Saturday 7th May 2016

For Second Day Running, Militants Attack Chevron Facility in Warri Warri-Kaduna crude line hit

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Efforts by the federal government to increase the production of locally refined petroleum products through repairs on the Warri and Ka-

40,000 barrels shut in

duna refineries suffered major setback with the blowing up of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) crude trunkline feeding crude oil to both Warri and Kaduna refineries late on Thursday night.

The attack on the NNPC facility, which was recently repaired, is the second in as many days carried out by a new group of suspected militants in the Niger Delta that has vowed to cripple the oil and gas industry and

the backbone of the Nigerian economy.

Also reportedly hit in the latest attack on Thursday night is an oil flow station feeding the Chevron Tank-farm in Warri South-West Government Area, Delta State.

A gas line feeding Lagos and Abuja power plants were said to have been hit in what appears to be a well-coordinated renewed attack on the oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

THISDAY on Saturday

learnt that attacks took place a few kilometers from a military checkpoint at about 10:30pm, though there was no official statement on the incident.

The Valve Platform, an Continued on page 6

FG Moves to Set Up Trust Fund for N’Delta as UNDP Pledges Support...Page 6 Saturday 7 May, 2016 Vol 21. No 7675 Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Fashola Unveils Roadmap for Boosting Electricity Generation Ejiofor Alike The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday unveiled federal government’s roadmap for boosting electricity generation

through incremental power, saying that the government is looking at what the country could generate out of the existing power assets.

Delivering a public lecture in Lagos yesterday, the minister

stated that the country has 26 power plants, with three powered by water in Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro, while the rest of the plants are powered by gas.

According to him, the

country has 140 turbines with installed capacity of 12,341 megawatts, adding however that at the best of times, only about 78 turbines generate power, which had resulted in February 2, 2016

peak of 5,074 MW. “The problems have been identified as either damaged, unmaintained or unserviced turbines in the hydro power plants, and in the cases of gas plants, it is largely non-

availability of gas, coupled with lack of maintenance.”

Fashola said the Jebba Hydro power plant, which was commissioned in 1985 by President Continued on page 6

Buhari: I Hear Your Cries and Share Your Pains, Signs Budget N350bn to be injected into economy immediately Saraki urges president to ensure full implementation Tobi Soniyi in Abuja After several months of controversy, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday finally signed into law the 2016 Budget.

The budget assented to was N200 million short of the N6.08 trillion Buhari presented to the National Assembly.

The president signed the budget in the presence of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Buhari said it gave him great pleasure to sign the first full-year budget of this administration into law.

He said he would be speaking in more details about the Budget, its implementation and the over-all national economic and social policies of the government in his address on May 29th.

The president thanked the leadership of the National Assembly, in particular, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and indeed all members of the National Assembly for their Continued on page 6

PIUS ILEOGBEN

My Passion for Solving Problems Helped to Break Engineering Barriers in the US

SuperSaturday pg. 8-9

OBA DOKUN THOMPSON: I Was Crowned King in a Church

Plus pg. 17

TIME TO ACT

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly, Abdulraman Kawu and Senator Ita Enang at the signing ceremony of 2016 Budget held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI..

2

SATURDAY MAY 7, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY MAY 7, 2016

3

4

SATURDAY MAY 7, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY MAY 7, 2016

5

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R •SATURDAY, mAY 7, 2016

6

PAGE SIX

FG Moves to Set Up Trust Fund for N’Delta as UNDP Pledges Support Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government disclosed yesterday that it had commenced the process of setting up a trust fund for the Niger Delta, and expressed a resolve to leave no stone unturned in ensuring a structured and sustained development of the region.

The disclosure came even as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pledged its readiness to support in any capacity, particularly in the area of technical support and procurement.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, who spoke while receiving the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Nigeria, Mrs. Fatma Samoura, in his office in

Abuja, said as part of overall efforts to ensure the sustained development of the region, the federal government was on the verge of setting up a trust fund for the Niger Delta.

Although the minister did not divulge much information on the proposed trust fund, THISDAY gathered that the fund is being configured in a way that donor agencies, international oil companies (IOCs), local and multilateral international financial institutions and corporate entities will contribute to a pool of funds that would be deployed in developing the Niger Delta.

Usani disclosed that serious collaboration between his ministry, the Ministries of Finance as well as Justice had commenced to ensure that the finer details of the fund are put

in place as soon as practicable.

“We believe that in no distant time, it will be concluded,” he assured.

The minister noted that the process of consummating the modalities of the fund would have been concluded before now, but had to be delayed a bit to ensure that everything that would guarantee its operational workability is taken into account.

Usani expressed gratitude to the UNDP for its activities and support to the ministry in particular and the country in general, over the years, admonishing the UNDP to work towards closer collaboration with his ministry to ensure that their interventions in the region in the area of infrastructure and other commitments are more impactful.

According to him, a closer partnership and communication between his ministry and UNDP would guide the UN agency on the best way to invest and get such investment achieve maximum benefit to the region.

The minister stated that his ministry’s objective was to entrench maximum peace in the Niger Delta by carrying the people along and making them see themselves as part owners of every investment or infrastructure sited in their communities.

Earlier in her remarks, the UNDP Resident Representative, Samoura thanked Usani for the efforts of the current administration to fight corruption, and pledged the agency’s continuous support in any capacity, within the envelop of available resources to achieve

the ministry’s mandate.

She disclosed that currently, the UNDP supports the baseline survey of social and infrastructural resource base in the Niger Delta, adding that the survey would provide the much-desired baseline data for the region’s development.

Samoura assured that the UNDP would continue to support the effort of the ministry to ensure accelerated but effectively coordinated development in the region, affirming that this would promote sustainable peace and socio-economic well-being of the people of the area.

She noted that the UNDP was ready to support the ministry and the region in any capacity, particularly in the area of technical support and procurement, listing some of the roles and contributions

of the UNDP in the past.

Samoura recalled that in 2007, the UNDP helped the federal government to enhance its initiatives on the Niger Delta through assistance to the Presidential Initiative on the Niger Delta which organised the National Conference on the Niger Delta Crisis, adding that the recommendations of the conference led to the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in 2008.

The UNDP Resident representative also stated that the agency had continuously supported the ministry since its creation in the area of capacity building of its staff on programme management and community moblisation as well as the creation of the ministry’s website, among many other areas of support.

$38 dollars crude oil price and the size of the budget is also roughly the same; the size of the deficit is about the same.

"We will also be explaining how we intend to implement the budget; a bit of it had been approved by the Federal Executive Council two days ago.”

To ensure that the budget process is not delayed next year, Udoma said his ministry had two weeks ago presented a memo to the Federal Executive Council and got approval for a timetable for the budget.

He said: "As we are finishing with this budget, we are starting on 2017. Our intention is that the budget should reach the National Assembly early in October to give them enough time to pass the budget before the end of the year.”

Asked if there was still possibility of a hundred per cent implementation of the budget in view of the fact that it was signed in May, Udoma said: "Our target will always be one hundred percent implementation. But we know that because we started late, we may not achieve it but that is our aim. We will start off with that aim because the budget is a law; so, we will try and implement it as faithfully as we can. However the reality is that we may not, because we started late.”

The president in December last year laid the 2016 appropriation bill before a joint session of the National Assembly. But the lawmakers alleged that the appropriation bill was riddled with errors, omissions and padding, which according to them wasn't tidy enough to be passed.

It was followed by the drama of “missing budget.”

The president later withdrew it, and apologised for the padding. An amended copy was then re-presented to the legislators.

Another controversy followed

the new version as it was discovered that the Calabar-Lagos railway project was allegedly excluded by the legislators.

They were also accused of “padding” by the Executive.

BUHARI: I HEAR YOUR CRIES AND SHARE YOUR PAINS, SIGNS BUDGETS cooperation in making it a reality.

"As I said in my New Year message, living in the State House does not in any way alienate me from your daily struggles. I read the newspapers and listen to the TV and radio news. I hear your cries. I share your pains.

“The Budget is intended to signpost a renewal of his government's commitment to restoring the budget as a serious article of faith with the Nigerian people. This administration is committed to ensuring that henceforth, the annual appropriation bill is presented to the National Assembly in time for the passage of the Act before the beginning of the fiscal year.

"Though the 2016 budget, aptly titled "Budget of Change, the government seeks to fulfill its own side of the social contract. The budget I have signed into law provides for aggregate expenditures of N6.06trn. Further details of the approved budget, as well as our Strategic Implementation Plan for the 2016 budget, will be provided by the Honourable Minister of Budget & National Planning," Buhari said.

He said: “The signing of the budget today will trigger concerted efforts to reflate the Nigerian economy, a key element of which is an immediate injection of N350 billion into the economy by way of capital projects.

"To illustrate our renewed commitment to infrastructural development, the 2016 budget allocates over N200 billion to road construction as against a paltry N18 billion allocated for same purpose in the 2015 budget."

He said that despite the current difficulties, his government would work extra hard to achieve his revenue projections.

Buhari said: "Our revenue generating agencies are coming under better management and are being re-oriented.

The implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) is expected to contribute significantly to improving transparency over government revenues.

"We are experiencing probably the toughest economic times in the history of our nation. I want to commend the sacrifice, resilience and toughness of all Nigerians young and old who have despite the hardships continued to have hope and confidence of a great future for Nigerians.

"But permit me to say that this government is also like none other. We are absolutely committed to changing the structure of the Nigerian economy once and for all.

"We are working night and day to diversify the economy such that we never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country. So that we can produce the food we eat, make our own textiles, produce most of things we use.

We intend to create the environment for our young people to be able to innovate and create jobs through technology.

"I cannot promise you that this will be an easy journey but in the interest of so much and so many we must tread this difficult path. But I can assure you this government you have freely elected will work with honesty and dedication day and night to ensure that our country prospers and that the prosperity benefits

all Nigerians. " Saraki also spoke with journalists after the budget was signed. He said: “First congratulations to all of us, to the government of Nigeria and the legislative arm. As I said in my remarks, the passing of the appropriation bill is the most difficult all over the world.

“Even America that we copy, sometimes the government is shut down. We didn't see that in our case. It is a first time; it is a new government; these sort of challenges are rare. But I'm happy we are all here to see that we have passed the budget and the president has signed it and what we await now is implementation.

"I want to assure Nigerians that from the comment from the mouth of the president, our commitment is to see that the budget is implemented. It is not just the assent. It is now the implementation; that is when Nigerians will begin to see the benefits.

"As I said, let's focus on the good part and pay less on the controversy that is behind us now and I want to assure Nigerians that the benefit expected from this budget is implemented."

“Let us focus on what that document is and that is, the benefits to Nigerians that we will begin to see in the implementation. And that is what we will do in our oversight function."

After the budget was signed, Udoma Udo-Udoma said: “The budget size that the legislature came out with was just slightly lower figure than what the executive submitted; so it was N6.06 trillion, just slightly lower.

“The lawmakers adopted the same revenue assumptions,

FOR SECOND DAY RUNNING, MILITANTS ATTACK CHEVRON FACILITY IN WARRI offshore oil facility belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited CNL located near Escravos, also in Warri South-west, was on Wednesday night damaged following an attack by a new group that goes by the name, Niger Delta Avengers, which claimed responsibility.

Worst hit by Thursday's attacks, according to early security and company sources, is the Chevron Well D25 in Abiteye, a major gas Well belonging to Chevron which serves the Abiteye, Alero, Dibi, Otunana and Makaraba flow stations that feed the Chevron tank farm in Escravos.

Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the nascent militia that claimed responsibility for the previous night's attack on the Chevron offshore facility, said that they

also carried out the latest series of attack.

A statement yesterday by the group's spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, however, placed blame for the attack on footstep of ex-militant leader and senior Ijaw traditional chief, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo.

The statement also warned politicians, traditional rulers and other influential individuals in the oil-rich region to stop their meddlesome activities and selfish politicking aimed at putting them in the good books of the Federal Government.

The NDA spokesman alleged that latest attack was in line with a three-day ultimatum to Tompolo "to apologise" to the group for allegedly insulting the group.

Agbinibo said that the attack was merely in fulfillment of ND's threat to launch an attack on an oil installation within Tompolo's enclave in Ijaw Gbaramatu Kingdom.

While "Team 6" of the group was said to have carried out Wednesday's attack successfully, Thursday's operation was carried out by its "Team 4", the statement noted, stressing its determination to deal a deadly blow on oil and gas production in Nigeria.

According to the statement, "This is a clear warning to the all Niger Delta politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders, and the likes of Tompolo to mind their business and leave the liberation of the Niger Delta people to the Avengers; those who believe taking sides with (the) federal

government to fight Niger Deltans is the best option.

"Avengers are here on ground, neither you nor the federal government can stop us. If you don’t steer clear and let us carry out our activities, we will bring the fight to your individual doorsteps. Our major goal is to cripple the Nigerian economy.

"We are using this medium to ask all Niger Deltans to take the war to all oil installations in their various communities because this is your war."

The spokesman of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, N.B Lamu, confirmed the development to newsmen yesterday but added that he could not give further details as a verification team had been dispatched to the affected offshore area.

FASHOLA UNVEILS ROADMAP FOR BOOSTING ELECTRICITY GENERATION Muhammadu Buhari with six turbines to provide 540MW of power, were to be overhauled once every 5-6 years but this was never done for 28 years, until it was handed over in 2013, in the aftermath of the privatisation.

According to him, the first overhaul has now been completed and more will be undertaken and described this effort as incremental power.

Fashola, whose lecture was on ‘Nigeria’s Electricity Challenge: A Roadmap for Change,’ also noted that in a report recently submitted to his office by the concessionaire of Jebba and Kainji, the total available capacity of the two plants is 482 MW and 340 MW respectively totaling 822 MW. He described the plan by the investors to boost the generation to 1338 MW as incremental power.

The minister further stated that when the Egbin Power plant in Ikorodu, which was delivered in 1985 during the tenure of President Babangida had six turbines with total capacity of 1,320 MW but when it was handed over in 2013, it had only two functional turbines of 400MW generating capacity.

“I was at the plant in December 2015, to switch on Turbine 6, which means all the six turbines have been restored. This is incremental power. But these are just examples of the maintenance and technical challenges we grapple with daily in the government from the President, to the Vice-President, and the Ministry which seek to manage the men and women. Let me share with you some of the human and administrative challenges, relating to incremental power,” he explained.

Fashola recalled what he called the announcement of an alleged "commissioning" of a power plant in Edo State by the last administration during the election campaign.

“This was the Azura power project meant to deliver 450 Megawatts. In reality, what took place was only the turning of the sod. The main activity, which were government securities and guarantees to enable the financing of the project were never issued. This was delayed for about a year. It was the Buhari administration

that prioritised this, resolved it, and work has now started with 422 workers on site and estimated completion date of December 2018. This is the road to incremental power,” he added.

He also recalled the Aba Power plant initiated by Prof.

Barth Nnaji to generate140 MW and ring fence Aba for dedicated power, long before he was ever appointed minister.

According to Fashola, the former minister had an agreement given to him by the federal government, which assured him that the plant would never be sold in the event of privatisation.

He revealed that the same government later made another agreement, ignoring the original one, and sold Enugu Disco to a new owner, which included Aba Power.

The minister noted that none of the two parties should be blamed as both of them had legitimate contracts, which were conflicting and issued by the same government.

“Instead of spending their energy and resources completing the power plants and delivering electricity, they were forced to spend their resources and energy seeking to untie themselves from the problems created by government since 2013. This government has waded into the matter, and, through the Vice President, directed our ministry to facilitate reconciliation, and with the cooperation of the parties, their sense of patriotism, we got the parties out-of-court in a settlement three years after.

“We are now formalising their papers so that they can operate independently and collaborate to supply power to Aba and Enugu Distribution that covers most of the East instead of fighting in court. Solving the problems of yesterday is the road to incremental power,” Fashola explained.

He also disclosed that the Zungeru Power Plant, meant to deliver 700 MW in Niger state, was held up in court for several years.

According to him, “although the project is now three years behind, the dispute has been resolved, parties are out of court, over 800 workers are back on site and this should deliver incremental power”.

T H I S D AY SATURDAY MAY 7, 2016

7

8

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY Pius Ileogben

My Passion for Solving Problems Helped to Break Engineering Barriers in the US I consider myself as a problem solver If I were interested in politics, it would be in America, Nigeria’s brand of politics does not interest me at all

Ileogben

RarelydoesablackmangetcalleduptohelpsolveengineeringproblemsintheUnitedStates.Inspiteofrhetorictothecontrary, America is still a white man’s land where the pigment of one’s skin can open or shut doors of business. But Americans also recognizetalentandideasandonthatscore,PiusIleogben,anengineerwithauniquepedigree,hasbeenabletobreakthatbarrier asanentrepreneur.TheChiefExecutiveofAirtab,atrail-blazingsolutionscompanywithastringofengineeringinnovations,has madehismark.Overtheyears,hisfirmhasearnedhighprofilecontractsinprivateandstate-ownedUScompanies,rangingfrom airportstostrategicdefenseinstallations.Ifhe’snotathometowalkhisfamilyacross5milesinhisAtlanta,Georgiahomeorplay ping-pongwithhiskids,thewidelytravelledUzebba,Edostate-bornIleogbenunwindsinanuncannyway:hedozesoffinairport loungestotrycreatingsolutionstolife’smyriadproblems.WithsevencertifiedinventionsthathaveearnedhimUSpatents,the whiz-kidhasconqueredAmerica,literally,andisnowfocusedonNigeria,herpowerproblemsandhowtechnologycanhelpsolve thesecuritychallenges.Inthisinterviewwith OlaoluwakitanBabatunde,hebareshismindonthenextfrontierofchallenges

C

an you tell us a little about yourself, your background and how you ended up in the Unites States?

I was born in Uzebba in Owan North Local Government Area of Edo State. I finished my high school there before I moved to United States. I studied Mechanical Engineering and I graduated from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. I finished school then in 1983 and returned to Nigeria for my National Youth Service in Kano. I served in Building Project Development Group, an architectural firm owned by Umar Tofa who is the younger brother of Bashir Tofa and Kabiru Gaya who later became a Governor and now a Senator.

That was the first time I crossed River Niger to the North. On a lighter note, while over

there I learnt quite a few things: that was the first time I saw bankers wearing babanriga and long hats unlike the bankers you see in Lagos wearing suits (laughter). It was an amazing experience.

As a student how were you able to cope and ultimately settle in the US? It was rough because as an immigrant, you have to pay about three to four times the tuition that the citizens pay. Besides, if you don’t have papers, you cannot get a good job so you have to weigh between trying to be independent or doing menial jobs all your life. I leaned towards being independent and it kind of gave me exposure into the construction industry in the USA. I always had my sight trained on doing stuff myself.

In a nutshell, what are you today?

I consider myself as a problem solver and that’s exactly what I like to be: a problem solver. I also like problems that challenge me. As you go around the world, you see all kinds of problems but instead of dwelling on the problems, I try to figure out solutions. In that area, my engineering experience becomes very important. With all modesty, in I am the first black person to do the kind of business I do in the entire state of Ohio. Actually, my firm AIRTAB is the first company owned by a black person that does what I do in Ohio state and the five adjourning states. So I am the pioneer in that area.

What does Airtab do and how significant is the fact that you pioneered the type of business it does?

My job is called balancing…air balancing,

water, vibration etc. For instance, in big facilities where you have central air conditioning, if you move around and one part is cold when it’s supposed to be warm and the other side is too cold when it’s supposed to be just cool, then you know there’s what is called imbalance of air movement. So our work is to make sure there is even airflow within such a building or facility as determined by the design. We’ve done these in large airports, in high rise buildings and in hospitals. Its same with water, when a pump is meant to serve ten communities, it does not automatically serve the ten communities in equal order and equal quantity; someone has to regulate how it is distributed. The same thing applies to noise distribution, vibration etc within a building or facility.

That is what Airtab does.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

9

SUPER SATURDAY I Love Playing Video Games with My Children...

But overseas when you try to ship a car into Nigeria, you won’t be able to get information on the duty or whether it’s allowed or not. That’s not good You said you like the good things of life. So how do you spend your leisure time?

I try to enjoy myself and what I do most of the time is doing things that I like to do. Over the past ten years what makes me happy is trying to invent something. I can go three days without sleep wrapped up in mental thoughts of the products am trying to invent or the problem am trying to solve. So far I have invented 7 products and I have them certified with US patents and some are already under production in China. Beyond those I spend a lot time with my family, taking long walks and playing ping pong at the back of the house.

When my son was seven years old, he took his first flight lesson and the intent was for him to become a pilot at eleven years. I like decent cars and I like to drive high speed so sometimes I go someplace where I pay and drive as fast as I can to make my hairs raise.

Ileogben Can you tell us some of the challenges you have encountered as a black pioneering that sort of enterprise in Ohio State?

There’s an incident that happened much earlier, when I sent one of my sales persons to meet a client and prospect for a contract.

He came back and said the contractor asked him what cool running knows about air conditioning. Cool running is a movie about some Jamaicans who went for Winter Olympics (they call it Box Sledge). If you remember that winter Olympics is all about snow and that Jamaica is all sunny and hot, then you know what the white man was saying: what do people who live in the sunny hot Jamaica know about snow. In order words what does an African who lives on top of trees know about air conditioning for him to ask for a job in air conditioning and air balancing in such a big facility. I felt challenged, and indeed the challenges are there every day. Today, I employ several white engineers and the work we do is like telling some white folk that their work is good or bad and white folks don’t take very kindly to such critiques from blacks.

Can you tell us some of the high profile jobs you have done across the world using your engineering expertise?

First of all my company, AIRTAB was initially located in Columbus Ohio before we moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and from there we’ve been to about twenty five states to work in high profile establishments. We did the air balancing in the Senate building in Washington DC. We did same in the Guantanamo Bay Administrative Building, we also did the Air Balancing in Hartford Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

We were in running for the Doha Airport before we pulled out because of logistical issues. At the earlier stages we wanted to do the American Embassy in China but then I wasn’t an America citizen and you don’t go into an embassy for such work when you’re not a citizen so we missed that job. Around the US we’ve worked in hospitals, military bases, airports, schools, the US Centre for Disease Control and several others.

Back home in Nigeria, we handled the US Embassy in Abuja.

You have been reported to have also

engaged in the power sector, can you tell us about that?

Yes, my other company called GWES Incorporated was one of the first companies engaged by Ohio state on consultancy to study how energy consumption can be conserved. What we did at that time was we go to public buildings and study what it takes to reduce energy consumption and then make recommendations where necessary.

At the end, it turned out they were able to save as much as 20% energy without cutting down on some of the things they use for the day to day running of their businesses.

In some cases it’s just a question of repainting the rooms as you know, a black room would take five times more energy to light up to make it bright. With white colour in a room you reduce energy and that alone can save you 20% of lighting energy in a public building. By the time you holistically apply these bits of rules in huge office buildings, the savings are much. There are other recommendations that are technical in nature.

What do you consider the major challenges facing the power sector in Nigeria?

Simply put, the major issues are twofold: low generation and waste. In those days in Nigeria one of the ways you know there is water in the public tap is when you see leaking pipes on the streets. The same thing applies to PHCN when you see light in front of people’s house in broad daylight when the bulbs are not actually supposed to be lighted. Those are direct wastes that can be controlled. If controlled, it will not immediately solve our energy problem but at least there will be additional energy available for consumption elsewhere.

Nigeria is facing major energy crisis.

So how can that impact Nigeria?

Nigeria has lots of issues when it comes to power consumption because we do things very awkwardly. I have a house in the United States and I have just one water heater which serves the whole house but in Nigeria you see a house with five water heaters. That causes an overload and that causes the transformer to blow off. In most places that I know especially the United States, one water heater serves a building.

People don’t power a 20-liter heater only

to use 5 liters for their bath, and by tmoro it gets cold and the cycle continues. What has to happen is massive orientation and the country has to establish a code of consumption. By the time you have code of consumption and how to do energy analysis, you find out that without shipping money overseas you would have employed several monitors who can help manage energy consumption.

But many believe the challenge is more with electric power generation…

If Nigeria decides to establish or enforce building or electric codes, it would experience better electricity with marginal addition in generation figures. This move would create employment of over 100,000 Nigerians within the next 12 months and would save the country millions of dollars used in the replacement of transformers and power distribution equipment, consumer appliances and electronics. In addition, if the country would partake in lighting audit and retrofit on the demand side of power, the benefit would be monumental, far beyond that of code establishment and enforcement.

As a Nigerian in Diaspora do you have any intention of coming home to help in solving some of the problems we face today in Nigeria?

It is a very poor expectation because the people that will help the country do not have to come from Diaspora but being overseas gives you more exposure. Even when you come with the things we’ve learnt it is difficult to sell it because nobody is ready to listen to you. Everybody has a fault in this. The biggest handicap that we have is being able to identify the individuals or agencies that can actually use experiences from overseas. My experience with my Governor Adams Oshiomhole is ugly since people around them him think it’s a privilege to see a Governor. In Ohio, even as a foreigner I can walk in to see the governor; all that’s required is that I wait for my turn.

Are you saying there is something the Nigerian government is not doing right?

Maybe the Nigerian government needs to create a centre where people can be listened to.

Imagine, I was in Cote d’Ivoire and in a short while I was able to see 3 of their ministers.

Everywhere you went they gave you all the necessary information which includes addresses and phone numbers and also guidelines on how to do business in their country.

You are known as a travel freak. How many countries have you visited?

I like travelling and I’ve been to all of Europe, Japan, Korea and Mexico. I have been to China and almost every major city in China, and that includes travelling by their 400km train and it’s very impressive. But I’ve not been to the Middle East. When you travel a lot you will be surprised to see all the things people do to make a living. I mean you can never learn enough.

Have you thought of what you can do to put your own imprint in a place where you were born and raised?

The kind of job we do in the US cannot be easily sold in Nigeria. There are lots of hurdles to cross and you can be chasing one project like forever. In other places contract awards are run in an open system and you’ll know whether you have it or not. That is the reason we haven’t done anything in Nigeria. I come home in Nigeria so often that people in my Uzebba village don’t even know I live in America. I have done my bit and will continue to do so but getting the government to buy into the my ideas have been rather difficult.

As an entrepreneur what advice would you give to young entrepreneurs in Nigeria?

As an entrepreneur don’t listen to what people say. When you dream you dream alone. In life people will try to discourage you so just believe in your vision and chase it to the end. Find logical conclusion to whatever you think about. If someone like me from Uzebba who did not use water system till I was about thirteen years old can go to America and establish something that takes me all over the world, anybody can be anything as long as they stay focused and determined.

You live in Atlanta where a notable black man Andrew Young served as Mayor. Has politics crossed your mind either in America or in NIgeria?

If politics had crossed my mind it would have been in America. Nigeria’s brand of politics does not interest me at all. I believe I can be more effective where I am than being in politics, so am not interested in politics now and in the future.

Getting the Government to Buy Into My Ideas Have Been Rather Difficult

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

NEWS

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

Fulani Herdsmen: Abia Approves Use of Bakassi Boys Anambra, Ekiti take pre-emptive steps

Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahiaand OlakiitanVictor in Ado Ekiti With the increasing uneasiness caused by deadly attacks by Fulani herdsmen, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has concluded plans to deploy the State Vigilante Services (AVS), popularly known as Bakassi Boys, to communities across the state to assist in providing security.

In Anambra, Governor Willie Obiano has convened a tripartite meeting of the leaders of the Fulani community in the state, the traditional rulers of agrarian communities and the state government to fashion out a proactive response to the menace.

Also, following a statement allegedly credited to Governor Ayodele Fayose that he had instructed farmers in Ekiti State to poison their water to ward off invasion by herdsmen, the Fulani cattle herdsmen in the state have resolved to take their case to the Council of Traditional Rulers.

The Abia State governor also vehemently condemned the killing of two butchers by soldiers at the abattoir in the Ogbor Hill area of Aba, which led to massive protests on Thursday in the commercial city.

In a statement he personally signed, Governor Ikpeazu described as “unfortunate” the incident “that led to the untimely death of this brother,” adding that he shared in the pains and grief of the family of the victims.

He announced that the soldier that murdered the butcher in cold blood had been arrested and taken into custody, and urged the people to remain calm as justice would be done.

“I call on the people of Abia,

especially those of us in Aba, to remain calm. I reassure all citizens of the state that the government is doing everything to protect lives and property of citizens from any attack,” he said.

Ikpeazu said he had “instructed and equipped security agencies in the state to ensure watertight security around our boarders and towns against any form of attack.”

Prior to the deployment of the Bakassi Boys, the governor said they would undergo “intensive training” that would last for two weeks which he directed should commence with immediate effect.

He explained that the deployment of the Bakassi Boys was to assist in community policing under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, adding that more personnel would be enlisted into the AVS. Ikpeazu directed all traditional rulers in the state to submit names of 10 youths from their community to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

He further announced other security measures that he has put in place to ensure adequate security of lives and properties in the state.

“I have mandated the law enforcement agencies to search and screen all trucks and vehicles conveying livestock, food items and persons into the state from any part of the country. The law enforcement agencies will also search and screen markets and settlements where livestock and dealers are, to ensure security,” he said.

The state government, he

RETURN OF MILITANCY...

Minister of Defence, retired Brig-Gen. Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali with security chiefs during his inspection visit to vandalised 48-inch Expert Pipeline at Forcados Export Terminal, Delta State said, has constituted a Farmers/ Herdsmen Conflict Resolution Committee at the state level headed by the Commissioner of Police.

Other members of the committee include the Brigade Commander, State Director of DSS, State Commandant of the NSCDC, the Naval Commander, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security. Also included are Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Myati Allah and Saraki Hausa.

Similar committee has also

been replicated in all the 17 local governments, headed by council chairmen, with other members to include Divisional Police Officers, heads of NSCDC, DSS in the local governments as well as chairmen of Traditional Rulers Council and leaders of Hausa communities.

Governor Ikpeazu said: “I want to encourage our people to report any suspicious movement of strange persons within our communities to the Traditional Rulers or call any of the following Police Emergency Control phone numbers, 08079210003, 08079210004,

08079210005, 08035425405 for prompt deployment of a Rapid Response Unit formed for the purpose of security alert.”

In Anambra, while addressing the gathering at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Obiano revealed that there were suspicious movements in some parts of the state that were being carefully monitored to ensure that there was no immediate threat to the security of the state.

“What we intend to do is to send the Fulanis that are living with us here to go and meet with

the Fulanis in that area with a view to finding out whether they are coming in peace or otherwise.

“More importantly, we want Fulanis in this committee to tell the members of this committee if their people are nursing any grievance in whatever form,” Governor Obiano explained and further pointed out that early in the life of his administration he had set up a special committee to nurture mutually beneficial relations between the Hausa/ Fulani Community in the state and their hosts.

US Moves to Approve Attack Aircraft for Nigeria in Boko Haram Fight

After a 12-Hour, Siege, EFCC Vacates Fani-Kayode's Abuja Home

Zacheaus Somorin with agency report

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The United States administration is seeking to approve a sale of as many as 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Nigeria to aid its battle against the extremist group Boko Haram, U.S. officials said in a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari's drive to reform the country's corruption-tainted military.

According to Reuters, Washington also was dedicating more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to the campaign against the Islamist militants in the region and planned to provide additional training to Nigerian infantry forces, the officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration's plans.

The possible sale which the officials said was favored within the U.S. administration but subject to review by Congress underscores the deepening U.S. involvement in helping governments in north and West Africa fight extremist groups.

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Michael Franken, a deputy commander of

the Pentagon's Africa Command, told a Washington forum last week that there now were 6,200 U.S. troops - most of them Special Operations Forces - operating from 26 locations on the continent. The widening U.S. military cooperation is a political victory for Buhari, who took office last year pledging to crack down on the rampant corruption that had undermined the armed forces in Africa's most populous country.

"The Buhari administration I think has really reenergised the bilateral relationship in a fundamental way," one U.S. official said. The previous Nigerian government of Goodluck Jonathan had scorned the United States for blocking arms sales partly because of human rights concerns. It also criticised Washington for failing to speed the sharing of intelligence.

The souring relations hit a low at the end of 2014 when U.S. military training of Nigerian forces was abruptly halted. That is changing under Buhari, whose crackdown on corruption has led to a raft of charges against top national security officials in the previous government. "Buhari made clear from the get-go that his number

one priority was reforming the military to defeat Boko Haram ... And he sees us as part of that solution," a second U.S. official said.

Still, serious human rights abuses committed by security forces, which include police, increased in 2015, according to the U.S. State Department's annual human rights report. Many of the funds alleged to have been misused and siphoned off by corrupt Nigerian officials under Jonathan's government were earmarked for the fight against Boko Haram, which has killed thousands in northeast Nigeria and neighboring countries in the last seven years. Last year, the group pledged loyalty to Islamic State.

"No wonder they weren't doing well with respect to Boko Haram.

(They) didn’t have the ammunition," the first official said. The accused officials include Nigeria's former chief of defense staff, who last month pleaded not guilty to using money allocated for Nigeria's air force to buy a mansion and a commercial plot of land and build a shopping mall.

Congress has not yet been formally notified of the possible U.S. approval of the sale of

Embraer's A29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft to Nigeria.

The Tucanos can be used for training, surveillance or attack.

They can be armed with two wing-mounted machine guns and can carry up to 1,550 Kg (3,417 pounds) of weapons.

One production line for the Super Tucano is in Florida, where it is built with U.S. firm Sierra Nevada Corp. The aircraft that would be sold to Nigeria come with a "very basic armed configuration," one of the U.S. officials said. The sale could offer Nigeria a more maneuverable aircraft that can stay aloft for extended periods to target Boko Haram formations. Officials did not disclose the cost of the planes to be sold to Nigeria.

However, a contract for 20 similar aircraft sold to Afghanistan was valued at about $428 million at the time it was announced in 2013. J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council think tank, said any sale of Super Tucano aircraft would demonstrate improving ties, but cautioned that their ability to counter Boko Haram could be limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday besieged the Abuja home of the former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode for 12 hours.

Fani-Kayode raised the alarm via his facebook page on the surrounding of his house by the officers of the anti-graft agency.

He disclosed that the Commission had earlier that day, sent him a letter inviting him for questioning on Monday, May 9, 2016.

He said: "Today the EFCC invited me to come their office on Monday. I have their letter.

I agreed to be there. Now they have surrounded my house.

"The letter of invitation was served this morning and it was dated 6th May. They said I should report on the 9th."

"Can someone please tell me why they are at my gate? They can't even wait because they want to detain me so badly and keep me away for the weekend.

"I never refused their invitation.

Why all this? I leave them to God," he added.

THIDAY also confirmed from a source within the agency that a letter of invitation had been sent to Fani-Kayode and that their "men has been sent to secure the residence".

In the same vein, the letter of invitation" dated May 6, 2016, was signed by the Acting Head, CTGI/Pension Fraud Section on behalf of the Executive Chairman.

Part of the letter read: "This Commission is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Fraud and Money laundering involving Joint Trust Dimension Ltd in which you featured prominently.

"In view of the above, you are requested to kindly report for an interview with the undersigned, scheduled as follows...

"The request is made pursuant to section 38 (I) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004 and section 21 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011."

According to the letter, FaniKayode is expected to be at the Commission's Headquarters in Abuja by 10 am on Monday.

Sources said the EFCC operatives eventually left Fani-Kayode’s house in the evening.

11

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

Yemi

Adebowale Loot Recoveries and the Impact on Our Lives 07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari, his ministers, and some agencies of the federal government use virtually every forum to celebrate the war against corruption and the amount of money so far recovered. Our president and these agencies often regale Nigerians with the state of the anti-sleaze war.

Catholic Bishops of Nigeria offered to help him in the war when they visited the presidency this week. Just as I have always been saying, there is nothing wrong with fighting corruption. However, I believe most Nigerians would also like to hear positive stories about our education, health, road, agriculture, fuel supply, electricity, housing and other key sectors of the economy from Buhari, his ministers and these agencies of government. To put it straight, Nigerians want to start hearing stories about how Buhari is impacting on our lives with the recovered loot. Stories of billions of Naira being recovered does not make sense to me, if it does not put food on my table, provide jobs for the jobless and improve my general welfare.

I have no regrets about shouting ‘to hell with stories of loot recoveries not impacting on our lives.’

For me, stories of contractors returning to sites of various abandoned road projects across the nation, courtesy of the recovered loot, will surely be stimulating. Stories about new equipment being delivered to various teaching hospitals and higher institutions across the nation will make sense to many of us. Stories about improvement in electricity and fuel supply and new jobs will enliven Nigerians. Unfortunately, we are not getting these kinds of stories. The stories we have been getting about these troubled sectors in the last one year are hugely depressing.

Buhari’s inability to halt the pains inflicted on Nigerians by the sliding economy, slithering industrial capacity utilisation, dreadful forex policy, prolonged scarcity of petroleum products and incessant power outages have all combined to negatively impact on our lives. Stories about anti-corruption recoveries have not impacted on our lives.

For example, Nigerians need jobs.

Buhari

Many have lost their jobs in the last 11 months. Many more will lose their jobs in the coming weeks and months because of the sashaying economy. Unfortunately, our president’s anti-corruption circus and recovered loot have not been creating jobs.

Recent job cuts in Nigeria are frightening. Recovered loot is not having any impact on this. The list is growing by the day. Just last week, as a way of reversing its 2015 financial year’s 82 per cent slump in profit, the parent company of First Bank Nigeria Limited, FBN Holdings Plc announced its plans to shed about 1000 jobs. So many other banks have quietly eased out workers because of the skimming economy. Before the end of this month, all Nigerians working for the Spanish national carrier, Iberia will join the growing unemployment market.The Airline has decided to pull out of Nigeria.

The refusal of the Central Bank of Nigeria

United States Spies are Here Again I was worried and depressed with the fanfare with which President Muhammadu Buhari recently received a 42-member team from the United States, purportedly in our country to support three priority areas - security, economy and governance - of the Buhari administration.

The Barack Obama delegation was led

by Ms Samantha Power, the current U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN. I hope we have not forgotten how the US used its former ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Robin Renee Sanders to spy on this country during the days of Yar’dua’s illness. As revealed by Wikileaks, Sanders was invited to help by those around late Yar’Adua but she took advantage of the opportunity to spy and was sending back vital information to her country. Have we forgotten this experience so soon? Suddenly, the Americans are again offering to help us with security, governance and economy. Haba! The Americans have never genuinely helped any country with security or any of these two other areas.

They have never and will never help any country to attain development. When you open up to them as Buhari is trying to do, they will only use the opportunity to spy on us and take away anything of interest to them. It seems Buhari and his men have

Obama

forgotten about America’s hypocrisy.

The fact that theDeputy Commander of the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM), Vice Admiral Michael T. Franken was on the team should send a clear message to us about their intentions. I sincerely hope smart and genuine patriots around our president will move swiftly to stop him from further exposing Nigeria to the Americans. We have to abort this American spy mission.

(CBN) to exempt foreign carriers from its horrendous forex policy greatly influenced Iberia Airline’s decision.

The Spanish carrier took the decision, because of the financial predicament brought upon it by the policy, which prevented it from repatriating its profit in the last 11 months.

Truworths International Limited, South African clothing retailer will close its two remaining Nigeria stores before the middle of this month after struggling to get stock into the country and cash out. A logistics provider in the oil and gas industry, Intels Nigeria Limited, recently sacked 500 of its 5,000 workforce in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Rivers State over a lull in maritime operations.

Clearly, the remaining investors that are still around in our dear country are struggling to survive. The World Bank report released last week on “doing business” across the globe testifies to this. It revealed that it is tougher doing business in Nigeria now than it was in 2015. The Bank’s report came hours after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Nigeria needed a substantial policy reset to reap sub-Saharan Africa’s strong potential. The global bank, in the 2016 “Doing Business Report”, noted that Nigeria went up the ease of doing business ranking, but doing business actually got tougher in the largest economy in Africa.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday released the capital importation report for the first quarter of 2016, stating that the country recorded its lowest investment inflows in nine years. The bureau said the economy attracted a total investment of $710.97m (N140.07bn), noting that this represented a decline of 54.34 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2015.

The report stated that both the quarterly and year-on-year declines were also the lowest recorded since the series began in 2007. The report stated: “The total value of capital imported into Nigeria in the first quarter of 2016 was $710.97m, the lowest level since the series began in 2007. This represents a decline of 54.34 per cent in the final quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decline of 73.79 per cent.”

Both the quarterly and year-on-year declines were also the lowest recorded since the series began.

“Investors may be concerned about whether or not they will be able to repatriate the earnings from their investments, given the current controls on the exchange rate. In addition, as growth has slowed in recent quarters, there may be concerns about the profitability of such investments,” NBS added.

The Buhari administration has to change its ways in order to at least retain existing investors. Its economic policies, particularly the forex rules must be overhauled instead of stories of recovered loot being bandied. Manufacturers are seething. As a result, thousands

of Nigerians are being thrown out of job daily. Instead of working with the real sector to work out solutions, we only get to hear stories about recovered loot. Just as our blazing activist and former minister of education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili noted recently after taking a hard look at Buhari’s almost year-long tenure, Buhari is running an economic policy that is both archaic and opaque and similar to those he promulgated during the military administration he led in the 1980s. She added: “What did not work in 1984 can¬not possibly be a solution in a global economy that’s much more integrated. His archaic and opaque economic principles are not only encouraging massive cor¬ruption and abuse of power, but also damaging poor Ni-gerians they were intended to help. During the first coming of this our new presi¬dent, a command and control economic system was adopted.

“During that era, inflation spiraled. During that era, jobs were lost. During that era, the economic growth level dipped. That era wasn’t the best of eras in economic progress. President Buhari is repeating that same command and control ap¬proach towards economic is¬sues which has left the coun¬try’s economic indices worse off since he assumed office al¬most a year ago.

In al¬most one year, the president is still holding to the premise that command and control is the only way out. In a year, we have lost the single digit inflation status we maintained in past administrations.”

It is about time this administration started impacting lives with the recovered loot. One of the fastest ways of doing this is through massive investment in infrastructure. History has shown that investments in this direction always have massive multiplier effect.

This morning, our dear president should reflect deeply on the position of the Methodists Archbishop of Enugu, Christopher Ede who recently urged him to drive the change agenda of government, with some measures of flexibility, “to enable Nigerians live to enjoy the dividends when they fully mature.” Ede remarked further: “There is too much hardship in the land.

The government must drive the change agenda with a human face, so as to reduce the sufferings of the people.”

And one more advice for our president: he should relinquish his position as the minister of petroleum. This is partly responsible for the piercing fuel scarcity we are experiencing. Buhari’s view on so many issues concerning this critical sector is antiquated. A Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should also be appointed to directly supervise the affairs of the NNPC. A situation whereby the junior minister for petroleum resources is also the GMD of the NNPC is laughable. I am happy that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also noted that the office of minster of petroleum is too critical to the economy to be combined with the office of the President.

A Word for Governor Ayade Watching workers of the Cross River State Waste Management Authority protesting against 21 months of unpaid salaries on Tuesday was really disheartening. This is man’s inhumanity to man. I am shocked that Governor Ben Ayade is allowing an oppression of this magnitude to continue in Cross River State. Those mainly affected are the street sweepers.

Some of them have died waiting for their salaries. The others remaining are walking carcass. Ayade must wake up and put an end to this suffering.

Ayade

12

MAY 7, 2016• THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

HERDSMEN KILLINGS AS ANTI-BUHARI

T

It is in President Buhari’s interest to stop the killings by the herdsmen, argues Ikeogu Oke

here is a sense in which the murderous rampage of the so-called Fulani herdsmen and the other recent killings in our country – particularly of the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOD) movement and the Shiite Muslims – can be said to be anti-Buhari.

I have to point this out because, in a country where selfinterest seems to trump everything else, especially in leadership, it may be an effective way to get President Muhammadu Buhari to use every means available to him to arrest this murderous march of anarchy being viewed by some as a devious manifestation of the 2015 post-election triumphalism of his Fulani people, and its nationwide and decidedly southward spread that threatens our very existence as a nation. For we are witnessing a pattern of seemingly well-orchestrated violence whose legacy of death and hate may likely pit the south of the country against the north, with predictable consequences for our nation’s peace, unity and stability should it be allowed to fester any longer.

In the unlikely case that President Buhari’s initial reticence to the carnage is the result of his having asked himself, “What’s in stopping it for me?” and having not seen what, drawing his attention to how stopping it might benefit him personally may prove advantageous to the effort to end the menace, with he leading the charge as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces and the person ultimately responsible for securing our country and the lives and property of its citizens being destroyed by the herdsmen.

Now, as an agent of change, Buhari promised to put a stop to the reign of impunity in the land, with emphasis, it would seem, on the way some of our public office holders allegedly helped themselves with the contents of the public till, looting it without facing sanction and without consideration for our country’s future.

But the change that replaces a situation in which we had our treasury plundered with impunity with one in which we are having our lives destroyed with impunity, in our country, in peacetime, under the rule of law, cannot be deemed as an improvement. In fact, it is a worse situation in so far as we humans generally regard the loss of life as the greatest of all losses. Who would rather not have their money stolen than be robbed of their life?

And it is this metamorphosis of impunity into a greater evil that President Buhari seems to have ignored, maintaining a curious silence until he spoke by proxy following the most recent killings by the herdsmen in Enugu State that reportedly left scores dead, as the previous one in Agatu, Benue State, had done.

How many such attacks, and deaths, should it take a sensitive and responsible leader to personally reassure his people that their lives matter to him regardless of their ethnicity, especially one who, before he became President, reportedly interceded with the then Governor Lam Adesina of Oyo State to stop the killing of his Fulani people in his state during an ethnic clash with their hosts? And didn’t another of our leaders, former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, boast that the Fulani herdsman can now dismantle and reassemble an AK47? Could his words have anticipated the recent killings by people believed to be Fulani herdsmen?

In sum, these killings are anti-Buhari because they put the

IN ABUJA, I HAVE RECENTLY SIGHTED THE ODDITY OF HERDS OF CATTLE AND THEIR DROVERS MOVING AROUND THE METROPOLIS WITH A SWAGGER THAT SUGGESTS THEIR AWARENESS THAT SOMEONE WHO ESPECIALLY HAS THEIR INTEREST AT HEART IS IN POWER, UNDER WHOSE CHARGE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH MASS MURDER, LET ALONE OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC

President at risk of being judged by history as a leader who promised to make things better but left them worse; and not because he didn’t know what to do or lacked the capacity to do it, as his said intercession with former Governor Lam Adesina suggests. And it is in his interest to stop the killings to avoid such a permanent stain on his reputation, besides justifying those who portray him as a sectional leader ruled by primordial impulses. Also, having designated security as one of his major concerns in his inauguration speech, the rising insecurity reflected in the attacks portrays him as a failing President. And stopping the attacks would nip this negative portrayal in the bud, in his interest.

Incidentally, the Fulani herdsman used to be a romantic figure, gentle and charming in his rusticity, the type whose life inspired pastoral poetry. And I have had occasion to celebrate him in a prose poem entitled “Yola,” thus: “…Have you seen the cows returning from pasture? A mere lad herds them; he wears a straw hat daubed with bright colours, and holds his goad aslant behind his back, and whistles a jaunty tune, and leads them from behind. At his finger even the wildest licks itself to submission, and will stay subdued unto death: everything bends at the kind wand of love, even these huge beasts of the Yola grasslands.”

But Nigeria, with its extraordinary capacity to pervert, has corrupted the person and idea of the Fulani herdsman. Under her negative influence, he has traded his harmless stick for an AK47, arguably the deadliest weapon on the planet, and in place of his charming rusticity we now have a wild being whose presence evokes dread, a personification of mindless terror that creeps in by night to unleash death on innocent people in their sleep. And this gory transformation is happening under the leadership of President Buhari, giving a cynical twist to his change agenda! And as some of his supporters in the 2015 election might say, “This perversion of the Fulani herdsman is not the change we voted for.” And I might add a prayer to Mr. President: Please restore him to his original state of innocence.

There is an impression in certain parts of our country that the attacks by the herdsmen are backed by a hidden jihadist and hegemonistic agenda backed in turn by the president and some of his allies who, like the herdsmen, are Fulani. And it would be worthwhile to convince those who hold this view that it is not an evidence of complicity in high places that herdsmen could execute such seemingly well-coordinated killings repeatedly in parts of our country where they are supposed to be strangers and succeed in escaping without trace the same security agencies that have hunted down the Shiites and members of Boko Haram and IPOD, sometimes killing people who, unlike the herdsmen, posed no lethal threat to anyone.

In Abuja, I have recently sighted the oddity of herds of cattle and their drovers moving around the metropolis with a swagger that suggests their awareness that someone who especially has their interest at heart is in power, under whose charge they can get away with mass murder, let alone obstructing traffic.

And I think a system that seems to value cattle above humans calls for our critical attention, if we are human enough.

Oke, a poet and public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja

FAREWELL TO A GOOD FRIEND

I

t is sad that I have to be writing this tribute to my wife’s memory at this point in time. I had thought we still had many more years ahead of us with the future brimming with hope. But at last, it was not to be. For in as much as we loved Justina it is now certain that the good Lord loves her best and is in a hurry to have her return to His bosom. And considering the fact that we got Father Philip Sosu Mobee to administer the anointing of the sick, prayed and gave her the Blessed Sacrament on the Tuesday preceding the operation which commenced on a Sunday evening, our faith teaches us that Justina is at peace with the Lord. We did not spare any expenses in pursuit for cure of the back ailment which made her suffer agonising pain, often making it very difficult for her to enjoy any mobility. The failed operation was undertaken when we did as it became certain that it was a tall order expecting her to stabilise to be sent overseas for the treatment.

And it was at considerable cost for which she showed concern, requesting that we should explore the option of obtaining insurance which was practically impossible for someone in such obvious condition of ill health. We assured her that her life was worth much more, and that in fact there was no way we could begin to place a prize on her life and

Boniface Chizea pays tribute to his wife, Justina Nonyem, who passed on recently drew her attention to the fact that we should thank God that we were not going to borrow to meet the cost of the operation. After two long weeks of suspense she underwent the surgical procedure only for her life to be suddenly terminated. It is so painful but we are believing God to fill the void which her premature departure is bound to create in my life and that of my family.

Justina was a good friend of my sister Claire Chizea. It was Claire that introduced us. And by 1972 whilst I was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos and Justina was an Ordinary National Diploma student at Yaba College of Technology our friendship blossomed. When I left the University of Lagos and went to King’s College, London, Justina on completion of her studies convinced her late father John Nwalie Mordi to also sponsor her to study Higher National Diploma in England and when I left London and proceeded in 1974 to Manchester Business School for my doctorate, she found reason to shift base to Bolton College of Technology which is within the Greater Manchester Area. I remember that on occasions when she tended to forget I would tease her and reminded her how she gave me close marking as our relationship evolved! We finally got married on Sep-

tember 29, 1979 just after Justina completed her post-graduate diploma in Management Studies from the North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Justina whilst in England worked with a firm of Chartered Accountants, Charles Barry and Hails Snails Ltd as account assistant and upon our return to Nigeria in 1982 did her National Youth service with United Bank for Africa Plc. where I also commenced my working carrier in 1982.

Since then she tried to do business under the company name: Pearl-Jen Nigeria Enterprises Ltd. The marriage is blessed with two lovely girls: Pearl Ifeyinwa Chizea and Jennifer Chukwunomso Chizea.

Justina was good company even if lately she was hooked on African Magic, Geographical Channels, BBC Food and Crime and Investigation networks, she was still able to watch and discuss football with me whenever I was able to get her to do so. She had a way with technical issues around the house and was the one that will negotiate with the many artisans as they invaded our home for one repair or another.

She was verse in current affairs and as a result I looked forward to her comments and assessment following my many television appearances. And I have come to rely on

such views as I find them very insightful and constructive as she had the courage to tell me as it is.

She was a damn good cook. This is a fact acknowledged by everyone who had encountered her particularly her female friends.

This is an aspect of our lives together for which I have had some difficulties adjusting to particularly as her sickness did not allow her to continue to prepare the meals and I had all manner of stewards inflicted on me. She was very prayerful which became intensified as her sickness worsened. She would encourage me for us to say our night prayers together even on occasions when I seemed to be low on energy. She had class and a generous spirit. I was always sure of the quality whenever she travelled and bought things for me and I was wont to display such at the earliest opportunity. She has left a void which is going to be difficult to fill and as we undertake her Services of Songs on Monday, May 16, 2016 in Lagos at the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy at Lekki Phase One and commit her remains to mother earth at Asaba on May 20, 2016, we will continue to pray that the good Lord will grant her merciful. May her Soul Rest in peace. Amen

Dr Chizea is a management consultant

13

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Give us light...

The Challenge of Eliminating Malaria

T

he good news coming out of this year’s World Malaria Day on April 25 is that mankind is winning the war against the disease which for hundreds of years has killed millions. The World Health Organisation disclosed that countries in its European Region comprising Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia have already eliminated malaria from their territories. In addition, it said that eight other countries elsewhere didn’t record any cases of the disease in 2014, a feat that puts them out of the danger zone if they keep the clean sheet in subsequent years. The countries are Argentina, Costa Rica, Iraq, Oman, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

A sustained global effort in the past 15 years is responsible for some of the modest gains achieved. The period saw a massive deployment of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Africa, Asia and South America, mostly distributed free of charge to pregnant women and children under five, the group most at risk. Equally impactful has been the use of very effective anti-malarial drugs and indoor insecticide spraying.

Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, according to health experts. The first symptoms – fever, headache, chills and vomiting – usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. Without prompt treatment, it can cause severe illness and eventually death. Malaria is responsible for more than 100,000 deaths in Nigeria annually. This is approximately one out of every four deaths credited to the disease worldwide. Most of the mortality is in Africa. Nigeria’s Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole says the country also has set a target of eliminating the disease by 2025, five years ahead of the global deadline contained in the Sustainable Development Goals.

While there are reasons to believe it’s possible, it won’t be easy. Since 2011, an aggressive programme against malaria in Nigeria has cut mortality rates among children under five years of age by 18 per cent. There was also a 15 per cent drop in malaria attacks among this same group.

At a time of economic crisis caused by the slump in the price of crude oil, the country’s major revenue earner, the cost of fighting this global problem is enormous, estimated at around $600 million yearly, according to U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle. This is besides the manhours lost by people who fall sick as a result of malaria -- time that could have been best used on the farm or in the office or factory. Yet, the world’s economy will gain if malaria is truly arrested, says Mr. Entwistle in a statement. “Leading economists have identified the fight against malaria as one of the ‘best buys’ in global development, estimating

that a 50 per cent reduction in global malaria incidence could produce over N7,000 ($36) in economic benefits for every N200 ($1) invested.” In addition, “Malaria eradication could deliver more than N400 trillion ($2 trillion) in economic benefits and, more importantly, save an estimated 11 million lives,” he says.

I find the perspective of a Kaduna-based commentator quite interesting. Nigeria can end malaria if it can make focus its attention mainly on women, Dr. Nana Sa’id said in a newspaper article this week. Her views are worth repeating here: “Women are at highest risk during pregnancy, which can lead to severe complications for mothers and their babies. In Nigeria, the impact is devastating: malaria is responsible for 11 per cent of all maternal deaths, in part because less than one in five pregnant women receive the recommended dose of lifesaving preventative treatment. Our social structures exacerbate the challenges women face in protecting themselves from malaria. Women often lack access to the same resources as men, making it harder to afford preventative measures or malaria treatment. Many women do not have the education they need to fully understand malaria’s risks.

As a result, too many women are not in the position to seek appropriate care when they or their children get sick.

Paul Okolo, Abuja

T

A Case for the Palestinians

he whole world today is saddled with violence. Violence between conflicting countries, ethnic groups, ideas, beliefs and values. Unfortunately, this violence is not by lions or sharks against their kind, it is by man against man. It is the indiscriminate bombings, drone strikes, torture and extermination of human by fellow human beings.

The disheartening part of it all is that we are now accustomed to this trend.

We are increasingly indifferent. While fellow human beings are living a reality of indescribable suffering, we just flip the channel as though it is mere fiction.

While all of this may be explicable (or not), one event I just cannot come to terms with is the Palestinian domination by Israel.

That is, if the word domination alone serves to describe the situation. Or better yet, we could employ words such as colonialism, racism and all forms of enslavement but it may still fall short in doing justice to the reality faced by Palestinians in this century.

The most intriguing part is how the whole “free

T H E S AT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK EIMIUHI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

word”, “super powers” and staunch advocates of democratic freedom simply turn a blind eye to this sad situation.

Palestinians are denied the very fundamental human rights the U.N. stands for. Yet it is in line with the same U.N.’s principles that they accepted the resettlement of genocide ‘victims’ on their land.

They can barely play without answering to Israel. Their borders are controlled by Israel too. So how is an economy, any economy expected to survive when its access and contact to the outside world is blocked?

How can it survive when its citizens require permits from another country to move around their country? How can children live when they have unfriendly Israeli soldiers pointing guns at them?

Of all these however, the, most heartbreaking for me is the recent ‘release’ of a little 12- year -old female Palestinian child

by Israel. Ironically it is the release that made headlines because the imprisonment is already a norm. At age 12, every little girl is only concerned with playing with dolls.

But in Palestine, this girl, a 12- year- old child has witnessed the insides of a prison cell and I hope to God that she was only fed , given toys and put to sleep (if wishes were horses). Little D al-Wawi is not the only one, in fact there are over 440 Palestinian child prisoners in Israeli prisons who have seen barbaric torture. Most of these kids are taken from their beds while they are asleep. The saddest thing about all this is that you just can’t erase these horrible memories from the minds of these babies so that they can sleep well at night.

The question is: would Israel stand idly by and watch its freedom taken away simply because the world decided its land was suitable for the resettlement of war crime victims? No they wouldn’t? Why then must others suffer this fate from their hands?

To the entire world, this goes beyond identity, race or religion. It goes beyond maintaining political alliances, defence pacts and friendships. It is about humanity which is the opposite of being animalistic. For if we can all be silent about this treatment of our fellow human beings by its kind, then what makes us human in the first place?

Habiba Sani, beebah42k9@yahoo.com

14

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLSCOPE

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

34 Priority Projects in Seven Months?

A

pparently worried about the general feeling of slow or poor performance thus far, the Buhariled government, last Wednesday, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting had announced that it has identified 34 priority projects which it intends to execute during the year.

I carefully read through the document of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning detailing the projects that will be targeted during the year. They looked to me like a campaign manifesto, which normally appears too beautiful to be true. The campaigns are long over. The government is almost one year in office and is still grappling with how to do what. What I interpreted from the document is that they are still largely statements of intent. Here is a government that has practically taken one year to boot, and hoping to execute 34 projects within the remaining seven months of the year.

As I write, the budget from which the projects will be derived is yet to be ready. Nigeria is heading into the raining season. Not much work, especially road construction can take place during the rains. But the Federal Government is hoping to restore failed portions of major national highways, covering 210,093 kilometers.

The projects, which are classified into four major objectives, have sub themes ranging from policy, governance, through to security and diversification of the economy.

Of a truth, Nigerians have been waiting for the Buhari government to begin to govern in ways that are practically measurable and relieving. The last one year, seems to have been used studying the map.

The government has in specific terms proposed to gain self sufficiency in refined petroleum product within three years and even become a net exporter of petroleum products. How will this be achieved? Is the government going to build new refineries between now and 2019? Or is it going to keep pouring hard currency into the old and (jinxed?) existing refineries?

The government has also promised to increase the megawatts of electricity from the nearly 3,000 megawatts to 7,000 megawatts in generation and distribution during the year. This is great, but how feasible?

And in a bid to achieve increased mass transit niche, it has planned to conclude the AbujaKaduna-Ajaokuta rail way just as it will revise the National Rail master plan which will see to the execution of the Lagos- Kano standard guage line.

It smells nice but far-fetched.

That the economy is in a comatose state is beyond controversy. With inflation evading our homes and the amount of money in our pockets getting smaller and even weaker, the entire areas of priority of the government will be completely useless if the purchasing power of Nigerians is still abysmally low.

During the week, the World Bank had declared that it is now more difficult to do business in Nigeria than it was last year. The World Bank ranked Nigeria in the 169th position. But the government says it wants to improve on this by

F

Herdsmen Killing in Self Defence?

I

am happy that there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel now on this herdsmen’s clashes with local communities Really, what gave you that assurance?

Didn’t you hear the army authorities warn the herdsmen to stop the killings or be crushed? Didn’t you notice that the presidency is now joining others in condemning the attacks? Did you also not observe that even the hitherto faceless Fulani herdsmen have now spoken under their umbrella body (The Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria)? Who ever knew that such homeless, ever on-thego people, had such an association? At least, there is a face and voice to the suspects now.

And what did the said association say that has re-inforced your confidence on the resolution of the crisis? Look, if anything, what the leader of the association, Senator Dagiri Alkali said is quite inflammatory. To claim that the Fulani herdsmen had been killing in self defence is quite provocative.

Senator Udo Udomah moving 20 places up in the index. That is herculean but not impossible. The several parameters that led to the poor ranking have to be worked on as a way of rescuing the nation’s economy.

The workers through the NLC have asked for minimum wage increase from N18,000 to N56,000. The leap seems astronomical, but it is not an over reach. Any fight against corruption can hardly be successful without minding the real worth of what workers are paid. Lee Kwan Yu of Singapore knew this and raised the salaries of Singaporians before he began the war against graft in that country. It is the realistic thing to do.

It will require more than glib talks and statements of intents. So the government, in making Nigeria a better business-friendly country, again, intends to have low interest lending rates to the real sector, and also maintain a stable debt management strategy.

While all of these, if well implemented, will reflate the economy, the one that will be more impactful to the public will be the plan to utilize 5,000 arable hectares of land in 12 River Basin Development Authorities, all with the intent of becoming self sufficient in some agricultural produce like rice, cassava, fruits, cashew nuts, etc. It is hoped that this will generate enough job opportunities for our teeming youths.

If there was any doubt about how bad things are, the planned recruitment of 10,000 policemen is a clear proof, given that almost a million persons have now applied for 10,000 job vacancy, not even because they love the Police job as such, but because they just want to be engaged. The agric sector holds a big key that can unlock the unemployment door.

It is significant that the government is also planning to meet the needs of the weak and vulnerable in the society, by implementing social projects like rehabilitating 5,000 primary health care centres in 5,000 wards across the country. Aside providing temporary jobs to those who will undertake these tasks, the projects will create greater access to health care.

The same is planned even for education where some 5,000 primary schools will be rehabilitated.

I am not already enamoured by the plans, which as I said earlier, look like campaign promises. The taste of the pudding is in the eating. The Buhari administration must walk its talks, in order to redeem its dipping integrity. I am a Buharian (believer in the Buhari administration) but I am not unmindful of the political landmines in the highway to good governance.

Nigerians are waiting. The hawks are watching. The opposition’s diary is busy. It is redemption time.

Taking a Connecting Flight or those who are frequent travellers, the practice of taking connecting flights must be familiar.

Most times, travellers will prefer to take a straight flight to their destinations, essentially to avoid the stress associated with changing flights and all such warts that come with long distance flights. Yet, connecting flights enable travellers to have a “short break”, stretch your legs, and eventually taste of another flight, with a fresh ambience and new sets of crew and passengers, sometimes with more pleasant experience.

All things considered, what is uppermost in the mind of the traveler is to eventually arrive his/her destination safely, without issues or

Canticles...

stress.

In a way, life’s journey is likened to the flight scenario.

As we live, we explore many routes to our programmed and pre-determined destinations.

Sometimes, it may require taking a “connecting flight” by seeking other routes to where we are headed. Sometimes, this search for other routes may delay early arrival. But what is ultimately key is safe and purposeful arrival.

For many who have asked and those who have not, I hereby declare that I have taken the connecting flight. I am on board another vessel now, with different configuration and design, but headed to the same pre-determined destination. While I crave your good wishes and prayers, I add that this column will continue to run, courtesy of my Captain in the earlier flight.

What do you mean by provocative? Should the Fulanis not defend themselves when they are threatened? Are their lives not as precious as well?

Who is threatening them? Are they not the ones threatening and killing people unprovoked?

Look, who threatened their lives before they attacked and killed Agatu people? How and when was their lives endangered before they unleashed bloody mayhem at Enugu? Or when they kidnapped and killed HRM Edward Ofulue, the monarch of Ubulu-Uku in Delta State, last January, were the Fulani herdsmen threatened by the murdered monarch? Or were they also threatened when they organized and kidnapped elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae last year?

Can’t you see that the so-called speech of the herdsmen’s association is arrant nonsense?

But didn’t you see photo images of over 80 shot cows in Nasarawa bush? Is that not an attack on the economy of the Fulani men? Shouldn’t they protest and protect themselves?

I shudder at the skew of your argument.

You cite the example of the killing of cows in Nasarawa to explain the pogrom in Agatu (Benue State) and even the recent killings in Enugu State. Does it add up? If Nasarawa people Solomon Arase kill their cows, why vent their spleen on Agatu or Isoko or Enugu people? Does that make sense? In any case, if they feel so offended, why did they not report to the police? Why did they take the laws into their hands as to avenge any wrong done them? Are they above the law? And pray, Mr Fulani defender, who gave these herdsmen those AK 47 assault riffles and the other sophisticated weapons they unleash on defenseless villagers?

Who taught otherwise rustic herdsmen how to fire AK 47? Who supplies them the ammunition?

Are they licensed to bear arms in the name of so-called self defense? Or are they really above the law in Nigeria?

You are asking too many questions. Do you realize that many of these herdsmen migrate from other grazing belts like Mali, Gambia, Niger, Chad etc?

Rubbish! Is that not the more reason they must respect the laws of the land? How can strangers come and oppress the owners of the land just because they are Fulani herdsmen? Do they own Nigeria? Does Nigeria belong to anybody or any group of persons exclusively? Answer me and stop moping at me!

What do you want me to say?The point I am making is that as Nigerians, the Fulani herdsmen also have right to seek economic activities in any part of the land, just like every other Nigerian in any part of the country.That is the point that you mustn’t forget.

Yes, but must they now use their own economic pursuit to endanger and imperil the livelihood of others especially of people in their own ancestral hearth? Is it right that in their search for their own economic activity by shepherding cattle all over the place, they should kill and damage the crops of peasant farmers? Is it even fair that they will also forbid the farmers from complaining even in the face of naked injustice, just because they are Fulanis who now carry guns instead of sticks, bows and arrows?

That is why the National Assembly must quickly work on the Grazing Reserve Bill so the herdsmen will have their own grazing space and that will eternally stop these frequent clashes.

Another raw rubbish! That cannot and will not work. If all Nigerians are truly equal as the constitution preaches, why must the ancestral land of an Ogoja man or an Urhobo man or an Ekiti man or an Idoma man be allocated to Fulanis as grazing zone?

Away with such vexatious argument! I can assure you that the National Assembly will cease to exist the day it makes any move to pass such an inherently combustive Bill.

Do you realize that cattle rearing is a private business and the practitioners of such private business should go and buy their own land which they can turn to grazing fields with Terms and Conditions applying? Are the herdsmen special Nigerians? Hey, do they even pay tax despite the huge sales they make of cows across the land? They must be special indeed. Remember these same herdsmen almost caused a plane crash when an Air France taxing to a stop ran into cows which strayed into the tarmac of the Port Harcourt International Airport a few years ago? Not long ago, the Ministry of Education came up with a policy of Nomadic education. People who are resident and willing have not had education, but the government packaged nomadic education for roving people. How much of success came from that silly venture? Have we not had enough of these nomads?

My friend, you must have heard it before that No grazing zone, No Nigeria. And trust the Fulani man to mean what he says and say what he means. I think we must find a solution to this blazing fire.

What a heck men! To hell with any threat from anybody. Nigeria is bigger than any one group or person. The country is a collective. Nobody or group can hold it to ransom. The laws of the land must not be abused. In order to have peaceful co-existence, we must respect the rights of one another. That is the way to go. Such tough talks are empty vibrations that will lead nowhere. Let the madness stop. Nobody is allowed to kill for any reason. Anything less is a working manual for trouble.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

15

NEWS

In Brief

OAUTH Performs Open Heart Surgeries

ObafemiAwolowoUniversityTeachingHospital,IleIfehasrecordedabreakthrough as it performed six open Hearth Surgeries for Children within the age One to threeyears.WhileaddressingtheManagementandthe ConsultantsSurgeon who performed the operation , the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, a consultantRadiologist,ProfessorVictorAdetiloyesaidthesuccesswasrecorded dueto understandingbetweentheHospitalandtheCardiacEyeFoundation InternationalheadedbyProfessorMaqsoodElahiwhoisapediatricCardiac Surgeon. Professor Adetiloye also noted that the Congenital Heart Disease problemwascurrentlyrampantinthecountrybecauseHeartdiseaseproblem werediscoveredeverydayonyoungerone. HecommendedMedicalteamand themanagementoftheHospitalbecauseofthehugefinancialinvolvementin thetreatmentoftheproblem.

Pre-Assessment Workshop for Banks

FOR SAFER ROADS...

L-R: Commissioner of Police, Anambra, H.H Karma; Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie M. Obiano; Sector Commander, FRSC, Anambra State Sector Command, Sunday Ajayi and State Commander, NDLEA, Anambra State Command, Mr. Momodu Sule, during the kick-off of FRSC programme

DSS Arraigns Four over Murder of Operative

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

The Department of Security Services (DSS) yesterday arraigned four persons before a Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt over the alleged murder of one of its personnel, Garrick Jonathan Oyaghiri, about two months ago at Obagi community, Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni local Government Area of Rivers State.

The victim was said to have been shot dead by gunmen while on a joint security patrol in Obagi community on the eve of the legislative rerun elections in the state.

The accused persons, Osah Ebube Chineme Kingdom, Elem Innocent Eleze, Nwebehia Onyeocha Prince and Ferdinand Obi Akpe are facing two counts charge of conspiracy and murder in suit number PMC/867c/16.

The trial Chief Magistrate, Sokari

Andrew-Jaja, however declined to grant the accused persons bail since the offence for which they were charged carried capital punishment.

He further directed that the case file be remitted to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice and ordered that the accused by remanded in prison.

The matter was adjourned till July 7 for mention.

In the meantime, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has distanced itself from the arms and ammunition proliferation in the state.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah, said in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt that party was “much concerned over report of proliferation of arms and ammunition, and recovery of large quantities of arms, ammunition, other dangerous weapons from political thugs, cultists, armed

robbers and kidnappers in the State”.

While commending the efforts of the various security agencies in recovering the items from their illegal users, he said, “The PDP as a responsible and law-abiding Party does not have any link with the users and has not procured any of such items for anyone, as it does not have political thugs that it sponsors.”

He accused the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) for encouraging its members to take up arms.

His words: “The PDP has not minced words about its disapproval of use of arms or any lethal weapons in political activities in the State or anywhere else.

“In fact, the PDP and Governor (Nyesom) Wike have continued to demonstrate their abhorrence of criminals, kidnappers, cultists and any act of violence and threat to

peace of the society.

“Pursuant of this, the governor has commendably and without reservation, supported security agencies to tackle violence and insecurity of any kind in the State.

“It is also of note that the State’s 8th Assembly, in line with the zero tolerance for criminality by the Governor, passed into law the anti-kidnapping bill, prescribing capital punishment for those found guilty of kidnapping in the State.”

He said the PDP would continue to distance itself from any act of criminality, and “will uphold its averred principle of No to violence, No to thuggery, and No to illegal use of arms and ammunition”.

“We therefore call on the relevant security authorities to be more proactive on efforts to recover these deadly items from wrong hands for our State and the society to be free, peaceful and safe,” he said.

UNFPA: Lack of Skilled C’River Denies Plot to Midwives Worsening Maternal, Depose Nigeria’s Longest Child Deaths in Nigeria Serving Monarch Paul Obi in Abuja The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) yesterday blamed the high rate of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria on the lack of well-trained midwives to man health institutions and ensure safe delivery.

The UN agency also stressed that unemployment among midwives remained another critical challenge confronting the nation's health sector.

This was made known at the inaugural International Midwifery Conference in Abuja. UNFPA warned that apart from the neglect of trained midwives, most young girls in Nigeria no longer show keen interest in midwifery profession as they did in years past.

This came as Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, stressed that midwives were important to realisation of health agenda of the federal government.

Represented by Director, Human Resource Management in the ministry, Mrs. Didi Jack, the minister stated

that plans were underway by government to guarantee availability of 10,000 wards in the country which would lead to employment of more midwives.

Resident Representative of United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, in Nigeria, Ratidza Ndhlovu while making her presentation explained that "teachers in many midwifery schools in the country are ageing, and on the verge of retirement.

“We need strong institutions, schools of midwifery should be funded by government to meet global standard.

“How do we expect the midwife to deliver life when there is no road, accommodation, water and other basic amenities. We need water system and light in every primary health centres.”

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who was represented by wife of Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara, recalled the role of Mary Slessor in stopping the killing of twins in Nigeria.

Bassey Inyang inCalabar Cross River State government has denied alleged plans to depose the longest serving monarch in Nigeria, His Royal Highness, Uti Jedy Agba, Paramount ruler of Obudu.

Palpable tension enveloped the state with rumours swelling around the possible removal of the monarch who has been on the throne for about 57 years dating back to his days as a member of the Eastern House of Chiefs during Nigeria’s the first republic.

Reacting to the allegation through a text message, Ayade’s chief press secretary, Mr. Christian Ita stated: “If there is a plot at all to dethrone the man, please look elsewhere for those orchestrating it. The governor has no hand in it. He is too preoccupied with governance to concern himself with such provincial issues. This is an old claim that is being regurgitated by those seeking relevance.

“The governor gains nothing or losses nothing if the man keeps his seat or losses it. Don’t forget that

one of the man’s sons is serving in the Ayade-led administration,” he pointed out.

Investigations revealed that the alleged plot to depose the monarch might be connected to the political rivalry between a former governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba, and the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade.

Sources who pleaded anonymity have fingered the state government under the watch of Ayade as being responsible for a recent plot to unseat Uti Jedy Agba, saying the recent allegation by a group of persons from Obudu that Uti was incompetent to led the people following recent clashes of cult groups that resulted in many deaths were part of the plot being hatched to depose the monarch.

The sources further disclosed that the interest groups working in league with some state government officials and aides of the governor had been lobbying traditional chiefs across Obudu to support the plot to sack the paramount ruler.

The Inter-governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa(GIABA),aFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)styleRegionalbody(FRSB), conductedaPre-AssessmentworkshopforNigeriainAbujabetweenthe21st and 24th March ,2016 in preparation for the 2nd round of mutual evaluation ofNigeria,basedontheFATFrecommendations.Thelevelofperformanceof banksbefore,duringandaftertheexercisecouldmakeormartheevaluationand ultimatelydecidewhetherNigeriacouldeventuallybeadmittedasafullmember oftheFATF.Speakingfurtherontheevent,ExecutiveSecretaryCCCoBIN,Mr. ’SamOkorosaid,‘Tosupporton-goingeffortsatadequatelypreparingoperating banksinNigeriafortheexerciseandmakesureallitsmembersdeliverontheir obligations,theCommitteeofChiefComplianceOfficersofBanksinNigeria( CCCoBIN),isorganisingathree-dayPre-Assessmentforalloperatingbanksin NigeriaonJune14-16,2016attheEkoHotelsandSuites,AdetokumboAdemola VictoriaIsland.

Goals Rain at Lagos/GTB Principals Cup

The quarter finals of the Lagos State GTBank Principals Cup kicked off on ThursdayattheAgegeStadium,Lagos.Inthefemalecategory,SanyaSenior GrammarSchooldefeatedAlakotoSeniorSecondarySchool,Tolubytwogoals tonil,whileIsaleEkoHighSchool,LagosIslandgotthebetterofOkemagbaHigh school,Mojoda,Epe,bythesamemargin.Inthemalecategory,KemeBalogun SeniorGrammarSchoolwallopedMuslimSeniorCollege,Oworonsoki4-0,while Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege defeated Birrel Avenue Senior HighSchool,Yababyalonegoal.OnFriday,IkotunSenior HighSchool,Ikotun defeatedGovernmentSeniorCollegeAgege,2-0,whileAjeromiifelodunSenior High School,Tolu lost to CMS Girls Senior Secondary School, Bariga, also by 2-0.Intheboyscategory,CardosoSeniorHighSchoolIjoraBadia losttoEjigbo SeniorSecondarySchool,Ejigbo,3--2viapenaltyshootouts.

Globacom Widens Data Market Lead

Thetelecommunicationsindustryreportforthefirstquarterof2016hasshown Globacom, has strengthened its position as Nigeria’s preferred network for new data subscribers. A statement from the organisation said in the report coveringthefirstthreemonthsoftheyearjustreleasedbyindustryregulator, Globacom recorded an additional 1,448,354 new internet subscribers on its networkduringtheperiod.Thefigureismadeupof354,178forJanuary,248,593 forFebruaryand845,583forthemonthofMarch.Globacom’stotalinternet customers as at the end of the quarter stood at 26,530,420.The company’s figureof1,448,354forthethreemonthsunderreviewrepresents80%ofthe totalnumberof1,820,651 newcustomerswhosubscribedtointernetservices of the four major telecom operators in the first quarter of this year. Airtel recorded319,229newdatasubscribersforthethreemonths,whileEtisalathad anadditionof53,068newinternetusersonthenetworkduringtheperiod.The combined figure for the two companies makes up the remaining 20% of the totalfigureof1,820,651newinternetsubscribersforthequarter.Ontheother hand,MTNwhichbeganthequarterwith39,924,737datacustomersended it with 33,356,595. This indicates a massive loss of over 6.5million internet subscribers in just three months. Compared to the corresponding period of 2015,Glohad946,202newinternetcustomers,MTNrecorded1,286,205,Airtel had2,331,160whileEtisalathad3,994,810newdatasubscribers. Sincethen, however,Globacomhastakenfirmcontrolofthedatasegmentofthetelecom market. January2016statisticswhichshowedhowthemajoroperatorsfared overthelast12monthsrevealedthatGloaddedatotalof7,251,657newinternet usersduringtheperiod.

Pensioners Want Abubakar Impeached

PensionersinBauchiStateonFridaycalledfortheimpeachmentofthestate Governor,MohammedAbdullahiAbubakar,overtheunendingverificationof workersandpensioners,whichhadbeengoingonforthepastfourmonths.The pensioners,numberingover100undertheaegisoftheNigerianUnionofPensioners (NUP),whoembarkedonarally,whichtookthemtotheGovernmentHousein Bauchi,thestatecapital,madethecallinviewofwhattheytermed"unending sufferingofmembersduetonon-paymentofthepensionsandentitlement".

SpeakingwithnewsmenattheGovernmentHouse,thechairmanoftheUnion inthestate,AlhajiAbuGastatedthatcontrarytotheclaimofthegovernment, nopensionerhadbeenpaidhis/herpensioninthelastfourmonths.Accordingto him,stategovernmentonlypaid30retiredpermanentsecretariesanddirectors in both the state and local government services. He expressed surprise over theindefinitenatureoftheverificationexercise,wonderingthat,"ourmembers arestillalive,whydoesthegovernmentwilltakeoverfourmonthstocarryout theverificationthatseemsnottohaveaspecificdatetoend."

Olubadan Promotes 5 High Chiefs

InhisfirstmajorassignmentasthenewOlubadanofIbadan,ObaSaliuAdetunji AjeogungunnisoIonFridayelevatedfivehighchiefstonewranksinaccordance withIbadanchieftaincylawsystem.Thosepromotedtofilltheexistingvacancies inbothOlubadanlinesarethehighChiefOwolabiOlakunlehinwhomovedfrom Otun Balogun to Balogun of Ibadanland; High Chief Olufemi Olaifa, from Osi BaloguntoOtunBalogunofIbadanland;HighChiefTajudeenAjibolatookastep fromAsipaBaloguntoOsiBalogunofIbadanland;HighChiefSolomonAdabale fromEkerinBaloguntoAshipaBalogunofIbadanland.OthersareSeniorChief LateefAdebimpewhowaspromotedfromAbeseBalogun toEkerinBalogun ofIbadanland;SeniorChiefHamiduAjibadefromAbeseOlubadantoEekarun Olubadan and Senior Chief Samuel Falowo from Maye Balogun to Eekarun BalogunofIbadanland.

16

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

SPY GLASS Travails of Ex-Customs Officer, Ibrahim Mera

When the tenure of the former ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdulahi Inde, was terminated abruptly by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, many had looked in the direction of Prince Ibrahim Mera, MFR, a Deputy Comptroller-General, as the likely successor.

In fact, it was gathered that many of his friends were already referring to the handsome six-footer as CG. But, this was not to be, as his career also ended when Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) was appointed Comptroller-General of Customs. He was among other top officers who turned in their letters of voluntary retirement from the service. However, those in the know confirmed that they were actually frustrated out of the organisation.

Consequently, Spyglass gathered that the man, who is described as the second most important person in Argungun, his home town in Kebbi State, was visibly angry and dejected.

Unknown to many, this was not the first time his dream had been shattered. It was revealed that when his father, Alhaji Mohammed Mera, the late Emir of Argungun, died, he had hoped to succeed him as Emir of Argungu, in line with his royal title of Ciroman of Argungu (Crown Prince). He, however, lost out in the battle of succession to his older brother, Samaila Mera, who was allegedly imposed on the Emirate by the then Military governor of the old Sokoto State under whom he had served as Commissioner for Water Resources.

Mera was said to have been the choice of their late father. Expectedly, Mera felt betrayed by the imposition of his older brother, but he resigned to fate.

Interestingly, Mera, we are told, has since reconciled with his brother.

Raji Rasaki’s Son Under Fire!

Azeez Raji Rasaki, son of former military governor of Lagos and Ogun States, Col. Raji Razaki (Rtd.) is currently under fire. He is reportedly battling to save his integrity and redeem his image, having been dragged before the Federal High Court, Igbosere, Lagos for allegedly involving himself in a land-grabbing mess.

This is coming on the heels of an allegation by one Rita Akpogumabode whose building was allegedly demolished recently by young Raji Rasaki.

Spyglass gathered that Raji Rasaki allegedly stormed Akpogumabode ‘s University View Estate, Ajah, Lagos on December 5, last year, with caterpillars and four young soldiers, and demolished the building said to be worth N35 million.

It was learnt that Akpogumabode had, prior to the demolition of her property, cried out that a letter dated Friday, October 16, 2015 purportedly from the office of Senator (Mrs.) Fatima O. Raji Rasaki was pasted on her building and some other buildings, indicating that the land belonged to the Senator.

The letter, entitled “Final Reminder For Ratification With Hamish (Mamimah) Venture (Nig) Limited,” stated that the estate was covered by a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) in favour of Hamimah Ventures (Nig) Limited.

The letter, which described Senator (Mrs) Fatima Raji Rasaki as the alter ego of the company, was signed by Azeez Adegoke Rasaki (Director) and Sen. (Mrs) Fatima Raji Rasaki) for Hamimah Ventures (Nig) Limited.

Meanwhile, there is a twist to the story, as it was also learnt that another family, Olaosi family, which claims to be the real owner, had also sued the Raji Rasaki family over the same piece of land.

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 Investigation, however, revealed that Akpogumabode bought the land from one Mr. Nwayanwu, who was said to have brought it from the owner seven years ago.

Consequently, she is seeking legal redress, following the claim by the young Raji Rasaki that the land was allocated to his mother in 1991 when her husband Col. Raji Rasaki was military governor of Lagos State.

Though the land was said to have been allocated to Senator Raji Rasaki for agricultural use (farming) for 25 years, but the land owner reportedly began to sell it after it lay fallow for 10 years.

Late Fashion Designer, Remi Lagos’ Residence Turned into Strip Bar

In the Western world, both Alexander Mcqueen and Gianni Versace were two great designers in their lifetimes. In appreciation of their individual contributions to the world of fashion, they were duly immortalised after they passed on. Perhaps, they were lucky to have come from societies where talents are greatly appreciated.

Sadly, Nigeria seems not to have literally come of age when you consider what has now become of the residence/factory of the fashion designer, Oluremi Osholake, popularly known as Remi Lagos.

Spyglass gathered that the once vibrant ‘The Osholake House of Remi Lagos’ on Bode Thomas Road, Surulere, Lagos has been turned into a night club.

The factory, which was well patronised by fashionistas and top personalities from all walks of life, is now a shadow of itself.

It was gathered that the new tenants have transformed the place into a strip bar/nightclub called The CRIB and it is now being patronised by night crawlers. The late Remi Lagos represented Nigeria at various fashion events, won several awards and was also a member of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, (FADAN).

Osholake passed on in 2012 at 51 at Harley Street Clinic, London, after an ailment that kept her out of circulation for quite a long time.

The creative designer was trained at the East Croydon School of Art & Design, Chelsea School of Art & Design and Inchbald School of Art & Interior Design.

Returning to Nigeria after acquiring her training, she first traded under the name Freaky Designs. She later made a strategic turn around that witnessed, among other things, a change of trade name to the more ethnic Remi Lagos. More so, her creative direction also found a new theme. She was well-known for revamping and modernising the “Kaftan and Boubou” with which she flew the Nigerian flag at prestigious fashion runways in Europe, the United States of America and Africa for over 25 years.

Okowa’s Younger Brother, Preddy, Quits Bachelorhood

At last, Wisdom Okowa, the younger brother to Delta State Governor, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, has bidden bachelorhood bye.

Okowa, also known as Preddy, and his love of many years, Blessing Ezeocha, took their love story to another enviable height on April 29, 2016, when they got married in the traditional way, amidst pomp and circumstance.

It will be recalled that Okowa, also an auto dealer, was one of the hottest bachelors in town after he returned from the US in the late ‘90s. He was popular on the social scene as well as upscale night clubs.

Sophisticated girls swam around him like bees to nectar and he was also very generous to them in return, so we gathered.

Not a few would still

remember his alleged romantic affair with many beautiful girls in the nation’s movie industry, otherwise known as Nollywood. Indeed, his alleged affair with screen queen, Genevie Nnaji was highly celebrated by celebrity magazines then. Though it was hinted that they were headed for the altar, they later parted ways. Till date, nobody can ascertain what really went wrong between them.

Over the years, the light-complexioned young man has tried his hands in many pies, including owning a music label, while also getting involved in music promotion. Besides, he recently launched a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that will serve as his platform to provide quality education to the less-privileged while also offering succour to widows- all in the bid to complement the efforts of the state government.

Honour to Lucky Omoluwa

Count your blessings and give thanks to God! If there is anyone whose life is encapsulated in this expression, it is no other than Abuja-based businessman and Chairman, Pinnacle Communications Limited, Sir Lucky Omoluwa.

That his heart is filled with joy is an understatement. Reason: His company was honoured with a top-rated award at the recently held Pre-NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show at the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Centre. The award by the USA broadcast industry manufacturer and market leader, Gate Air, is for its outstanding dedication to digital broadcast, international business best practice and creativity in rights implementation.

The NAB show is an annual trade event produced by the National Association of Broadcasters.

It is the world’s annual largest conference and exposition in the broadcast industry.

Pinnacle Communications was represented at the ceremony by its Executive Director, Dipo Onifade and Engineering Consultant, Mr. Anthony Webber.

Fifi Ejindu’s Giant Strides

The name Fifi Ejindu, no doubt, rings a bell.

Many, indeed, know her like the back of their hands. The reasons, if you must know, are as clear as daylight.

Ejindu, an architect of note, is endowed with uncommon beauty. In fact, many are quick to acknowledge her feline steps; and she commands a lot of respect at public functions. But if you think this is all there is about the Calabar-born Princess, then you are making a grave mistake. She simply combines beauty with rare brilliance.

Spy Glass gathered that since she was appointed member of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI), last year, by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, she has proved her mettle beyond expectations. It is on record that she has facilitated many foreign investments to the state through her goodwill and extensive connections.

Not sated, the woman of substance is said to be nursing another plan that will further be of huge benefit to humanity. But she is still keeping the details of the project, which will be implemented in phases, close to her chest.

The ever-smiling beauty, a lover of “neotraditional” designs, became one of the first African females to attend Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture in New York.

Today, her Starcrest Group, which was established in 1995, comprises a number of companies dealing in real estate, oil and gas and building construction. Her passion lies in empowering African youths through her African Arts & Fashion Initiative that has been taken beyond the Africa continent.

Plus Oba Dokun Thompson I Was Crowned as a King in the Church

LOUD WHISPERS AUTO GLOBAL SOCCER WRITERS’ WORLD FITNESS FASHION FILE

pg. 20 pg. 26 pg. 29 pg. 37 pg. 40 pg. 41

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 7, 2016

18

Plus

It is interesting to have Many Wives Regal, resplendent and resourceful, his gait is unmistakable; carefully paced out as he approaches an elevated space in the palatial fort. Dressed in all-white attire with his bejewelled crown glistening in the effervescent environs, he comes across like a king straight out of the Bible. Well, Oba Dokun Thompson is convinced that his throne is fashioned after that of King David of ancient Israel. A lover of golf, education and youth empowerment, Oba Thompson has been using his business acumen, monarchical sagacity and international exposure to bring succour to his people of Eti-Ooni, Oyo State. He speaks with Adedayo Adejobi about his transatlantic marital relationship, the pressure to acquire more wives and his vision to promote good morals, ethics and values

A

s a child, did you envisage being a king?

I remember in 1980 when the then Late Ooni of Ife, Oba Aderemi passed on; at that time, my father was very much into the process.

From primary school days, I grew up knowing a song, Ki le nfobape, oba o obaalase, oba (What do you compare the king with? Oh, the unquestionable king who wields great seal).

Somewhere along the line, I was expecting my father to be a king – not me. But later, my mum talked about a priest saying I am a king. So they created a crown with a piece of paper and put on our heads (I and my twin sister’s) during naming ceremony. Somewhere along the line, my family started to groom me as a king.

What did you learn while being groomed to be a king?

Kingship is one of service that takes you into the role of a father. I grew up being taught how to deal with diverse people – old and young – and at the same time treating them equally. A lot of people mix up the tradition, culture, and kingship.

Tradition has to do with a belief system and faith. Culture is simply a way of life.

And in that way of life, we talk about clothing, music, art, and food. Tradition is deeper; it has to do simply with belief system what you believe or deify? I grew up learning about my origin and its history without missing the whole essence of tradition, culture, and kingship.

Why did you have your coronation in a church?

The first of its kind was during the installation and coronation of Oba Olashore at Iloko in 1996 or 1997. I was with my father and what he did was an anointing ceremony for the paraphernalia of office. And my father said to me, it was a new and good development. But it is not enough. That the time has to come when kings are actually installed and crowned in the church. Through those words, I saw and received an instruction. So, when the time came, I made sure I did everything to the letter. Firstly, I searched the Bible to understand how Kings were installed with oil on their heads by prophets of God. David’s coronation came to mind. I fashioned out a programme around that particular ordination service and installation of a particular Bishop of the Anglican Church and created the programme for myself. So I say to people, that my throne is dedicated to God, to the Scriptures, and it is of the order of David which makes it unique in Nigeria.

Do you mean no traditional rites were performed?

The traditional rites take you through a grooming process where you are taught how a king behaves; how he conducts himself in public; and how in some situations have to also worship in some shrines depending on the particular community.

As said earlier, these are processes that I have understudied as a child growing up with my father. But according to my own faith as a Christian, and before the installation process, what we did was very simple and straightforward. It was a period of fasting, praying and waiting on the Lord.

The announcement came because we knew it was going to come. Since we had gone into the executive council at that time, and the next thing was to wrap it up with a ceremony. That ceremony was to make it public by pouring the oil over my head. And the priests of Anglican Church, Apostolic Faith, and the CAC put beads and crown on me. The only traditional process I went through was the traditional process that I described as the process of the order of David that was clearly spelt out in the Bible.

How did the local community take the arrangement?

It was strange to them. Shortly after that, some people left the church wondering if it was possible to actually coronate someone in a church? And for me, I told them they would understand the reason in due cause. And things are definitely showing up; I am letting them understand that this is the way and the only way according to the Bible.

Did you make any compromises?

No. It depends on what you mean by compromises; but is what I am thinking, no. The only thing that was done when we got to the palace from the church, I was presented with coronation leaves. But the leaves were not placed on my head because the person, one of the king makers in charge of doing that stated that since the crown was on my head, there was no way they could touch my head anymore.

Did you dictate to the king makers how you wished to be coronated?

I just practically guided them on what was going to happen. They didn’t really know what was going to happen. As soon as we got into town, the traditional guns were shot meaning a new king has now stepped foot into town. Rather than go straight to the palace, we went straight into the church. They all knew there was going to be a service but never knew it

And my father said to me, it was a new and good development. But it is not enough. That the time has to come when kings are actually installed and crowned in the church. Through those words, I saw and received an instruction. So, when the time came, I made sure I did everything to the letter.…

Oba Thompson

Photos: AKINWUNMI IBRAHIM

19

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus My Throne’s Fashioned according to Order of David

was going to be a thanksgiving service. By the time we got to the church, the installation took place by the priest and we went to the palace.

Were there confrontations afterwards?

No, but a few tried to challenge it in court; their case was thrown out a year and half after in December 2014.

Did you appear in court?

I never appeared in court once. Not out of arrogance, but that my testimony to God was that if I appeared in court once, my testimony would be incomplete. That was my agreement with God. So, I don’t even know who the judge was. I never saw her. My lawyer only appeared a few times, argued his case, and the case was thrown out. So, it’s a throne that is dedicated to God, truth and victory. That’s why I said it is a throne fashioned according to the order of David.

Do you have any challenge as a king?

It’s been very challenging because Eti-Ooni isn’t well known. Eti-Ooni had the first cocoa plantation in the country.

My great-grandfather brought cocoa and started producing cocoa as far back as 1896. That cocoa was used to develop Western Nigeria. I am happy that what he bought over 120 years ago did perform magic in Western Nigeria. I am hoping to leverage on that history and vision to champion our own path to create wealth and address a lot of issues affecting the Eti-Ooni community.

It’s said kings are entitled to many wives. Have you been approached to get more wives?

Well, on a lighter mode that’s an interesting question. And with the smile on your face, I would want to ask if, it seems you have some plans for me, and maybe we’ll start counting from there. I have an elderly friend and respected man in the society who says I need to have a number of Oloris (wives) so that I can move around regally. I’m open to ideas.

Have you considered having more wives?

No. It’s interesting to have many wives at the same time, but I don’t think I can handle more than one. Because my partner has to always be my best friend; it’s difficult for me to have four or five wives at the same time.

You live in Nigeria and your wife stays in the UK. Isn’t that a reason to have more wives?

That’s a troublesome one. You want women to be hunting me.

How do you cope without her around?

I just got back (from the UK) three weeks ago. In honesty, my work keeps me busy and going. It is not just limited to Eti-Ooni.

It cut across Africa, and the globe. Because we need to do a lot of work in terms of how the rest of the world perceives and defines us. Recently, I spoke at an event called Celebrating Africa in London with the theme ‘redefining Africa’. Eighty per cent in attendance were Europeans. It is time we stopped defining Africa based on poverty, health challenges diseases, conflicts and corruption. Africa is the origin of humanity, and cradle of civilization. I am looking at a more inclusive Pan-African approach where we are not limited to geographical boundary. Africa is where Africans are. We’ve got a lot of Africans in Diaspora, economic Diaspora in North America, Western Europe, Australia and Asia; particularly in major parts of South America and Asia living in abject poverty, living without any form of identity.

At a time you were into politics. Are you still a politician?

I ventured into politics from 2002 up till 2008. And because I was installed as a king I quitted active politics. Unfortunately, there were so many things that I saw creating problems and they would never ever be able to create a situation where you have the best of people vying for public office. Violence and insincerity of those that end up getting into office are major factors. Insincerity of the people who vote them into power is always the problem, and until our people are empowered and educated, we’ll never be able to address these issues.

What informed your desire to help children?

It’s all part of adding value and creating other opportunities for children. Golf is an interesting sport which helps development of children, their physical well-being, and ability to concentrate and focus.

It helps even their ability to at least work towards precision. And then, it’s a selfregulating game. It also works on your integrity and honesty. So it’s a complete education programme which grounds you in good moral value and ethics, apart from being alert. A lot of people make a lot of money from it all over the world. You find a few lucky ones who break away, play professional golf, and they’re earning a minimum of a hundred thousand dollars a year. If that is extended to Nigeria with the right approach, facilities, and coaching techniques these children may be able to just make or create an alternative way of making money to their own benefit and that of the country in terms of foreign exchange.

Do you play golf sir?

I do. I’m a handicap 17, a bad one though; handicap 17 that probably play like a 23 or so. I used to play about two to three times a week but I haven’t played regularly in about three years. I think the last time I played was November. There’re so many things that are on ground right now.

Do you think golf is well harnessed in Nigeria?

There are just over 50 golf courses in Nigeria. That’s for 150 million people. In some parts of America, there are probably like 15 golf courses in a state. Where we went to in Scotland, we saw 22 golf courses within an 11-mile radius. We don’t have enough golf courses. So, what we were trying to do was to expose the children to international standards so that when tournaments are hosted in Nigeria they are not taken aback.

Do you share the notion that golf is for the rich?

Golf has never been for the rich. Tiger Woods was not a rich man. Majority of them became rich after winning. There are a few Masters Open champions who started golf by, maybe picking balls. Yes, it’s a difficult game to play because it’s almost exclusive and that’s in Nigeria because we don’t have public courses. But in reality, the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida golf course is a public course because it was built with government money.

Although it’s been handed over to a trustee, so it’s almost not within the reach of the common man; and that shouldn’t be the case.

How do you unwind?

I play golf. Unwinding for me is looking for new challenges and that was how I came about initiating the African Natural Rulers strategy. So that’s the African Rulers Initiative which is set to address issues relating to poverty, education, housing, health, the environment, and conflict. Because I believe the traditional rulers are the natural rulers as I call them.

They are not working in tandem with their natural assignments. They have certain assignments that come to them ordinarily as traditional rulers. One is mediation between warring parties. With that experience exported to the rest of the world, a lot of conflicts would be resolved, addressed faster than the way it’s done now. Traditional rulers are closest to the grass roots, the environment and their community. They should be able to define their community for purpose that would benefit all. It’s a call to high service and not to rulership. Ruling is service.

There’s been a debate over the superiority of kings in Yoruba land.

What is your view on that?

At the end of the day, there are large towns, small towns, villages, and they’re all traditional rulers and they’re all brothers. So, when brothers come together, there are never superiority issues but people bring about these issues to create unnecessary conflicts which generate tension amongst the people. And you would see that amongst the traditional rulers, they would remain brothers because the traditional institution is one of brotherhood. It is not one of superiority.

What informed your choice of

Oba Thompson demeanour, dress and grooming?

They all stem out of my upbringing and grooming to take on this role. Like I said, it’s a role of service, humility, and when that is left out, I am in the wrong business. I dress in white most of the time with a touch of a few colours; mainly purple, maroon, green, navy blue, and gold. There are reasons for them, all those colours have a meaning but the white is from my father. He always wore white and I remember when he passed on, someone passed a comment and said he was always in white and the beauty of him was that he was different from the others who wore white who were dark inside. But he was particularly in white and you could tell he was pure inside and that was what I imitated and other things he taught me. Culture evolves; our fashion sense has evolved up to this moment to wearing agbada. Like if you look at the Benin kingdom, what they wear is a derivation of what the Catholic priests wears. That was where they got it from.

Would it have been addressed as foreign?

But now, everybody has forgotten that.

There’s a difference between the very official ceremony, working ceremony, and casual ceremony. And I am in my own little way trying to fashion out suitable cultural outfits that will fit into each of those different situations.

You have a signature style. Do you design them yourself?

Yes. I design them myself with specific colours. I guide whoever is going to sew them. I have specific fabrics I use. I don’t wear lace and brocade. I wear wool, cotton or polyester. That’s all I wear because it’s simple, nice, and reasonably priced.

Children have a bond towards their parents, usually their mother, but you adore your father so much?

That’s true. Well, my dad is late now, but my mother and her twin sibling are still alive. But, what I am trying to do is to give honour to whom honour is

due. The understanding of my throne, being according to the order of David, scripturally, is as a result of the guidance my father gave me. My father was the one that actually took me privately and taught me how to pass my common entrance that made it possible for me to attend Kings College. He also taught me how write on different kinds of topics while he dictates.

That was how I learnt how to write.

Because he used to challenge me to be able to understand vocabulary; there was no word in the dictionary my dad didn’t understand the meaning. My mum was the quiet supportive wife, who supported whatever the husband did.

What is your relationship with your mother?

It is still the mother-son relationship because I am her first son. And, there is that special bond. So, any time I mention my father, it is not because I am not acknowledging my mother, it simply because he gave me the right support to be able t do the right thing.

Are you born again?

I am a Christian. They call it born again.

But, what I mean by Christian, and why do I say God? A lot of times, one of the things causing a lot problem, tension in the world today is religion. I am speaking it out of faith. Religion is an organised structure created by man. For me as a Christian, I am talking about my faith as a Christian, one with God, and I hope that a lot of people can have that same oneness with their God. My oneness with God is through Christ; that is why I say I am Christian.

Being a traditional ruler, are you this bold to talk about your faith in Public?

I teach actually. There are few times I have been on the pulpit preaching the word of God, teaching the way of Christ, not once, not twice, and I will do it any time in public.

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

saw an actress, trying desperately to preserve an image, trying so hard at maintaining a legacy but failing woefully. This is a lesson to all married couples, no marriage is perfect, every marriage has their stories and if we all come out in public to talk the country will scatter. We should all try to manage these issues privately within the guidance of our elders in a bid to either solve the issues amicably or peacefully separate. My sister you did not come out of this smelling like a rose and Infact for me, your interview only just muddied you the more. I still love you and will buy your next album but a role model, you are not. Get better advisers, my twopence.

Lai Mohammed and his masquerades Baba Lai never fails me. His comical timing remains one of the best in the land. His position that one masquerade can create employment for 1,000 people could only come from a comical genius. He has been severally lampooned on social media that I am beginning to pity his wife who would have a Herculean job consoling him at night while urging him to forget some of the abuse that has come his way as a result of this statement of Eurakian proportions. But tarry awhile before we strip baba of his agbada, that statement might just be true o.

During my wedding, we brought one masquerade from Akwa Ibom to marry my beautiful Yoruba princess and it’s true that day, that masquerade created jobs for a lot of youths in Shomolu . From the ones who were running ahead of it clearing the road and making sure that nobody stood in its way, to the ones who helped the masquerade get dressed and then the lady dancers who danced behind it, the drummers and other hangers on. I think I may have employed about 100 people that day becuase of the masquerade. But then again this was in year 2000 so by the inflationary rate and also by Nigerian standard of gargantuan empty growth, that figure may have reached 1000 especially if you count those who would have taken selfies with the masquerade and posted them online thereby garnering more traffic to their social media handles and attracting all sort of financial benefits. So Uncle Lai may just be correct. I’ll watch closely this phenomen and report back to you my readers. Thank you.

Tiwa Savage: NO!!!!!!!!!!!

I watched that your interview which saw you responding to the allegations from your estranged husband with pity.

Your husband is clearly in trouble, he had on his own most likely called his friends to inform them of his decision to take his life.

He even told them the exact location and timing of his imminent

The Governors are Afraid!!!!!!

The Governors are really afraid or how else can you explain the fact that after reveling the list of their phone numbers as recently released none of them had the courage to pick my calls. I am hoping that the numbers were not their real numbers and excuse this level of cowardice. After reviewing the list, I decided to place my calls. I starte d with Governor Oshiomoole of Edo State. I wanted to express my condolences to him for the recent passing of the highly respected Oba of Benin who I had once visited his palace as a young Stockbroker. Osho no pick o.

Maybe with such a young and beautiful wife, he had retired early so I forgive him. The next call as to Rauf Aregbesola, I like this baba so much that I once chased his motorcade in Ikeja GRA with the intention of offering to buy him breakfast remember this was during the time of the crises where he could not pay workers salary just before the bail out. I figured that he may have been hungry since he always like leading by example but he did not stop.

His phone too was not picked. I left him and headed up north to call El- Rufai I wanted to confirm he was still alive after the prophesy proclaiming the time of his death.

Wanted to assure him that not even pimples would afflict him talk less of death but Mallam no pick.

The phone ring sha. I left him and went to try Fayose, his line was busy. I could not guess who or what he would be talking to at this time of the night. For all you know it could be Buhari or the Asiwaju secretly begging for forgiveness this midnight. I waited for him to finish the call and then called back but alas, the ‘Ekun’ did not pick his call maybe fearing that it could be the Ambassador to China coming to remind him of his pledge to provide full electricity to China during his last historic visit.

So I left him and finally called my own Governor. At least this one will pick after all as an Akwa Ibom man I stand to be corrected sha, I have the right to call my Governorat midnight just to inquire if he had been well treated by the cooks in Government House.

So my people that is how every Governor ignored me and all the numbers were switched off or inactive except that of Faayose which was very busy.

Let’s look elsewhere maybe their data-plans or credit have all been exhausted by them as they frantically look upwards for the dividend in democracy to deliver for their people.

death. This was so that they would come to his aide and stop him from jumping off the bridge. The guy had no such plans of doing that Abeg, it was just a cry for help and your attention or how do we explain the appearance of two of

the busiest show business personalities at a place of imminent suicide. But in the midst of the cacophony that comes with such theatrics you went ahead to grant this ‘bile’ which in my minds eye dymistified you. As I watched,I

Loudwhispers -an appreciation This play held yesterday to a full house. The three shows were filled to the brim and the troupe led my Alibaba showed so much depth and promise that not a few in the hallowed Hall of the Muson shed a few tears. It was a wonderful experience and for me as a first time producer it provided me with a platform to achieve my vision of dropping a huge production at the Muson. My sincere appreciation goes to all my corporate sponsors FCMB, Zenith, Raine Oil, AxaMansard, Aiico Plc, wellness HMO and the Bank of Industry. I also would like to thank the production team led by the versatile show is impresario himself Olisa Adibua, my beautiful wife Foluke Edgar and the King himself Shina Peller.

The masquerade of Lekki must be mentioned who flew in from the southern parts of Africa to be part of the production and a few other individuals like Honourable Wale Oluwo who all added their own quota in delivering this vehicle.

Sincere mention of Nsebong that influential writer with Thisday. He really did everything possible to push this play and lastly Bolanle Austen Peters who remained the inspiration. Thank you all for attending and giving me this opportunity. God bless.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

21

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

EBERE WABARA

NCC Goofs

W

e welcome, for the first time to this column, the official magazine of the Nigerian Communications Commission called ‘The Communicator’.

Its January-March 2016 edition goofed on its cover page: “NCC rolls out five-year-plan” Not for sale: NCC rolls out five-year plan Let us continue with DAILY SUN NATIONAL NEWS of April 29: “The minister also congratulated Nigerian workers for (on/upon) their….”

“Absence of prosecutor, interpreter stall (stalls) Dokpesi, Suswam’s trials” “Kano distributes waste disposal (wastedisposal) tricycles to residents” “Should Saraki alone be forced to resign before being pronounced guilty, on the ground (grounds) of morality….”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of May 1displayed grammatical hypocrisy: “The president should call the group to order for double standards (standard) and flouting our laws” “In times like this” This way: in times like these or a time like this “Rangers’ boss picks holes on 3SC” I also pick my own holes in (not on) this headline.

“TIME Magazine commends Nigeria over (for/on) containment” “…was the outcome of the series of meeting (meetings)” “Assure (Assure Nigerians) Boko Haram will be defeated” “The source said further that…are (were) now firmly in control of the military.” “…the population of the estate has increased considerable (considerably)

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Heat free (Heat-free) curls” SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of April 30 circulated a potpourri of misapprehensions: “Buhari’s administration is been (being) sabotaged, says cleric” “Irri community seeks for support” Yank off ‘for’ Wrong: electioneering campaign; Right: electioneering or campaign National Mirror of May 2 disseminated a few solecisms starting with this banner: “CNS indicts major oil companies in (for/on) oil theft” “…that the police was (were) supporting the impeached speaker of the House….” “…at the expense of majority (the majority) of other members of the House” “He said the police cannot (could not) be dragged into the mess….”

“Underfunding, bane to (of) poly education” Still on National Mirror under focus: “… incessant strike actions….” Education Today: incessant strikes “Truancy among professors and other senior academic staff often percolate (percolates) down the academic hierarchy….”

“Modibbo meets delegates, promises all inclusive (all-inclusive) government” “Group insists PDP, APC should pick Christian (Christians) as flag (standard) bearers in 2019” “We express these fears, knowing fully well the nature of ….” This amounts to ill-treatment of the English language. Right: knowing full well “The NFF still have to decide on the outcome of some matches” ‘Federation’ takes a singular verb.

“What is good for the goose can’t be bad for the gander.” I do not understand the use of ‘good’

and ‘bad’ instead of ‘sauce’ in this instance. “…but LifeStyle will not hesitate to remind you about (sic) one of the qualifying criterions for this jamboree…” (DAILY TIMES, May 2) Singular: criterion; plural: criteria and ‘remind you of’ “An alleged hike in school fees has created a row between the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of….” (Source: as above) PTA means Parent-Teacher Association.

“The donation of vehicles and communication gadgets provide a good beginning.” The donation…provides.

“Fear of robbers keep lawyers away from courts” Fear of robbers keeps…

“CBN intervention bouys naira” Get it right: buoys.

“You must be matured and in love with jazz music.” Just ‘mature’.

The next three errors are from NTA Network News of May 28: “…Who presided at the occasion.” NTA correspondents should be civilized: the preposition that goes with ‘occasion’ is ‘on’ (not ‘at’) “He said that the ministry intends (intended) to restore back….” Delete ‘back’ “Captain…wedded former Miss… in Lagos over the weekend with pomp and pageantry.”

‘Pomp and pageantry’ is not an accepted phrase.

The standard expression is ‘pomp and circumstance’ or ‘pomp and ceremony.’ It can simply be left as ‘pomp’. If you don’t remember these forms, rephrase. At least, you can always recollect that the Nigerian creation (pomp and pageantry) is an uneducated expression.

“Truely, Jos is a home of peace and tourism.”

Correct form: Truly “This development is unlike in some states

where education have (sic) died a natural death…” (DAILY CHAMPION, May 2) Indeed, education has died in Champion House!

“Public affairs analysts of the most diverse persuasions are agreed on one thing: the world is at a crossroad.” (Source: as above) This way: at a/ the crossroads (not crossroad) “It is therefore, (sic) noteworthy that the AU has now seen the wisdom in pooling the resources of member-states together to prevent ugly incident (an ugly incident)….” (NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, May 2) When resources are pooled, there is no need for ‘together’.

“The hopes of millions of our country-men are centred around us.” ‘Centre’ admits ‘on’, ‘round,’ ‘upon’… never ‘around’.

“Unclaimed properties of accident victims” ‘Property’ in this context is non-count. It can only take the plural form if buildings and acres of land are involved or in scientific references.

“This unrestrained blood-bath follows (flows)….”

“Yes, Nigerians love to eat traditional meals with their bare fingers but that is not to say we can’t provide foreigners with cutleries.” (Tourism & Hospitality) ‘Cutlery’ is uncountable.

“Villagers beseige hospital for free treatment” Right: besiege.

“In this way, life expectancy bulges as the chances of contacting diseases considerably diminish.” Nobody contacts a disease: ‘contract’ is the word.

“The progressive social option implicit in President Buhari’s analysis is affirmative action aimed at eliminating or drastically reducing poverty.” ‘…an affirmative action.’ Articles are not optional in count words.

PEOPLE2PEOPLE...with Oke Epia

Watching the Watchers (1)

A

siege on the National Assembly last week by protesters revealed a subtle but worrisome characteristic of Nigeria’s civil society.

The protest which began on Tuesday soon snowballed into a show of shame as two rival groups apparently recruited by divergent power blocs struggled to outshine each other.

By Thursday when the baleful bands of parallel hirelings retreated from the gates, the futility of the three-day orchestrated disruption of activities at the federal legislature was visible to even the most casual observer of the charade.

Although the exercise demonstrated once again the power of the citizenry to hold elected officials to account, it however fell short of any measurable impact in that regard. To discerning minds the protest was instead an abuse of that power; indicating quite clearly that abuse of power is not the sole prerogative of leaders as the led also have a propensity for tyranny in relations with those entrusted with public trust.

Shutting down the main entrance to the National Assembly for three days in pursuit of genuine reasons of general public interest can very well be a necessary inconvenience. But doing so for less than noble objectives driven by pecuniary interest of undisguised partisan pursuits pooh-poohs the claims to the watchdog role of civil society. It is even worse when such groups resist demands for accountable and transparent conduct of their affairs. There is a small portion of a Premium Times news story about the ‘Occupy National Assembly’ protesters (published April 29, 2016 on its website) which caught my attention. In case you missed it, let me take the liberty to quote as follows: “The #OccupyNass group however rejected a call to open its internal processes to public scrutiny, describing a PREMIUM TIMES’ question about publishing details of its account as ‘insulting.’

To fully understand and appreciate the enormity of the above quote, it may be necessary to read preceding paragraphs of the report with the headline ‘OccupyNass group received about N400,000.00 daily for National Assembly protest.’ But by way of paraphrasing, the report told the story of how this group claimed to have funded its siege on the legislature with voluntary donations from well-meaning Nigerians it however refused to name.

Its explanation was a reaction to allegations that the protest was sponsored to move against embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges of false assets declaration and money laundering.

Mr. Saraki has been under pressure to step down from office to save the integrity of the Senate and concentrate on proving his innocence in court. Right from when this particular group began its mobilisation on social media days before the protest, speculations had been rife that it was being sponsored by Saraki’s traducers who sought to take advantage of a few unpopular conduct of the Senate (like an aborted move to hurriedly amend the CCT Act and an ill-timed purchase of SUVs for senators at N36million each) to also demand the resignation of the Senate

PEOPLE2PEOPLE

OKE EPIA WITH

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

Twitter: @resourceme

Occupy National Assembly Protesters President.

The speculations gained ground when a rival group showed up to drum support for Saraki, thus creating a clash of cacophony fit for comic relief. Inevitably, the supposed message of the siege which should have resonated with the public was lost in the mismatch of opposing partisan positions centred on the Saraki affair. Conversations were soon reduced to who got paid what to do what and by whom. It must have been that silly state of affairs that emboldened the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume to call the bluff of the protesters, dismissing their action as patently impotent to make any senator lose sleep. According to the Borno-born senator, “I contested to be senator for Borno South. I did not force myself on my people and therefore somebody out there, especially the one that did not elect me, cannot force me out because I didn’t get here by force.” Buoyed of course by a perceptible lack of popular support for a derailed protest, the Senator continued to throw potshots freely: “I came in by the ballot, not by the gun, not by placards. I have posters but not placards. So if for example, I am short of performance and my constituents feel that they don’t have time to waste, there is a clear cut process to collect signatures and ask for me to be recalled. That is the democratic way, not by coming in here to stand and say you want to occupy National Assembly.” What should have ordinarily been regarded as an insolent intervention from a high-ranking senator and one which should easily positioned him for mob media action slipped off on a caveat created by impostors of the public

conscience.

And since Ndume supposedly spoke the minds of his colleagues, it was only expected that demands from the occupiers that they be addressed by those they laid siege on were roundly ignored. After three days of a futile sit-out the protesters left their illegal positions with more baggage than they came with.

It was against such tainted background that Bunmi Awoyemi, spokesman for the anti-Saraki protesters struggled to dispel allegations that his group had been paid to embark on the march on NASS. Hear him: “As if we have said since the beginning of this protest, it’s not about Saraki. The aim of this protest is not to get Bukola Saraki to resign because he’s a symptom of the entire rot in the legislature. From day one, when Nigerians said they are interested in occupying the National Assembly, contributions started coming in. Nigerians started asking for the account of the movement. Five thousand, N10,000.00, N100,000.00 and even N1million; a Nigerian sitting amongst you today donated N1million to this protest. From US, from UK people were contributing to this movement. We were averaging N400,000 every day.”

Just as the anti-Saraki protesters were trying to extricate themselves from allegations of sponsorship, the set loyal to the Senate President betrayed its tomfoolery by announcing an ill-conceived plan to move its siege to Aso Rock, Nigeria’s presidential seat of power. According to Mr. Ohazuruike Tochukwu, the group’s leader, President Muhammadu Buhari administration had seven days to address economic hardship in the country or contend with a march on the Villa. He said: “We want to let you know that Nigerians demand execution of campaign promises and not persecution of perceived enemies.

We want to let you know that we stand for fairness and justice, autonomy to all arms of government. We stand for accountability, and transparency by all public office holders, and that we stand with Saraki and the National Assembly and demand that the Executive should desist from impunity that led to the unpopularity of the last government. If our demands are not met by next week Wednesday, we shall commence a massive unprecedented move to occupy Aso Rock.” Of course not willing to be outdone by the opposing protesters which claimed funding support from ordinary Nigerians, Tochukwu claimed that he singlehandedly sponsored the protest. Wonderful!

But it is surely not a wonderful thing that random individuals lay claim to the toga of civil society to perpetuate self-aggrandisement schemes. This is a challenge the ‘real’ purveyors of civil society organisations must rise up to. Except of course, they have become challenged themselves. And sadly, there are indications that they have become copiously cobbled in this regard. This column will continue in this attempt to interrogate claims of selfrighteousness proclaimed by those with the mandate to watch the rest of society, especially those in the public sector.

Follow writer on Twitter @resourceme

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER• MAY 7, 2016

MEMOIRS Oloye Lekan Alabi

My Successes were Predicted Before and After My Birth The meeting was at his residence at OYSDPC Estate, Akobo, Ibadan in Oyo State. The reception was a clear testimony to the humility and warmth he accords everyone that comes his way. Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi, the Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadanland, a veteran journalist, author and a Public Relations consultant, was the pioneer General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Odua Conglomerate for 17 years. He was also a Press Secretary to four governors of the old Oyo State from 1983 to 1989. In this interview with Femi Ogbonnikan, Alabi, who is the chairman, Adegoke Adelabu Foundation, goes down memory lane, and discusses several intrigues and landmines he survived while in the saddle as the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Odua Conglomerate; coordinator at Sketch Press Limited, his sack from office as Press Secretary by Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, the NPN gubernatorial candidate who won the 1983 election in the then Oyo State, and his reinstatement by Lt. Col Oladayo Popoola, who became the state’s Military Governor, when Generals Muhammadu Buhari took over, among other issues

W

Lekan Alabi

ho is Oloye Lekan Alabi?

Oloye Lekan Alabi is an indigene of Ibadan. He was born on October 27, 1950 in Ibadan, capital of the old Western Region (now, Oyo state) to the now late Pa Abdulraheem Oladosu Alabi; may his soul continue to rest in peace. Pa Abdulraheem Oladosu Alabi (alias Right time) was from the Oyetunji Oludegun family from Isale Ijebu and Ekerin Ajengbe family in Ibadan. My mom is alive and she is a native of Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State, but her paternal origin is AgbedeAdodo in Ibadan. I attended Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Oke-foko, Ibadan from1958 to 1963.

I was class captain in that school from Primary Two in 1959, class captain in Primary Three in 1960; class captain in Primary Four in 1961. In 1962, when I was in Primary Five, I was made the school’s mail-boy. Mail boy meant leaving Oke-Foko School at 11:00am every school day to collect mails from the Adventist Church headquarters at Okebola on foot. In my final year in 1963, I became the school’s head boy. After Seventh Day School, I attended African Church Grammar School, Apata Ganga, Ibadan between 1964 and 1969. Prior to that, my public acts of civil rights, demand and promotion of justice, law and order, tradition and culture, etc, actually started in earnest in 1967, when as a 17-year-old student of African Church Grammar School, Apata-Ganga, Ibadan, I wrote a letter of solidarity to Professor (then Mr.) ‘Wole Soyinka in Kaduna Prison where the retired General Yakubu Gowon-led Federal Military Government had clamped him in detention without trial for visiting the late Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the then Military Governor of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria, who was on the verge of seceding the region from Nigeria. I also wrote a letter of protest to Gowon on his government’s detention of Soyinka without trial.

Upon completion of my secondary education, I became a village school teacher at St’ John Anglican Primary School, Akinajo near Ayelogun in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo state. Thereafter, I was employed by Onibonoje Press Limited in Ibadan in 1972, as the first editorial assistant of the press. From Onibonoje, I crossed over to Sketch Publishing Company Limited in 1973, and I was employed as a reporter/ writer/reader. I was placed on the Yoruba desk, ‘Gboungboun”, where I had a column.

The editor of Sunday Sketch, the late Mr. Philip Bamidele Adedeji -may God bless his soul- in 1974, gave me a column, later a page in the Sunday Sketch, making me Nigeria’s bilingual columnist in both English and Yoruba. My column in ‘Gboungboun’ was ‘Morifiri’ (that is narrative), while my

column in Sunday Sketch was ‘What’s Happening’, by Lekan Alabi.

I went to the famous College of Journalism, ‘Fleet Street’, London in 1976 and I did my graduation in 1978. I came back to Sketch and resigned from it to join Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan. I was there from 1978 to 1982. In 1982, when the present Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State Television was established -it was then known as Television Service of Oyo State - I was one of the pioneer editorial staff, when the station started transmission on October 30, 1982. I was the first reporter to appear on the Channel and also the first chairman of the station’s chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

In February 1983, the governor of old Oyo state, that is the present Oyo and Osun states, the late Chief Bola Ige, my boss and mentor (may his soul also continue to rest in peace), ordered that I should be seconded to him as his Press Secretary. I was with him till September 30, 1983 when he handed over, because the then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) said we lost that year’s gubernatorial election, which is a matter of the past and don’t let us re-open the past.

Everybody knew the condemnation of the 1983 general elections. So, for three months, I was unemployed, deliberately, because Dr. Omololu Olunloyo of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) had been declared the governor and he sacked so many people at the TSOS and Radio OYO. And I was one of the unlucky ones but I remained unbowed, because the condition was that if you wanted to return to your former post, you would need to go and apologise, which I refused to do. So, graciously, God brought Generals Buhari and Idiagbon, who led the military in staging a coup d’etat that toppled the civilian government on December 31, 1983. By the first week of January 1984, Lt. Col. Oladayo Popoola was appointed military governor of the old Oyo State.

Today, Oladayo Popoola is a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army. He is also a lawyer and a printer. And I have always described this incident as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. You know there are seven wonders and, I think, my own was the ‘eighth wonder’, because in February 1984 Gov. Popoola ordered that they should go and find the person called Lekan Alabi to come and resume as his Press Secretary.

Remember the word ‘resume’, because I was previously a Press Secretary to his predecessor, ‘assume’ is a technical word and I became his Press Secretary and I served two other successors of Popoola, retired Brig-General Adetunji Idowu Olurin and the late Brig-General Sasaeniyan Oresanya.

I was Press Secretary from 1983 to 1989. So, I served four governors, three military and one civilian, for a period of six years. I left the service of the Governor of Oyo State on March 30, 1989 and I was appointed the

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

MEMOIRS My Successes were Predicted Before and After My Birth

Cont’d from Pg. 22

pioneer Public Affairs Manager of Odua Investment Company Limited. And I assumed duty in Odua Investment on August 7, 1989 and voluntarily retired 17 years after, as the pioneer General Manager, Corporate Affairs.

My resignation was not accepted by the management that was led by Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, who wanted to know the reason for my resignation, but I told him I had a plan, which God said I must execute and that was how I left. As we are conducting this interview, I am still in parley with the Odua Group. So, that is it. I must add that I got married in the UK where I met my wife, who was then a student. So, we got married in the UK at St’ John’s Wood Anglican Church, Lord’s Roundabout, UK on August 12, 1978, and we are blessed with four children; two men and two women and adorable grandchildren.

Did you encounter financial difficulties while schooling or your parents were able to pay for your education?

I was from a well-to-do family, because I had everything.

My father was well off. My mom was and is still well off, but my paternal grandmother was a role model and she was the one in charge and I lacked nothing. At Seventh Day Adventist Schools, then they used to run a programme called ‘camp meeting’. It was something similar to the NYSC scheme now, because we would pay. Our parents would pay. So they would take us to a town in any part of the old Western Region and for those students, who could afford it, they would now put us in a camp and, for two weeks, we would be there learning about life, endurance, and etiquette, of course. And as Adventist Mission religion, they never converted any Muslim to become Christian.

As I am talking to you now, I am a Muslim and I enjoyed the period of the ‘camp meetings’. The first ‘camp meeting’ I attended was in Ede in 1958, and we had everything. We thank God. My father met the late ‘Sakara’ music doyen, Yusufu Olatunji (aka Baba L’egba) and engaged him free of charge. They were friends although, he was older than my father but he engaged the late Baba L’egba, Yusufu Olatunji, to play at my naming ceremony on November 3, 1950. The late Chief Lekan Salami was the ‘Master of Ceremony’ (MC), and you could imagine my father, the pure, fine, qualitative aristocratic family head, in what they call, ‘Omo Ola’ in Yorubaland.

So, you didn’t bother whether there was free education programme in the old Western Region?

Of course, I benefitted from the Western Region free education programme that was led by the late Premier Obafemi Awolowo, later succeeded by late Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and the free education programme started in 1955. I started school in 1958, and free education, yes.

But it was not free in all ramifications, in the sense that our parents bought books for us, because books were not given to us free and, mid-day meal was provided by our parents.

On Monday, 10 pence would be paid to the school for the caterers, who were engaged by the school at the rate of two pence for a meal per day.

While choosing your career, did anybody mentor or influence you?

I should say this, my father was a staff of Daily Times and he served under Alhaji Babatunde Jose, and later Chief Laban Omowale Namme, who took over from Alhaji Babatunde Jose, in the then Western Region. He was a Cameroonian, who naturalised as a Nigerian and later became the chairman of Daily Times. Initially, he was regional editor in the Western Region and he sold his official car to my dad. The registration number of that car was ‘LA 9’; I still remember it clearly. My father started his transport service with that car. Eventually, in 1990 when my book, ‘Speaking for Governors’ was launched in Ibadan, Chief Namme graciously accepted to chair the occasion because he remembered me, as the son of his former junior colleague at Daily Times. So, my father brought Daily Times copies home everyday and that inspired me, particularly when I read bylines of great reporters and columnist and they put, ‘just back from London’, ‘Just back from Canada’ etc.

So, from class three in secondary school, I started taking tutored courses in journalism. So, I didn’t just happen to be a journalist; I had Daily Times background and I deliberately studied journalism and I thank God, that I studied that profession, which, as I say always, makes you ‘Jack of all trades and master of all’.

You served four governors in the old Oyo State as Press Secretary. How were you so favoured?

I was Press Secretary to four governors; made up of one civilian, the late Chief Bola Ige, and the military governors from 1983 to 1989. Last week, I went to give a talk to students of a secondary school in Ibadan and it was one of the questions this young student asked me, because we were asking them what career they would like to choose. So, one of the young ladies asked that question and the answer I always give is this. It was those who found me worthy of being appointed and re-appointed that the question should be directed to. But if I am to answer, I would say, it is just ‘destiny’.

How did you prove your mettle before you were appointed and further re-appointed?

Alabi with wife, sons and grand children

Alabi with wife,Tokunbo

I was also coordinator and I thank God for this. I joined Sketch Newspaper Limited in 1973 and, exactly 25 years after, in 1998, I became coordinator of Sketch Press Limited and I was coordinator four times. It is on record. Four times and they called it coordinator, but actually I was doing or performing the duties of the Managing Editor/Managing Director. Let me say this, with due respect, anybody, who wants to practise journalism or media must first of all be convinced within himself or herself that it is a passion that is driving him or her into the profession, because it can be very, very hazardous. We work odd hours. We work anti-social hours and we are supposed to, and you must be ahead of the public and of your interviewees. That is why I said, ‘jack of all trades and master of all’. And, then you must ensure that, you go to a very good school, where academic and professional angles will be given. So, with all modesty, it was a passion and I happened to attend one of the best journalism schools in the world at Fleet Street, London. I was well equipped. Fleet Street is a famous street in London for media houses, particularly newspapers.

You had a long stint at the Odua Conglomerate as the pioneer General Manager, Corporate Affairs. Who were the god fathers behind your successes?

None! None! Let me say, please, I think destiny drives my life. Before I was born, predictions had been made and after I was born predictions were also made and predictions are still being made. So, like all men and women of destiny, in the world, I fit into that box; that it is destiny, certainly - it is not my making. It is not perfection. But as I am approaching 66 years, by the grace of God, and I look back and I say, Lekan Alabi, everything was beyond you, but it is God; nothing like that (godfather). And I survived all the intrigues, schemes at Odua Conglomerate. I survived them all. As we are conducting this interview today, it is still a marvel how God made me pass through the landmines, not only in Odua Conglomerate, but also in Sketch Press Limited, particularly, as I was there as coordinator four times. As it was at TSOS, BCOS, and as it is in life, there will be challenges, but one should just pray that God will always give you victory.

Don’t you have passion for partisan politics?

I do and it is still burning in me, because my paternal grandmother, Mama Asma’u Odunola Alabi, as I said at the beginning of this interview, my role model, with due respect to my mom, was the woman leader of NCNC under Adegoke Adelabu in Ibadan in the old Western Region.

Look at it again; as we are conducting this interview, I am the chairman Adegoke Adelabu Foundation. So, with that background, and serving four governors, having been taken to

government by the cicero of Esa-Oke, the brainbox, late Chief Bola Ige, who had every plan for me to play politics. Until he was assassinated on December 23, 2001, the question he was always asking me was, “Oloye, why are you not in politics?”

But I would respond and say, “I would love to, but two things clearly scared me. One, it is too much money-driven.

I don’t have such funds, slush funds, I don’t have. Since I want to serve, why would I have to pay through the nose?

That’s the first condition. Second condition, I can’t stand the violence and the incivility, largely, practised by the Nigerian politicians of today, unlike their forebears or in Britain, USA and in other civilised societies. So, if they can make politics affordable, whereby the nomination form or whatever form is sold for, at most, N25, 000 then, maybe, I can find money for that. And where they will allow constitution and the fear of God to guide them and say, oh yes, you will find me on the field, but now, count me out.”

How did you meet your wife?

It is a long story. When I was a student, I lived at 82, Prince George Street, Stokenewton, London, N16, UK. She attended Pittsman College in London and there was a lady, a co-tenant with me (she is late now), who was my wife’s school mate.

So, she (my wife) was returning to Nigeria and there were certain things she wanted to pass over to my wife and she now deposited them in my care for her. But before then there was a party in our house; another co-tenant organised it and I was the MC. So, somebody now came and she was pressing the bell incessantly, but the celebrant thought perhaps, it was a gate-crasher, but I said for anybody to be pressing the bell incessantly, he or she must have a mission. So, I went to open the door. Lo and behold! I saw this pretty lady. She said, she was looking for her friend and I told her, her friend had gone out. All my persuasions to ask her to come in that we were having a party fell on deaf ears. So, I said, ‘I will deliver your message to your friend. May I know your name?’ She gave me a wrong name. She said she was Tokunbo Williams.

When her friend came and I said, ‘you had a visitor o, Miss Tokunbo Williams’! She started laughing and said, ‘No’!

Don’t mind Tokunbo, she is Tokunbo Laditan.” She now left those things for me to give her. When she now came the second time, I said, ‘The things your friend left for me to hand over, are for a Miss Tokunbo Laditan and since you are Miss Tokunbo Williams, they are not meant for you,’ and she started begging me. Anyway, the rest is history.

Initially, did her parents object to your union?

No! They didn’t. As I told you, my life is driven by destiny.

Before she travelled to the UK, her grandmother, when she was a young girl, told the father, Chief Abraham Adejumo Laditan, the late Seriki of Ilaro that whoever her daughter, that is, my wife, brought home should be accepted by the father. So, they said she was always choosy about men and they were afraid that maybe she would not get married, because she might become too finicky, sending them away, finding faults. So, when they got a letter from her, saying she had met someone she would like to marry, I think they celebrated in their house that at last. So, I was a welcome son; until Papa Laditan died, it was not a father/son-in-law relationship, but he was a father, o yes; because he had taken me into their family as his own son.

Were you a ladies’ man when you were young?

I will be modest, but let me say, that my father, of blessed memory, extremely handsome man, very, very neat, punctual, very, very devoted, if he could arrange for ‘Baba L’egba’ to play at my naming ceremony, you could see his social standing. I think I take after him. But I am weaker than him that I have only one wife and this is the 38th Anniversary of our wedding. We got married in 1978 and this is 2016, and I have only one wife. My father, at a time, had eight wives, while his younger brother had six. So, I have not been able to meet up with them there.

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

INTERVIEW Olu of Ilaro

I was a Pastor Before I Received a Higher Call to Serve as an Oba

He humbly walked into his office, and didn’t immediately give an impression that it was a royal father that had just arrived, until both young and old men and women began to prostrate and stoop down, saying, “Kabiyesi o”. Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle (Asade Agunloye IV) is the Olu of Ilaro, Ogun State. In this interview with Femi Ogbonnikan, the 49-year-old monarch relives his experience while jostling for the stool before his election four years ago; his pastoral work with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); the demand of the office; and how he could no longer enjoy his privacy, among others. Excerpts

T

Oba Olugbenle (Asade Agunloye IV)

ell us about yourself...

I was born about 49 years ago; precisely on December 4, 1966 to the family of the late Prince and Princess Adejumo and Adenike Olugbenle, of blessed memory.

My father was a member of the Asade Agunloye Ruling House, in Ilaro, while my mother was also a Princess of Okunnubi lineage of the Fidipote Ruling House, in Ijebu Ode. Just like any other child on the street, I started my primary education at Methodist Primary School, Oshodi, Lagos, and we had our house in Shogunle. Just like any other child, then, we trekked from Shogunle very early to school. When I finished my primary education, and because of my father’s love for us, and to have a feel of his home town, Ilaro, he took us there to start our secondary education, as pioneer students of Anglican Grammar School, Ilaro. It was later transformed from Anglican Model School to Grammar School. So, we were the first set of the Anglican Grammar School, and that was in 1978 or thereabout. We were there for three years. But because I and my twin brother, Taiwo, were his only sons, the people were concerned and wondered why he left his two sons in Ilaro with his people. My father was somebody, who didn’t believe any evil could befall his children. He was somebody that trusted people, but the pressure was so much, and it got to a stage, and I remember vividly, that I fell sick and people now capitalised on that sickness to say, “yes, afterall, we told you and all of that.” And as a result, my father had to eventually move us back to Lagos, and we were enrolled at Eko Boys’ High School, which happened to be his Alma mater. I was in Eko Boys’ High School for just a year, before Jakande came in 1980/’81. Then we used to have about three sets- morning session, afternoon session and evening session- because the population was just too much and it could not be contained by the then government. But when Jakande came, he decided to start building on all spaces he could lay his hands upon. So, that was why I was moved to New State High School, Mushin, while Taiwo was retained. We were just picked randomly, and I was not even happy that I was being separated from my twin brother, but my father was somebody who believed it was the will of God. My mother tried to persuade him to see the Principal, who happened to be one of his mates at Eko Boys’ High School. But at the end of the day, I ended up finishing my secondary school at New State High School, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos. That was how I ended up going to three secondary schools within a space of five years. But I think, to some extent, it was divinely motivated because everything that happens to a man in life, God has a hand in it. Today, I have contacts of friends, cutting across all the three schools. While at home here in Ilaro, quite a lot of my mates are here, and we are still in good contact. And I think all my father had done, God might have either laid it in his heart or maybe, God knows where I would be today. Otherwise, I would have been a stranger on the throne. I know Ilaro virtually inside, out, to some extent. With my friends at Eko Boys’ High, anytime I find myself in either America or Britain today, I meet quite a lot of them that are there. They will welcome

me; they will appreciate me; and the same thing happens with those of State High School.

I don’t have any regret attending the three secondary schools. I think it was a rare privilege to have attended the three secondary schools, and without any regret. When I left State High School, I got admission into Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, in 1985 to study Estate Management. And in 1990, I graduated with Higher National Diploma (HND), as one of the best students in that department. Later, I went to the University of Ibadan for my Master’s degree, and that was in 1997, and that was after I had qualified professionally as an Estate Surveyor and Valuer. Immediately I finished my service with UBA Property Division, I joined a firm of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, and that was Akinola Ore & Co and I rose through the ranks to become the Managing Partner, and that was in 1998. And I could recollect that I moved to its Abuja office in 1998 immediately I became the Managing Partner to set up an office of the firm. I was the Managing Partner up to the time I was called back home to serve my people.

Which University did you do your Postgraduate Diploma before going for your Master’s degree?

Immediately I graduated in 1990, I did my youth service and I started work. I finished my secondary education in 1983. There was a lapse. I could remember vividly that I worked briefly with Nigerian Railway Corporation as a clerk between 1983 and 1985, before I got admission in 1985 into Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech). So, I was at Yabatech between 1985 and 1990 where I obtained both OND and HND respectively. Immediately after my graduation, I did my youth service with UBA, property division, in Lagos. After that, I started writing my professional examination, and I think, I was qualified professionally in 1996, as a Professional Estate Surveyor and Valuer. As an Associate, I was elevated in 2011 to a Fellow by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. All my life, I have been in private practice, and I have never worked, either for a company or public, government or parastatal. I have been a private person all my life. But while I was working as a private person, I enrolled when I was in Abuja, as a Managing Partner, for a Master’s degree in Property Development and Management, and it took me another two years to obtain a Master’s degree in Housing Development and Management.

Are your parents still alive?

No! Both of them are of blessed memory.

They died before I ascended the throne. My dad left 10 years ago, but my mom left about a year, before I ascended the throne.

Where is your twin brother, Taiwo?

My twin brother is alive. He is a paramedic with Chevron Oil in Warri, Delta State. He is also a Zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), while I am also an ordained Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I have a Church I was pastoring in Abuja, before I received a higher call to serve. and I believe where I am also has a little bit of similarities in that. The first one is spiritual, and this one is traditional, but I think there is a thin

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

INTERVIEW I WAS A PASTOR BEFORE I RECEIVED A HIGHER CALL TO SERVE AS AN OBA... line between the two offices, because virtually what you do as a Pastor, and when you are talking about Pastor, you are talking about shepherds. Shepherding is all about taking care of the sheep. You, as a Royal Father, are like a shepherd who has a lot of sheep to take care of. The only difference between you and a Pastor is that the Pastor is only concerned about people in the Christendom, while you, as a Royal Father, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim or a pagan, you will have to ensure all is well.

How did the lot fall on you four years ago, because you might not be the only candidate who contested for the stool?

I think, initially, I wasn’t interested. When my predecessor passed on, and at that time, I didn’t know that my Ruling House would be the next in line. My father never shared that information with us, and even if we knew, we were not told.

We were not even that expectant. We were not even prepared.

Some people were already preparing, and saying it was me and that was ambition. And we never had such an ambition; that the next Ruling House was ours. My father had already gone, and he was somebody who was like a rallying point within the Ruling House. And people found it difficult to fill that gap. I mean, the gap my father left when he died, and when the issue of Obaship came up. Nobody could actually play that role the way my father would have played that role, if he was alive. Though we have the head of the family, but he was just appointed when the issue of Obaship came, because there was nobody to refer to as the head of the family then.

But when my father was alive, and he was conversant with the family, he was like a rallying point with all members of the Ruling House, not as if he was the head of the family, but a lot of things lay with him. It was a natural leadership that just fell on him, but unfortunately he died, before the issue of Obaship came up, otherwise, I knew, he would have used his wisdom to manage the issue, and would have managed those four years interregnum. I know he would have been able to put it off. But, notwithstanding, when eventually I had cause to join the race, spiritually, I was elected. As I told you earlier, I and my twin brother, Taiwo, are the only males from my father’s lineage. My father was the only male of his lineage. It is not about interest, as such, it is about responsibility, it is about perseverance, it is about your right. My twin brother and I don’t have any hiding place, except you want the male of your lineage to go into oblivion. Both of us are the only surviving males from that lineage, while we have other males, who are of female lineage.

We have other lineages also who are members of the Ruling House. We have two other lineages, one is male and another is female, but there is a convention within the Ruling House that with the two male lineage each time it is the turn of the Ruling House, they should rotate it. And the last male lineage was the one that occupied the office of the Olu of Ilaro, and that one was Olusoji Adeyanju lineage of that Asade Agunloye. But, ordinarily, it was the turn of the Olugbenle lineage, but when you talk about ambition, we just discovered that some people from the Olusoji Adeyanju lineage also showed interest in it, because it was the right of everybody. Every lineage brought candidates, and we all came out, and they said it was their right. My own lineage, which is by convention to produce a candidate, did and what concerns the kingmakers is to vote between both families and support a particular candidate of a lineage. The law is very clear that where there is no male lineage other males from the female lineage can come out, but that has never arisen, I think to the best of my knowledge. That was how other candidates came out. We tried to educate them, and they said it was their right. Festus Keyamo has to be a member of the Ruling House, maternally. His mother is from my Ruling House. His mother is from Yewa, and his father worked here at State Hospital, Ilaro, in those days. I think, like every young man, you find princess, and that’s how he went with Princess, which happens to be Keyamo’s mother today. Keyamo was more or less like a family counsel within that period. He too understands the game. That was how we ended up having about six of us from the Ruling House. Even with the six of us, along the line, another family, who we have never dined together as a family, who we had never had anything to do together as a family, came on the scene, and said they are entitled, and that he is also a member of the Ruling House. And that actually heated up the community. I particularly felt, well, this is not about anybody being crowned, but about sorting their issues out, and it later became a matter in court. The matter was adjudicated upon. The admonition was that this vacancy was affecting the community and it was affecting the entire Yewaland, because that is the office of the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland. And eventually, everybody had to go for the selection process, and as God would have it, I was elected as the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland.

When you were asked to ascend the vacant stool, following the demise of your immediate past predecessor, Oba Adekanmbi Tella, how did you feel?

I have said it earlier, it was not a sudden acceptance; it was gradual. I went through a little bit of spiritual guidance. And when the coast was clear, I knew the one behind me and who sustained me through the exercise. There is always a procedure in the emergence of any Royal Father, and that procedure must be followed to the letter. It is not just for somebody coming from nowhere to say he is interested or that if the family has said ok he is their candidate that the issue of Kingmakers voting wouldn’t arise. It is just for them to consent or say go and bring another person. But when you have seven candidates, and at the end of the day, it was only two of us; myself and one of my

Oba Olugbenle (Asade Agunloye IV) in handshake with Obasanjo

Oba Olugbenle (Asade Agunloye IV) in handshake with Amosun, and Oba Tejuoso (middle) uncles were the ones that shared the nine votes of the kingmakers, while the other one, who claimed to be from our lineage had zero vote, and that case is in Appeal Court now. Keyamo said we can’t allow such to happen, and if we allow the status quo to remain and retain them in the Ruling House because we all contested the stool together. What Keyamo is saying is that the court has to vacate those families from the Ruling House so that, in the future, they would not start laying equal claims, as having contested with us. I want Keyamo to handle that, and he has been handling that, because, it is a family issue. You asked how I felt. Initially, I was disturbed when I was being given the staff of office. Well, I remember when I was reading my acceptance speech, it was like the whole world was falling on me. I had my retreat, which we call ‘Ipebi’, in my house, and a little bit of it has to do with this, how to do that. I think April 14 was a day that is memorable in my life. April 14, 2012 was the day I was presented with the staff of office. The issue with this traditional office is that we don’t have training school, and that is the issue. If you are familiar with ‘Ipebi’, you will understand that it is just people coming to greet you and introducing themselves to you. There is no serious thing about it. You learn and develop yourself on the throne. So, there is no training that you go to school of traditional rulers for three or five months or a year, and you either pass or fail. If you find yourself there, then you are on your own. It is now left for you to pray for wisdom, which is a critical thing. Any king that will rule must have wisdom, because everybody wants to have a say, wants to be your paddy, everybody wants to be your man.

In the midst of it, you must pray for wisdom. That is just the feel I have. After the coronation, in fact, my wife wept, and said, “So, this is how the thing is”, when everybody had left. People from my twin brother went back to Warri, my sisters went back and everybody returned to his or her home, and I was now left with my wife. I said, God! And she was crying for two or three days. This is how we were left alone in the house, waiting for people to come; like a doctor, sitting down and waiting for patients to come. But, I thank God, because God has been very, very faithful to me. I wanted people to come and ask ‘how do you do it’? Sincerely, one has to look at the enormous task or work that goes with the office. How do I deal with the people?

I know my people, and they are very difficult. God has been

guiding me through, and I am not the one on the throne, but I am just a vessel on the throne. As long as the man on the throne still counts me worthy as a vessel to use, then there should be nothing to worry about. And that’s the confidence I have. That somebody is on the throne, before I got here, is that a problem?

That person, God is using him as a vessel to drive other visions, other plans He has for my people. And, I think, He has been faithful to me up till today; with God’s guidance, and Him being on my side, all will continue to be well with my people in Yewaland.

Was your wife favourably disposed to the idea or in support when you told her initially?

She is a spiritual person. Apart from that, she is also from a royal family. My wife happens to be a daughter of the Omola of Imala, the Yewa people in Abeokuta North Local Government Area. For a very long time, Imala people are Yewa people, whereas they claim to be under Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. So, I had thought she is from Abeokuta North Local Government Area, but when the issue of Obaship came, they claimed to be Yewa people. That means Kabiyesi is already married from his people. When I am being interviewed, and they ask me if my wife is an Ibo person, Egba or Yewa, I will say she is from Yewa. She is a full-blooded Yewa person. She is also from a Royal Family. Things will happen unconsciously, and we will accept it, not knowing God has a purpose for it. She is a Yewa Princess, and by the time I married her, I never knew she was. Even her uncle on the throne now had never ascended the throne then. In fact, her father never told me she is from the royal family, until her uncle ascended the throne. I was there during the coronation. That was the feeling my wife had. As I told you, she cried for two or three days, asking if it was a confinement or a prison, and thank God, she is getting used to it, after the initial life. Initially, she was free, but now, she can’t go to the market here. The maids do that for her. We are not free to do whatever we like. Even, I, that freedom is controlled. If I step out of the house, policemen, pilots and other domestic aides will stand up and ask, ‘where are we going’? And I will ask myself, which kind of life is this?

If you go out and you feel like shopping, looking at what you want to buy, everybody will be staring at you.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • May 7, 2016

auto

CFAO Unveils all new Fuso Trucks Stories by Bennett Oghifo

C

FAOEquipment,thesoledistributorofthe Fuso Brand in Nigeria has unveiled the Medium (FA& FI) and Heavy Duty (FJ) models during cocktail Launch in Lagos which was witnessed by stakeholders Fuso Representatives and members of the Nigerian Automotive Media.

Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director CFAO Motors Nigeria Ltd, Mr Thomas Pelletier said: “Today’s milestone represents another successful launch for the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, under its continual growth in Africa following the recent launches in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique”.

He further stated that the organisation was determined to offer customers best quality by introducing outstanding products which would give value to buyers’ investment, adding that CFAO was not only interested in selling vehicles but offers robust after-sales services that would assist customers in maintaining their vehicles.

“These new range of Fuso trucks will help to further strengthen our portfolio and offer more choice for our customers in Nigeria,” he said.

At present, The Fuso Canter truck is the bestselling product on the Light Duty Truck segmentdue to its reliability, ruggedness and low maintenance cost.

These trucks have been taken through series of thorough testing on the Nigerian roads and the durability and efficiency cannot be over emphasised.

The Fuso Representative, Mr Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Head of Regional Centre Africa, said, “Fuso sees Nigeria as a strategic market with considerable growth opportunities and we intend to significantly increase market share for our Fuso brand while ensuring close relationship and cooperation with our local distributor, CFAO Equipment.

Mitsubishi Fuso FA/FI light-medium-duty trucks The light-medium-duty FAand FI trucks are based on Daimler Trucks technical platform – Fighter medium-duty truck on the chassis and the Canter light-duty truck on the cabin – incorporating a newly developed 4D37 diesel engine (Displacement: 3,907 cc, Output: 100 kW (420 Nm) / 125 kW (520 Nm) and a 6-speed manual transmission.

R-L: Group Managing Director, CFAO Nigeria, Mr. Steve Faderin; Assistant Corps Marshal, Zonal Commanding Officer, FRSC, Zone 2 Lagos, Mr. Nsebong Akpabio; Managing Director, CFAO Motors Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Pelletier; and Deputy Managing Director, CFAO Motors, Mr. Kunle Jayesimi at the launch of the All New Fuso Trucks in Lagos… recently

FA: 4x2, GVW 9 tons, Cargo FI: 4x2, GVW 12/16 tons, Cargo , Dump, Mixer The FA/FI models are equipped with a Mitsubishi Fuso 4D37 four cylinder diesel engine, rated output of 100kW (136Hp), peak torque of 420Nm and piston displacement of 3.9L. While the FK/FM models are equipped with a Mitsubishi Fuso 6D16-1Asix cylinder diesel engine, rated output of 137kW (184Hp), peak torque of 498Nm and piston displacement of 7.5L. Mitsubishi Fuso FJ medium-heavy-duty truck models The medium-heavy-duty FJ based on Daimler Trucks technical platform – Mercedes-Benz Axor chassis and cabin – incorporates a newly developed

6S20 diesel engine (Displacement: 6,373 cc, Output: 170 kW (810 Nm) / 205 kW (1,100 Nm) and a 6- or 9-speed manual transmission.

FJ: 6x2/6x4, GVW 25 tons, Cargo, Dump, Mixer CFAO Equipment’s aim is to become a one stop shop for all business needs by providing tailored products and services for its customers. …CFAO Yamaha Assembly Plant Set for Grand Opening CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria Limited is set for the grand open-ing of its motorcycle assembly plant and modern showroom located at the Amuwo Odofin Industrial Scheme in Lagos on the 13th of this month.

A statement by the company said the grand opening was coming after the successful testing and full activation of the Yamaha assembly line which has rolled out two models of Yamaha motorcycle Crux and Force X Royale. The Federal Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode have been invited to commission inaugurate the assembly plant and showroom, accompanied by the President of Yamaha Motor Corporation, Japan, Mr, Hiroyuki Yanagi, the Chairman of the management board, CFAO Group, Paris, France, Mr. Richard Bielle. The chairman of the company, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode and the Country Manager of CFAO Nigeria, Mr. Steve Faderin will also be in attendance.

Nigeria to Lose 4,000 Jobs to Senate Vehicle Import, May Ruin 50 Suppliers

T

he Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has condemned the Senate’s procurement of wholly imported SUVs instead of comparable locally assembled brands.

The NAMA said the Senate’s non-patronage of local assemblers could lead to the loss of about 4000 jobs and was capable of ruining roughly 50 ancillary industries, currently engaged by the home-grown Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

NAMAstated this at a media conference in Lagos where it berated the Senate for impeding the growth of the local automotive industry.

“The Senate could have saved suffering Nigerians 40% of the eventual outlay and sustain at least 50 medium scale enterprises had it procured vehicles assembled by talented and diligent Nigerian workforce, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, Chairman of the Association reasoned.

He said: “It was a rude shock to learn of the decision of the Senate to procure imported fully built SUVs when much more affordable locally assembled alternatives were offered.”

The local media had lately been saturated with reports of procurement by the Senate of indefinite units of Toyota Land Cruiser VXR V8 SUVs valued at a whooping N3.9billion contrary to the consent

of the Executive arm of government.

Also agonising that the “Senate has by this selfcentred decision held down the automotive industry by at least four years,” Mr.Aromolaran wondered if the Senate was aware of an official circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government mandating all government agencies to mandatorily procure made-in-Nigeria vehicles except if a locally made equivalent isn’t available.

HethereforeenjoinedtheBureauofPublicProcurement to beam its searchlight on the Senate to restraint her extremes so it doesn’t wander out of control.

TheNAMAChairmanemphasisedthesignificance of the automotive industry to the Federal Government’squestforaviableeconomicresourcealternative to the plummeting oil value, remarking that the automotive industry has ample potential for growth.

He however commended the Lower House of Representatives for embracing the OEMs products and driving locally assembled Peugeot vehicles and “putting aside personal aggrandisement at a tough time like this.

“They have by this action identified with the suffering of their brothers and families and essentially added value to our steel products, rubber extracts, glass sheets and plastics from our petrochemical plants,” the NAMA Chairman remarked.

L-R: Official of Anammco Ltd., Mr. Maduabuchukwu Okeke; Chairman, Motor Vehicles & Miscellaneous Assembly Sectorial Group, Dr. David Obi; Chairman, Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran; Official of PAN Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Aderungboye Adewole; Plant Head, Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria, Mr. Prakash Kharat; and Consultant, Anammco Ltd., Mr. Babatunde Kolade, at the NAMA media conference in Lagos… recently

Toyota Produces its 10 millionth Car in Europe

T

he nine manufacturing facilities operated

by Toyota in Europe have passed the milestoneof10millionvehiclesproduced on April 14.

“If you drive a Toyota in Europe, there is a fair chance it was made in Europe. Today, nearly three in four vehicles sold by the brand in Europe are made in Europe.”

The first car made in Europe was… you guessed it… a Corolla, of course. The world’s best-selling

car kicked things off at a small CKD (complete knock-down) plant owned and operated with Salvador Caetano in Ovar, Portugal. That plant, which started in 1971, is still operating and currently makes Land Cruiser 70 models for export to South Africa.

Full-scale mass production started in the U.K. in 1992, in not one but two plants: engines came to life in Deeside, Wales, three months before the first Carina E rolled off the assembly line in Burnaston,

Derbyshire.

The same Carina E was today at Toyota’s European Headquarters in Brussels, where team members of each plant joined HQ staff to celebrate the milestone.

This first mass-produced car was on stage alongside Toyota’s newest baby, the Toyota C-HR. That model has zero units on the clock, since it will start production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey at the end of this year.

Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, commented: “Toyota’s heartbeat is in manufacturing, and our thousands of European team members are very proud to have reached 10 million cars produced in Europe.”

In addition to the growing number of cars being produced locally, Europe has gained increasing autonomy and influence within Toyota globally to design cars tailored to the taste of European customers, especially for the European best-sellers.

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • May 7, 2016

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

FRSC, JTB And Drivers License Validity

T

Sprinter Bus

JetVan to Market Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Buses in Nigeria Stories by Bennett Oghifo

W

eststar Associates Limited has announced ‘Jetvan Automobiles’ as an addition to the Mercedes-BenzAuthorized dealership network for ‘Sprinter Bus’ sales and services in Nigeria, in order to adequately serve and support all Mercedes-Benz customers.

Jetvan Automobiles is yet another dealership for Weststar Associates, dedicated to

upholding the high standard of service to customers - known with the Mercedes-Benz Brand and the office is located at Kilometre 46, Lekki-Epe expressway, Ajah, Lagos.

Jetvan’s addition is against the backdrop of the growing customer-base and the responsibility to improve accessibility across the country, Weststar said at the unveiling, in Lagos, recently.

The addition, according to Mr. Mirko Plath - Managing Director/CEO of Weststar

Associates Limited, “indicates considerable progress towards the brand goal of ‘delighting our customers’ – with our leading brand, we aim to finish at the top of all relevant customersatisfaction rankings and convince customers with our outstanding quality.

“For that purpose, we create interfaces for sales and aftersales processes that ensure we can maintain contact with customers at all times. We also offer our customers tailored transport and mobility services.”

As a new member of the Mercedes-Benz Family, Jetvan officially opened its doors to all with the unveiling of the sprinter Bus in an inaugural ceremony on the 26th April 2016, at the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Arena – promising customers and prospects to offer top-notch sales and aftersales services to the exclusive variety of individuals and organizations, all attracted to the intricacies of MercedesBenz Vans and Sprinter buses in particular.

‘FG Saves N5bn Training Ex-militants at Innoson Auto Plant’

T

he on-going training of ex-militants of the Niger Delta at the auto assembly plant of the Innoson Group will save the federal government about N5 billion, Brig-Gen. Paul Boro, coordinator of the Amnesty programme has said.

The ex-militants at the plant are being trained on various aspects of vehicle assembly and repairs, as well as on the manufacturing of vehicle components from plastics.

“The federal government would save N5 billion at the end of the year when 7,000 delegates (ex-militants) would be completing their programme.

I have been to the two places where they are being trained, and I think it is perhaps time now to have such thing like this replicated in the Niger Delta,” Boro said when he went on an assessment visit to his wards at the Innoson Plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, recently.

According to Boro, “I actually

R-L: CEO Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma; Deputy Governor, Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke; and SA to the President on Niger Delta, Brig-Gen. PaulT. Boro

said I want to see them engage in what I sent them to come and learn here. “This is great skill acquisition that has to do with automobile engineering, automobile mechanic, auto-

mobile electronic and others, and when I was taken round the factory, I saw them actually assembling a vehicle, ensuring that the parts are well joined together; the welding is also

well done to meet specifications. I saw them using gauge to measure the length and breadth of the window. I think I am satisfied with what they are learning here.”

Pay 10% of Hyundai Vehicle to Globe Motors, Stanbic IBTC and Drive Away

P

rospective buyers of any Hyundai vehicle can now make a deposit of 10%andtakeimmediate possession of the vehicle with the balance spread over 60 months.

This is fallout of a unique vehicle financing scheme brokered by Globe Motors and Stanbic IBTC bank.

The scheme which has already taken off, is targeted at potential Hyundai customers, said the Managing Director of Globe Motors, Mr. Victor Oguamalam at a joint press briefing with senior managers of Stanbic IBTC bank in Lagos, recently.

Oguamalam said, “We believe the collaboration of Globe Motors, providing quality products and

services, Hyundai Manufacturing, producing highly acceptable vehicles, and Stanbic IBTC, the leading auto finance provider in Nigeria, will be a success, as the customer is the ultimate beneficiary.”

He added that, “Because we recently added Hyundai to the other brands we already market, we decided to launch this cam-

paign to deserving and willing customers who want to own and drive Hyundai vehicles.”

The campaign, he said was for an initial three months, and that it covered all models of Hyundai vehicles such as; Hyundai passenger, commercial and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV), including Accent, Elantra, Sonata, and Santa Fe, among others.

hree days ago, I received a strange call; strange because the caller was not registered on my contact neither have we met in anyway: 76year old Baba, as he is fondly called, has lived his better life in the United Kingdom where he drives with a valid driver’s license issued over 15years ago.

His call, as he told me, was borne out of his interest in the recent decision to extend the validity period of the drivers license while at the same time retaining the old validity of 3years period.

He expressed his excitement as he noted that the development is a burden lifter for Nigerians living outside the shores of the country as they can now acquire a license for 5years and not be burdened by the fear of travelling to Nigeria and not being able to drive for not having a valid drivers licence. Baba however wondered why the new change did not consider a tenyear validity like is obtainable across Europe. Baba is not the only Nigerian who thinks we should copy the European example. I recall vividly the several concerns that were raised when, in 2011, a new drivers’ license regime meant to restore the integrity of the drivers license was introduced, one of which was the call for a five or more year’s validity period devoid of regular changes. I am, however, happy that years down the line, despite the little hiccups, we have a drivers license that is an improvement on the old license for several reasons.

Before I rehash these reasons, let me dwell on the new changes which now provides for the old three years and a new five years validityperiod,Whatthismeans isthatdependingonyourchoice and financial ability, you can either apply for a three years license, which costs N6,350.00, or choose the new five years period which I strongly believe will be the preferred choice for most applicant at the cost of N10,000.00. This new change is a fallout of the 134th meeting of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) held on 11th and 12th April in Kano with the theme: The Imperatives of Transitioning from Oil Revenue Dependency to NonOil Revenue Sufficiency”. For the records, permit me to once again state here that the Joint Tax Board has the statutory powers to determine and fix the price of drivers’ license and number plates. The board deliberated on various issues and reached the following major decisions: that the Board has approved an optional validity period for Drivers License of three (3) and five (5) years respectively at different costs to provide more efficient and effective service delivery to its customers. That the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has promised to provide

numberplateswithin5working days of placing a request by any State so that no State runs out of number plates. It equally agreed that the collaboration efforts between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and State Internal Revenue Service (SIRS) be pursued towards harnessing full generation of tax revenue to cushion the effect of the dwindling fortune of oil revenue for economic sustainability of the country, That there was a need for intensive taxpayer education and enlightenment using religious, traditional leaders and people in the entertainment industry and leaders in the community in passing this information to taxpayers. That the Nigerian customs should become a JTB Co-opted member since they are part of revenue generation authorities in Nigeria and can directly influence revenue generated by various revenue boards,Thattaxpolicyformsthe basis for tax laws and administration and tax laws should be reviewed and amended as required, That JTB should make efforts to access Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) andotherorganizationdatabase to obtain data of taxpayers to expand the tax base, That the Board has agreed to pursue vigorously an increase in number of individual Taxpayers in their database by ten(10) million before December , 31st 2016, bringing the total to 20 million individual taxpayers.

It’s about five years since the new regime came on board.

Today, it is easier to verify the authenticity of your licence which was the focus of this page a couple of weeks back. It is also possible to track the status once you have been captured at the drivers licence centre.

These now makes it possible to verify the fake from the genuine licence, unlike what obtained before. Besides these, the new drivers license because ofimprovementandthedeploymentoftechnology,hasreceived nodsfromthedevelopedclimes, especially against the backdrop of the Driving School Standardization Scheme initiated to inject sanity in the activities of driving school operators in the country, the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme whichhasenthronedminimum safety standards in the activities of fleet operators. This much was further confirmed by the former Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Cooter who said “I have been extremely impressed by the quality of the Corps and have held up the example you have set as a model of what can be done in institutional reform and good governance in this country (Nigeria)”.

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

FAMILY HEALTH with

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

Why Am I So Tired ?

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

T

iredness cannot be associated with a particular ailment. But it is a symptom of many different diseases and conditions.

Causes of tiredness range from lack of sleep and over exercise to medical and surgical treatments. The lack of energy associated with tiredness can sometimes cause difficulty with normal daily activities, leading to problems with attentiveness and concentration. Fatigue, also referred to as tiredness, exhaustion, lethargy, and listlessness, describes a physical and/ or mental state of being tired and weak. Although physical and mental fatigue are different, the two often exist together - if a person is physically exhausted for long enough, they will also be mentally tired.

When somebody experiences physical fatigue, it means they cannot continue functioning at their normal levels of physical ability. Mental fatigue, however, is more slanted towards feeling sleepy and being unable to concentrate properly.

Fatigue is a symptom, rather than a sign. Asymptom is something the patient feels and describes, such as a headache or dizziness, while a sign is something the doctor can detect without talking to the patient, such as a rash. Fatigue is a non-specific symptom, i.e. it may have several possible causes.

The state of fatigue refers to the state of reduced capacity for work or accomplishment following a period of mental or physical activity. For example, muscles fatigue if they are called upon to repetitively work for an extended period. Most of the causes of tiredness are also associated with fatigue. Therefore, it is alright to say that tiredness, when it lingers unchecked, can lead to fatigue. With this in mind, we would discuss along this line of thought.

Most people would normally, not stop when there are ordinarily tired. But allows it to escalates to the point of extreme exertion into fatigue. This is the point at which, the body alarm that it can no longer function as “normal”, would begin to ring.

Signs and symptoms The main symptom of fatigue is exhaustion (severe fatigue) after a physical or mental activity. The patient does not feel refreshed after resting or sleeping. Severe fatigue may undermine the person’s ability to carry out their usual activities.

Patients describe fatigue, especially chronic fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome) as overwhelming, and describe the tiredness as completely different from what they have experienced before - not a result of overdoing things, but simply a loss of motivation.

Fatigue is a common symptom among people with clinical depression.

Some people find symptoms get worse after exercise - known as post-exertional malaise, or payback.

Sometimes post-exertional malaise may not emerge until several hours after the exercise; sometimes even a day later.

Fatigue signs and symptoms may be of a physical, mental or emotional nature.

Examples may include, Bloating, abdominal pain,nausea, constipa• tion, diahorroea, possibly problems similar to Irritable bowel syndrome.

• Aching or sore muscles • Painful lymph nodes • Apathy, lack of motivation • Chronic (long-term) tiredness • Difficulty in concentrating • Dizziness • Hallucinations • Hand-to-eye coordination may be impaired • Headache • Impaired judgment • Indecisiveness • Irritability • Loss of appetite • Moodiness • Poorer immune system function • Short-term memory impairment - there may be problems organising thoughts and finding the right words to say (brain fog) • Sleepiness, drowsiness • Slow responses to stimuli • Slower-than-normal reflexes • Some vision problems, such as blurriness.

DIAGNOSIS: This is very important, as it gives the leadway into your problem being solved.

Diagnosing fatigue As fatigue is present in so many diseases, conditions, states, lifestyles and syndromes, and may be caused by a vast array of factors which are usually working in combination, diagnosis can be extremely challenging.

The doctor would normally do the following : • Evaluating the qualities of the fatigue itself - if the patient can identify the patterns of their fatigue,

The state of fatigue refers to the state of reduced capacity for work or accomplishment following a period of mental or physical activity. For example, muscles fatigue if they are called upon to repetitively work for an extended period. Most of the causes of tiredness are also associated with fatigue.

Therefore, it is alright to say that tiredness, when it lingers unchecked, can lead to fatigue.

With this in mind, we would discuss along this line of thought

for example, at what times of day symptoms are worse and/or better, whether symptoms gradually worsen during the day, and whether taking a nap helps, the doctor is more likely to come to an accurate diagnosis. As sleep is known to be a major contributor to fatigue, the doctor will try to evaluate the quality of the patient’s sleep, their emotional state, sleep patterns and stress levels. Total hours slept each day, and how often the person awakens during sleep are important pieces of information for the doctor during his/her evaluation.

Medical history and current illnesses - the • patient will be asked about any recent events which are known to cause fatigue, such as giving birth, having undergone surgery, a bereavement, etc. The physician will also check for any existing illnesses and which medications the patient is currently on.

Lifestyle - the patient may be asked some • questions regarding lifestyle, diet, alcohol consumption, illegal drug consumption, etc.

Physical examination - the doctor will look • out for signs of illness.

Diagnostic tests - these will include urine • tests, x-rays, possibly some other imaging scans (depending on what the doctor suspects may be the cause), blood tests, etc. It is important to try to rule out any physical causes, such as an infection, hormonal problems, anemia, liver problems, or kidney problems.

If an illness is diagnosed, such as diabetes, • then that illness will be treated. Well controlled diabetes will usually solve the fatigue problem.

The same applies to most other illnesses and conditions.

On average, experts say that approximately 1.

50% of those with fatigue receive a diagnosis that could explain the condition after the patient has been affected for 12 months. Among them, 19.4% had a musculoskeletal cause, 2.

16.5% were suffering because of psychologi3. cal problems. In only 8.2% were definitive physical conditions found.

Common causes The possible causes of fatigue are virtually endless.

Most diseases listed in medical literature include malaise or fatigue as one of the potential symptoms.

Causes are sometimes classified under several lifestyle problems and/or some broad disease entities.

Most of the time fatigue can be traced to one or more of your habits or routines, particularly lack of exercise. It’s also commonly related to depression. On occasion, fatigue is a symptom of other underlying conditions that require medical treatment.

LIFESTYLE FACTORS , that may cause this condition include taking an honest inventory of things that might be responsible for your fatigue is often the first step toward relief. Fatigue may be related to: 1. Use of alcohol or drugs 2. Excess physical activity 3. Jet lag

4. Lack of physical activity 5. Lack of sleep 6. Medications, such as antihistamines, cough medicines 7. Unhealthy eating habits.

Basic treatments include The successful treatment of fatigue requires finding the underlying causes and treating them. Below are some examples: • Anemia or low iron without anemia - iron supplements.

• Sleep apnea - specific medications and medical devices. A positive airway therapy can be applied to solve this problem.

• Blood sugar - medications to regulate blood sugar levels • Underactive thyroid - targeted drugs • Antibiotics - infections • Obesity - a diet and exercise regime Sleep • Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day • Set your bedroom’s temperature at a comfortable level. It must neither be too cold nor too hot • Do not have your last meal of the day too close to your bedtime - not less than 90 minutes or two hours before you go to bed • As bedtime approaches, physically and mentally slow down. Have a warm bath and listen to some soothing music. Clear your mind of stressful and worrying thoughts.

Eating and drinking habits • If you eat three regular meals each day, eat at the same time each day, and follow a well-balanced diet, your overall health will improve and so will your sleep patterns.

• If you are underweight, add more calories to your diet, but make sure it is a healthy one.

• if you are overweight/obese, follow a wellbalanced diet and aim for a healthy weight.

• Do not crash-diet. Your sleep may be affected.

• Drink alcoholic and caffeinated beverages in moderation, or not at all.

• Eat dark chocolate, to reduce symptoms. . Consume only moderate amounts of chocolate.

Physical activity Remember that fatigue-physical inactivity-fatigue vicious cycle. If you are unfit you are more likely to feel tired. Break that cycle. It is important that any physical activity drive is done properly and gradually.

Regular exercisers sleep better and suffer much less from fatigue than other people.

Finally, all the issues discussed above, covers reasons and common causes. There could be underlying causes which are diseases or ailments. Therefore, if after you have done all that you can do easily by yourself, and there seems to be no improvement, it is very important that you consult your doctor very quickly.

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Iheanacho

Joins the League of Big Boys

07.05.2016

Still A Lot to Play For PAGE. 29

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Iheanacho

Now in the League of Big Boys His season with Manchester City did not start on a very high note as he was only the last in the pecking other behind more established strikers like Argentine Kum Aguero and Wilfried Bony. But with Aguero on and off the pitch due to injury and the Ivorian international not lethal enough, City Manager, Manuel Pellegrini, had no choice but to throw Kelechi Iheanacho into the thick of things. With statistics showing the Nigerian now has a better minute-to-goal ratio than Europe’s biggest name in the game.

Kunle Adewale asks if Iheanacho has finally arrived on the big stage...

S

tatistics, they say do not lie. It has shown that Iheanacho has a better minute-to-goal ratio than Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The Manchester City forward is Europe's deadliest player at the moment, statistically speaking.

The 19-year-old is quietly blossoming into a clinical finisher at City, and this was highlighted by his four goals in their 4-0 Premier League win over Stoke penultimate Saturday and in last 4-2 loss to Southampton on Sunday, which took his overall tally to 13 in the season and a statistic that sees him crowned as Europe's deadliest marksman.

Iheanacho can lay claim to being the most prolific goal scorer in Europe's top five leagues based on minutes played.

His minute-to-goal ratio stands at 81.27 - a figure that surpasses illustrious forwards such Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Based on players who have scored 10 goals or more this season in all competitions, Iheanacho's nearest challenger is Barcelona forward Luis

Suarez. The 29-year-old has scored 53 times at a minute-to-goal ratio of 83.77. Real Madrid duo Ronaldo (47 goals) and Karim Benzema (27) sit third and fourth respectively in this list at 84.21 and 85.93 respectively.

Meanwhile, agent of Iheanacho is demanding a bumper new Manchester City contract that will pay the Nigeria starlet a mind-blowing 200,000 pounds-a-week over five years.

“He has deserved his keep at City as he is now one of the most effective forwards in the whole of Europe when you put his game time against the number of his goals,” a top source argued.

In October, City offered Iheanacho 50,000 pounds-a-week and the Citizens have opened talks with Iheanacho’s handlers over a new contract after he justified his promotion to the first team at The Etihad with goals and five-star displays in his debut season in the English Premier League.

The 19-year-old striker staked his claim for a starting place against Real Madrid on Wednesday night with two goals in City's 4-2 loss at Southampton on Sunday.

Despite scoring two goals on Sunday, Iheanacho and his City

teammates watched with disbelief as Southampton inspired by Sadio Mane ran riot, whipping them 4-2.

The 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner pulled a goal back in the 44th minute for City with a header after the Saints went up 2-0.By the time Iheanacho found the top-right corner late on in the 78th minute, match was all but over.

It was the 19-year-old forward’s seventh Premier League goal in five starts.

The only little blemish on a great day in the office for the Nigeria star was when he was dispossessed of the ball for the home team to go ahead and get their fourth goal.

Iheanacho is making his debut in the Premier League this season after he came through from City’s youth team. And with David Silva on the sidelines, Pellegrini will need Iheanacho to be firing with the Champions League tie with Real Madrid delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg.

When last year, Manchester City parted ways with Edin Dzeko, observers were looking out for another high profile striker joining the club but Pellegrini decided to throw his hat into the ring for Nigerian starlet.

Based on players who have scored 10 goals or more this season in all competitions, Iheanacho's nearest challenger is Barcelona forward Luis Suarez.

The 29-year-old has scored 53 times at a minute-to-goal ratio of 83.77. Real Madrid duo Ronaldo (47 goals) and Karim Benzema (27) sit third and fourth respectively in this list at 84.21 and 85.93 respectively Cont'd on page 31

31

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Nigeria Professional Football League…

Rangers Set to Consolidate Position with 3SC Visit Attention would be shifted to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, this weekend as league leaders; Enugu Rangers host Shooting Stars in one of the Week 15 matches of the Nigeria Premier League in an encounter that would rekindle old rivalry between the two teams.

The Flying Antelopes moved to the top of the log after Eastern neighbours, Enyimba of Aba, shocked Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium, which enabled the Enugu outfit established a 10-point lead

and are poised to consolidate their position with 3SC visit.

With Rangers desperate for a silverware this season, having last won one last in 1983, are expected to come out smoking right from the blast of the referee’s whistle backed by their vociferous home fans.

Elsewhere, Heartland will be home to El-Kanemi in Owerri, Enyinba will welcome Niger Tornadoes and Ikorodu United will travel to Kano to face Pillars in a game the host would want to compensate their fans for

the loss to Enyimba.

Other matches are Abia Warriors versus Giwa FC, Wikkii Tourist will play host to Nasarawa United, while Rivers United travel to Warri for a date with Wolves.

Sunshine, which was humbled at home by Pillars in Week 13 will be guest to Plateau United, Akwa United and IfeayinUbah would slug it out in Aba, while Lobi Stars will play host to MFM FC in Markurdi in a game that is expected to be highly entertaining.

Ikorodu Utd Think Pillars’ Tie

Sagna celebrating with Iheanacho Cont'd from page 30

Now in the League of Big Boys After coming in as late substitutes in league two games, Pellegrini decided to throw the Nigerian again into the fray against Crystal Palace and the 2013 U 17 World Cup winner reposed the trust the coach had in him as he scored a late winner to give the Sky Blue side of Manchester a perfect start.

“He is a very important player for us. He is just 18 years and started working with our squad last season, but he was unlucky and had a big injury in the last three months of the season. This year, he started pre-season with the squad and will be a very important player for the future. He is one of the reasons I didn’t bring in another striker when we sold Edin Dzeko. He deserves that chance. Kelechi scored the goal and he had another chance. He is a very good young player; he is just 18 years old. He worked with the rest of the team all the week. In front of him were Aguero and Bony who are very good players, but he is an important striker who still has a lot to improve,” Pelligrini had said then.

That performance did not only earn him the applause of teammates such as Raheem Sterling and David Silva who described him as “the first of many”. But it engraved his name in the history books, as the third youngest player in the Barclays Premier League, to score a goal for Manchester City after Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge.

Manu Garba, who coached the Nigeria U17 and U20 teams where Iheanacho exploded on to the scene compares his protégé to England legend Frank Lampard.

"I'm not surprised at his performances for Manchester City as I have said it before; he can play for any team in the world. As a matter of fact, they will do well to use him as a replacement for Frank Lampard. He shares similar style of play with the outgoing legend. They can both create and score goals from midfield with late runs into the 18-yard box hardly spotted by opposition defenders," Garba had said.

Iheancho’s rise to fame came after, emerging as the best player in the FIFA U-17 world cup in the 2013 United Arab Emirates. From there, he was signed into Manchester City, where he made some appearances for the Manchester City U-21 team, as well as the Nigeria U-20 team in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2015 in New Zealand.

In 2013, he was named the Most Promising Talent of the year at the CAF awards. In 2014, he signed for City and joined the 2014-2015 preseason tour. In his first game against Sporting Kansas city, he netted a goal and also scored in the game against AC Milan.

After the conclusion of the tour, City arranged for the youngster to be trained in Columbus crew until midOctober. But due to delays in obtaining work permit, meant he could not play in England, until February 2015.

In July 2015, he was also included in the City’s pre-season tour team in Australia, where he scored the second goal against AS Roma in the 2015 International Champions cup. He was born on October 1996, in Imo State and started his youth football career in Taye Academy in Owerri.

Ikorodu United head coach, Sam Okpodu has said his side have shifted 100 per cent attention to the weekend top flight matchup at former Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars.

The Oga Boys who stunned Heartland 3-1 at the weekend will be the guests of the Pyramid City side in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 15 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Okpodu said his side are working very hard to ensure the winning momentum is sustained at Kano Pillars.

“Obviously, we are excited with the emphatic win against Heartland but right now our focus has shifted to the weekend clash at Kano Pillars.

“We know the opponents,

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

Kano Pillars and the environment will be quite different compared with what obtained in the clash against Heartland.

“We are heading to Kano to see how we can pick three points or a point against Kano Pillars.

“Everything and practice right now is strictly tailored on the clash at Pillars and our determination to eke a positive result in the tie.

“Our greatest motivation is the fact that we have proven a point that we could convincingly win a game but the sustenance of the bold statement is another ball game.

“However, we strongly believe that another positive result at Kano Pillars will go a long to cement the aura of winning in our midst.

“The players have been charged to forget the victory against Heartland but tighten their belts for the difficult clash at Pillars,” said the former Warri Wolves coach to supersport.com.

The newcomers are at the bottom of the 20-team Nigerian top flight on nine points from possible 42 in the 14-week old league.

Week 15 Fixtures Kano Pillars Heartland Enyimba Abia Warriors Wikki Tourists Warri Wolves Rangers Plateau United Akwa United Lobi Stars

Nigeria Premier League Table Rangers Kano Pillars Abia Warriors FC Ifeanyiubah Wikki Tourists Lobi Stars Rivers Utd MFM FC Warri Wolves Akwa Utd Heartland Nasarawa Utd Plateau Utd Sunshine Stars Enyimba Tornadoes El-Kanemi 3SC Giwa FC Ikorodu Utd

14 14 13 14 13 14 14 14 13 14 14 14 14 14 11 14 14 14 14 14

8 7 6 7 6 6 7 6 5 5 5 6 5 4 5 5 5 5 4 2

3 3 6 2 4 4 1 4 4 3 3 0 3 5 2 2 1 1 2 3

3 4 1 5 3 4 6 4 4 6 6 8 6 5 4 7 8 8 8 9

21 22 15 15 18 17 18 17 7 17 11 14 16 16 12 16 14 15 11 9

v v v v v v v v v v

15 14 8 13 6 13 15 15 9 16 13 18 21 13 11 17 19 23 20 22

Ikorodu Utd El-Kanemi Tornadoes Giwa FC Nasarawa Utd Rivers Utd 3SC Sunshine Ifeanyiubah MFM FC

6 8 7 2 12 4 3 2 -2 1 -2 -4 -5 3 1 -1 -5 -8 -9 -13

27 24 24 23 22 22 22 22 19 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 14 9

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Leicester fans bring city to standstill as players pop out for pizza

Leicester City Victory

The Greatest Sporting Story?

Relegation favourites, led by a new yet simultaneously tarnished manager, driven on by a former nonleague striker, prevailing over teams with incomparable resources and title-winning pedigree. But is it the most remarkable of all time? More romantic, more impossible, more captivating than any that other years, sports and nations have thrown up?

T

he maverick who became magic You want romance? You want the impossible? John Daly wasn't just an unfancied outsider for the 1991 US PGA title, a rookie who had missed the cut in almost half his tournaments. He wasn't even due to take part.

When you are ninth reserve for a major full of millionaires, you generally plan something else for your week. As the players above him started dropping out, Daly - blond mullet, bad shirts, worse trousers - instead stuck his clubs in the boot of his car and drove the eight hours from his home to Indianapolis.

He had never seen the Crooked Stick course before, let alone played it, but when Nick Price's wife went into labour the night before the first round, the Zimbabwean was out and the chubby no-hoper in.

No time for a practice round, only to ask Price's caddy, Jeff 'Squeaky' Medlin if he might help him out that first morning. "John was like a blind man with a guide dog," said his playing partner, Billy Andrade. "'Where do I hit it here, Squeaky?'"

The answer was further than anyone else. Daly's prodigious driving was matched only by his relentless cigarette

He no longer plays professional golf. But he still smokes, relentlessly.

Unseeded 17-year-old Boris Becker was supposed to be studying for college exams in 1985 - instead he came through seven matches at Wimbledon and left with the men's singles trophy

smoking. After rounds of 69, 67 and 69, he high-fived his way through the final round to win one of the biggest prizes in golf by three shots.

"All four days, I didn't think," he said afterwards. "I just hit it."

It became a motif for Daly's life - his victory celebrated at a McDonald's drive-through, sticking his head through the sun-roof of a hastily-hired limousine

to make the order; spontaneously donating $30,000 to the family of a spectator killed by lightning earlier in the tournament (which later put the man's orphaned daughters through college); careering through four marriages (thus far) and an estimated $60m in gambling; reduced now to parking his giant RV outside the Augusta branch of Hooters during Masters week and flogging John Daly T-shirts to anyone staggering out.

The underdog who bit back Daly's achievement was the more remarkable for the fact that he went through four rounds of 18 holes, against the best golfers in the world, and came out on top.

In the same way, Leicester's league title, the inevitable result of unarguable superiority over a 38-game season, must surely outrank the great one-off upsets that sport habitually throws up.

Buster Douglas should never have beaten Mike Tyson when they met for the undisputed heavyweight world title in Tokyo 26 years go.

Tyson walked into the ring with 37 wins from 37 pro fights, 33 of them coming from knockouts.

Douglas was a 42-1 stooge, an astonishing price in a two-man contest. He was physically sick, struggling with flu, and emotionally stricken by the death of his mother three weeks before the fight.

Tyson even had Douglas on the canvas in the eighth round. Yet in the 10th he was down himself, the victim as much of hype and hubris as his opponent's brutal uppercut. Unlike Douglas, he would not beat the count.

It was arguably as big an upset as Cassius Clay beating Sonny Liston in Miami 26 years further back, before Cassius became Muhammad Ali and Ali changed the world.

But it was a one-off, at least for Douglas, the boxing equivalent of a sensational FA Cup coup.

Douglas could not sustain his underdog day.

33

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Douglas was a 42-1 underdog, coping with flu and the recent death of his mother, when he beat Mike Tyson in Tokyo

Leicester had never won the league title before. The closest they had come was a solitary second place, 87 years before. Never since had they come close, let alone four times gone into the final games of the season as one of only two teams who could win it

over Eric Bristow at the 1983 World Darts Championship came to be seen. Johnson reached the final again the following year, even if he has no record of his greatest match; having recorded it all on video, he later discovered that his son had taped over it with He-Man: Masters of the Universe.

Claudio Ranieri is unlikely to suffer the same problem. Neither do the achievements of his team suffer by comparison.

Odds of 150-1 make you a long shot. At 5,000-1 you are not considered a shot at all.

A Thai Buddhist monk provides Leicester City team members with some pre-match motivation

Leicester have made their own revolution a routine.

The callow kid who became a champion As golf has four rounds to pare away the lucky and the one-punch wonders, so tennis Grand Slam tournaments have seven rounds across two weeks to truly test their champions.

All of which made Boris Becker's win at Wimbledon in 1985 so astonishing: 17 years old, unseeded for the event, supposed to be studying for exams at college, instead becoming the youngest champion in history, a red-topped tornado of car-crusher serves, diving volleys and sawing fist-pumps.

And yet. A week before he had won the grass-court event at Queen's, confirming the special marriage between his serve-volley game and that fastest of surfaces; heading south across London, he was ranked 20th in the world, an outsider but one homing in fast.

Neither was it an entirely unfamiliar take.

Three years before, another 17-year-old, Sweden's Mats Wilander, had gone to his first French Open and beaten the second, third, fourth and fifth seeds en route to triumphing in the final.

Five years later a third 17-year-old, Michael Chang, would also win the French Open, another kid-become-man in a fortnight that few saw coming.

Chang's famous fourth-round victory over three-time French Open champion Ivan Lendl is worthy of a biopic on its own - two sets and a break of serve down to the world number one, so stricken with cramp that he was reduced to hitting moon balls and underarm serves. But just like Mark Edmondson, shock winner of the 1976 Australian Open having begun it ranked 212th in the world, he would never win another Slam singles title.

Leicester have beaten last season's champions, and the champions of the season before that. They won more matches across the nine months of the Premier League season than any other team. Week after week, they have maintained their trajectory.

The team that united a nation

As Leicester's title bid gathered momentum, it became increasingly clear that they were taking other supporters with them first the romantics, then the neutrals, then all but the hopeful fans of second-placed Spurs and a few diehards at East Midlands rivals Derby and Nottingham Forest.

By the end it was the story almost all of football seemed to want to happen. Which was pretty much the way it was with baseball's Boston Red Sox, going into the World Series of 2004.

The Red Sox had won five of the first 15 World Series. Then, having let Babe Ruth go to the New York Yankees, they would go 86 years without another, the Curse of the Bambino adding a melodramatic moniker to a litany of bad management, catastrophic errors and heart-breaking near-misses.

In both 1946 and 1967 they lost the World Series in the final game of seven, doing the same again in 1975 in arguably the greatest Word Series ever.

In 2004 they were 3-0 down to their arch-rivals the Yankees in the American League championship series and seemingly doomed again. Then they won the next four games straight, and there were suddenly no neutrals left. Into the World Series, up against St Louis Cardinals, the team that had denied them in '46 and '67. Another four straight wins later, the longest wait was at an end.

And that was what it was: a wait for something that should have happened before, as much about failing to win when history, support and influence suggested they should as finally doing so again.

Leicester? Leicester had never won the league title before. The closest they had come was a solitary second place, 87 years before. Never since had they come close, let alone four times gone into the final games of the season as one of only two teams who could win it.

Back from the dead to rise again There is the romantic, and then there is the 1981 Grand National.

Bob Champion, a jockey who had come through testicular cancer and a brutal course

of chemotherapy; Aldaniti, a steeplechaser who had broken down so often that vets were convinced he would have to be put down.

At Aintree that April it was not so much redemption as resurrection. Champion took Aldaniti into the lead off the 11th fence, and over the remaining 19 the two great survivors could not be touched.

Even in second place came a tale to touch the heart: Spartan Missile, a horse bred, owned, trained and ridden by a 54-year-old dreamer named John Thorne; Thorne only on board because his son Nigel, who had been earmarked for the ride, had been killed in a car crash; Thorne the man who Champion celebrated his win with in a Wiltshire pub later into that Saturday night; Thorne who himself was to lose his life in a fall at a point-to-point race the following year.

A fairy-tale, then, but also one that enough punters saw coming to make Aldaniti 10-1 second favourite as the starter called them in.

Spartan Missile was 8-1.

Leicester began their own canter in August so far out in the market that you could get 10 times the value on Andy Murray calling his first-born child Novak, or Simon Cowell becoming the next Prime Minister.

The journeyman who beat the world Leicester's well-travelled central defensive pairing of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan are 31 and 32 years old. Younger, then, than the 33-year-old former gas board employee Joe Johnson when he travelled from Bradford to Sheffield for the 1986 World Snooker Championships, having lost on both his previous visits, on one of those occasions by 10 frames to one.

The father of six had won his first televised match only the previous year. Despite that undistinguished track record and the pain from a cyst on his back that first brought a halt to his quarter-final and then actually burst in his semi-final, he fought through to meet world number one Steve Davis, held a 13-12 lead going into the fourth session, and then won five of the next six to become, at 150-1, the biggest outsider to ever win the world title.

Neither could it be considered a golden blip, in the way Keith Deller's shock victory

The men who made miracles And so we come to the most apposite comparison of all.

Nottingham Forest, 13th in the old Second Division when Brian Clough took over as manager in January 1975. Promoted to the First Division in his second full season, champions of England in the next, champions of Europe a year later.

Four years and five months from nowhere to the European Cup. Retaining the European Cup the following year. It is unlikely ever to happen again.

Caveats? The mean of spirit might point to the fact that Forest played nine matches to win their first European Cup, compared with the 13 present holders Barcelona had to get through en route to the Champions League last season, or that they won six to Barca's 11.

But that has less to do with somehow cheapening their achievement and more about the changing format of the competition. Forest beat reigning European champions Liverpool en route that year, just as they had finished seven points clear of them in winning the league title in 1977-78.

You might argue too that Clough came into that spell with a superior record to Ranieri, having taken similarly unheralded Derby to the League Championship and semi-finals of the European Cup. Maybe, with Leicester just one season into Ranieri's reign, it would be more accurate to limit the judgement to Clough's first landmark at the City Ground: winning the title having only finished third in the Second Division the season before.

Instead of contrasts, however, this is all about the similarities - two maverick and charismatic managers; two sets of muscular centre-backs; two sets of low-key toilers touching the stars. For Forest's dancing winger John Robertson see Leicester's Riyad Mahrez; for former Fleetwood Town striker Vardy, see Garry Birtles - signed from Long Eaton for ÂŁ2,000, former builder, his goals in Forest's unlikely ascent carrying him to a similarly unlikely England debut.

Better to relish both than to relegate one.

Sport, often predictable if seldom straightforward, should celebrate them equally. •Culled from BBC Sport

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Joseph Otto getting the better of Fatai Nurudeen during the GOtv Boxing Night Season 7 on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

Action during the preliminaries of the 18th edition of the NNPC/Shell Cup

A Valedictory Okpekpe Race for Oshiomhole as Ugandan Toroitich Dares Kenyans For the Adams Oshiomhole administration in Edo State, this year’s 4th Okpekpe 10Km International Road Race holding today is a valedictory one. It is the very last before Oshiomhole says good bye to the Heartbeat of the Nation. From the first race four years ago, the Comrade Governor has been part and parcel of the road race that has now put Nigeria on the calendar of great road race nations.

Interestingly, Oshiomhole is also leaving a legacy as not only a supporter of the Okpekpe project but as an active participant who conquered the hilly route of the race.

In the first edition, Oshiomhole shocked everyone on ground when he ran the last four kilometers of the race to the finish line. Top government

officials present at that event, including then youthful Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, and his National Sports Commission personnel were awed by energy displayed by the former labour leader.

As someone who craves equality for all genders, Oshiomhole ensured that the disparity in the prize monies paid out to male and female athletes were harmonized. He took up the personal responsibility of paying the difference. Perhaps, it was that singular move by Oshiomhole that made the promoters of the race to begin to think in the direction of getting IAAF label for the race.

Four years down the line, the Okpekpe 10km International Road Race has become the only IAAF bronze label race in Africa in 2016 and one of only two IAAF label

races in Africa this year .

Road running buffs are going to be looking forward to the race today to see if Timothy Toroitich will be able to end the dominance of the Kenyans at the fourth IAAF Bronze Label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race as the first Ugandan to win the title.

Just like his compatriot, Stephen Kiprotich, did four years ago at the London Olympics where he scaled Kenyan and Ethiopian hurdles to make history as the first Ugandan man to win an Olympic marathon gold, Toroitich will definitely be in the consciousness of everyone this morning.

Kenyans have won two of the last three titles on offer courtesy Moses Masai's win (29 mins 39 seconds) in 2013 at the inaugural

edition of the race and Korio Alex Olotptip win last year while Ethiopia's Teshome Mekonnen won in 2014, setting a new 28 minutes, 35 seconds All-Nigeria and Course record.

Toroitich, whose first attempt at the Okpekpe title was thwarted by Masai at the inaugural edition of the race and had to settle for the silver medal is one of the six gold level elite male runners confirmed for today's race and will have to contend with the Kenyan duo of Simon Cheprot and Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo who placed sixth and ninth respectively and won a team gold at the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, Wales last March and Morris Munene Gachaga who is the only man in the elite race cast to have broken 28 minutes this year.

Holyfield Backs Haye to Beat Joshua Evander Holyfield believes David Haye would be too much for Anthony Joshua if the pair faced off in a British heavyweight superfight.

IBF heavyweight champion Joshua will make the first defence of his title against Dominic Breazeale at the O2 Arena on June 25, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Haye, 35, returns to action on May 21 when he takes on Arnold Gjergjaj and is slated to face veteran American Shannon Briggs after that, meaning a potential bout with Joshua is not on the immediate horizon.

That may be just as well for Joshua, according to four-time world heavyweight champion Holyfield.

Holyfield has been impressed with Joshua's rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks but believes the 26-year-old is far from the finished article and would struggle against a fighter of Haye's calibre and experience.

"Listen, I think Joshua may be one of the best big guys out there," Holyfield told the Daily Mail.

"It's not just his power, I'm

talking about him being one of the guys who can stay there the longest and make adjustments.

Speaking on the Soccer AM sofa back in Fewbruary, Evander Holyfield said that he thinks Joshua is a real talent and a great fighter "He hasn't had to make any adjustments yet but his fighting style is that he can box. As you can see, he can hit too.

Murray Turns Down Olympic Village in Rio Andy Murray says he will stay at an apartment with the British tennis team and not in the Olympic Village in Rio during the Games this summer.

The defending champion stayed in the athletes' village in Beijing in 2008 but opted against that in London four years later where he won gold in the singles tournament and silver in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson.

While he enjoyed the experience of mingling with athletes from other sports in

China, the world No 2 says the best preparation possible must come first.

"I'm not staying in the village," he said. "I'm staying in an apartment with the rest of the team.

"To be honest, when I stayed in the village in Beijing I had a great time but my tennis was pretty bad there. I did something different obviously during London and that worked out well for me.

"My job there is to try to prepare as best I can and win a

medal for my country. I think the best way to do that is to sort of prepare like you do for other events where you're in your own space."

The 28-year-old spent some time at the athletes' village in London, even though he was not based there, with many other tennis players also staying elsewhere because the Olympic tournament was played at Wimbledon, distant from the other venues.

Roger Federer had problems at the Olympic Village in

2008 because of the constant requests from other athletes for autographs and photographs, with Maria Sharapova also sought-after in London.

"It's different than what we're used to," Murray added. "I think that's why the players are staying outside."

Rafael Nadal won gold in Beijing when he stayed at the Olympic Village and has already said he wants to enjoy the same experience in Rio, while Novak Djokovic also stayed at the village in 2008.

GOtv Boxing Night 7

Young Boxers Thrilled by Pro Debuts

Rilwan "Baby Face" Babatunde, one of the most exciting boxers at GOtv Boxing Night 7, has expressed delight that he was able to make his professional debut shortly after turning pro.

The 20-year old, who defeated the more experienced Tope Agboola in their light welterweight challenge bout at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, on Sunday, is one of the discoveries of the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search.

"I never thought it would come so soon. I have seen many boxers turn pro and

not get fights. I really thank the sponsors and the organisers for making this possible. I am now confident of kicking on from here," said Baby Face.

Another debutant, Chukwuebuka Ezewudo, conqueror of Kolawole in a middleweight clash, is also glowing that he has made his debut. "I am very happy. The whole of Africa watched me made my debut.

It was made sweeter by the fact that I won the fight. Big thanks to the sponsors," said the graduate of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search who defeated

a fellow graduate.

Despite losing his first pro bout, Kolawole is happy that he made his debut. "Losing is not the end of the world. Boxers lose every time and come back to win. I am just happy that I was part of GOtv Boxing Night 7 and will remember my first fight forever," he said.

Osamudiamen Goodluck shares similar sentiments. The graduate of the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, who was defeated by Rilwan Oladosu in their lightweight challenge bout, said the loss did not af-

fect the joy he feels at finally making his debut as a pro. "I have a fight under my belt and I hope to have other fights in the future," he said.

The star of the night, however, was Oto "Joe Boy" Joseph, who won the national lightweight title by dethroning Nurudeen Fatai by unanimous decision in their explosive 12-round fight.

In addition to the title, Joe Boy won the N1m cash prize for the best boxer of the evening and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the second time.

NNPC/Shell Cup Enters Zonal Preliminaries The 18th edition of the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship for the NNPC/Shell Cup has entered the zonal preliminary stage.

37 schools will converge in nine centers across the country to compete for the quarter final slots. At the end of the series of matches, 10 teams are expected to emerge for the quarter finals that will come up in Ijebu-Ode from May 21.

Beginning from Tuesday, May 10, matches will be played in Katsina, Minna, Jalingo, Ilorin, Uyo, Owerri, Ughelli, Akure and Osogbo.

The Nigeria Schools Sports Federation have reiterated that states that parade mercenaries in their teams would be severely dealt with as adequate measures have been put in place to detect non-bonafide students and punish any school that falls fowl of this rule.

Meanwhile, winners of the last edition, Rochas Foundation College, Ogboko, Imo State have been knocked out of the state preliminaries as Holy Ghost College, Owerri will represent Imo state at the zonal preliminaries.

Lagos state will be represented by Muslim College who defeated Cardoso secondary school, Orile 3-0 in a recently concluded final at the Teslim Balogun stadium.

Groups Katsina Minna Jalingo Ilorin Uyo Owerri Ughelli Osogbo Akure

– – – – – – – – –

Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara Nasarawa, Katsina, Kaduna, FCT. Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno Niger, Bauchi, Taraba, Plateau Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Benue Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, C/Rivers Anambra, Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa.

Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos.

Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Edo.

WBC middleweight Title: It won’t be all About Power, Alvarez Warns Khan Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has warned Amir Khan he will need to worry about more than just his power when the pair meet at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena tonight.

The WBC middleweight champion is making the first defence of his title as Khan, 29, steps up two weight divisions to challenge him at a catchweight of 155lbs.

Khan (29-3) has vowed to give Alvarez (48-1-1) "a boxing lesson", with most experts predicting his route to victory lies in utilising his superior speed and staying out of range of his naturally bigger opponent.

But despite Khan's perceived lack of punch resistance, Canelo insists he will not be solely reliant on overpowering his opponent and plans to show his boxing skills against the former Olympic silver medallist.

"I don't go in there thinking about power," said Alvarez.

"There's a lot more to me than just power. When you see me in the ring tonight, you'll find out.

"I already have a lot of experience but the best is yet to come. I'm 25 years old, I've had a good career and the best is yet to come. I want to fight for the next 10 years which will be better than my first 10 years.

"I feel comfortable at 154lbs. I know I'm fighting for the 160lbs title but that one extra pound is lighter on my body and I feel better. "While I am at this weight, I will not fight someone who weighs 160lbs - that would be an advantage to the opponent - why would I give them that advantage?"

A win over Canelo would be the biggest of Khan's career and a sixth successive victory since he was stopped in the fourth round of his 2012 bout against Danny Garcia.

That loss, which was Khan's second in succession, prompted Khan to split from respected trainer Freddie Roach and turn to Virgil Hunter to rebuild his career.

Hunter has been impressed with how Khan has battled back from adversity and believes his willingness to move up in weight to face Canelo shows he has the heart of a true champion. "(Khan's) a young man that's been through so much adversity in his career," Hunter said.

35

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

AFRICA PLAYS

with KENNETH EZAGA 0807 0530 677, zigi199@yahoo.com

The Millionaire Men – Agents of the Rising Stars of Nigerian Football While most of us see football as mere entertainment, there are thankfully the few among us who see the vast business opportunities the game offers. These guys have for years been investing in developing young local talents for export and are beginning to reap multimillions from their investments. Not only have they cut out a path from poverty and crime for many of our youngsters, they have created jobs for coaches, trainers and administrative staff in this country. While some, myself included, may not approve entirely of their modus operandi, we cannot take away the fact that today these men are setting the stage for what would become a multibillion naira football industry in Nigeria tomorrow. I speak of agents and managers of the rising stars of Nigerian football like the Kelechi Iheanachos, Isaac Successes, Taiwo Awoniyis, Kelechi Nwakalis, and Sadiq Umars. Every profitable venture over time refines itself and the rise of better structured football academies in Nigeria attests to this. Today our best talents receive quality training from younger ages, which is bound to see the quality of Nigerian football rise on the world stage in the years to come. This trend can only get better, while the guys behind these players can only grow richer as our talent development system gains a better reputation on the world stage and the financial values of our players go on a steep upward trajectory. It may not be long before we see billionaire football agents or managers in Nigeria, but for that to happen this block of stakeholders must realize that their interests will ultimately be best served by ensuring they get actively involved in making the Nigerian Professional Football League vibrant and successful once again.

I

decided on this topic after I read this week that rising star Isaac Success, who currently plays for Spanish La Liga outfit Granada, would be joining the English Premier League club Watford City in the summer, despite interest from big European clubs like Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Paris Saint Germain. The same Italian family owns Granada and Watford as well as Udinese in Italy, so they may want to keep the player in the family until they can attract a monster fee for him and the EPL offers a great shop window. Still it is hard to see the youngster’s value being less than five to ten million pounds. Built in the contract is a 10% sell-on clause for his original owners - the BJ Foundation Academy in Nigeria.

The academy would probably get no less than half a million pounds, which is over two hundred million naira at today’s rate. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like pretty good money

by Nigerian standards. So it may not be such a bad investment idea to buy some acres of land in an investment-friendly place upcountry and invest in developing young talents for the big stage. To be sure, not every player is going to become a top professional, many will fall by the way side, others will have average careers, but the few who fulfil their potential will cover your costs and ensure you live a rich life.

It would be shortsighted for the agents to think that 500,000 pounds is Uhuru, because they should realize that were they to deal through a successful and competitive NPFL, they would stop being at the mercy of European clubs in developing their best talents for export.

Were the NPFL to operate according to international best practices - which is what the League Management Company has been fighting for - then what Watford will pay for Success today is probably what would have been the value of his first European club deal after two seasons in the NPFL with say Bendel insurance FC or Rangers International FC. Playing in Nigeria most of these young talents would have the latitude to explore their talents in unbridled fashion rather than the culturally different Europe clubs were they face all kinds of obstacles that limit their abilities to fully express their talents. Very few of the world conquering 2013 U-17 World Cup team are doing as great as Iheanacho and Success are doing, while the 2015 class is

probably going to fare worse. So many promising talents have disappeared into the wilds in Europe, when they could be playing in the NPFL today and keeping their career developments on track.

Successful societies are great examples of effective ecosystems. They build support systems through which they attain their highest heights. If our agents must fulfil their potential as opposed to one successful deal every now and again, they must realize that the NPFL provides the right foundation for their talents to grow into the players they ought to be, and not those molded into what managers overseas see fit for them. These agents cannot continue to complain about the shortcomings of the NPFL like everyone else. It is their business and they must join in the fight to clean up things and be the change they desire to see. Ultimately their business interests will be best served that way as they will achieve higher player success rates and sooner become the billionaires a successful domestic football industry

can make them.

Why has Isaac Success never received a Super Eagles call?

Our ways can be strange in Nigeria, or how else can one make sense of the fact that Nigeria’s most successful forward in the last year has not received a Super Eagles invitation when mere mortals have. So good has Isaac Success been that he has been the star player in a La Liga side. Only this week the striker who plays in the wings these days was voted the club’s Player of the Year. I have personally followed the amazing rise of this talent and have been shocked that he was snubbed by successive Super Eagles coaches including Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia and now Salisu Yusuf. There has neither been any explanation from the coaches nor the Nigeria Football Federation for this rather glaring anomaly. Can we please stop playing games with our best talents in this country and put Nigeria best foot forward at all times?

Successful societies are great examples of effective ecosystems. They build support systems through which they attain their highest heights. If our agents must fulfil their potential as opposed to one successful deal every now and again, they must realize that the NPFL provides the right foundation for their talents to grow into the players they ought to be, and not those molded into what managers overseas see fit for them

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7 , 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Still a Lot to Play for in the English Premier League Though Leicester may have won the English Premiership and Tottenham Hot Spurs secured the second place, yet there is still a lot to play for in this weekend Premiership matches as the last two spots of the UEFA Champions League is still very much at stake with Manchester United waiting to cash-in on a slip by neighbours-City and third place Arsenal. The battle for survival from relegation is equally as interesting too. To add spice to the whole scenario is the battle for the top scorer, with Harry Kane, Kun Aguero and Verdy as front runners

W

ith less than two weeks left in the Premier League, two Champions League spots remain up for grabs - and four teams are still in contention to get them.

Arsenal are frontrunners in the race to join champions Leicester and likely runners-up Tottenham and are all but assured of their place in the top four already.

Manchester City - whose Champions League exit ensured the Premier League's fourth-placed side would qualify for the play-off round are in pursuit and

would take a big step towards claiming the other space with a win over Arsene Wenger's side this Sunday.

But if those teams draw, that could give both Manchester United and West Ham - currently sitting fifth and sixth an opportunity to close in and make it an even tighter contest than it already is.

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has returned to fitness after a five-month injury layoff, handing manager Arsene Wenger a late-season boost before Sunday's away clash with Manchester City.

The 31-year-old Spain international played an hour for the club's under-21s

Catalan Derby: Espanyol May Define Barcelona Losing out of the Champions League to rivals may be painful to Barcelona fans, but squandering 11-point lead would however be unacceptable, that is whySunday’s La Liga encounter against rivals, Espanyol, would go a long way in defining Barca season

B

arcelona would move another step closer to the La Liga title if they can overcome Catalan rivals Espanyol at Camp Nou on Sundayafternoon.

Luis Enrique's side currently lead with two games left, but any slip would allow both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid to take advantage as a pulsating race in Spain's top flight draws to a close.

All of the top three are in action on Sundayafternoon and Barcelona will enter this match off the back of three successive victories.

Earlier this year, it did appear that the Catalan giants would breeze to another league success, but they have wobbled in recent months and both Atletico and Real have continued to pick up the points.

When Barcelona beat Getafe 6-0 on March 12, they managed to open up an 11-point lead over second-place Atletico and 15 on thirdplace Real Madrid. A four-game winless run, however, blew the title race wide open.

They drew at Villarreal and lost against Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Valencia. Talk of a crisis had surrounded Camp Nou, but they got back on track with an 8-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna on April 20 and have also beaten Sporting Gijon and Real Betis in their last two.

There will be no repeat of the treble from the 2014-15 season, but Enrique's side will face Sevilla in the final of the Copa del Rey later this month and a domestic double would still be seen as a fine campaign for the Catalan giants.

There have been signs of tiredness in recent weeks and Enrique's side will have to watch

rivals Atletico and Real Madrid lock horns in the Champions League final in Milan, but a 24th La Liga title is beckoning and slipping up at this stage seems unthinkable.

Had Espanyol not managed to pick up an important three points against Sevilla last weekend, the Catalan outfit would have been in serious trouble entering their final two matches.

As it stands, Constantin Galca's team are still not safe from the drop with two games left, but they are five points clear of the bottom three and only a serious turnaround at this stage of the campaign would see them drop into the relegation zone.

Matches between Barcelona and Espanyol are always important due to the rivalry between the two sets of supporters and there is no question that the visitors would accept a poor campaign if they could prevent Barcelona from lifting the title this season.

Still a Lot to Play for in the English Premier League Though Leicester may have won the English Premiership and Tottenham Hot Spurs secured the second place, yet there is still a lot to play for in this weekend Premiership matches as the last two spots of the UEFA Champions League are still very much at stake with Manchester United waiting to cash-in on a slip by neighbours-City and third place Arsenal. The battle for survival from relegation is equally as interesting too. To add spice to the whole scenario is the battle for the top scorer, with Harry Kane, Kun Aguero and Verdy as front runners

against Blackburn Rovers this week, and could return to first-team action for the first time since injuring his knee in December.

City holds the final UEFA Champions Leaguequalifying slot for next season as the top three teams at the end of the term will qualify directly to the group stage of the said club continental competitions while the fourth-placed club will advance to the playoff rounzd.

The Citizens dropped a sorry 2-4 game to another contending team, Southampton FC, atthe St. Mary's Stadium last

Premiership Table Leicester Tottenham Arsenal Man City Man Utd West Ham Southampton Liverpool Chelsea Stoke Everton Watford Swansea West Brom Bournemouth Crystal Palace Newcastle Sunderland Norwich Aston Villa

36 36 36 36 35 35 36 35 35 36 35 35 36 36 36 36 36 35 35 36

30 39 25 30 12 17 14 11 7 -14 6 -6 -13 -14 -20 -10 -25 -18 -26 -45

77 70 67 64 60 59 57 55 48 48 44 44 43 41 41 39 33 32 31 16

Spanish La Liga Fixtures

TODAY Barcelona Celta Vigo Eibar Getafe Las Palmas Levante Madrid Sociedad Sevilla Villarreal

v v v v v v v v v v

Espanyol Málaga Real Betis Sporting Bilbao Atletico Valencia Vallecano Granada Deportivo

16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00

Premiership

TODAY Norwich Villa Bournemouth Palace Sunderland West Ham Leicester

v v v v v v v

SUNDAY Tottenham Liverpool Man City

v v v

Man Utd Newcastle West Brom Stoke Chelsea Swansea Everton

12:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:30

Southampton 13:30 Watford 16:00 Arsenal 16:00

Serie A Fixtures TODAY Inter Bologna

v v

Empoli Milan

17:00 19:45

SUNDAY Roma Atalanta Carpi Fiorentina Frosinone Sampdoria Torino Verona

v v v v v v v v

Chievo Udinese Lazio Palermo Sassuolo Genoa Napoli Juventus

11:30 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 19:45 19:45

Sunday to snap a five-game unbeaten run, while Arsenal nipped bottom three team Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday. Striker Danny Welbeck scored the winning goal for Arsene Wenger's side one minute before the hourmark of the match to extend the Gunners' seven-game unbeaten streak to eight.

Therefore, this match between City and the Gunners is crzucial for both teams as they are vying for a direct qualification to the group stage of the 2016-2017 Champions League tourney.

La Liga Barcelona Atletico Madrid Villarreal Bilbao Celta Vigo Sevilla Málaga Valencia Las Palmas Sociedad Eibar Real Betis Espanyol Deportivo Granada CF Vallecano Sporting Getafe Levante

36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36

75 44 73 13 11 -7 6 1 0 -5 -5 -10 -19 -31 -16 -23 -22 -24 -29 -32

85 85 84 64 58 57 52 45 44 43 42 42 41 40 39 36 35 35 35 29

Head to Head 21/12/15

Arsenal

2-1

Man City

18/01/15

Man City

0 -2

Arsenal

13/09/14

Arsenal

2 -2

Man City

29/03/14

Arsenal

1 -1

Man City

14/12/13

Man City

6 -3

Arsenal

13/01/13

Arsenal

02

Man City

23/09/12

Man City

1 -1

Arsenal

08/04/12

Arsenal

1 -0

Man City

18/12/11

Man City

1 -0

Arsenal

05/01/11

Arsenal

0 -0

Man City

24/10/10,

Man City

0 -3

Arsenal

24/04/10

Arsenal

0 -0

Man City

Hot Shots Harry Kane

Tottenham

25

Sergio Aguero

Man City

23

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

22

Romelu Lukaku

Everton

18

Riyad Mahrez

Leicester

17

Odion Ighalo

Watford

14

Jermain Defoe

Sunderland

14

Olivier Giroud

Azrsenal

12

Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal

12

Diego Costa

Chelsea

11

Gyifi Sigurdsson

Swansea

11

Troy Deeney

Watfor d

11

Marko Amoutovic

Stoke

11

Graziano Pelle

Southamton

10

Dele Alli

Tottenham

10

Sadio Mane

Southamton

10

Shane Long

Southampton

10

Andre Ayew

Swansea

10

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

WRITERS’ WORLD

Five Biggest Fiction Writing Mistakes (& How to Fix Them)

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

James Scott Bell is the #1 bestselling author of Plot and Structure, and award-winning thrillers like Final Witness.

He served as fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine, to which he frequently contributes. In this piece he wrote for the magazine, he shows how big fiction writing mistakes can be fixed.

H

impaired. Try playing up the different agendas each character has in a scene. Let them use dialogue as a weapon to get what they want.

aving reviewed hundreds of manuscripts over the years, I’ve identified the five mistakes that most regularly turn up. Start your revision by addressing these, and you’ll immediately change your story for the better

Happy People in Happy Land: Chief among the most common problems, in first chapters especially, are scenes presenting characters who are perfectly happy in their ordinary worlds. The writer thinks that by showing nice people doing nice things, readers will care about these pleasant folk when the characters are finally hit with a problem.

But readers actually engage with plot via trouble, threat, change or challenge. I call the first hint of this the opening disturbance. It can be stunning, as in Jodi Picoult’s Lone Wolf, which begins: Seconds before our truck slams into the tree, I remember the first time I tried to save a life.

Or it can be something quieter, a single item that is off kilter, as in the opening of Sarah Pekkanen’s The Opposite of Me: As I pulled open the heavy glass door of Richards, Dunne & Krantz and walked down the long hallway toward the executive offices, I noticed a light was on up ahead.

Lights were never on this early.

Although Happy People most commonly appear in Chapter 1, that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down once you’ve opened with a bang.As your novel progresses, look out for stops in Happy Land.

While revising my novel Don’t Leave Me, I noticed a scene in which my protagonist, Chuck Samson, a teacher recovering from his wife’s death, goes with his autistic brother to a colleague’s apartment for dinner. The host, knowing that Chuck used to do magic when his wife was alive, asks him to do a trick. Chuck resists but is cajoled into it. In the original version he performed a disappearing knife trick successfully, and everyone was pleased until the cops arrived at the door at the end of the scene.

I decided this was too happy. In my published version, Chuck blows it: … the knife slid off his lap and hit the floor with a clank.

“Oops,” Stan said.

Chuck had not blown that trick in twenty years.

He looked at his hands like they were foreign objects that had betrayed him.

Wendy laughed good naturedly. But when Chuck looked at her, she stopped laughing.

Trouble is your business. Make more of it.

A World Without Fear: The best novels, the ones that stay with you all the way to the end— and beyond—have the threat of death hanging over every scene.

Death? Really? Even, say, category romances?

Stay with me.

Death comes in three forms. Physical death is a staple of the thriller, of course. But there’s also professional death, where the main character is engaged in a vocation and the particular matter at hand threatens that position:Acop assigned a case that may mean the end of his career.Amarried politician falling for a young staffer.Adevoted mother losing the child she loves to drugs.

Your job, if it’s vocational death overhanging your novel, is to make whatever problem the protagonist is facing feel so important that failing to overcome it will mean a permanent setback to his main role in life.

There’s also psychological death (“dying on the inside”), most often emphasised in characterdriven fiction. This is where the romance genre comes in. It has to seem as if the lovers must end up together or their lives will forever be less than what they could have been.

Regardless of which form you use, you must put death on the line so fear may be felt throughout. Fear is a continuum—it can be simple worry or outright terror. You can put it everywhere.And you should.

In the pulp classic The Red Scarf by Gil Brewer, the main character’s schemes are closing in around him (as usually happens in noir). His wife is trying to have a normal dinner with him. But he’s worried: “Come on and eat, Roy. Supper’s ready.”

“All right.” I went into the kitchen and sat down and stared at my plate. I didn’t want to eat. There was this rotten black feeling all through me and I couldn’t shake it.

“Eat something, Roy. What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I just don’t feel so hot.”

I wanted to go over and take this guy Radan and knock the hell out of him. Only I knew I wouldn’t. You know when it’s not ready. You know something’s going to happen.

Something had to happen. It was like before a big storm, with the black clouds out there on the horizon. Everything goes calm and dead, and then …

Once the story is underway, scenes where fear isn’t present in some form mean the stakes are not high enough or the characters aren’t acting the way they should in the face of death.

Marshmallow Dialogue: Dialogue is the fastest way to improve a manuscript—or to sink it. When agents, editors or readers see crisp, tension-filled dialogue, they gain confidence in the writer’s ability. But dialogue that is sodden and undistinguished (marshmallow dialogue) has the opposite effect.

Pro dialogue is compressed. Marshmallow

dialogue is puffy.

Pro dialogue has conflict. Marshmallow dialogue is overly sweet.

Pro dialogue sounds different for each character.

Marshmallow dialogue blends together.

Fortunately, the fixes are simple.

First, make sure you can “hear” every character in a distinct voice.Agreat way to do this is to create a voice journal: a free-form document written in a character’s voice, talking to you, the author, on a variety of topics. Develop these documents until each character sounds unique, and then apply what you’ve learned to your manuscript.

Second, compress your dialogue as much as possible, cutting fluffy words, whole lines or even entire exchanges. Here’s an example: “Mary, are you angry with me?” John asked.

“You’re damn straight I’m mad at you,” Mary said.

“But why? You’ve got absolutely no reason to be!”

“Oh but I do, I do.And you can see it in my face, can’t you?”

The alternative: “You angry with me?” John asked.

“Damn straight,” Mary said.

“You got no reason to be!”

Mary felt her hands curling into fists.

Try this: Copy a lengthy dialogue exchange into a fresh document. Then cut and compress as much as you can. Compare it to the original. Nine times out of 10 you’ll prefer all or part of the new version.

Finally, when writing dialogue be sure to include some sort of tension in every exchange. Remember fear?At the very least you can have some aspect of it (worry, anxiety, fright) going on inside one of the characters so that communication is partially

Predictability: Readers like to worry about characters in crisis. They want to tremble about what’s around the next corner (whether it’s emotional or physical). If a reader knows what’s coming, and then it does in fact come, the worry factor is blown. Your novel no longer conveys a fictive dream but a dull ride down familiar streets.

The fix is simple: Put something unexpected in every scene. Doing this one thing keeps the reader on edge.

So how do you come up with the unexpected?

Try making lists. Pause and ask yourself what might happen next, and list the possibilities, centering on three primary areas: description, action and dialogue. For each one, don’t choose the first thing that comes to mind (which usually amounts to cliches). Force yourself to list at least five alternatives.

Description: Dump generic details for ones unique to the character’s perceptions. How might he see a room where someone died? What’s one surprising thing about the wallpaper? The bed?

The closet?

Action: Close your eyes and watch your scene unfold. Let the characters improvise. What are some outlandish things that could result? If something looks interesting, find a way to justify it. Dialogue: Don’t always use “on-the-nose” exchanges. How might characters say things that put other characters (and thus, readers) off balance? Consider Clarice Starling’s first conversation with Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Clarice begins: “I think you’ve been destructive. For me it’s the same thing.”

“Evil’s just destructive? Then storms are evil, if it’s just that simple.And we have fire, and then there’s hail. Underwriters lump it all under ‘Acts of God.’” “Deliberate––” “I collect church collapses, recreationally. Did you see the recent one in Sicily?”

You can make these lists in your planning stages, just before writing a scene, and/or when you revise. Either way, the unexpected elements that result will perceptibly elevate the quality of your story.

Lost Love: As I said up front, writing a book is like falling in love. Outlining and planning are the wooing. Drafting the novel is your commitment to marriage (which would make the opening scenes the honeymoon). But at some point, you and your book will likely need some marriage counseling. Because when you lose the verve for your material, it shows.

So how do you regain lost love? The surest way is by going deeper into your characters.

Start with backstory. Maybe you’ve already done an extensive bio for your main character.

Try starting a new one. Keep the best of the old material, but put in plenty that’s new.

Focus on the year your character turned 16.

Create an account of what happened at that crucial stage. What incident shaped her? What romances, heartaches, tragedies? Write those scenes in detail.

Do this for your antagonist, too, and your secondary characters. Soon enough you’ll be excited to get back to your story.

Also, try focusing on what your protagonist yearns for. We yearn because we feel a lack, a need, a hole in our souls. So yearning is about connection. This, in fact, is the power of mythology, some of the best storytelling of all time. Joseph Campbell taught that myths were a way of gaining connection to something transcendent, a life source, an essential mystery.

Readers, too, yearn for connection—with stories they can get lost in and be moved by. Fix these five areas in your work, and your books can be among them.

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

May 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

39

40

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • May 7, 2016

FITNESS FILE The Edenlifestyle corner with

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

Change Your Life Today (Part II)

L

ast week I wrote about ways to improve your productivity, your energy, basically your entire life.

People out there always seem to have it together, always seem positive, productive and never miss a workout, how do they do it? What choices are they making? I realized very quickly that our lives are really made up of the habits we practice day to day, so it’s really a matter of creating the right ones.

I recently went through a very rough period in my life and while in the eye of the storm I received an incredible piece of advice. Just because you’ve made bad choices doesn’t mean you have to continue to do so. At any point in time you can change the narrative, so I did.

So read on for my suggestions on how to positively change your life today! Be aware that working out is central to everything!

Foster Accountability This. Is. HUGE. Probably the single biggest factor in people staying on track is accountability.

Accountability, simply, is having someone to answer to, on some level.

You’re a lot less likely to screw up if you know there will be a negative consequence. If you fall off your diet and no one knows about it, it’s easy to get in the habit of falling off your diet. But if you tell the entire world you’re going on a diet, and then post pictures on your instagram – either of your meals or of yourself – you’ll be more likely to stick with that diet.

Workout partners keep you accountable. Coaches keep you

accountable. Friends keep you accountable. People in your boot camp keep you accountable.

In terms of fitness, do you know who keeps me accountable? You do. My readers, that is. I know that the people reading my articles look to me as a credible source of information, and therefore they have expectations: They expect me to look the part. It’s not enough to talk the talk for my readers. I have to walk the walk, run the run and bench the damn bench. And so, even on days when I don’t feel like training or am tempted to skip my kettlebell workout, I do it anyway, because that’s what my readers expect of me and what they know I would expect of them.

When I started on my productivity drive, I decided that I wanted to get up earlier every day. To help, I reached out to a friend of mine (who is up at 5 a.m. to work) and asked him if he could just shoot me a text each morning for the first two weeks to provide accountability and make sure my ass was out of bed.

Like a good friend, he sent a text and called every day at 5:30am for two weeks that said “U up?” I’d respond to let him know I was.

Two weeks later, I took things into my own hands: I’d send him a text at 5:15 a.m. and tell him that I was awake. That was enough to build the habit and make sure I stuck with it.

This is an example of private accountability. I find that, as effective as that is, public accountability is by far more effective. Social networks like Instagram and Facebook can become your de facto support network. Just tell your friends and followers your

goal, and, in short order, they’ll be following up with you each and every day to make sure you’re doing the right things. Recently, an even better way has emerged: Social networks dedicated entirely to fitness have started to pop up. Remember: Community + motivation + accountability = unstoppable results.

Create A Perfect Day Finally, we come to an idea that I think will have the greatest longterm value for you. It’s the idea of a perfect day. And, no, it’s nothing like waking up next to Kerry Washington and Meghan Markle (for fans of Suits) in a world where the economy is booming, ice cream gives you abs and Miley Cyrus isn’t a train wreck.

Even on a perfect day, I have no shot at this duo.

Instead, the idea is to create a perfect day for your goal, whatever it is. Lay out your day, from the time you get up till the time you go to sleep, hour by hour. A day when you do everything right, make no mistakes and know with 100% certainty that you are closer to your goal.

Can you have a day like that often? Probably not as often as you’d like. But if you have never stopped to think about what that day will look like, how will you know if you accidently stumble upon it? I suggest sketching out your perfect day, for any goal. I’ve done this for both productivity and writing, and it’s unbelievable how effective it can be. Sure, I haven’t managed to make every day perfect, but I know that each day, as long as I’m trying my best to get close and structuring my day to try to emulate my plan, I’ll

In terms of fitness, do you know who keeps me accountable? You do. My readers, that is.

I know that the people reading my articles look to me as a credible source of information, and therefore they have expectations: They expect me to look the part. It’s not enough to talk the talk for my readers. I have to walk the walk, run the run and bench the damn bench.

And so, even on days when I don’t feel like training or am tempted to skip my kettlebell workout, I do it anyway, because that’s what my readers expect of me and what they know I would expect of them.

When I started on my productivity drive, I decided that I wanted to get up earlier every day.

To help, I reached out to a friend of mine (who is up at 5 a.m. to work) and asked him if he could just shoot me a text each morning for the first two weeks to provide accountability and make sure my ass was out of bed… make more progress than if I hadn’t done it.

The Final Word There you have it. If you follow these rules, you’ll be more productive in your job, at the gym and at life in general. Again, these tips can be applied to almost anything, so give it a shot in other areas.

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

41

FASHION FILE

Nichole By Haguanna’s Jewelry Campaign Collection

42

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

FASHION FILE Haguanna’s Jewelry

N

igeria’s emerging handbags, leather goods and accessories label, Nichole By Haguanna just released a new lookbook featuring Nollywood actress NseIkpe-Etimand; we’re simply enthralled.

Creative Director, Aisha Ugah Igbinovia works tirelessly to make her bags and jewelry unique, with attention to detail, intricate materials and unseasoned style.

Her handbags, leathers goods and bold necklace accessories are intricately cut out from real Crocodile, Alligator, Buffalo, Calf and Snake skin. They are further embellished with Swarovski crystals,

Corals, Pearls and Precious stones.

This lookbook sees Nse model statement neckpieces, featuring a multitude of colourful beads and crystals in different sizes and shapes. She has us transfixed as she gazes boldly into the camera, making us almost want to snatch one of those gorgeous neckpieces from her.

Go through the lookbook photos and see if you won’t feel the same way!

Shoot Credits Model:Nse Nkpe Etim Photographer: Isaac Emokpae Stylist: Yolanda Okereke Makeup: Nene Belle

43

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

L-R: Financial Secretary, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Sheba Palana; Assistant Secretary, Wole Ogunsanya; Chairman, Bank Anthony Okoroafor; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Bayo Ojulari; PETAN Ex-Officios, Ibe Chubby Ibe and Emmanuel Onyekwena, during a courtesy visit to SNEPCo in Lagos recently

L-R: Media Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Ayeni Aramide; Group PR and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju; Brand Manager, Indomie Instant Noodles, Amber Yadav and Social Media Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Kenneth Iruonagbe, at the Indomie Independence Day Award 2016 Press Conference in Lagos.

Lagos Mall Provides Free Wi-Fi to Customers data on your phone, you can browse for free for the first 15 minutes while shopping. We believe that given its status as one of the leading malls in the country, Lagos City Mall should have this facility in place. Shopping with us is fun and we will stop at nothing to sustain the experience”, he said.

Efuntayo hinted that more classy restaurants would open in the mall

The Lagos City Mall has partnered with Airtel to provide free Wi-Fi service to customers within the mall.

Chief Executive Officer, Ibukun Efuntayo & Co., and manager of the mall, Emmanuel Efuntayo, who pressed for more patronage, said that the development was to make shopping experience more interesting and to reward loyal customers.

“The mall wanted to connect more with its tenants and visitors and at the same time, help satisfy their communication needs.

“The free Wi-Fi service is another value added service from us to our tenants and customers. It is part of our efforts to welcome more people and make the mall a friendly place for them. When you come into the mall, even without

Sim Registration Centres Turns Commercial Outfit

Indomie Begins Search for 2016 Heroes

Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration is meant to be charges-free, if the words of service providers are to be followed.

The situation at the open market however present a different scenario with accredited agents indirectly extorting innocent subscribers who want to have their sim registered or lodge any other complaint.

At Airtel service point in Ile-epo bus stop, Abule Egba, Lagos, a customer simply identified as Bola recounted, “I purchased a new Airtel sim card for N100 at the road side, when I approached the agent for registration, at first; he told me jokingly that he will fine me for not purchasing the Sim card in the centre. He later said that I have to buy a recharge card before he can get the Sim registered, I replied that I only have my fare with me and that I only intend to register the sim and recharge when I get home. He insisted I have to recharge a minimum of N300 before the sim can be registered. I told him I can spare N100 out of my fare for the recharge card but he insisted that I must recharge a minimum of N300.That was how I left the centre without getting my sim registered.

“Such is the attitude with these agents, they won’t come out straight to charge for the registration exercise but will insist one either purchase a sim from them or buy recharge card from them before registration “, lamented the aggrieved subscriber.

For those operating on the streets, they come out straight and tell subscribers that your registration is N100 and it is either you pay the money or leave without registering the sim card.

For some time now, customers have been subjected to this ill treatment while operators have always denied involvement in the act.

According to the Public Relations Officer of MTN, Funso Aina, “demanding money for sim registration or asking customers to buy credit before sim is registered is illegal, Sim registration is free. If anyone asks you for money, get the person’s name and report in any of our outlets”. He urged subscribers not to pander to the whims and caprices of those trying to fleece them.

Ahead of this year’s Indomie Independence Day Award, IIDA, billed for October, Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie Noodles has announced that it has started receiving entries from qualified individuals across the six geo political zones of the country.

This announcement was made by the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Deepak Singhal, at a press conference held in Lagos to announce the commencement of the ninth edition of the award.

The IIDA is an annual social responsibility initiative of Dufil Prima Foods that seeks to recognise and reward children from age 15 and below who have exhibited acts of bravery in the face of danger and societal challenges.

According to the Brand Manager of Indomie, Mr. Amber Yadav, this year’s edition would however be taking a different dimension from previous editions.

“This time around, we will be rewarding Physical, Social and Intellectual bravery such that one winner will be selected in each category and will be awarded with

N1million each. By this development , there won’t be anything like first, second and third position like we used to have in the past, rather, all the selected ones are seen as winners in their own feat”, he explained.

He added that entries would be checked by a screening committee, who would provide shortlisted stories from each category and further scrutinised by a panel of judges before winners would be announced.

Group Public Relations & Event Manager of the brand, Tope Ashiwaju ,who emphasised the objectives of the award, said, “we believe that extraordinary kids need to be identified and celebrated publicly in other to encourage and inspire more selfless acts in these children, who would tomorrow hold various leadership positions in the country and to re-establish the need for timeless values in the mind of the younger generation.”

The IIDA has since inception in 2007, produced 24 winners who were rewarded with scholarship prizes worth several millions of naira.

Firm Develops Software for Workplace Learning A start-up educational software company, Kotivu, has launched an e-learning platform called kotivu.ng, to facilitate intellectual growth among workers in organisations.

The innovation which aims to build and improve capacity in work place is a near perfect adoption in that it is affordable, reduces man hour loss associated with conventional classroom training and makes learning accessible to workers anytime they want it.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Stephen Ojji, while explaining the reason for the initiative said the platform was created to improve on the quality of human resources in the country.

He added, “We were inspired by our past recruiting experience to set up kotivu.ng. Several recruitment exercises in the past had left us disappointed because we realised that people, most especially graduates, lacked basic communication and presentation skills

needed in a formal environment.

“Research has also shown that over 85 per cent of companies, especially small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) failed to send their staff on training because of the high cost involved. This inspired us to create a portal that will make training affordable and easily accessible to employees on site. The birth of kotivu.ng was therefore hinged around the democratisation of workplace by making it affordable for millions of Nigerians” Shedding more light, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the firm, Emore Ogho pointed out that “with the growing influence of technology in all spheres across the world, including the education sector, the e-learning platform will shift the focus of workplace capacity development programmes away from the conventional classroom to online, while helping people to become well-grounded in their professions on a user-friendly portal.”

soon to complement available eateries and promises to create more fun and social hub for the upscale south west of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lagos Island.

The mall boasts of retail brands in body and beauty, fashion, lifestyle, banking, Telecoms, food and restaurants, health, grocery and supermarket, accessories and gift store, game arcades and multipurpose event hall.

Etisalat Partners NGO to Lift Education in North East Etisalat Nigeria has partnered a nongovernmental organisation, Abuja Global Shapers Community and the Governments of North-Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, to provide free education support to primary school pupils in the states.

The initiative tagged, “Community School Support Programme (CSSP)” is geared towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Education and features donation of Back-to-School kits, including school uniforms and bags, to pupils drawn from 10 primary schools in the states.

The beneficiary schools are Yerwa Practising Primary School, Abbaganaram Primary School and Bulumkutu Primary School all in Borno State; Katuzu Community School, Gashua, Central Primary School, Potiskum and Lawan Kawuri Primary School, Geidam, all in Yobe State; and, Wuro Hausa Primary School, Yola Town, Community School, Demsa and Tudun Wada Primary School, Mayo Belwa in Adamawa State.

Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, stated that the partnership was intended to enhance ongoing efforts aimed at making basic education available and sustainable.

“Etisalat Nigeria is committed to delivering sustainable community support programmes that will complement public services and extend benefits to the grassroots across Nigeria. We are proud to be able to contribute positively to achieving the objective of improving our partner states, especially in the area of Education.

We will continue to collaborate to move the states and indeed the nation forward” he assured.

Borno State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Musa Inuwa Kobo represented by the Permanent Secretary, Borno State Ministry of Education, commended Etisalat for pursuing causes that serve the interest of the societies in which it operates. He identified investment in education as one fundamental way to secure a progressive future while advancing the cause of the larger society.

44

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • May 7, 2016

ENCOUNTER

Building a Virtual Platform for Students, Corps Members and the Vulnerable Mr. Bimbo Daramola is a former House of Representatives member; for more than a decade now, he has been involved in assisting students and youth in various capacities. He was one of the pioneers of JAMB past questions’ papers, providing various educational materials and interventions. He carries with him the hallmark of an educationist. In this interview with Paul Obi and Bukola Eshun, Daramola bares his mind on new students and corps members discount card meant to cut cost for students among other issues

W

Challenges and Cost of Education in Nigeria e have an estimated population of about 23 million young people; spread across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, law schools and and other educational institutions. These young Nigerians are spread over these institutions and they have unfortunately fallen into the bracket of the most vulnerable category or demography in this country. They are the ones who feel the effect of pay cut, job losses and unemployment because if their parents cannot afford the cost of keeping them in school or if their parents don’t have jobs, it reality. Today, the realistic scenario is that we find students who eat once in a day. They do zero – zero – one; which means no breakfast, no lunch, only dinner or one – zero – zero, which means only breakfast, no lunch and no dinner.

How do you expect a child who is in school to be at his best if he or she has not had three square meals in a day?

Relevance of the Card to Nigerian Students People must connect to the fact that this is a necessity for me. It is a social safety initiative.

Don’t forget that government is inclined to meeting the needs or ameliorating the challenges of his vulnerable class. Even the books that they need to buy, how many of them can really afford them? How many of them can afford groceries?

If a corper is travelling to Lagos today, he or she is going to pay the same amount that somebody who earns an income pays. I don’t think that is conscionable. They depend on their parents Daramola who already are dealing with wages issues which in most cases in some states have not Anywhere a partner are providing a platform of 10million people to who is where and doing what. If you are been paid. So this is an intervention social safety exists is a place know going to spend money to get 10million customers initiative that is supposed to connect with the where we can use it you know how much you are going to spend on reality of what is on campus that students face from education to transportation, entertainment (the card). If Shoprite radios, television and social media. But with platform it is like an a platform that can and other aspect of our lives and to ensure that is not in Damaturu this connect this huge volume of people directly we can get a systemic structure in place where for instance but to those people who provide services that they corporate partners that will go out of our ways to get to give discount to students corps. There there may be a need and so by doing this we would be reacting to the economic realities facing these students. is no way that somebody who is in school, for restaurant and we We will be taking the pressure off their parents instance, and takes N10, 000 will say that the same amount that he was given last year will are also getting local down. Today, every parent worries about stuto school. They have the same purchasing power today. If you partners, it is not dents when they are returning worry that they don’t have enough money; how look at these dynamics the challenges may get about high profile to ensure that their daughters don’t become worse; things will become more challenging in the days to come. So how do you help these brands alone. Just prostitutes. But today, once this thing kicks off it becomes a safety net for any student vulnerable categories to deal with the challenges? this afternoon 14 now, that needs to get anything to go to the platform We have brought this to say if you have N10, 000 corporate partners where to get discount either on books, mobile and you are challenged with that N10, 000 that you have to spread over so many budget heads came from Ekiti phones and as we speak we have about 430 partners spread across the country who are as a student, we will provide for you across the to loop our card. willing to give students from 0 per cent to 50 length and breadth of this country enough of A whole lot of per cent and it is not about consumables alone. corporate partners spread across various sectors and on the presentation of this card, once you these students In terms of training, scheming them, in terms of workshop, a whole lot of organissations are get on that platform, our corporate partners cannot even access saying that we need to also train these students will oblige you some percentage of those things that you need to get to reform focus in school. Medicare. Today we for entrepreneurship. If a regular person comes in he pays N10, have not less than to be trained for entrepreneurship, 000. For students, there are organisations that …Addressing the Challenges of Profit Motive 20 hospitals on that have said that they will pay N5, 000 or N3, 000 of Corporate Bodies What we intend to do, beyond corporate social giving discount on and that’s some skill that will help the students responsibility, is to give these cooperate bodies cards, prescription to face their future. exposure to 10 million prospective customers drugs and all that. The cost of the Cards and the Incentives and direct traffic in their direction so that they Well, an average bank issues a smart card become the first choice or first choices for students If this is not there like we are using for N1, 500 but to meet our purchases and for youth corpers expenditures. what would have administrative charges of getting the card they For instance, if you have a business in Wuse 2 happened? pay N1, 000. The card is one, a photo based and nobody knows about that business, now we

ID for students to recognise that if you are not a student you cannot take advantage for the platform we are providing. Number two, it is going to be a payment platform that people can put money on it and spend and do internet purchases and all that. This card serves two purposes basically. One; to identify you as a student because you can only be on this platform when you complete your form from the Dean of Students Affairs. You cannot stroll in here to tell me you are a student and then get enlisted. No. The student has to be generated from the Dean of Student Affairs and Corpers also will have to be generated from their CDS. The truth of the matter is that people are also realistic of their own projections. If you have people making a margin of N5 than having to wait for 10 people buying for a margin of N10, it makes business sense. So this card comes in now to show that Kunle Ojo who is a student of the University of Ado-Ekiti is the valid person and his picture shows there and that he is the person that is supposed to be there and then the organisations providing the discount are also connected to that platform. Secondly, the card is also an alternative to shop; it is an alternative to your ATM card that is why it is a smart card.

It is N1,000 and that will include the cost and production of delivery wherever they are.

Acceptability and Accessibility of the Discount Card We have taken it to NYSC and they are going to be there at the launch on the 21st of March 2016 at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja here and the chairman of the day is the Speaker, RT Hon Yakubu Dogara and also take it to the Committee of Vice - Chancellors. They feel the brunt of all of these things. The agitation you find on campuses is linked to the fact that these are students reacting to economic realities. Every spontaneous agitation you find on campus, at the base of it, is some reaction to some economic challenge. They don’t have enough money to buy water on campus, to buy food, to buy books and all of that. It is a way to ensure that we create safety net for the vulnerable class.

Anywhere a partner exists is a place where one can use it (the card). If Shoprite is not in Damaturu, for instance, but there may be a restaurant and we are also getting local partners, it is not about high profile brands alone.

Reality, 14 corporate partners came from Ekiti to loop our card. A whole lot of these students cannot even access medicare. Today, we have not less than 20 hospitals giving discount on cards, prescription drugs and all that. If this is not there what would have happened? And we are going to step it up a little bit to insurance; insurance on local travels, and all of that. We are going to step it to telecoms so that students who are on this platform can also be treated as close user group (CUG). That means if you were paying N5 on your calls before you are going to be paying less on the calls you make. So it does not matter whether you are in Damaturu or anywhere. If you don’t get benefit on food, on clothing, on high profile shops, you can get it on Medicare; you can get it on travels, on online shops. It is all embracing. It does not matter where you are.

No, once the website is there and when I say platform it does not mean just a physical platform, it is an integrated platform, it is an initiative and you can switch it both ways. It is an initiative that will deliver on helping the vulnerable class.

45

MAY 7 , 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

ENCOUNTER Emeka Ejide

Why People Shy Away from Pushing Cases of Abuse Against Children

Chief Emeka Ejide is the founder/CEO of My Child, My Care Initiative. He was former Director, Child Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Anambra State. In this interview with Kasie Abone, Ejide speaks on the menace of baby factory operation in the state, the laws guiding the operation of motherless babies’ homes, procedures for obtaining operational licence, child trafficking/labour and what the government is doing to curb the ugly trend among other issues

C

ases of some orphanages in Anambra State selling babies make headlines often. What is your ministry doing to stem this inhuman act?

Well, in the past we hammered on it but right now, we have not had any case of any children’s home in Anambra State getting involved in the area of child trafficking and sale of babies. Whenever such issues come up, the ministry does not waste time. Few months ago, there was a reported case of where a children’s home was involved in some unethical conduct. The ministry did not waste time in shutting it down. And when they find such institutions innocent of allegations against them they’re reopened.

But the only good thing it does to the ministry is that it opens their horizons of more corporate surveillance and then use of orders. When we are talking about the orders, we are talking about the components that make it functional.

And that is the Child’s Rights Club, the Children’s Parliament, Child Protection Network, the NAPTIP Working Group and the Watchdog.

Are there laws guiding the operation of motherless babies homes in Anambra State? If so, what’s their position on the mode of adoption of orphans?

Let me start by putting the issue very straight. In Anambra State, we don’t have motherless babies’ homes, rather what we have is Community Children’s Homes in line with the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State that was passed in 2004 and assented to in 2006. Adoption is a legal process. It has its own guidelines but incidentally it is anchored and centred on the Ministry of Women Affairs. In Anambra State, adoption was centralised prior to the 1965 laws of the Eastern Nigeria and it was in 1998 under the Edict 10 that was eventually promulgated in 1999. That Edict number 10 centralised adoptions in Anambra State and ever since then, with the emergence of Child’s Right Law, adoption in Anambra is still centralised.

Any adoption that does not go through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is null and void. The Child’s Right Law makes the provision. It is only in the Ministry of Women Affairs that we have what we call child development officers that are entrusted with the specific functions in the law and that guides them to make a specific report that will guide the court in determining the adoption of a child.

How functional has the law been in guiding the operation of Community Children’s Home operators?

Even before the enactment of this Child’s Rights Law in Anambra in 2006, we have the guidelines that established what we now refer to as Institutional Child Care Centres. These centres are where children who are not in family homes but are in institutions; and when they’re in institutions they’re expected to have a guideline that sees to the establishment, the management and supervision of such homes. And such oversight function is being manned by the ministry responsible for child’s development issues which is the Ministry of Women Affairs. And also when the law came into being to ensure that the Child’s Right Law is implemented to the

Ejide

letter, the state had to establish or institutionalise what we call the Family Court.

It is the specialised court that handles child related issues and at the same time uses the Child’s Right Act and the Child’s Right Law as its tool for service delivery.

And why do we have such specialised courts? It’s because such courts are not only manned at the higher level we call the judicial level by the judge but also equally manned by appointed assessors. So, the inclusion of assessors or officers that have attributes on child psychology as members of that court makes that court a specialised court. It is equally tenable at the magistrate court but under the magistrate court, the presiding chief magistrate is the head of the family court. And for you to have a family court it must be manned by at least, two assessors and the presiding judge.

How far has this specialised court gone in prosecuting offenders of the Child’s Right Law? Prosecution issue is a different ball game because the problem we have in seeing that matters get to their logical conclusion for justice administration is that what we call the perpetrators and the victims; because the victims are usually the minors; and the minors are being guided by their guardians or parents. So this second group, the perpetrators are always unwilling to continue with the prosecution. And that’s why most times you see matters being struck out due to delinquent prosecution.

You see, there is a stigma that has to do with the socio-cultural background of the people who believe that exposure of certain violence against children can breed a lot of stigmatisation which has adverse social effects on the children. And so many people prefer not to go ahead with it. What they want to achieve is just to be heard that such an act took place; and then, going ahead to ensure that justice is given is what they don’t do. It has nothing to do with the

law in place because there is a provision that made it clear that certain violence against the child attracts life imprisonment.

For example, unlawful carnal knowledge of a child attracts life imprisonment and it’s immaterial whether you have the consent of the child or not. It is equally immaterial if you presume that such a child is not a child. So the provisions are quite there. So the problem is the people. Our people are not enlightened enough to know that once you’re able to take a matter to its logical end it will equally deter further perpetration of certain violence against children.

What are the modalities for issuing licences to orphanages in the state?

There is no law prohibiting the initiative of establishing a community children’s home but there is a guiding principle that you ought to meet certain standards as entrenched in that operational guidelines. But the ministry actually lacks the necessary manpower to ensure adequate surveillance and supervision of these homes. That is why, in order to complement their efforts, with the support of the UNICEF and NAPTIP, there is what we call the state’s working group. The group under NAPTIP has the director of child development as the focal point. The essence is to ensure that certain acts of violence against children are fully exposed and taken to its logical conclusion. At the same time, with the support from UNICEF, we’re able to establish Child Protection Network. It is what we call the Surveillance Mechanism that is in every community and local government areas but eventually in Anambra State we have it in the flood-prone council areas and at the state level. What is the function of this surveillance mechanism? It’s to make sure that perpetrators of violence against children are exposed and such matters are never swept under the carpet. Then the Act of parliament that led to the enactment of the Child’s Right Law is what we call

Prosecution issue is a different ball game because the problem we have in seeing that matters are taken to its logical conclusion for justice administration is that what we call the perpetrators anssd the victims; because the victims are usually the minors; and the minors are being guided by their guardians or parents.

So this second group, the perpetrators are always unwilling to continue with the prosecution. And that’s why most times you see matters being struck out due to delinquent prosecution.

You see, there is a stigma that has to do with the sociocultural background of the people who believe that exposure of certain violence against children can breed a lot of stigmatisation which has adverse social effects on the children the State’s Child Rights Monitoring and Prosecution Committee and the Local Government Child Rights Monitoring and Prosecution Committee. These are instruments put in place to complement the effective operation of the child’s rights.

But then, the utilisation of such provision is also a problem.

Why did you establish My Child, My Care Initiative?

In My Child, My Care Initiative, we call it a total wellbeing. This is because we have the passion and we’re also very compassionate. And we know about the problems of most children; their vulnerability and how they’re most vulnerable in times of crisis; in terms of unfriendly environment. We now decided that having been a crusader in the past; on war against violence on children, this very issue of My Child, My Care Initiative is also a platform to see that children are properly protected; to see that children do not suffer any deprivation; to actually see that children are directed properly and given the right place. For example, we are against street hawking; we’re against children not being in school; against children not having adequate medical attention and we’re against children lacking one necessity of life or the other. We’re hell-bent on ensuring that the basic rights of the child are never denied.

46

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • May 7, 2016

BUSINESS PEOPLE Osinbajo, Kachikwu’s Testimonial For Arco Why have successive Nigerian governments failed to convince the oil majors in implementing Accenture’s game plan for industrialising Third World oil producing nations? A Nigerian indigenous company Arco Group Plc, led by Alfred Okoigun, a gold sponsor of the just concluded 6th edition of the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition held at the Abuja International Conference Centre made the country proud, providing the answer while thrilling the audience with its specialised knowledge and track record of 24 years in the oil and gas service sector.

Kassim Sumaina reports

T

he sixth edition of the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition held at the Abuja International Conference Centre, March 15-17 has come and gone but the memory lingers in the consciousness of Nigerian oil and gas players for many reasons. Organised by the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA), the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria and AME Trade Ltd, UK, the conference started with a presentation: ‘Positioning African Petroleum for global development and value addition.’ It was a bold and ambitious theme, which set the agenda for the Congress event, declaring further that APPA member countries have at their disposal all of the natural and human resources to put their countries in a position to boost their industrial and technological output.

The theme of CAPE VI was anchored “on the development of the hydrocarbon industry in Africa with emphasis on challenges and strategies, legislation and control, promotion of the gas industry, joint development zones, views and investment perspectives amongst many others.”

Of course, CAPE, the organisers informed participants at the gathering, is established as the largest and the most influential oil and gas event in Africa. Among the sponsors were NNPC, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, ExxonMobil, Shell, Oando, Arco Group, Chevron, Sahara, Total, Orlean Invest, Addax Petroleum, Century Group, Tullow, AME Trade et al.

First Nigeria was the host and this pleased the conference participants and stakeholders which included over a dozen oil ministers from the

Okoigun

continent, who expressed confidence on Africa’s economic giant in spite of its current travails of decline.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier told the participants he was glad Nigeria was presiding over the affairs of the Congress and was being chosen to be the host. Nigeria, he said, would continue to discharge her duties as President of the Association.

Nigeria, Africa’s leading oil producer and the host country, was acclaimed for successfully hosting several world class events, such as the World Economic Forum on Africa and as a founding member of APPA, it was, the organisers said, the perfect location for both new and established producers to benefit from the country’s considerable experience in the oil and gas business. Nigeria at the same time was expected to showcase new potential opportunities in its offshore deep water and ultra-deep water sector of the industry.

CAPE VI, the organisers noted, was an opportunity for the operators in the hydrocarbon sector, both established and new to investment in Africa, to understand the political environment and the main issues “by attending the Congress sessions, as well as meeting the African continent’s main political, economic and institutional decision makers.” It was during one such session that a Nigerian indigenous oil company, Arco Group Plc, made the country proud with its presentation by the Group Managing Director, Alfred Okoigun, who unveiled the group’s two ISO Certifications.

Indeed, Arco Group Plc seemed to have captured the essence and spirit of the Congress at the exhibition stand, with the Vice President and Minister of State for Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu, oil ministers who are members of

APPA and key players in the sector gracing its exhibition stand. Expectedly, the Vice-President was received

by Okoigun who briefly presented to him, Arco’s advent as a service rendering company to the oil majors in the upstream and downstream sectors.

Okoigun told his story, that of a one-man business founded in 1980 and which in 2016 has become a threesubsidiary organisation with Arco Group as the umbrella employing over 400 Nigerian engineers, technicians and other professionals as well as ancillary staff.

The Managing Director of Arco Integrity Solutions Limited, Pius Ajabhu who is the pioneer of the business model told the visitor that the Arco subsidiary has the largest number of radiographic crawlers as a Nigerian company. The company also pioneered the American Welding Society Training that certifies welding inspectors. Applause.

According to Ajabhu, the Arco subsidiary is now carrying out jobs in some West African countries including Ghana, Togo and Bene Republic while eyeing job offers in other African countries. He proudly added: “Our subsidiary is now an international company by virtue of its proven expertise in integrity solutions.”

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources told the Vice-President during the visit that Arco Group is a company that has maintained its focus on the services it renders in the oil and gas industry over the years.

Among the earliest callers at the Arco stand was the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Babachir David Lawal, who recalled having met the founder of Arco in Warri during the formative years of Arco Petrochemical Engineering Com-

CAPE VI, the organisers noted, was an opportunity for the operators in the hydrocarbon sector, both established and new to investment in Africa, to understand the political environment and the main issues “by attending the Congress sessions, as well as meeting the African continent’s main political, economic and institutional decision makers.” It was during one such session that a Nigerian indigenous oil company, Arco Group Plc, made the country proud with its presentation by the Group Managing Director, Alfred Okoigun, who unveiled the group’s two ISO Certifications

May 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

47

BUSINESS PEOPLE

L-R; Group Managing Director, Arco Group Plc, Alfred Okoigun; Executive Diector, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole; Vice President, Profesor Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Dr. lbe Kachikwu during the visit of Vice President to Arco Group Plc exhibition stand at the opening of the 6th African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition in Abuja recently Photo: Abiodun Ajala

pany and expressed his delight that the company has recorded marvelous growth over the years.

Then came Okoigun’s presentation on Value Addition through Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry in Africa on the third day at the congress.

It was an opportunity for him to share his experience of 40 years as a player in the industry. Malaysia, Norway and Brazil, Okoigun educated his audience, were early starters in the implementation of local content development policies in the oil and gas sector, observing that African oil producing nations have not done well here.

Okoigun said right from the inception of oil prospecting and exploitation in Malaysia, the government of that country laid down the time limit for the International Oil Company, IOC that was moving into the country’s oil industry to ensure that Malaysian nationals were trained to take over the duties of the IOC staff.

He said that today, Malaysia is an exporter of expertise throughout the length and breadth of the oil industry.

In the case of Norway, he went on, the Norwegian government specifically issued guidelines and conditions such as formation of local companies, collaboration with the local companies by the IOCs and partnership between both sides in research and development. All the measures paid off for Norway’s local content development.

The Arco GMD said that Brazil’s approach was to demand licences for the local manufacturing of oil and gas equipment and the step taken has rendered a success story.

Okoigun drew the attention of his audience to the five pieces of advice that Accenture, an American consulting firm had given to the IOCs operating in Africa: develop their economies; stimulate industrial development; increase local capacity; build a skilled work force and create a competitive supplier base.

The Arco boss argued that if African oil producers did not issue such injunctions in the past to the IOCs operating in their countries, it had become necessary to do so now. He wondered why India that did not produce oil was a leading country in the manufacturing of oil and gas equipment and a supplier of manpower in the industry to other countries while African oil producers had made very little impact in that direction.

While applauding the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act of 2010, he called for effective monitoring of the implementation of the law to ensure that it was not rendered toothless while those who should obey the law carry on their business as usual.

The Arco GMD told his audience how his company has focused on value through its subsidiaries, nurturing indigenous talents through incentives and mentoring of identified talents. He mentioned Ajabhu as the pioneer of Arco’s business model, running the subsidiary under him efficiently and productively.

The model creates an opportunity for any Nigerian with entrepreneurial spirit to run any of the companies with logistics support from Arco Group but with equity participation by such Nigerians. By so doing, there is an

opportunity for talented Nigerians to prove their mettle at transforming a nascent business to a successful company. Their reward, he explained was in the form of equity participation without bringing any fund into the companies.

Okoigun was applauded by the audience when he announced that 35 new companies had been incorporated by Arco Group and modalities were ongoing to identify Nigerians who can replicate the Pius Ajabhu’s model.

“As further value addition Arco is now in partnership with hi-tech original equipment manufacturers to expand local equipment maintenance base and expertise and such a step will lead to cost reduction,” he said.

Okoigun recommended a speedy establishment of industrial parks in the African oil producing countries to enable them make up for lost time in local content development.

Another testimonial came from the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineering, Engr. Otis Anyaeji after unveiling the ISO Certification of Arco Maintenance and Engineering Limited, AMEL the second subsidiary of Arco Group to be ISO certified.

Anyaeji disclosed he was privileged to be a witness to the founding of Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company Limited by Okoigun in 1980 and had followed the activities of the company until now that it has become Arco Group with three subsidiaries and a force to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Okoigun said right from the inception of oil prospecting and exploitation in Malaysia, the government of that country laid down the time limit for the International Oil Company, IOC that was moving into the country’s oil industry to ensure that Malaysian nationals were trained to take over the duties of the IOC staff. He said that today, Malaysia is an exporter of expertise throughout the length and breadth of the oil industry

48

THISDAY, THe SATurDAY NewSpAper • MAY 7, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

A Boiling Southern Cauldron and Uncaring Northern Governors Femi Fani-Kayode

L

ast week I wrote an essay titled ‘The Road to Kigali’ which was widely published.

The response of the northern governors to the horrendous events in Enugu has compelled me to write this contribution as something of a follow-up.

These are difficult and troubling times and they are times that the truth needs to be spoken more than ever. I appreciate those that publish my contributions in my various columns because, in a country that hates to hear the truth and that finds it difficult to comprehend and grasp reality, that in itself takes courage. I also appreciate the increasingly large number of Nigerians from all over the world that take the time to read my weekly contributions because without them, there would be no point in writing. Now to the matter at hand.

On 30th April 2016 Mr. George Akinola wrote the following words on Facebook: “When the Fulani exploded on the geographic space later christened Nigeria in 1804, they did not negotiate power with the Hausas, they seized it from them on the battlefield. When the same Fulani appeared in Ilorin in 1823, purportedly to assist Afonja, the Are-ona-kakanfo of Oyo and the ruler of Ilorin, in revolt against his sovereign, Alafin Aole, the Alafin of Oyo, it was to gain his confidence for a while and a vantage position to murder him. Ilorin has been under Fulani rule since then and up until today.

“When the British colonised all these empires, kingdoms and fiefdoms in the 19th century, it was not out of love for the black man. It was an imperialistic push for more land, more territories to exploit minerals and other resources from. If you did not agree by subtle pressure, they simply applied the brute force.

“Fast forward to 1960. The new nation had just gained independence. What we inherited from the British was “self-governing regions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Now, we are forcibly united by an un-feeling centre.

What we inherited was a revenue allocation formula that was largely derivative. Now it is almost ‘allocative’. At a point, Mohammed Buhari reduced the 50% derivation formula to 1%.”

Mr. Akinola’s historical analysis and assessment is first class. He has spoken nothing but the truth no matter how bitter that truth may be. This takes courage and I commend him for it.

I deplore violence and I do not advocate or condone it in any shape or form. I do not want anyone to leave our land “loaded in coffins” or in body bags and neither do I believe that violence and bloodshed leads to anything but even more violence and bloodshed. It is nothing but a vicious cycle.

However, the type of rhetoric that is now being expressed by our southern youth and intellectuals about the situation in Nigeria and particularly about the excesses of the Fulani herdsmen cannot be ignored or downplayed.

We ignore the words of people like Mr. George Akinola, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, Mr. Grandson Soyemi and so many others at our own peril.

Clearly, there is tension and anger in the land. The spirit of division is rife and it is getting stronger by the day. Things are getting hotter and tempers are flaring. Nigeria is beginning to unravel at the seams. We must all be very careful not to set a match to the tinderbox.

Thankfully, there are still a number of Fulani and non-Fulani voices in the north who represent a moderate and sane disposition and who have nothing to do with the hegemonic or religious agenda of the bigots and the hardliners. I am talking

Shettima

It would be most unwise for the Fulani leaders and indeed the leaders of the north to ignore such sentiments and dismiss them with the usual contempt. It is important that the Fulani militants and herdsmen are reigned in and that they stop killing southerners and occupying our land. about men like Colonel Abubakar ‘Dangiwa’ Umar, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Alhaji Ibrahim Turaki SAN and so many others. I know every single one of these individuals and I can vouch for them.

These are the sort of people that are still holding the country together by giving southerners hope that the voice of moderation, reason and restraint still exists in the north and that that voice may eventually prevail. Yet the fire continues to burn on the mountain and tempers are still rising.

The insulting warning to the south from the 19 northern governors just the other day made matters worse. This contribution did not help to calm the storm but instead it has further frayed nerves. Simply put; the northern governors have rubbed raw salt into our southern wounds.

They said that southerners should “not insult the Fulani again” and that even though they deplored what their kinsmen,

the Fulani herdsmen, did in Enugu the other day; that does not mean that “their people” ought to be insulted. This is all they had to say after thousands of southerners have been killed, maimed, raped, abducted and tortured in the sanctity of their own homes and land by the Fulani militants and herdsmen over the last one year alone and after over one hundred Igbos were slaughtered in Enugu State just a few days ago.

They even went a step further by saying that they intend to take the cue from Kaduna State and introduce the licensing of all preachers in all the states of the north. This is a deep insult to every Christian worth his salt, to the clergy and to the Church. It is also a surreptitious attempt to curb the spreading of the gospel in northern Nigeria. If ever the northern governors had an all-time low; this is it.

Instead of them burying their heads in shame and appealing to the rest of Nigeria to forgive them and their kith and kin for their collective and historical sins, the Fulani leaders are still issuing threats to the rest of us through their surrogates, leaders and governors.

This is unacceptable. Such reckless arrogance and callous insensitivity does not serve them well and neither does it engender peace and reconciliation in our country. Instead it is provocative and insulting and it can only lead to a greater degree of alienation and more misunderstanding.

Sadly, the 17 southern governors could not even muster the resolve to organise their own meeting and respond to the slur. Meanwhile, the people of the south are still grieving and suffering immeasurable pain as a consequence of the gratuitous violence and evil that we have been subjected to at the hands of these murderous Fulani herdsmen over the last ten months.

We are still mourning our dead and indeed all the innocent and defenceless souls, including women and children that were murdered in cold blood in Enugu state just a few days ago. The truth is that as long as those that represent the Fulani militants and herdsmen continue to try to justify or rationalise their beastly behaviour and threaten the south, there will be people like Mr. George Akinola who will respond with the sort of rhetoric that he

has expressed in this contribution.

There would also be far more than mere rhetoric and this, more than anything else, saddens me because I am a man of peace and I deplore violence. Yet, you cannot expect people to sit by silently and watch their loved ones and kith and kin being slaughtered like Christmas turkeys and sallah rams on a daily basis.

It would be most unwise for the Fulani leaders and indeed the leaders of the north to ignore such sentiments and dismiss them with the usual contempt. It is important that the Fulani militants and herdsmen are reigned in and that they stop killing southerners and occupying our land.

It is important that the Buhari administration stops encouraging and covertly supporting them in their mass murder and savage butchery. It is only when that happens that we can guarantee lasting peace in our nation. It is only when this is done that people like Mr. George Akinola and all the other young rising southern stars will stop saying the sort of things that they are saying.

It is only when that happens that they will stop speaking and reflecting the minds of millions of southerners who are fed up with what is going on in our country and who are prepared to stand up, challenge the powers that be, break the yoke of bondage and slavery and fight for their freedom.

Permit me to end this contribution with the reaction of Afenifere, the leading Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, to the insults of the 19 northern governors.

On 1st May 2016 the Sunday Vanguard Newspaper reported as follows: The Yoruba group, which spoke through their National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told Sunday Vanguard: “It (the northern governors’ position) is a sign of unfeeling, uncaring for any group today to come out and say that those who have been causing problems and killing people in the Middle Belt and the South are not Fulani herdsmen. They have killed in Agatu land, Enugu; a traditional ruler was killed in Delta State; they killed Chief Olu Falae’s guard and also kidnapped Chief Falae himself. For some people to gather and call themselves northern governors, and have no sympathy for lives than to be defending the Fulani herdsmen, shows clearly that it is a tragedy of monumental proportion to be in the same country with these elements. You also begin to wonder if the blood of human beings runs in their veins because anybody that has human blood running in his veins will not come and say that Fulani herdsmen are not responsible. What nonsense.”

The Afenifere spokesperson went on: “I think the northern governors should bury their heads in shame. I do not think they are fit to be in the comity of civilized human beings. If the attackers are not Fulani herdsmen, where have they struck in the North-West? Why are their activities only in the Middle Belt and in the South? That is the question these northern governors should answer. When militants were blowing up pipelines in the South-South, were they not called Niger Delta militants?

Do they want us to call them Yoruba herdsmen?”

As always Afenifere has done the yoruba, and by extension the entire south, proud with their courageous and timely words and intervention. They have spoken for every single one of us. Let us hope that the northern governors and the herdsmen that they seek to defend get the message.

Let us hope that they can purge themselves of the unwholesome and denigrating contempt that they clearly have for the people of the south before it is too late.

49

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

VINTAGE Art Twenty One, Artists Reflect on Media Industry Justina Uzo

A

rt Twenty One is offering another important chance to see works of artists in Nigeria and beyond. Popular names in today’s art world such as Olu Amodu , Nnenna Okere and the magnum photographers, Alex Majoli and Paolo Pellegrin, perhaps the best-known photojournalists of our times , have been attracted to the wave-making Art Twenty One. Amodu who is the first artist to display at the gallery, no doubt, has a gratifying strong showing.

The 600 sqm space located at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island is offering them a platform to showcase their artworks. Not a few said the art gallery has been contributing to and solidifying the growing art scene in Lagos as well as positioning the city as a major force in the international art world.

The latest exhibition, Breezy News, is being presented to art lovers and patrons. It is one that explores the politics and mechanisms of the mass media.

Captioned Breaking News, the group exhibition brought together artists working in painting, drawing, photography, video and installation. Their works question how information is disseminated, how fact is constructed, and how social and political life are filtered through the lens of the culture industry.

At present, the works of artists including Jacob S. Boeskov, Teco Benson and Obinna Makata as well as Native Maqari, Abraham Oghobase, Bob-Nosa Uwagboe, Chuike

Art Twenty One Uzoma, Uche Uzorka are showcased in the exquisite gallery for gallery-goers to stay at and get unforgettable inspiration. Joseph Gergel is the curator.

There is a poser following the ever-present bombardment of headlines and images. In a world of twenty-hour news cycles and virtual communications, how does the media shape our society and define who we are?

Interestingly, these artists question not only the content of the news but its very framework.

Whether critiquing current events or its distribution in newspaper, television and on the Internet, they form a self-reflexive view of the media, identifying how it forms our personal and collective worldwide. “Are melting into the static of our technological screens, or is there still room for individuality in our new media world.?

Taking a closer look, these artists are critical about divergent social and political issues in the country, from violence, governance, corruption

to Nollywood as well as popular consumer trends. They look at how Nigeria is defined in the local and global news media, and how cultural myths are articulated and perpetuated.

In an art form, these artistes cut, crop and shred the vernacular news archive, a literal and symbolic act of destruction. Rather than succumb to the commercial pressures of the media industry , they create a visual language to portray new perspectives and alternative narratives.

As expected the exhibition attracted a lot of people including artists, collectors and the media. during the opening ceremony last Saturday, including families who were there with their children to be closer to art.

Sodiq Benson, a banker said: “It was well prepared, well organized. All the artists are here, including the Iceland-based Nigerian artist. It’s fun to be here. You are imagining things. You loosen up after hours spent on horrible traffic on weekdays.”

A man who introduced himself simply as Ricky came with his girlfriend to spend the weekend at Eko Hotel.“I love to see artworks and this gallery helps me to see contemporary art. Its rare to see lots of artworks under one roof. So, I make sure I visit this place with my girlfriend on weekends to gaze upon. I have a passion for art and I come here (Art Twenty One); they are doing good both for artists and art lover,” he said. Patrons who missed the opening ceremony of Breaking News can still visit the gallery, the work will still be on display till the last week of this month. The feeling is better experienced than described.

Intel, Huawei Partner to Make Cloud Simple and Business Agile

A

Segun Adebowale s part of its Cloud for All initiative, and with a commitment to innovate and simplify computing processes, leading Technology and Innovation giant, Intel has partnered with Huawei on the Huawei Cloud Congress West Africa.

The event which was held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos recently, gathered industry partners and thought leaders to demonstrate and discuss the opportunities that Cloud 2.0 offers.

According to Huawei, the Cloud Congress was aimed at demystifying the concept of Cloud technology to users. Tagged ‘Make It Simple, Make Business Agile’, the congress saw Intel and Huawei showcase cloud demos to promote the adoption of private cloud in enterprise IT. The demo also gave customers an opportunity to experience the benefits Cloud service delivery brings.

Speaking at the congress, the Vice President, IT solutions, Huawei West Africa, Zhang Tao Alexander identified Huawei’s array of cloud strategies and solutions, targeted towards different sectors of the economy including Finance, Education, Telecoms and Government.

Commenting on one of the solutions, Zhang Tao stated: “Our Distributed Cloud Data Center

is based on an innovative infrastructure which enables rapid and flexible services. This solution supports thousands of virtual machines and reduces construction periods by more than 30%, while also reducing capital costs by over 20%”.

While justifying Huawei’s collaboration with Intel on the Cloud Congress, Zhang Tao said, “Collaboration with industry leaders is a good way to accelerate processes and maximize impact.

Huawei and Intel are working together to provide accessible and easy to deploy cloud solutions, making sure that businesses are ready to respond to any situation.’’

On his part, the Regional Director for Enterprise Business, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Intel Corporation, Frederico Carvalho who gave a presentation on Intel’s Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) Cloud solution, explained Intel’s strategy on Cloud solutions. According to Carvalho, “Corporate computing has evolved over the past few years and more and more businesses are adopting Cloud computing and storage. This is because of the innovation, agility and cost savings it offers. Thus, Intel’s aim is to create an initiative that will help companies and institutions put a Cloud infrastructure in place in less than 24 hours.”

Speaking on Enterprise Data Centre Modernization, the Enterprise Technical Sales Director for Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Intel, Sameh Helmy noted: “Enterprise demand is the next wave

L-R: Public Relations Director, Huawei Nigeria, Joey Pan; Regional Director, Enterprise Business, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Intel Corporation, Frederico Carvalho; Enterprise Technology Manager, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Intel Corporation, Sameh Helmy; Vice President, I.T Solutions, Huawei West Africa, Zhang Tao Alexander, at the Intel Huawei Cloud Congress which held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos recently. of cloud. Cloud architecture is being deployed by dedicated service providers, and is also used in IT, via private/hybrid clouds. Innovation begins in the data centers and moves to businesses. The current approach to data center architecture needs to evolve

to meet the demands of the digital service economy”. The Huawei Cloud Congress West Africa is one of the world’s leading technology events. The first congress was held in 2015 with more than 200 customers, partners and media in attendance.

Ooni of Ife Urge Real Estate Professionals to Cooperate to Grow Sector Bayo Adeoye

T

he Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has advised players in the nation’s real estate sector to cooperate with each other and with the government to ensure that Nigeria moves from housing construction to housing manufacturing.

The Ooni stated this during the launch of “The State of Lagos Housing Market Report - Volume 2” by the Roland Igbinoba Real Foundation for Housing and Urban Development, (RIRFHUD), at an event attended by relevant industry stakeholders.

The Ooni, who is a notable player in the

Lagos and Nigerian housing market, said this was the only way the housing deficit in the country, which is put at about 20 million, could be reversed.

On his part, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Gbolahan Lawal disclosed that the state had commenced a rent-to-occupy scheme to enable more of its population access and afford houses of their own. The report, which was formally presented to the public in Lagos, recently, outlines many indices in the residential real estate market in Lagos.

For example, the report states that Lagos state housing deficit is 2.9 million units, and that 71% of Lagosians default in their rents. Furthermore, as many as 66 per cent of respondents surveyed

across the length and breadth of the city-state, disclosed that they preferred traditional brick and mortar constructions to houses made with alternative building technologies.

Entitled “The State of Lagos Housing Market Report, Vol 2”, it is a sequel to the first edition that had been published and launched in 2009.

Later in the event, the Ooni of Ife and the Executive Governor (represented by Honorable Gbolahan Lawal) unveil the report.

Speaking on how the report will impact the economy, Newton Jibunoh, chairman of the foundation noted that through the publication of the book, they have given support to a fledgling sector of the economy, thereby contributing to the process of effecting a small change.

Presenting a brief of the report that was said to have taken four years (2012 to 2016) to gather,

Roland Igbinobia, the founder of RIRFHUD began with the Lagos HOMS project, which he says has about 10,000 units, both completed and uncompleted.

He spoke about the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC); the amount so far accessed from the NMRC and mortgage institutions involved.

According to him, “We looked at the impact of the NMRC because there has been a lot of conversation around the setting up of this secondary mortgage institution. About N1.8billion has been accessed from the NMRC. These comprise Imperial Homes, N970 million; Homebase Mortgage Bank, N492 million, and TrustBond Mortgage Bank, 300million. There is a lot to be tapped from NMRC. We just feel that a lot needs to be done.”

50

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLITY

Between Unpaid Salaries and Electricity Supply

L

Adetunji Makinde et me confess that I rate Nigeria, and its leadership, as a nation with conflicting priorities. A case in point is the issue of state governments that could not pay their workers’ salaries for over six months, using the bailout funds given them by the Federal government for things other than pay the workers’ salaries for which the bail outs were given. The other case is the ordeal of electricity distribution companies, called discos, which are to deliver electricity to our homes and industries but which have no electricity to distribute.

Regardless, the discos have been given a deadline of a year to deliver a million meters to consumers yearly without being given financial assistant by government to fulfill this important function. Assisting these discos is far more important than the bailout for unpaid salaries given out by government to insensitive, profligate and dishonest state governments.

One cannot but wonder which is more important to government between ready supply of electricity, which we have been lamenting from time immemorial, and unpaid salaries for which state governors should have been readily condemned or prosecuted according to the rule of law for fiscal indiscipline and recklessness. The advantages and benefits of regular supply of electricity are so numerous and important for Nigeria or any nation for that matter. If power is regular and generated as expected in the best practice of electricity generation and service ratio of 1000MW to a million people, then Nigeria would need 175,000MW for our reported population of 175m Nigerians. Yet, the highest we have ever generated here in Nigeria is less than 5000MW. Funny enough, it was reported that the President promised 10000MW of power generation by the end of 2016. But, just after that, the Minister of Information was quoted as saying that the 10000MW would only be generated by 2019, which

Fashola is when new elections are due.

It would appear, therefore, that politics has relegated the goal of regular power supply to the background in terms of government concern and priority and that is just very wrong.

Obviously, workers’ salaries are being paid so that state governors can deliver their states to their respective parties,

especially the APC and PDP-governed states.

There is also the issue of averting industrial actions, strikes and demonstrations and agitations that may overheat the political system and embarrass government. But what is the opportunity cost of that in terms of steady and regular power supply to our hospitals, factories, universities and homes nationwide? The alternative cost of regular electricity supply are immense and include the resuscitation of our industries, the production of goods and services and the creation of decent jobs for our teeming unemployed and well educated youths. Surely that makes the prospects of people, including unpaid workers voting for any government in power better. I do not see why the Buhari administration cannot make power supply its absolute priority.

Indeed, the time is ripe to bailout the generating and distribution companies called Gencos and the Discos in this regard. The looted funds being recovered can be channeled to fund the Discos to provide the one million quota of meters allotted to them by the authorities which have put a cap on their capital expenditure while it is well known that their tariffs are cost reflective and they cannot make profit for about five years after their huge capital expenditure to come aboard the electricity distribution industry. There is nothing new in this regard except that the recovered looted funds will have a direct, positive and beneficial effect on the economy and its revival which is a priority of this government. It is relevant to mention that the CBN’s intervention fund of N213 billion earlier given, benefitted the National Integrated Power Project, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. It is with that in mind that we call on government to make funds available to the Discos and Gencos to kill two great political and economic birds with one mighty stone.

In making money available for the Gencos and Discos to make power available, the government will resuscitate the poor and ailing economy we have and galvanise the goodwill and political capital of the voters to return it to power in 2019.

––Makinde, an analyst, writes from Abuja

GOtv Celebrates Africa Day With New Nollywood Series On Africa Magic

T

o commemorate Africa Day, May 25, GOtv has earmarked the entire month of May as “Africa Month”. This is in celebration of home-grown content and will witness the introduction of six series on Africa Magic Family (GOtv

Channel 2).

Every day of the month, GOtv’s Africa Magic channels will feature family-oriented and informative movies, series, sitcoms, comedy shows as well as documentaries.

Jokes Alone and Hope234 will run back-to-back, airing at 5:00pm and 5:30pm

respectively on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Jokes Alone is guaranteed to leave subscribers in stitches, whileHope234, which stars features Afeez Oyetoro aka Saka, is a television specially designed to teach young people to have an optimistic attitude to life.

Single and career-driven women can relate to Allison’s Stand, which chronicles the life of a young, upwardly mobile female professional whose fiercely independent ways puts her in a delicate position requiring her to choose between family and career.

Allison’s Stand airs from Monday through Friday at 8:30pm.

Subscribers can also watch The Calabash on weekdays at 10:00pm to see how employees of a struggling bank meet their targets when the bank management decides to employ stringent measures to force them to deliver on outrageous targets, using unethical means.

Emerald, the intriguing story of an upper class family, whose patriarch dies under mysterious circumstances, also debuts on GOtv, while The Johnsons, starring Chinedu Ikedieze and Ada Ameh Olumide, focuses on an average Lagos-family. Both series will air from Monday to Friday at 7:00pm and 8:00pm respectively.

“This month, we celebrate our diversity as Nigerians and the breadth of GOtv’s local content offering demonstrated through our five Africa Magic channels. We believe our subscribers will be very excited by the new series which are launching on Africa Magic Family”, said Efe Obiomah, Public Relations Manager, GOtv. GOtv Plus offers 50 channels including Africa Magic Family, Africa Magic Epic, Africa Magic Yoruba, Africa Magic Hausa and Africa Magic World. GOtv is also the first pay-TV on the digital terrestrial platform to offer audio channels, namely Wazobia FM and Naija FM.

Arase, Ovadje, Others to Receive Integrity Award

T

he Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and a host of other eminent Nigerians who have over the years demonstrated high sense of integrity as a lifestyle, especially in their leadership positions will be honored with a special Intercity Award, by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).

The formal presentation of the award is scheduled to hold at Sheraton Hotel &

Towers, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday May 28, 2016.The award is an annual event instituted in 2013.

According to a statement by the Secretary General of NACJ, Charles Okhai, “the motivating factor behind the award is to specifically fight corruption in our nation by encouraging Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of integrity through the award.”

“The Award is strategically designed to make Nigerians mentally integrity conscious in their place of duties.”

The award which comes in various

categories will feature Arase as Integrity Man of the Year 2016. Others include Gen. Otu Oviemo Ovadje Rtd and Mr Thomas Udem, Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Power in Public Service Category.

In the professional category, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi Group Managing Director, Prima Garnet Africa and Mr. Bisi Olatinlo, a media Icon will both receive Professional Integrity Award.

Mr Kelly Nwogu, Managing Director, Blue Sea Estate and Mr Chima Anyaso, Managing Director, CEENON Oil &Gas

will be honored with Business Man of Integrity Award, 2016.

Pastor John Godwin will be honored in the Spiritual Leadership category.

In the Political category, Hon Segun Adewale, popularly known as Aeroland, will receive Man of Integrity in politics Award. The award will have in attendance, the reputable activist, Dr. Yinka Odumakin as Keynote Speaker as well as a recipient of the Integrity award. Odumakin will speak on “Integrity, An Essential Ingridiet In Nation Building.”

UN Secretary General to Address Africa’s first ICCA Congress on International Commercial Arbitration

T

he Secretary General of the United Nations, the Hon. Ban Ki-Moon will address the 23rd International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Congress to be held in Mauritius from 8 – 11 May, 2016. Themed “International Arbitration and the Rule of Law: Contribution and Conformity”, The Congress will offer discussion of cutting-edge issues in international arbitration of relevance to hundreds of seasoned practitioners and young

professionals from around the globe.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei will also address the Congress.

The ICCA Congress is the pre-eminent event for international arbitration professionals. It typically draws over 1000 attendees and brings together arbitrators, counsel, corporate counsel and government representatives from around the world, giving delegates access to key decision - makers and thought leaders in the field. This is the first ICCA Congress to be held in Africa.

“Africa’s first ICCA Congress will address questions of fundamental importance to international arbitration”, says ICCA Executive Director, Ms Lise Bosman. “Now is the time for this Congress, as the practice of arbitration grows strength in one of the most rapidly advancing economic regions of the world.”

“Mauritius is perfectly suited to play a leading role in developing the theory and practice of international arbitration in Africa, reflecting the institutional development and economic growth of the region,” says Chairman

of the Host Committee, Salim Moollan QC. “I expect that this Congress will be attended by a record number of African participants, both practitioners and academics, alongside their colleagues from around the world.”

The Congress will feature distinguished speakers who have participated in many of the most-discussed arbitration proceedings of recent years, including Yukos v. Russia, White Industries v. India, and Philip Morris v. Australia. The full programme and complete list of speakers can be viewed at www.iccamauritius2016.com.

51

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

POLITY

Nwankwo Moves Motion for Erosion Control

H

on. Dozie Nwankwo, who represents Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has moved a motion in the House calling on Members to mandate the Committee on Environment and Habitat to include contracts for gully erosion control in the 2016. Supplementary budget and also visit the affected areas in

Anambra State, The motion further urged the Ecological Fund Office to take measures aimed at controlling the menace. He also called on the National Emergency Relief Agency (NEMA) to, as a matter of urgency send relief materials to victims of the erosions.

He observed that his constituency is situated in the rain forest zone that is constantly faced with ecological problems. Nwakwo noted that

Enuagu/Uruogbo and Osili villages in Enugwu Ukwu in Njikoka L.G.A, Ududonka, Agulu Nanka erosion sites, Adazi Nnukwu gully erosion site, Enuabo village Obeledu erosion site, Dunukofia, Nkwelle Umunnachi and Ukpo erosion sites are worst hit areas that need immediate Federal Gvernment attention, observing that the enormity of the devastation had put the menace beyond the capacity of the Local and State Governments.

Nwankwo

Institute of Directors Inaugurate Abeokuta Branch

T

owards promoting sustainable economic growth and development the Ogun State Government has attracted investment drives of about N550 billion in the last two

years.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Abeokuta branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) of Nigeria held at Green Legacy Resort, Obasanjo Library, Presidential Boulevard, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta recently, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, stated that the provision of conducive business environment, through the provision of infrastructures, especially good road network by his administration had continued to attract potential investors to the state. The governor who was represented by Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry, promised that his Adminis-

tration would continue to provide the necessary ambience for all categories of the public service to contribute their own quota to the ‘mission to rebuild Ogun state ‘ in particular, and ‘change’ agenda of the APC-led Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor noted that it appreciated the commitment, dedication, loyalty and professionalism of the entire workforce, right from the lowest to the topmost echelon. In her acceptance speech, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, the Iyalode of Yorubaland, who is the Chairman of the newly inaugurated IoD, Abeokuta branch, said the appointment was a call to service, and therefore, pledged, on behalf of the executive committee, to do its best to ensure that IoD Nigeria, Abeokuta branch, the first in southwest, grows and would soon give birth to other branches in Ogun State. She promised that the branch would work assidu-

L-R: IoD President/Chairman, Mr Samuel Yemi Akeju, member Governing Council; Iyalode Alaba Lawson and Chief Bode Mustapha

ously with the national secretariat in Lagos to organise directors training and ensure that the membership of

the branch, comprising both public and private sectors’ directors grow as expected.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, BCN Plc, formerly Boots Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ahmed Yusuf Ahmed; Chairman, Kennedy Investment, Mr. Kenneth Nwanno; and General Manager, Human Capital Management, BCN Plc, Mrs. Medinat Suberu, at the BCN Customer Forum and Award, held in Lagos...recently Sunday Adigun

L-R: Accountant, Chellerams Plc; Adeleye Adejumobi; Chief Financial Controller, Business Connexion Nigeria, Olusike Bamisebi; Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie; Chief Accountant, Sakr Power, Janet El Hajj; and Head of Finance, Costain West Africa Paul Otu, at the Ecobank corporate bank customers appreciation forum held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Comrade Nasir S Salami; Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Command, Col. Samuel Fola Akande and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Grace Ebun Oladimeji, during a legionnaire empowerment programme for widows, disabled and old ex-servicemen, at the auditorium of Council for Art and Culture, Ikeja Lagos...recently

L-R: Director of Finance, Cadbury Plc, Mrs. Yimika Adeboye; and the chief host, Pastor Mrs. Siju Iluyomade, at the Handmaidens Women in Leadeship Series with the theme; Leading Women Leading Change, held at Four Point by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos...recently

52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 7, 2016

BUSINESS INTERVIEW Eben Akinyemi

Nigeria Needs Radical Injection of Ideas to Stimulate Economy Eben Akinyemi, the Principal, Stransact Partners, a frontline strategy, transactions and tax firm, speaks with Adedayo Adejobi on how the Financial Reporting Council impacts on investments in the country and his projections for 2016 economic year.

A

s a financial expert, taking a cursory look at the Nigerian economy showing signs of decline, what is your assessment of Nigeria’s economy?

The Nigerian economy in the last six months has been very unstable. As a matter of fact, indices show that trade, stocks and shares are declining. And as it is, analysts are showing that the economy is in serious problem. This issue with Nigeria is that we have a lot of experts in quote, and sometimes you begin to wonder if these experts have common sense. We really need people that can think out of the box at this moment and I am very worried because I don’t know who the government listens to. Nigeria really needs a radical injection of ideas to stimulate the economy. We need a radical intervention by the government. When I say intervention, I’m not saying the government should give out cash to people. Once it is called government, they should be able to control our collective productivity, 70’s, when they started indigenisation decree, the first company to sell shares made some people rich. It kick-started our capital market, and today we claim to have the largest economy in Africa.

What is the depth of our capital market?

Now we are already cresting liquidity in the capital market, thus ensuring expertise and proper governance in the capital market as a whole. As the government has appointed its cabinet, with time fast ticking, we hope they will bring to bear proper governance with stimulating ideas that will help us all out of the current state Nigeria is in.

What do you think of the presidential economic team,and what’s the implication of the current state of economy for the country I cannot claim to know more than the President especially when he has campaigned for the best advisers. I would rather just leave them to focus on their job and see how we can support them where it is possible. The economy is like a life boat where all of us are in.

Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world, and the challenges

Akinyemi

are enormous considering potential population explosion driven by cultural factors which we cannot just take away like that. So with oil crashing to $30 a barrel, we need superior reasoning to help get out of the mess that we are in.

It might not be out of place to reason that the President has access to the best advisers, and came up with the people he came up with. I am happy that for the first time in a long time, we have another Accountant as the Minister of Finance.

Accounting is described as the language of business and for you to communicate effectively, you must master language. It is a good thing for us that someone who speaks the language of business, and understands accounting is the Minister of Finance.

What are your projections for 2016?

We are hearing good news, although it may not be amplified enough. There will be census this year and the National Population Commission alone will be hiring one million people. So if we have one million people having the chance to increase their income in 2016, it is good.

The central bank also says it has plans for graduates, and I believe people do not understand that for any scheme to work, it has to be sustainable. It is not enough for the government to have a scheme where it has a list of people, and they get money regularly without a form of sustainability. Most of those things are short term projects. The Minister of works, Power and Housing says he’s also committed to completing all construction jobs, and it is priority for government to get people who lost their jobs to be back working. There also a need for every one of us to work on our mindsets. In Nigeria, there are slush monies going around. You could see that from the current Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations and fraud cases are being unveiled by the day, a lot of our so-called big men never really did any job. We just hope that economy gets back to productivity.

The government looks at its finances, other arms like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as sources of productivity. But they forget that the greatest sources of productivity

are its people. Nigerians are naturally innovative. So in the midst of hard times, the Nigerians have to look deep within it to see what it can come out with. I expect that gradually the government should recognize that there is need for us to enhance and develop our service industry because globally even advance economies are all moving away from manufacturing to being able to earn revenue from quality service delivery. If the government is able to project what it wants to spend, the economy will be much better in 2016 than it was in 2015.

A critical issue making the headlines and destabilising the economy is that of devaluation of the naira and the forex crises what should be the ideal role of the Central Bank of Nigeria in policy formation?

At the beginning of this year, the Central Bank of Nigeria started out by restrictions on the domiciliary accounts.

Meaning lots of small businesses with global aspirations who do not want to operate in Nigeria, but see the world as their stage would struggle for easy access to foreign exchange.

Trading itself is a business. But if a lot of small importers have to rely on a lot of foreign exchange to buy and sell freely. I don’t think the Central Bank of Nigeria is doing the economy any good by restricting foreign exchange. A few weeks ago, I read of the arrest of the man with 80 debit cards on his way to China. The man could be a very honest business man who needs access to foreign exchange.

That by itself should be a cause for those responsible for policy to worry, saying if this man was doing genuine business, he just needs access to foreign exchange.

Why don’t we allow an open market economy and gradually allow access to international trade, so that they can thrive.

The federal civil service numbers a little above 100,000, and that tells you that everybody cannot work for government, and you need to stimulate small businesses to grow.

The other issue is the direct fallout of the extreme restrictions on the domiciliary accounts. The direct fallout is the

Trading itself is a business. But if a lot of small importers have to rely on a lot of foreign exchange to buy and sell freely. I don’t think the Central Bank of Nigeria is doing the economy any good by restricting foreign exchange. A few weeks ago, I read of the arrest of the man with 80 debit cards on his way to China. The man could be a very honest business man who needs access to foreign exchange. That by itself should be a cause for those responsible for policy to worry, saying if this man was doing genuine business, he just needs access to foreign exchange. Why don’t we allow an open market economy and gradually allow access to international trade, so that they can thrive

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Akinyemi

widening of the gap between the official markets and, the parallel markets. Today, the official market CBN rate is N197, while N485 in the parallel market.

No matter how we want to pretend about it, the restrictions imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria need to be looked at again. The restrictions are not stimulating big, small and medium businesses. It is huge risk. Perhaps whatever rate the dollar wants to exchange for, should be allowed to float, with Nigerians hoping that our economy will grow.

With an unfriendly business landscape, dwindling economy and poor accounting standards. How can agencies like the Financial Reporting Council be checkmated?

There are better ways government can spur the economy with reforms to make doing business easier, thus making the country more business friendly. Nigeria does not really have to be exporting any commodity for it to have a great economy. It may be the fact that the convenient place to do business and then it acts as an attraction to others. Dubai is a conducive place for business, although I don’t know if they are exporting any commodity. Nigeria needs to align its laws to be that conducive. In the last 16 years of democracy, what we have had is apparently a lot of law makers and/or technocrats who have never done business before, but have governed placing more burdens on businesses. They have not just been interested in taxes and other compliance requirements, but the regulator powers seems to have expanded disproportionately, giving an occasion to a situation where the regulators most times are tricked by individuals whose strength of character is suspicious and questionable. That is why we see lots of them stealing. When the Pension Reform Act was passed in 2005, the government in its wisdom decided to rest the Nige-

rian Social Insurance Trust fund (NSITF), which was what people were contributing to then prior to the pension reform act. With the enactment of Pension Reform Act, Nigerian Social Insurance Trust fund (NSITF) was supposed to be wind up, and it became a Pension Fund Administrator. Within a three- four year period, that same agency that is supposed to have wound up ended somehow had its name re-inserted into the amendment of the workmen’s compensation act. A company must have a 30% minimum of the insurance to take care of work place injuries that could arise, and insurance comes to evaluate the level of risk they are expose to, and agree on a premium. But government in its so-called wisdom introduced Nigerian Social Insurance Trust fund (NSITF) which went ahead to place one % fixed charge, of payroll monthly to be paid in respect to work men’s compensation to Nigerian Social Insurance Trust fund (NSITF). It is just an unnecessary additional charge on business. I don’t see how you are fixing premium by fiat.

That is no longer insurance! You have the Nigerian Accounting Board for example which chooses to be a private sector organisation; it was founded by the big multinationals in Nigeria in early 80’s. These companies came together to enforce accounting standards. In 1992, the Nigerian Accounting Standard Board became an equivalent of an agency of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and recently the adoption of the International Financial reporting standard, the Nigeria accounting standard were metamorphosed to become the Financial Reporting Council. And the additional burden is placed on business, additional reporting and registration requirements are sometimes superfluous. For you to sign a financial statement as a director of any company today you are expected to have a registration with Financial

Reporting Council and that’s part of the laws now. To have that registration, you will need to have to visit the financial reporting council office and have your biometrics captured. I don’t know if the people who designed the law did not think that there are lots of professionals and international businesses who simply have offices or representatives in Nigeria, but the directors don’t even want to visit Nigeria. And if you require every person that wants to do business here to have to visit your office and have their biometrics captured in a country that is deemed high risk and westerners not probably not sure that their biometrics will be safe.

How can they be sure that data given will not be hacked and their biometrics stolen by someone else? We have a lot of clients and individuals who complain that they can’t come to Nigeria to do biometrics.

How can they be sure that their essential data will be safe in Nigeria? The question is, in the first instance why with all other regulatory registration, why do I need as a professional be identified by another regulation and registration style? It is not just an additional bottle neck.

My point is what government should be thinking about right now is how to loosen the various bottle necks in doing business in Nigeria. The government should think about serious reform of doing business laws in Nigeria as part of the ways to stimulate the economy base on the current circumstances. And they should also look very carefully and critically at the quality of individuals that are mandated to handle some of these agencies. We are hoping that there should be a reform of the entire regulatory agencies in Nigeria to make the dream business environment better. We need to stimulate the economy in some other ways and one of the ways is to make Nigeria a fertile land for business.

We have a lot of clients and individuals who complain that they can’t come to Nigeria to do biometrics.

How can they be sure that their essential data will be safe in Nigeria? The question is, in the first instance why with all other regulatory registration, why do I need as a professional be identified by another regulation and registration style? It is not just an additional bottle neck. My point is what government should be thinking about right now is how to loosen the various bottle necks in doing business in Nigeria.

The government should think about serious reform of doing business laws in Nigeria as part of the ways to stimulate the economy base on the current circumstances

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT FILE

Doing Music is an Essence For My Existence on Earth - Orliam

Paris based Nigerian artist Orliam who cuts the image of the next big thing in world music chats with ‘Entertainment File’ on his unique and versatile style of music and the Nigerian industry experience among others. Richard Orliam Akuave is definitely not your average artist, with a style which is best described as world music, a fusion of several genres of music such as Jazz; Soul; pop; African; a bit of rock; alternative music and other genres, for Orliam music is a spiritual process and his music is a gift from God to humanity. Below are excerpts from his chat with Akpor Gbemre and Azuka Ogujiuba few days ago at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

O

rliam tell us a bit about you and how your journey into making music started?

Orliam is an artist, a musician from Benue state, Nigeria. I do most of my music in Europe and I’m based in Paris. I started when I was quite young from my home in Jos at the age of 8. Spent some time in Jos before I relocated to Europe and my mum used to be a singer.

Doing music is an essence for my existence on earth.

How would you describe your style of music?

It is fusion. Some people describe my music as world music and some call it alternative music, for example the last time I had a concert with Lagos Jazz series after playing along side Marcus Miller, he came to me backstage and said Orliam, you call your music alternative but I think your music is alternative everything. My music is a complete fusion of different genres into one ideal music element. My music is a modern day style of music. There is also some African element in my music. When you listen to songs in my album like ‘Celebrate, Hallelu-

My music is a complete fusion of different genres into one ideal music element. My music is a modern day style of music.

There is also some African element in my music

jah you can feel the African element in my work.

What inspired this style of music ?

For me it is a gift. When you understand what music is all about then you will understand that the things you get are the things you are given. And for you to get those things you need to spend time.

Some people think music is you come, you play and you sing, It’s beyond that. Music is transcendent.

So for you to get things that are quite unique and different you need to be willing to spend time.

Music is a spiritual process, so before you can come into this realm and understanding of the style of music you need to spend time, even spiritually to get this things. That’s the basic truth. So everything that I have acquired is a gift to me from God. How do you intend to break into the Nigerian market with your style of music considering the fact that its not the popular type of music in this part of the world ?

What we have here in Nigeria is dance music. What you hear every time on radio or see on tv is dance music. Music is for specified reasons, it’s either the music is making you jumpy and you feel like dancing or it makes you sober and you feel like crying. Sometimes, it makes you excited and you don’t feel sober. So different stroke for different folks. I’m ready to go through the process to do the things that I need to do and will try as much as possible to promote my music on television and radio here.

Like i said earlier I’m ready to go through the process and I’m sure it will cause a difference in the life and minds and in totality of people that will listen to the music.

Do you see yourself doing popular commercial music anytime soon in order to gain more acceptance in Nigeria?

For me, Nigeria is just a spot. I didn’t go into music for a country or single state. For me, I believe and I know that I’m a gift to humanity and Nigeria is just a place. Like I tell people music is like a plane it takes you around. You can’t do proper music and be in a spot. So when you do the kind of music I do which is world music you can’t be at a spot. So when you say Nigera market I’m not really shaky about being accepted here, everyone has got his market, but thats the basic truth. Like I said earlier I’m ready to go through the process, I do my assignment, I do my homework, I

Orliam

55

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT FILE Doing Music Is An Essence For My Existence On Earth - Orliam Promoting your music here is a whole lot of process. What you do is not considered.

Your superbness is not considered. What is really considered here is money. And the problem is structure mostly, because you don’t even know where to go.

There’s no structure and that’s the basic truth

do as much as possible the promotion that I need to do and I’m sure that i will find some people who accept my music and love my music and the music is going to cause a difference in their lives.

What’s your take on African music?

When you say African music, African music is vast. you really want to talk about African music ? you remind me of the likes of Youssou N’Dour, Manu Dibangu, Angelique Kidjo, Miriam Makeba, Salif Keita and the rest of them.

These are African icons. They are highly respected all over the world, in New York, in Europe, all over the world even in Africa. So when you talk about african music what the world understand as african music is what these people do, because music has got rules and there are things that have been standardised, that you have to go through in oder to be able to come out and say I’m doing music, so if you talk about African music you are talking about something that is acceptable all over.

What’s your view on digital sales technology?

It’s taking over, even for my music I do more of online sales than the physical distribution, I have my album on iTunes and many other online platforms.

Orliam

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I strongly believe I will be at the point that I always desire to be, doing music and having the platform to do the kind of music I want to do and have all of the facilities and instrument to help me achieve the kind of idea that I have in my head.

What are the challenges you are facing promoting your work in Nigeria?

You know promoting your music here is a whole lot of process.

What you do is not considered.

Your superbness is not considered.

What is really considered here is money. And the problem is structure mostly, because you don’t even know where to go. There’s no structure and that’s the basic truth. In Europe, it’s different.

You want a manager, you want a promoter, you want to meet with Mr A or Mr B, it’s very easy, there’s a place called creative district you go there you see whatever and get to meet with whom you ever want to meet with but here in Nigeria it’s not like that, everything is not properly structured. I think the major problem here is structure.

There is no structure yet.

You talked about yourself earlier but you did not tell us about your background I wanted to be an inventor, so I went to study mechanical engineering but i had to leave all of that for music. I went to study music and I’m happy i am doing music.

When you deviated from being

that still remains fresh in your mind ?

My life is quite different because I never really had spare time. For example, I leave you and I drive back home, In my house I have a big studio, live analogue studio so I get into the studio it’s till morning.

Rehearsing at the piano and all that. So, it’s a whole lot of process, it no joke, it’s not like what you think.

What music instrument do you play ?

I’m a jazz pianist. I play other instruments like the guitar, the drum, konga and others. My major is the piano and the voice. I’m also a composer and arranger. Professionally, I arrange for big bands, orchestra, its a serious business. I’m fully into music. I can arrange for a thousand band. an engineer what was your parent’s reaction, especially the way Nigerian parents see artistes, like, why would you leave engineering to do music ?

Mine is different. I’m privileged like I said. i didn’t have any obstacle, i got this by revelation and I knew that this is what I should be doing not engineering. I went and there was nobody opposing me.

Do you see yourself as an introvert or extrovert?

I’m a private person but i’m an extrovert.

Who are your role model ?

I got lots of them, maybe not the kind of people you would know, like Mokoto Ozone, you’ve heard of him? he’s a Chinese legend, he’s

a master pianist. You’ve heard of Herbie Hankook, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Fat Waller, Nina Simone, John Coltrane etc just to mention a few, these are the people that I really look up to and most of their material really inspired me.

John Coltrane is a jazz master, he is the one that translated most of the black music, black musician’s music into music scores. He was a learned musician and amazing saxophonist, one of the finest that the world has ever produced till date with high level of dexterity and technicality, so John Coltrane is one of the fathers of music I look up to.

Is there any particular incident that you encountered in the past

So are you back to Nigeria to do music fully?

In fact I’m here for my music but the truth about it is that by next month 20th I’m off to Europe then I will go to America. I have some tour to do.

Any concert or tour in Nigeria anytime soon?

I’m having a show next week, I’m performing at the Lagos international Jazz Festival, It’s holding for three days.

Tell us about your fashion life, are you a label freak ?

No, but I like good stuff. Once it’s nice, it’s fits me. I’m the design, so i put it on and I’m ok. Once it’s comfortable I’m cool.

56

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

NIGHT OF JAZZ

Ambode Breathes Life into Jazz Music

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, wife of former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Derin Osoba and her husband, Aremo Olusegun Osoba during an evening of Jazz Music with the Governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja... recently

I

t is not every day that one gets treated to the very best of quality and timessless Jazz music. Over the years, the elitist and introspective music has gained roots and acceptance whilst in Nigeria, it is an evolving genre in Nigeria’s music industry, as the genre of hip hop, and R & B has taking over the radio airwaves and television airtime, while music festivals and concerts are also dominated by young, talented music artistes who are making waves far beyond the shores of the country relegating Jazz music to the background.

Thus, lovers of Jazz were left with no option but to visit highbrow restaurants and hotels to satisfy their urge.

Therefore, when the Lagos State Government announced that it was perfecting plans to host a Jazz Concert to commemorate the 2016 International Jazz Day on Saturday, May 30, there was an air of excitement.

For some, it was a lifetime opportunity to watch a-list local and international jazz artistes on one stage, while for others, it was an opportunity to unwind at the weekend.

Venue was the open field, Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja. One by one, household names known for their vocal and instrumental dexterity in Jazz, took to the well crafted stage to thrill the audience with their sonorous voices and their gifted hands on various musical instruments.

When Veteran Jazz Diva, Elfreda Yinka Davies took to the stage, she wasted no time in proving her worth.

Her rendition of her hit track “Eko Ile” sent the crowd wild. The song which was a popular anthem in the early 90’s re-ignited growing up memories, her vocal dexterity on stage and the fact that she still had music running in her veins.

She also did a rendition of “Owo”

Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, and his wife, Onari perform during an evening of Jazz Music with the governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja... recently

another hit song featuring the Late Fuji Crooner, Barrister from one of her albums.

Surprisingly, to many the former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke was arguably the star performer on the night.

Many were left stunned by the musical dexterity of the former helmsman of the oil rich South-South State who displayed his flair for not just music, but the widely appreciated wind instrument-the saxophone.

Like a kid in a candy store, Duke

took to the stage and played some favourite ‘old school’ love songs that had guests dancing on their seats.

Not too long into his performance, his wife, Onari stepped up the stage to give him the support he duly deserved.

Thrilled by their show of love for music, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle, joined the couple on stage and danced to the sweet melody of his saxophone.

Other veteran jazz musicians like

Lagbaja, Jimi Solanke, Tee Mac, Grammy award winner, Lekan Babalola, International Jazz artiste, Kirk Whalum, Sam and his band, students of SPAN Music School; Omolara, Ade and his Spectacle Band, Hubert Kunle Ajayi, Lekan Babalola, Victor Ademofe also took their turns to display their love for Jazz.

Masters of Ceremonies, Gbenga Adeyinka and music star, Dare Art Alade were a perfect combination.

Together, they provided a perfect combo for a long night of music, fun, dance and entertainment.

For the State Government, the event presented many opportunities far beyond just entertainment. It was yet another prospect to market the tourism potentials of the State.

State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at several fora had intimated on plans by his administration to open up the State to become a destination of choice for tourists not only from the continent but across the world.

Speaking at the Jazz Concert, the Governor was optimistic that with such events, Lagos was gradually emerging as the true capital of arts and entertainment in Africa.

For him, much as the event was part of efforts to join the rest of the world, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate the Jazz Day, it was in line with his administration’s plans to transform the State to become the tourism hub of the Continent.

He said a similar evening of jazz was hosted by President Barak Obama at the White House on Friday as Washington DC was this year’s jazz capital of the world, therefore, the Lagos version was his administra-

57

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

NIGHT OF JAZZ

Onari and Donald Duke Show they Still Got the Spark tion’s effort to show that the State is in tune with the world.

He said: “This musical show is a continuation of our promise to Lagosians that we will use tourism, hospitality, entertainment and the arts as well as sports to create jobs and opportunities for our people and to position Lagos State as a destination with rich entertainment content.

“We also want to use today’s event to identify with every musician here today, from far and near and to use their God-given talents and creativity to announce to the world that Lagos is the true capital of arts and entertainment in Africa and that Lagos is in tune with the rest of the world.”

The Governor said the Light Up Lagos Project and huge investment in its security machinery which has brought down crime rate by 65 per cent is part of efforts by his administration to create a 24-hour economy and the template of a city that does not sleep and with government that does not slumber either.

He said the Lagos Jazz Concert took its cue from the success of One Lagos Fiesta, held on the eve of New Year’s Day, noting that there were at least four different jazz concerts across Lagos on Friday evening with artistes from all over the world, including several Grammy awardwinners who performed.

“I’m happy to inform you that all of them are here tonight, united through music in the centre of excellence which best represents the concept of unity in diversity and borderless brotherhood. It is perhaps the first time that we’d be witnessing this type of bonding and creative energy on a single stage in Nigeria.

I believe this show of brotherliness and synergy is in sync with the values being promoted by UNESCO through the International Jazz Day.” Governor Ambode was optimistic that optimism that next year’s concert which will herald the Lagos @ 50 celebrations, coming up May 27, 2017, would have successfully placed the State as a destination of choice and one deserving of the Jazz Capital City appellation.

Sharing the governor’s optimism, Commissioner for Information and

Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the Jazz Concert was only a tip of the iceberg of what the present administration has in stock for arts and entertainment.

Hear him, “it also falls within the larger picture of what His Excellency is doing. During the campaign, he used the acronym project THESE which stands for Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and the Arts and Sports to achieve excellence for Lagos State. Governor Ambode demonstrated that during the One Lagos Fiesta in December last year and then the Lagos City Marathon in February this year.

“This is in continuation of using entertainment and sports to create jobs for the people and to tell the world that Lagos is indeed the true capital of arts and culture in Nigeria and what we are trying to do is to add Jazz to it so that those who are serious musicians and those who are very creative can now see government as their partner and people they can rely on and don’t forget the fact that just before the Jazz Concert, the Governor welcomed in his office on a courtesy visit all the Jazz stakeholders in Lagos State and there were about three or four different groups who ordinarily were having their own events throughout that weekend who now converged on Saturday (April 30) for the Lagos International Jazz Festival with the Governor. You have the Lagos International Jazz Festival Group, you have the Runway Jazz, you have the Satchmo Jazz and Culture Festival and then you have the Committee for the Relevant Arts. All of them were guests of the Governor.

The whole point is that this Governor is in tune with arts and culture and he wants to use it to redefine Lagos as the number entertainment capital in Africa”.

Dignitaries who graced the concert include former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Femi Adeniyi Williams, Rtd Justice of Supreme Court, George Oguntade, among others.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) with his wife, Bolanle (right) and Jermaine Jackson of the defunct Jackson 5 (left) during an evening of Jazz Music with the governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, recently

Nigerian Musician, Lagbaja during an evening of Jazz in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, recently

L-R: APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Mr. Jimi Solanke during an evening of Jazz Music with the Governor in commemoration of the International Jazz Day 2016, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, recently

58

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • May 7, 2016

Media & Marketing with

2016 Maltina Teacher of The Year Contest Kicks Off

F

ollowing a hugely successful maiden outing, Nigerian Breweries Plc has kicked off the second edition of the Maltina Teacher of-the Year competition with prize money of N50 million up for grabs. The initiative powered

by Nigeria Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust is aimed at rewarding outstanding teachers in secondary schools pan Nigeria. Unlike the first edition which featured only teachers in public schools, the scope of this year’s edition has been expanded to also include teachers in privately- owned secondary schools.

According to the company’s Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, the quality of the 2015 winner gave the organisers enough impetus to believe that teachers in the nation’s public schools can match their counterparts in the private schools. “Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, the 2015 winner turned out to be a good testimony,” he said.

Already entry for the competition has opened and collection of applications will last till 30th June 2016. Interested teachers are advised to download application forms from the Maltina website -www.maltina-nigeria.com. Applications forms should be completed and uploaded to the website or sent by email tomaltinateacheroftheyear@heineken.com or to P.M.B. 12632, Marina, Lagos.

All eligible applications will be subjected to intense selection and judging process. Ekanem said: “Our external and independent panel of judges will ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity of the initiative. The five step evaluation process of the entries received will result in 37 champions (one per state and the FCT), subject to entries meeting the cut off mark set by the panel of judges. From amongst these state champions, the Maltina Teacher of the Year 2016 will emerge.

All state champions and winners will be celebrated and rewarded in a grand ceremony

KASIE ABONE 08057511558 (sms only)

L-R: Mr. Victor Famuyibo, Human Resources Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, 2015 Maltina Teacher of the Year; Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc; and Mr. Wole Oyeniyi, Deputy General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT at the flagging off the 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year in Lagos on Wednesday

on October 12 2016 in commemoration of World Teachers Day. Ekanem informed the media that each state champion would get N500, 000 and the Top 10 teachers will be recognized before the grand winners are announced. The 2nd and 1st runnersup will receive trophies and an additional N750, 000 and N1, 000, 000 respectively. The Maltina Teacher of the Year 2016 will get an additional N1,000,000 instantly plus N1,000,000 every year for the next five years, a development training opportunity abroad and a block of classrooms built at the school where he/she teaches.

“It is our hope that through the Maltina Teacher

of the Year initiative, we can inspire this nation to accord our teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria. As partners for development, we call on all education stakeholders and solicit your support, our friends in the media, towards the success of this initiative,” he averred.

Also speaking at the occasion, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, Nigerian Breweries’ Human Resources Director affirmed that the initiative was aimed at promoting excellence in the teaching profession, and equally aids the development of teaching.

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi,

the 2015 Maltina Teacher of the Year disclosed that the award had opened several doors for her and thanked Nigerian Breweries and Maltina for the celebrating teachers and teaching profession.

“Teaching is my passion. I love teaching. I enjoy my profession as a teacher, even though I have been getting a lot of tempting calls to leave,” she said. Obi, who is equally a daughter of a teacher, teaches Mathematics and Chemistry at the Federal Government Girls College, FGGC Onitsha.

The year 2000 graduate of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State beat nine other finalists to the coveted prize.

Future of Marketing Research is Mobile Says Geri-Robert

H

ow would you describe the future of marketing research in emerging markets like Nigeria?

Truly, Nigeria is one of the emerging markets. The future of research whether in the emerging markets or developed markets is mobile. It is mobile because mobile takes off all the human errors. I give you an example, before now, data collection was all pen and paper from there we arrived at the computer assisted interview system where we use all kinds of devices just to capture the same information that we used to write. Now we are talking of the future of research and I say it is mobile, mobile is actually a wall breaker. I call it a wall breaker because one of the challenges facing marketing research in emerging markets like Nigeria is that sometimes the walls become barriers in getting to the target samples and of course the right kind of information. Mobile will scale through the wall.

After the first quarter of 2016, how did marketing research fare in Nigeria and can you project what this year holds for the industry viz-a-viz the Nigerian economy?

Yes first quarter has gone and I can tell you honestly that the first quarter was a bit slow, slower than usual. But I can tell you that in most of the global agencies operating in Nigeria like ours, I think we still met the numbers. Slow or not slow, we still arrived at where we wanted to arrive at. Looking at Nigeria specifically, yes we know that Nigeria is challenged right now but then when you talk about market research, you know you are talking about providing solutions to challenges. We are challenged right now but I believe that once we put all the policies in place, the market will open up. Don’t forget that with all these challenges, we are still number one economy in Africa and we will not lose sight of the fact that we have the population, the market

Mrs. Ugo geri-robert, Managing director of Millward Brown nigeria, a global marketing research agency tells Kasie Abone in this interview that mobile will drive the future of marketing research. excerpts: is here.

The way the mobile work is that we have a panel which we are building day by day.

When we have a new job, instead of sending people out to go and be roaming the streets or to go and be knocking at the gates, by the way, the panel we have is not a general panel, it is segmented-socio-economic class, gender, age group, education, location and so on. So when we have a research job, we look at the sample and we select from our panel and we send them the questions to their mobile phones. Like I said it is a wall breaker, there are no barriers when it comes to mobile unlike the face to face interview and you are reaching the real targets.

a lot for research companies in Nigeria because they are all heavy research users. If we have the banking sector, the insurance sector doing just 20 per cent of what the telecom companies are doing, this industry will explode, talents will be built and more people will come into the research industry. Right now I don’t know if the financial services sector is doing even up to two per cent of what the telecom companies are doing. We know that in other markets, the financial services industry use heavy research, but here, we just move from the board room to the market. That explains why most of the products churned out by many of our banks fail.

You see, let me tell you, that era of just throwing things at the people and expecting that they will take it is gone. Our people are getting more sophisticated, they know they have the power, they know what they want and they go for it.

What are the short comings of this mobile method?

What is the size of the research market in Nigeria?

You said the future of marketing research is mobile, how do we adapt this mobile technology?

There are short-comings. As you know everything made by man has its short-comings.

I churn out these things; the response rate is lower than when you are doing face to face.

When we are doing face to face interview I set a target for myself, I say this person is going here, that person is going there, I can share the questions five each, with five persons, in a day I am looking at 25. But then for the mobile, you send these things, there is no way you can be sure that they will come back or that the people you sent to have received them. Because they don’t owe you anything, they are not obliged to respond, so you are just left at their whims and caprices waiting for them to respond and for

Ugo Geri-Robert

now response rate is still quite low.

What is the patronage of marketing research in Nigeria like?

The telecommunication companies are the ones doing so much use of our services. Our colleagues in South Africa when we get talking they tell us that around September or October, they stop taking jobs, they start turning clients back. We usually wonder when we will arrive there. Truly, the telecom companies have done

That is a difficult question to answer because it is not a public domain thing, we are all guessing.

When you look at yourself you say, you are number one in the market and we look at what we are making, we project. So specifically for the Nigerian market. I am not too sure but we are grossing over $50 million annually.

What percentage of the market is Millward Brown holding in Nigeria?

We are at the fore front; I can tell you that we are truly at the front. Mobile is still very small but by the time you begin to put company to company, our own percentage is the highest for now.

MAY 7, 20 16 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

59

THIS WOMAN’S WORK

with ADE RONKE ; @aderonstar; ronkaf@aol.com

Are you afraid of the Economy?

This year has forced all Nigerians to become economists, our collective finances as a country and as individuals have been diminished considerably. Sadly, there is no shortcut out of this difficult situation we find ourselves. We have to build industries from the ground up and begin to create products and services of real value. The key question is where to start? We are at least 15-20 years behind in kick-starting our industrial revolution, yet we must be resilient and pursue this aggressively. Nigeria’s financial health is as important as individual financial decisions of citizens. In order to survive this time, conservative spending is key as well as rigid financial planning.

For those who are unsure of a course of action, there are experts who are able to give recommendations such as Omilola Oshikoya. She is a wealth planner with over 12 years experience in financial services. Her signature event series on navigating our economy ‘Don’t be Afraid’ distinguishes her from others in her field. It reflects an understanding of what many of us are feeling which is fear. Our economy is volatile yet we must all act regardless of what we fear to lose. We must all ‘Do it Afraid’

P

rior to the 2016 economic downturn what have been the challenges in remaining financially solvent?

As a country, we made many mistakes in the past.

After the discovery of oil, we depended on oil and neglected the other sectors. Therefore we have been susceptible to boom and burst cycles. We are rich in natural and human resources however instead of processing our resources and turning them into high –value products we sold them to countries that would buy from us cheaply and turn them into high value products and resell to us at a premium. Basically “we sold our birth right for a pot of stew”.

We really shouldn’t be focused on trading our commodities instead, we should begin to process our resources and turn them into high value products. For instance our oil can be processed into diesel, plastics, fertilizers, cosmetics and more. Instead of exporting our cocoa, we can process it into chocolate and cocoa butter.

Furthermore, when the economy was doing well, we did not invest in infrastructure, or in sectors such as power, healthcare and education. Our leaders also embezzled most of our funds. All this has had adverse effects on our economy.

For individuals, a lack of financial intelligence and financial literacy is a major problem. It should start from childhood. Financial literacy should be taught in schools and at home. Companies should also invest in their staff through wealth and personal finance training. This would improve the staff turnover rate, as their staff would be able to live on what they earn instead of moving jobs for more money. It is not what you earn but how you spend it that matters.

For the bottom of the pyramid, a lack of financial inclusion is a big problem.

What are the major financial/economic challenges facing Nigerians in 2016?

There are a lot of financial and economic challenges Nigerians will face such as rise in cost of living, loss of income and loss of jobs. Nonetheless, a lot of people are talking about the challenges, and I would rather focus on the opportunities. For example, a lot of people have lost their jobs in the last couple of months as a result of the economic crisis. As a result, the unemployment rate, which was already at a very high rate, is worse. However, I believe this is also a great opportunity for Nigeria and also Nigerians. A new generation of entrepreneurs will emerge as a result of this crisis. Also sectors that have been neglected will be revived. For instance, in March I hosted the “Don’t be Afraid” Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Workshop supported by the Bank of Industry and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). So much has happened since the workshop, one of the speakers has facilitated the sale of 200 hectares of land to some of the attendees. So many new agribusinesses are being created. Also retailers like supermarkets are finding it difficult to import products due to the exchange rate therefore they are seeking made in Nigeria products and this is a great opportunity for Nigerian manufacturers. For Nigeria this is an op-

How can one operate a business efficiently in light of the recent economic challenges, especially as operating costs have increased?

I remember a particular company that I worked in during the 2008 financial crisis.

While other financial institutions were firing staff, they were able to maintain the salaries of their staff neither did they sack any staff member. They never deffered on payments of salaries throughout the financial crisis. This is because when the economy was doing well and they were making money, they were prudent, conservative and also diversified their business.

So they had multiple streams of income.

My advice would be to minimise your costs as much as possible. For example, you find that in work places, it is common for employees to close late. Some leave work as late as 10pm on average. Unfortunately some of these staff are just marking time and are not being productive. These sorts of companies should allow their staff to go home earlier or even consider working from home, this would reduce cost of power or diesel and also their staff would be more productive which could generate more income.

portunity to diversify its economy through the development of other sectors such as Mining, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Technology.

In maintaining good personal and business finance what is more crucial, a responsible individual or an enabling environment?

I believe both are important. You need to be financially responsible and have financial discipline as an individual however an enabling environment is also important. For instance, we spend so much on electricity and therefore the cost of living and the cost of doing business in Nigeria is high compared to other economies.

These funds could have been diverted into savings, investments or even to create new businesses or grow existing businesses. In Rwanda it takes an average of four days to register and start a business but in Nigeria it takes about 28 days.

There are many categories of people who will be affected by the economic changes, what is your advice for someone who earns a steady salary?

The first thing I would say is “DON’T

BE AFRAID”. A lot of people are currently living in fear due to the fact that they may lose their jobs. Focus on being productive and excellent at what you do. Also even if you lose your job, there are still many opportunities. At the beginning of the year I spent some time praying to seek God’s direction. He said He was improving the economy through small businesses. People who lose their jobs in this time would start new businesses. Entrepreneurship is the engine of any economy. A successful entrepreneur creates jobs and wealth.

Furthermore, if you are in debt, this is a good time to ensure you begin to pay off your debt and do not incur any more debt.

It is very important to budget and save and cut out excesses. Often times it’s the little things that cause the biggest problems.

This is also a good time to invest because stock prices are low. However it’s important to have a long-term view. Stock prices may continue to fall therefore if you are not knowledgeable in the stock market, you may consider investing in a mutual fund. If you don’t have an emergency fund, this is a good time to create one. You should have three-six months of your monthly salary or expenses saved.

Through your experience as a wealth coach in Nigeria, are people in this country responsible with their earnings? There is a point of view that Nigerians spend outside of their means; do you find that to be true?

I think it would be unfair to categorise everyone, as there are some Nigerians who are financially responsible and disciplined.

Nonetheless there is a lot of pressure on Nigerians particularly the youths to live beyond their means. Social media doesn’t help as a lot of our youths are under pressure to ‘keep up with the joneses’. They are under pressure to drive the latest cars, wear expensive clothing and jewelry, have extravagant weddings etc. These youths also see the excesses of some of our political leaders, local and global entertainers and online personalities. They want to also live the same lifestyle and show off on social media. Young women want quick money and would compromise on their values to get it.

Furthermore, easy credit also doesn’t help. In the past Nigerians, would save in order to meet a financial goal however now there are facilities available to meet those goals. For example, many people obtain loans to go on holiday, buy cars, phones and even to finance weddings.

What is your general advice for navigating 2016’s economy?

Continue to invest in yourself. Personal development is important, also to minimise expenditure as much as possible. Finally, don’t stop giving. During a crisis, a lot of people tend to hold on tightly to what they have or own however there is a universal law that the more you give the more you receive. There are so many people who need help. For instance there are internally displaced persons as a result of the insurgency in the North. Furthermore, many families are out of an income due to companies downsizing. This is a time to be our brothers/sisters keeper.

60

MAY 7, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

POLITY

Better Days Ahead, Adeleke Tells Osun Workers

S

enator Isiaka Adeleke has called on the industrious and hardworking workers of Osun State, either in the civil service or other organized sectors of the economy, that in no distance in future, they would have cause to put permanent smile on their faces, as efforts are on-going by different arms of government in Osun State to ameliorate the present temporary hardship confronting them.

Senator Adeleke stated this in his May Day message, contained in a press release issued by his media adviser, Olumide Lawal.

He contended that civil servants are integral parts of the economy, whose interest should be jealously guarded at all times, as their socio-economic contributions to the overall development of the society cannot be wished

away with a wave of the hand.

The Asiwaju of Edeland was of the opinion that Osun State workers have contributed a big deal since the inception of the state, to make it many steps ahead of others. A situation he said, that had won for the state many accolades at different fora.

Osun workers, Adeleke added, are dedicated, thorough, resilient and patriotic in the discharge of their duties, as he was able to lay a solid civil service structure since his days as the first executive governor of the state.

He enjoined Osun workers to continue to show cooperation and understanding with the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who he said, was working round the clock, to ensure that the present situation of unsteady remuneration for the workers becomes a thing of the past, as according to Senator Adeleke, a labourer deserves his pay before his sweat dries up.

Dell Leads in Delivering Secure ‘Thin Client’ Solutions to Customers Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

E

nd to end IT solutions provider, Dell, has confirmed its position as the number one provider of secure thin client solutions, with the latest IDC figures placing Dell as the leading supplier of zero clients and ThinOS solutions for 2015. The results reflect the increasing focus businesses are placing on installing secure thin client solutions and affirms the continued investment Dell is making in the enhancement of security features across its entire Wyse thin client portfolio.

Commenting on Secure Thin Client Solution, Country Manager, Dell Nigeria, Akin Banuso noted: “Security is becoming the biggest concern for businesses wanting to implement new technology solutions, and research shows that 95 percent of the risk begins at the endpoint.”

“The recent spate of data breaches have highlighted the true necessity of a secure

infrastructure, and more customers are viewing Wyse zero client and ThinOS solutions as the manageable way to make their employees more secure. While other thin client designs require regular application of security updates, and recommended use of anti-virus software to address advanced persistent threats and memory-based malware, Dell zero clients and ThinOS-based thin clients eliminate the need for such attention by the IT staff.”

With over 430 CHANGE OF NAME patents granted for innovation in cloud I, formerly known as OKON MATHEW JAMES, now wish client-computing, thin client design, to be known and addressed as management and OKON ETE AKPAN. All former security, Dell is the documents remain valid. The expert in VDI, and general public should please, a leader in protect- take note. ing customers accessing virtualI, formerly known as MISS ized environments, JESSICA IFEOMA OKENWA, now whether from a wish to be known and addressed private, public, or as MRS JESSICA IFEOMA hybrid cloud.

NKANTA. All former documents

Microsoft, Dynamiss Unveil Learning Solution

L

earning can be fun and interactive, even when the teacher is not physically present. Creating a whole new way to learn, leading technology giant, Microsoft is partnering with Dynamiss Digital Learning Solutions Limited, a teaching and learning digital solutions company to unveil the LP+365 classroom solution.

The LP+365 classroom solution is a cloud-based learning platform which transforms the Microsoft Office365 into a school’s virtual learning environment, enabling teachers to design and plan the curriculum, deliver subject material, manage coursework and communicate with learners using simple drag and drop technology.

The application which will be unveiled soon at “The Future of Learning” Conference, will offer those who attend, a chance to gain exclusive access to free Microsoft Teaching, with technology training hosted by the Microsoft Nigeria Education team. Participants will also get a chance to win the latest Tablets, Phones and more from Microsoft on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the prestigious Civic Centre, V.I, Lagos during the event.

Commenting on the initiative, Education Programs Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Jordan Belmote said that Digital literacy is neither an option nor a luxury, rather it is an essential part of studying, working and living in the twenty-first century.

Belmote added that, “This is the real deal for every educator, the Dynamiss LP+365 solution provides the students with an “AlwaysOn” learning experience anytime, anywhere - home, school or in the library. Students can access the platform through mobile devices using Microsoft productivity tools to do everything from taking notes, submitting coursework to collaborating with their classmates on projects. The platform brings together the best of Microsoft cloud technology and Office365 to create an engaging and intuitive, personalized learning environment for teacher-student interaction.”

Commenting further on the solution, Chief Executive Officer, Dynamiss Digital Learning Solutions Limited, Roland Sodeinde, explained the motive of the solution, adding that, “The idea is to enhance digital literacy in Nigerian Schools, from Primary to tertiary level. Nigeria has made significant progress over the last decade in preparing students for the digital world that we now live in, but there is a need to put more in place, to become competitive and play at the same level as their counterparts in developed countries.

Whether we like it or not, whether we prepare our children or not, the world is changing at a previously unimaginable pace.”

The Dynamiss LP+365 offers educators and students the opportunity to access Always-On access to knowledge, personalized learning, Better engagement, Improved communication and collaboration.

remain valid. Westerfield College and general public should please, take note.

I, formerly known as MISS ANTHONETTE CHIKEWAN DIBIAGWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANTHONETTE CHIKEWAN KANDI-EGWUATU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please, take note.

I, formerly known as OGUNMOLA SAMSON OLUSEGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNGBILE SAMSON OLUSEUN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please, take note.

I, formerly known as ODEYEMI ADESINA GABRIEL, now wish to be known and addressed as ODEYEMI ADEBANJO ADESINA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please, take note.

I, formerly known as OBIDIKE OLUCHI ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBONNA OLUCHI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please, take note.

I, formerly known as OBAYEMI OLAOLU ADUFE, now wish to be known and addressed as OBAYEMI OLAOLU FADAKA ADUFE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please, take note.

I, formerly known as CHIMEZIE UZOMA NICHOLAS , now wish to be known and addressed as AMADI UZOMA NICHOLAS. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please, take note.

N

Adams Abonu in Lafia ow in its most

61

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

newXTRA

NFF Crisis: Police Arrests Chris Giwa

Muslim Elected London Mayor

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

John Iwori with agencies report

Ambassador Chris Giwa who through a Jos, Plateau State court order assumed the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), was yesterday arrested by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Wuse Zone 7, Abuja for trespassing on the premises of the federation.

The drama briefly caused a disruption of the operations of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) as customers and other visitors were locked out after the compound was barricaded.

Giwa was whisked away in his

own car about 4.20 pm to the police station on the order of the DPO, who sought to know his mission at the Glasshouse.

Temper also boiled over as policemen in the team of the DPO and journalists clashed after the security men prevented reporters from covering the event.

Giwa arrived football secretariat after the management of NFF was duly served a copy of the court order nullifying the NFF board election in Warri on September 30, 2014, that brought in Amaju Pinnick as the president.

The order granted by Justice

Musa Kurya presiding at Jos High Court was served on both the NFF and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung by a court bailiff who was accompanied by a senior police officer, acting on the instruction of the Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase. It was after he was about leaving that he found the gates barricaded and the DPO notified of his presence by one of the policemen securing the NFF office.

A very confident Giwa, accompanied by some members of his group, told reporters that he was at the NFF office to restore all the orders which

he said were granted to him by the court since 2014.

He said those orders gave him the permit and rights to be at the NFF secretariat which had been secured by police in the past three weeks.

Giwa who insisted he was duly elected on August 26, 2014, in Abuja, said though he had resumed duty as NFF President, he would take full charge of business on Monday.

“It has been in the news for over a month that we got a ruling from the Federal High Court, Jos restoring all the orders granted us since 2014 to date.

Stakeholders Seek Integrated Multi-modal Transportation John Iwori

In a bid to drive the nation’s economy, stakeholders in the maritime industry have advocated for an integrated multi-modal transportation system.

The stakeholders who gathered at the inaugural transport leadership lecture organised by Kings Communications Limited in Lagos with the theme “Driving Change with Leadership in Transport Industry identified and address the sector’s challenges, and concluded that the nation needs a transport policy for an effective multi-modal transport system to drive the economy.

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor David

Adamu Baike, who was the guest speaker said Nigeria needs drastic change in a positive direction to drive economic activities.

According to the don, a well organised transport system of a country could easily be the life-wire of that country, as is being experienced in Ethiopia.

He, however, lamented that Nigeria with its multifarious endowments in transportation facilities remained the most disorganised and the most wasteful system in place.

Baike noted that people must be held accountable for actions while the system would require responsible leaders who should be dedicated to the course of the industry for progress.

His words: “No one has been held accountable for the disgraceful demise of the Nigeria Railways, Nigeria Airways and the prestigious shipping lines that plied between Lagos and Southampton and or Liverpool.

The crux of the matter is that we do not have an integrated policy on transportation system in the country and these accounts for chaos that is characteristic of our experiences while travelling within the country.

The transport industry in Nigeria is in a desperate situation. It will require a committed leadership that will be prepared to make sacrifices that will bail the industry from its present morass”.

The former Vice Chancellor also drew the Federal Government at-

tention to the national conference report with a view to implement the aspects that affect the transport sector of the economy.

THISDAY had reported that confab report recommended that Nigeria should have a policy formulating body which is the Council and the National Transportation Commission (NTC) to handle; create independent economic and safety regulation department for the transport sector under the NTC; promote economic development, expand trade and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness through an efficient and affordable integrated transport network; increase the involvement of the private sector in the provision, maintenance , operations and upgrading of infrastructure.

Sadiq Khan, the son of a bus driver, yesterday became London's first Muslim mayor seeing off a Conservative challenger who attempted to link him to extremism and securing a much-needed victory for his opposition Labour Party.

As New York mayor Bill de Blasio sent his congratulations, Khan had yet to receive official notification of his victory, which would go some way to soothing the wounds of Labour which suffered losses in Thursday's other local elections.

Dealt a crushing blow in Scotland, where it came third behind the Scottish National Party and Britain's ruling Conservatives, Labour did better than expected in England, saving its left-leaning leader from an early challenge.

But the big prize was the London mayor vote, which pitted Khan, 45, who grew up in public housing in inner city London, against Conservative Zac Goldsmith, 41, the son of a billionaire financier.

A source close to the count said Khan could not now be beaten in the race. De Blasio said on Twitter: "Sending congratulations to London's new mayor and fellow affordable housing advocate.

Khan's margin of victory looked set to be narrower than expected in a possible sign that a bitter campaign marred by charges of anti-Semitism and extremism and charges of anti-Semitism in Labour ranks might have taken its toll.

The Labour lawmaker replaces Conservative Boris Johnson, who has run the city of 8.6 million people for eight years. A top campaigner for Britain to leave the EU, Johnson is seen as a contender to succeed David Cameron as party leader and prime minister.

The Conservatives were keen to keep hold of the post, which does not run the City of London financial district but has influence over government in lobbying for the capital. The mayor is responsible for areas such as policing, transport, housing and the environment.

Khan held his lead in the opinion polls, despite accusations

by Goldsmith that he has shared platforms with radical Muslim speakers and given "oxygen" to extremists.

Khan says he has fought extremism all his life and that he regrets sharing a stage with speakers who held "abhorrent" views. The Labour Party accused Goldsmith and the ruling Conservative Party of smearing Khan.

Goldsmith denied the charge, saying he had raised legitimate questions over his opponent's judgment - but the tactics do seem to have backfired with some voters interviewed by Reuters saying they found the campaign "disgusting and slimy".

While fighting those charges, Khan, a former human rights lawyer, also distanced himself from the newly elected Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, after a row over anti-Semitism.

62

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

NEWS

Boko Haram: FG Distributes Goods Seized

by Customs to IDPs, Liberated Towns Senator Iroegbu in Maiduguri The Federal Government has disclosed that all the goods seized by the Nigerian Customs would be distributed to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially to those returning to the liberated towns in parts of the North East.

The Chairman of the Committee, ACG Sanusi Usman, disclosed this when he led other members to visit the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Military Command and Control Centre (MCC), Maiduguri, Borno State.

Usman said that the Committee was constituted to ensure that the

materials were well distributed to places where they were needed, particularly to the villages and communities that have witnessed people returning back.

According to him, the aim was to encourage people to return back to the liberated towns and ensure that those who had returned were not in lack of the basic necessities of life.

He said: "It was proposed that all the seized goods should be distributed to the IDPs. The purpose is to ensure that this platform created by Mr. President is well distributed to the affected areas and not only to the IDPs but mostly to the villages so that the

people can go back to their villages.

"We have found out from our experience from the visit to Yobe that there is no need in concentrating at the IDPs but mostly to the villages as most of them are increasingly returning to their communities. It’s in this state that many saw the devastation of Boko Haram and were moved."

"We assure that these products seized will be distributed accordingly as we have done in Adamawa and some to Edo State. In Yobe State we went to Buni Yadi where lives are returning back to normal.

Borno State is very significant because we have about 10 border posts," he added.

Responding, Buratai commended the Federal Government for the "laudable initiative to make this available for the affected people".

According to him, those that are in need and deprived by Boko Haram of their livelihood would be catered for through the Committee's efforts.

He noted that the work of the Committee would also be complementary to the operations of the military to bring life back to the liberated areas.

"These are people that have been displaced by Boko Haram for a long time and this approach will help them settle back to their villages", he said.

FG Expresses Support For Bitumen Exploration Project In Ondo James Sowole in Akure

The Federal Government yesterday expressed its readiness to support the exploration of bitumen deposit in Ondo State.

The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi stated the commitment of the Federal Government for the project during a courtesy call on Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko in his office in Akure.

Fayemi, who had earlier visited the bitumen towns commended Mimiko for his zeal and commitment towards the exploration and exploitation of bitumen in the state.

"I'm glad that the State under your administration had activated your engagement in taking advantage of the endowment on your land.

"I toured the bitumen belt yesterday,(Thursday) I was in Agbabu, Loda, Ilubirin and other communities. It was my first time of being there and I was shocked at the quality of bitumen from the surface, having not even gone down.

The quality is very impressive", he said.

The minister said the

partnering company's team, "Liquefied Resources" had visited him in Abuja, submitting that "with the new technology on ground, bitumen exploration is realisable."

While stating that 80 per cent of bitumen being used in the country was imported, Fayemi said the Agbabu bitumen will soon put an end to the trend in the country.

He said his visit to the communities clearly showed that the state has the largest deposit of bitumen in Nigeria, which he noted when operational, would benefit the host communities and the entire people of the State.

In his response, Mimiko, who lauded the roles of Fayemi in revamping the sector since his assumption of office, solicited his support for the realisation of the bitumen project.

Mimiko said apart from the bitumen project, the state was also working on laje Deep Sea Mining Port in an effort to complementing the diversification effort.

He said his administration would partner the Federal Government in its diversification policy to fast-track national development.

Ramalan Tasks FG on National Carrier, Crude Oil Lifting John Iwori

DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY...

L-R; Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Technical Adviser to the Minister, Mr. Utsu Adie, during a visit by the Minister to the Governor's office, in Akure, on Friday

South West PDP Concede Chairmanship to North as Ladoja Returns Segun James In a surprise moved after weeks of agitating, the leadership of the southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party have finally conceded the national chairmanship of the party to the north.

This however comes with a caveat that during the midterm congress of the party which must come up sometime in 2017, a southern chairman must be elected to midwife the presidential candidate of the party to the 2019 election.

This is coming just as the former governor of Oyo stat Chief Rasheed Ladoja announced his return to the party at the meeting.

The southwest leader of the party, Chief Olabode George stated this at a reconciliation meeting of all the geopolitical zone leaders yesterday.

He condemned the position of the people who went against the Southwest having the National Chairman's slot; he lamented the alleged sellout of some politicians from the zone in the leadership struggle.

George made it clear that for the party to be relevant again in the southwest, “we must resist at all cost the attempt to control southwest PDP by miscreants.”

The leader who also at the occasion reconciled with the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose

enjoined the leaders of the party to know that “any forum outside the one attended by the two southwest governors from the party is illegal and reactionary to southwest interest.”

He commended Fayose for criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country, saying that the party needed a strong voice to speak for the people.

He disclosed that following the ratification of the position of the party on leadership position, the southwest had been allotted the position of the National Publicity Secretary which goes to Ondo and Ekiti states while the position of National Secretary will also be retained by the zone

and has been allotted to Oyo and Osun states, while the National Auditor position will go to Lagos and Ogun state.

That party leaders also made it clear that Governors Segun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayose must ensure that no congress is recognised outside one participated in by the leaders.

Former Governor of Oyo, Rasheed Ladoja announced as returned to PDP, saying he was back to work hand in gloves with party leadership to ensure it recaptures the zone in 2019.

Also speaking, Governor Fayose urged the leaders to be proactive and to nip in the bud any judicial clog in the wheel of the party’s progress.

Edo Royal Fathers Beg FG for Protection from Herdsmen Adibe Emenyonu inBenin City Edo North traditional rulers have raised the alarm over incessant attacks by herdsmen in the area, urging the federal government to act urgently and decisively by deploying soldiers as backup to prone areas.

The traditional rulers said the call had become necessary as the Nigerian Police possessed inferior weapons to tackle the herdsmen which according to them resulted in the unchallenged attacks in the area.

Edo North is made up of six local government areas comprising Akoko-Edo, Owan West, Owan East,

Etsako West, Etsako East and Etsako Central Local Government Councils.

Briefing journalists in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West LGA on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelegbe III said their women had been raped, lamenting that the vigilante groups that had in the past dared the criminally minded herdsmen had been demoralised due to irregular payment of their stipends apparently as a result of drop in government finances.

According to him, “We have a situation of the menace of Fulani herdsmen that had been operating

and disturbing our farmers all over this place, it is increasingly very disturbing.

“Before now, herdsmen have always been coming, they have their routes they pass to the south and other parts over the years. But now there have been issues of destruction of farmlands or people being taken as hostages, kidnapping all over the place. That is why we want government to do something. We are appealing to the federal government to ensure that soldiers are deployed to some of these areas because we now find that the police don’t have the armoury, they don’t have the strength

to address or frontally attack these very serious and violent situation that we are into in this country. There have been serious kidnapping of people in this area and we want any support by government to dislodge these violent people.

"We have also noticed that the mobility of the vigilantes operating to address this issue is becoming seriously diminished they are no longer paying their stipends, before now, this state government had taken it upon itself to paying them stipends every month but because I believe due to the dwindling fortunes of the state, we have this problem lingering".

The former Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Ramalan has tasked the Federal Government on the establishment of a national shipping carrier that would address the present challenges in the in the shipping sector of the economy as well as the oil and gas industry.

Ramalan who stated this in a chat with journalists in Lagos said that the re-establishment of a national shipping carrier was imperative in view of Nigeria’s quest to realise the objectives of Local Content Act and reinvigorate the maritime sector of the economy.

The erstwhile Chairman of NIMASA Board expressed dismay that despite the fact that Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa with a capacity for 2.5 million barrels per day, the nation does not really participate in the exploration, development, production and shipment of the black gold.

On why this is so, Ramalan who is vastly knowledgeable in the maritime industry said: “This is mainly due to a lack of a developed shipping infrastructure and fleet that are domiciled in Nigeria.

Nigeria is the only oil producing country that does not have her own national fleet, whereas Angola which recently joined the ranking of oil producing countries has a fleet for her deliveries”.

He noted that the absence of a national shipping carrier had prevented Nigeria from reaping the full benefits of her being an oil producing nation for decades.

He explained that there was a symbiotic relationship between shipping and the oil and gas industry, just as he pointed out that the absence of a national car-

rier was a drawback that denied Nigeria maximum benefits from its position as a ranking producer of crude oil in the African continent.

He however acknowledged that the development of a shipping industry and fleet acquisition requird substantial capital.

He advised the Federal Government to kick-start the development of the shipping sector and fleet acquisition and expansion through NIMASA and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Ramalan maintained that Nigeria was not doing enough as an oil producing nation, just as he submitted: “Nigeria could and should participate actively in the exploration and shipping of her crude oil as well as in competitive participation in its refining”.

Ramalan argued that there was no need to enact another Act in the National Assembly as existing laws were enough to address the present challenges in the sector.

His words: “The three Acts of the National Assembly, namely: NIMASA Act, Cabotage Act and the Local Content Act were sufficient to reverse the trend in collaboration with the NNPC. There is urgent need for this new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through NNPC and NIMASA to take a bold position on indigenous participation in lifting of crude oil. To achieve this, the Federal Government should promote a national shipping carrier through public private partnership (PPP), using a special purpose vehicle (SPV) like the NLNG model to own and control at least 10 per cent equity in vessels handling Nigeria's crude oil export. This is strategically sensible and will reduce Nigeria's complete dependence on foreign vessels to freight her oil to customers around the world”.

63

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •MAY 7, 2016

newsXTRA

FG to Reposition Sovereign Wealth Fund Ndubuisi Francis inAbuja

The federal government has disclosed that it plans to reposition the Sovereign Wealth Fund managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

The planned repositioning is in tandem with the infrastructure objectives of the federal government.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun made the disclosure in a statement issued by her Media Adviser, Mr. Festus Akanbinon Under the SWF, which had a seed capital of $1.55bn, there are three categories of fund from which investments could be anchored.

They are Future Generation

Fund where up to 20 per cent of the fund could be invested in it, Infrastructure Fund which had an allocation of 40 per cent, and Fiscal Stabilisation Fund which also had a 40 per cent allocation.

In the statement the minister said while responding to a question posed to her on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily Program that the economic team of the federal government had been working hard to reposition the economy.

She said based on the economic blueprint of the federal government, there is going to be a massive investment in capital projects.

She said since budgetary allocations alone would not be able to

address the infrastructure gap as only 30 per cent of the budget had been allocated to capital projects, there was need to reposition the sovereign wealth fund to attract more investments in the area of infrastructure.

She said, “The economic blueprint is very clear. We are going to invest in capital projects to ensure that we diversify this economy.

“We have been talking about diversification since I was a child and we haven’t achieved that.

“What the FG wants to do is reposition and have it (SWF) focused in line with government’s objectives which is investments in infrastructure.

“The government realised that even with 30 per cent of the budget earmarked for capital spending, the country’s infrastructure gap is so wide that government alone cannot bridge it.

“So what we are hoping is that the sovereign wealth fund now becomes a channel to attract further private capital, particularly from investment funds abroad.

“We really want to focus on infrastructure-toll roads, bridges, power plants, things that would help the economy grow.”

She said the government was focused on revamping domestic production as part of efforts to diversify the economy.

THATTHERE MAY BE LIGHT...

L-R; Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Olugbenga Ashafa; Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN ; the Chairman of the occasion and former Federal Commissioner of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN; and Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Lagos state, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, SAN, during a Public Lecture delivered by the Minister with the theme, "Nigeria's Electricity Challenge: A RoadMap for Change," and presentation of a book "THE BRF ERA: Policy and Governance in Lagos state 2007 - 2015" by Mr Opeyemi Agbaje at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki on Thursday 5th, 2016

Stakeholders Trade Blames as Party Lawyer Flays Attacks on Warri, Cancels PDP Congresses in Plateau Lagos, Brass OGFZs Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau have continued to trade blames following the cancellation of the party congresses held in three local government areas of Jos South, Kanke and Pankshin of Plateau State.

The congresses which held on Thursday had to be cancelled in these local governments following reports of alleged irregularities and manipulations that resulted in protests and fracas.

An eye witness and a delegate to the congress said troubles started when the exercise which was earlier scheduled to hold at the Bukuru stadium was suddenly relocated to a Rayfield venue without any explanation.

He added that party members who suspected a sinister motive for the change of venue also noticed the disappearance of some delegates names in some wards including; Zawan B, Giring, Kuru and other wards where candidates of the incumbent member, representing Jos/Jos East federal constituency, Mr. Edward Pwajok were said to have emerged victorious against the candidates of the former Governor of the state and Senator representing Plateau North, Mr. Jonah Jang during the previous ward congresses.

He alleged that the protests

that trailed the substitution of the names forced the party hierarchy to postpone the LGA congress till further notice.

Confirming this, a state Chairmanship candidate of the party, Hon Bitrus Kaze lamented that things had fallen apart.

He said, “Some people brought new names in Jos South and other local government areas.

Things have fallen apart, but we remain committed to the course and trust that it’s God who crowns kings.”

Meanwhile, another delegate that is loyal to Jang alleged that Pwajok had attempted to connive with a member of the National Working Committee to alter the result of the ward congress that largely went the way of Jang but was resisted. So he returned to assert force on the local government delegate congresses with thugs resulting in fracas.

Also confirming the cancellation, PDP chairman in Jos South Local Government Area Hon. Pam Thomas, and the chairman of the electoral Panel Mr. Musa Auta Daudu said the party had no option than to suspend the congress in the affected LGAs to allow all aggrieved members settle the identified grey areas.

But Pwajok vehemently condemned what he called fresh attempt by some individuals to destroy the party through selfish ambitions and manipulations.

John Iwori A legal practitioner Iyobosa Egerin has flayed those saying that Warri, Lagos, Brass Oil and Gas Free Zones (OGFZs) were illegal establishments.

Describing the insinuations as “cruel, unfortunate, misleading and disheartening’’, Egerin said he was disappointed that such insinuations were now being regarded as the truth in some quarters.

Speaking to reporters in Lagos, the lawyer said that the insinuations had negatively impacted on the morale of workers in the OGFZs as they believed they would be thrown out of their jobs soon.

According to him, such observations informed his decision to reach out to the public with the necessary information on the true position of the OGFZ and put a stop to the antics of the sponsors in the maritime industry.

His words: “My immediate reaction to the publication was to ignore it and just regard it as the continued campaign of calumny against Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) by some stakeholders for their selfish business interest as against the overall interest of Nigeria.

“However, considering the negative impact such publications would have on the unsuspecting reading public, I have decided to respond to the said publication in order to keep the records straight.

Without mincing words, I will like to state that the insinuations and

publications are vexatious, offensive and completely untrue”.

Egerin said that if commentators were not deliberately inclined to deceive both the federal government and Nigerians as a whole in their public pronouncements concerning the OGFZs, they would know that the “law setting up the OGFZA gave it the statutory power to license oil and gas free zone’’.

Instead of acting like paid agent, Egerin said that the commentators should know that the law “empowers OGFZA to take over and perform such other functions being hitherto performed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) as they relate to oil and gas activities from any of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones.

“The unambiguous implications of the law setting up OGFZA is that the legislature has expressly limited the functions of NEPZA over all export processing zones by virtue of the oil and gas free zones act’’, Egerin added.

He argued that anybody who had doubts concerning the establishment and operations of the three OGFZs should do a little bit of research or be more thorough in their work, before making public pronouncements.

Said he: “If they do, they will realize that the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Warri; the Eko Support Oil and Gas Free Zone, Apapa, Lagos; and the Brass Oil and Gas Free Zone went through the gamut of due process and diligence.".

UNILORIN ASUU Condemns Invasion of University to Impose Minority Group Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) University of Ilorin branch, Dr. Usman Abdul Raheem has condemned the recent purported move by some members of the national leadership of the union to impose a minority as new executive council of the union in the institution despite the peaceful conduct of last election of the executive council of the union in the university.

He however called on the national leadership of the union to stay away from such fruitless efforts in order not to truncate the current peaceful efforts being put in place to reintegrate the local chapter of the union into its national fold.

Speaking with our correspondent in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on Friday over the development, AbdulRaheem said that, "With due respect to ASUU NEC, it should note the futility of the method of invasion in a manner similar to gangsterism and the outdated gestapo approach as such methods had failed in 2003, 2009 and 2013 to achieve an amicable resolution of the Unilorin ASUU crisis.

"The invasion of the peaceful campus of the University of Ilorin by ASUU NEC working to reinstall a minority group on the majority through a violent process is therefore condemnable and condemned by the majority of the Academic Staff of this University.

"Majority of the academic staff of the University of Ilorin were willing and ready to reintegrate with the National body provided the NEC was ready to put in place a transparent process that is all inclusive and accommodate the opinions of the majority of members at the branch".

AbdulRaheem explained that, "Unilorin ASUU had never been averse to returning to the mainstream of ASUU hence there had been ongoing talks with the national leadership of ASUU

through the zonal branch" .

He also noted that both parties had agreed to withdraw the court cases instituted on the matter since the crisis began while discussions were ongoing on the lifting of bans placed on some notable leaders of the union in the university of Ilorin before the ASUU national leadership recently attempted to impose the leadership of about 13 members over that of well over 1000 members in the university in a kangaroo election which only external members participated in.

"We were to say the least embarrassed by the development because we were expecting their reaction to the issue of withdrawal of court cases and lifting of suspension on our members here,then we can start the election process.

"The truth is that only 7 of the 49 lecturers returned by the supreme Court judgement are presently in the university, and at the last count during their meeting, they are 13,so we can never be afraid of going into election with them" he added.

Continuing, he urged the national leadership of ASUU to face the reality and embrace the ongoing negotiation if they really want peace, because foisting the far minority on our vast majority by whatever means could never work.

It would be recalled that tension enveloped University of Ilorin recently over attempts by some members of national leadership of Academic staff Union of universities (ASUU) to install a faction of the local chapter of the union which was rebuffed by the management.

Some members of ASUU from various universities who had arrived Ilorin for the inauguration were prevented from entering the university, gathered at the gate chanting union songs claiming that other members were inside.

Armed security operatives were at the university gate screening people as they entered the university premises to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Vucic,VanderDuim for Dayak/ITF Futures 1st Leg Finals The number four seed of the Dayak ITf Futures tournament Antal Van Der Duim of The Netherlands yesterday defeated number one seed David Perez Sanz of Spain 6-3,6-3 , 7-5 to qualify for the first leg finals of the event .

Currently ranked 299 by the International Tennis federation (ITF), Vander Duim won the first leg of the Tombim Futures last month at the Centre Court of the National stadium Abuja after beating Egyptian and Africa’s number three and tournament number two seed, Mohammed Safwat, will take on Ilija Vucic of Serbia ranked 1066.

Vucic who came into the futures just last week as an underdog played his way into the main draws and eventually sent out Safwat in the second semi-finals 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in an interesting match at the centre court which lasted over three hours.

Many had given the game to Safwat even before the match started but he played a mind game against Safwat to take the game. Safawat had beaten Vucic five times against Vucic two

wins including last week’s second round loss to the Egyptian in the Tombim second leg tournament also in Abuja.

Interestingly no Nigerian player made it to the second round of the Futures even as Moses Michael Balami Umoru lost their matches on Tuesday.

They will now try again next week when the final leg of the Dayak/ ITF Futures would be rounded off in Abuja The duo of Nicolas Meister of the United States ranked 720 by ITF and David Perez of Spain also yesterday won their match against the pair of Pirmin Haenle of Germany and Hunter Reese of the United states 6-4, 6-4. They will now take on the winner of the David Pael/Antal Van Der Duim and Karim Mohammed Maamoun and Vucic in the second semi-final.

The first semi-final was shifted for yesterday evening following Thursday’s rain. Pel and Van Der Duim won the first set 6-4 before the Tournament referee Patrick Kamuhia of Kenya called it off.

TR

Saturday, May 7, 2016

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Ezekwesili on Buhari’s Economic Policy

“Buhari is running an economic policy that is both archaic and opaque and similar to those he promulgated during the military administration he led in the 1980s. What did not work in 1984 cannot possibly be a solution in a global economy that’s much more integrated. His archaic and opaque economic principles are not only encouraging massive corruption and abuse of power, but also damaging poor Nigerians they were intended to help.”

– Activist and former minister of education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili analyzing the economic policy of President Muhammadu Buhari.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Ovation International: 20 Years of Making a Super Brand

G

reat things often start like a joke. There is no better way to depict the birth of Ovation International in London.

As illustrated last week in the first part of these anniversary notes, I was on the run from the dreaded military regime headed by maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha. My involvement in the struggle for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election mandate which the people of Nigeria freely gave to Chief Moshood Abiola, landed me in big trouble.

Unlike former President Ibrahim Babangida, it was impossible for anyone to express his innocence to Abacha. There was no negotiation.

I just developed wings and took off pronto.

Specifically, I was accused of being one of the brains behind Radio Freedom (which later metamorphosed into Radio Kudirat) after the cold-blooded murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

But truth is I was not a member of the Radio Freedom crew considered a huge menace to the dictatorial government. At least not at the stage I was initially accused. The story of how I later joined the gang of highly dedicated and committed operatives of that ubiquitous pirate radio would be told subsequently.

Thus, having fled to England without any plans other than for immediate personal safety, I was in grave peril of expiring from human scourge, hunger, as I was jobless. It was this fear of joblessness and its consequences on my family that drove me and my team to take the leap of faith that manifested in the production of what would become one of Africa’s most ambitious media projects. We were under no illusion that the journey would be easy. We knew the road would be rough.

We expected funding to be the biggest threat to our existence for a long time to come. We needed £150,000 to start small scale but could barely raise about £20,000. With a shortfall of around £130,000, we would have to crawl slowly but steadily. A man who’s down should fear no fall was our attitude. Our options were few and limited. But we were determined to make the impossible possible. Thanks to my co-travellers Adedamola Aderemi, Olusegun Fatoye, Adeyemi Aderemi, Damilola Abiodun and Bayo Williams (of blessed memories) we were set for an epic journey.

The first and very crucial task was how to assemble a crack Editorial team. We decided to scout for and assemble a star-studded assemblage of writers. We succeeded in attracting the legendary writers and polemicists, Sonala Olumhense and Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, who were both working for the United Nations.

We got the highly cerebral Ike Okonta. We found the flowery Alaba Yusuf. A Nigerian lady, Uzoma Umesi, wrote some great pieces. We got the experienced media gurus Richie Dayo Johnson and George Noah, our neighbours in highbrow Docklands where we domiciled our effervescent office. We secured the gist merchant Kunle Bakare to control Nigerian operations. We got my former boss and the Queen of celebrity reporting May Ellen Ezekiel Mofe-Damijo and the king of African movies Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD).

Everything appeared to be going well until suddenly, my former boss May Ellen had a fatal surgery and died in Lagos. I had spoken to her

Chief Moshood Abiola at Dele and Bolaji Momodu’s wedding in 1992 in the US and tried to straighten our ruptured relationship activated by my controversial removal as Editor of Classique magazine. I was happy we made up. She wasted no time in agreeing to be our Contributing Editor which I considered a great honour. Same with RMD who instantly agreed to support our dream.

Little did I know it was going to be my last conversation with May Ellen.

We decided our magazine was going to be a masterpiece crafted like a work of art, and sold as a timeless and ageless piece. Every issue was going to be a collector’s item. We were going to locate the best printers in England and cover as many African stories as possible. The production of the maiden issue was meticulously executed. We wanted to report the lives and lifestyles of rich and famous Africans. We decided that we would expose and promote authentic African stars who would not be given prominence on the covers of Hello, Ok, GQ, Esquire, etc. We chose a plush cover story and placed Mohammed Al-Fayed, the Egyptian luxury store king at Harrods, graciously on the front. We got Ike Okonta, a brilliant poet, to get lost inside Harrods, one of the most expensive departmental stores in the world and pen his dreamlike experience for our readers. His piece was titled JUST DREAM. The man could not buy a pin in Harrods.

The beautiful magazine started with GOOD DAY AFRICA by Sonala Olumhense. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo sent a comprehensive report from war-torn Somalia and highlighted efforts of the United Nations at bringing peace to the nation. We had a panel of the best gossip poachers including Deun Solarin and Funmi Ayandokun. They compiled our juiciest snippets on the 100 Stormy Women in Nigeria. It was a compendium of who’s who. It was meant to cover a broad spectrum of society ladies and ignite an instant debate in high society.

We succeeded.

The magazine was an instant hit. Our friends, Gbenga Olunloyo , Kayode Akinyele, Dayo Olomu and others, were marvellous in spreading the magazine to different parts of London. We

lived like communists and worked and ate together. Funmi Akinyele cooked lunch for us regularly. My energetic wife was heavily pregnant and still had to keep company of our fist son. Exile was hellish but we were undaunted. Holding the first copy of Ovation was worth all the diamonds in the world. We were in Cloud 10.

We sent copies to the of Chairman of Harrods and we were surprised to receive a very powerful response from Mr Al-Fayed, titled AN OVATION FOR OVATION, and a basket of goodies including vintage wines and chocolates. The historic letter praised Ovation as a welcome positive development as opposed to the purveyors of negativity. The second issue of the magazine was even more dramatic.

We got an exclusive access to the family of famous singer SEAL in Lagos. The foreign media had always seen him as a Brazilian.

We got phone calls from the world media as soon as our special report put together by super reporter, Azu Arinze, who was then at Encomium magazine, hit the streets.

It was incredible receiving calls from the National Enquirer, the largest circulating tabloid in America (4 million copies weekly). The publication requested our permission to cull our SEAL story and even offered to pay us.

We approved but rejected the offer of payment and settled for the bold acknowledgement of Ovation in their widely circulated paper.

We secured the same deal with The Mirror in London and it gave us massive exposure.

For a new magazine named Ovation, it was a loud ovation for us from the beginning.

We experienced the miracle of God everywhere we turned because we were able to capture stories that money cannot easily buy. For example, I was having a drink in 1996 with Nduka Obaigbena at The Dorchester, the posh hotel on Park Lane, when the celebrated boxer, Chris Eubank, walked in. Chris was such a flamboyant celebrity and I approached him for an interview request. He told me I needed to approach his media agents which I knew I couldn’t afford. But Nduka came to my rescue. In his usual never-say-die spirit,

he lectured Chris on why he should support the laudable business of a Black brother. Chris fell for Nduka’s charms and agreed to a major photo-shoot and interview the following morning at The Dorchester. That was it. We got another scoop.

We soon shifted our focus to the extraordinary Ghanaian fashion designer on Saville Row, Ozwald Boateng, who made no fuzz in agreeing to an Ovation coverage. We moved from Ozwaild to the glamorous football star John Fashanu who was staying in St. John’s Wood and gave us exclusive access. We did so much with so little cash and we soon reached a cul de sac. We simply ran out of gas, perhaps to put it mildly. Several times we thought the end had come but God created ways where there were none. I will never forget three of such. Top on the list as always was Dr Mike Adenuga, my God sent benefactor in the days of tribulations. He never forgot to send his contribution for the three years I spent in exile and I’m eternally grateful.

There is no money-guzzler like the media.

I was totally frustrated one terrible evening when Jimi Akinniyi, one of our most committed reporters, walked in and told me what could have been a powerful message from God. He said he had earlier met a friend of his, Gbenga Adesanya, who offered to help us with some money without being close to me. I was delirious. The other and major miracle came when my friend, Dele Balogun, a businessman and educationist in London, invited me to a home in Surrey to interview a prominent Nigerian politician, Dr Bode Olajumoke. I met a very simple and unassuming gentleman who picked his words slowly but assuredly. In the course of our divine interaction, he told me his wife loves Ovation to bits but they could see we were just struggling with it. I told him the whole truth and departed.

A few weeks later, I got a call from Dr Olajumoke and he said his mind has been with me since we met and he has been thinking of my challenges. He then asked what he could do to help and I responded that he should act as God directed him. He said he likes my personality and was ready to grant me an interest free loan. He asked for my account details which I faxed urgently. He redeemed his pledge and I was elated.

The loan improved our status but as usual with the media business, it was like the abiku child, it comes and goes. No matter how much you pumped in, it was bound to evaporate in little time. Not many people understood how this business works, but I like to describe it as the ultimate casino. You have to be a gambler of sorts to make appreciable impact and success in the media industry. There are just too many variables, especially if your operations are as humongous and international like ours. The loan soon evaporated and it became a ding dong affair as we barely scratched the surface.

To my greatest surprise, Dr Olajumoke did not only write off the loan, he later gave me more to keep us going. He believed so much in our ability to compete with the best of the world.

READ THE FULL VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE ON www.thisdaylive.com

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com