of birth impede the optimum realisation of the potentials of citizens or the opportunities available for them to explore.

For purpose of clarity, some noble intentions expressed in the dead bill are worth quoting. In its statement of purpose, it declares a mission to give effect to: Chapters II and V of the 1999 Constitution

(which deal with the Directive Principles of State and Charter on Fundamental Human Rights respectively); the International Covenants on human rights which “affirm the principle of non-discrimination and proclaims that all humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that everyone is entitled to all the rights set out without discrimination of any kind including distinction based on sex.”Another worthy purpose of the bill provides “no person, organ or agency of government, public or private institution, commercial or corporate body, community, or other entity, or any representative of such organ or agency of government, public or private institution, commercial or corporate body, community or other entity shall either through words spoken, acts, inactions, omissions, laws, regulations, administrative procedures, policy, guidelines, rules, customs or practices, discriminate against any person on the ground of gender, age or disability.” The bill which basically sought to criminalize discrimination against and protect as well as promote the socio-cultural, economic and political rights of the female gender adopted such strongly worded descriptions and prescriptions almost throughout its content.

Laudable as it were, the bill may not have been the be-all and end-all of the troubles of women in Nigeria. In fact, it did contain some contradictions and avoidable contentions which easily set it up for a place in the dustbin of legislative history at least as far as the 8th assembly is concerned. In the opinion of some of its antagonists, the bill contained some ‘excesses’ disguised as female emancipation rhetoric. The bill as proposed in some respects did not show adequate sensitivity to some basic underlying facts of life in Nigeria- for example, that patriarchy is a natural and that legislation is not what may be needed to bring about change. Take this provision for example, that “women shall have equal rights with men to confer their citizenship on their children.” Does such align with the provision of the Constitution in Chapter III which provides that a citizen of Nigeria is “every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence, either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria?” It is doubtful if the Constitution contemplated ‘equal rights’ by either of the parent to confer citizenship on their child as was stipulated in the Gender Bill. With such contentious suggestions, it was easy for the likes of Senator Yerima to scream on the floor of the senate that the bill was against the constitution.

Maybe the bill could have benefitted from the application of some moderation and discretion in its drafting and presentation.And maybe too, the sponsor and promoters could have done with more effective political lobbying of fellow senators before arriving for the ‘kill’ at plenary. For a multi-cultural and politically sensitive country like Nigeria, such factors could have saved the bill if applied.

Continued online www.thisdaylive.com Follow writer onTwitter @resourceme

25

March 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FAMILY HEALTH with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

Wellness

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

W

ellness is very pivotal to our human existence. A person that is unwell, cannot achieve their potential in life, or even have a “life”.

It is in order therefore to flow along with this all-inclusive definition of wellness by the WHO and the Wellness Institute that states, “Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life....a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

It is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is more than being free from illness; it is a dynamic process of change and growth.”

Your wellness matters! : Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to live a higher quality life. Wellness matters. Wellness matters because everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. It’s an ongoing circle. Therefore, it is important for everyone to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.

There are various dimensions to wellness.

There are about nine broad dimensions, but these can be narrowed to closer units, each of them are interlinked. There is an inseparable link between your happiness and health. Therefore: • Stress is NORMAL but we need to maintain manageable levels of stress. Learn which stress reliever work for you and consistently do them.

Be flexible, patient, and open to change or at least be willing to compromise.

• Take a personal timeout when things seem to be overwhelming. Deep breathing exercises can slow your pace and help you think clearly before you react. Don’t worry, be happy and avoid worrying about things you can’t control, its wasted energy. Remember to not over sweat the small stuff.”

• Surround yourself with what you love – people, hobbies, interests, etc. Keep only cheerful friends – grouches can pull you down.

Cherish your health – take care of your overall wellbeing. Give someone a compliment today.

Most smiles are started by another. Let those you care about know it.

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Therefore it is important that we actually understand wellness, because it is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximising an individual’s potential. This is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing your physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being.

Emotions This has to do with the feeling component; to express and display emotions comfortably, effectively and in a healthy manner. Feelings of self-esteem, self-confidence, self-efficacy, trust, love, and many other emotional reactions and responses. It is the ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. The ability to acknowledge and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness or stress; hope, love, joy and happiness in a productive manner contributes to our Emotional Wellness.

Intellect It is the ability to learn, the ability to grow from experience, & intellectual capabilities.

Decision making is a vital component of one’s mental health. The ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences that can be applied to personal decisions, group interaction and community betterment. The desire to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning contributes to our Intellectual Wellness.

Social This refers to the ability to have satisfying

inter-personal relationships and to appreciate and respect individual differences. Ability to interact with others, to adapt to various social situations, and daily behaviours. It is the ability to relate to and connect with other people in our world. Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and co-workers contributes to our Social Wellness.

Environmental It is an appreciation for the external environment and the role individual’s play in preserving, and improving environmental conditions.

The ability to recognise our own responsibility for the quality of the air, the water and the land that surrounds us. The ability to make a positive impact on the quality of our environment, be it our homes, our communities or our planet contributes to our Environmental Wellness.

Physical This refers to the ability to learn, the ability to grow from experience, and intellectual capabilities. Decision making is a vital component of one’s mental health. Includes characteristics such as body size, shape, sensory acuity, susceptibility to disease and disorders, body function, and recuperative ability. It also includes striving for positive lifestyle behaviors and taking personal responsibility for one’s own health and health care. Here, the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. The ability to recognise that our behaviors have a significant impact on our wellness and adopting healthful habits routine checkups , a balanced diet, exercise, etc. while avoiding destructive habits (tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc.) will lead to optimal Physical Wellness.

Spiritual Involves seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. The spiritually well individual explores and develops a personal belief system, establish values and lives a life that is consistent with those values and beliefs. Spiritual well-

Decision making is a vital component of one’s mental health. Includes characteristics such as body size, shape, sensory acuity, susceptibility to disease and disorders, body function, and recuperative ability. It also includes striving for positive lifestyle behaviors and taking personal responsibility for one’s own health and health care

ness is about creating a sense of inner peace.

The ability to establish peace and harmony in our lives. The ability to develop congruency between values and actions and to realise a common purpose that binds creation together contributes to our Spiritual Wellness.

Occupational This is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs or our chosen career fields while still maintaining balance in our lives. Our desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organisations we work in and to society as a whole leads to Occupational Wellness.

Involves working in a way that enables you to achieve your goals and extend your skills in synergy with the other important aspects of your life. A journey towards being content and happy with the role your work takes in your life.

Financial Involves having access to finances, or the ability to work towards access to those resources, which are sufficient for you to pursue a fulfilling and happy life. Includes regularly reassessing how well you use your assets to achieve what you want in life.

Cultural Involves enriching all aspects of your life in harmony with your heritage while respecting the culture of others. Includes feeling a sense of ownership over your current traditions and practices.

Improving your wellness Generally, it can be agreed that Well• ness is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential Wellness is multidimensional and • holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment Wellness is positive and affirming.

• As important as this may seem, it involves your taking a decision to be well. Yes, you have to deliberately make all concerted efforts, to maintain a balance between all the various dimensions that affects your being well. These recommendations might include exercising, drinking more water, or spending time outside each day amongst others that brings relief to you. Just make sure you are doing things that make you happy, be amongst those that make you happy, move on or keep at it. Remember, wellness, is a state of mind, and only you , can make it a reality.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

Auto

Hyundai Elantra Returns with Vital Makeover for 2016 Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he 2016 Hyundai Elantra continues to offer ambitious styling, value proposition with improved quality reputation and fuel economy to provoke arch Japanese rivals like Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Mazda 3 and Honda Civic.

Restyled for 2016 model year, the 6th generation Elantra receives numerous changes including Hyundai’s fluidic design inspiration, cosmetic modifications inside and out, upgraded infotainment, quieter cabin, powerful engine and larger headlamps that wraps around the side of the body with a signature hexagonal grille that helps identify it as part of the Hyundai family.

Hyundai isn’t slowing its car development and the Elantra is a proof. First remodelled in 2011 through 2014, the Elantra has since then undergone remarkable makeovers, returning with an inspiring 2016 model that delivers tremendous economy without sacrificing performance and comfort.

Depending on what you want in a family sedan, the new Hyundai Elantra promises more and indeed represent a pretty good value, adding large number of standard features and niceties like Bluetooth, rearview camera, better road handling, roomy trunk, new front and rear ends with LED fillips around the headlamps.

This is in addition to Hyundai excellent five-year or 100,000km warranty coverage plus keyless ignition and entry; immobiliser, sport-tuned suspension and sharp styling that gives the Elantra one of the most distinctive looks in its class.

Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, foldingelectricoutsidemirrors,fullpoweraccessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a trip computer, tiltand-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40-split-folding rear seats, fog lamps and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player - satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria Head of Sales and Marketing Jatin Nadkarni who said this much in his product presentation affirmed that the Elantra is Hyundai’s best selling model ever since the fourth generation model debuted in 2006.

2016 Elantra

Currently available in three trim packages including the Executive GLS 1.6 AT (automatic transmission), Elegance GLS 2.0 AT and Elite 2.0 AT, the Hyundai’s sales and marketing helmsman says the Elantra yet remains the family sedan to beat.

He said the cars are powered by two engine variants a Nu 2.0 MPI four-cylinder engine capable of producing 156bhp @ 6,200rpm and U2 1.6 MPI four-cylinder churning out 127.5bhp @ 6,300rpm, both mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

He said EPA had estimated fuel economy of the new Elantra at 28 mpg combined but achieves 1mpg on the highway. The 2.0 Elantra however makes 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, which puts it on the quicker

side of the family-sedan average.

Also added as standard safety features in all 2016 Hyundai Elantra sedans are antilock disc brakes, hill-start assist, stability and traction control, driver and passenger side including side airbags, rear-view camera, Blue Link emergency telematics system that provides services such as remote access, emergency assistance, theft recovery and geo-fencing (allowing parents to set limits for teenage drivers.)

The new Elantra has meanwhile received five-outfive-star rating, with four stars for total frontal crash safety and five stars for total side-impact protection, Mr. Nadkarni added.

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS),

the Elantra earned a second-best “Acceptable” rating in the small-overlap frontal-offset crash test and top “Good” rating in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset crash test.

He said: The IIHS also awarded it “Good” rating in the side-impact, roof strength, head restraint and seats (rear-impact whiplash protection) test.

Showing the automobile media the new Elantra, Mr.KarthikNayak,branchmanagerHyundaiMotors NigeriaLimited,KofoAbayomiStreet,VictoriaIsland Lagos explained that from whichever angle you view the Elantra, it pulls its exterior design inside, with lots of swooping lines and attractive surfaces to match the generally pleasing aesthetic of the car.

Agwu Urges Auto Sector Players to be Optimistic, as Lagos Fair Holds

S

Stakeholders and players in the nation’s auto industry have been admonished to despair in the face of the challenging times in the sector.

The Chief Executive Officer of BKG, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu, organiser of the Lagos and Abuja Auto and Spare Parts exhibitions stated this as he announced that the Lagos fair would hold next month despite of all odds.

Agwu, a seasoned player in the sector, said he was going ahead with the exhibition in Lagos from April 28 to May 4, while the spare parts exhibition will hold simultaneously from May 1 to May 4 at Federal Palace Hotel grounds, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Agwu, this year’s exhibition would be devoted to the education of stakeholders on new options and approaches to marketing and customer relationship and to brainstorm on the future of the industry. “It is not going to remain like this. There will be new opportunities.”

He said educating the people and government would keep the auto sector alive. “We

hope that when the government seats properly then it will be good for all. The auto sector is vital to the economy because it is where economic growth can be easily seen.. It generates revenue to the government and employment to the people. No serious government should ignore it.”

He said the US government focused on the auto sector for bailout when that country’s economy was down, saying the sector was visible and that it was a key artery in the life of the government.

He said, “We will talk to stakeholders on the benefits of the auto sector to the economy and the country.

Agwu called on all stakeholders to be at the fair not to give a false impression that they have given up, adding that exhibiting would show their strength and ruggedness.

“The sector cannot be left to die or fizzle out.

If companies don’t bring in vehicles then the economy will grind to a halt since 80 per cent of land transportation is done with vehicles.

Government should think deep about the sector

Visitors at Lagos Auto fair

and not play with it.”

Agwu also plans to use his spare parts exhibition to introduce and consolidate Nigeria’s role as the hub for auto parts in Africa. He is in touch with auto parts companies and he is looking at getting 23 countries to participate

in the May exhibition in Lagos. “We are inviting the auto parts dealers; we are looking at using Nigeria as a hub for auto parts market and we know that people from other African counties will come to Nigeria; we are in touch with all of them.

like haulage tankers and trailers.

He, therefore, implored the Federal Government to introduce incentives and policies that will help the local industry to thrive, in addition to addressing the challenges which have militated against progress in the industry, including the problem of power and high exchange rate.

Described as the clear leader in the structural steel works and steel fabrication industry in the country, IPI’s main factory on Ikotun-Egbe road, Ikotun, Lagos, was busy like a beehive when the visitors arrived to witness sundry heavy duty truck bodies in various stages of construction.

At work were a wide range of high precision equipment, including cutting and bending machines that were fabricating steel frames and metal sheets for the construction of trailers, tankers, and bottle carriers for the brewing and bottling companies.

Particularly interesting were the sights of men and machine working in tandem to put finishing touches on a bottle carrier built on Tata chassis for 7up Bottling Company, a 15-metre beer carrier for the Nigerian Breweries and another 15-metre truck with refrigerated sealed body operated with remote control.

IPI Lauds FG for Auto Policy

T

he National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) or automotive policy has the potential to catalyse the development of the nation’s automotive sector into a major base for the country’s economy, if the provisions are effectively implemented.

The NAIDP, popularly known as the automotive policy, also has what it takes to make Nigeria the hub of the continent’s automotive industry, said the Director of Operations, Iron Products Industries (IPI), Lagos, Mr. Davies Ikegbula.

He said a timely execution of the policy, which

seeks to revitalise the auto industry by discouraging vehicle importation and encouraging local production, could help boost activities in the industry and lead to the production of affordable, but top quality vehicles for the local market and export.

According to him, existing auto plants like IPI, Innoson and PAN, as well as new original equipment investors attracted by the NAIDP, have the capacity to meet the nation’s vehicular needs, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles (like pick-ups, light and heavy duty trucks), and special purpose articulated vehicles

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

27

Auto

SAFE DRIVING

JONAS AGWU

with

(Asst Corps Marshal) Zonal Commanding Officer Zone RS7 Abua phone 08077690700 FRSC TOLL FREE NO 122 Email:j.agwu@frsc.gov.ng

Should Your NewTyres Be Installed InThe Front Or Back Axle?

Caption: L-R: An official of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL); Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo; and the Public Relations Manager, TNL, Mrs Bukunola Ogunnusi, at a press conference at their office in Lekki, recently

TNL to Maintain Top-notch Standards at Assembly Plant Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Mr. Kunle AdeOjo has said that the company would do all that was necessary to ensure high standards were maintained at its assembly plant.

Kunle Ade-Ojo said, “We’ll continuously ensure we improve the process of our assembling production to ensure that vehicles areassembledtothetop-notchthat Toyota vehicles are known with,” he said as he announced the first Hiace bus has been assembled at the plant.

He said the plant, which is located at Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos, has

capacity of 20,000 to 30,000 unit vehicles per annum has all necessary equipment in place and has beenvisitedbytheNDDC,adding that vehicles rolled out from the plant would be competitively priced.

He said: “This is Test Assembly, justoneunitofToyotaHiacerolled out on December 10, 2015. Right now we are starting the Hiace but we have a multi-line Assembly plant,soinfutureweincludeother models.”

He said TNL would also train its technicians effectively in preparation for mass assembling of topnotch Toyota vehicles.

On the outlook of the auto sector, Kunle Ade-Ojo said it was chal-

lenging because of lack of forex.

“Last year generally was bad for the auto industry; importation wentdownby60percentandsales alsowentdownbyapproximately 50 per cent. The reasons were the fall in naira, tariff on the vehicles, and the national elections did not really generate sales.

“These made the auto industry to dropsignificantly,andtowardsthe third quarter the forex problem started and even up to now.”

According to him,Auto financing has also been down because of cost-cutting and retrenchment in banks, adding that individuals as well had lower capacity to purchase vehicles.

He stated that though there were

adverts in the newspapers it did not generate that much sales.

“What most people did was to cut down cost to sell. So there was drop in our market share but we didn’t let that deter us, at the end of the day we still emerged the best auto company in the country in sales. Right now we’re back to our rightful position, I think we are trading towards 30 per cent market share again.”

In his forecast he said looking at how the market has been it would further drop; “looking at 26,000 to 27,000 units, everybody is afraid and the reason we’re forecasting thisfigureisbecauseofthescarcity of forex – we’re not able to do the units we used to,” he said.

Ford Donates Two Rangers for Skills Development in Nigeria

F

ord Motor Company is reaffirming its commitment to developing Nigeria’s automobile industry by donating two Ford Rangers to its dealer partner Coscharis Motors’ for their Automotive Training Centre.

The two vehicles will be used at Coscharis’ CG Eko LLP Automobile Training Centre in Ikeja to enhance and develop the skills of technicians in the automotive industry.

According to Eugene Prinsloo, the market manager for Ford’s sub-Saharan Africa region, “the contribution is aimed at promoting the growth of Coscharis’ technical skills and enhancing the product knowledge of Coscharis’ technicians at their training school.”

Sunday Tanimowo, Training Manager at CG-Eko LLP and beneficiary of the Ford Rangers, believes that the donation of the Rangers will support

L-R: Training Manager, CG-Eko LLP, Sunday Tanimowo; General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde, and General Manager, Coscharis Ford Assembly Plant, Nigeria, Daniel Biju, during the donation of two Ford Rangers by Ford Motor Company to the CG Eko LLP Automobile Training Centre in Ikeja, recently

the training programme, thereby empowering the local community and leading to a technically skilled workforce that is more proficient and productive.

“It is our aim to develop the leaders of tomorrow’s automotive industry. In

order to do this we need to provide proper training and technical skills development.

Our aim is to motivate their confidence, boost their selfesteem and open their minds to the limitless opportunities available to them. They need to understand that they can

achieve their goals and dreams on their career paths.”

Ford’s commitment to skills development in Nigeria is evident in this donation gesture which takes place as demand for excellent after-sales service delivery grows in Nigeria’s automobile industry.

Tinted Glass Permit: Group Calls for Extension of Time

A

s the deadline for the expiration of the time given by the Nigeria Police Force for all motorists using tinted glass vehicles to re-validate their permit draws to a close this weeknd, the Guild of Motoring Correspondents(GMC)hascalled

on the Police to extend the time.

The deadline is Friday, March 18.

According to the Chairman of GMC,Mr.FrankKintum,“though there-validationisawelcomeidea, the time frame given for motorists to re-validate is too short, being less than three months”.

He observed that there was no

enough publicity to motorists by thePoliceasmanymotoristsusing tintedglassvehiclesarestilllargely unaware that there is a directive to that effect from the Police.

Kintum added “as far as I know, there is only one biometric capturing centre in the whole of Lagos and so much queue and

motorists can only be attended to on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays”.

He said “I expected to Police to have relied on the data already obtained by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), because FRSC gets all this data when you apply for a driver’s licence.

GOOD QUESTION FOR THE RAINY SEASON. hen most people buy new tyres, they tend to install them in the front axle. They give a number of reasons for doing so. Among such reasons are: With the engine in the front, new tyres should be in the front since they are stronger so should be able to effectively support the weight of the engine.

New tyres will be less prone to suffer a blowout and since blowout of a front tyre is more dangerous than that of a rear tyre, it is safer to install new tyres in the front.

Front tyres suffer the rigors of acceleration, braking, steering and bad road conditions more and so wear out faster than the rear tyres. So new tyres are better installed in the front.

The above reasons sound logically but unfortunately following that logic would land you in serious trouble.

It is downright dangerous to install new tyres in the front axle especially during the rainy season. Why? Because of a phenomenon called hydroplaning. What is hydroplaning?

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HYDROPLANING You will observe that your tyres, if not worn out, have some grooves and channels on the treaded portion that is in contact with the ground. Those grooves and channels are designed to, among other functions, help to remove water under the tyres on a wet surface so that the tyre will maintain adequate contact with the road surface for proper traction.

A situation may arise where the channels are not able to remove water fast enough or where the channels are not deep enough because the tyres have worn out. In either situation, the tyres will not maintain contact with the road surface and will simply float on the pool of water. This phenomenon of floating on water because of lack of contact with the ground is called hydroplaning. It is dangerous and may lead to loss of control and a crash. When a vehicle is hydroplaning, application of the brakes will make matters worse! Now let us consider the effects of hydroplaning with new tyres in (a) the front axle and (b) the back axle.

NEW TYRES IN THE

FRONT AXLE. (Old tyres at back axle) New tyres, by nature, should have more tread depths than tyres in use.

So the tyres at the back – because they have less tread depths – will hydroplane before the new tyres in front.

With the rear tyres hydroplaning first, a situation called OVER STEERING may occur. This is a situation where the rear tyres will lose traction before the front tyres and the rear of the vehicle begins to slide.

Oversteering is far more difficult to control, and in addition to the initial distress felt when the rear of the car starts sliding, quickly releasing the gas pedal in an attempt to slow down may actually make it more difficult for the driver to regain control, possibly causing a complete spinout, loss of control and a crash.

NEW TYRES AT THE BACK AXLE (old tyres in front axle) When you have new tyres at the back axle, the old tyres in the front will hydroplane before the back tyres. This may lead to UNDERSTEERING. This means the vehicle will continue to move in the straight forward direction even when you want to steer it either to the left or to the right. This is easier to control. By easing up on the gas pedal, the vehicle will slow down and make it very easy for the driver to control.

TESTING EXPERIENCE Members of The Tire Rack team had the chance to experience hydroplaning at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds. Participants were allowed to drive around a large radius, wet curve in vehicles fitted with tires of different tread depths - one vehicle with new tires on the rear and half-worn tires on the front, and the other with the new tires in the front and half-worn tires on the rear.

The ability to sense and control predictable understeer with the new tires on the rear, and the helplessness in trying to control the surprising oversteer with the new tires on the front was emphatically proven.

It is better to experience this phenomenon in the safe, controlled conditions of Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds rather than in traffic in a rainstorm.

In case there is any doubt, when tires are replaced in pairs, the new tires should always be installed on the rear axle and the worn tires moved to the front.

To Be Concluded Next Week

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

TRAVEL&LEISURE

by OMOLOLA ITAYEMI omolola.itayemi@thisdaylive.com 08054699602

Museum: Lagos Partners FG The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has announced plans by the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to redevelop the National Museum situated in Onikan, Lagos

T

he Governor in company with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, dropped the hint during a recent visit and tour of the National Museum. Ambode expressed optimism that the collaborative efforts would be beneficial to the country in terms of development and preservation of monuments.

He referred to an on-going multi-story car park being undertaken by the state government near the National Museum as a project that would complement the envisaged collaborative arrangement.

The governor reiterated his resolve to use tourism, hospitality, entertainment and sports to drive development of the State. He averred that the expected gains of the partnership with the Federal Government on the National Museum would further reduce gaps in job creation with the engagement of artisans and other related skills.

“In the long run, this will cause a leap in the state’s GDP while other positive multiplier effects will be recorded in the state’s economy,” said Ambode.

The Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai

L-R Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Hamdala Usman

Mohammed expressed his joy at the interest shown and demonstrated by Ambode and referred to the partnership as “a dream come true”

In his own reaction, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker noted that the synergy will

Nigeria and the World Conference On Tourism Development

W

hile the Nigerian government is yet to come out with a cogent roadmap on diversification from oil to other things like tourism, other countries of the world have continued to engage in discussions to further boost their tourism sector. African countries like The Gambia, South Africa, Kenya and others have continued to invest more in tourism.

Consequently, the Republic of China and The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have concluded plans to organize the First World Conference on Tourism for Development billed for Beijing on 18-21 May 2016.

The conference titled ‘Tourism for Peace and Development’ is geared towards kick starting a high level debate on the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to a statement issued by UNWTO, the high level segment of the conference on ‘Sustainable Development through Tourism’ will analyze how to advance the contribution of tourism to the 17 SDGs, including the sector’s ability to create jobs, promote local culture and be an agent of change towards more sustainable consumption and

production (SCP) practices.

The programme, which will be moderated by CNN anchor and correspondent, Richard Quest, will also focus on how countries can align their national development strategies with the SDGs and the role of public and private partnerships in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Speaking on the conference, Secretary-General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai said: “Tourism is one of the most dynamic economic sectors, with significant global reach, and as such, can make an important contribution to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in the areas of job creation, sustainable consumption and production and the preservation of natural resources”.

Rifai noted that the conference would be complemented with two high level sessions focusing on “Tourism for Poverty Reduction” which will discuss how governments, the international community, the private sector, and academia can collaborate to enhance tourism’s contribution to poverty reduction and how to better integrate the marginalized and disadvantaged groups, particularly youth and women, into the global tourism value chain.

The positive impact of tourism is behind the decision of Chinese

authorities to launch the 13th, Five-year plan period, a nationwide tourism development plan to lift 17 percent of the country’s impoverished population out of poverty by 2020.

According UNWTO, CNTA and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of China expect that by 2020, three million rural tourism businesses will be receiving two billion annual visitors, lifting two million of China’s rural population out of poverty every year”.

When asked of what Nigerian government was doing to boost the tourism sector, the Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo said the government had too many issues to handle at this time when the country is faced with economic downturn.

She encouraged private sectors to invest in tourism as the benefit is huge We can look at the following ways to help promote tourism: Revamp the Tourism Value Chain: Nigeria’s tourism value chain is disconnected, honestly speaking. The parastatals that are supposed to function together are working individually and achieving nothing. NIHOTOUR is as good as dead, bringing

take the tourism and culture sector to the highest level ever witnessed in the country.

Folarin-Coker expressed optimism that the partnership

on the National Museum project portends a good omen for the entire country in terms of the deliverables and long term socio-economic values.

DESTINATION NIGERIA nothing to the tourism value chain. Apart from NTDC, I am struggling to see what value these parastatals are bringing to the table.

Implementation of National Tourism Policy: A committee to draw up a tourism policy for Nigeria was set up on the 7th of February, 2005 by the Obasanjoled administration. The final report was submitted on 12th December of that same year. In spite of the brilliant recommendations made by the committee, none of them have been adopted.

Revamp, operate and transfer: With a solid national tourism policy, the modus operandi to revamp or build, operate and transfer the sites will be simplified. A system where the private sector develops and operates a site for a few years until they get returns on their investments before transferring the facility to the government will yield benefit Adopt a Tourist site: As part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), blue chip companies should be encouraged to adopt a tourist destination within their locality, making

them function as pseudo-owners of the site.

Supporting Infrastructure: Security, electricity, transportation, communication and other supporting infrastructure are key factors that attract tourists to a country. If they are in a comatose, visitors will search for alternative destinations. It is pertinent to provide these supporting infrastructures for leisure and business travel to Nigeria to grow.

Presentation and packaging of Festivals: For Nigeria’s tourism sector to attract the world, the presentation and packaging of festivals and tourism- related events should be top-notch.

Shabbily organized events will turn away tourists. So, great efforts should be made to put together fantastic events.

In addition, aggressive media campaigns should be carried out.

For example, buying spaces in international media platforms to sell these sites could do some magic. The aim is to highlight reasons why tourists should make Nigeria their preferred destination in Africa.

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 16, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Manchester Derby PAGE. 29

19.03.2016

Segun Ajose

Still Dreaming of a World Boxing Belt

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Matthysse outpunches Ajose

Still Dreaming of a World Boxing Belt

Despite losing the WBC Light Welterweight title fight to Argentine Lucas Martin Mattyss, Segun Ajose’s dream of winning a world title is still alive. The Nigerian boxer is hoping to get another opportunity to win the world title this year. Ajose recently came home from his base in the United Kingdom to donate boxing equipment to young and aspiring Nigerian boxers as part of his efforts at giving back to the society. He speaks with Kunle Adewale on a number of issues

S

egun Ajose was born into a family of three in Shomolu area of Lagos State, which was popular for producing many boxers including Obisia Nwanpa amongst many others.

But he only took to boxing by chance. “In spite of the fact that my father was a boxer cum coach, I never wanted to be boxer. My dad never planned that I'll become a boxer. My ending up with the gloves was just by accident. I went to the gym one day and I was tricked into sparring with a girl and she beat me to a stupor. I cried like a baby. Two weeks later, I was back to the gym and that was the beginning of my boxing career,” Ajose recalled.

At age six, Ajose was already a boxer in the making. He would return from school as a primary school pupil and move to the boxing gym to train.

“During weekends, I went to the gym to train and I was doing this till I got to secondary school. Though along the line, I was into football and I almost abandoned boxing for football. But my father felt I was better being a boxer than a footballer. That was how I concentrated all my efforts in boxing," he said.

Most mothers would not want their children to have anything to do with boxing, but not Segun's mum. She would even come to watch some of his bouts.

"My mother had nothing against my boxing career because in the African setting, the man rules the home. Since my father had given his blessing to my interest in boxing, my mom was left with little or no choice.

Moreover, she was married to a boxer. She was always coming to watch my fights.

When I won the Eagle Belt, she was there by the ring side," Ajose said.

Most athletes always have people they look up to as a child and wish to emulate and Ajose was no exception. In fact, he has two people as his role models.

"There were two boxers I was always looking up to. One is a Nigerian, Moses

James and the other an American, Sugar Ray Leonard. James, who interestingly fights in the same weight category with me was a terrific boxer and represented Nigeria in many competitions and won a lot of laurels for the country. He won gold for Nigeria in both the Commonwealth and African Games. He also won bronze at the World Championship. He was under the tutelage of my father for so many years. I really looked up to him and I used to visit him whenever he was in camp in preparation for national competitions. I love watching him train.

“He was a wonderful boxer. As for Sugar Ray, I love the way he boxed, danced and entertained. He did not just use power but skill and brain. He was an extraordinary boxer and I tried to combine both his style and that of James. I did not really copy them but I like to showcase my talent and entertain the crowd too. The two of them no doubt are my role models and they affected me a lot in my career," he said.

But when reminded that his fighting ability does not really match that of Leonard he said, "I can dance, move and maneuver better than Sugar Ray but because I was boxing in the United Kingdom and the British do not like that. All they are interested in is for you to win. So, I had to put away my dancing shoes and boxed rather than entertain. In the UK, it is called 'showboating'. At some point, I was angry that I have to do away with all that I learned over the years. But really, I love to entertain the crowd."

Shockingly, the former African and British Featherweight Champion said he never wanted to become a professional boxer, but rather remain an amateur but the disappointment of the Sydney Olympics changed his plan.

"I really never wanted to turn pro. My plan was to win gold medals in the Olympic Games and other international amateur competition, then quit boxing but it was not to be after I was robbed at the Sydney Olympics. I believe I was going to return from Sydney with the gold medal because I

had beaten almost everybody in my category at one competition or the other prior to the Games including the Cuban that won the gold. Even the Algerian that won the bronze, I had earlier beaten him at the All Africa Games final some few months to the Olympics.

“So nobody really doubted my ability to win a medal at the Sydney Games but I was robbed and my medal hope was shattered. I was then toiling between waiting for another four years and turning pro. And I felt if I wait for another four years, what were the chances that I would not be robbed again? That would mean another four years will be wasted. So, I opted for the latter with the believe that in the next four to six years, I would win a world title which would compensate for my dashed Olympic dream. That is the reason why I am still pushing hard in my resolve to win a world title,"Ajose said.

On why he opted for the UK in his quest for a professional career as against the United States of America that is more famous for boxing and where the game is more lucrative, he said: “The reason why I left for the UK was that I thought boxing was as big in England as it is in the US. Moreover, I got a sponsorship for training in the UK from Kronk Gym and my late manager convinced me that I'll be well taken care of in the UK, which prompted my move to England. I also had the opportunity to go to Australia and America but I felt Australia is too far a place for me as I always love to visit Nigeria at the slightest opportunity and America is far away while Australia is further away but London is just about six hours away from Nigeria by flight.

“Like I said earlier, turning pro was never a priority before now. All I wanted was to win everything as an amateur and become a coach.

Because of the way Nigeria prepares for the Olympics, I cannot be sure of winning a medal at the next edition. I have the talent no doubt but talent alone is not enough but one needs to work hard. Though, working hard has never been my problem, preparation is key, which is not easy for individual alone. The government needs to fund athletes' preparation. I

knew how we prepared for the Sydney Olympics and all other competitions.

That was how I decided I have to put my destiny in my hand and turned pro."

Recalling his failed bid to win the WBC Light Welterweight fight against Lucas Martin Mattysse of Argentina, Ajose said lack of support from Nigeria cost him the fight.

“I was technically better than him. The only difference was that he trained better than I did. He was more prepared than I was. I was only fighting with share grit and talent which was not enough to win a world title. If I had had financial support, I would have prepared better."

In spite of age catching up on him and a world title yet to be won, the pugilist said he was not feeling any pressure.

"Age is just a number. You are as old as you feel. With my life style, I can box for a long time but I'm not going to box for ever though; but I will do everything to win a world title before I retire.

I can win a world title today and retire the next day, but what is paramount is the title," the former Commonwealth Featherweight champion reiterated.

Ajose and current undefeated African Champion, Larry Ekundayo on Saturday donated boxing equipment to young and aspiring boxers in Lagos.

The boxers were accompanied by Head of World Class Athletes, Ben Gray and the boxers’ Special Advisor, Bimbo Folayan, Executive Director of the Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit and former head of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK. Speaking after a workout session with some of Nigerian boxers, Ajose said: “This is what I love to do, impacting knowledge to these kids. My presence and Larry Ekundayo here can motivate and inspire them.”

31

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Nigeria Professional Football League…

Tough Tie Awaits Tornadoes against Wikki Tourists

Wikki Tourists captain and right back, Mustapha Ibrahim has predicted difficult match in the northern derby clash against newly promoted side, Niger Tornadoes.

Wikki will host the Minna outfit in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 7 clash at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.

Ibrahim said his side have steeled themselves to challenge the visitors for the three points at stake in the encounter.

“Of course, Sunday’s clash against Niger Tornadoes is a northern derby and as expected it’s going to be really tough for both sides.

Usually, any team in the north sees us as the team to beat and they normally come somehow over prepared.

“However, we are not leaving anything for chance as we are going the extramile to prepare aimed at challenging successfully the three points at stake.

“Right now we consider our position on the league log as discouraging so we are determined to win more points to take the side to its rightful position.

“Our target in the ongoing league season is to win the league shield or secure one of the tickets to Africa.

“So we must claim the three points against Niger Tornadoes to serve as boost

for the away match at Abia Warriors. Weather in Bauchi is not the best right now, it’s too harsh we are taking the harshness with pride to ensure nothing untoward happens in the match.

“Though we did not play the weekend game against Warri Wolves we never break our preparations so I think we will be able to get the job done on Sunday,” said the Wikki Tourists strongman to supersport. com.

Wikki Tourists are 10th on the 20-team league log on seven points from possible 18 though the side have a game to spare against Warri Wolves.

Eguma Faces Goalkeeping Headache Technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma must make a decision about his choice of goalkeeping personnel ahead of today’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan.

Sunday Rotimi started United’s first five games this season but was overlooked for the Week 6 defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja.

Godwin Anyalogu, Rotimi’s replacement in Lokoja, impressed, despite conceding three goals and Eguma admits he has a decision to make as regards who starts in goal for United in today’s

contest against the ‘Oluyole Warriors’.

“It will be a difficult decision to make as regards who plays against Shooting Stars but I will wait till the last moment.

It is a headache but a good one. Rotimi is excellent but I was also impressed with Anyalogu’s performance against Tornadoes.

“There is also former Sharks goalkeeper, Henry Ayodele, who has not played so far this season and he is one of the best goal keepers I have worked with.

“I will decide who plays in Ibadan on Saturday,” Eguma told Rivers United media.

Eguma also discussed his

side’s failure to come up with the goods on their travels thus far despite emerging as the NPFL’s best goals scorers on the road this season.

He admitted that ‘mistakes’ have been made in previous games but insists that those errors have been corrected ahead of Saturday’s big game.

“The game against 3SC is a big one and we know that they have been doing well this season.

“We hope we can correct our mistakes from previous matches as we go to Ibadan.

“We will map out our strategies as we go to Ibadan for the game and ensure that we do not return empty-handed,” he said.

Week 5 Fixtures

Eguma

Wikki

v

Tornadoes

Ikorodu Utd

v

Giwa

El-Kanemi

v

IfeanyiUbah

Heartland

v

MFM

Plateau Utd

v

Lobi

3SC

v

Rivers Utd

Rangers

v

Akwa Utd

Nigeria Premier League Table G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE LAYOUT DESIGNER WAHAB AKINTUNDE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

MFM Rangers Pillars Akwa Utd Ifeanyi Ubah Lobi Warriors Rivers Utd Wolves Wikki Tornadoes Giwa Plateau 3SC Heartland Ikorodu Utd Enyimba El-Kanemi Sunshine Nasarawa

P 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 5 5 6 5 6 4 5 6 3 5 5 3

W 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0

D 1 2 2 1 1 1 4 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 0

L 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 4 3 3

Pts 9 9 9 11 9 8 7 8 3 5 8 5 6 6 2 3 1 4 4 1

GF 7 6 7 5 5 5 5 7 2 3 8 5 11 5 4 9 3 9 7 5

GA 2 3 2 6 4 3 2 1 1 2 0 0 -5 1 -2 -6 -2 -5 -3 -4

GD 13 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 8 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 3 3 2 0

Maria Sharapova

Brutal End to a Career

In spite of holding a news conference, acknowledging that she took banned drug and provided a plausible explanations why she failed a drug test, Maria Sharapova has failed to get the sympathy of many.

Sharapova’s announcement last Monday that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open was shocking. But perhaps more surprising was how quickly some of her sponsors turned their backs on her.

Just hours after the world’s highest-paid female athlete, admitted she tested positive for the recently banned drugmeldonium, Nike said it was suspending its relationship with her.

“We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova,” the company said, adding that it would “continue to monitor the situation.”

Other sponsors quickly followed.

Porsche echoed Nike’s statement, saying it has decided to “postpone planned activities.” The Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer said it had “suspended negotiations” to extend Ms. Sharapova’s contract, which had expired in December.

Nike was first to announce it was distancing itself from the world's highest paid female athlete after she admitted to a failed a drug test at the Australian Open.

The Russian, 28, tested positive for meldonium, a substance she said she has been taking since 2006 for health issues.

Including sales of branded clothes, the sponsorship deal signed with Nike in 2010 is reported by the BBC as worth more than $100 million dollars.

Tag Heuer was in talks to extend its deal with Miss Sharapova, which ran out at the end of last year but in a statement seen by CNBC Tuesday, the company said it will not now renew the contract.

Porsche, meanwhile, has decided to postpone "planned activities" with Sharapova. The German automaker says it wants to analyze further details.

Sharapova is recognised as the world's highest-paid female athlete,

earning $29.7 million dollars in prize money and endorsements between June 2014 and 2015, according to Forbes.

The player also enjoys deals with the likes of American Express and Evian.

Sponsors have moved more quickly to disassociate themselves with athletes since some got "burned" by sticking by Lance Armstrong and others during scandals, said Manish Tripathi, an Emory University marketing professor who studies sports. Swift social media spillover has also made companies react more quickly, he added. Sharapova's recent stretch of injuries and poor performance makes sponsors' decisions easier, Tripathi noted.

"It was easier for Nike and others to cut ties because she has been completely overshadowed recently by other players such as Serena Williams. It makes more sense to potentially bet on other upcoming stars or invest more in stars like Serena," he said.

Sharapova has also been suspended as a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations after her failed drugs test. She has been suspended from "any planned activities while the investigation continues," said the United Nations Development Programme. She has held the role since 2007 and a UNDP spokesperson added it "remains grateful for her support of our work".

According to the UNDP website, the organisation "works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion".

The drug was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) banned list on January 1 and Sharapova provided a positive test at the Australian Open later in the month.

Maria Sharapova after winning the Porsche Grand Prix in Germany in 2012. Porsche, Nike and TAG Heuer quickly distanced themselves from her after she failed a drug test at the Australian Open

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Still a Lot to Play for in Manchester Derby Few years back, a Manchester derby at this stage of the season would have gone for a title decider, but inconsistency on the part of the two Manchester teams-City and United, this season has subjected their target to just booking a UEFA Champions League. Be that as it may, there is more to play for, especially on the part of the two coaches, Manuel Pellegrini and Louis van Gaal, as it may be the last time they would be confronting each other, at least as far as the Manchester teams are concerned

W

hen Manchester's Premier League big guns were spending lavishly in the close season, neither City nor United can have imagined that the final derby of the campaign would be little more than a contest in the battle for a Champions League spot.

With City, lying fourth, having slipped 12 points behind the leaders and United trying to climb up from sixth, Sunday's match is hardly the pivotal title decider they both would have wanted.

City spent 152 million pounds ($216 million) in preparation for the campaign while United also surpassed the 100-million mark, but neither team has generated the momentum needed to launch a sustained title challenge.

United, often laboured and struggling to score goals all season, go into the game at the Etihad Stadium trailing their rivals by four points but perhaps sniffing blood.

City have capitulated in recent weeks and, with leaders Leicester playing Crystal Palace today, could find themselves 15 points off the top by kickoff, although they have played a game less than Claudio Ranieri's men.

Since it was announced last month that Pep Guardiola would replace manager Manuel Pellegrini in July, City have won two of six league games and are far enough adrift of the summit to know that anything other than victory over their neighbours will end any lingering title

hopes.

Meanwhile, City Striker, Sergio Aguero has admitted the Premier League title is slipping out of Manchester City's reach and urged his team mates to keep rivals Manchester United at bay in the race for Champions League qualification ahead of Sunday's derby.

City are two places and four points above United.

"We have to win, even more so because the title is slipping further and further away, and we have to make sure we take fourth place. We want the title but we have to take into account that United are right behind us and it will be a tough game. We will have to play intensely," Aguero told British media.

The fixture may not be the kind of title-deciding clash enjoyed by both sets of fans in earlier seasons, but losing will still hurt. City can kill off United's chances of qualifying for the Chzampions League with a home win, while defeat will almost certainly end their faint hopes of winning the title.

"At one point United were huge. City have invested a lot of money to bring in quality players, and that has levelled the playing field. I don't know what is happening at United, I focus on City and Sunday. We are thinking about winning and nothing else," Aguero said.

Captain Vincent Kompany will miss the game after suffering a repeat of a calf injury in Tuesday's Champions League draw with Dynamo Kiev that saw City progress to the quarter-finals of the

competition for the first time.

Arsenal, 11 points off the top and visiting Everton today, are another side who have imploded at a crucial point in the season with manager Arsene Wenger's position again coming under intense scrutiny.

Having won only one of their last eight games in all competitions and exiting the FA Cup at home to Watford, the debate about Wenger's future has become increasingly heated.

After Barcelona completed their expected passage into the Champions League last eight with an 3-1 win at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, Arsenal were left with nothing to play for unless they can claw their way back into title contention.

Like City, however, Arsenal's hopes rest on Leicester slipping up, which is looking increasingly unlikely with every passing week.

The battle for the title seems to have come down to a two-horse race between Claudio Ranieri's side and Tottenham Hotspur, who trail them by five points and host Bournemouth on Sunday.

Both sides should win, with Leicester, who boast the best away record in the top flight, visiting Palace who have taken just four points from the last 12 games.

Tottenham, who have lost only two of their last 16 home league matches, face Bournemouth who are comfortable in 13th position in the table.

Meanwhile, Manager Mauricio Pochettino has played down concerns that

having players called up to the England squad for friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands could impact Tottenham Hotspur's title challenge.

Spurs, who are chasing their first league title since 1961, are second in the table, five points behind leaders Leicester City with eight games to play.

A number of their players will be selected by England manager Roy Hodgson to face Germany in Berlin on March 26 and the Netherlands at Wembley three days later, but Pochettino dismissed fears that this could hurt their domestic campaign.

"Maybe we have a big group called up... seven, six, eight. We have trust in the national team," the Argentine told British media.

Alongside the league's joint-top scorer, Harry Kane, midfielder Dele Alli, and defenders Kyle Walker and Eric Dier are likely to be called up, while Danny Rose, Ryan Mason, Kieran Trippier and Tom Carroll are also in the frame.

"The staff in the national teams have the quality and capacity to look after the players," Pochettino added. "For me, when a player has an injury, it's an accident. It's not what you want but it happens. It's difficult to stop accidents.

In the relegation fight, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez will experience his first north-east derby when his team host Sunderland on Sunday.

Newcastle, second-bottom of the table, are one point behind their neighbours who are 17th in the 20-team standings.

33

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Spanish La Liga Fixtures TODAY Sporting Granada Sociedad Deportivo Betis SUNDAY Espanyol Villarreal Valencia Madrid

v v v v v

v v v v

Atletico Vallecano Las Palmas Levante Málaga

15:00 17:15 17:15 19:30 21:05

Bilbao Sevilla Barcelona Celta Vigo Sevilla

11:00 15:00 17: 15 19:30

Bundesliga Fixtures TODAY Köln Hamburger Hertha Bremen Wolfsburg Frankfurt

v v v v v v

Bayern Hoffenheim Ingolstadt Mainz Darmstadt Hannover

14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:30 17:30

SUNDAY Stuttgart

v

Leverkusen 14:30

Augsburg

v

Dortmund 16:30

Serie A Fixtures TODAY Empoli Roma

v v

Palermo Inter

17:00 19:45

SUNDAY Atalanta

v

Bologna

11:30

Frosinone

v

Fiorentina

14:00

Sampdoria

v

Chievo

14:00

Sassuolo

v

Udinese

14:00

Torino

v

Juventus

14:00

Verona

v

Carpi

14:00

Napoli

v

Genoa

17:00

Milan

v

Lazio

19:45

Hot Shots

Premiership Table

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

19

Harry Kane

Tottenham

19

Romelu Lukaku

Everton

18

Sergio Aguero

Man City

16

Riyad Mahrez

Leicester

15

Odion Ighalo

Watford

14

Olivier Giroud

Azrsenal

12

Jermain Defoe

Sunderland

11

Diego Costa

Chelsea

11

Marko Amoutovic

Stoke

10

Georginio Wijnaldum Newcastle

9

Gyifi Sigurdsson

Swansea

9

Andre Ayew

Swansea

8

Ross Barkley

Everton

8

Troy Deeney

Watford

8

Roberto

Fimino

8

Dimitri Payet

West Ham

8

Premiership

TODAY Everton Chelsea Crystal Palace Watford West Brom Swansea

v v v v v v

Arsenal 12:45 West Ham 15:00 Leicester 15:00 Stoke 15:00 Norwich 15:00 Aston Villa 17:30

SUNDAY Newcastle Southampton Man City Tottenham

v v v v

Sunderland 13:30 Liverpool 13:30 Man Utd 16:00 Bournemouth 16:00

Leicester Tottenham Arsenal Man City West Ham Man Utd Southampton Liverpool Stoke Chelsea West Brom Everton Bournemouth Watford Crystal Palace Swansea Sunderland Norwich Newcastle Aston Villa 30

30 30 29 29 29 29 30 28 30 29 29 28 30 29 29 30 29 30 29 -35

22 29 16 21 12 10 8 6 -4 4 -6 12 -9 -1 -7 -10 -19 -23 -26 16

63 58 52 51 49 47 44 44 43 40 39 38 38 37 33 33 25 25 24

B

and threatens to weaken an Atletico defence that is the strongest in La Liga, letting in 12 goals all season.

Stefan Savic is doubtful for the Madrid club while Tiago remains a long-term injury absentee and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco is suspended.

Karim Benzema could feature against Sevilla, with Real confirming the France striker came back to train-

Barca trio...Suarez, Neymar and Messi

Barcelona Atletico Madrid Villarreal Sevilla Bilbao Celta Vigo Eibar Málaga Sociedad Real Betis Valencia Deportivo Espanyol Las Palmas Vallecano Granada Getafe Sporting Levante

29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29

62 33 55 12 12 10 -10 0 0 -3 -12 -1 -5 -26 -11 -22 -24 -24 -21 -25

75 67 63 53 48 47 45 37 36 35 34 34 33 32 30 27 27 27 24 24

Bundesliga Seria A Juventus Napoli Roma Fiorentina Inter Milan Sassuolo Lazio Bologna Chievo Empoli Genoa Torino Sampdoria Atalanta Udinese Palermo Frosinone Carpi Verona

29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29

36 36 31 18 12 9 4 0 -3 -6 -8 -3 -2 -4 -9 -19 -23 -26 -19 -24

67 64 59 54 54 48 44 41 36 35 35 34 33 32 30 30 27 26 25 19

Barca Face Villarreal Test

arcelona can extend their La Liga winning streak to 13 matches at fourthplaced Villarreal on Sunday in one of the few big tests remaining for Luis Enrique's champions elect.

Atletico Madrid, who are second, travel to second from bottom Sporting Gijon on Saturday while Real Madrid hope to keep their slim title hopes alive on Sunday by defeating fifth-placed Sevilla at the Bernabeu.

Barca, eight points clear at the top with nine matches left, could find their 38-game unbeaten sequence in all competitions seriously challenged by high-flying Villarreal.

"Our competitiveness and hunger gives us confidence for the road ahead," said defender Javier Mascherano. "To go where we want we have to be motivated for every game."

Barca beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals 5-1 on aggregate.

Atletico needed penalties to see off PSV Eindhoven in their midweek Champions League tie and coach Diego Simeone may opt to rotate his squad for the trip to Gijon.

Simeone is without Diego Godin who has a muscle tear in his right thigh.

The injury will keep the centre back out for at least three weeks

La Liga

ing on Wednesday after being out since February 27 with a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old has scored 19 goals in 20 La Liga games this season and his return is a boost for Real who are without suspended defenders Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

Real are four points behind Atletico and 12 adrift of Barcelona.

Bayern Dortmund Hertha M'gladbach Schalke Mainz Levkusen Wolfsburg Köln Ingolstadt Stuttgart Hamburger Augsburg Darmstadt 26 Bremen Frankfurt Hoffenheim Hannover

26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 -13 26 26 26 26

51 36 9 11 3 2 4 5 -5 -7 -9 -5 -8 27 -18 -15 -15 -26

66 61 45 42 41 40 39 37 33 33 32 31 27 27 24 24 17

Head to Head 25/10/15

Man Utd

0-0 Man City

12/04/15

Man Utd

4-2 Man City

02/11/14

Man City

1-0 Man Utd

25/03/14

Man Utd

0-3 Man City

22/09/13

Man City

4 - 1 Man Utd

08/04/13

Man Utd

1- 2 Man City

09/12/12

Man City

2 –3 Man Utd

30/04/12

Man City

1 - 0Man Utd

23/10/11

Man Utd

1 - 6 Man City

12/02/11

Man Utd

2 -1 Man City

10/11/10

Man City

0 -0 Man Utd

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

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GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

L-R: GM, Eastern Region, MTN, Mr Obinna Nwage; , Hon Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Niger State, Alhaji Bama Musa; Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Tony Enukame and the 63rd President of Aba Sports Club, Goeffrey Uzoragbara, during the inaugural ball of the President of the Sports Club in Aba, Abia State....recently

Gotv boxing season 6 duo of Ekekpo and Fijabi

Zenith Bank Basketball League Opening Ceremony Set for Today All is now set for opening ceremony of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League, which takes place today at the sports hall of the National Stadium, Abuja.

Two games would be played with all the team already in Abuja on Thursday to battle for the top prize.

The teams are defending champions, Dolphins BC, First Bank, Immigration, Sunshine Angels, First Deepwater, FCT Angels, Coal City Queens, Taraba Hurricanes, Zamfara Babes and Nasarawa Amazons.

Others are Oluyole Babes, GT 2000, IGP Queens, Delta Force, Benue Princess, Ahip Queens, Plateau Rocks and Customs, have arrived the venue of the competition.

Some teams which arrived the venue of the championship early were seen training and perfecting strategies for the competition.

First Bank was the first to arrive Abuja and that was two weeks ago and have played series of friendly games to put the team in good stead for the competition, while Dolphins are

also hoping for a successful title defence.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) have assured that the competition would be hitch-free, noting that the teams would give the fans something to cheer about. The NBBF President, Tijani Umar had promised to ensure the league become a better commodity, just as he assured that the NBBF would ensure better game schedule and expand the league system as soon as more money is made available.

He also called on sponsor to

improve branding at game venues, make publicity better and ensure that branded product of the bank is made available to fans, noting that officiating will be better this year.

Also member of the technical committee said they are guaranteeing 100 per cent to organise a flawless competition.

Some dignitries expected at the opening ceremony include Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, Permanent Secretary, key directors of the sports ministry, Senate/House Committee Chairmen on Sports.

GOtv Boxing Night 6

NBB of C Lauds Organisers

The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) has praised the organisers of the GOtv Boxing Night for their unwavering support towards the revival of Boxing in Nigeria Speaking on Monday, General Secretary NBB of C, Remi Aboderin, said the commitment of the sponsors had rekindled hope that Nigeria boxing would soon be reckoned with on the global stage.

“There is a new enthusiasm and re-awakening of interest of boxers, who now have brighter hopes of being regularly engaged in the ring.

“Due to long period of inactivity which, thankfully

is becoming a thing of the past because of GOtv’s sponsorship, boxers resorted to menial jobs, became depressed and some took to gangsterism.

“In the medium term, let’s say before 2020, we are optimistic that Nigerian boxers will be talked about around the world,” he said.

Aboderin was speaking ahead of the GOtv Boxing Night 6 scheduled to hold on Good Friday, March 25 at the Indoor Sport Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

The event is a six-fight professional boxing tourney featuring established stars and five graduates of the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search.

The best boxer of the event, which is scheduled for live broadcast by SuperSport in 47 African countries, will go home with N1million cash prize and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

The headline fight of the event will be the West African middleweight title fight between Abolaji Rasheed and Ghana's Adjei Sowah.

There will also be a national lightweight challenge duel between Otto Joseph and Hogan Jimoh Jnr., son of former champion, Hogan Jimoh aka Atomic Bomb.

Also on the night, five of the graduates of the GOtv NextGen Search will debut as professional boxers.

The duo of Michael Rolland and Nwoye Prince will trade punches in a national lightweight challenge contest, while SaidiLawal will take on fellow graduate Samuel Elegbede in a national super middleweight challenge duel. Another super middleweight challenge contest will see Matthew Obinna take on Yusuf Moshood.

Sponsored by GOtv, the event is supported by MultiChoice, SuperSport, Newsbreak.ng, KSquare Security, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, Complete Sports, Bond FM and Brila FM. It will be broadcast live

by SuperSport in 47 African countries.

Joe Boy Eyes N1m Prize Again Oto "Joe Boy" Joseph, who won N1 million naira cash prize and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the best boxer at the fourth edition of GOtv Boxing Night, has vowed to win the award again.

The explosive boxer is billed to fight Hogan Jimoh Jnr. in a national lightweight

challenge bout at the GOtv Boxing Night 6 on March 25 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

While acknowledging that his opponent's father was a great boxer, Joseph, said that fact would count for nothing when they get into the ring.

"I will knock Hogan Jimoh

Jnr. out and win the N1m cash prize. I invested the last one well because I need to make plans for the rainy days. I am hungry for more. Hogan Jimoh Jnr. is a baby and will be made to understand that when I shave his beard with punches," he boasted.

The biggest of the six

fights on the night is the West African middleweight boxing title duel between Nigeria's Abolaji "Afonja Warrior" Rasheed and Ghana's Adjei Sowah.

In another title fight, Olaide "Fijaborn" Fijabi take on Republic of Benin's Djamiou Ekekpo for the West African light welterweight title.

Organisers Assure on Adequate Security Fans coming to watch top class boxing action at GOtv Boxing Night 6 have been assured of adequate security in and around the venue of the event.

The assurance was given

by Mr. Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Flykite Productions, organisers of the boxing tourney.

Alumona explained that top-class security, which

had been a feature at every edition of the event, would not be relaxed. "This edition falls on Good Friday and we are expecting families to come and enjoy boxing. The security will be tight as it has always

been. One of our partners, KSquare Security, is the leading provider of security services for big events in the country. Fans have nothing to fear. The security arrangements will be top-notch," he said.

About 200 Golfers Expected at BCGS Golf Tourney

All arrangement towards successful organisation of the 2016 Benin club golf section (BCGS) Captain Inaugural Golf Tournament has been formalised.

The golfing event which is anticipated to attract about 200 golfers from different golf clubs across the federation teed-off on Friday March 18 through 19th, at the club golf course, GRA, Benin City for the most sought after tournament in the region which is being organised by the club in conjunction with the new captain of the club.

While briefing journalists in Benin City, the captain of the golf section, Ignatus Aigbokhaode noted that every necessary arrangement to make the event glorious has been put in place by the organising committee and other sub committees in charge.

Furthermore, he confirmed that golfers from UBTH golf club, Ibori Country and Golf Club (ICGC), Asaba; Ikeja golf club, Sapele club, Smoking Hills Golf Resort, Ibadan golf club and many more would be part of the two days golfing event having shown interest in the event.

Aigbokhaode said “We have received tremendous interest from golfers across various golf clubs in the country. And our club has really prepared for the event because we planned to make it a keenly competitive, fun fare and glamorous event. It will be better organised than the previous editions ever held in the club,” “As at now, close to two hundred golfers have signified to take part in the two days golf tournament that teed-off on Friday and ends today. The various committees in charge are working vigorously to ensure smooth participation and hitch free tournament during the event.

“We are praying for a good and favourably weather on these days so that golfers will be able to have full fun of our green lush course rated among the best golf course in the country. Benin is known as home of golf and we are going to show them our hospitality.

Ooni of Ife, others for Ikeja Captain’s Day Tourney His majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi is expected to be the special guest of honour at the at the 2016 Ikeja Captain’s Day competition; a weeklong tournament put in place to mark the end of tenure the captain of Ikeja Golf Club, Air Commodore Tokunbo Ajomale (rtd).

Oba Ogunwusi will lead other traditional rulers and prominent Yoruba sons and daughter to the closing ceremony on March 26.

Meanwhile, the Captain’s day tournament will tee off on Monday March 21, with the Caddies and Staff of the club taken their turn on the course.

On Tuesday, it would be the turn of professionals, who would file out alongside veterans golfers as the competition progresses.

It would be the turn of the ladies on Wednesday before the special Captains kitty on Thursday.

Friday will see amateur golfers take turn on the course in the opening round of their two-day competition.

The golfers will return on Saturday, March 26 for the closing round.

Later on Saturday evening, a special closing ceremony where prizes would be given to excelling players has been put in place.

While thanking God for seeing him through his tenure, Air Cdre, Ajomale (rtd) said he is optimistic that those coming behind would continue to contribute to the development of the club. He also used the opportunity to thank members for their support throughout his tenure.

“I have enjoyed my time here; I have done my bit and believe that others coming behind me will continue to contribute to the development of the club.

I also want to thank all those who stood behind me throughout my 12 months services, Ajomale added.

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MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

AFRICA PLAYS

with KENNETH EZAGA 0807 0530 677, zigi199@yahoo.com

We have Rich History… the NPFL Still Needs its Biggest Brands Sitting at the Onikan Stadium two Sundays watching the first Lagos derby in years between top-flight debutants Ikorodu United and MFM FC, I could not help wondering what a different atmosphere it would have been were Stationary Stores FC somehow involved in the clash. It was a fine match in the end, but history takes time to build. During the game I was seated next to the irrepressible football aficionado Godwin Dudu Orumen, who like me is a strong supporter of Bendel Insurance FC of Benin, and he told me a little story once told him by Nigeria great Segun Odegbami which pretty much put things in perspective for me. In 1978 when the exciting young Bendel Insurance put together by Alabi Aisien won the Challenge Cup, they met Odegbami’s IICC Shooting Stars in the semi-finals and beat them 2:0. At about that time the Green Eagles were in camp and Odegbami got some ribbing from Chairman Christian Chukwu who teased him, saying: “Why una let those small boys beat una like that?” Chukwu’s Rangers, at a time they were almost invincible, then met Insurance in the final and fared even worse, losing 3:0. Odegbami was waiting for him when he returned to camp. He had hidden under his blanket pretending to be asleep when Chukwu entered the room and he ‘woke up’ to gleefully ask “Eh Chairman, na wetin happen, why una allow those small boys mess una like that?” The Nigerian Professional Football League has a rich history and it tells a thousand stories. Unfortunately, most of its secrets are buried in the struggles of the giants that made us fall head over heels with the local game, and we must find a way to bring them back.

B

ack in those days, Rangers and IICC virtually owned the national team, while Insurance had players who were hardly known outside Benin City. After that incredible run though the Vipers became an authentic Nigerian heavyweight. That match more than any other cemented my love for Insurance that lasts till this day, although we are – painfully – currently in the lower tier. Almost 39 years later, I remember how I followed the match that day and where I was. Bunched together behind our house prefect’s cubicle, I and a number of other junior students listened to exciting commentary from a transistor radio as the great Ernest Okonkwo cranked up the fever as the Vipers thrashed the Flying Antelopes, with Henry Ogboe scoring a brace.

I for one have only ever loved one football club, and that is Insurance…

Up Bede!!! So deep is my history and affection for this club that I have remained unflinching in my support decades after I found myself in the Delta half of what used to be Bendel State. Maybe I should now be supporting Warri Wolves or maybe I should help resuscitate Ethiope FC of Sapele (later NNB), the small town where I grew up. However probably because of reasons of that “first cut”, I remain a proud fan of the club that made the likes of Felix Agbonifo, Khadiri Ikhana, Francis Moniedafe, Leotis Boateng and lately Osaze Odemwingie.

Hopefully, someday soon we will back in the top-flight and the old rivalries will resume between the trident of Rangers, Shooting Stars and Insurance, clubs that still have loyal supporters living in countries around the world. There can be no denying that this would help fuel the recent efforts to make the league great again, by attracting more fans and consequently sponsors and advertisers.

However fans of the Vipers must press the Edo state governor, His Excellency Adams Oshiomole, to help raise the club again. I hear he is not interested in football and such is the fate of our clubs that how they fare is usually down to the preferences of the governor of the day. Maybe next week I will articulate a case on why Edo State needs Bendel Insurance in the NPFL and how this is good for the state’s

Enyimba

economy, maybe that way I can sway the big oga at the top to support the club. To be clear, I am not a supporter of government bankrolling clubs, but I am also not one who supports the strangulation of a strong brand like Insurance that still enjoys relatively strong support from Nigerians globally. If the government cannot run this club competitively, then the thing to do is to sell it off to a competent and interested private investor or consortium of investors. The Nigerian league is gathering momentum once again and this is as good a time as any to get Insurance back on its feet.

As mad as this may sound, with Insurance missing from the top-flight, I have opted to support one of our biggest foes Rangers International this season. So nostalgic have I been of what our league once was that these days I yearn endlessly for any bit of its history I can keep. I am even very pleased with the work coach Khadiri Ikhana (a legendary Insurance defender), is doing at Shooting Stars. My

interest in the NPFL has been helped in no small way by the fact that I have never been caught in the flight to European football and the seemingly unwavering support for their clubs

by Nigerians. First I am too proud to live the dreams of other men. Second, simple economics tells me that I am impoverishing myself by abandoning my domestic game and enriching other societies instead. Third, I want to pass something to my children, something successful and Nigerian, stories that make them realize that they are not in this world as passengers or cheerleaders.

It is commendable that the tenacity of the League Management Company has helped the NPFL find some stability in recent years. This season has taken off brightly and hopefully many more Nigerian fans will be swayed once again. The atmosphere at the Onikan Stadium was great, people came with friends and family, including little children, to enjoy the live entertainment. However our conversations on

the two clubs did not run too deep because their histories will take time to build. Instead we turned to the stories from the league as we once had it.

Clearly there exists a void that I believe can be filled if somehow we can find a way to make the likes of Rangers, IICC, Insurance and Stores into title contenders once again. There needs to be a conscious effort by all stakeholders to push for the return of these big brands, giants of our game around whom endless stories are told. That should see the NPFL attract more fans from a latent support base and lead to the sort of success we all hope for.

Tell us you NPFL story Lots of Nigerian football fans have exciting stories to tell from their time as avid followers of the domestic league in the 70s and 80s. Email me the best of your stories, or share them with us through your comments under this story on the This Day website. Let’s hear them and who knows, we could do a special on them.

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SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • March 19, 2016

March 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •March 19, 2016

40

FITNESS FILE

Best Gym Workouts For Beginners

The Edenlifestyle corner with

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

A

re you a victim of gymtimidation? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A massive 20% of men state a fear of not knowing what they’re doing as the major factor keeping them out of the gym.

Being too shy to elbow past the bros and onto the bench press is nothing to be ashamed of. But arm yourself with this muscle-building manual below and you’ll gain the confidence to take on any barbell.

Here is my pick of the best beginner’s moves, plus a quick explanation of what makes each one uniquely useful, and use the exercises to create a bespoke workout that fits your training goals. Good luck.

Seated Barbell Press Sit on the bench holding a barbell in front of your shoulders with an overhand grip. Press the weight up above your head until your arms are fully extended. Return slowly to the start position.

This exercise is a safer alternative for beginners to the military press behind your neck, which can lead to a painful injury called shoulder impingement syndrome. Sitting down also takes the strain of your lower back, making this one of the safest ways to build bigger shoulders.

Pull-Ups Grab the handles of the pull-up station with your palms facing away from you and your arms fully extended.

Your hands should be around shoulderwidth apart. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, exhale and drive your elbows towards your hips to bring your chin above the bar. Lower under control back to the start position.

Choosing to do the overhand pull-up and not the underhand chin-up is more difficult, but boosts strength and builds muscle more quickly. This is because it engages more of the major muscles, lattismus dorsi, and therefore stimulates more growth. Don’t be afraid to use the assisted pull-up machine to get the technique nailed first.

Inverted Rows Set up a bar in a rack at waist height.

Hold it at shoulder-width, with an underhand grip, and hang underneath.

Position yourself with heels out in front of you and arms fully extended. Your body should be straight from shoulders to ankles. Flex at the elbows to pull your chest up to the bar. Lower yourself back to the start position under control.

When the cable machines and dumbbells are taken, or too intimidating, resort to using your body weight for gains to your back and biceps. Match every set of press-ups with a set of these to even out muscle imbalances and avoid rounded shoulders.

Seated Row Sit in front of a pulley column and set your feet firmly at its base. Grab the handle and, with your arms extended, lean back until your torso is at a 90-degree angle from your legs.

Now, keeping the torso stationary, pull the handles back towards your chest, squeezing your back muscles hard.

By only allowing you to work in

one plane of movement these fixed resistance machines are foolproof and removing the risk of hurting yourself.

And, although primarily used for back and biceps, this exercise forces you to tense your core while maintaining a flat back for a side order of six-pack abs.

Cable Flys Attach stirrup handles to the high pulleys of a cable crossover machine.

Take one in each hand, your arms should be outstretched with a slight bend at the elbow. Place one foot slightly forward, brace you core, and pull the handles slightly downward and across your body until your hands meet, then slowly return to the start position.

Before you go rushing into chestand-shoulder builders like the inverted bench press, you need to strengthen your ligaments and tendons and create a platform from which to build without the risk of injury. Take advantage of the cables wide range of movement to focus on the little guys, not just your pecs.

Bulgarian Split Squat Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand facing away from a bench with one leg resting on it, laces down. Squat down with your standing leg until the knee of your trailing leg almost touches the floor. Push up through your front foot to return to the start position.

Don’t be tricked into sitting on the leg press/curl machine. When it comes to working your lower body you want well-balanced strength and muscle gains. Huge quads and puny hamstrings will come back to haunt you with a nasty injury at your next 5-a-side. This move works your whole leg through a huge range of motion hitting the maximum muscle fibres.’

Weighted Ab Curl Attach a rope to a high pulley and

kneel in front of it, with the handles held either side of your neck. Without moving your hips, contract your abs to bring your elbows to your thighs.

Pause for a moment then slowly return to the starting position. You might think sit-ups would be standard six-pack fare, but when it comes to crunches the temptation to slump back to the floor during every rep means you’re only getting half the benefit. Holding onto the cable keeps your core under tension for both phases of the movement to build more muscle around your middle.

Dumbbell Step Up Stand holding dumbbells at your side with palms facing towards your body.

Place your right foot onto the bench and push up through your heel to lift yourself up and place your left foot on the platform. Step back down with your left foot, concentrating on flexing your hip and the knee of your right leg.

Repeat on the other side.

This is another leg day moves that activates all of your leg muscles including your glutes, quads and hamstrings.

It’s low impact too, which makes it the perfect option for anyone with a history of knee pain, or recovering from a knee injury.

Dumbbell Bench Press Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand, holding them in front of your shoulders. Breathe out and use your chest to push the dumbbells up, straightening your arms.

Pause for a second with your arms fully extended and then return under control to the start position. If you’re new to the gym your dominant side will almost certainly be stronger. Barbells let your strong side compensate, but by using dumbbells you can stop as soon as you weak side throws in the towel and therefore even out any imbalances.

A lop-sided chest is a head-turner for all the wrong reasons.

Underhand Lat Pulldown Grab the overhead bar with a grip narrower than shoulder width apart and your palms facing towards you.

Lean your torso back to around 30 degrees and set your core. Keeping your elbows in and your upper body stationary, pull the bar down until it touches your chest. Hold for a second before slowly extending your arms to the start position.

As a beginner doing bicep curls it’s all to easy to let the weight fall to the bottom of the rep, rather than lowering it under control. Using a cable machine keeps the muscle under tension for the entire rep and the range of movement also means a lot of bicep engagement for maximum growth.

Seated Dumbbell Curl Sit on a bench, hold two dumbbells at arms length and let them rest by your side. Use your bicep to curl the dumbbells up to your shoulders, then slowly lower them back down to your side and repeat. Sitting down removes the urge to use your back and hips to swing the dumbbell up from beside you. Not only does this protect you from injury but it also isolates the bicep and recruits as many muscle fibres as possible.

Tricep Pushdown Attach a rope handle to the high pulley of a cable station. Keeping your elbows tucked in at your sides grab the handle, tense your core, and bring your hands down until your arms are fully extended, then return to the starting position. Only your forearms should move. Using a rope handle, instead of a bar, allows you to splay out your arms at the bottom of the rep. This adds a couple of inches to your range of motion and hits all three parts of the triceps for maximum muscle activation.

Again, I wish you good luck.

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

Wana Sambo Holiday 2016 Collection

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

FASHION FILE

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

Wana Sambo Holiday

T

he Wana Sambo Holiday 2016 collection is the Wana Sambo Woman’ tailored wardrobe. “ I feel like I know my customer now, what she wants from me, how she likes to dress, and the fact that she is constantly evolving just as the brand is.” - Wana Sambo.

Since launch of the Wana Sambo Flagship Store in April 2015, the ready-to-wear designer has focused on following her creative instincts and now, she’s more confident and bold in her designs for the Wana Sambo brand which now includes a pair of extremely comfortable sandals, the “Wana Sambo Holiday flats” made with soft leather in two colors; White and Navy Blue.

The Wana Sambo Woman is strong, sexy and exotic. This means she’s interested in how her look makes her feel, and she knows that dressing right, as is the mantra at Wana Sambo, affords her the confidence of being a#WanaSamboWoman.

“I thought, if she was traveling for a few months and already owns all the pieces in our previous collections, what would be lacking? You all would agree, its work chic pieces an shoes! Hence the birth of the Holiday Collection” – Wana Sambo “We chose to work with Nigerian Actress & TV darling, Damilola Adegbite Attoh because she’s such

a wonderful, young, talented woman. She represents the Wana Sambo Woman so well as she is a young mom and wife who works hard and is a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian Movie Industry. We absolutely love Dami” We worked on pieces for different body types, making this collection relatable to every woman. We expect everyone to have a different answer when they are asked; “which is your favorite look?”. There should be no one look, but a spectrum of equally valid looks for many of us to feel like ourselves in.

With an array of looks ranging from the Box Blouse and fitted pants, to the crepe chiffon tunic shirt, merino wool maroon funnel sleeves midi dress and pleated peplum set, there is no shortage of ‘a favorite look’ for every woman.

Model: Damilola Adegbite Attoh (@ adedamee) Photography: Bernard Okulaja (@sleekben) Makeup: D’artiste by Dodos (@iamdodos) Brand: Wana Sambo (@wanasambo) www.wanasambo.com For more information, kindly contact us on info@wanasambo.com or brandmanager@wanasambo.com

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MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

BUSINESS ISSUES

The original source where the natural artesian water comes out of the soil without any pumping machine

Lasena Artesian Water

When Nature Gives Freely for the Benefit of Man A recent visit to the natural source of the Lasena artesian natural mineral water revealed how nature could be very generous to man. And to make the healing characteristics of the water beneficial to humanity, the owner of the facility is set to open the first natural sauna in Africa. Samuel Ajayi reports

W

hen nature has a say in a venture, all seems settled. That is the story of the discovery of natural artesian water at the premises of Oak Group of Companies at Isheri, in Ogun State. It is water reputed to have the highest PH in the world and its healing properties have been attested to by many who have come across the water. It is alkaline water that makes detoxification of the body an easy thing. And according to the curator of the adventure, Musa Lance Elakamah, there have been testimonies by those who have used the water as to its medicinal capabilities.

Yet, in all these, the discovery of the water was by accident. Being a manufacturer of plastic products, Elakamah had reasoned that being close to a swampy area; he could be producing water too and be bottling it so that he would not just be producing plastics for those who are producing table water. His first three attempts ended in disappointment as he was surprised that no water came out of the drilled hole. On the fourth attempt, however, Providence smiled on him. Or so he thought.

Water started gushing out and everyone had to run away. Reason? The water was coming out at a force that could make it fill a container of 80,000 litres in two hours. Secondly, it has been coming out since and without any pumping machine inside the hole. Above all, it was so hot that no one could stay around the place for more than ten minutes.

“We all ran away”, Elekamah told a group of journalists during a recent tour of the facilities.

“We were all afraid because the temperature was so high and I have never seen a thing like that before. For days, no one came near it and the water was just gushing out.”

By the time they had the courage to come near the water again, they took a sample of the water to the University of Ibadan to see one Dr. Adeleke, head of department of pharmacy.

Samples were sent to him and he discovered that the water had a lot of minerals. He discovered that it was purely alkaline water.

Water can either be acidic, neutral or alkaline.

Neutral has a ph of 7.1 Anything below 7 is acidic while anything beyond 7 is alkaline. But the artesian water discovered by Elakamah and his team was with a ph of 7.8 which is the real alkaline level the human body needs. He takes up the story again: “Even too much alkaline is not good; it must be in the right proportion of between ph of 7.2 to 8.5 and we are in 7.8. And if your body is in good alkaline state, you are healthy as diseases

Dr. Musa Lance Elakamah, chairman of Oak Group of Company

thrive in an acidic environment. So if your body is in alkaline state, your body is healthy and if you are healthy, you are likely to live long. Others can claim it has alkaline by adding artificial materials to it like chlorine and caustic soda, but our water does not have any of that.

We call it the gift of Mother Nature to man.”

Dr. John Nanna, an orthodox medical practitioner who switched to alternative medicine, said what alkaline water does to the body is that it detoxifies the body because the anti-oxidants in the body neutralise the acids and free radicals that could damage the tissues thereby slowing ageing process in human beings. He also reckoned that there was no way sickness can survive in an alkaline environment. He said the micro-clustered water, like the one discovered by Elakamah, is “absorbed by the body faster and this increases its circulation and eliminates the acid wastes faster.”

Speaking further, the expert had this to say: “Drinking sufficient ionized alkaline water daily causes the stomach and pancreas to produce copious amounts of bicarbonate solution which when absorbed into the circulation neutralises the acidity further. Some of the substances that women apply to their skin in a bid to look younger contribute to their looking aged. Alkaline water will make the skin supple with a shine and luster that no cream or pomade can give.”

“We are doing the first natural sauna in Africa. You can see that it is almost 90% complete. And you can see the extent of wok on that when I took you round. It will be powered by the natural heat of the water; it won’t be boiled.

That will be the first sauna bath house in the whole of Africa. We have in Australia, Czech Republic and the US. But in Africa, ours will be the first where you come and have a complete wellness centre.

It will be a complete hydrotherapy centre. It will be wellness of the body, soul and mind” Another man who testified to the medicinal properties of the water was one Rev. Ogunyemi who in his 70s gave account of how he woke up one day and he was not able to walk no move his body from his waist down. According to him, he was rushed to the hospital and was placed on admission and was on one spot for days until he asked the doctor to be released on discharge and be attended to at home.

“It was when I got home that my daughter in Port-Harcourt recommended the artesian natural mineral water to me. I started drinking and within few days, I noticed some changes in my body movements and all stiff joints in my waist that I could not move became moveable.

I started walking again. Since then, I have not

taken another water.”

During the tour, Elakamah took reporters to the point where the water is gushing out of the soil and the temperature ensured that no one could stay there for more than ten minutes.

But the real heat was to come. Since only a fraction of the water is being bottled, Elakamah decided to establish the first natural sauna in the whole of Africa.

“We are doing the first natural sauna in Africa. You can see that it is almost 90% complete.

And you can see the extent of wok on that when I took you round. It will be powered by the natural heat of the water; it won’t be boiled.

That will be the first sauna bath house in the whole of Africa. We have in Australia, Czech Republic and the US. But in Africa, ours will be the first where you come and have a complete wellness centre. It will be a complete hydrotherapy centre. It will be wellness of the body, soul and mind.”

And in fairness, work has gone far with the sauna to the extent that when the reporter went round the place, it is obvious that it detoxifies the body. Hardly could anyone stay inside the sauna for more than ten minutes. Dr. Nanna, who was part of the tour to provide some expert opinion on the experience, said excessive sweating as a result of being in an enclosed place with the hot, natural artesian water is very good for the body as what is actually being sweated out was not just acidic water but other agents that could have deposited and stayed in the body and developed into different ailments. According to him, what was going on was not a simple process of sweating but massive detoxification of the body. To him, that is what exposure to natural sauna from hot artesian water does to the body.

Elakamah is, however, looking beyond the sauna alone where people come and go after having their sauna bath. Almost completed is a block of chalets for those who want to stay over with their families. According to him, the artesian natural water has been channeled to each of the chalets which means guests could have their sauna bath right inside their rooms.

“We really want to make it a full-fledged wellness centre,” the lawyer by training explained to THISDAY after the tour. “It is nature’s gift to us and we want to give it to the world at just little cost to defray our cost of producing it. Other saunas are not natural but ours is like as it comes out of the soil. We allow it to cool before bottling it without any additives. It is the rest that we are being channeled to the sauna. That is why I call it nature’s gift to man.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

CRIME WATCH

with Femi Ogbonnikan

08126483389

Three Suspected Cultists in Ogun Police Net

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uck has run out on three suspected cultists who have been causing sleepless nights to residents of Oke-Oko and Igborufu Communities in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State in recent times.

SATURDAY THISDAY reliably gathered the trio were arrested last Saturday at 5:00am and arms and other dangerous weapons recovered from them.

It was learnt, that the suspects, who had assembled at Oke-Oko for a meeting

and initiation of some newly recruited members fled the scene when the police operatives attached to Ogijo Division of the command, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mohammed Raji, a Superintendent of Police (SP), swooped on them.

Based on a tip-off, the suspects, Lekan Babatunde, Segun Owodunni and Musa Ibrahim, who had allegedly earlier escaped from their initiation joint, were picked up by the operatives’ one after the other at different locations within the same axis. Lekan Babatunde, it was reportedly arrested in the house of one Yusuf Mu-

futau, who is alleged to be the ring leader of the cult group, but has been at large.

Items recovered from the group include a locally made single barrel gun, a dozen live cartridges, cutlasses, photographs of some suspected members, assorted charms and a car with Reg. No. LAGOS VF 117 KJA. However, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesman, Ogun State Police Command, said the Commissioner of Police, in-charge of the State, Alhaji Abdulmajid Ali, had appreciated the concern of individuals who assisted the police with useful intelligence on the suspects, which led to their arrest.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), he added, that the CP had assured the general public that the suspects would be transferred to the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), in Magbon, Abeokuta for a thorough investigation, and possible reconciliation of the arrest with previous or pending cult-related cases within the command.

He said the Commissioner of Police, therefore, warned his officers and men not to compromise in the fight against cultism in the state, as it remained the best weapon to tackle all crimes and social vices.

I’ve Stolen over 100 Mobile Phones, Confesses Suspect

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28-year-old robbery suspect, Babatunde Ibrahim, who is currently singing like a canary in detention of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, has confessed he had stolen over 100 mobile phones within the metropolis in the last few years.

The suspect who was nabbed by the RRS Operatives along Agege/Abeokuta Expressway, Ikeja axis, said that stealing had become his stock-in-trade from childhood.

He made this confessional statement on arrival at the RRS’ headquarters, Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, and mentioned the duo, Sanni Azeez, 27 years old and Hakeem Kamoru,40 years old, as receivers of the stolen items.

According to him; “The act of stealing has become part and parcel of me. I am a specialist, and also adept in burgling houses without their occupants knowing. I used to gain entrance into targeted houses by cutting the door and window nets with razor blades. I derive pleasure in taking what does not belong to me.

“Apart from house burgling, I also operate in traffic jams, especially, most prone areas to traffic congestions such as Ikorodu road, Lagos-Abeokuta and Apapa-Oshodi Expressways. The last operation I carried out was at Ilupeju area, where luck ran out on me, on getting to Ikeja along bus stop”, he added.

During interrogation, he explained, that he entered the building through the balcony door, which he met unlocked, before moving to the victim’s room to steal three mobile handsets; two Nokia and one blackberry phones, along with other valuables.

The arrested suspect added that the receivers of all the stolen phones were his friends, staying in Akala Street, a notorious criminal hideout, in Mushin, Mushin Local Government.

Mrs. Dolapo Badmus, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect had successfully stolen the mobile phones and other valuables at ilupeju home, before the policemen suspected his movements and trailed him along Ikeja along bus stop, Agege/Abeokuta Expressway.

Babatunde Ibrahim and other suspects “We noticed his suspicious movement, upon sighting us. He wanted to drop his cross bag at one corner and escape, but when he found out that we had seen him, he bolted. But we gave him a hot chase and later caught up with him before Ile-Zik bus stop, along Agege road. When we asked him why took to his heels immediately he sighted us, he could not provide satisfactory answers. And upon conducting a thorough check on the bag found on him, we recovered the stolen items”, a police source hinted.

The police source further hinted that his confessional statement enabled the RRS

operatives to apprehend the receivers of all the stolen handsets at their Mushin hideouts.

Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded into the matter.

Earlier, the police spokesperson said the three suspects had been transferred to Ilupeju Divisional Police station upon a request from the station’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in order to wrap up their investigation into the alleged burglary perpetrated at the last victims’ home in Ilupeju, before their arrests.

INSIGHT

Government By Propaganda: The New Normal?

Jon West “It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and psychological understanding of the people concerned, that a square is in fact a circle.They are mere words, words can be moulded until they clothe ideas and disguise” “Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the Government can play” The Nazi Minister of Propaganda , and evil genius behind the anti-Semitic propaganda that fuelled the Jewish holocaust before and during the Second World War, Josef Goebbels, is credited with the foregoing quotes.

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he David Axelrod campaign consultants of the All Progressive Congress (APC) must have used the two foregoing quotes as the basis for their very successful selling of the APC to the befuddled and instant gratification infused Nigerian populace in the 2015 elections. First, the presidential candidate of the party was clothed in borrowed and really out of place garb, considering his obvious antecedents. A former military dictator and ethnic champion was sold as a born-again democrat and nationalist per excellence, in spite of historical facts contradicting these obvious lies. The deeply religious Islamic zealot was conveniently said to have allowed his daughter to marry into the patently unacceptable Christian Igbo ethnicity, a process warranting accusations of apostasy in his

own version of Islam. On this last score,the Presidential candidate was so frightened of the political, social and religious implications of this disinformation, that he reluctantly came out to disown it. However, he was clever enough to keep repeating the other aspects of the disinformation. The APC and their candidate lucked out as they and their candidate swept to power on the back of disinformation and promises of security and an El Dorado economy.

Since the advent of the APC Government in May 2015, it appears that the Ministry of Information, headed by the APC version of Joseph Geobbels, Lai Mohammed, has striven to outdo the great Nazi propagandist, in the ignoble art of disinformation and sheer revisionism as statecraft.

As the December 31, 2015 deadline issued

by President Buhari, for the defeat of the Boko Haram insurgency loomed, with ominous signs of failure, the Minister of information(read propaganda and disinformation), claimed that the mission had been accomplished with the technical defeat of the insurgents, whatever that means.

The next day, the insurgents launched an audacious attack on the capital city of Bornu State , Maiduguri, as if to put a lie to this premature claim of victory.

A few weeks later, The Vice- President, the erudite Yemi Osinbajo, at a village meeting with his fellow rentier economy elite, at the upscale gated community,Victoria Garden City, in Lekki , Lagos, informed his audience that the Boko Haram war was taking longer to win because the previous Government

bought fake weapons such as back-firing rifles and fake Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), putting the lives of the soldiers in jeopardy. However, since the new APC Government admittedly bought no new weapons since it came to power, it appears the technical victory over Boko Haram was won with fake weapons.

Since then the Boko Haram insurgency has continued unabated with constant claims of victories by the Nigerian Army spokesman, in areas that were claimed to already be under Government control, but seem to be still occupied by insurgents. Meanwhile Cameroonian forces liberate Nigerian towns, still supposedly under the control of Nigerian forces, and then hand them over to Nigerian forces. Then, first, a Borno Senator,who should know better, asserted that control of his state was equally split between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Army, later supported by a deposition of the Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), General David Rodriguez to the Arms Services Committee of the US Senate. The list of lies seems endless.

On the economic front, the Central Bank and the Presidency issue conflicting monetary policy statements , making the Government look like a Mickey Mouse enterprise.

On other fronts the celebrated body language of the New Sheriff in town (apologies to Femi Adesina) seems to have petered out as the refineries and the power sector that had been dancing to it, seem to no longer respond to the falconer, and as Achebe submitted in “Things Fall Apart”, the centre can no

longer hold. Fuel queues, the bane of all previous Governments have returned with a vengeance, as if in reaction against the lies of Government.

Every aspect of life in Nigeria has degenerated to farce, with perplexed and totally embarrassed former supporters of ” Change” now joining forces with the APC’s political opponents, at least on social media, in bemoaning the lack of direction and socio-economic ethos of this Government.

Meanwhile as the roof threatens to come down on the occupants of House Nigeria, Lai Mohammed waxes lyrical about saboteurs, militants, trade unionists, power utility distribution workers, Transmission Company of Nigeria operators, and sundry perceived enemies of the state, as responsible for the inertia and failures of the APC Government, while the populace groans under the overwhelming effects of the failure of basic services and the repudiation of APC campaign promises. The enemy appears to be everyone else apart from the Government, voted into power, a year ago, on the basis of the promise of massive change to be made, while hitting the ground running.

For all intents and purposes, the ideology of this Government is predicated on the use of propaganda as a substitute for real action to turn around the debilitating problems it inherited, in addition to those it has perhaps unintentionally created for itself. Government by propaganda appears to be now,

the New Normal.

––Jon West, Kaduna

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March 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

EVENT

How Paris Terror Attacks United Designers at the German Embassy in Abuja

Series of terror attacks late last year hit the French capital, Paris, and left at least 129 people dead. The gunmen attacked a number of restaurants while two suicide bombers detonated bombs near the Stade de France, the national stadium of France, where the French national team was playing the German national team in a friendly match with French President, Francois Hollande, in attendance. Gunmen who wore suicide belts killed 89 at the Bataclan theatre during an ‘Eagles of Death Metal’ concert. It came 10 months after the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine, which left 12 dead and the siege at a jewish supermarket which claimed four victims. The event caused the Pan African Union fashion event earlier slated for November 20 in the French capital to be cancelled. In a message of solidarity to the victims and the countries rocked by terror attacks, the German Embassy in Nigeria decided to put together another event in Abuja. Stanley Nkwazema was at the Abuja show

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ut for the unfortunate terror attack which shook Paris, the capital of France, which equally affected Belgium and Germany, perhaps for most of the six fashion designers who showcased their wares and models at the residence of the German Ambassador to Nigeria, it would have been a different audience in the heart of France. For the six designers including Boby Kolade whose father is from the South-western part of Nigeria and mother from Germany, Homto, Grazee Stiches, Chip Odina, Keto Couture, Ogodo and Debby Africa stitches, fate played its part when the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zenner, in a bid to show solidarity with the people of France after the ugly incident, decided to play host to the Pan African audience at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

In the move aimed at sending a message to masterminds of the deadly terrorist attack that claimed as many as 129 persons from all walks of life, that terrorism cannot separate German, French and African people from their cultural values and affinity, Zenner and his wife Kornelia and staff in conjunction with Lexy Mojo Eyes decided to bring together most of the designers and a select audience to an evening of solidarity and appreciation to the designers from Abuja and Lagos.

Interestingly, it was the first time Boby Kolade was visiting Nigeria, the birthplace of his father, while the singer, Simonne, who provides background vocals for the fashion shows and events in Europe and the United States, was visiting Nigeria for the first time since his parents migrated to Europe several years ago when she was just two years old.

For the envoy, dressed in a casual outfit with his wife in similiar attire, it was an honour having guests, a mixture of members of the diplomatic community and Nigerians from all walks of life.

“Tonight, I feel very honoured that you are here and it is really an honour,” the diplomat said. “There are designs made by five fashion designers. The Abuja and Lagos based designers got their girls ready for the huge Pan African fashion show that should have been happening in Paris at the end of November, but the show has been cancelled due to the Paris terrorists attack.”

With a voice laden with emotions, he said he could not

forget the victims of the attack in Paris, Mali, Nigeria and Tunisia. As he stood up welcoming the guests, he quickly turned to the crowd, appealing that a moment of silence be observed in honour of the victims and all who lost their lives during the barbaric act by the terrorist.

“Let us sympathise with the families and friends who lost their beloved ones and also during the terrorist attacks in Mali, Tunisia, Russia and Nigeria.

Let us show solidarity with Paris by taking a minute silence for them.”

While recognising the array of designers and models that strutted along the aisle of the hall designed like an African Village hut at the back of his residence, he told the gathering how he met and took interest in Boby Kolade who flew in from Germany with his crew after a short notice.

“I met Bobby in August with my wife in Germany.

We were impressed about him, his work and his team.

We got the idea to organise the fashion show together with other Nigerian fashion designers and also to listen to songs from Simone. All these outstanding artistes are talented and creative. I wish you all an interesting beautiful evening. Enjoy the evening.”

After the pleasantries by the ambassador, who also used the event to appreciate the staff from the culture section of the German embassy, Lexy Mojo Eyes, the famous fashion host, took the crowd who were seated in a Formula I-like racing arrangement to the details of each designer.

Mojo Eyes told the audience about his understanding of the different designers and their designs, explaining that “the first designer for this evening is Bobby

It was, however, a night of mixed feelings. While the audience cheered and clapped in appreciation of the different designs, their models and the closing credits for the actual designers who worked behind the scenes, the European audience would no doubt be feeling sad as they could not watch the show live in Paris as earlier planned

Kolade from Berlin. I was with them last week in their workshop and I saw all their collections during the Berlin Fashion Week. We are so happy to have him and his team to work with the Nigerian fashion designers for this show with the Embassy of Germany.”

Speaking further, he said “the collections are shown in a very special way. Wherever and whenever Bobby is showing his collections, there is a lady with a beautiful voice that is always with him called Simonne. She is going to be singing the background songs while they show their collections. We are going to have six Nigerian designers; we want to see the connection between Europe, Africa and Nigeria. I am sure you all know Nigeria has gone places all over the world.

So let’s see how it goes because when I am in a fashion show in Paris, Milan and New York, like they say, Africa is the new inspiration for global fashion.”

Although Mojo Eyes appreciates the fact that fashion started all over the world several years ago, he was excited telling the crowd that filled every seat available at the ambassador’s residence that “yes it all started around the world in Europe, America and Asia, but you know whatever Nigerians put their hands in, they will be masters of the game. You all will understand what I am saying by the time you will see the collections of five of the six designers.”

He explained that the collections were some of the things they were going to show in Paris but because of the terror attack, the event was postponed. “It Is an African Union event. I want you to see the kind of things our designers go into their workshops to cook.”

It was, however, a night of mixed feelings. While the audience cheered and clapped in appreciation of the different designs, their models and the closing credits for the actual designers who worked behind the scenes, the European audience would no doubt be feeling sad as they could not watch the show live in Paris as earlier planned.

About 30 countries were billed to participate in the show slated for Paris which was to hold on November 21. Lexy and the German envoy felt it was not after all a loss but another way of standing with Paris, going ahead with the event same month and telling peace loving people that terrorism does not pay and cannot destroy the very fabric that binds people from different cultures together.

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 19, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

China’s Economy: Moderate Growth, Transformation and the Bright Future

Liu Kan

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have been in Lagos as the Consul General of China for 8 months, during which period I have met leaders of some states and many friends from all circles. I am happy to see that the relationship between China and Nigeria is in its very sound historical period, because the cooperation between the two countries has developed into a higher level and a wider field. Nigerian people cherish traditional friendship towards China, and the exchange between the two countries is getting more and more active. In communication with friends from all circles, many Nigerian friends show great interest in China’s economic growth and pay special attention to China’s economic future and its impact on the relationship between China and Africa, especially between China and Nigeria. Based on the data released by National Bureau of Statistics of China, I am more than happy to take this opportunity to introduce China’s economic growth in the first half of this year to friends from all circles.

In the first half of this year, Chinese economic development was stable in general, restructuring and upgrading made a new progress with a steady pace, and transformation and upgrading of industries maintained a good momentum.

According to National Bureau of Statistics of China, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of China in the first half of this year increased by 7.5% at comparable prices, with the first, second and tertiary industries growing by 3.9%, 7.4% and 8.0% respectively. The investment in fixed assets achieved a year-on-year growth rate of 17.3% after deducting price factors. The total value of imports and exports in the first half of 2014 amounted to 2020 billion US dollars, up by a year-on-year growth of 1.2%.

Consumption accounted for 52.4% of total GDP, up by 0.2%.

Compared with the two-digit rates in the past several years, the growth rate of 7.5% in the first six months of this year might seem lower. This slow-down is attributed to several factors. World economy, which is still on the way to recovery, affects China’s economy negatively, especially in import and export. Secondly, the new cycle of economic structure adjustment, mainly the upgrading and transformation of industries, occurs this year. Thirdly, the central government of China deliberately decelerates the economic development to address some problems accumulated in the previous years when economy grew at two-digit rate. The Chinese government did not carry out large scale economic stimulation programs, but only took micro stimulative measures to boost some specific fields such as agriculture, hi-tech industry, small and medium enterprises, etc.

Despite the moderate growth rate, from it I still discern some active and positive factors in China’s economic growth. These factors lay a solid foundation for the conclusion that China’s economy will still be on the path of persistent sound development. These were goals of China’s macroeconomic policy and also consist with the economic development strategy of the 12th FiveYear Plan. The central government of China gave the top priority to restructuring and the transformation of economic growth pattern, instead of introducing large scale stimulative policies. Hence, the macroeconomic policies to optimise and restructure the economy yield some positive results.

First, the tertiary industry, which grew

LIU Kan, Consul General of China in Lagos at an accelerated rate and made more contributions to China’s economy, demonstrates an encouraging trend toward a better economic structure. In the first half of this year, the tertiary industry grew by 8.8%, while the second industry by 7.4%. The difference fully makes sure that China has succeeded in reducing the excessive capacity in the traditional and energy intensive industries and assiduously developing modern service industries such as logistics and online shopping. As a result, the growth pattern gradually depends less on high energy consumption industries but more on technological and human resources concentrated industries, as is intended by macro economic policy.

Second, the growth of high-tech industry speeded up. In the first six months this year, the added value of the industrial enterprises above designated size went up by 8.8% in China. In contrast, that of high-tech industries increased by 12.4%, 3.6% higher than that of above designated size industrial enterprises. This divergence is brought about by the state policy to stimulate more investment in R&D. There emerged a growing trend towards producing more technology intensive products in China.

Third, investment composition improved and consumption level picked up.

Starting from the beginning of this year, thanks to the macro economic policy, there was an improved composition in investment. The manufacturing sector saw an moderate increase of 13.3% in investment while the tertiary and primary industries witnessed a substantial rise of 19.5% and 24.1% respectively. This investment composition will surely result in a better future industrial structure with more contributions to the economy from agriculture and modern service. Dependence less on traditional manufacture and more on modern service is the aim of restructure of economy encouraged by macro

economic policies in China.

The retail sales of consumer goods grew at an accelerated pace. The fact that consumption accounted for 52.4% of total GDP, compared with 52.2% for the same period of last year, highlights the effectiveness of the policy to boost the domestic demand.

The retail sales went up faster in rural

Therefore, China is still being in the period of important strategic opportunities, which will last 5 to 10 years or even longer. The per capita GDP of China has reached the level of middle income countries. The histories of economic growth of some East Asian countries demonstrate that a country at the stage of such a per capita GDP will still enjoy moderately high growth rate of 7% to 8% for many years. Some economic driving forces, such as imbalance between the rural and urban developments, disparity between developments of the west and the east, industrialization in a new way and advancing IT application, urbanization and agricultural modernization will persistently bring momentum for economic development in China.

areas than in urban areas. And on-line shopping increased more rapidly than in-store purchases. Rural consumption, electronic online shopping and other forms of consumption demonstrates the upgrading of consumption structure.

Fourth, prices were kept at a reasonable level and more new jobs were created.

Satisfactory results were achieved in stabilising prices in the first half of the year with a 2.3% rise of CPI (Consumer Price Index) over the same period of last year. Against the backdrop of slower economic growth, China’s economy created 7.4 million new jobs in the first six months this year, which was the most in the history.

Therefore, China is still being in the period of important strategic opportunities, which will last five to 10 years or even longer. The per capita GDP of China has reached the level of middle income countries. The histories of economic growth of some East Asian countries demonstrate that a country at the stage of such a per capita GDP will still enjoy moderately high growth rate of 7% to 8% for many years.

Some economic driving forces, such as imbalance between the rural and urban developments, disparity between developments of the west and the east, industrialisation in a new way and advancing IT application, urbanisation and agricultural modernisation will persistently bring momentum for economic development in China.

Of course, some of the problems accumulated in the previous years when China’s economy grew at twodigit rate should not be ignored. The 3rd Plenary Session of 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee decided to deepen economic reform to redress these problems with more than 300 measures among which around 80 are being taken this year. China should keep the growth rate at 6% or above in order to fulfill the aim set by the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

China has set 7.5% as the lowest growth rate that should be guaranteed this year, which is expected to be achieved in the current economic scenario.

All these promising factors make sure that China will acquire a bright economic future.

China needs to develop, and also needs the development of the whole world. In the next five years, China will import all kinds of goods valued 10 trillion USD, make direct investment of 500 billion USD around the world, and Chinese people will do 500 million overseas travels. All these activities are surely to provide great economic opportunities for the whole world.

“A single flower does not make a spring!” China’s economy is remarkably complimentary to Nigeria’s.

Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, is a very important economic partner of China. Enhancing the economic ties between China and Nigeria benefits both countries.

China is willing to share its fruits and experiences of economic development with all African countries including Nigeria. By the principle of mutual benefit and common prosperity let’s cooperate to steadily expand the areas of cooperation. I firmly believe China and Africa will be more developed and full of hope and energy in the future.

––LIU Kan, Consul General of China in Lagos

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 19, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Bukola Saraki: Judiciary on the Cross Jude Ndukwe

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he trial of Senator Olubukola Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate President, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has recommenced since the Supreme Court ordered the senate president to go and face trial at the tribunal.

The trial itself has generated a lot of controversies among Nigerians outside the court room, while counsels to both sides have exchanged legal fireworks and sometimes employed tactics novel to the legal profession in order to further their cause.

Of all the cases instituted against individuals and organisations by the current administration, that of the senate president has generated the greatest interest among the citizenry to the extent that, most times, the trial was beamed live by major television stations. This is not unconnected with the fact that a majority of Nigerians believe that the trial is politically motivated as it was instituted shortly after Senator Bukola Saraki emerged the Senate President against the wishes and permutations of the leadership and chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Because of this, all manner of strategies and extra-judicial tactics have been deployed to sway the process against the senate president. In their usual manner, the traducers of Saraki, are already doing what they know how to do best: engage some willing and obviously compromised media outfits, both social and conventional, to intimidate, harass, denigrate and maliciously smear individuals and institutions handling the case just to get at the man.

The question should be asked why is it that a particular online medium based in New York would always publish fictitious and frivolous stories about the Saraki case only days to resumed hearings, making all kinds of wild and unsubstantiated allegations against actors in the case. Worst hit is

Saraki the judiciary and the legal profession, where the media outfits concerned deliberately churn out falsehood to arm twist and distract the lawyers and judges involved in this case from carrying out their duties dispassionately, firmly and fairly.

Or, how can one describe a recent allegation by the same media outfit that all the judiciary correspondents in Abuja, where Saraki’s trial is taking place, have been bribed by the senate president’s camp to report the trial in a particular way.

Of all allegations, this is the most puerile and facile, a result of extreme journalistic senility arising from the cancerous malaise of “Ghana-must-go” media practice. What is there to bribe judiciary correspondents for? How can the reportage of what transpired at the trial affect the outcome of the trial since the correspondents would only be reporting events as they happened and not that they would be writing editori-

als or opinions on the trial? It is too simplistic and ludicrously low for any responsible institution to think that the reports of some journalists covering a court case would be anywhere strong enough as to influence the judges. To think that somebody of the senate president’s status or any other person for that matter would condescend so low as to attempt to bribe judiciary correspondents in order to influence the decisions of a court is quite jejune.

The same media outfit has given very far reaching meaning to the routine change of Saraki’s legal team. The outfit alleged that Saraki’s appointment of Kanu Agabi (SAN), Nigeria’s former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General to replace Joseph Daudu (SAN), the former president of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), as head of his legal team was because Agabi had mentored the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danlami Umar in his younger days as a lawyer, and was also the one through whom Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) met Mallam Nuhu Ribadu when he was chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The meaning given to such routine change in this instance serves the purpose of the authors of the story and their paymasters. All over the world, clients change their legal teams and they owe no one any explanation as to why. This is in addition to the fact that there is nothing illegal in this practice. There have been copious instances where the Attorney-General of the federation had had cause to take over cases from police prosecutors or any other prosecutor for that matter. A lot of Nigerians have also had cause to change lawyers which could be for professional, the need for a less expensive legal team or any other reason for that matter.

Nigerians are fast getting used to these tactics of intimidating lawyers and judges using a section of local and foreign based media concerns just to serve certain vested interests, this time, the interests of those

who by all means want to see Saraki removed as Senate president using the CCT, all in a desperate bid to plant their own stooges and puppets whom they dictate to and control just to serve their own selfish and parochial interests to the detriment of national interest.

It is time, and this presents the best opportunity for the lawyers and judges in the Saraki trial to prove their mettle, that they are highly trained professionals who are not fazed by the campaign of calumny sponsored in the press by some anti-democratic forces who would do anything to destroy the nation’s bastion of democracy – the judiciary - by dragging it in the mud. The tribunal must determine cases based on copious and cogent evidence before them only and not allow themselves to be swayed by the opinions or media machinations of anti-judicial forces. They have a job to do.

They must do it professionally, dispassionately, judicially and judiciously.

The lawyers and judges in this particular case must draw strength from the recent judgements of justices of the Supreme Court who, despite intense and immense media pressure and crusades of detraction and terror, stood their grounds and did the right thing by doing justice in the Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba States election petitions. Today, with those judgements, the Supreme Court Justices have helped in deepening our democracy further, enriching our judicial system and ultimately etched their names in gold.

The Saraki case presents all participants, be they judges, prosecutors, counsels etc the opportunity for them to also etch their names in gold by doing the right thing. Opportunity to do such may never come again: Ignore external forces, be firm and fair to all, and deliver justice fearlessly.

––jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Follow on twitter @stjudendukwe

Senate Probe of DStv: A Waste of Time Lukman Ariyibi

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few weeks ago, the Senate developed an idea that the time has come for it to show “moral courage” to reverse a trend considered so inimical to the welfare of Nigerians.

That trend, reckoned the Senate, is the dominance of pay-TV service company, MultiChoice, whose DStv platform is the biggest in the sector.

The idea, which the Senate apparently considered terrific, was sold to it by Senator Isah Missau from Bauchi State, mover of a motion titled “Concern About Unwholesome Practices by MultiChoice Nigeria (DStv)”.

Misau is piqued by MultiChoice’s dominance of the pay-TV sector, the reason for which, he believes, makes it engage in negative and unhealthy trade practices. These alleged practices, said Misau, have led to complaints, petitions and litigations with subscribers angry with its programming and subscription hikes.

Misau argued that the motion was of public interest because many football fans in the country, especially English Premier League fans, have been left at the mercy of DStv, exclusive owners of the broadcast rights to the premium sport content in the country. He followed it up with charges of arbitrary hikes in subscription and refusal to adopt the pay-as-you-use method, which he claimed, obtains in other countries where MultiChoice operates.

“Many concerned Nigerians are aggrieved and in constant demand to stop DStv’s arbitrary price hikes, noting that recent increase in DStv subscription is outrageous and totally unacceptable,” Misau raved.

Speaking along the same lines, Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Na’Allah, said: “We have found ourselves in the situation where certain people position themselves for a business in such a manner because they have exclusive monopoly.

This does not help any growing economy in any country and I think the moral courage to reverse this situation in the overall interest of Nigeria rests with this Senate.”

The Senate proceeded by summoning Mr. Emeka Enelamah, Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment; heads of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and directed its Committee on Information to hold a public hearing for all stakeholders, including the civil society on how to shield subscribers from exploitation.

The Senate must have been pleased with itself for its effort at giving an impression that it had started a battle against exploitation of Nigerians in general and fans of a foreign league in particular. This could be gleaned from the words of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is persuaded that the motion was beyond DStv and was actually about protecting the Nigerians’ rights in the area of services.

“We must play our role to ensure that we protect Nigerians and ensure that the best global practices are happening in our own country.

“So, I would want the committees, as directed, to look into the matter, particularly to ensure that the CPC plays the role they (sic) should play in ensuring that the rights of Nigerians are always protected,” said the Senate President.

First, it is a fact that generous sums are set aside for the purchase of newspapers for senators. They also, like the average Nigerian, have access to online news platforms. How it eluded them that the CPC, the government agency charged with doing what the Senate claimed it is planning to do, recently carried out an investigation into the operations of MultiChoice. And just a week before Misau stumbled on his grand idea, the CPC released its recommendations, which were well circulated.

If this is not a wasteful expense of legislative time, I do not know what else is.

Misau’s claim of a “recent increase in DStv

subscription”, which “is outrageous and totally unacceptable” is as inaccurate as it is laughable.

The last hike in subscription, as all subscribers know, took effect on 1 April, 2015-almost a year ago. How that could be classified as recent is a mystery to me. Before then, there was no subscription increase for two years, during which the value of the naira kept plummeting. Clearly.

Misau is unaware that Nigeria runs a high-cost economy, one in which operating costs regularly drive business owners close to the edge, and provides a firm basis for increases in prices of goods and services.

The last subscription hike provoked litigation by two misguided lawyers, who were told by the court that dismissed their suit that they are not obliged to use MultiChoice’s services. Misau is similarly misguided in his apparent belief that pay-TV-at a cost agreeable only to him-is a basic human right. Legislatures in democracies do not fix prices of goods/services provided by private entities, do they?

The same week Misau was talking about arbitrary price hikes, DStv reduced the prices of its decoders and announced the creation of two new channels to make available, at no additional cost, the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and the matches of this year’s European Championship to its Compact subscribers.

Misau and his colleagues are not better informed than crowds at newsstands, where extravagantly baseless claims are presented as gospel. The demand for a pay-as-you-use model in Nigeria as it obtains in other countries where MultiChoice operates? That must have been ghost-written by a denizen of a newsstand because it is baseless. An internet search would have told Misau that he parroting an invention.

MultiChoice does not have a pay-as-you-use model in any country it operates. And monopoly?

Another myth. DStv, sure, is dominant. But that is because it started earlier than others and has continued to acquire content that subscribers want

to watch. Misau and the Deputy Senate Leader, who think a monopoly exists, have certainly never heard of ACTV, Consat, Montage, StarTimes and MyTV. They also never heard of the defunct HiTV which, for three years, was the sole broadcaster of English Premier League in the country.

Two things, I believe, are behind this wrongheaded move. The first is a desperate bid by Senators who, despite undeservedly living like kings on our resources, want to be seen as protecting us against exploitation. For the low quality service they render, they do not justify being paid the enormous salaries and allowances flowing into their bank accounts. That makes them very ineligible to utter the phrase “moral courage”.

If they possessed anything close to that, it would be obvious to them that they are ones sucking life out of Nigerians.

The other is barely disguised xenophobia.

The relentless reference to MultiChoice as a South African company on the day the motion was moved was an indication of a desire to set Nigerians against South Africa. MultiChoice Nigeria, though part of a South African group, is a Nigerian company. Even if not, the hate the senators are trying to stir is unjustifiable. Foreign companies operate and will continue to do so in Nigeria. I am not aware that they have stopped Nigerian companies from operating here. The senators forget that Nigerian companies, notably the Dangote Group, operate in other African countries. How happy will they be if legislators in those countries stir hate against Dangote?

Misau, gleefully, spoke about access to the English Premier League. How about the Glo Premier League? The Senate is obviously not interested in starting a conversation around making the domestic football league appealing locally and internationally. Perhaps, the Premier League, which is a company, has hired our senators as part-time marketing executives for games of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Ariyibi, a lawyer, writes from Ilorin

48

MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLITY

Here’s What They Missed Telling the Career Woman

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Nkiru Olumide-Ojo

as with everything else in life.

ach year, since 1909 the world sets aside a day to celebrate women. Always a themed celebration (this year was pledge to parity), many women support groups or corporates typically organize seminars, conferences, run campaigns, adverts and more as part of this.

Being a female enthusiast, I’m often eager to embrace that day- going from seminar to seminar both listening and sometimes speaking. This year, as I listened to all my favourite women speak I had time to think about what many miss telling the career woman. I heard a lot of the usual and being ‘the usual’ didn’t make it incorrect. I heard the call out to aspire, to inspire, to find mentors, to be Mentees. They couldn’t be more correct, but from where I sit, I do think that whilst this is great- women are fundamentally missing a few key lessons namely:

You’ve got to get out of your own way.

I listened to Arianna Huffington on CNN’s Leading Women make this point on International Women’s day. Her view was that women are underrepresented at the top because they drop off the corporate ladder. Indeed, the psychology of life does get in the way- people have babies as an example and more often than not, their drive and focus changes.

On the other hand, we let ourselves suffer from impostor syndrome, where we think we aren’t really the ones who have delivered on our work- this is unlike a man who can claim your work too, if you let him. A good friend called me recently to talk about a job she was going for and how she didn’t think she’d get it- I was a bit confused as to if I knew her profile and capabilities better than she did? I did well to remind her and she was indeed reminded that a man would have applied for a job two levels more and felt it ‘was a perfect fit’.

So come on Ladies, I’d hate to spill Madeline Albright’s now very famous quote on what happens with women who don’t support women…I’d encourage you to google it!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Career Sponsors will do you a world of good.

Let me define in the context of this female discuss- A mentor is the hand holder that helps you navigate positively towards growth. A sponsor is that person who knows how smart you are and puts in that good word for you that helps you get to the next level- A person who earmarks you for a deliberate forward push. You definitely are worth pushing, have less warts and all. It is in this place, I find there’s a dissonance

Hajia Al-Hassan, Ministerfor Women Affair between what has been said and what is being done. For some reason and unlike men, we shy away from sponsorship. One Leading Lady I admire who amongst other things, is the first lady Chair of the international Institute of Directors; Barbara Judge, is so loud in her message about female sponsorship that at the CNN’s Leading Women interview she reportedly said “They know I stir things up to include females anywhere I go” “and when these females thank me, I say; Don’t thank me, go and do same for another female”. Way to go Ms. Judge!

The Truth about growing a Career

and a young family I have repeatedly told my story of how I struggled to find the truth about balancing a career and a young family. It was instructive that every Senior woman looked dapper, and well put together and I kept asking ‘how they managed to keep it all together’ and no one ever told me that whilst it is bad to miss a PTA, it wasn’t the end of the world as you could catch up afterwards- no one ever warned that feeling guilty as a working mum was a natural. I had to find out myself, one pace at a time. I think it’d help, if Seniors were frank enough to tell younger ladies that keeping their businesses or careers will come at a price

–– Nkiru Olumide-Ojo is the cofounder of the lighthouseNetwork a female networking group and a Marketing & Communication Practitioner. merrykiks@gmail.com

Danger in Your Tyres- You May Be Facing a Tyre Blowout Soon

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f you run a check on you tyre pressures now with a quality tyre pressure gauge (not the abused/ overused road side vulcanizers gauge), you will appreciate why the above alarm is sounded. Such a check may reveal that at least one of your tyres is incorrectly inflated.

Very few vehicles, if any, will pass this test. Incorrect tyre pressure is the number one cause of tyre blow-outs, sudden tyre failures and premature tyre wear.

Incorrect tyre pressure is an invitation to disaster even if the tyres are brand new!

It is a time bomb waiting for the right time to explode. The implication is that each such a vehicle is driving; the occupants are facing grave danger without being aware of it. Flip through any of our daily newspapers and you will be shocked with news of ghastly motor accidents as a result of tyre blowouts.

Top military officers, top government functionaries, top business executives as well as ordinary people have lost their lives. Who would be next? No one knows but may it never be you.

Types of incorrect tyre inflation There are two types of incorrect tyre pressure. These are over inflation and under inflation. Lets take a look at how they can affect your tyres and cause disaster and what could be done to maintain a proper pressure for your tyres and so prevent or drastically minimize blowout and other forms of tyre failures.

Blowouts; under-inflation is the cause Under-inflation is the major cause of tyre blowouts. When a tyre is under inflated, it increases what is known as the ROLLING RESISTANCE (RR) as the vehicles move. RR generates a tremendous amount of heat that could make your tyre explode like a bomb. Such an explosion (blowout) will destabilize the balance leading to a crash and disaster.

Other types of tyre failures; over inflation is the cause When over-inflated, a tyre becomes

stiff. This can make it puncture easily.

The internal materials used in making the tyre are also subjected to undue strain. This would make them snap, leading to bulges or swells. As the tyre hits a pot hole or bumps, it can easily cut and have a sudden deflation that could cause a crash. Over-inflation also leads to practical contract of the tyres with road surface. This reduces traction and can easily lead to loss of control when one is on high speed, wet surface, cornering or breaking. Each of these conditions can easily lead to a crash and disaster.

Prevention There are two very effective options to prevention or drastic reduction of blowouts and other form of tyre failures.

Option 1: own a quality tyre pressure gauge. As already pointed out, incorrect tyre pressure is the major cause of blowouts and sudden tyre failure. So, correct tyre pressure is a must for any safety conscious motorist. But the big question is, how do you ensure that what the vulcanizer pumped into your tyre is the correct pressure? Only a quality tyre pressure gauge will tell you. A quality gauge will also enable you to gauge your tyres at the right time and to ensure that all the tyres maintain correct pressure before the vehicle is driven out for the day. This is particularly important if you are in the transport business or if you are travelling. Never rely on the road side vulcanizers’ gauge. Most of their gauges are outright inferior, have been over used or abused over time and may have improper measuring units. In fairness to the vulcanizers, however, that may not be aware of these shortcomings with their gauges.

Option 2: instill a high profile automatic tyre monitors. This is a state of the art device that use sensors and a wireless monitor to monitor your tyres on a 24hours basics. It alers the driver well in advance about an impending tyre blowout of failure. It pinpoints the exact tyre so that the driver will take appropriate measure to deal with the situation. It also effectively takes s care of premature

...result in auto crash tyre wear.

What is your vehicle’s correct tyre pressure?

By the end of the driver’s door of your vehicle, or in the vehicles’ manual, you will see specification that shows size of tyre for your vehicle and the inflation pressure for the tyre in psi (pounds per square inch) religiously stick to that specification. Do not allow anyone (especially the vulcanizer) tell you otherwise unless you want to gamble with your life. It is instructive to note here that it is not the tyre manufacturer that determines the pressure for your tyre but the vehicle manufacturer. It is the vehicle manufacturer that specifies the size of tyres and the pressure to be to given the tyre. He has taken into consideration the weight, speed, number of passenger, artificial inflation by the heat and other factor to determine what the proper inflation pressure should be. The

specification you see on the tyres are to enable you match the specification of the vehicles’ manufacturer. In this light, it is equally dangerous to use tyre size different from what the vehicles manufacturer specified for the vehicle.

Gauge and pump tyres at the right time The right time to gauge /pump is when the tyres are cold. Mornings are most ideal. Before you drive out, gauge the tyres and if there is need to pump, slowly drive to the nearest vulcanizer.

If you are the type that leaves home very early, weekends maybe the most convenient time for you. When hot, the tyre pressure increases. Any action (gauge, pump) you take when the tyres are hot will be misleading and could be fatal. Unfortunately, most people gauge and pump tyres when the tyres arte hot.

Never do so. If tyres are hot, leave them for about 3hours to cool down.

49

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

POLITY

Terminate Jinxed Lokoja Port Project, Group Tasks Buhari Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

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ngered by what they described as the ‘mischievous delay of work on the Lokoja River Port by the contracting firm’, an umbrella body of pressure groups in Kogi State, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately determine the project.

The associations, under the aegis of the Lokoja Democratic Development Forum, LDDF, made this call in the state capital at a press conference in Lokoja at the weekend.

Addressing the conference at Patti Suites, in the colonial town, President of the forum, Alhaji Zubair Angulu and the Secretary, Comrade Tade Orungbami, said the contractor was making the project another white elephant project, a situation which should not be allowed to subsist in the present dispensation of change and national rebirth.

Said Angulu: ‘The contract for the Lokoja River Port, was approved in the last quarter of 2012, with a completion period of 57 weeks, by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, with Senator Idris Umar as Transport Minister. The job was awarded to Messrs Inter-Bau Construction Ltd. That was the second time the contract would be awarded, having been initially contracted out in 2007.

The river port was one of the inland ports, including Onitsha and Baro, which were supposed to facilitate the movement of cargo within designated hubs of socio-economic activity in the country, alleviate pressure on our roads, create jobs and generate revenue for government.’

‘Our findings reveal that the contractors had barely commenced work on the project in 2012, then they began to make unreasonable demands

from the federal government. This included an inexplicable request for an upward review of the initial contract sum of N4.1b, to over N10b.

This appeal, however, runs counter to the provisions of the Procurement Act of the Federal Republic, which allows upward adjustment to a maximum of 25% of the original contract sum, subject to the approval of the Federal Executive Council. Expectedly, the request never saw the light of day in the twilight of that administration, even as the contractor attempted to arm-twist the government by demobilizing from the project site to press his case.

Continuing, Angulu said: ‘We are aware of entreaties by the supervising government agency, the Lokoja-based National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, to the contractor to return to site, which have so far been rebuffed.’ This, he noted, is despite recent payments to Inter-Bau Construction Ltd to encourage the contractor to have a change of heart.

According to Angulu, to date, the contractor must have been paid close to one billion naira as mobilisation fees and yet there is as yet no evidence of work done to this amount of money.

In a tone which betrayed exasperation at the press conference, Angulu said: ‘In the course of one of his visits to the project site, the former Minister, Senator Idris Umar, assured that the project will be completed and commissioned before the end of the Jonathan administration.

Indeed, it was repeatedly celebrated as one of the infrastructural landmarks bequeathed on our state, our zone, our federal constituency, indeed our local government by the former administration.’

‘Yet, here we are with a project which, because of the attitude of the contractor, may never see the light of day.’

According to him, the initial enthusiasm which greeted the commencement of the project way back in 2012, has since turned sour.

The forum noted that the Lokoja River Port Project was becoming a jinxed, having been earlier awarded to Messrs Foby Engineering Ltd, at the cost of N2.3b, during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, in 2007.

The contract was revoked following the contractor’s inability to perform, even after collecting mobilisation to the tune of N800m at the time, revised and re-awarded to Inter-Bau Construction Ltd in 2012. Effectively therefore, a project which was scheduled for completion in a little over a year when it was conceived, is almost in its 10th year and yet to achieve 50% completion, in the administration of the third successive President.

Angulu called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revoke the contract forthwith and consider re-awarding it to a more committed contractor, to break the cycle of abandonment and non-completion of the project.

He said the host communities had come to see the project as a potential fluke, much as they have absolute confidence that the Buhari administration will not be part of any project to deceive Nigerians, nay the people of Kogi State.

The coalition pleaded for the speedy completion of the Abuja-Lokoja expressway which was flagged of in the last quarter of 2006, by the administrstion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, so it does not go the way of the Lokoja River Port.

They expressed the hope that much as time needed for construction works had been lost during the dry season, substantial work can still be done once the 2016 budget is assented to by the President.

Angulu noted that it needs no over-emphasis

that the completion of the road will ease human and vehicular movement and stop perennial carnage on the all-important North-South heavy duty carriageway.

They also drew attention to the decrepit condition of the over 300 kilometre long LokojaObajana-Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road, which traverses the western senatorial zone in Kogi State, which is also host zone of the Lokoja River Port, while also calling for the acceleration of completion works at the permanent site of the Federal University, Lokoja, which has been under construction since it was proclaimed late 2010.

Angulu assured that LDDF will follow-up the press conference with advocacy visits to notable leaders and elder statesmen from Kogi State, who are major stakeholders in the project.

The support of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial zone where the project is sited, Senator Dino Melaye and the Member representing Lokoja-Kotonkarfe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, who is also the deputy majority leader of the house, Hon Buba Umar Jibril, will also be enlisted, he said.

The President of the coalition also listed the chairmen of the Senate and House committees on marine transportation, as key government functionaries who will be visited on the matter.

The press conference was attended by leaders and representatives of socio-ethnic groups and communities in the contiguous Lokoja and Kotonkarfe local government areas, abutting the project site.

All efforts to reach the Chairman of Inter-Bau Construction Ltd, Chief Nath Okechukwu, or any senior officer at the organisation’s port construction site in Ja’amata, near Lokoja, to obtain the company’s input, were to no avail.

Carex Chemistry Challenge Winners Visit PZ Cussons

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iding on the success of the third edition which climaxed last December, PZ Cussons Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to nurture the winners in industrial chemistry by taking them on a facility tour of the company’s Lagos administrative office in Ilupeju, and the factory at Ikorodu.

The four finalists of the 2015 PZ Cussons Carex Chemistry Challenge who went on the tour were Anthony Ekene Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere, Wajud Kareem and Samuel Joseph, both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Agege, and Jude Nnaemeka Chineke of Great Esteem Secondary School, Surulere. The students were accompanied on the tour by Mr John Nna Odinibe and Mr Tolulope Joseph Odusanya, both

Chemistry teachers.

Mr Christos Giannopoulous, Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria, alongside the Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, welcomed the students and their teachers to the organisation and also congratulated them on their emergence as finalists of the rigorous competition.

Giannopoulous said: “I congratulate you on your success at the just concluded chemistry challenge.

The company is focused on chemistry because of its importance to the society. I particularly salute your courage and enthusiasm to study chemistry and I hope in the nearest future you will be working in the corridors of this organisation and making an impact.”

The group was received at the PZ Cussons Group training centre by Mr Pieter Stroek, Head of Research, Development and Innovation, who

conducted them round the laboratories, while Mr Alex Goma, Managing Director, Family Care, encouraged the students to pick up some other skills while on internship with the company to help them become better in terms of management, organisation and accountability. At the Ikorodu factory, Mr Fred Omoiya, Administrative Manager, explained to the group basic safety precautions and emergency procedures of the organisation before they were guided around the factories.

On his thoughts about the facility tour IkeOkoro, the 2015 grand prize winner, expressed satisfaction with the tour. “I want to thank PZ Cussons for this wonderful opportunity and I hope the competition will spur other students to take Chemistry and other science subjects seriously.”

Kareem, the first runner-up, said: “I really enjoy

the experience; the factories, the machines and the way they work is really breath-taking. This tour of PZ Cussons’ facility has enlightened me and with this I hope it will engineer my enthusiasm.”

Joseph, who finished in third place in the competition, expressed his readiness for the internship, while Chineke graciously said: “I am very delighted with the experience of this facility tour and it has further boosted my confidence in the pursuit of my career.”

As part of its commitment to reach out to everyone, not just secondary school students, Carex, the competition’s sponsor, instituted an online challenge that is open to all individuals residing or working in Lagos State. Entry is absolutely free and the quiz is not strictly based on Chemistry. The online challenge will run monthly until April, this year and two winners will emerge every month.

Publicis Groupe Partners TheTroyka Group

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ublicis Groupe has announced an equity partnership with the communications arm of The Troyka Group, the first wholly integrated marketing communications service provider in West Africa, including a total of 6 agencies: Insight Communications, The Thiinkshop, All Seasons Media, Media Perspectives, The Quadrant Company, and Hotsauce.

Publicis Groupe has continually invested inAfrica over the last several years, taking advantage of the strong growth potential of this market. Through this equity acquisition, Publicis Groupe will launch its network in Nigeria from within the Troyka Group, creating a powerful communications entity that will allow for competitive advantage across all areas of operation in the WestAfrican landscape.

Founded in 1989 the company has over 300 employees and 6 offices across the region. Troyka companies work with multi-national brands as well as local clients.

Kevin Tromp, CEO of PublicisAfrica Group commented: “The Troyka Group communication companies are the gold standard in Nigeria, with a range of long-term blue-chip client relationships, and a portfolio of multi-disciplinary work that is world-class. We are very excited about the opportunities that this partnership presents for our clients, and believe that the combination Publicis Groupe’s global expertise combined with the Troyka Group’s local strength will provide an unbeatable partnership in this challenging and fast developing market.”

The integration of Troyka companies together with Publicis Groupe’s media, public relations, and advertising networks will service a wide range of blue-chip local and multi-national brands.

Insight Communications, the largest and most sophisticated agency in Nigeria, and will trade as the representative of Publicis Worldwide in Nigeria. The agency will work closely with all other Publicis Worldwide network agencies as a fully-fledged network partner.

The Thiinkshop, one of Nigeria’s youngest agencies with a knack for great work that truly moves people, will be aligned into a multi-door operation of Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi in the market. Leo Burnett will operate as a stand-alone entity representing the worldwide network in Nigeria.

All Seasons Media, Nigeria’s pioneer independent media agency, will be aligned with ZenithOptimedia.All Seasons Media leverages deep consumer insights to build and implement strategies that have given it the reputation for providing media efficiencies and strong ROI. Media Perspectives, one of the top three media advertising agency in billings in Nigeria, will be aligned with Starcom Mediavest Group. The agency uses Nigeria’s first and only cloud-based media ERP, leveraging tech-enabled operations to provide transparent processes for clients.

The Quadrant Company is Nigeria’s first full service public relations agency, offering specialist services with coverage of the West

R-: Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman of Troyka Holdings; Jimi Awosika, Group Managing Director, Troyka Holdings, and Bolaji Okusaga, Managing Director, The Quadrant Company at the media conference on the partnership deal between Publicis Groupe and Troyka Holdings in Lagos

African region, and was honored in 2012 as the Holmes Report SabreAwardsAfrican PR Consultancy of the Year. The agency will be aligned with MSLGROUP. Hotsauce is Nigeria’s most awarded digital marketing agency and has been named DigitalAgency of the Year three years in a row by the Marketing WorldAwards. The agency will be aligned with Nurun, one of the world’s fastest growing digital networks.

According to the Chairman of Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, “we are indeed excited with the opportunities being thrown open with this partnership. The choice of Publicis as an equity partner advents a new epoch in marketing communication services in Nigeria as it up-scales the value we cur-

rently deliver to clients. Being the first of its kind in the Nigerian environment, the Publicis / Troyka partnership, will avail us access to global tools, process and platforms while helping to redefine route to market for the brands we work for, the ultimate consequence being better outcomes in terms of market expansion and growth.”

Nigeria isAfrica’s most populous nation and is predicted to be a top 20-world economy by 2030 according to McKinsey Global Institute. The advertising market in Nigeria is worth approximately $1 billion and has seen a 21% compound annual growth rate in the last ten years.According to ZenithOptimedia, advertising expenditure is expected to generate a 3.9% growth in 2016 and reach 4.7% at current prices by 2017.

50

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Rotimi Amaechi and Rivers Patrimony Tekena Princewill

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ociety thrives on myth; myth of the strongman, myth of the infallible, all sorts of myth so much that sometimes sane members of such society fall prey to the myth tellers. Nigeria is not exempted from such fables garbed as truth.

Given the tendency for perceptions to be coloured, facts skewed and ordinary men transformed to heroes, it is not uncommon for villains to be crowned princes. This societal hubris has engaged the interest of writers through time. One such writer is the Ghana born novelist, Ayi Kwei Armah, who explored this thematic concern in his very prophetic book, Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born.

The novel though set in Ghana of the 60s, exemplifies today’s Nigeria. One of the characters, His Excellency Joseph Koomson, minister Plenipotentiary, member of the presidential commission, Hero of socialist labour, fits in no small measure some of today’s ‘power brokers’ in Nigeria. Besides being like Koomson, they remind one of the famed Chichododo, which hates excrement but must live in it! Truth be told, President Muhammadu Buhari has turned out to be a myth, except he turns the tide of history by doing what is needful and extricates himself from the Chichdodosque situation he has unwittingly put himself in respect to events as pertain Rivers State and its huge resources that were allegedly spirited away. Buhari’s supporters fondly call him ‘Mai Gaskiya’ meaning the ‘honest one.’ They argue that he remains unblemished though they acknowledge that he is surrounded by not-so-honest and saintly individuals. If that is so, this oil and water mix, remains one of the wonders of the world.

This is premised on the fact that the President has demonstrated his desire to fight corruption without the restraint of friend or foe. But not many are taken to this vow when the President cohabits with culpable, indicted individuals whose level of malfeasance is public knowledge. One of such officials is the immediate past governor of Rivers State and present Minister for Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. It is not as if the objective of this piece is to attack President Buhari or to rubbish his anti-corruption project, but it must be noted that who goes to equity must go with clean hands and it is also said in some part of Nigeria ‘tell me your friends and I will tell you who you are.’ It will therefore be contradictory and ironical that President Buhari, the acclaimed anti-graft czar, will have associates like Chibuike Amaechi who right from his home has been indicted by a competently constituted Judicial Commission of Inquiry presided over by no less a person than Justice George Omereji.

The Omereji commission was mandated to investigate

the sale of valued assets of Rivers state during the administration of Mr. Amaechi. The commission has long concluded its assignment, with the State Government adopting the recommendations thereof and subsequently issued a whitepaper in line with the findings of the commission. According to the Omereji Report, Amaechi, who was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and Governor of the state between 2007 and 2015, was found culpable alongside some of his former commissioners for alleged diversion of state funds and other grievous criminal breach of public trust. The indictments were accepted by the Rivers State White Paper Committee, which has been gazette. Some of the indictments include: Engagement in defective share sales contract during the sale of power assets by Amaechi, his then commissioners for Finance and Power, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Sir Augustine Nwokocha. Subsequently, the office of the Attorney-General of the state was directed to take measures to recover proceeds of the sale of the power assets.

One of the great indictments on the Amaechi administration was the baffling fraud on the celebrated Monorail project where it was recommended that the sum of N35,108,316,295.65 be recovered from Brigadier-General Anthony Ukpo (Rtd), TSI Limited, Amaechi and his former commissioner for Transport, Hon. George Tolofari “for being the masterminds of the failed monorail project.” The issue of failed and nonexistent Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital exposed his hypocrisy to the extent that the Omereji-led commission indicted Amaechi, his former commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker and Clinotech Company.

The State Attorney-General was directed to recover N4.6bn from the fraudulent conspirators. Furthermore, the commission indicted Amaechi for misappropriation of N3 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agriculture loan which he diverted to the funding and prosecution of the 2015 general elections. The said money was allegedly shared to former local government council chairmen and political associates as gratifications for prosecution of the All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign in the state, instead of disbursing the fund to the real farmers that was supposed to be destination of the money. One other unpatriotic act of by the administration was the alleged misuse of over N40 billion State Reserve Fund. This was saved at the height of the excess crude proceeds but was illegal withdrawn and fleeced without due process.

While indicting Amaechi for his disservice to the people of the state, the report of the commission held that, “considering the illegality surrounding the withdrawals, Amaechi should be held to account.” It is therefore less wonder that since the release of the White Paper by the state government in October 2015, several groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

and an anti-corruption watchdog, Integrity Group, have consistently called for the prosecution of Amaechi and all those that were indicted by the Omereji-led Commission of Inquiry. Despite the APC vilification of the past administration of the PDP, which Amaechi was the state leader until his defection to the APC in the twilight of his second term, some of the PDP stalwarts have risen to condemn the avarice and primitive fraudulent activities of the former governor to the extent that the Rivers State PDP chairman, Felix Obuah lampooned such “mindless thievery” by a select group of individuals in the state. Shocking and mind blowing as the disclosures of Amaechi’s loot appear, the PDP in the state was finally vindicated of its position when it insisted that the Amaechi administration was characterized by looting of the commonwealth of Rivers people.

For instance, how could anyone rationalize the renting of Orosi House, which since 2007 was gutted by fire but was rented in 2012 at a whooping amount of over N300 million by the Amaechi administration? The property which the Amaechi’s government criminally claimed it rented is still inhabitable till date.

It is on record that some of these deals in which Amaechi and his friends were indicted for, notably the Monorail Project, the sale of the various gas turbines, Hotel Olympia, Karibi White Specialist Hospital and the Agricultural Loan Scheme were the same transactions the PDP severally kicked against but were vilified for constructively criticizing Amaechi’s government and tagged ‘political enemies’.

It is also shameful that the former governor and his cohorts were given ample opportunity to appear before the Commission to defend themselves of all the allegations but rather it chose to ignore the invitations and took to the media to unleash lies and senseless propaganda that got then nowhere. The propaganda, unfortunately, has not and would not remove from them the toga of looters of the Rivers patrimony.

It is about time that the minister and all those indicted by the Commission of Inquiry, as well as the APC to quit shedding crocodile tears, apologize to Rivers people and return the loot. The courage and sagacity of Justice Omereji whose Commission of Inquiry unearthed the shady and fraudulent transactions of the Amaechi’s regime, need be applauded for defying the threats to their lives and family to expose the grand heist that took place under Amaechi and his friends for eight years.

As the days grind on, the eyes of history is on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), to without delay commence investigation of Amaechi.

––Princewill wrote in from Port Harcourt through tekenap@yahoo.com

What I Want the Tribunal to Do - Faleke

A Femi Olugbemi

s the Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja moves close to ending the PreHearing Session, Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the November 21, Governorship election in Kogi State, Hon James Faleke who is one of the petitioners has forwarded a list of some basic issues central to his petition to the Tribunal for determination.

In a correspondence which was also served on the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) 1st Respondent and Yahaya Bello(2nd Respondent) respectively, Faleke urged the tribunal to “ determine whether upon a careful reading and application of the clear provisions of sections 1(2), 179(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” among others, whether INEC should have declared the election inconclusive instead of announcing Prince Abubakar Audu and his Deputy, Hon James Faleke as winners.

Section179(2a&b) of the constitution states as follows : “ A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a state shall be deemed to have been elected where,there being two or more candidates -(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and(b) he has not less than one quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two

thirds of all the Local Governnment Areas of the state “.

Section 187 (1) of the constitution on the other hand sas “ in any election to which the foregoing provisions of thispart of the chapter relate, a candidate for the office of the Governor of a state shall not be deemed to have been validly nominated for such office unless he nominates another candidate as his associate for his running for the office of Governor, who is to occupy the office of the Deputy Governor, and that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of the Deputy Governor if the candidate who nominated him is duly elected as Governor in accordance with the said provisions “.

According to him, it was pertinent for the tribunal to also determine whether section 181 (1) of the constitution was not relevant to the Kogi scenario where the candidate died after election. The Section states that “if a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing to oath of allegiance and oath of office or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy Governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the state”.

Hon Faleke told the tribunal that it would have to also determine whether by virtues of sections 1 (2), 179 (2) of the constitution

Faleke and sections 27, 69, and 75 of the Electoral Act 2011(as Amended ), the results declared

by INEC on November 22, 2015 had not already produced a winner and that refusing to announce the winner by “ declaring the said election inconclusive is not altogether unconstitutional and illegal”.

He said the tribunal should rely on section 187 (1) of the constitution to determine whether Yahaya Bello was qualified to contest election to the office of the Governor of Kogi State on December 5, 2015. In his words:” Can the votes legitimately cast for the joint ticket of late Prince

Abubakar Audu and the petitioner(Faleke ) in the Governorship election of November 21, 2015 be transferred to the 2nd Respondent(Yahaya Bello?”.

He asked the tribunal whether Alhaji Bello “can constitutionally and statutorilyassume office as Governor of Kogi State pursuant to a supplementary election conducted in 91 polling units of Kogi State on December 5, 2015”.

Hon Faleke went ahead to ask the tribunal whether the the return of Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi State by INEC on or about December 5,2015 was not “altogether unconstitutional, illegal, null and void”.

He said it was important for the tribunal to determine whether Yahaya Bello not being a registered voter in Kogi State was qualified to vote and be voted for and also whether notwithstanding the provisions of section 187 (1) of the constitution, he(Bello) was qualified to be declared winner of the December 5, 2015 election even when he ran without Deputy.

It will be recalled that INEC had announced that the APC duo of Prince Abubakar Audu and Hon James Faleke scored 241,000 votes in the November 21, 2015 Governorship election in Kogi State to beat their closest rivals of Captain Idris Wada and Yomi Awoniyi of the PDP who polled 199,000 votes plus by 41,000 votes but went ahead to declare the election inconclusive.

T H I S D AY SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016

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SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • March 19, 20 16

THIS WOMAN’S WORK

with ADE RONKE ; @aderonstar; ronkaf@aol.com

Theatre, Women and Ifeoma Fafunwa Nigeria theatre is going through a much-needed revival. There are individuals who have championed this renaissance including Ifeoma Fafunwa with her signature play, Hear Word. Her creativity has been expressed across a range of different media including advertising, architecture, interior design, film and of course, theatre. Her theatrical career in Nigeria began when Joke Silva asked her to direct the Vagina Monologues. Fafunwa agreed and to cut a long story short, it was well received. The Vagina Monologues comprised of great acting, clear direction and powerful storytelling. Fafunwa further explored the narrative of the Nigerian woman’s experience. This was no simple task seeing that the Nigerian experience is far from homogenous. The life of a Nigerian woman in Lagos is very different to a woman living in Borno. Experiences differ based on the following: religion, tribe and socio-economic status. Upon viewing Hear Word last December, I became aware of the binding element that pertains to all Nigerian women - ‘pressure’. Whether you live in Lagos or Borno, every Nigerian woman experiences pressure. The pressure to marry, to look a certain way, to behave a certain way, pressure from parents, pressure from work and everywhere. It would be unfair to characterise Hear Word as a tale of Nigerian women’s woes. While watching the play there were narratives of victimisation and helplessness but also stories of resilience and triumph. Hear Word urges both men and women not to perpetuate pressure and expectations upon women. Fafunwa’s play has been in high demand since it’s debut. It has returned periodically over three years to sold out audiences. There is a simple reason for this: it is a well-written play and it resonates with its audience. In regards to theatre in Nigeria, there has been a sharp increase of participation over the last few years, thanks to the efforts of theatre producers such as Bolanle Austen-Peters, Lala Akindoju, Joke Silva and more. Furthermore, the recently concluded annual Lagos Theatre Festival that took place in February, continues to generate awareness and draw new audiences to theatre. The future may be bright for theatre but Hear Word continues to shine. In April it will leave the shores of Nigeria and sail across the Atlantic to the USA. Hear Word has been invited to perform in Harvard and Yale University. The play will further travel to Europe and then it will return home for performances in Abuja. This is a testament to the importance of supporting and investing in all facets of Nigerian culture. Music and film have been the leaders in cultural exportation but theatre refuses to be left behind. Fafunwa, in this interview shares her longing for the vibrant theatre she experienced as a child in Nigeria.

This longing led her to create Hear Word. She also talk about her difficult journey of putting the play together plus her unique perspective of gender dynamics in Nigeria

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hat has been the most interesting response to Hear Word?

What was interesting for me was when I started seeing people come back with their siblings, mothers and spouses. For one of the shows a group of ninety-year old women attended.

The diversity of the audience was encouraging.

You are an artist who has worked with different media, what lead you to theatre?

Initially I was interested in acting, by day I worked in an architectural firm in Los Angeles and at the weekends I would audition for film roles. The roles I was cast in were not particularly deep. This led me to directing, I started telling stories about things that were African and creating strong roles. I would direct myself and other people. When I moved back to Nigeria I transitioned back to architecture because there was a lot of ongoing building and development. In my free time I would go to plays and they were not well attended. My interest in plays was to push the art form forward. People like Joke Silva and Bolanle Austen-Peters and myself are trying to make it a respected art form like it was in the sixties.

The creative industry has many challenges, particularly sustainability, how are you able to make your work sustainable? Do you have any new play planned?

I don’t think I am able to accomplish what I want. I spend time trying to raise money and coordinating the technical aspects. I think that my plays could be twice as good if I had adequate support. There is no government support, there are no grants. For the arts as a whole there is not enough corporate support so it is still very difficult. I have another play I want to produce but it is about raising the funds. I am doing the administrative and marketing. This leaves little time for creative pursuits. When I have the necessary support I will do another play.

Slowly but surely more of the corporate sector support various arms of the arts.

What is the best way for government to support the creative sector?

The government just has to make a decision and see it through. There are many ways they can intervene, through education, infrastructure and also financing. They just have to make the decision.

It’s International Women’s Month and you have done a lot of work in merging the theatre with social messages particularly women’s rights’ by directing

the Vagina Monologues and Hear Word.

Please tell us about the two projects There is a slight overlap between both plays, they are both a collection of monologues but the Vagina Monologues focuses on violence against women. Hear Word is about a wider spectrum of women’s experiences in Nigeria.

When I came back to Nigeria after living 23 years in the US. I observed the lack of solidarity between women and more so if you are unmarried. I wanted to understand it, why is it there? The way in which women themselves oppress other women and the way it exists.

In the West they talk about gender issues, they talk about equality in the workplace.

In Nigeria, women were earning their own money long before their western counterparts. It is not a matter of pay, there is the violence but women themselves are violent towards other women in this culture, even physically violent. This is a whole new area of oppression. In Hear Word you can see what is universal and bust also unique to West Africa.

Do you think that there is a similar gender specific oppression with men?

Yes, but it is a recent development, that came out of oil. In traditional African culture there is a respect for all professions. Those traditional values are dying off, being replaced by a man who stands on the corner

and throws $100 notes at parties. There was a time that kind of behaviour was unacceptable. It is something that bothers me. Perhaps in the future, I will work on the end of traditional values and the impact of colonial values.

Men are suffering from ‘bigmanship’; they have bought into this idea that women are looking for a name. This comes from an old traditional value, the name was not about money, it was about the moral fibre of the family and perhaps their social impact. They didn’t need to be particularly wealthy. Money is a recent development. Nigeria changed with oil and the advent of corruption. Due to corruption there is massive unemployment, massive poverty, the rundown of education and general lack of infrastructure.

But at the same time you would hear stories of men with suitcases full of dollars. As a woman you attach yourself to a man with money, because in Nigeria men are given all kinds of freedom. A man can combine the traditional value of a man being able to have as many women as they want with idea that women are looking for money.

Why is it that a woman is making as much money or earning money looking after the kids and the house is still taking crap from a man? This is not a generalisation but let’s not pretend that this doesn’t happen.

What is the alternative? Culturally, a single woman is easily ostracised, it is not

something most women want to endure.

Traditionally Nigerian women are made to believe that their biggest goal is to marry and have children. They are deemed failures because they haven’t married and had kids.

It’s not the man himself; it’s the position of being a married woman. It is a myth. It is an illusion, if a wife with a good job, asks what can this guy bring to the table? She might find out she may be better off without him. I am not saying there aren’t great guys bringing things to the table but there also guys bringing nothing. They don’t bring money, emotional support or help with the kids.

It’s not easy for women but all I can advocate that they shouldn’t be fooled by materialism. Find someone nice; if two people are working together to build a home and wealth you have a higher chance of succeeding.

Don’t be fooled that your husband has to be rich, that your kids have to go to school abroad. There are many Nigerians flashing a lot of money but the value of their lies is not necessarily proportionate to their wealth.

Ifeoma Fafunwa is an artist whose work will always have a social message. The creative sector continues to be a challenge with intermittent investment from the corporate sector and government. Nonetheless there is always the power of the private citizen. Individuals who are able to partake in the creative sector to sustainably create art for social impact and that is Ifeoma Fafunwa’s story.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 19, 2016

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MediA & MARketing with

MTN Reaffirms Commitment to Stress-free SIM Registration

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TN Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment and resolve to ensure a successful SIM registration and validation exercise despite enormous challenges. The company described the activities as, perhaps, the most comprehensive effort in Nigeria to build a secure database for the country.

Re-emphasising the importance of the SIM registration the company said in a statement that the database, on completion, would be the largest in the country. They expect it to be much bigger than voters registration which covers 70 million Nigerians and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) with only 28 million registered customers and 40 million bank accounts, as the registration exercise would capture data of over 150 million connected lines in Nigeria.

According to MTN’s Sales and Distribution Executive, Tsola Barrow, just like the BVN process, the SIM registration exercise affords both government and individuals the opportunity to build a very robust database for future purposes insisting that it was a task that must be completed.

“The SIM registration exercise is a task that must be completed, despite the extensive efforts and resources required; personnel, equipment, logistics and continued investment.

It has huge national significance and far reaching implications for Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, growth and productivity and MTN is a key participant in this effort.”

The Human Resources and Corporate Services Executive of the company, Amina Oyagbola added that MTN, as a leading telecom/ICT provider in the country with the largest customer base, has very significant role to play in government’s attempt to build a national identity database.

“MTN is very committed in trying to do everything humanly possible as an organisation to support that effort and lofty ideals, which is of collective interest to all Nigerians. The process is quite challenging but it is not daunting. The workforce has been working round the clock to ensure that the 63 million customers on our network are registered.

“A clear demonstration of this com-

KASIE ABONE 08057511558 (sms only)

Run For Cure Walk L-R: Head of Procurement, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Deepak Juneja; Head of Public Affairs & Communications, NBC Limited, Mrs. Sade Morgan; Wife of Managing Director of NBC Limited, Mrs Jane Langat; MD, NBC Limited, Ben Langat, at the 2016 Run For Cure Walk to create awareness on the dangers of breast cancer in Lagos recently

mitment is the fact that this company has also taken extensive measures and steps to streamline the registration exercise and ensure seamless registration process for its valued customers,” she added.

Some of the steps taken to ensure a hitch-free registration exercise include roll out of 35 air conditioned mega centres with 500 sitting capacity located in Lagos (8 locations), Abuja, Abeokuta, Aba, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ibadan, Ilorin, Jos, Kaduna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Kano, Katsina and Owerri and 93 mini hotspots nationwide. These are in addition to the existing service centres and connect stores – 300 SIM registration points to reduce long queues and large number of customers seeking to validate their details.

She said they would recruit adhoc

staff to support existing MTN staff, adding that, with this exercise, MTN has been able to build capacity by providing over 8,000 jobs to Nigerian youths through the regional vendors across the country to support the SIM registration exercise.

This is in addition to over 3,000 customer representatives, engaged to man the services centres and stores.

Oyagbola further disclosed that in order to register some customers at their convenient locations some employees were drafted to visit markets, churches, mosques, offices, residential buildings.

She said, “This is the ultimate goal, to reach every customer, to register every subscriber.

MTN is fully committed to doing it and doing it right.”

Mindful of cultural and religious

sensitivities, she said they have taken important steps in line with respect for Nigerian diversities.

“For the female customers with religious clothing, managers at various centres have created a separate and enclosed booth with female ushers and female SIM registration agent.”

Oyagbola assured that MTN’s management is working tirelessly to ensure pleasant customers’ experience, adding that “MTN will continue to go extra mile to make the exercise successful and seeks to do even more toward raising awareness and understanding of SIM registration among Nigerians in every part of the country.

“The various measures demonstrate the various value MTN places on their customers and the appreciation of their patronage through the years and patience during this exercise.”

NBC Walks Against Cancer, Endometriosis

A

s part of its corporate social responsibility activities, Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), bottlers of Coca Cola, has organised a walk against cancer to support women’s socio-economic well-being and empowerment.

Done in collaboration with two non-governmental organisations, Run for Cure Africa and Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria, the awareness walks, which took place in Lagos, was attended by various stakeholders who came out in droves to support women in the community in the fight against cancer and endometriosis, two life threatening diseases that affect women and their productivity level.

In the awareness walks, which took

place at different locations simultaneously, NBC collaborated with Run for a Cure Africa on a walk to raise awareness against breast cancer at the Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki, Lagos.

According to Managing Director, NBC, Ben Langat, “Women empowerment remains a major factor in economic development in Nigeria and globally. Breast cancer is one of the diseases that negatively impact women, their families, businesses and the nation.

“This is therefore a major concern and of importance to NBC, as it is a potential threat to health of women across our value chain”.

He added that “NBC has continuously partnered with communities, identifying women and supporting their socio-economic well-being, and these in turn support their families

and communities, as one of the ways to make our business sustainable.”

In a related development, NBC also supported the Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria on a walk to create awareness about endometriosis, a condition which affects about 10-15% of women of reproductive age and can cause infertility among 30-40% of couples in Nigeria.

The event, which took place at the City Mall, Onikan, Lagos, had in attendance the 2015 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Unoaka Anyadike and some other Nigerian celebrities.

Speaking on the health awareness walks, NBC’s Legal, Public Affairs and Communication Director, Mrs. Sade Morgan, said, “NBC is passionate about women empowerment and development. Breast cancer and endometriosis are health issues that affect the socio-economic well-being

of women in our society, hence the company’s support for Run For a Cure Africa and Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria. The message is clear, that early detection is key for survival, hence the need to create massive awareness for these two diseases that are preventable and at the same time curable.

“A healthy population is a good foundation for sustainable socioeconomic development in Nigeria.

NBC supports and maintains that guaranteeing the health of women and providing them with opportunities to reach their full potentials is critical to the productivity of families, communities and Nigerians.

Both awareness walks also provided opportunities for NBC employees to volunteer and join the campaign against breast cancer and endometriosis.

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THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MARCH 19, 2016W

TRIBUTE James Eneojo Ocholi: A Post-Humous Testimonial Tunde Olusunle

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amon Mora Street in the Old Kado area of Kado District, Abuja, has lost its erstwhile serenity and anonymity, since Sunday March 6, 2016.

Those familiar with the neighbourhood easily remember it is typically landmarked by hawkers of marine produce, flowing over from the famous ‘Kado Fish Market,’ which is just about two kilometres away.

Since that fateful Sunday, however, a pick-up van painted in the colours of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has become a dominant feature of the landscape in the area. It is complemented on the opposite side, by a sedan car belonging to the Nigerian Police Force, NPF. Ramon Mora Street was home of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Eneojo Ocholi, SAN, his wife Mrs Blessing Ocholi and his younger son, Joshua, who all passed on in the unfortunate road accident of Sunday March 6, on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

It is unlikely that the road has ever witnessed the sheer volume and intensity of users, predominantly sympathizers, who have flocked to comfort the Ocholis on the most tragic incident, as it has in the last week or so.

Sympathizers have come from all over, including the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mrs Aisha Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and his wife, Dolapo; the National Assembly, led by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Ocholi’s colleagues in the Federal Executive Council, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal.

State Governors, past and present; leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, across board; the political leadership of Kogi State led by Governor Yahaya Bello; the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN; various bodies and associations from the Church of Christ, as well as leaders and members of organised labour, have all visited the family.

His kinsmen from Igalaland in Kogi State-old and young; friends of the family, associates and acquaintances, have variously demonstrated solidarity with the Ocholis at this moment of phenomenal grief.

As early reports of the sad incident filtered through the social media that Sunday March 6, frantic calls to several friends and political frontliners from Kogi State, to confirm the status of the report concerning the Minister representing my state, our state, and members of his family, confirmed one’s worst fears.

Except for two fleeting encounters, I never knew Barr James Ocholi, too closely.

Of course I knew him by reputation, beginning from when he flew the flag of the erstwhile Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, as governorship candidate in 2011, in Kogi State, at the same time President Muhammadu Buhari took a third shot at the nation’s number one office, on the platform of the same party.

He stared in our faces and consciousness from his billboards and posters, with that trademark well-kept, low-trimmed grey beard which at once conferred civility, urbanness, sophistication and purpose on his person.

In the aftermath of the 2015 general elections, we found ourselves guests in the home of one of the foremost political leaders from the North Central zone, somewhere in highbrow Maitama, Abuja. He was Deputy National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and I didn’t need our host to get us to meet, before we courtesied to each other from our various sections in the living room.

He was to put up a class act on national television, in the course of his screening for the office of Minister, by the Senate of

Ocholi the Federal Republic, in November 2015.

And for many who did not know him too closely, Ocholi’s calm, profound, informed, erudite and confident outing, easily announced the discovery of yet another shining star, in the mould of the Babatunde Raji Fasholas, on the nation’s political horizon.

Eternally fractious and divisive as we are back home in Kogi State on issues of politics and the appropriation of political patronage, there was an unusual concurrence by the perennially dissenting ethnicities and interests, that we had a worthy representative in Ocholi.

Indeed, in the run-up to the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State, the Kogi People’s Democratic Party, PDP, attempted to make political capital out of Ocholi’s subsequent designation as Minister of State in what they described as ‘a small ministry,’ despite his pedigree.

They maintained that the designation was beneath the appointee, and demeaning to the state he represents.

Ocholi had calmly replied the PDP, that he was not aware of any hierarchical calibrations in national service and that he was both honoured to serve the Federal Republic and grateful to be given the opportunity at this time from a state with tremendous human resource potential like Kogi.

We were to meet again at a function outside the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, early this year, where we both honoured a mutual friend, at a ceremony organised in the latter’s honour. I was struck by his sense of commitment to friendship, taking the trouble to commute over 600 kilometres to attend the event, on Nigeria’s trademark deathly roads.

Indeed, I was astounded he didn’t wear the airs of the typical Nigerian ‘bigman,’ who would usually make a boisterously disruptive entrance either midway through a ceremony or at the tail and.

Ocholi actually arrived ahead of the honoree, which allowed time for the exchange of pleasantries and banter, before the commencement of the event!

Following the unfortunate demise of former Kogi State Governor and flagbearer of the APC in the Saturday November 21, 2015 governorship, Prince Abubakar Audu, before the conclusion of the election, Ocholi moved quickly to broker peace and understanding between contending tendencies in the state.

At the Sunday December 6 meeting, which was barely a few weeks after his inauguration as Minister, Ocholi harped on the imperative of a new rapprochement between the various geo-political compo-

nents of the state, discouraged insensitive and incendiary talk and hate speech, and urged the people of the state to be law-abiding.

Ocholi stressed the need for leaders in the three senatorial zones to promote reconciliation and collectively work for good governance in the state.

The late Minister emphasised the need for regular interface between the various components of the state and rallied support for good governance to move the state forward, irrespective of where the Governor eventually emerges from.

If my mental construction of his person and persona remained incomplete, my respected brother and good friend to the late Ocholi, John Olusola Baiyeshea, SAN, reminded me when we spoke about the December meeting convened by Ocholi, that he was indeed an archetypal gentleman and selfless pacifist.

The comments of Baiyeshea, an ordained pastor like Ocholi, who was also admitted into the Body of SANs in 2007 like Ocholi, in one of our correspondences the morning after the tragedy, told me more about his deceased colleague.

His words: ‘I could not sleep... This guy rose from bare grassroots without any godfather. He got to the position of eminence purely by his own merit and the grace of God. I can’t understand.’

Perhaps more than whatever one had seen or heard about him, my condolence visit, along with my longstanding friend and brother, Dr Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo, to his Kado home Tuesday March 8, 2016, presented to me, the most humbling and sobering testimonial of the man James Eneojo Ocholi.

He lived a contented and happy man with his close-knit family, in a modest semidetached duplex on Ramon Mora Street, devoid of any grandeur and affectation. You can barely squeeze two regular sized vehicles into the narrow driveway on the side of the house.

The interior itself is shorn of any form of ostentation and affluence, traditionally associated with his standing in society.

He didn’t live in the opulence of the aesthetic monstrosities of Maitama, Asokoro, or Asokoro Extension, where power mongers have serially violated the masterplan of the FCT, in the name of ‘carve-outs’ and ‘maximization of existing infrastructure.’

For a moment, I wondered if we were in the annex to what should be a more palatial, more grandiose mansion, typical of the contemporary Nigerian senior government functionary, nay Minister of the Federal Republic.

Indeed, in a milieu of jet-flying, multibillionaire SANs who are in gritty contest with Forbes-listed moguls, the simplicity of

We also take solace in the Yoruba saying, ‘Oba ku, oba ku’, which translates as: The king may be gone, but the heirs to the throne remain. The Ocholis left behind Aaron, a lawyer; Ojone, Uyo and Ele, all well groomed children who will hold aloft those ideals, principles and virtues for which their parents and brother, lived

his abode, beat my imagination that James Ocholi was in the same profession.

Adinoyi Ojo read my consternation.

My doubts were only assuaged when I was served the condolence register and confronted with the names, handwritings, in inks of several colours and signatures of virtually all the heavyweights on Nigeria’s political scene. Sympathizers will most likely not be touring various locations to sign various registers, I told myself.

The dregs of my doubts were effectively cleared when, as I walked out through the door of the house, the Minister of State for Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar was waiting to take her turn to express her condolences. The SGF, David Lawal and APC candidate in the last gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, we’re some of the other dignitaries who showed up there as we exited.

As we navigated our way out of Kado Estate that afternoon in Ojo’s car, I could not but share with him the magnitude of the loss Kogi State and indeed Nigeria had just suffered and just how pained I was.

Ocholi surely belonged to a rapidly vanishing specie of the contemporary Nigerian. Not too many people of his distinguished accomplishments remain notably unassuming, demonstrably humble, characteristically self-effacing, strikingly simple and unusually modest.

President Muhammadu Buhari alluded to his legendary humility during the special valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, in his honour, when he noted that despite his obvious seniority as a member of the respected Body of Silks, he accepted to serve under a junior colleague in the interim national executive of the APC. For the avoidance of doubt, Ocholi was already SAN way back in 2007, yet he made no fuss serving as deputy to a learned colleague who was only admitted to the Body of SANs, eight years after him!

President Buhari noted the similarity between the legal and military professions, where issues of seniority and ranking are taken very seriously and passionately, and observed that Ocholi never took it to heart.

He was a very versatile personality who most competently combined the secular and the spiritual. He served as Chancellor of Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State, at the same time as he functioned as the National Secretary of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International, FGBFI, while pursuing his ambition to lead his state in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Ocholi was surely one of a kind. He was peculiarly decent man.

As the Holy Book enjoins us, we can only be grateful to God in all things, and in this instance, for Ocholi’s life and the lives of his beloved wife, Blessing and cherished son, Joshua. We believe God they have gone to rest in the bosom of the Most High.

We also take solace in the Yoruba saying, ‘Oba ku, oba ku’, which translates as: The king may be gone, but the heirs to the throne remain. The Ocholis left behind Aaron, a lawyer; Ojone, Uyo and Ele, all well groomed children who will hold aloft those ideals, principles and virtues for which their parents and brother, lived.

Ocholi would not have died in vain if the elite and indeed the political class learn tangible lessons from his altruism, selflessness and authenticity as an individual and a public servant.

Adieu.

––Tunde Olusunle is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE and the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, respectively.

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MARCH 19, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COVER Mohammed Adoke

I Didn’t Abscond from Nigeria over Malabu Halliburton Cases

Nigeria is an Ungrateful Country Malabu Deal – the Abachas and Atiku connection Halliburton had generated so much controversy, I would have been a dumb Attorney-General to have allowed myself to be corrupted in it

The Buhari administration has been accused by critics of being mindless, directionless and essentially being used to settle political scores with the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The approach of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in prosecuting the anti-corruption crusade has also come under criticisms of recent. It would certainly take a while to unravel some of the behind-thescene deals that have taken place in government since 1999, but quite a number of troubling revelations are filtering through . While on the team of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Trade Mission to the Netherlands, Jude Igbanoi ran into Nigeria’s former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, at a Nigerian restaurant at The Hague. Every effort to get the former AGF to talk about his sudden disappearance from Nigeria was futile. Two days later, Adoke who apparently is a regular customer at the restaurant showed up again and this time a last-minute effort to get him to talk about his time in office and sundry allegations against him paid off. Though reluctantly, but the former minister and core member of the Jonathan administration made up his mind to respond to some of the allegations on various online media. A visibly sad and angry Adoke spoke on several issues, including his role in the Halliburton and Malabu Oil controversies

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ince the end of your tenure as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, you simply disappeared from Nigeria. Nothing much has been heard from you and you haven’t been seen anywhere in Nigeria. Where have you been and what have you been doing since you left office?

I find it curious and rather surprising that people say I simply disappeared from the scene. While I was in office, as far back as 2014, I made up my mind that whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan wins the election and continues in office, I would be going back to school. This is to enable me deepen my knowledge of Public International Law. This is also because I was elected into the International Law Commission where my tenure will be coming to an end in December 2016.

So, it is not correct to say I disappeared from Nigeria. On June, 2, 2015, I went with my wife and children to Dubai for a short vacation and thereafter, I resumed school at the University of Laden, in The Hague Where I have since commenced an intensive Advanced LLM programme in Public International Law with specialisation in International Criminal Law. So, to that extent, you are meeting me here at The Hague. This is where I live at the moment.

I am undergoing the programme which

Secretary to invite me to come and see them.

That again was a bit curious because I was no longer a public officer. So they had no basis to write to the Ministry of Justice to ask me to report to them.

As curious as that sounded, I got in touch with my lawyer Adeoke Aina and asked him to write to the EFCC that I was writing my exams, commencing December 7 to 17.

That I had other things to tidy up and that I would be seeing them on December 28. Immediately after my exams and after tidying up what I had to do, I went through Dubai and I was preparing to honour the EFCC invitation on December 27. Then I got an anonymous phone call from somebody who said ‘Your Honour, I work with the EFCC, I don’t know you and you don’t know me.

But I am a man who has the fear of God in me. There is a plan and a conspiracy that is being orchestrated based on the prompting and instigation of Mohammed Sani Abacha, one Lawal Abba, working as an agent of Atiku Abubakar to make sure that the EFCC indicts, detains, embarrasses you and prevents you from going back to your school.’

Having invested so much in my education and looking at the comparative gains, I was going to get from it, I didn’t want my education to be truncated. I therefore decided to exercise caution to investigate the authenticity of this anonymous call. Less than one hour after I got the call and while

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is for a period of one year. As soon as the programme finishes on August 26, I will be heading back straight to Nigeria. Let me state emphatically, I am not running away from Nigeria. I have been in touch with Nigeria and I have had cause to enter Nigeria at least twice after I left Nigeria.

It’s in the news that the EFCC has invited you for questioning over allegations of corrupt practice during your tenure as AGF. Why have you not honoured that invitation?

As far back as 2013, I have had cause to write on my own, personally over the issue of the Malabu oil deal which was generating a lot of ripples stating my own side of the story. I gave them all the necessary documents to show that the transactions were transparently carried out and in the best interest of the country, given the circumstances and history of the case.

As a result of that, the then Chairman of EFCC said he saw nothing wrong with the entire transactions other than a shareholder dispute which was escalated to drag in the names of responsible Nigerians and various stakeholders at the time.

Be that as it may, the invitation from the EFCC actually came sometime in November about the time I was preparing to write my first semester exams. I got a call from my former Special Senior Assistant who said to me that the EFCC wrote to the Permanent

I was still meditating on what I should do, an online media flashed it ‘AGF Adoke to be arrested tomorrow, detained, charged to court and committed to EFCC detention.’

That sent a trigger.

So, I decided first and foremost to put my thought process together, put my documents together and in the course of doing that, I wrote a letter to the Attorney-General that I found the invitation from the EFCC rather curious, unconventional and rather out of order, considering that the issues they said they want to investigate are issues that are documentary and are issues that I dealt with in my capacity as Attorney-General of the Federation. That if truly the issue is that of clarification, what they should have done is to write to him the sitting AGF asking him to review the entire process that led to the transaction. It is when the current AGF is not satisfied that he can call me. That if after my explanation he is still not satisfied that he can ask the EFCC to continue their investigations.

Considering the unique role the AGF plays constitutionally in the entire legal system, it would be a tragedy for him as AGF to allow the office to be treated with levity by allowing people who have held that office to be subjected to ridicule and humiliation.

Having served in government for five years, I don’t think the first thing is to confront the government, but rather to

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COVER Why EFCC is After Me engage them by trying to make them see reason why state actors act the way they do sometimes, and the underpinning factors for some of the actions they took while in office.

So, I immediately took steps to engage the EFCC, but apparently, positions had been taken, minds had been made up, lies had been told. You know the way corrupt elements use the system to fight their perceived enemies, by first of all making sure that they invade members of our families who have access to us, to make sure that all kinds of lies and vilifications were put out to make one look bad.

One thing I would say is that having served in government, one has to be very careful in the way one processes and deal with information. If one doesn’t have a filtration system, one can easily be misled to be unjust to just persons.

So that is the situation, and it’s not correct to say that I ran away from the country. I made it very clear to the EFCC that I am prepared, willing and ready, but that the time was not convenient. That on the strength and availability of documents before them, which I had supplied to them, which I had also taken steps to copy the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and other prominent Nigerians, they were in a position to evaluate and come to a fair and right conclusion without even my presence.

But unfortunately you know the way these things work. Some of the people that were invited, they will ask them; ‘So how much did you give Adoke?’ One senior colleague who was invited was even asked, ‘How much did you give Adoke?’ That is how cheap they have turned the institutions and we know their reasons.

Some of the transactions in the Malabu oil deal actually predated your tenure as AGF, why in your opinion do you think the deal is now being revisited?

Well, let me tell you that it is not being revisited. The truth is that corruption has a way of fighting back, when you refuse to be part and parcel of the system.

A police officer once said to me ‘Oga, you are too strict. You are unbendable. It is people like you that when you leave office, people will fight. Not because you are a bad man. But because you are too strict; people will think you have stepped on their toes and you may have hurt their interests.’

The fact remains that Nigeria has been an ungrateful country. If Nigerians see things in true perspective they may react differently. Unfortunately, they see things in their own image. They would ascribe to you what they would have done if they were the ones in office.

First, the Malabu 245 that they are talking about was an Oil Prospecting Licence, OPL that was granted to Malabu in 1998 by the late General Sani Abacha. A company in which his son and family claim today that they own 60 per cent of the shares. When General Sani Abacha died the OPL had been given out under the indigenisation policy of that administration. The policy was for Nigerian citizens to participate in the prospecting and exploration of oil.

As a result of that policy, the OPLs were not given out under competitive bidding.

They were given out under a discretionary allocation with a discretionary signature bonus of $20m. That was all they were requested to pay.

When Malabu got this OPL they brought in Shell, as requested by law as their technical partners after paying the first tranche of $10m down payment. They had a partnership which was going fine. That was until Obasanjo came into office in 1999. There were some supposed share holders in that company, like the family of the late Abacha as they claim today. Then there was Dan Etete himself and whoever was representing his interest. Then there was one Hassan Adamu, the Wakilin Adamawa who then sold his interest in OPL 245 to Atiku Abubakar, the then Vice President of Nigeria.

Then they were going on fine until greed set into the whole paradigm of partnership.

That was when they had their differences and the government was manipulated to revoke OPL 245. Having revoked it, the government went ahead and allocated the block to Shell BP which was originally a technical partner to Malabu. Malabu felt shortchanged and betrayed. They then

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They got some NGOs to embark on some media campaigns, giving the impression that Nigeria was shortchanged. Whereas the real truth is that they were the ones playing tricks. It’s a gang of criminals, using the system to fight state actors, trying to bring them down. It’s like what you see in Colombia and all these countries in lawless environments.

Also, the money involved is not $2b. Its is $1.1b and it is not the money meant for Nigeria. What Nigeria was entitled to was $210m Signature Bonus, royalties to be paid and the taxes from it. I stand today to confirm to you that I have done nothing in Malabu that I am ashamed of and I can defend that anywhere. As a result of that settlement, Shell withdrew the arbitration against the Federal Government of Nigeria, including all the liabilities and every other claim against the government.

I don’t deserve to be crucified on Malabu! petitioned the House of Reps Committee on Oil and Gas. The Committee held a public hearing and the outcome was that the revocation of OPL 245 from Malabu was

irregular, null and void and oppressive.

That it should be immediately recovered from Shell and given to Malabu.

On the strength of this resolution, Malabu sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Shell also sued the House of Reps Committee. There were suits and counter-suits.

The matter was struck out by the court of first instance and they went on appeal. In 2006, when Obasanjo and Atiku had fallen out completely, to spite Atiku at the time, the government of Obasanjo entered into an out-of-court settlement which was later reduced as a consent judgment agreeing to return 100 per cent OPL 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas. As soon as that was done, he was given a letter signed by the then Minister of State, for Petroleum, Engineer Edmond Dakoru returning this OPL to Malabu with a provision that they can dispose of it in any manner they liked. The documents are there.

Then in 2007, after they left office, Malabu was supposed to pay the signature bonus and as they were trying to pay this bonus, the Yar’Adua government came in and all sorts of interests came in again. They were trying to take this oil block again from the man. Shell itself also tried to take the block.

Eventually they all tried to enter into some kind of settlement agreement with Malabu and it didn’t work.

But one interesting thing is that within this period that this OPL 245 was allocated to Shell, they paid the signature bonus into an Escrow Account because of the pendency of litigation at the instance of Malabu challenging the allocation of the OPL to Shell.

That Escrow Account was being jointly managed by Shell and the Federal Government of Nigeria. Please take note of this.

It was. J.P. Morgan that was managing it on behalf of the government and Shell.

Yar’Adua could not resolve that matter before he died because of the diverse interests and other new actors trying to take the block completely as is always the situation.

President Jonathan came into office and the issue came before us and by this time, Shell had already gone to the International Centre for Settlement for Investment Disputes to lodge a complaint against Nigeria and initiated an arbitration proceeding.

Incidentally, as at that time I was not the Minister of Justice. You can confirm this, I was one of the parties nominated by Nigeria in that arbitration to represent the interest of Nigerian government in the ICSID arbitration. This didn’t take off until I became the Attorney-General of the Federation.

As at the time Shell had already de-risked the oil block and had found oil in com-

mercial quantity in OPL 245. So, when the Federal Government came again with a promise to give them another oil block they said ‘No, we have invested over $500m to de-risk this one and we found oil. It is not acceptable to us.’

Shell then went to arbitration claiming over $2b from the government of Nigeria.

They have always refused to point out this to the Nigerian public and to discerning minds. This has always been underplayed in the entire settlement of the Malabu deal, which to me is the most significant aspect of the deal which the Jonathan administration would be commended for.

Now, we affirmed the re-allocation of this block to Malabu and of course Shell is a dominant player in the market. The oil market is market of cartels and they enter transactions worldwide. They entered a caveat worldwide that nobody should enter into any transaction on Malabu on that block. So, it became a very big problem for Malabu to raise, procure or even pay the $210m signature bonus for the block which Obasanjo’s government had insisted on instead of the previous $20 million discretionary payment.

So, ENI approached Shell, because they stated their interest in the oil block and said ‘why don’t we jointly acquire the interest in this OPL 245 and have this matter resolved.’

They were represented by their consultant who was no less a person than a one-time Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN. An urbane and a fine gentleman, he came, Shell came and because they had lost confidence in one another, they were not prepared to deal with each other.

This was why they came before the Federal Government to mediate and resolve the issue once and for all. The Federal Government decided to take advantage of the situation to enable it wriggle itself out of the arbitration and the claim against it by Shell. Note that all the agencies of Federal Government, FIRS, NNPC, Directorate of Petroleum Resources were represented in the resolution agreement. If you want to confirm this, write under the Freedom of Information, FOI, Act to the House of Reps asking for a copy of the investigation and findings on that matter. You will see the remarks and testimonies of the people from FIRS, DPR and all the other relevant agencies of government that participated in the resolution.

Then Shell said ‘We already have this $210m in the Escrow Account, since these conditions have been met, we are going to pay the additional money in the agreement between them and Malabu into this

MARCH 19, 2016, THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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COVER Certificate Scandal: There was No Case Against Buhari... joint account, so that upon obtaining their licence, the Federal Government should take their own signature bonus and release the balance to Malabu and that was exactly what happened.

So, what the Federal Government did was to look at it and said ‘No!’ and I commend President Obasanjo for that. He said we are giving you back the OPL 245, but we are not giving you at the discretionary rate of $20 million’ the government gave Shell at the internationally competitive rate of $210m, which was done by Shell. The letter of re-allocation was given back to Malabu. We ensured that it was paid. These people had already de-risked and done all due diligence, put the block into use, royalties and taxes were being paid. So, for any person to sit down and say that we shortchanged Nigeria is most unfortunate and most unkind to us. It is unpardonable.

The second leg of this problem is that immediately after all these negotiations and monies were to be paid to Malabu, Mohammed Abacha surfaced from nowhere and wrote us that they had interest in OPL 245.

That they own 60 per cent of the share. We told them ‘We don’t know you. You didn’t participate throughout the negotiations, which lasted for 12 years. There was no time you ever signified interest. If I had known that you even had any interest in OPL 245, I would have taken that interest because you are already in violation of Decree 53 which you entered into with the government of General Abdulsalam, to disclose truthfully all your assets. Why didn’t you disclose this asset to them? So you are fundamentally in breach of Decree 53!’

They then wrote threatening that they will embarrass the government if they are not paid. The documents are all well kept and anybody can see and verify them.

They got some NGOs to embark on media campaigns, giving the impression that Nigeria was shortchanged. Whereas the real truth is that they were the ones playing tricks. It’s a gang of criminals, using the system to fight state actors, trying to bring them down. It’s like what you see in Colombia and all these countries in lawless environments.

Also, the money involved is not $2 billion.

It’s is $1.1b and it is not the money meant for Nigeria. What Nigeria was entitled to was $210m signature bonus, royalties to be paid and the taxes from it. I stand today to confirm to you that I have done nothing in Malabu that I am ashamed of and I can defend that anywhere. As a result of that settlement, Shell withdrew the arbitration against the Federal Government of Nigeria, including all the liabilities and every other claim against the government.

I don’t deserve to be crucified on Malabu.

What about your role in Halliburton scandal?

Don’t even go far! The EFCC is simply being mischievous over so many issues, especially resulting from my call before the National Assembly in 2011, during my screening and confirmation hearing where I called for the merger of the EFCC and ICPC. They were not happy with me over that suggestion. Secondly, by the powers conferred in my office by the Act, I initiated and drew up rules and regulations for the EFCC trying to assert my powers and oversight functions over the commission.

For this, they sponsored the likes of Dino Melaye to go and carry placards like area boys all over the place to smear us. These are some of the things responsible for the strenuous attempts today to destroy me and vilify me using some groups of notorious online media that everybody knows work for them. This is why they have engaged in this media trial.

Also, because I sponsored a bill in the National Assembly to make the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, an independent organ of the EFCC. I also sponsored a bill, which they surreptitiously killed, to say that you cannot be recovering assets and be managing the same assets you have recovered. That it does not create room for transparency. I proposed an independent organ of government that will manage the assets recovered by the EFCC. This was a model that was recommended to me by our American development partners.

We proposed that assets recovered are not dissipated and that there should be a mechanism to ensure that they are not recycled as products of corruption. We needed to

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have defined functions for these organs of government, if we are truly and genuinely determined to fight corruption.

So, for the fight against corruption to succeed, there must be institutional purity. The impurities in the system must be cleansed.

In the process of trying to sanitise the system I became a victim.

That they will not come up publicly to say. But I have heard them abuse me and said all sorts of things about me. But I said in my capacity as Attorney-general, I said I would not condone the practice of media trials. You can’t arrest people, detain them and while they are in detention you start procuring evidence. So, I gave them rules of engagement.

I had a bitter quarrel with the then chairman of the EFCC. She was later to commend me after she was removed and she found out that I had no hand in her removal. I was even out of the country when her appointment was terminated.

In the case of Halliburton, shortly after we resumed office, the then EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri came to me and said that she found some Americans and she had gotten them to write me a letter. That Nigeria can collect a lot of money from all these companies that were involved in the Halliburton saga, but that the people said they will be entitled to 33 per cent or 1/3 of whatever they recovered upfront. At the same time, they said they would be the ones to take decisions and that whatever decisions they took would be binding on me and that I couldn’t override them.

Then I said ‘give me a day or two to think about this.’ As I was reviewing this in my mind. I then remembered the Pfizer case, when the Federal Government instituted a case against Pfizer in Kano and initiated criminal proceedings which resulted in an out-of-court settlement. No lawyer was paid by the government. Amongst the government lawyers was Chief J.B. Daudu, SAN, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, who is now the Vice President of Nigeria and a host of other Nigerian lawyers, including Mariam Uwais. When the settlement was consummated, they were not paid by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Their fees were paid to them by Pfizer through Mr. Tunde Irukera.

I approached the EFCC Chairman and asked her to nominate a lawyer and she nominated Chief Godwin Obla who was not then a SAN. So, I told her, apart from Godwin Obla, I want an institutional person to participate in these proceedings. That was how she nominated Akomoye. How did she come about Akomoye? No sooner had

we filed a criminal proceeding, we decided to go piecemeal. This was because the sum of $5 million passed through Julius Berger.

So she nominated Rowland Ewubare who was the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission. We also took into cognizance the extensive knowledge of Ewubare who had practised extensively in America. So, we co-opted him into the team at no fees and for no commission. This was for him to guide the team and to make sure that the human rights of these people were respected.

The reason we brought in J.B. Daudu was that, he was the President of the NBA at that time. We reasoned that it was important for them to know as a critical segment of the society and the legal profession what was going on at the time. So, it wasn’t as if we just sat down and just brought in people.

As soon as we commenced trial, the then National Security Adviser to the President said that Julius Berger was a company that was maintaining the seat of power. That they play a very critical role in Nigeria’s economy and that we should enter into a settlement. This took place in the office of the National Security Adviser and he nominated Kayode Are to preside over the meeting. Julius Berger was represented by no less a person than Alhaji Abdullahi, SAN, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

We got to that meeting and Ewubare guided us very well, he told us that in America, if you are in this kind of situation you disgorge three times the amount. That is the threshold. I told him that three times is not acceptable to me because the quantum is small, that we should use the quantum of five times the value.

It was at that point that the sum of $25m was arrived at, and it was a lot of money at the time. Ewubare guided us properly because he is an expert in the American system. So, I stated that the Federal Government had expended over a million dollars in investigating the case and that they must reimburse it. So, they agreed to reimburse the government that one million dollars.

I then proposed that like the Pfizer case, they should be responsible for the solicitors’ fees. So, the Federal Government was paid the sum of $26m in an account supplied by the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Accountant-General and it was paid through the Central Bank of Nigeria. Now, the EFCC is claiming that the lawyers were paid $26m. How? How the Federal Government used that money is not the business of the Attorney-General?

I have heard people say that Halliburton

I have heard people say that Halliburton paid so much in America and that we took pittance. And I just laughed. First, what was the penalty and sanction in Nigeria as at the time we had the Halliburton case? The maximum a company would have paid at that time was N1m. Just a million Naira. The minimum was N250,000.

We had to device an ingenious approach and said ‘what has happened in the Halliburton case amounts to reputational damage to the country. But we agreed that we were not going to go by criminal sanction, but by a curtail of approach. That the money they were paying was for the reputational damage to Nigeria. That you have classified Nigeria as a corrupt country and meanwhile you are the one corrupting our leaders paid so much in America and that we took pittance and I just laughed. First, what was the penalty and sanction in Nigeria as at the time we had the Halliburton case? The maximum a company would have paid at that time was N1m. Just a million Naira. The minimum was N250,000.

We had to devise an ingenious approach and said ‘What has happened in the Halliburton case amounts to reputational damage to the country. But we agreed that we were not going to go by criminal sanction, but by a curtail of approach. That the money they were paying was for the reputational damage to Nigeria. That they have classified Nigeria as a corrupt country and meanwhile they are the ones corrupting our leaders.

People forget that Halliburton was a registered public company in America, regulated by SEC and that they are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in the US. None of these laws were operational in Nigeria.

This was the threshold that was used.

Now, when they talk about Halliburton, why are they not talking about Intels?

Didn’t EFCC come with Intels? Was Intels not involved in this? They came and negotiated Intels in my office. The EFCC negotiated Intels in my office and Akomoye was there. He travelled with us all over the world. He was part of all these negotiations.

Halliburton had generated so much controversy and I would have been a dumb Attorney-General to have allowed myself to be corrupted in it.

The other issue which has also come up in public discuss is that of the $15m which was said to have been recovered from the former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori...

It is still in the possession of the EFCC. Don’t even go far. That money caused so much arguments between me and them.

This is because I told them that the money should be returned to the coffers of the Federal Government and they told me that because of the ongoing appeal, they would hold on to the money pending the outcome of the appeal. But I had clearly given the instructions that the money should be given to the Federal Government. Whether they complied with that or not, I don’t know.

But I know that one of the lawyers working with them was not happy with

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COVER I Will be Back to Nigeria in August my directive. He came after the Delta State Government laid claim and the court ruled that Delta State was only entitled to 10 per cent of the money.

So what has happened to the $15m Ibori’s money, the EFCC is in a better position to explain. It predates my coming into office, but I do know that I gave clear instructions that the money be returned to the Federal Government.

You’ve been alleged to have illegally acquired properties in Dubai and Abuja.

Isn’t that true?

That is certainly not true. I own a three bedroom flat at Princess Towers in Dubai. I acquired that property as far back as 2008, long before I became Attorney-General of the Federation. That property was acquired and I was paying for it by installment. I finished paying for it and I declared it in my assets.

Also, I was given two land allocations by Bala Mohammed the then FCT Minister.

The one that Dino Melaye was making noise about, yes I was given a land and I sold it. I have another land that was allocated to me, 5,000 square metres in Guzape. That land is still there and the certificate is in my name.

So, if they have any other property that was traced to me, I will willingly forfeit it to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

It has also been said that as the AGF during 2015 electioneering, you had the duty to investigate and possibly take action against General Buhari for alleged criminal offences including certificate forgery. Why didn’t you?

It would have been irresponsible of me to even order an investigation. I would have been failing in my duty as AGF if I had done so, because that would have been most unfair.

Let me also tell you that when I came into office in 2010, there was also the raging controversy about the $12.7b oil windfall.

Babangida was being accused by many

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Nigerians over this. When I got the request to prosecute General Babangida, I thought the boys had something up their sleeves.

I immediately called for the file and they sent me a document which I found out was a photocopy and not certified. I set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Solicitor-General of the Federation and asked that they should find out whether or not there exist the original of this document.

Despite the fact that I set up this committee, I asked that the Secretary to the Federal Government to confirm if there was an original copy of the document. He later reported back that there was no original copy of the so-called Okigbo Panel Report.

In spite of this, I took the pains myself to read the document which was not legally tenable. But I still wanted to convince myself about the fact. I found out that the Okigbo Committee was set up to reorganise,

and not even to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria. It was in the process of reorganising that they came out to advise that the government should stop using Dedicate Account because it doesn’t give room for transparent accountability.

There was no White Paper on this. There was no Executive Council meeting or the Armed Forces Ruling Council resolution on the matter and nothing was done.

In fact, it was when we came to office that President Jonathan directed that Dedicated Accounts being operated by the Federal Government be closed. At the end of the day, I wrote back to the civil societies that; look, ‘I am unable to prosecute anybody because of these deficiencies from my findings. They called me all kinds of names.

In fact somebody went to tell president Jonathan that IBB was my uncle and that was why I refused to prosecute him.

When in 2010, the former Governor of Osun State initiated criminal proceedings against Rauf Aregbesola, in a criminal matter that the Federal Government had jurisdiction, without my fiat and without my knowledge, I withdrew the matter.

He came to me and demanded that I give his lawyer fiat to prosecute Aregbesola. I refused and told him ‘I can’t give you fiat to prosecute your political enemies.’

He went to President Goodluck Jonathan and told him that ‘your Attorney-General is an ACN member.’ When the President called me and asked that I give the fiat to Oyinlola’s lawyer, I told him ‘Mr. President I will do no such thing. I will rather resign from office.’ He told me one thing that made him earn my respect the more. He said ‘If you feel so strong about it, please don’t do it.’ I will forever cherish and remember that.

Now, on General Buhari, when the issue of certificates came up, a funny lawyer wrote me a letter requesting me to issue him a fiat to prosecute General Buhari. I wrote back to him to say ‘I am unable to consider your request, for the simple reason that

it has not met the threshold of law and it would amount to travesty of justice for me to encourage illegality and the abuse of the rights of any person.’

Three days later, a sitting governor, after placed a call to me and said ‘Mr. AttorneyGeneral I would like to see you. Are you in the office?’ I told him ‘I am in the office, but I will come and see him wherever he was.’

I met with this governor and he perambulated round the whole issue and finally said there is this lawyer who had requested a fiat to prosecute Buhari and you refused to give him. I told him, I certainly wouldn’t give such a fiat because I wouldn’t want to embarrass the government I serve.

I told him that the requirements of the Constitution is that one must have either a minimum of secondary school certificate or its equivalent. The Constitution doesn’t say you should produce, neither did INEC demand the certificate. So on what basis would Buhari have been accused of forgery.

Assuming that was the case, where was the police report investigating this forgery?

I said; ‘have you approached the school this man attended and confirmed whether or not he attended the schools?’ It would have been a wrong exercise of power for me to have issued a fiat to prosecute Buhari.

Above all, this man had contested the presidency of Nigeria three times. Apart from that, this man was a one-time Head of State. Put all these together, even if he doesn’t have the certificate, this is a man who had attended some of the finest military institutions around the world, including the United States of America. He rose to the position of a General. I wouldn’t be a party to that. For this singular reason I was labeled Buhari’s spy in Jonathan’s government and all sorts of allegations against me.

So, that is why I didn’t arrest or prosecute Buhari. I didn’t do him a favour. There was no case against him. I hold him in high esteem, a one time Head of State and by the grace of God the President of Nigeria today.

MILESTONE Duke

The Man Who Saw Tomorrow Former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke was recently conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in law by the University of Calabar. In this report, Joseph Ushigiale reflects on the Duke’s legacies

T

he title of this piece is not about Nostradamus and his predictions, rather this piece is about Mr. Donald Duke, the visionary former governor of Cross River State.

Last week, the Senate of the University of Calabar, nine years after exiting office, found him fit and proper, to confer him with an honorary doctorate degree in Law (Honoris Causa) at its campus in Calabar. The conferment also coincided with the 29th convocation ceremony of the institution where it graduated 7, 222 graduands from various faculties.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Zana Akpagu in justifying the university’s choice to honour Duke, said it was in recognition of his “transforming Cross River State into a modern Green and Clean Tourism Destination.”

In his acceptance speech, Duke lauded the university’s senate for honouring him with the same award he had turned down 13 years earlier because, according to him, “there was nothing to show that I merited it.”

At the age of 36, Duke made history as the youngest governor in 1999. At a time when gerontocrats pervaded and ruled the political landscape, Duke demonstrated practically that a state can safely be guided by an under 40.

Duke was a visionary who saw far ahead of his time. In 1999, the military had just returned to the barracks and Cross River State was unsung, badly run and in debts. The civil servants had crippled and brought the state to her knees with a debilitating strike of several months on account of unpaid salaries and sundry arrears.

Faced with very few options, Duke took his chances. He envisaged and worked towards the creation of a brand new economy for the state. In his grand vision, he set out to lay a foundation that would wean Cross River

Duke

State off the monthly federation account handout. He believed that given the state’s rich human and natural resources, it was possible to create an environment for businesses to plug in like Lee Kuang Yu did with Singapore.

First, he commissioned KPMG to carry out a feasibility study of the state as well as fine tune his road-map, a policy document for the state, which he had conceptualized and developed when he decided to run for governor. It was KPMG’s inputs that gave birth to Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort (TBLR).

How did Duke fare in Cross River State after his two-term tenure? The Duke’s legacies are quite evident and would continue to remain a reference point for years to come.

Duke mirrored the hospitable nature of his people and settled for tourism as his pivot.

He succeeded in his vision to make the state a tourism state and destination point with such landmark events like the yearly

Calabar Carnival, which without a doubt, has emerged as one of the biggest street party, rivalled only by other great festivals in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, USA. From a paltry 5,000 party revelers at inception in 2005, the Calabar Carnival has metamorphosed into a big brand, commanding over 10,000 party revelers. There is also the platform it has opened up for other brands to ride on, on a yearly basis and the resultant revenues accruing from advertising and sponsorship to the state.

In all, the newly created ecosystem of the Calabar Carnival encompasses transport, accommodation, financial sector, catering and food businesses, entertainment/music etc. In modest term, the carnival commands a yearly street value of over N2bn which it injects into the state’s economy and still growing.

Another Duke’s legacy is the yearly Obudu Mountain Race. While seeking to create and prop the state on the world tourism map, Duke was also mindful and cautious of the sensitivity of positioning projects to give every stratum of the state a sense of belonging.

Thus, just as Tinapa bestrode the South like a colossus, he decided to utilize the natural assets of Obudu Cattle Ranch, which were the rolling hills and temperate weather to launch the mountain race in 2006.

At inception, the prize money was $50,000 and it was endorsed and featured on the annual calendar of the World Mountain Race Association. It has lived up to its billing by attracting some of the ‘A’ list athletes to its annual event. Not only that, it has also succeeded in putting the state on the world tourism map.

But Duke’s greatest legacy today is the Tinapa Resort which his traducers describe as a failed or white elephant project. By concept, design and execution, the TBLR is one of the most brilliant ideas to emerge from this side

of the globe. He foresaw the explosion of retail business as the future in Nigeria and deliberately positioned Tinapa to be in the vanguard of this new coming.

Here is why? According to studies that influenced the setting up of the TBLR in 2001 or so, over 3m Nigerians traveled abroad, mostly to Dubai for leisure, shopping or commercial purposes. And if on an average, a ticket on either Ethiopia, Egypt or Kenya Airways costs N120,000; assuming the TBLR is established and just 1m Nigerians decide to shop at home rather than Dubai, an estimated N12bn would have remained in Nigeria that year.

Thus, Tinapa was established to attract global brands to Nigeria, create employment opportunities for Nigerian, open up business opportunities for traders who hitherto patronized Dubai and also conserve scarce foreign exchange.

Again, it is worth mentioning that, Duke needs to be celebrated for his foresight and vision way back in 2000 for him to rightly foresee the explosion of retail businesses in Nigeria in the years ahead. His forecast was right and had bureaucracy not killed Tinapa, there would have been no Shoprite today. Many would be surprised to learn that, Shoprite that is steadily maintaining its lead and spreading its footprints across Nigeria today was one of Tinapa’s first tenants.

Of course long before the federal government ever contemplated setting up the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), Duke had already raised an executive bill causing the state assembly to pass a law establishing the Legacy Fund which mandated a monthly deduction of N50m savings to be set aside for any eventuality.

There are several other legacies that cannot be documented here as we celebrate this visionary who saw ahead of his time.

It is therefore no wonder that his followers christen him as the ‘Father of Modern cross River State.’

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 19, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Vice President of Nigeria , Prof. ‘Yemi Osinbajo; and Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, at the exhibition stand of Shell Companies in Nigeria during the opening session of the 6th congress of the African Petroleum Producers Association in Abuja.

L-R: Chairman Medical Advisory Committee LUTH, Professor Olufemi Fasanmade; Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee LUTH, Professor Mrs. Daramola Adetola; Marketing Director RB West Africa, Mr Oguzhan Silivrili; Public Relations officer of LUTH ,Mr. kelechi Otuneme at the launch of Dettol multi surface cleaner in lagos recently.

Naira Devaluation: Investors Proffer Alternatives been forced out of business already as a result of the country’s present economic crises.

He said as an alternative, the government should remove every luxury item from the importation list, while importers of such items should source for Forex elsewhere other than the official window.

According to him, “Nigeria is still battling infrastructure deficit and striving to develop its industrial sector. To this effect, devaluation does not add any value to the economy now because most industrialists and manufacturers still import their plants and equipment and all these require using foreign currency, especially the US dollar.”

He stated that Federal Government needed to be consistent with its policies which must be economy-friendly. “The issue of making a policy today and changing it after some months does not encourage investors. If policy is made today, people will start to build on it; but if changed halfway, people who have invested

Rather than weaken the local currency, which will further harm the already hard-hit economy, investors in the country have advised the Federal Government to look at other options of strengthening the economy.

According to the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, Naira devaluation will have been most suitable for mid-last year as it would have encouraged in-flows from investors.

He said that any attempt to tamper with the nation’s currency now would particularly impoverish the masses and plunge the country into a state of hyper-inflation.

Instead of bowing to pressure from different corners, the Information Communication Technology entrepreneur advised the government to embark on deliberate and committed investment in key areas that would in turn arouse and sustain growth and independence.

“We should rather focus our collective energies on workable ideas and on a sound framework on which to base the diversification of our pres-

ent mono-economy and re-ignite the country’s hitherto-forgotten status as a continental exporter.

“This is the time to refurbish our school system and save the nation from remittance of fees for the millions of Nigerians who do not have option than to school abroad. This is the time to create knowledge incubators around the country, which does not cost much, to empower Nigerians to create digital wealth with near zero-incubation period. It is the time for us to develop industrial clusters in major productive zones to supply the needs of Nigeria and reduce importation,” he said.

In the same vein, the Vegetable and Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria (VEOPAN), strongly backs the President’s stand not to devalue the Naira, further appealed to the government not to be pushed to shift its position.

The president of the association, Okey Ikoro, noted that considering the option of devaluation would make more businesses to go under, saying 50 per cent of the association’s members had

Ntel Targets over 50 Million Subscribers by 2020

Automobile: Olx Enlightens Buyers on Gains of Online Purchase

Fifth telecoms player in Nigeria, Ntel, said it aims to capture over a third of the 150 million Nigerian population by year 2020.

The new telecommunications company, which recently launched its number preservation campaign, also disclosed that it would reward the first batch of subscribers on its network, who reserve their numbers and activate their sim cards on or before April 8, this year.

Following the announcement, the firm revealed that, it had recorded an impressive turnout of subscribers who visited its website to register.

According to the company, under the terms of campaign, the first batch of subscribers to reserve their numbers on the network, and subsequently SIMactivate after launch, would be recognised as pioneers on the new mobile network, marking them out as the first to reap its promise of abundant broadband on its pure-play Advanced 4G/LTE network.

Speaking on this development, Chief Executive Officer of Ntel, Kamar Abass, noted that “Ntel is a proudly Nigerian company that is fully committed to empowering Nigerians through a technologically advanced pure-play 4G/ LTE network. Those who reserve their numbers, and subsequently SIM-activate with us, will be the vanguard of a select corps of privileged subscribers.

“Prospective subscribers who are yet to key into the campaign are urged to do by logging on the company’s website,www. ntel.com.ng, then pick and reserve up to five numbers of their choice and register before the campaign period elapses.”

Abass noted further “We expect to see more than 50m 4G/LTE subscribers in Nigeria by 2020 and we are delighted to be leading this transformation towards that critical mass of customers.”

He said Ntel, which made its first voice over LTE call in Lagos on February 25, 2016, is positioned to lead the way as Nigeria’s most advanced 4G/LTE network.

Prospective car buyers have been advised to patronise online platforms for convenience, safety, affordability, and to avoid the stress and hazards associated with physical searching and final purchase.

According to OLX, an online classified platform, adopting the traditional system of buying cars, where the buyer is actively involved in the entire process, may have its own weaknesses such as multiple trips to car dealers for checks, which could be stressful and time consuming as well as present higher cost. Online stores offer best alternatives to relieve customers of these challenges, the company said in a statement.

“The emergence of online classified platforms like OLX simplify the process while buyers can view several cars for sale with information on their specs, price, brand and model all from the comfort of their homes,” they noted.

They said patronising online platforms for automobiles would enable shoppers to get

the best deal available in the market, make better informed decisions, as well as get cheap bargains.

Recounting his experience, an online shopper, Opeluwa said, “OLX had proven to be a handy website at the time when a few friends and I were interested in taking out a lease in Lagos. I noticed then that the website had a vibrant automobile section, so I took a look and eventually purchased the car.”

Opeluwa added that his experience using the platform was seamless. “The prices on the platform were very reasonable and the most amazing thing is that I have not had a problem with the car since I bought it.”

He also admitted that the online marketplace, like other sites, has had its share of scammers but noted that with the safety measures recently being implemented by the management of OLX such as physical verification, collaboration with the police, amongst others, scamming may no longer be trending.

Dettol Multi-Surface Cleaner Enters Market

Renowned consumer health and hygiene firm, RB, has emphasised the need for members of the public to pay more attention to personal hygiene just as it announced its latest product, Dettol Multi Surface Cleaner in the Nigerian market.

The firm, which observed that Nigerians only respond actively to hygiene situations when there is a crisis, like the case of Ebola in 2015, said that cleanliness and observation of personal hygiene should form part of individual daily habit and not only when crisis erupt.

Speaking at the launch of the new product in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), at a public awareness campaign tagged ‘Dettol Clean Naija’, the Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili said, “Dettol Clean Naija is a public awareness campaign to draw the attention of our consumers to the need of promoting best hygiene practices across different platforms.”

Silivrili said, “This campaign brings like-minded institutions like LUTH and other health conscious institutions across Nigeria to promote best hygiene practices,

including personal and surface hygiene.

The Clean Naija initiative team will travel from city to city and Nigerians will decide which places to clean through voting on social media platforms.”

Silivrili noted that 80 % of illnesscausing germs are acquired at home from different surfaces like floors, kitchen tops and wash basins. Unfortunately, Nigerians have been using suboptimal solutions like detergents which does not kill germs or bleach which does not properly remove stains.

However, with the new Dettol Multi Surface Cleaner, which is the first of its kind in the surface-cleaning category, she said, “Nigerians are sure of a product that offers 10 times better cleaning and germ killing solutions while providing all day freshness. In addition, Dettol Multi Surface Cleaner is more affordable and cheaper compared to buying all of the other cleaning agents separately. It can be used on all hard surfaces including tiles, marble, granite, wood or cement floors to maintain a healthy and hygienic environment.”

will lose their investments. Such would act as disincentive to industrialists,” he said.

The former Commissioner of Economic Planning and Statistics in Ondo State, Senator Bode Olowoporoku said government should adopt a closed or semi-closed economic system. By this, the ex-commissioner meant that the Federal government should employ all methods at its disposal to restrict imports and encourage exports so as to ensure favourable balance of trade that would in turn enhance productivity and employments.

According to the President of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANT), Ken Ukaoha government should review the country’s trade policy to discourage importation, instead of devaluing the naira.

“The last trade policy Nigeria had was in 2002, and it expired in 2002. Unfortunately, trade policy of 2012 which is by now redundant is lending support to import because the thrust of the policy is import liberalisation.”

Only Prayers can Cause Change in Nigeria, Says Women Group A group,”When Women Pray” (WWP), an interdenominational Christian fellowship comprising of women, has called on Nigerians to pray to God to intervene in the country’s current crisis.

The group stated that prayer was the only activity that could secure the needed change in the country.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the group’s forthcoming sixth anniversary, the Resident and Zonal Pastor, WWP, Lagos and Southwest Region, Pastor Temilade Zurike highlighted the importance of prayer in transforming a family, community, city and the country at large.

She noted that a woman plays a major role in the family, and that the success of a country depended on how she effectively managed her home, stating that this was the reason for establishing the fellowship.

“When Women Pray is a fellowship that seeks to raise godly women and aimed at making women come to the awareness of the importance and power of prayer. Basically, we meet regularly to pray for ourselves, families and the nation at large. Our core values are anchored on five cardinal points, which include: Forgive Quickly, No Gossip, Patience, Love and God’s word.”

On the arrangements for the forthcoming anniversary, which will hold in Lagos on April 6, Zurike said the group had chosen to mark this year’s anniversary in a unique way different from how it was held in the past.

“This year, we have chosen to reach out to all women across the country, to carry every woman along so that it will no longer be restricted to a particular segment of the society. The theme of this year’s anniversary is ‘God Cannot Lie’ where the National President of the Fellowship, Pastor Opi Agha and all other anointed women of God will be ministering.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MARCH 19, 2016

POLITY Lekki Gardens Tragedy

Something Doesn’t Add Up

R Adekunle Ojo

eactions from relevant authorities to the Lekki building collapse that claimed 35 lives and injured about 12 last week was something of a frenzy – characteristically so. The reactions followed a familiar pattern.

No sooner did news of the tragedy break than the Lagos state government quickly put out the announcement that Lekki Worldwide Estates Limited, ozzzzwners of Lekki Gardens, developers of the estate where the building was erected, had been advised not to go above three floors, and that the company ignored the advice and went ahead to erect a five-storey structure. The government also said the building had been marked for demolition because of the obstinacy of Lekki Gardens, but that the company erased the demolition sign and continued with the exercise until tragedy struck. A statement from Alausa said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had ordered the owners of Lekki Gardens to report to the police or face arrest.

The police, not wanting to be left out of the hysteria, announced it had arrested Richard Nyong, the managing director of Lekki Gardens (competent sources say the young man actually went to the police to make the complaint even before Ambode’s order, and was not arrested as the police claimed). And before anybody could follow the speed with which events were unfolding, the embattled

Lekki Gardens boss, with the building contractor in tow, had been arraigned in a Lagos magistrate’s court – in hand cuff, ostensibly for effect.

The current saga, like others before it, will come to an end one way or the other, no matter how long it lasts, and we will continue business as usual, waiting for another building collapse to react in the same way, which is the reason the tragedy has become a familiar phenomenon, with no indication that it will become a thing of the past any time soon.

Without doubt, the reactionary approach of the government and its various agencies to disasters that have become commonplace, rather than being proactive, is the reason we wake up almost on a daily basis to hear about one building collapse after the other. This, unfortunately, is the news we will continue to hear until we decide it’s time to do all that need to be done to avert the disaster.

We should begin by asking what steps the government took to avert building collapse, after the numerous incidents of the past. Nobody can remember the number of incidents of building collapse into which the Lagos state government, like governments in other parts of the country, had ordered investigation. The public never got to know the outcome of those investigations, meaning that the government never acted on the findings of those investigations. In other words, no lessons were learnt from past incidents, which explain why no corrections have been made. For, if there

were, building collapse would not be the regular and painfully familiar occurrence that it has become.

It is safe to suppose that the swiftness with which the government reacted to the Lekki Gardens tragedy was informed by the high casualty figure, just as it was with the Synagogue Church building collapse in which more than 100 people lost their lives, with South Africa alone accounting for about 85.

The tragedy of Lekki Gardens, like others before it, occurred because relevant government agencies failed to do what they are statutorily in existence to do.

The disclosure that the company ignored advice not to build a structure above three floors suggests that construction of the building was supposed to be done under the supervision of a regulatory agency.

If that is the case, at what stage was it discovered that the company had acted outside the specifications it was given?

The determination that the structure that came down in the wee hours of Tuesday, March 8, 2016 was a five-storey building, and not three stories, was made as soon as the tragedy occurred. That would suggest that somebody actually knew that the building had risen above the level at which it was expected to stop. Or is it possible to determine correctly, from the rubbles, the height of a building when it was under construction.

A more damning and potentially incriminating information on the tragedy is the disclosure that the building had actually been marked for demolition, but

that its owners allegedly cleaned off the demolition sign and continued with the building. The question to ask here is why the relevant agency did not move in to stop work on the building and cause the owners of Lekki Gardens to be arrested and prosecuted, which could have averted the tragedy of last week. There are more questions.

The collapsed building was presumably one of many buildings in an estate Lekki Gardens is developing. That is to say that work was simultaneously going on in the collapsed building as well as on others. Was that the only building on which the owners of Lekki Gardens defied instruction to raise above the required level? If the answer is negative, as that would not be natural with a greedy developer, can others with demolition signs be found still standing close to the collapsed building? It may seem preposterous, but this particular tragedy has raised so many puzzles as to suggest sabotage in one form or the other.

Lekki Gardens has been in existence for just four years. The company has, within this short period, impacted heavily on the housing sector in the country, building and managing 57 estates in different parts of the country, with no single case of building collapse in any of the estates. It is therefore difficult to understand why a company with such impeccable record would decide to cut corners on just one out of the many structures it has handled. It just doesn’t add up.

IMAGES

L-R: Head, Client Relationships Nigeria and Lagos Island, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Mrs. Ebehiriere Ehi-Omoike; Business Development Executive, Mr. Gideon Opeyemi; winner of business class tickets for two to Paris, Mrs. Maureen Ebigbeyi; and Head Retail Banking, Nigeria, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Mrs. Ebehijie Momoh, at the presentation ceremony to the winner in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Vice President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Funmi Asiwaju; Category Manager, Oral Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Bunmi Adeniba; President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Bode Ijarogbe; Brand Manager, Pepsodent, Unilever Nig Plc, George Umoh; and Brand Building Director, Unilever Nig Plc., Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, during the oral health walk in Lagos ...recently

L-R; President, Maufacturers Association of Naigeria (Man), Dr Frank Jacob; former Director General, Standared Organisation of Naigeria (SON), Joseph Odumodu; and his wife, Mrs Gloria Odumodu, at a reception to honour Odumodu for excellent service to the nation, in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Managing Director, Caranda Management Services Ltd, Nura Kakira; the company’s Chairman, Ahmed Ibrahim; and the Director Rislanudeen Muhammed, during the Caranda Management Service 8th annual general meeting held in Abuja ...recently

63

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MARCH 19, 2016

newsXTRA

N780bn Fine: Court Strikes out MTN’s Suit against FG Davidson Iriekpen

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday formally struck out the suit filed by MTN Nigeria to challenge the imposition of N780 billion fine on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The suit, THISDAY gathered, was struck out following the firm’s notice to discontinue the case.

It was further learnt that striking out the suit was to pave the way for continued settlement discus-

sions with the federal government towards an amicable resolution of the matter in the best interests of the telecom company and Nigeria.

THISDAY gathered that the decision by the telecommunications giant formally withdraw the suit based on its opinion that it would not be proper to continue negotiation while the suit was pending in court.

The NCC had fined MTN Nigeria a record N1.04 trillion last October for failing to deactivate 5.1 million unregistered lines from its network.

Following weeks of high-level negotiation between the company

and government officials, the fine was reduced to N780 billion.

Dissatisfied with the reduction, MTN dragged the Nigerian government before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to stop the payment of the fine, for which the NCC gave it a December 31, 2015 deadline to pay.

But MTN through its team of lawyers; Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) and seven others, through an originating summons, challenged the powers of NCC to impose such a fine on it.

The telecoms company argued that NCC being a regulator, could not assume all the functions of the state on its own, considering the fact that they made the regulation, prescribed the penalty and imposed the fine, payable to the commission and not the federal government.

The firm also alleged that it was not afforded its constitutional right of fair hearing before a court of competent jurisdiction and more importantly, it had not been found guilty of any offence that would warrant it to pay such outrageous fine.

WE CELEBRATE YOU...

L-R: Mr. Efe Yugbovwre; Prince Ibrahim Dumuje; Celebrant, Rev Divine Yugbovwre and Mrs. Mariam Dumuje at a 60th birthday reception held in honour of Mrs. Yugbovwre in Lagos...at the weekend

Buhari Leads Encomiums at Ocholi's Burial Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

It was a sad moment for the people of Abocho community in Dekina Local Government of Kogi State, when the remains of the late Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Chief James Ocholi SAN, his wife, Mrs. Blessing Fatimah Ocholi and his son, Mr. Joshua Ocholi were finally buried at their home town Ogbagidi.

The event which took place at the open field of Local Government Area Primary School, Abocho witnessed hundreds of people who came from far and near to pay their last respect to the late Minister, his wife and his son.

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi

Osinbajo SAN who represent the President, Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion, described the late Chief James Ocholi SAN as one of his right hand men in the quest to reposition the country, and fashion a land of peace and prosperity, where no man was oppressed.

President Buhari noted that among many other positive and pleasant things he would always remember Ocholi for his loyalty to our beloved country Nigeria, loyalty to their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and loyalty to his administration, in which he had served for just about four months, before death took him.

The President added that when APC was being negotiated into existence among the legacy parties,

the late Ocholi did a yeoman' s job, contributing his quota to the legal process. This he did under a junior lawyer, who was not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) like him then.

He said what mattered to Ocholi was the birth of a strong, solid party, which could wrest power at the centre, and bring change to the country.

"He was part of the change cabinet resolved to bring our country from out of the woods, and pedestal Nigeria among the greats in the community of nations" he said.

Also speaking, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello noted that the late Ocholi grabbed life by the jugular and squeezed his due

from its clenched first.

"James started succeeding early, and by his achievements drafted an airtight brief on how to live life well-with urgency, making massive impact as one goes. Everyone from the President and Commander-inChief to the lowliest beneficiaries of his greatness in Dekina to many other places known and unknown are mourning him today "His manner, demeanour and way of speaking readily showed his depth of character, intelligence and breeding. He proved himself a brilliant, honest and most respectable legal practitioner" he said.

The Governor therefore urged assemblage of the best legal minds in the country to hold that Chief Ocholi was not dead, but sleeping.

NISA Dissociate itself from Ship Owners Forum John Iwori

The war of attrition among indigenous ship owners seemed not have ended with the Nigeria Ship owners Association (NISA) dissociating itself from the newly formed Ship owners Forum.

The forum was constituted last week as an umbrella body for indigenous ship owners in the country.

NISA in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Captain Taiwo Akinpelumi, stated it was not part of the Ship Owners Forum as reported in the media recently.

“We (NISA) categorically write

to dissociate Nigeria Ship owners Association (NISA) completely from the purported Ship owners Forum. Firstly, a decision of such magnitude and proportion requires wide consultation with members, if at all interested, and are willing to unite, merge, fuse or partner NISA with any group, union, organisation or association, to be under an umbrella.

“Such a decision should be taken at the General Assembly of the members, which was not the case in this instance. Secondly, Mr. Aminu Umar cannot represent NISA. It is against the NISA Constitution for anyone under whatever guise to represent the association in that

capacity. Having not been nominated by the association nor delegated by the President, Captain Olaniyi Labinjo, the elected, authentic and current leader of NISA, who is and still remains in office until the expiration of his tenure,'' the statement said.

Giving more insight into why NISA disassociated itself from the forum, Akinpelumi noted that there was a subsisting court order restraining Aminu Umar and his group from parading himself as the acting President of NISA tills the determination of the substantive suit before it.

According to him, the report as contained in the newspapers that

Aminu Umar represented the leadership of NISA was a nullity at its best and in contempt of the order of a competent court.

Continuing, Akinpelumi said: “It is our humble opinion that the government cannot decree an association for investors, stakeholders or NISA in particular, in the shipping sector by fiat or through pronouncement of its officials. This will amount to the 'Principal dishing out instructions to his Pupils' and our members being investors and major stakeholders in the maritime sector deserve better treatment and respect and should be free to determine if necessary to belong to any forum.

AUN: Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, Behind Insurgency Daji Sani in Yola

The American University of Nigeria ,(AUN) in collaboration with the Yar'adua Foundation has identified climate change, gas flaring, deforestation and other unethical environmental practices as responsible for the Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of violence in Nigeria.

Discussing the issue, a team of experts from the two organisations at the AUN in Yola, Adamawa State headed by Professor Charles Reith of the AUN ,the experts observed that the people must change their attitude towards the environment for Nigeria to be able to resolve some of the violent conflicts bedevilling it.

The experts who were formed into a team of Panel to analyse a film documentary produced by Yaradua Foundation tagged "No Where to Run: Nigeria's Climate and Environmental Crisis",, a nexus was established between climate change, deforestation, gas flaring, environmental degradation occasioned by oil exploration with violent conflicts in Nigeria.

The documentary also showcases every parts of Nigeria showing how climate change has affected the lives of people in every region of the country from deforestation, erosion, gas flaring, environmental degradation occasioned by oil .

They observed that change of climate which led to severe drop in rainfall and change in weather patterns has led to monumental shrink of lake Chad leading to loss of employment opportunities for thousands of fishermen, farmers and herders whose livelihood defended on the lake.

In addition, the experts said that deforestation occasioned by felling of trees in the North leading to

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that MATAWA HARRY is the same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as MATAWA YINKERE HARRY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

This is to confirm that CHI-CHI IKENUA and CHINYERE LIZZY IKENUA are the same. But now wish to be known and addresses as CHINYERE ELIZABETH IKENUA. All former documents bearing these names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

This is to confirm that ONYEMA CHRISTIAN CHIGOZIE and ONYEMA CHRISTIAN WISDOM is the same and one person, but now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEMA CHRISTIAN CHIGOZIE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm that IKEBUNAZU VITALIS CHIGOZIE and IKEBUNAZU ViTALis JOHN is the same and one person, but now wish to be known and addressed as IKEBUNAZU VITALIS CHIGOZIE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I ONWUBUOYA ENDURANE, am the same person as ONwuBuOYA JAmEs. All former documents bearing these names refer to me remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, MR NNAMOCHA OBIOMA JOsEPH am the same person as MR NNAMOCHA OBIOMA CHIAGOZIE. All former documents bearing these names refer to me remain valid. The general public should please take note.

loss of massive territories, drought, competition between herders and farmers and other pestilences had upped job losses and competition for resources between the various people of the area whose combined effect were responsible for the intensity of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

They also observed that the activities of oil exploration in the South South leading to massive gas flaring resulting in acid rains, environmental pollution, the activities of oil companies and saboteurs have also led to significant job losses as both fishermen and farmers were rendered jobless.

However the experts asserted that the overall problem which also lead to the preponderance of poverty accordingly led to the violent militancy that rocked the region for a long time.

In addition to the militancy, the scourge has been identified to have negative effect on the health of many residents of the region resulting in the proliferation of cancer, leukemia and other dangerous diseases.

It was however suggested that to get a solution to the myriads of adversities besetting Nigeria, deliberate effort must be made by the government in assuaging some of the unethical environmental practices like overcoming gas flaring, sanctioning oil companies who pollute the environment, introduction of renewable energy and a call on the government to embark on rigorous public enlightenment on the need by all to preserve the environment.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKUSAMI MODUPEOLUWA OLUWATOSIN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FAMAKINWA MODUPEOLUWA OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EMEWUSIM CHINWE CAROLINE, now wish to be known and addressed as EmEwusim-JudE CHINWE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ROSEMARY OMOTAYO OGUNNAIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as ROSEMARY OMOTAYO OLORUNNAIKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS EVELYN OSHOMESTE ZIBIRI, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EVELYN OsHOmEsTE BABAJidE. All former document remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKOYE AMARA, Now wish to be known and addressed as OBIAKONWA AMARA. All former document remain valid.

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I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIGOZIE ANOSIKE BERNADETTE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIGOZIE BERNADETTE ANOSIKE MICHAEL. All former document remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MR ROWLAND OLADIPUPO VICTOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MR OLADIPO VICTOR. All former document remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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Saturday, March 19, 2016

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MISSILE Angwe to Rivers State Politician

“Election is not a war. Those perpetrating violence in the name of elections are the enemies of democracy and should be treated as such. The Commission will in exercise of its statutory mandate seek criminal indictment, prosecution and punishment of any person or party involved in election violence.”

– Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe warning Rivers State politicians ahead of re-run election.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

The Ministers are Working But Information is Scanty

F

ellow Nigerians, I have been greatly troubled by the spate of criticisms and vicious attacks against the Buhari government. You cannot blame me. I was one of those who went all out to campaign for the change movement. Naturally, we must take credit for whatever success President Buhari achieves and face the public odium for its failure, God forbid. My fervent prayer had been that Buhari will not fail because the disgrace would be too monumental for some of us.

I decided to go on a solo rescue mission hoping to make my modest contribution in the process. What I discovered through my interactions with some of our leaders is that majority have been too scared of talking for whatever reason. My unlettered mum used to tell me a Yoruba adage that “lack of effective communication is the beginning of foolishness and backwardness.

I have since had the opportunity of chatting hither and tither with some of the key cabinet members, officially and unofficially and realised that this government should jettison propaganda and let each Ministry provide its road maps to Nigerians. For example, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola is a super technocrat who has been saddled with so much. After our one hour long telephone conversation, he allayed my fears substantially on the intractable power problems in our country.

He is meticulously plotting his paths through the labyrinth of electrical wilderness. Very soon, he believes, we shall enjoy some relief. He is not someone to be fazed on intimidated by daunting challenges.

Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is another Minister in charge of one of the most essential sectors of our economy, transportation. In the last few weeks, he’s been able to breakdown his plans and activities. I was very impressed when he acknowledged the foundation laid by former President Goodluck Jonathan and how the Buhari government would work assiduously to bring our transportation to its most modern level ever. His ideas are ambitious but practical.

I have been mostly worried about the petroleum sector. The long queues have returned with a vengeance. The price of oil has fallen globally and our fattest cash cow has been growing leaner.

Dr Ibe Kachikwu is a brainbox I have known for decades. They don’t get better than him in that industry. What then is the problem? To change any system is not always very simple. Those who used to make easy money would do anything and everything to frustrate the changer. My probe revealed some of the obstacles militating against this government but slowly and steadily hope is rising.

Change is in the air. Although it has been slow in coming it is gratifying to note that the patience of the longsuffering Nigerian masses, especially in the area of delivery of petroleum products is going to be rewarded after all. I’m willing to wait a little more for the magic wand to blossom.

President Muhammadu Buhari has never hidden the fact that apart from the security situation and the fight against corruption his major love is to reproduce his feats in revamping the petroleum sector in respect of which he had two bites at the cherry, firstly as Commissioner for Petroleum under the military administration of General

Buhari Olusegun Obasanjo between 1976 and 1979 and more recently as Chairman of the Petroleum Task Force (PTF) under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

As it was one of the first acts of his present administration was the appointment of Nigerian and Harvard trained Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Kachikwu’s appointment was hailed as all those who know him as a first rate appointment and one likely to sanitise the petroleum sector after the tales of corruption and mismanagement that we had been regaled with. When Kachikwu was later appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources thuds being the first person to combine the dual roles of Group Managing Director of NNPC and Minister no one batted an eyelid as Kachikwu had already distinguished himself as an astute manager of this depreciating national economic pillar and

a savvy administrator capable of utilising and maximising the use of scarce resources.

It is also a demonstration of the fairness and objectivity of Dr Kachikwu that he has been quick to accept that some of the groundwork of what he has been doing at NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was laid by previous administrations. However what he has excelled in is to bring his vast array of talents and contacts to bear in taking the NNPC to the next level by insisting that things must work rather than just jettisoning them. Thus he has intensified work on preserving the security and integrity of the pipeline network by combining more traditional methods of manual security with proven scientific methods. The result is that our pipelines are becoming more secure and we will soon begin to see the changes that have been rung.

In agreement with President Buhari that we cannot have refineries and still be importing petroleum products Kachikwu has gone to great lengths to oversee the revival of the ailing refineries in the country. It is clear that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources has taking the President’s marching orders to heart and he has definitely been making giant strides in this respect.

“For the first time, Nigeria’s refineries are now ready to work”, Dr Kachilkwu said at a press briefing on Tuesday. “For the first time, our refineries are ready now to work. Crude has been pumped from Brass to Port Harcourt.

Pipeline is being used for the first time in six years. For the first time we are able to pump to Ilorin, we have not done that in 10 years.”

The Minister of State also said that NNPC has saved Nigeria N1 trillion in what would have been subsidy payments and a further $1 billion under an efficient and effective importation programme which he has put in place. He has also listed some other achievements in the petroleum industry in the short period of time that he has taken command of the sector.

He said the change at NNPC is only just starting, adding that NNPC which should ordinarily be a cash cow but has been seriously haemorrhaging in the past will be delivering profit in two to three months. He expatiated by stating that from the innovative trend of publishing reports on the Corporation’s activities Nigerians would see that the Corporation has gone from an average deficit of over N30 billion to N3 billion in a period of six months.

Dr Kachikwu added “If you continue on this tangent, this company should continue to show monthly profitability in two to three months. That would be dramatic, and that is even before we have even started – because we haven’t started.”

Looking at specific initiatives that Dr Kachikwu has deployed, the Direct Sales-Direct Purchase (DSDP) initiative seems to be one of the most dramatic. Kachikwu modestly attributes the adoption and unqualified success of DSDP to all Nigerians who through their suggestions and concern led to him and his team coming up with the final concept of DSDP. DSDP was adopted to replace the much maligned and abused Crude Oil Swap and the Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA). The aim was to reduce corruption and introduce and entrench transparency into the crude oil for product exchange transactions carried on by the Corporation. To achieve this, the bidding process has been thrown open. In addition, because the assessment process is transparent and is based on the global and or national track record of performance of the respective bidding companies, the influence of the Minister or GMD of NNPC is greatly reduced. The effect is that bid winners are selected on merit rather than on the basis of ‘man know man’ so that the entire process can now be said to fully comply and be in tandem with global best practices.

READ THE CONCLUDING PART OF THIS ARTICLE ON www.thisdaylive.com

Ambsam Memorial Foundation

On 28th March, 2015, (the day of the Presidential and National Assembly elections) Epe, in Lagos State, was thrown into deep sorrow and mourning following the tragic death of five illustrious sons of the town in a boat accident. These young and promising gentlemen are Olakunle Adewale, Olawale Mogaji, Gbolahan Mogaji, Muiz Bello and Shamsideen Agoro.

These young men were on election-related assignment to some remote villages in the Epe area where water transportation was the only means of movement. Whilst they accomplished their assignment they sadly didn’t return alive.

A sixth person, Tunde Salawu, who was not involved in the boat accident also died about the same time whilst on election-related assignment.

The tragic boat incident and the death of Salawu was unprecedented in the history of the town and brought grief and anguish all round.

The untimely death of these gentlemen takes on added significance when one takes into account that Epe is the hometown of the State

Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, a governor who I admire a lot because of the silent but painstaking and decent way that he is continuing in the transformation of Lagos State and building on the legacy of his predecessors.

Given the circumstances of their demise and the vacuum apparently created at family level, the immediate consolatory step envisioned after the sad development was to institutionalize a programme that would immortalize them and keep them in our consciousness. In this direction, a group of concerned and publicspirited individuals established a not-for-profit, non-governmental foundation known as AMBSAM Memorial Foundation in honour of their memories. (AMBSAM is derived from the initials of the victims).

One of the objectives of the Foundation is to cater for the immediate dependents of the departed. The Foundation will also be used as a spring-board to alleviate the suffering of other less privileged and vulnerable youths in the community regardless of religion or gender.

I associate with the spirit and intentions of the founders of the Foundation because all too often we give no regard at all to causes such as this. In other countries this kind of initiative is the norm and it is my hope and expectation that in the not too distant future tragedies such as this and the Lekki Gardens disaster as another instance will occupy our consciousness through overt acts and will not be swept under the carpet after a couple of months. My colleagues in the Media, both traditional and social, bear a huge burden and responsibility in this regard. We must never forget our basic humanity and there is no better way to remember than to remember innocent victims like those now honoured by the AMBSAM foundation.

The launching of the Foundation is slated to hold on Monday, 28th March, 2016 to coincide with the first year anniversary of the incident.

The concept of the AMBSAM Foundation is salutary and should be commended particularly as it honours otherwise nondescript Nigerians!

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