Saturday 3rd December 2016

Paris/London Club Debt: FG Approves N522.74bn Refunds to States Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved a total of N522.74 billion to be disbursed to states as reimbursement for over-deductions on external debt service.

A statement issued by Festus

Akanbi, media aide to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the debt service deductions were in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and multilateral debts of the federal and state governments.

He said the first tranche of N153.01 billion is currently being processed for release to

14 states.

The Ministry of Finance said state governments had submitted to the federal government claims of over-deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002 as a result of allocations on First Line Charge deductions from the Federation Account Allocation Committee

(FAAC).

"While Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some states had already been overcharged.

"On the request by state governments for a refund of amounts owed by the federal government, Mr. President

directed that claims be subjected to verification by the Debt Management Office and a team was established and given the mandate to scrutinise claims and reconcile with available records.

"The brief for the team was also extended to include a review of interim payments made

under previous administrations.

Work has commenced to resolve each state government’s claim and the exercise is expected to take approximately 12 months.

The exercise will be thorough, including a complete reconstruction of records dating back to Continued on page 6

Rights Groups Decry Military Occupation of S/East, Desecration of Ojukwu Statue ... Page 10 Saturday 3 December, 2016 Vol 21. No 7898 Price: N250

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Court to FG: Detention of El Zakzaky Capable of Breeding Another Boko Haram Orders release within 45 days

Alex Enumah in Abuja A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday ordered the unconditional release of detained

leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El Zakzaky and his wife within 45 days from yesterday.

The court also awarded N25 million damages each, in favour

Awards N50m damages to detainee, wife

of Zakzaky and his wife.

Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole in a judgement delivered on fundamental suit brought against the federal government by the applicants

over their illegal detention since December 2015, also ordered the FG to build a decent accommodation that the applicant and his family would settle into after their release.

The accommodation should be anywhere in Kaduna or within the North where the IMN has its abode, the court ruled.

Kolawole in the jugdement,

held that the government acted in gross violation of the Constitution by keeping the applicants in "protective Continued on page 6

FG May Not Find Creditors for $30bn Loan, Says Sanusi

Current approach to managing economic crisis severely misguided Says CBN violating loan limits to FG, puts total loan, overdraft to govt at N4.7trn Clampdown on Bureau De Change operators across the country counter-productive NNAMDI OHUABUNWA

James Emejo and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

I Want to Have 25 Radio Stations

SuperSaturday pg. 8-9

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II yesterday in Abuja criticised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for relying on massive fiscal expansion and a faulty foreign exchange policy that discourages investment to get the country out of the current recession.

Sanusi made his position known in his keynote address titled, "A Plan to Restore Confidence, Direction and Growth" at the policy monitoring dialogue on the state of the Nigerian economy organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy,

IKE EKWEREMADU

Buhari Fighting Corruption His Own Way

Plus pg. 17-19

Continued on page 6

OGFZA Extends Regulatory KING OF MOROCCO AT THE VILLA Control to Oil & R-L: President Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; President Muhammadu Buhari; King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI; President, Fertilizer Suppliers Association of Nigeria, Mr Thomas Etuh, after signing of MOU on Strategic Partnership for a fertilizer powerhouse in Nigeria during a state Gas FZs ...Pg 14 visit at the State House in Abuja ...yesterday Osinbajo Rejects Quota System, Says Nigeria Should Embrace Merit ... Page 54 STATE HOUSE

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T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R •SATURDAY, DeceMbeR 3, 2016

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Deputy Speaker: M-TEF Did Not Reflect Current Realities Dogara: N/Assembly ready to answer questions on funding Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun has explained that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (M-TEF) sent to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, could not be approved because it did not reflect the realities of contemporary Nigeria.

Lasun added that MTEF and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the 2017 budget, did not take into cognizance the dwindling price of crude oil, and was also affected by the fact that concerned government agencies were working with different foreign exchange rates.

The Deputy Speaker provided the clarifications at a ceremony yesterday, where he inaugurated the House of Representatives

ad-hoc committee on the investigation of the activities of state-owned Development Finance Institutions, (DFIs).

The committee is chaired

by Emeka Anohu (Anambra PDP) and is expected to proffer modalities to strengthen the DFIs, to mitigate the adverse effect of the current economic recession.

The DFIs include Bank of Industry, (BOI) the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND), the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), among others.

Lasun lamented that there had been speculations that the National Assembly is deliberately frustrating the presentation of the

2017 budget by the President.

"So, if the National Assembly either by way of performing its legislative functions or because of their professional callings, put to question some of the documents presented by the executive, then people at least should give us the benefit of doubts that all the 469 members of National Assembly are not dullards.

"In the last three years, we have not done up to 2.2 million barrels and our budget has been consistently premised on at least 2.2 million barrel per day and at best we have achieved is 1.8 million barrels per day, and so if National Assembly says please go and look at this so that you know what to do before you bring your budget, I don't think that needs an expert advise,” he added.

"We are the most criticised because the nature of our job

is conducted in the public; the only arm of government who’s functions are performed in the open."

The Deputy Speaker’s sentiments were shared by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who at a different function yesterday, said the National Assembly was the most maligned arm of government, but should be ready to answer questions on its activities and funding.

Dogara spoke at a roundtable conference on Civil Societies and Development Partners organised by the House Committee on Civil Societies and Development Partners in collaboration with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Department for International Development (DFID) in Abuja.

“Time has also come for democratic institution like the National Assembly, to communicate better,

its processes and activities to the public. Time has come for the National Assembly to publicly answer any questions relating to its activities and funding. It seems to us that over the years the legislature has adopted the policy of non-response when its activities are called to question.

Most often a simple explanation is what is required. But when none is forthcoming, mischief makers, ignorant and misinformed pundits are left to fill the public space with lies, falsehood and misinformation,” Dogara said.

The Speaker added that there would be no effective representation, if an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion exists as to the intentions and rational for the actions of the elected persons.

“The desire of elected representatives to make an impact in their constituencies is borne

out of the need for service. No elected person worth his salt would be satisfied if he is unable to point out at the end of the day, what he has been able to accomplish within the period of his mandate,” he added.

He advocated for communication between the parliament, and the electorate to be more effective through regular town hall meetings, regular consultative processes, and regular media engagement.

“The legislature is the most maligned arm of government even though it works very hard to fulfill its constitutional mandate. The legislature is often misunderstood because its role is unappreciated. The work of the legislature is mainly intangible but the public hunger and measure of performance relates to tangible things,” Dogara said.

UN Needs $1bn to Deliver Life-Saving Assistance in the North East Alex Enumah The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said the agency would need $1 billion in its bid to provide urgent and quality humanitarian assistance to victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in 2017.

The amount which is more than double what the agency

appealed for in 2016 is occasioned by the worsening humanitarian conditions in the area, which is said to be the worst in the region.

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Peter Lundberg, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja, at the unveiling of the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2017.

He said, “Together with 75 partners, we are seeking US$1 billion to deliver life-saving assistance and prevent further hardship for the children, women

and men in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, and we are particularly reaching out to Nigerian private sector.

“We are grateful to the international community for their support so far, but we ask for commitments throughout 2017 to prevent this disaster from escalating into widespread catastrophe.”

Lundberg, while calling for urgent support from all and sundry stated that if nothing urgently is done to help mitigate

the situation, millions of people in the area may lose their lives within the next few months.

He disclosed that the 2017 plan will focus on 8.5 million people in need of urgent assistance and also aimed at reaching 6.9 million people with life-saving humanitarian support. Also targeted are the over 75,000 children who may likely die from severe famine and malnutrition if something urgent is not done.

Minister of State, Budget

and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who appreciated the agency and the entire international community for rallying round Nigeria in this crisis situation, disclosed that the government is not just focused on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) but the interest of all communities affected and also those communities that have been providing support to the IDPs. Stressing the urgent need to address the issue of hunger, Ahmed appealed to the agency

and her partners to scale up efforts and reach at least 3 million people with food supplies. She also tasked the agency on improving health conditions in the region by particularly ensuring that the renewed outbreak of polio in the area is curtailed.

“Education is also important as a lot of these children have been out of school for a very long time. 50% of the 8.1 million people in need of urgent assistance are children and we must help them”, she said.

clampdown on bureau De change operators across the cross by security agencies would not provide the solution to the FX volatility as this will further widen the gap between the official rate and the black market.

He said the FX reforms recently announced had not been effectively implemented to the letter- such as allowing for different rates for various segments of the economy- a dangerous precedent which could whip up market sentiments.

The Emir said implementing the right FX policies was key to achieving growth, stressing that the fiscal balance sheet was currently overstretched, urging government to seek alternative sources of revenues to service debts and grow the economy.

He noted that over 35 per cent of federal government revenues were used to service debts.

The former CBN governor said it was clear that the present administration had inherited serious problems from its predecessor, but the right policies have not

been deployed to correct the past and get the economy out of the woods.

He also said with the current macroeconomic indices, it may be difficult for the federal government to secure the $30 billion loan it's currently seeking even if approval was granted by the National Assembly, unless it explored alternative concessionary facilities.

Sanusi said: "I think I need to clear my position about this $30 billion – if we can get it, I will be very happy, it's a good thing to have, in fact, if they can get it at a concessionary debt to reduce the cost of debt service, that's perfect.

"The point is if you've two years and you need to invest massively in power, in infrastructure for economic growth, you have to ask yourself, where am I likely to get the money? And I don't think they'll get $30 billion in two years if they cannot get $3 billion in two years.

"So am just showing them and saying if you want to grow this

economy, look elsewhere and you'll get this money much faster and attractive. There's a lot of capital in the world looking for an opportunity to be deployed.

What does the investor need for him to bring in the capital? That's what we need to be doing."

He noted that banks and foreign creditors will usually consider risks before lending and government appeared not to have a good balance sheet at the moment.

Furthermore, he said attracting investments was key to exiting the recession and government needed to work closely with the private sector to achieve the objective.

Sanusi said the country's current approach to managing its economic crisis was severely misguided as fiscal policy is given all the attention while its potential impact is small.

He said Nigeria should gear its policies towards attracting investments and focus on reducing FG's debt service through greater concessionary borrowing rather than increasing its spending through CBN financing.

According to him, until the country signals a clear change in policy, it will be difficult to restore credibility which is crucial for local and foreign investors.

"Until investment picks up, it will be difficult for Nigeria to return to growth, " he said.

Sanusi advised government to among other things, allow price discovery to occur in the FX market and close the gap between FX policy design and implementation.

He also urged government to attract investments into power, refineries and petrochemicals.

FG MAY NOT FIND CREDITORS FOR $30BN LOAN, SAYS SANUSI Democracy and Development (SCDDD).

The Emir frowned at a development whereby the CBN had become government's lender of "first" resort rather than last, accusing the apex bank of a clear violation of CBN Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which limits advances to the federal government at 5 per cent of the previous year's revenues.

Sanusi, who said he refused to surpass the legal limit of lending to government during his tenure as CBN governor added that the current CBN overdraft to federal government was more than 10 times the prescribed limit and even rising further.

The Emir said the relationship between the CBN and the federal government was no longer independent as a result.

Sanusi said: “In fact, one could argue that their relationship has become unhealthy. CBN claims on the FGN now top N4.7 trillion – equal to almost 50 per cent of the FGN's total domestic debts. "

Also, Sanusi criticised the implementation of the June 2016 FX reforms by the CBN, arguing that the creation of four new market rates would defeat the objective to unite the market in single, transparent rate.

He added that the current practice would further make it difficult to attract local and foreign investments into the country.

Sanusi also said he would have allowed the Naira to fall if he were still the CBN governor when oil prices crashed-and would have defended his action based on the fact that the apex bank repeatedly warned the fiscal authorities to save for the rainy days but was ignored.

He said the economy wouldn't have been in the present predicament if government yielded to advise not to deplete the reserves but rather save.

Nevertheless, he said the current FX regime had inherent credibility issues which had eroded investor confidence.

He, also said the ongoing

COURT TO FG: DETENTION OF EL ZAKZAKY CAPABLE OF BREEDING ANOTHER BOKO HARAM custody" since December 14, 2015 to date.

The judge who stated that there was no known law that allows a person to be held in protective custody.

Kolawole also ordered the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) which is in custody of El-Zakzaky and his wife Zenatudden, to release them to the Inspector-General of Police, who would convey them to their new home and provide them with protective security until the alleged threat to their lives is over.

On the claim by FG that the applicant was being well-catered for and that the government had so far incurred the sum of N5 million as medical bills of the applicant, the judge, held that the N5 million spent on El-Zakzaky's treatment by the DSS was in fulfillment of government's constitutional

obligation to her citizen.

The judge while dismissing the claim by FG that the applicants were being kept for their own good, stated that the government failed to provide evidence to show that their lives were in danger or prior to the events of 12 and 14 December, there was any complain from neighbours of the applicants that they were constituting a public nuisance.

Also, he stated that DSS could not hide under section 35 (1) of the Constitution to detain the applicants because they were not mentally disturbed, adding that even if it were so, the DSS was not the appropriate place for such cases.

Justice Kolawole, who regretted the failure of parties to find a political situation to the matter, warned that the case if not properly managed, would further harm the battered image

of the country in the international community.

He also warned that the government was running a greater risk in keeping the applicants in custody against their will, adding that if anything should happen to the applicants in detention, the effect would be catastrophic, just like the result of the death of late leader of the Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf.

He urged the parties to find amicable settlement of the matter as he noted that the court was ill-equipped to settle the matter, since it borders on religion and the Islamic faith.

The Shiite leader and his wife had been in custody since 14 December, 2015 following violent clashes between adherents of IMN and the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, in which hundreds of the adherents of the group were killed, including his wife and

son.

Also, the home of El-Zakzaky was also destroyed by the military during the clashes.

Following his alleged illegal detention, the Shi’ite leader, applied for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, dignity of human person, right to private and family life and private property.

He also, filed a N2 billion suit against the federal government over his unlawful detention and breach of his fundamental human right.

Among the respondents are, the Attorney-General of the Federation AGF, Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigerian Police Force.

But, the government however denied claim of unlawful detention of the leader of Zakzaky, claiming that he was a vulnerable person and as such, being held under protective custody.

OVER-DEDUCTIONS: FG APPROVES N522.74BN REFUNDS TO STATES the period in question," the statement said.

However, it added that in the interim, state governors have continued to appeal for release of payment on the grounds of fairness because some states had already received refunds under previous administrations.

"The federal government has reached a conditional agreement to pay 25% of the amounts claimed subject to a cap of N14.5 billion to any given state. Balances due thereafter, will be revisited when fiscal conditions improve.

"Mr. President’s overriding concern is for the welfare of the Nigerian people considering the fact that many states are owing salaries and pension, causing considerable hardship.

"Therefore, to ensure compliance with the directive that a minimum of 50% of any amount disbursed is dedicated to this; funds will be credited to an auditable account from which payments to individual creditors would be made. Where possible,

such payments would be made to BVN linked accounts and verified," the statement stressed Arising from the fact that reconciliation is still on-going with the final outcome likely to show an under or overstatement of claims, the statement revealed that an undertaken had been signed by state governors, with a declaration that in the event the amount already paid exceeds the verified claim, the surplus would be deducted directly from the states' monthly FAAC allocations.

"The total amount approved by the President is N522.74 Billion and is to be paid in batches. The release of these funds is intended to support the fiscal stimulus programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to provide direct stimulus through government spending. It is particularly aimed at boosting demand at consumer level and reversing the slowdown in economic activity," the statement concluded.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

SUPER SATURDAY Nnamdi Ohuabunwa

I Want to Have 25 Radio Stations It may not be easy to understand why some people run away from partisan politics yet remain relevant in business. For Godfrey Nnamdi Ohuabunwa, his first love remains broadcasting and infrastructure development. Having registered his first business at the age of 17 and yet introduced clippers in Maiduguri while in the university. With six radio stations in his kitty, Ohuabunwa tells Stanley Nkwazema his interest in production of set-top boxes, digital switchover and desire to have more radio stations.

I Will Never Go into Politics

W

ho really is Godfrey Nnamdi Ohuabunwa?

I am the last of 11 brothers and a sister.

I am a broadcaster. I studied English at the University of Maiduguri and went to Harvard Business School. I have been in business in the last 30 years. I have not done any other thing than setting up and growing businesses.

I am from Arochukwu and a Rivers State person. You can say a Port-Harcourt boy.

Tell us about your interest in set-top boxes and digital migration?

I have been doing this business in the last 21 years or more. The industry has grown. In fact, our company Multimesh Communications Limited, was the first cable company in Nigeria to go digital. In 2007, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) had an agreement with Nigeria and West Africa to go digital. As part of the planned strategy, the government of Nigeria decided to use the cable companies as a Guinea pig. They asked the cable companies to go digital first and my company then called Cable Mission Television (CMTV) were the first to migrate from 12 channels to 70 channels. So, we did the first migration, the whole of our set-top-boxes, everything changed. The benefit then was that those who were watching just 12 cable channels suddenly were now watching 72 channels. What this means is that the whole digitalisation meant being able to utilise the spectrum. A typical spectrum of 8 mega hertz before was for one channel in analogue system. On digital system, this 8 MHz takes about 8 channels. So, if you have 3 channels, you can multiply 8 by 3,that give you 24. That is how we grew the channels.

We experimented on that as our own growth strategy since 2007 to migrate from analogue to digital. Therefore, when Nigeria finally opened up its sphere they did another run with Startimes or some PTOs. They were just merely trying out on PTL platform. In 2010 to 2012, the federal government opened up a company, Digiteam, that got fully involved and we bided on three slots, on creating new channels. Multimesh Communications Limited brought out a channel called Africa Movie Net and it became one of the local premium movie channels which run on cable.

You need to know the difference between cables; direct-to-home, DTH, and free to air.

The companies that are in cable television are like ABG, KanTv and CTL. These are cable companies. The DTH companies are like Multichoice, ITV and ACTV. On digitalisation, we took a position as a company to grow content and got involved to manufacture set-top-boxes.

Sir and Lady Godfrey Ohuabunwa

What are the challenges of manufacturing set-top boxes?

The company that went into manufacturing set-top boxes, Gospel, is a subsidiary of Multimesh and a joint venture company.

The difficulty is like every other business in Nigeria. What really delayed the Digital Switch Over, DSO, was that there was no fund. The government of Nigeria did not provide funding after the White Paper.

The question is what do you need funding for? The critical position is that in every economy and country that has gone from analogue to digital, let’s use UK and even the United States as an example; the government subsidises the boxes. You may ask why?

Reason being that you cannot ask people to throw away their old television and radio sets. They will ask you what their gain is. So to encourage people to go digital, government has to subsidise the boxes. Government has dividends; dividend of digitalisation because government is withdrawing these frequencies to sell them at higher prices. A typical example is that the frequency we had; when they allotted it to us was about N150,000 to N2 million and the maximum was N5 million. Government takes this frequency from us and sells it at $170 million. You can see what is called digital dividend. This is why people should understand what going digital is. They are not going because they love us; they are going to gain money from the exercise. They need to support it because they are going to inconvenience us and also gain. Now because government did not provide the funding, that delayed the commencement. When the funding came through the very innovative action of Emeka Mba of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, was able to acquire and sell one of the frequencies and raise the $170 million which is about N34 billion. Out of the amount, N15 billion was set aside for purchase of about 1.5 million boxes. The rest is story. We all know about what happened to the N15 billion, EFCC seized that money but thank God, now the money has been released by the federal government which showed that there is transparency and that people are working well. The real challenge is this: for Nigeria, there are above 60 million TV households.

In a more conservative approach, NBC has chosen 30 million. That means there are 30 million houses that need set-top box. Bear in mind that the digital migration has two parts: you have Switch-Off. The original plan was that in 2017, we should switch-off and not switch-on. This is November 2016, we have only done, barely two states. The challenge in finding on our own part as individual company, is in procuring foreign exchange.

We are lucky to have raised loans from Bank of Industry. As I speak today, some of the letters of credit (LC) raised four months ago, there is no foreign exchange to fund them.

Secondly, when we applied for the loan from BOI which was early last year, the money we were asking from BOI was about $3 to $4 million. By the time BOI was ready, that money could only provide less than a million dollars. The good thing is that we have a very strong partner overseas who are willing to give us the whole equipment we need to continue manufacturing. Today, Gospel is the only company in Nigeria that has what is called SMT line; that is Surface Mount Technology. It is an automatic chip placement technology for PVC boards. So our whole strategy is not to provide for ourselves but for other set-top box manufacturers.

Do we have a finished product now?

As at today, we are exporting, on the DSO, which will be launched in Abuja between 13 and 14 of December this year. We will be providing our first batch of produced boxes, about 200,000 for the Abuja launch.

What’s the digital switchover about?

It is a two-edged sword! From the government, from all information and body language, there is a lot of seriousness and I must commend the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for his seriousness and doggedness, he has shown leadership. I am not a politician but I must be honest that

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

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SATURDAY My Wife is so Beautiful even My Dogs are Jealous...

Sir and Lady Angela Godfrey Ohuabunwa and their Children, Isaac & Esther with their twin brothers Divine and Godfrey Jr he has shown seriousness to make sure that the DSO survives. But he has limits; he has made all the efforts, but he does not bring the money. He fights, he talks, he pursues but the money doesn’t come from him. That becomes a challenge. We feel for him.

One of the things the NBC has done is that the DSO will be launched in DYT and DYW, so if they pursue on both sides, there is a possibility that by June 17, 2017 the entire Nigeria landscape can be covered. I doubt if we can switch off on that day because you know Nigerians don’t want to buy till the day is over. Due to Nigerian factor which may not be government, Nigerians will want to wait till that date to buy the boxes. I don’t know if government will want to extend the date for switch off. I know that with the strategy of the NBC and the Digiteam, their aim is to switch off completely not later than the end of the year.

Why are you interested in radio stations?

I have six radio stations now. Four are up and running and two are on the way. Love FM Port Harcourt (97.7), Love FM Abuja (104.5), Umuahia (103.9), Enugu (93.1). So we have two other ones coming up for Onitsha and Bayelsa. They are going to be on air between February and March 2017.

For us, it is our business. Broadcasting is all I know. I read English as a first degree in school. My business is media. It has been a difficult terrain. One of the difficulties is the agencies and our debt level is very high. I will give you a typical example, obviously all the radio stations owe. Why we owe people is that the business model is on credit. The agencies in Lagos come and give you a campaign, take for example, by Coca Cola, that will run for six months, you start running that campaign and they don’t pay you until six months after. At the end of the six months instead of the agencies to pay you, they wait

until Coca Cola pays them. Now when Coca Cola pays, the agencies become demi gods.

If you want them to pay you, they will ask you to give them a further discount after which they will ask you for volume discount whereby 50% will be given at the end of the day. If you want the money to be paid, they will now say if we owe you N60 million and you want to be paid, let’s pay you half of the money and you forget the rest. Business is cash flow; workers will insist on their salaries. That is why every radio station owes in Nigeria. It is the challenge in the business.

A lot of politicians jump into the business and I feel sorry for them. Politicians just go and acquire licenses because they want to be heard. What I am advising is that they better sell off those licenses because they are going to run into major debts.

Will you go into politics?

I am not going into partisan politics. I will tell you the reason. I have a brother, Mao, who is a Senator and I tell him that it was a mistake he went into politics. While I was in school, doing my A-Levels, between 1983 and 84, Mao was already a millionaire. He was actually paying my school fees. There is a company called IAF Johnsons and Company.

They were the only company importing medical laboratory and surgical equipments.

In the whole of Yola in the then Gongola state, there was only one medical laboratory company along Mubi road. As at that time he had money, now imagine if Senator Mao remained in business, he will be one of the richest men in this country. He went into politics and he has hurt himself and he lost money and lost his business. Yes, he is a Senator, great. I am happy for him and he is doing well for his people. I will not be a politician. I am a born businessman. I have several companies. I don’t know anything else to do but business. You don’t combine business and politics.

I started business at the age of 17, with barely $100 US Dollars. It was N500 at that time. I can pride myself that I started very small. I have employed over 10,000 people, selling shoes, canvas, going to Cotonou to buy shoes and we were the first who started selling GL kind of jewelry when it was raining. I was going to Togo to buy it while in secondary school. From that business, I continued to university. I did not stop. When I got into university, I started the first barbing salon called ‘Joe Mensahs’. It was the only barbing salon in the whole of the University of Maiduguri. In Maiduguri, in those days they were using razor blade and comb. I was the first man who brought electronic clipper to the city of Maiduguri, not just the university. During the holidays, I would go to Oxford Street in London to buy packed shirts of three UK Pounds Sterling and bring them to Nigeria.

I formed my company while I was in the university and I had NYSC members working for me as a university student. The company started as Mesh Communications and we grew from mere sales and installation of cable systems. Today, this small company has grown to be the second largest cable company in Nigeria. We have over 100,000 subscribers since we started our Pay TV. A subsidiary of the company Multi Mesh Communications Limited is a major infrastructure provider for the oil and gas industry. We work for Shell, Alteo and others. We provide them with telecom infrastructure, then micro wave links, telephone services, PABX system, Wide Area Networks, Security networks and so on.

Can you tell us about your upbringing and immediate family?

My parents had 12 children. I have four and one missionary son. One of the things I do for mission work, which people call philanthropy, I call it missionary work. Criminals can be philanthropic. I am somebody who is involved in what is called social enterprise. Since I have

One of the things the NBC has done is that the DSO will be launched in DYT and DYW, so if they pursue on both sides, there is a possibility that

by June 17, 2017 the entire Nigeria landscape can be covered. I doubt if we can switch off on that day because you know Nigerians don’t want to buy till the day is over. Due to Nigerian factor which may not be government, Nigerians will want to wait till that date to buy the boxes. I don’t know if government will want to extend the date for switch off. I know that with the strategy of the NBC and the Digiteam, their aim is to switch off completely not later than the end of the year. grown in business, I teach people how to do business, especially youths and mentor them to become self sufficient.

I thank God for my wife who is the most challenged person. You have a husband that you don’t see. But the good thing is that my wife is a good Christian. I have the most beautiful wife in the world. Anybody sees my wife; even my dogs are jealous her. She is a very understanding woman as she is able to take care of the gap I leave. She is a home mother. My family complains but the most beautiful thing is that we are doing the will of God and the business is able to put food on our table and take care of our little needs.

Why digital switchover so important?

We must embrace the DSO. The DSO is a good thing for the country and the people.

The benefits are too many. It will allow you have a clearer picture, you will have more channels. Today we have only 5 terrestrial TV stations: AIT, Channels Silverbird and one other. By the time we go fully DSO, we will be having between 36 to 50 channels Free-to-Air on DTH. We are going to have almost 100 or more. The channels will allow for interactive television where children of poor families can take examination classes without paying. It will allow government to send information .If there is an emergency, instead of waiting, you send in automatically pushing out information and force it so that the people can see. Also, the television system allows for e-voting, we can do e-voting. It allows for e- medicine, e- trading.

The system really puts us in a new platform, digital advantage using television by also increasing internet penetration. Even in my village in Arochukwu, because as you understand now, the television set and the Set-Top box will allow you internet penetration.

Why We Must Embrace Digital Switch-Over in Broadcasting

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

NEWS

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

Rights Groups Decry Military Occupation Of S’East, Desecration of Ojukwu’s Statue N500m collected from illegal roadblocks monthly Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The South East Based Coalition of Human Rights Organisations (SBCHRO) have decried what it alleged was military occupation of the South Eastern part of the country and provocative desecration of late Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu statue.

The group in a statement by the Board Chairman of Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, raised the alarm on the deployment of more Nigerian Army Battalion and “the war-like heavy equipment to all the strategic roads in the southeast”.

Umeagbalasi stated that Igbo travelers and other road users had reported what looked like laying of siege by the military at boundary posts along Imo-Abia and Port Harcourt axis; Enugu (Nsukka)-Benue (Oturpa) axis; Anambra (Onitsha Niger Bridgehead)-Delta (Asaba) axis; and Ebonyi (Abakiliki)-Enugu axis.

Citing the recent Amnesty International (AI) report, he claimed that the Nigerian Security Forces deployed on South East roads since July/August 2015 and May 2016, killed between 150 and 250 defenceless citizens or more and injured over 300 others”.

Umeagbalasi also cited the Intersociety report of December 2015, claiming that “a total of N1.03billion was illicitly collected and pocketed by the personnel and authorities of the Nigeria Police Force from 750 roadblocks mounted on Southeast Roads between October 21 to December 21, 2015; on average of

N500million per month”.

Part of the statement read: “Today, and since the inception of the Buhari Administration in late May 2015; particularly since August 2015 when Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB organised non-violent and peaceful street protests in Southeast and South-south areas of Nigeria, coupled with Buhari Administration’s brazen disposition towards radical Islamism; a dangerous dimension, by way of ethno-religious cleansing has been added, coded and embedded into the operational modes of the Nigerian Army, Navy and the Police in the Southeast Zone.

“Further attestation to this is the brazen domination of the command structure of the Nigerian Army in the Southeast Zone under its 82nd Division in Enugu; by carefully selected officers of from the GOC of the 82nd Division to his Spokesman; from the Commandant of the Onitsha Military Cantonment to the Commander of the 144 Battalion in Ukwa, near Aba in Abia State.”

Umeagbalasi added that the state of federal roads in the Zone were in tatters; railway system in the area was moribund.

According to him, the Enugu International Airport was skeletal and a ghost yard and “yet fiscal revenue accruals including those from taxes, import duties, oil and gas exploration and other sources; which originate from the Zone, are used to run governance and service the people of the upper north”.

HONOURING AN ICON...

L-R: Wife of Non-Executive Director, Flour Mills of Nig. Plc., Mr. Folarin; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Non-Executive Director, Flour Mills of Nig. Plc., Mr. Folarin Rotimi Abiola Wiliams Jr. and Prof. Jerry Gana during the Memorial Service for George Starvos Coumantaros, the founding Father and Chairman Emeritus of Flour Mills Nig. Plc., at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on Friday, December 2, 2016 “The most disheartening, wicked and condemnable of it all is the last week total blockage of the Niger Bridgehead by the soldiers. Despite the industrial hazard or dilapidating

or sinking condition of the Bridge; requiring steady less load capacity; the soldiers cordoned off and blocked the two main lanes of the Bridge in front of Dim Chukwuemeka

Odumegwu-Ojukwu Statue. ” The two lanes were blocked with empty drums painted in military colours with a narrow space for only one vehicle passage. The Ojukwu

Statue is also routinely abused by the Jihadist soldiers squatted under a tent by its corner. The Statue is steadily spat at and defaced. Urination around its brick is also a routine.

$2.2bn Contract Finance MoU Will Ganduje, Wike Clash over Boost Local Content, Says Okoigun Rivers Rerun Elections The Managing Director of Arco Group Plc Mr. Alfred Okoigun has commended the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding for a $2.2 billion contractor financing support between Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), its Joint Venture Partner-NNPC and eight Nigerian banks.

The amount to be managed

by Access Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc is being set aside to provide loanable funds for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to enable them finance projects being executed for Shell Companies in Nigeria.

According to Okoigun, there was evidence that the new scheme was an improvement on the existing method of loan disbursement to vendors working with Shell companies, adding that it was a milestone initiative that would stimulate the development of local content in the oil and gas sector The MoU setting aside loanable funds for SMEs, the Arco MD/ CEO added, was a far-reaching move by Shell and NNPC to reduce to the barest minimum, obstacles to credit that Nigerian companies regularly face in the process of handling contracts for

an oil major like Shell.

“In our 36 years in business, we have always advocated for policies like this to accelerate incountry capacity growth in Nigeria,” Okoigun said, adding that Arco, a major player in the oil and gas sector was satisfied that Shell had been undertaking several initiatives in recent years in order to give effect and lend credence to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act of 2010.

“For us in Arco, this is a very strong indication of Shell’s support for local content law. It is an indication by Shell to genuinely develop local capability in the country,” Okoigun noted.

According to him, Shell Petroleum had been active in supporting local content law in Nigeria, pointing out that examples of what the company was doing on the growth of local capacity were all over the place in the country’s oil and gas industry.

“We see this initiative by Shell as a commitment to identify with Nigeria at this critical period of recession.

“We expect all the oil majors in Nigeria to emulate this giant step

by Shell and NNPC because such a move is a win-win situation for all the stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in the country. The indigenous SMEs in the sector would have been properly empowered to deliver on the contracts awarded to them. The

oil major would be able to make realistic forecasts on execution of its contracts,” the Arco Group boss stressed.

Okoigun argued that the eight banks involved would be in brisk business with minimum risks because of the availability of funds for contract execution in the oil and gas industry. This, he observed, would help to reduce the current financial stress being experienced in the sector with more employment generated and a growing economy in the long run.

While using Arco to enjoin all the parties to the MoU to make deliberate efforts to ensure that the initiative takes firm root and becomes a norm in the oil and gas business in Nigeria, Okogun enjoined the banks to anchor their own side of the business according to the letters and the spirit of the MoU in particular and the objectives of the local content law in general.

“It will be up to companies that will benefit from the scheme to justify the confidence reposed in them by being diligent and timely in the execution of contracts awarded to them.

“In fact, the action being taken

by Shell Companies in Nigeria and NNPC ought to be the template for contract execution in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullai Ganduje and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, yesterday engaged in war of words over the National Assembly rerun billed to be conducted in the on the10th of December.

The Kano State Governor, while reacting to questions from State House Correspondents on his preparation for the election, having been made the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s campaign committee for the election, said he was determined to ensure a free and fair election in Rivers because having such was not normal in that part of the country.

Ganduje said "We are prepared, we just came out of the Ondo elections, we have fresh ideas even though both environments are different but we have our own strategies. Like in Ondo State we must ensure we have free and fair elections.

"You know in that part of the country having free and fair elections is not normal and we have to make it normal this time. We must ensure that there is security so that people will come out and vote.

That's our main preoccupation at the moment. We are making wider consultations with stakeholders and we believe we will succeed."

Wike, who reacted to Ganduje in a telephone interview said "It is unfortunate if he said so. As far as I am concerned, elections have been normal in my part of the country. All we are asking for is free and fair election.

"Is Governor Ganduje speaking on behalf of INEC? Is he the one conducting the elections now?

"I have respect for him as an elderly person but his statement is unfortunate. We are waiting for him to come and perform the magic he did in Kano State."

Responding to question on his reason for visiting President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed door yesterday, Ganduje said their discussion centered on a possible spillage of Boko Haram insurgents into Kano following the recent victory of the Nigerian Army over the elements in Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

According to him, necessary security arrangements had been made to contain the fleeing insurgents who might want to make Kano another attractive destination for the continuation of their nefarious activities against the country.

He said "I came to visit the president on the security situation in Kano, especially the fallout from the north western part of the country in which some of the Boko Haram and Kidnappers

will like to dominate the forest. To come back from Sambisa forest so that they can be operating from another part of the north western part of the country. So, the security agencies are working very hard.

A lot of arrests have been made and investigation is going on. We won't allow them to dominate Kano and make it as a launching pad.

As a cosmopolitan city, Kano is an attractive place for such elements to come in. The security agencies have apprehended about three or four of them."

The governor also hinted that his state would be hosting the first Lagos/Kano economic summit soon.

Ganduje said "We appointed a technical committee (that) is working on that. We are examining the business relationship between Lagos and Kano. We take advantage of each state is having and we will invite Mr. President to the summit.

The summit will hold in Kano.

The governor of Lagos State has agreed it should hold in Kano.

"There are similarities between Lagos and Kano. Both are mega cities. Lagos is the largest commercial city in Nigeria while Kano is the largest commercial city in the north.

We are both cosmopolitan and our developmental challenges are the same in terms of providing social amenities, security, urbanisation.

11

DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

The Silly War against Senator Shehu Sani

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n this part of the world, those who pick up the courage to stand up against our corrupt, inept, deceitful and morally-bankrupt system are tagged enemies of the state and attacked on all fronts by agents of the cabal that run the system. In the last 18 months, this has been the plight of Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. The barrage of attacks is coming from the leadership of his party in Kaduna and at the national level. This senator’s offence is that he has decided to take a principled stand on the unpleasant situation of the masses in Kaduna State in particular and the nation at large.

This week, his party’s ward leaders in Kaduna State, apparently under pressure from the leadership of the party in Kaduna, suspended Sani indefinitely from the APC. Recall that he was earlier suspended from the party for 11 months.

Now, it has been turned into “indefinite” suspension, all in an effort to humiliate this gallant politician.

The ludicrous suspension letter was signed by the Secretary of the APC in his Tudun Wada Ward, Mallam Awal Garba.

In it, the ward chairman alleged that Sani failed to defend himself against “illegalities committed against the party, as well as breaches of its constitution,” during the 11- month suspension. I don’t really know how they expect Sani to defend himself in a crooked arrangement allegedly masterminded by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

A bemused Sani remarked on Wednesday: “My ‘indefinite suspension’ by el-Rufai-controlled, self-acclaimed APC exco is as worthless and as useless as the paper it was written. I wish to fully assure them that the new suspension will not give them the public support they couldn’t gather with the first one. For a man who has been unable to address the pervasive insecurity and genocide in southern Kaduna; for a man who has been unable to stem the tide of rampant kidnapping and abductions in Kaduna, suspending Sani cannot be counted as an achievement.

“El-rufai remains a typical establishment man, who was brought to limelight by the PDP, nurtured by the PDP, and no broom or deodorant of change can give him a new identity.”

We really need to understand what this brave senator stands for, to understand why the party leadership is doing

Sani

everything possible to destroy him.

Senator Sani’s biggest offence is that he has consistently and openly expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of the APC government at all levels to deliver on their promises to the people. Sani has openly challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

In his beloved Kaduna State, Sani is not pleased with the anti-people government of el-Rufai and has persistently told him to his face. For Sani, el-rufai is not impacting on the down-trodden, the have-nots, the masses and the middle class in the state.

This governor, who is masquerading as a progressive is running an elitist government with his co-travellers from Abuja, so says Sani.

The senator expatiates in an interview last year: “Our people need jobs, effective medicare and education. Our people need to be freed from economic bondage, which they have found themselves in. So, I think if you are in government, your priority should be how to make life better for the people, from the position which you have met them. And, his programmes and policies which he (el-rufai) has started are clearly alienating the people and attracting anger and condemnation on the whole of the party, and anybody associated with it. And, by my statement, I am drawing a line that I am not going to be a part of that.

Aregbesola and Osun Pensioners Retirees of Osun State Civil Service are still in a mess. Governor Rauf Aregbesola has spent over six years pummeling these hapless pensioners. They were again on the streets of Osobgo about two weeks ago to protest against non-payment of their gratuities and the preposterous payment of half pensions by the state government.

Omoniyi Ilesanmi, Chairman, Forum 2011/2012 Retirees remarked: “Aregbesola’s refusal to pay our gratuities and pension is the height of wickedness and we retirees will not stop fighting for our right.”

These pensioners have become beggars after serving the state for years. The plight of those who retired in the last six years is most pathetic. While they were in service, salaries and allowances were irregular, no thanks to Aregbesola. After retirement, pension and gratuities were also not paid.

This is man’s inhumanity to man. The last six years have been most traumatic for Osun civil servants. Who will save both the serving and retired civil servants in this state? One thing is certain: The days of the oppressor are numbered.

The Infamy of Senator Yele Omogunwa

It was really disgusting watching one of our numerous bread and butter politicians defecting to the ruling party on Tuesday.

Senator Yele Omogunwa switched to the ruling All Progressives Congress because of the orchestrated division in his Peoples Democratic Party. He did not consider defecting until after the PDP lost the governorship election in Ondo State. I am very sure that he would again defect to the PDP or any other party that comes to power in 2019. There are so many questions for this “any government

in power’ politician. Why did he not defect to the Labour Party or any of the 28 other existing parties? Will his defection to the APC end the crisis in the PDP? If he was indeed a loyal party man, what did he contribute to the search for a solution to the crisis in the PDP? We have too many political prostitutes in this country. Politicians like this Omogunwa are the ones polluting our system. Until we rinse our system of people like this, who play “politics of the stomach”, this country will not make progress.

I do understand that we philosophically and ideologically differ on the stand that he is ultra-critic, conservative and reactionary. He is devoid of any progressive leaning.”

Sani is also bitter about el-rufai’s alienation of the people who have made contributions to the success of the party in the state: “He (el-rufai) knows all and he is ‘Mr. All’ and the most intelligent man with the biggest brain in Nigeria and that is supposed not to be. Now, if you are a leader, you need to listen to the people, carry them along, and that is how it ought to be. If you are a governor of a state, you want to spend N1 billion on uniforms for pupils, and another N1 billion on the feeding of students. But you have dilapidated schools that have no roofs and have no chairs, then, there is the need for the people to query your intelligence.”

Instead of deeply reflecting on all the points raised by Sani and making amends, the governor of Kaduna State declared war of this noble senator.

The masses of Kaduna State are seething but governor Kaduna pretends that all is normal. For example, el-rufai has chased away beggars from the streets and replaced them with flowers, without rehabilitating the sacked beggars. People are worried that el-rufai is not executing people-oriented programmes. He has given Kaduna jobs to all manner of people from God knows where. Governor “Kaduna” has also brought his Abuja demolition mentality to Kaduna.

So many buildings have been brought down in Zaria. Dreams of hundreds of people have been shattered. That was why Senator Sani said: “When you are running a government, you are dealing with human beings that have children, that have families, and that have a future. So, you must not take people to be economic statistics.”

Governor “Kaduna” must learn to live in peace and harmony with his people. He must not be seen as adding to their suffering.

He must radiate kindness. He should see the position of Sani as a challenge; a challenge to bond with the masses and alleviate their anguish.

Ambode, Please, Hold Next SEC Meeting in Ikorodu West LCDA Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area is clearly the most backward in Lagos State. The entire area is like a war zone, with tattered roads and craters. A first time visitor to Ikorodu West LCDA will find it difficult to believe that he is in Lagos State, the so-called Centre of Excellence. At times, I wonder if Ambode and his predecessors are aware that this area exists. But agents of the government, shockingly, come around to distribute Land Use Charge bills. With over 500 documented roads in the LCDA, only four roads have asphalt in the entire Ikorodu West. Yes, I mean it; only four roads have asphalt in the entire LCDA. Even the main road to the LCDA (Isawo Road) is crater-ridden. A drive through major streets like Efunlaruja, Eyita-Ojokoro and Ori-Okuta will leave a first time visitor depressed. Roads in the massive settlements in this LCDA are in dire need of government attention. Many frustrated residents have, in the last two years, abandoned their properties and relocated. I am calling on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to hold his next Executive Council Meeting in Ikorodu West, for him and his team to appreciate the extent of the calamity in Ikorodu West LCDA. The truth is that this LCDA is yet to feel the impact of Ambode, after over 18 months of the

Ambode

“Change” administration. I sincerely hope that Ambode will come and spend quality time in this LCDA in order to appreciate the anguish here and subsequently take steps to impact on the lives of the disheartened residents. Ambode’s predecessors failed the people of Ikorodu West. I hope he will act differently within the next 24 months left of his tenure.

Godswill Akpabio’s $300,000 Gift to Pele Wonders will never end in this our great country called Nigeria. Imagine a state like Akwa Ibom sending $300,000 to Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) as appearance fee, just to grace the opening of a stadium in Uyo. That was what the then governor, Godswill Akpabio did about two years ago. At the official exchange rate then, this should be over N60 million. This is worth almost N100 million now. After collecting the money, Pele still failed to show up in Uyo for the event due to a shift in date for the opening of the multi-million dollar sporting edifice nicknamed ‘The Nest of Champions’. The elaborate opening ceremony must have gulped over N500 million. The news in town now is that the current government in the state has been struggling for almost 18 months now to retrieve the money from Pele. The agent through who the deal was sealed has not been helpful. He is insisting that Pele was

not the one who breached the agreement and so, he is not liable. His position was that his client had already committed to another engagement, by the time a new date for the opening of the stadium was fixed.

I am horrified by this payment to Pele.

The squandering of riches in Akwa Ibom State in the last 18 years is worrisome.

Why should Akpabio pay so much to have Pele in Uyo when we have our own global football icons like Nwankwo Kanu and J.J Okocha? Why should a state where 95% of its citizen lack access to basic things of life like water, roads, health facilities and quality education, squander money?

Public schools and health institutions in this state are in tatters, yet its governments spend like drunken sailors. Genuine progressives in this state should demand that Akpabio refund the $300,000 to the state. If he doesn’t now, he will certainly do so in the future.

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DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

END OF AN ERA

Nats Onoja Agbo pays tribute to Ibrahim Dasuki, former Sultan of Sokoto

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man of honour and integrity: that is how best to describe Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, 18th Sultan of Sokoto. During the conferment of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on him in 1963, Idris Koko, the Madawakin Gwandu and Private Secretary to Sir Kashim Ibrahim, Governor of the North who read his citation described him as a man of “tact, honour and industry”. For the many years that he served his country as a civil servant, ambassador, religious leader and businessman, he lived up to that billing, often displaying uncommon love for humanity and service to his fatherland.

Born December 31, 1923 in Dogondaji, in the present Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, it was clear to his peers and elders that he was charting the path to leadership position in the Sokoto Caliphate while he was still a child. In the Qur’anic classes, he provided leadership for his peers, prompting his maternal uncle, Basharu, to call him maidaga, which means warrior, while his elder his brother, Alhaji Alhaji Dogondaji often said of him: ina ka fito aiki or ina za ka na aiki, meaning: if you ask: where are you coming from, he says work; where are you going to, he says work.

He received Qur’anic education in Dogondaji under Modibbo Sume, the wife of the Imam of Dogondaji at the time, from 1928-31. He later attended the Dogondaji Elementary School and the Sokoto Middle School. At the Sokoto Middle School, he met the likes of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Nigeria’s first Executive President and Muhammad Tukur, the late Emir of Yauri. Some of his mates who came with him from Dogondaji were Aliyu Gayari from Gummi District and Ahmadu Birkini from Jabba District. Out of the students in their class, only Dasuki and Muhammadu Tukur eventually qualified for admission into Barewa College.

At the Sokoto Middle School, Sultan Dasuki became Senior Prefect of his compound, the Magajin Gari Compound, in Class Three, a position usually reserved for students in Class Four. He had been so brilliant that he skipped one class; from Pre-Primary Class to Class Two instead of Class One. He was also Captain of the school’s football and athletics teams. In 1940, Dasuki proceeded to the Barewa College where he met people who were to play pre-eminent roles in the socio-economic and political life of Nigeria. Among them were Alhaji Abba Gana, one-time Agent-General of Northern Nigeria in the United Kingdom; Alhaji Abdulmalik Mani, Alhaji Hamisu Kano, Hussaini Iddah, John Joseph Atama and David Dankaro. By the time he left Barewa College, Dasuki wanted to be a journalist but his elder brother, Alhaji Alhaji Dogondaji insisted that he must start his work life with Sokoto Native Authority. While there, he created history by standing up to the colonial officer who prevented the African staff from enjoying any break period during work days. At a meeting, which the Divisional Officer called to upbraid the African Staff for going on break between 9am and 10am when he too was on break, Dasuki requested for a break period to enable the African staff to have their breakfast.

DASUKI’S EMERGENCE AS THE 18TH SULTAN OF SOKOTO WAS ENTIRELY THE DECISION OF THE KING MAKERS; THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE FROM THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT IBRAHIM BABANGIDA

Although the Divisional Officer was angry with the young clerical officer and ordered him out of the meeting, the African staff of the Sokoto Native Authority eventually got the government’s permission to take a break by 9am every work day, prompting them to coin the phrase za mu tara, meaning let’s go for 9 o’clock or let’s go on break.

He later transferred his services to Gaskiya Printing and Publishing Corporation as clerk/cashier. He gained prominence as one of the promoters of the Gaskiya African Staff Union, which fought for improved welfare for the African staff. By 1953, however, his attention shifted to the civil service of Northern Nigeria. At the time Sultan Dasuki joined the civil service of Northern Nigerian the likes of Dr. R.A.B. Dikko, Yahaya Gusau, Ahmed Talib, Muhammed Lawan and Ahmadu Coomasie were already in the service. Dasuki’s peers were Muhammad Gujbawa, Abba Gana, Ibrahim Argungu and Ali Akilu.

He was the first African to serve as private secretary to Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of the North, and was therefore very close to the premier.

It was in that capacity that he played key roles in formulating policies for the radical transformation of Northern Nigeria. Some of the senior civil servants often met in his house to discuss government and governance in Northern Nigeria. At the end of each meeting, Dasuki would brief the premier on their resolutions, which centered on the construction of roads and bridges, establishment of new schools and hospitals, creating training opportunities for civil servants and ensuring that civil servants performed their assigned roles in their respective offices. While those who knew their intentions called them the Dasuki Committee, others who could not understand their mode of operation referred to them as the Kaduna Mafia.

He rose to the position of permanent secretary before retiring from service following the creation of North Western State by the Gowon administration. Thereafter, he served as chairman of Northern Nigeria Marketing Board, the Nigerian Railway Corporation as well as the National Local Government Review Committee. Dasuki was also in the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1989 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also involved in successful business enterprises including Nigercafe and Afro Continental Nigeria Limited.

At the time a new Sultan was to be selected in 1988, following the death of Sultan Siddiq Abubakar III, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki was one of the most qualified. Apart from his services at the regional and federal levels, he had been involved in the development of the Sokoto Caliphate at various levels. It was in appreciation of his services to humanity, the Sokoto Caliphate and Islam that he was installed as Baraden Sokoto in 1973, exactly 100 years after the first one was installed. He played leading roles in the formation of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Jama’atu Nsril Islam (JNI). He was the Secretary-General of the NSCIA until he became Sultan. onojagbo@yahoo.com

DIGITAL OBIANO VERSUS ANALOGUE HAS-BEENS

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gwe Rowland Odegbo, the respected traditional ruler of Nteje, in Oyi local government area of Anambra State, published a widely distributed article on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Entitled A word for politicians of Anambra North extraction, it discussed a vexed topic deserving of further exploration.

Basically, the Igwe lamented the multiplicity of gubernatorial aspirants from Anambra North Senatorial Zone, from whence the incumbent Governor, Chief Obiano hails. His incontrovertible argument is that a split in Anambra North’s votes in the next gubernatorial election could deny Governor Obiano a second term and also yank the governorship from the zone.

The possible negative outcome of a splintered Anambra North vote should persuade the zone’s numerous governorship aspirants to do a rethink.

But, laments Igwe Odegbo, “None of the aspirants I have spoken to on the issue showed any interest in reaching an understanding much less denying themselves.” A few things are, therefore, tragically wrong.

The tragedies are, in fact, as confounding as they are encompassing. I was at Blaze FM, Oraifite, Anambra State, on November 4, 2016, to defend Governor Obiano, who has for more than a year been the subject of sponsored, relentless and withering media attacks aimed at turning the Anambra electorate against him. I faced Franklin Ebuka and Chima Christian, two young broadcasters intent on playing hardball.

I started by pointing out that when Blaze FM featured Chief Obiano’s principal traducer three days earlier, it was the 57th documented time the fellow had hopped into a radio station in the past year to regurgitate falsehoods against the Governor of

The Anambra State Governor deserves a second term, argues Chuks Iloegbunam Anambra State. In fact, the frustrated man, a political adviser dismissed by Chief Obiano, professed animus against the governor. He told Blaze listeners that he didn’t know a thing about smartphones!

The governor had instructed him to make contacts by email, which he confessed was beyond his know-how! He had been the D-G of the Obiano Campaign Organisation in 2013 and hadn’t deserved the boot! But because he was fired – “a man who knew all the answers” – he posited that things were in pieces in all places. I told my interlocutors that Sylva Nwobu-Alor had been the D-G of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation in 2003. But he wasn’t considered for any appointment when Mr. Obi became governor. Yet, the heavens didn’t fall. I added that Governor Obiano was fit to continue for a second term for various reasons: one, he had made Anambra the most secure state in the country. Two, he pays salaries, gratuities and pensions promptly.

Three, he recently gave N20 million to each of the 179 communities in the state, for the construction of any project of their own choosing. That’s N4 billion, with a firm promise to provide another N4 billion

by January when the first projects must have been completed.

While Governor Obiano employs digital methods of political engineering to serve Ndi Anambra, analogue has-beens continue to claim groundlessly that he is not “performing”. Unfortunately for them, the people of Anambra know better. That is why, in desperation, the lies and fabrications from of a disgruntled flank of Anambra’s elite are proliferating.

That is also why some rudderless politicians from Anambra North are fronting moneybags promising them the Eldorado of Government House, Awka, in 2018.

Two things count against these misdirected individuals. The assumption that an Anambra North politician will wrest the governorship from Chief Obiano is puerile. It flies in the face of common sense, voter predilection and demographics. It will only fragment votes from the senatorial zone and promote the cynical plot to deny Anambra North the equity that is tied into two governorship terms. Why, really, should Anambra Central and South Zones, much larger in population, agree a fresh Anambra North Governor from 2018 when that configures the potential of the crown staying up North for a straight 12 years?

By the way, the decision to zone the governorship to Anambra North was solely APGA’s, an initiative of General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

It was and still is vehemently opposed by other political parties. Are the moneybags now goading Governor Obiano’s kinsfolk into the electoral fray not deliberately working in tandem with those that, a priori, consider Anambra North unworthy of the governorship?

There are other angles to the strange developments. One of the loudmouths now “challenging” Chief Obiano has been making frantic contacts, vowing that a few SUVs and a N500 million paycheck from the governor would make him to back off. That is political mercantilism. Another has confessed that his angling for the governorship is a ploy for becoming running mate to an Anambra Central or South candidate. This underscores a preference to reign in hell than serve in heaven. Only someone shameless will deprive his people of the main prize because of a selfish desire to play second fiddle to the producers of several former governors.

Not being stupid, these characters recognise

that Governor Obiano’s performance is first rate.

Therefore, they cling to disinformation. Employing mostly the Internet, they continue to dish out outlandish falsehoods. A fortnight ago, these liars again excelled themselves. Governor Obiano was at the Enugu Airport to catch an Arik flight to Abuja.

While he waited at the airport’s Presidential Lounge, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s private jet touched down.

The former Vice-President had come for the Annual Zik’s Lecture. Taking snapshots of Atiku’s airplane they flooded the social media with the frames, claiming that Governor Obiano had chartered a private jet to Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Arik flight was announced.

Governor Obiano calmly walked up the gangway and went on his Abuja mission. We circulated pictures of Governor Obiano boarding the Arik plane; we distributed images of his boarding pass.

We reassured Ndi Anambra that all the lies against their beloved governor would come to naught. We stand in obedience of Chief Obiano’s unambiguous order for his media team not to respond in kind to the adversarial media of detractors.

To recall, Governor Obiano had graciously and publicly apologised to his persecutors for any wrongs he is perceived to have committed. He had offered them an olive branch that was characteristically rebuffed…

Well, I have looked at Anambra politics with the eye an adult examines the contents of a bag. Frankly, I see no vacancy at Government House, Awka. Deep down, something tells me that, come next year’s gubernatorial ballot, Governor Obiano will deliver a Trump Wallop on the franchisers of bad blood.

Iloegbunam is Director of Media Relations at Government House, Awka

13

DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

One billion dollar subsidy?

Before the Marrakech Accord

I

n the days before the Climate Change Conference COPP 22, lovers of our home the earth went to town soliciting support for a 50% plan for mother earth. According to one of them Ian Keith of the Avaaz group, and from whom I have got inspiration for the title of this discussion, recent trends are pointing to the fact that our lifestyles is taking a ‘chainsaw to the tree’ of our life. What I deduct from that quaint metaphor is that our life is a tree planted by the rivers of waters, which bringeth fruit irrespective of the times and seasons. But certain things we do or not do are killing this tree, and we must try to reflect on the metaphors that Keith and co are sending out. But in plain language, by the year 2020, two-thirds of all wild life would probably go extinct just the same way Dinosaurs did many years ago. Scientists insist that we are amid the next great extinction but that if we have the will, we will be able to put in place a plan B, to protect 50% of earth and heal the destruction that’s taken place over the years.

The message that Ian Keith and kin are trying to send us is closer home than we think. First it comes in the form of the forceful and illegal acquisition of land belonging to the people ala for development. A typical example took place in Okhurho clan in Oghara Delta State. The Navy, in what appears to be a legitimate quest for land forcefully annexed land for the erection of a barrack and shopping malls. But of course, this was against the fact that this is already occupied land teeming with flora and fauna, sustaining a vast network of living organisms, and providing employment to many indigenes. Taking down that network would mean inflicting incalculable damage to that ecosystem. But does anyone really care if it is ‘development’?

Recently when the World Economic Summit reported that four key Nigerian cities – Aba, Umuahia, Kaduna and Onitsha - are the most air polluted cities anywhere in the world, what was the response of our leaders at the executive and legislative levels? None that I recall, except perhaps that our Environment Minister would be joining forces with the rest of the world in making a collective statement in the Netherlands soon. Our dear native land has continued with the noble drive to put corrupt persons in jail, and perhaps again this is at the expense of the health implications of that report for the rest of Nigerians. That report points to the importation of very low quality fuels being brought in to West Africa from Switzerland by certain Swiss Commodity traders, Trafigura, Mercuria and Co. It also suggests that what could be responsible for the air being polluted is in the high sulphur content of these dirty and dangerous fuels. Upon realising this, Ghana has immediately insisted on low-sulphur content fuels, and with the assistance from NGOs in Switzerland the people of Ghana have sent a symbolic message back to Switzerland that it would no longer tolerate the importation of dirty fuels into Ghana.

Therefore, if our presence at the COPP 22 on November 2016 is not going to be perfunctory, Nigeria must take the lead in the pursuit of clean energy

sources. Part of the decisions taken at the Marrakech COPP 22 included a plan on the reduction of black carbon emissions through cleaner diesel fuels and vehicles and the development of black carbon inventories and projections. What is known about the dirty fuels being imported to West Africa from Switzerland is that apart from hurting our lungs and central nervous systems, these fuels hurt our cars and reduce their performance at optimum capacity.

A second action point taken by countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay present at the Climate Change Summit included the decision to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. As far as I can remember, Nigeria has flared gas as a by-product from oil and gas production. The penalty has always been a joke as well, compared to the damage which this flaring of gas brings with it. Year- in- year- out, we come out with new penalties for oil prospecting countries which flout our gas flaring laws.

Year- in- year- out we set a benchmark to end the shameful flaring of gas, and year- in- year- out we have merely slapped defaulting multinationals a fine on their wrists.

Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, ANEEJ, Benin City

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

President Buhari Can Do Better

I

have intentionally cut on my public commentaries for a while now, especially on national politics. During former President Jonathan’s administration, I have to admit I was one of his consistent critics, condemning many of the bad policies and ineptitude of that government on daily basis. So when President Muhammadu Buhari was elected president last year, I said it here that the masses finally have a president that is humane.

The ‘talakawas’ saw in Buhari a messiah, a compassionate person that could feel for us, we celebrated the coming of a man we had high hopes on.

It is really disheartening that in spite of such goodwill from the people, virtually all of Mr President’s cardinal policies are negatively affecting the masses, in-human policies that make life more miserable are churned out daily; prices of goods have skyrocketed, unemployment and poverty statistics continue to widen, the economy is in a higgledy-piggledy state; many public institutions have gone comatose.

So far there seems to be no antidote from the presidency against these challenges, in fact many of them are directly caused by the government itself.

Frankly speaking, after the unnecessary delay in appointing ministers and the budget debacle, I began to notice the unpreparedness of Mr President. I don’t see in him the leadership qualities I read from many books. A leader is not there to perpetually complain but to provide and implement solutions. It was apparent he came in without any blueprint on how to bring the country out of the woods; he is not known to ever articulate his policies, his closest aides are synonymous with mediocrity. There is not any source of inspiration or hope as policies continue to wobble without direction.

Though I have not totally given up yet, but I believe only a miracle could make the government a success in the two years they have remaining. We have given them extended time for honeymoon; this signifies the resumption of my ‘wailing’ though.

Rabiu Shamma, Kano

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

14

NEWS

In Brief

Buhari Appoints more Apex Court Justices

PresidentMuhammaduBuhari,hasapprovedtheappointmentofJusticeSidi DaudaBage,andJusticePaulAdamuGalinje,asJusticesoftheSupremeCourt ofNigeria.TheappointmentwasbasedontherecommendationoftheNational JudicialCouncil.AstatementbytheActingDirectorofInformation,NJC,Mr.Soji Oyesaid thejusticeswouldbesworn-inbytheActing ChiefJusticeofNigeria andChairmanoftheNationalJudicialCouncil,Hon.JusticeW.S.N.Onnoghen onMonday December5,2016at2.00pmintheSupremeCourtofNigeria.

‘8 Children Die of Malaria Every Six Seconds’

WE CARE FOR YOU...

L-R: Mrs. Stella Akwari; Japhet Anumudu; Akajiaku Chibueze Clement and Osondu Ohaeri representing class 92, Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic Oko, presenting monetary gift to Akajiaku, a renal failure patient to assist him in seeking medical treatment in Abuja... recently

OGFZA Extends Regulatory Control to Oil, Gas FZs Bennett Oghifo

The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has begun the process of implementing the provisions of its enabling law and Federal Government directives ceding regulatory control of all Oil and Gas Free Zones in the country to OGFZA. A statement by officials of the authority, yesterday, said the information was contained in a letter, dated 17 November 2016, the Chief Executive Officer of OGFZA, Mr. Umana Okon Umana sent to the Managing Director of Lagos Deep Offshore & Logistics Services Limited (LADOL) and to the Managing Director of Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ).

Umana said the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority had “decided to carry out the full implementation of the law and (federal government) directives,” which vest control of the oil and gas free zones in the country in OGFZA. He informed the managements of both LADOL and SIIFZ that “henceforth their free zones will be

licensed and regulated by OGFZA by virtue of the statutory provisions in section 5(2) of the OGFZA Act and other relevant laws as well as other directives of the Government on the take-over of all Oil and Gas Free Zones in Nigeria.” He said the take-over process would take 30 days from 17 November.

The take-over process is to give effect to section 5(2) of the OGFZA Act which states that “The Authority shall have power to takeover and perform such other functions being hitherto performed by NEPZA as they relate to export of oil and gas from any of the Export Processing Zones established by Nigeria Processing Zone Act.” Secondly, the takeover is in part an implementation of Federal Government directive as contained in the Extraordinary Government Gazette No. 12 (vol. 101) of February 2014 entitled “Free Zones (Monitoring & Regulations) Order 2014.” Section 1(a) (b) of the gazetted Order states as follows: “As from the commencement of this Order, the

Authority (OGFZA), in addition to its functions under the Act, shall be responsible for the: Licensing of all Oil and Gas Free Zones located within the Customs territory; and Publication of all operating standards to be observed in the Free Zone from time to time.

“It should also be noted that the Government White Paper on the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies of March 2014 upheld the autonomy of OGFZA and confirmed the mandate of OGFZA “to regulate Oil and Gas Free Zones in Nigeria.”

The statement said, “In spite of the extant provisions of the law and government directives, compliance with respect to a number of Oil and Gas Free Zones was not forthcoming. Because of the non-compliance by a few Oil and Gas Free Zones, OGFZA on 7 February 2008 sought the interpretation of the provisions of NEPZA Act and OGFZA Act from the Honourable Attorney General of

the Federation and Minister of Justice as to which of the two agencies was vested with the responsibility for regulating the Oil and Gas Free Zones in Nigeria.

“On 25 March 2008 the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation gave his interpretation of the laws as follows: Para 6: “Consequently, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority is expected to concentrate on its functions as provided for in section 4 of the Act while Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority should have jurisdiction over Oil and Gas Free Zones in Nigeria.

“Para 7: In line with the contemplation of the 1996 Act, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, in accordance with section 5(2) of the Oil & Gas Export Free Zones Authority Act 1996, is expected to handover to the Oil & Gas Free Zones Authority, all functions being hitherto performed by it as they relate to the Export of Oil and Gas from any of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones and Free Zones in Nigeria.”

Ugwuanyi Commutes 5 Death Sentences, Grants Amnesty Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday granted unconditional pardon to two inmates of the Enugu Prisons and equally commuted death sentences of five other inmates to life imprisonment.

Speaking at the Enugu State Headquarters of the Nigeria Prisons, Governor Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the State's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Miletus Eze, noted the exercise was in line with the government’s policy on “Justice for All”.

Hon. Eze also said that Ugwuanyi

exercised his constitutional power by granting the amnesty to some inmates of the Enugu Prisons, adding that the governor had the discretionary power to do so.

"The Governor of Enugu State has performed his statutory duty by granting amnesty to some inmates of the Enugu Prisons.

"As you heard from the Enugu Prisons Comptroller General, since 1999, this exercise has not been carried out in Enugu State but because of the nature of the governor we have, he has decided to carry out this function", Eze said.

Asked whether the exercise would henceforth be carried out regularly, Eze, who is also the chairman of the Enugu State's Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy noted that "if you recommend daily to him, he has the discretion to decide whether to exercise it or not, but I can assure you that with the type of disposition he has, it will be done from time to time."

Earlier, the Enugu Prisons Comptroller, Mr. Ifeanyi Isaiah Amalili, who received the governor’s order for clemency from the Attorney-General described the gesture as historic,

stressing that the governor had done a noble thing that would go a long way to give huge relief to the inmates that were affected.

"We extend our gratitude to the Governor because since 1999 this is the first time we are witnessing this. Other state governors have been coming here to free some of the inmates but Enugu has never done it. It is a major milestone.

"I appeal that this effort should be more regular. I believe that the journey has started. By January next year, I pray that others will get this benefit."

15 Die as Trailer Rams into Residential Buildings in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna No fewer than 15 people lost their lives in a petrol tanker accident which occurred at Tegina town in the Rafi local government area of Niger State on Friday morning.

THISDAY learnt that the petrol tanker was conveying fuel from Lagos to Kaduna when at Tegina the driver lost control and rammed into some

residential buildings resulting in fire outbreak.

Most of the people that lost their lives were those that were trapped in the buildings and some people who were selling along the road.

Three houses were completely burnt down while other property valued at millions of naira including vehicles were destroyed.

According to an eyewitness, there

was pandemonium in the town as people ran helter skelter but the intervention of some brave Nigeriuans stopped the fire from spreading to other part of the town.

Police Public Relations Officer DSP Bala Elkana when contacted confirmed the story saying the deceased were given mass burial in the town because they were burnt beyond recognition.

Bala Elkana therefore advised those

who could not see their loved ones to find out from the police station in Tegina.

The police spokesman also said that the Commissioner of Police Alhaji Zubairy Muazu had visited the scene of the accident during which he condoled with the relations of the deceased.

The Niger state government was yet to react to the sad incident.

AvolunteerPersonnelwithDevelopmentAfricaMalariaEliminationProgramme (DAMEP)andRetiredChiefMatron,EwaleiforTheresahaslamentedthateight childrendieofmalariaeverysixsecondsinthecountry.Unknowntomany,she saidmalariakillsmorethanHIV/Aids.Mrs.Theresamadethestartlingrevelation atKoko,headquartersofWarriNorthLocalGovernmentAreainDeltaState during the ‘Roll Back Malaria Programme’ sponsored by the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture in partnership with Development Africa Malaria Elimination programme (DAMEP).The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs,ChevronNigeriaLimited(CNL),Mr.DejiHaastrupexplainedthattheOil andGasmajordecidedtosponsorthe‘RollBackMalariaProgramme’because itsbelievethatmalariaispreventable,itcanbetreatedandcanbeeradicated.

Whilenotingthat“Nigeriahasahighmalariaprevalencerate”,Mr.Haastrupstated that“theprogrammealsoinvolvestrainingofselectedhealthworkers,providing Long-LastingInsecticideTreatedNets,(LLITNs),andanti-malariadrugstopeople inthecommunitieswhoarecurrentlysufferingfromthedisease.

DoveTVDebuts on GOtv

MultiChoicehasfurtherexpandeditsreligiongenreonGOtvwiththeadditionof DoveTV,theofficialtelevisionstationoftheRedeemedChristianChurchofGod (RCCG). LaunchedonDecember1onGOtvchannel83,DoveTVisavailableto GOtvPlus,ValueandLitesubscribersinBenin,Ibadan,LagosandPortHarcourt.

DoveTVbroadcastswholesomefamilyentertainmentwithhighethicalvalues thatappealtochildren,theyouthandtheelderly. Italsoincludeslivecoverage ofalltheHolyGhostServices,AnnualConventionsandHolyGhostCongresses oftheRedeemedChristianChurchofGod.OtherministrationsoftheGeneral Overseerfromcountriesaroundtheworldcouldalsobewatchedfromtimeto time,aswellasseriesofministrationsfromanointedmenofGod.Subscribers will watch the 2016 Holy Ghost Congress from 5-10 December. Speaking on thelatestdevelopment,JohnUgbe,ManagingDirector,MultiChoiceNigeria, said the launch of Dove TV was in line with the company’s efforts to deliver programmesthatitscustomersloveintotheirhandsandtheirlivingrooms.

Umueze Launches Calendar

The Umueze Progressive Union, Lagos branch has announced the that they wouldunveilandlaunchtheir2017”Historic”CalendarattheDINIConnection Center(St.JudeCatholicChurch)byMafolukuJunction,OffInternationalAirport Road. According to a statement by the union, High Chief Festus Onwumere would be Chairman of the occasion while Mr. Chijioke Okenwa would be the ChiefLauncher.Co-launchersareHighChiefStableyEkezieandMr.IfeanyiEke whileComradeJerryUgwuwouldbeSpecialGuestofHonourandMrs.Shola Abuachi would be mother of the day. The occasion is slated for December 11, 2016at12noon.

Assemblies of God Church Harvest

AssembliesofGodChurchIsolo,wouldonSundayDecember4,2016holdher 2016AnnualHarvest/ThanksgivingServices.TheeventistotakeplaceatN0.

5/7RisiLagudaClose,OffMetropolitanCollegeroad,metrobusstop,Ire-Akari Estate,Isolo-Lagosby10am.AstatementbyelderEkeNwabuike(JP),andBro. Chimeziem Anyanwu, chairman and Secretary of the Harvest Committee respectively stated that the programme with the theme: “Celebrating God’s Sustainance” will be conducted by the host pastor Rev. F. C Okeremgbo, the AssistantLagosDistrictSuperintendent.

MyAds Launches New Mobile App

Winnerofthe2016NigeriantechnologyawardsforStartup,MyAdsGlobalhas launchedanewfeatureontheirmobileapp.Thecompanywhichalsowonthe Mobileappoftheyearandthemostinnovativetechnologycompanyoftheyear, positedthattheappwasaimedatendusers,businessesandorganisationsin Nigeria,IndiaandDubaiwithplanstoexpandto20othercountriesinacrossthe world.SpeakingduringtheunveilingoftheappinLagos,thefounderofMyAds App,Mr.SimeonAnanobisaidithadbeenalongstandingproblemandalotof stressforbusinessestoadvertise,createawarenessorpromotetheirproducts and services which MyAds Global saw as a problem and provided a solution bycreatingalifestyleappcalledMyAds.

Mrs. Blessing Ogbuokiri for Burial

ThedeathhasoccurredofMrs.BlessingEzienyiOgbuokiri(NeeIzuwa),wifeof theDirectorGeneral,PublicAdministrationandManagementDevelopment Institute(PAMDI),Dr.ElijahOgbuokiri.Shetransitedtogloryafterabriefillness onOctober1,2016.Accordingtothefuneralprogrammeannouncedbythefamily, a Service of Song would be held in her honour onWednesday December 7 at her Lagos resident; 34 - 40, Olatunji Idowu street,Tarred road bus stop, Ago PalaceWay,Okota,at4.30pm.OnDecember15,anotherServiceofSongwill takeplaceatherfamilycompound,ImeremEnyialaAutonomousCommunity, IsiAlaNgwa,AbiaState.HerremainswillbeburiedonDecember16inherfamily compoundat10amafterafuneralservice.

Olorogun Micheal Ibru' Burial Rites

FuneralritesfortheChairmanandfounderofIbruOrganisationOlorogun(Dr.) MichealChristophersOnajihevbeIbru(OFR),hasbeenannouncedbyhisfamily.

AccordingtoareleasesignedbyhisbrotherGoodieIbru,therewouldbeservice ofsongs/tributesonTuesday,December6,2016attheHarbourPoint,Ahmadu BellowayVictoriaIslandfrom5pmto7pm.ComendationServicewillholdon Wednesday,December7,2016attheCathedralChurchofChrist,MarinaLagos, from11am.WhiletheChristianWake-keepwilltakeplaceathisresidence"The Pillar"-Agbara-Otor,UghelliNorthLGA,DeltaStateonTuesday,December13, 2016at5pm.Thefuneralserviceofthedepartedbusinessmogul,willholdthe nextday,Wednesday,December14,2016attheAllSaintsCathedralAnglican Communion,UghelliNorthLGAfrom11am.Receptionfollowsimmediatelyat theIbruField,oppositetheIbruEcumenicalCenter,Agbara-Otor,DeltaState.

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

REFLECTION

When I Met Castro Tony Momoh

F

idel Castro of Cuba passed on recently at the age of 90. I met him in Cuba in late 1988 as Minister of Information and Culture. I told the story in my seventh of the 11 letters to my countrymen. It was entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders” . I share here my recollection of the meeting as published in my Reflections on Letters to my Countrymen:I met Castro in Havana late last year (1988) and came away strengthened in my belief that a people determined to keep a date with history can make it, despite constraints of monumental dimensions. For 30 years, this fiercely loved and respected leader held sway in the western hemisphere, just 90 km from the shores of the world’s most powerful nation whose perspective to life Castro did not only not share but also debunked at every forum and in every speech.

But at Tropicana, a bee-hive of a tourist Centre, you could see Americans in the hundreds. They flew in from Florida and elsewhere, attracted to the offerings which sweat and blood had engineered in the turbulent years of Cuba’s history.

A drive through Havana shows you a city being stripped naked. What is going on? Rehabilitation: reconstruction. Old Havana has to retain its narrow streets, its architecture, those wooden beams and roofs that glued together for many many years a monastic order only now equaled by the hold which the pre-occupation with self-reliance and the determination not to be enslaved by anybody, giant or midget, had occasioned. Only Cubans can build Cuba, restore the degenerating structures of Old Havana. And this they would achieve, working day and night.

If I had a bug bite to see how Castro thinks – what’s it that had made him sustain over the years; why does he sound so present anywhere in the third world; why are Cubans, white and black, mixing so freely together in their daily toils – then you can understand why you should accept, even share in my glow, my seeming bias.

After more than an hour with this great contributor to the emergence of a third world perspective in the ideological divide, I decided I had no reason to shut the doors of my mind to a man who spoke sound sense because what he said, and says, is true.

Cuba depended on others to feed itself once upon a time but now, Cuba which is one-tenth the population of Nigeria and about the same percentage of the area, produces food enough to feed 40 million people. That is, Cuba has worked hard enough in the last thirty years to produce enough to feed four times the population of the country.

We looked at a map of the world, Castro and I, located Cuba on the map, and Nigeria on it. In fact, as I spoke of the opportunities the giant of Africa offered; the minimum of five ecological zones which would enable us to grow any tropical food; the lay of the land, from the mangrove swamps of the riverine areas in the South, to the desert conditions in the extreme North; as I spoke of the gems, from tin and gold and bauxite through uranium and columbite to lime-stone and kaolin and crude oil; as I spoke of the large population, vibrant, colourful and extremely innovative; as I spoke of the cultural heritage and the immense variety of its manifestations; as I spoke and spoke and spoke, inspired by the promise of our under-twenty-fives, more

Castro was not disappointed at what we were doing.

He in fact expressed excitement at the way we are taking the stubborn bull of backwardness, oppression, exploitation and retrogression by the horn.

It is difficult but what we in Nigeria are trying to do now is what Cuba started 30 years ago and has not and cannot stop doing. Do you stop growth, and think you will grow?

Castro

than 16 million of whom are in school, a school population oneand-a-half times the population of Cuba, I saw a glint in the eye of this great fighter for freedom, this accomplished innovator, this inspirer of the deprived. I thought I plucked from the depth of his almost inscrutable being, a vague idea of what he would do if he had been in Nigeria. But I went on to relate our experiences since independence, in retrospect, born of lack of tenacity in execution of programmes. I told him of what bold decisions our government has taken to tackle our problems and build a tolerable future for the youth, our elders of tomorrow who now have an opportunity to rule today.

Castro was not disappointed at what we were doing. He in fact expressed excitement at the way we are taking the stubborn bull of backwardness, oppression, exploitation and retrogression by the horn. It is difficult but what we in Nigeria are trying to do now is what Cuba started 30 years ago and has not and cannot stop doing. Do you stop growth, and think you will grow?

But I had access to a book, a most illuminating book, after I left Castro. The title is “The World Economic and Social Crisis, its impact on the under-developed countries, its somber prospects and the need to struggle if we are to survive “. It was a report he made to the Seventh Summit Conference of Non-aligned countries and was published in Havana in 1983. The data contained in that book are official, from western world sources.

They are beyond suspicion of bias and as Castro himself says in a general statement to heads of state, government leaders, political leaders and statesmen in general, and especially of the third world, the data are demonstrative of the tragedy of the people of the third world. He expressed conviction that it would be impossible for us to situate ourselves in the reality of today’s world if the panorama presented by the facts and problems set forth in the book “is not made readily available to statesmen for their daily use and profound meditation”.

He recognized the enormous variety of widely differing concepts, ideologies, beliefs and perceptions which the third world has taken in but was emphatic that one thing we have in common, even with the developed world, is our responsibility to mankind. He then went on to identify the burdens of the third world; the overwhelming problems of accumulated poverty and backwardness an immense external debt that the vast majority cannot pay; an increasingly brutal inequality that hangs over peoples and is combined with the squandering of enormous sums in an absurd arms race in the midst of the dreadful exploitation that weighs on our nations in the most diverse forms; and the horrendous historical heritage of centuries of colonialist and neo-colonialist plunder in each of our countries,

right up until the present situation, in which the exploitation is that much more refined, that much more merciless, that much crueler than ever before in history.

As I read Castro’s message to his colleagues of the non-aligned movement, I could see him clearly in that spacious office of his in Havana. With what he has been through in the struggle against oppression and brutal denial of a people’s right to live, he should know and without shame accept how gloomy are the realities and prospects for the future viewed as a whole. These realities could generate pessimism and discouragement, he said, “if we were not sure of our aims”.

True, the realities are inevitably a bitter pill to swallow “but if we are to face up to the realities, we have first to become aware of them”.

I am becoming guilty quoting from the address that serves as a preface to this enormously illuminating work which this great man inspired young and bright researchers in Cuba to produce for presentation before his colleagues in the Non-aligned movement. But if we must appreciate the problems of Nigeria which gave rise to our version of the Structural Adjustment Programme, I would have to quote this long but immensely inspiring piece from Castro’s address. He said, “We do not have, nor do we think anyone has, magic remedies for such difficult, complex and apparently insoluble problems. History shows, however, that no problem has ever been solved until it has become a tangible reality of which everyone is aware. Today, we are faced with the most universally serious and anguishing situations ever known to mankind.

In short, for the first time we are faced with the question of whether or not we are to survive. But, no matter how enormous the difficulties, no matter how complex the task, there can be no room for pessimism. This would be to renounce all hope and resign ourselves to the final defeat. We have no alternative but to struggle, trusting in the great moral and intellectual capacity of the human race and in its instinct for self-preservation, if we wish to harbor any hope for survival”.

There, across the Atlantic, is Cuba presided over by Castro, struggling to survive because its people know there is no alternative to struggle if you must survive.

Now 28 years after my meeting Castro, he has left us, focused and disciplined and committed as he was when he took power in January 1959 from a most corrupt, undisciplined and unrepentant regime headed by Fulgencio Battista.

May his legacy to the Cubans and the third world continue to remind us of the need to sustain our striving to grow.

––Minister of Information (1986 - 90)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

THE ALTERNATIVE with Reno Omokri Buhari: Fine from Far But Far from Fine

T

ell me if you have noticed this trend-your friends and acquaintances who used to shout ‘sai Buhari’ and ‘body language’ and who used to fight anyone who criticized President Buhari, have quietly dropped those slogans, stopped defending him and now either concentrate on European Football or US Politics. Tell me I am not hallucinating, that I am not the only one noticing this!

Nigeria under Muhammadu Buhari is degenerating so badly and we have never had it so bad, yet the very administration which is likely to go down as the worst government in Nigeria’s history keeps pointing accusing fingers at other and more successful previous governments as being the source of our woes!

If it is true that previous governments were looting Nigeria and are the cause of our present economic woes, then how come recession came as soon as ‘looting’ stopped and Buhari came?

Does it make sense? Common sense dictates that if the above argument were true then Buhari’s coming would have heralded prosperity not austerity.

Yet people with no knowledge of history blame oil price. Under President Buhari oil price has been an average of $40 but under former President Obasanjo’s 8 years oil averaged $20, yet Obasanjo paid off Nigeria’s debt, achieved 5% GDP growth and still fought corruption without scaring away foreign and domestic investors.

Under former President Jonathan, we achieved an unprecedented 7% GDP growth, emerged as the third fastest growing economy in the world and the largest economy in Africa and revived our railways which had been moribund from the first Buhari military government. Yet today, a man who promised heaven and earth to get elected now tells us that he almost ran away after his swearing in. Why almost? He should have ran away. Are we better off that he did not run away? A bad workman always blame his tools but only fools will be deceived!

And to add salt to injury, an administration that cannot point to one single tangible achievement is now floating the kite for second term!

Really!!

Buhari married a beautiful Nigeria, then beat her to the extent that she needs life support to survive but instead of taking her to the hospital he stylishly announces plans to marry a 2nd wife! That is the only way I can describe this second term focus in the midst of the unprecedented recession, famine and double digit inflation he put us in. And then the Presidency’s statement even made bold to say “the masses are solidly behind Buhari” for 2019! The only way I see that happening is if President Buhari uses famine to finish the masses off before then!

Since President Buhari is fond of comparing himself favorably with President Jonathan, let me point out a few comparisons that he may have failed to notice.

While in office, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s children schooled in Nigeria yet he provided foreign exchange to ordinary Nigerians to school their own kids abroad. On the contrary, President Muhammadu Buhari’s children school abroad but he denies Nigerians forex to school their own kids there!

President Muhammadu lost election three times and each time he refused to concede defeat. Everybody cheated him. Obasanjo rigged him out, Yar ’adua did the same and then ex-President Jonathan stole his victory. Well ex President Jonathan lost election once and conceded even before votes had finished being counted and for the first time in Nigeria’s history the candidate who lost did not challenge his loss in court. Under President Muhammadu we have had ‘inconclusive elections’, under President Jonathan all elections were conclusive.

Jonathan, while President, travelled to London and praised the ‘entrepreneurial’ spirit of Nigerians. President Muhammadu went to London and told the The Telegraph of London that Nigerians ‘reputation for crime had made them unwelcome in Britain’.

Ex President Jonathan never blamed past administrations for the problems, such as a collapsed railway, that he met. He fixed those he could and today our railways are revived. President Muhammadu blames past governments for everything yet he has not fixed any problem.

Some say he has made them worse!

Yet in every other speech President Muhammadu accuses former President Jonathan of destroying Nigeria. If this is not a case of pot calling kettle black then I do not know what will qualify as such!

During the electioneering campaign, both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo’

Again, I say boldly that only a fool expects a President who could not make money for himself in his private business to make money for his nation through public service! It is like expecting a man who could not build a house for himself to build a city for his followers!

Buhari

both promised 3 million jobs in their first year in office (we lost 4.58 million during their first year). And then after reducing the amount to only 200,000 N-Power jobs which are to commence on December 1st, 2016, the government through the Nigerian Communications Commission ‘directed’ GSM firms to hike data tariffs. On the surface, this looked like a plan to rob Peter to pay N-Power.

The situation made me ponder our fate. In other climes, regulators are the ones who direct vendors to reduce prices, but in Nigeria the banking regulator, (CBN) directs banks to charge stamp duty, the telecommunications regulator, (NCC) directs telcos to increase data charges, the road regulators, (FRSC) announces plans to raise charges for number plates and drivers licence, the tax regulators (FIRS) warns that you will require tax clearance to get an international passport, the electricity regulator (NERC) directs GENCOS to increase tariffs!

Does anyone remember that GSM/Internet rate plans collapsed from N3,000 to N1,000 under ‘clueless’ Goodluck Jonathan? I need a witness.

Does anyone recall that fuel price crashed from N97 to N87 under the ‘failed’ PDP administration.

Again, I say boldly that only a fool expects a President who could not make money for himself in his private business to make money for his nation through public service! It is like expecting a man who could not build a house for himself to build a city for his followers!

And someone called Ibrahim Zakari Biu responded to me saying that Buhari was not poor as a private citizen but it was more of a case that he did not love wealth.

But Ibrahim Zakari Biu for the sake of argument let me agree with you that the private citizen Buhari was not poor and only did not love wealth. Whether poor or average or ascetic, the fact remains that it is not prosperity. If President Buhari does not love wealth, Nigerians do. He should not impose his personal vow of poverty on the rest of us. He can remain poor with his family but as for me and my house, we shall prosper in Jesus’ name!

You hired a polytechnic graduate as minister of financial yet you blame Jonathan for recession. You hired a French graduate as agriculture minister yet you blame Jonathan for skyrocketing food prices. You hired a man that does not know how much Nigeria owes as budget minister yet you falsely claimed Jonathan did not save. Your minister of transport read literature which is why he literally gave you credit for railways that Jonathan built. Your minister of power read law

which is why he knows how to defend himself for the powerlessness of his ministry. Your Minister of Information and Culture thinks he can end the recession by turning us all to masquerade dressers. Conclusion: A cartoon loving President can only appoint cartoonish characters as ministers!

And instead of clerics like Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, who openly campaigned for President Buhari during the electioneering campaign to side with the truth, they have turned themselves to apologist for the President’s failure!

Dear Reverend Fr. Mbaka, The wife of an evangelist was beheaded-you kept quiet. Her suspected killers were acquittedyou kept quiet. However, today you have found your voice to defend President Muhammadu Buhari and condemn former President Goodluck Jonathan. As a Reverend Father, were you called

by God to speak for a man who has 5 media aides and advisers and a minister of information all speaking for him or where you called to speak for the poor and powerless children of God who face injustice with no one speaking for them? A seminarian was killed by cattle herders. He was going to be a priest like you. This happened in Enugu where you are based. Where was your voice when I and others were crying for him?

It was too busy defending President Buhari.

Remember Christ’s admonition in Matthew 25:40 “whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren that you do unto me”. Jesus is coming soon Reverend, and you, President Buhari and I as well as all humanity will stand before God in judgment one day!

The truth is that like a heavily made up plain girl, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is fine from far but far from fine.

And just as an aside, let me state that the recent media attempts to implicate my spiritual mentor, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria as the sponsor of Niger Delta Militants is a lie from the pit of hell and comes from the same people that tried to rope in former President Jonathan in August of this year.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor did much damage to the enemies of Christ and of course they would retaliate by trying to damage him. In the interview, the so called militant said that pastor Oritsejafor provides arms to Ijaw militants.

This type of story only comes from people who do not do their research. Pastor Oritsejafor and I are proudly Itsekiri by accident of birth and spiritually Jews by deliberate choice to follow Christ.

Any genuine student of the Niger Delta will know the history of the Ijaws and the Itsekiri and how preposterous and even stupid it will be to suggest that Ijaw militants will be funded by an Itsekiri pastor. The liars should go study recent history then come up with a better lie!

–– Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, author of Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God and Why Jesus Wept and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri

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pg. 20 pg. 26 pg. 35 pg. 40 pg. 41 pg. 44

Ike Ekweremadu

Buhari Fighting Corruption His Own Way

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 3, 2016

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Plus

I Never Knew I Could Get this Far in Politics Though so many things have been written and said about Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, since he joined politics some 20 years ago, he has not stopped being a newsmaker. Ekweremadu shares memories of the struggles that led to his becoming a prominent politician with Bayo Adeoye, his life, the urge to serve, his triumphs, travails and what he thinks about President Muhammadu Buhari’s is fight against corruption

Ekweremadu

Y

ou have been a local government chairman, Secretary to State Government, Chief of Staff and now Deputy Senate President and have been active in politics for over 20 years. What is the secret?

It’s all about God’s grace, not by our power and might. God has used the people to put me in those positions. So, I try as much as possible to remain with the people and connect with them and we give God all the glory.

What was your dream when you joined politics; did you ever think you would come this far?

Well, there was no way I would have thought I would ever get to this level. I just wanted an opportunity to serve my people and to address some of the challenges of my people. Growing up, I saw a lot of challenges facing my people, ranging from poverty to backwardness, infrastructural deficit. So, as a lawyer, I practiced for 10 years before delving into politics, I thought I could address those problems, but I found out that it was not possible for me in my private capacity to do it, that I needed an opportunity that only the government could provide. So I started out from the local government. If you are conversant with the power structure in Igbo land, you would understand the power of age grade in the power equation in the land.

I was the chairman of my age grade for 30 years, I became the president of my town union and in all these opportunities, I try as much as possible to leave a mark. I do what I call purpose driven politics. I have an idea of what I want to achieve in office or before I get to the office, I try to create a milestone for myself. But sometimes, we achieve more beyond the dreams and aspirations we set out for ourselves, all thanks to God. Looking back, I think that it has been quite satisfactory assuming those positions and I am sure you are aware that I am the speaker of ECOWAS parliament, which has also exposed me to different political structures in the region and

I am happy. But, if not for God, it won’t have been possible.

Did you nurse any fear while coming into mainstream politics?

I try not to allow any situation to weigh me down and discourage me from my set goals. I met Nigerian politics in a very rough and raw stage and we pulled through, but things are getting better now. In those days that I ran for local government, it was fight on the streets.

However, I think things have improved now.

There is a lot of civility in a lot of things. The violence and all those stuff have reduced. So we appreciate our people at all times for their contributions.

Did you reach any agreement with Senate President Bukola Saraki to get the slot of Deputy Senate President in 2015?

We faced the reality of politics. Politics is a game of numbers. At the time we were going to the election on the 9th of June 2015, we had 59 APC senators, and 48 PDP senators.

That means the margin between the APC and PDP was roughly 10 senators. There were two APC senators who are contending to be senate president and neither of them could muster up to 51 senators of their members.

So that means each of the contestants has 30 senators each supporting them. So, you want to be senate president with 30 senators and you are talking to 49 senators. What that means is that the number they have is bigger than what you have. In political business, it is required that those with 49 make a request, because that 49 would have changed the cause of things. And don’t forget that the issues of senate president is not about the government in power or highest numbers of senators in power, it is a presidential system, and anybody, in accordance with the constitution can be senate president. Because we want a situation where the party can drive their agenda in the national assembly, we felt it was appropriate to allow them produce a senate president, because if the PDP had wanted to produce a senate president with the number we had and the division APC

had, we would have produced a senate president. But, we felt it does not make sense and the only thing we thought of is to have a bi-partisan leadership. So we looked at the contending parties, the person who had the bipartisan outlook. Don’t forget that Saraki is coming from PDP to APC; he has a better nationalist outlook. He is somebody who is not an extremist in terms of religion and ethnicity. We found that in Saraki and decided to do political business with him. We decided that we were going to vote for him, and in return, they also voted for us for the deputy senate president. And my colleagues decided to nominate me as the candidate of the PDP. Senator Ali Ndume also ran as APC candidate for the deputy senate president.

Some voted for him from APC and some also in PDP. That’s why I had more numbers than the number of PDP in the election. It’s all an idea of building a united senate and for us, once politics is gone and we get to the National Assembly, it’s the way forward.

Political parties are just vehicles to get there and we began to work in the best interest of Nigerians. We hardly see the difference between the PDP and APC. And in terms of how we vote, we look at things from the nationalistic point of view.

Forgery charges were made against you and Saraki; would you say it is witchhunt?

It is essentially related to our emergence as the Senate President and Deputy Senate President. Those who sold the idea to them, for me, acted out of ignorance. From 1999 to 2003, each Assembly, there is always a rule we had. The Senate Rule of 1999, which was amended by the management of the National Assembly and given to the Senate of that year 1999, and you are informed from day one that you’re just a senator-elect, you cannot raise any objection to the rule. The only thing that rule can do for you is to elect you after you have been elected. You can now amend it the way you want till 2003. In accordance with the constitution, the House had been dissolved in 2003, so the rule is

We faced the reality of politics. Politics is a game of numbers. At the time we were going to the election on the 9th of June 2015, we had 59 APC senators, and 48 PDP senators. That means the margin between the APC and PDP was roughly 10 senators. There were two APC senators who are contending to be senate president and neither of them could muster up to 51 senators of their members.

So that means each of the contestants has 30 senators each supporting them. So, you want to be senate president with 30 senators and you are talking to 49 senators. What that means is that the number they have is bigger than what you have. In political business, it is required that those with 49 make a request, because that 49 would have changed the cause of things. And don’t forget that the issues of senate president is not about the government in power or highest numbers of senators in power, it is a presidential system, and anybody, in accordance with the constitution can be senate president. Because we want a situation where the party can drive their agenda in the national assembly, we felt it was appropriate to allow them produce a senate president, because if the PDP had wanted to produce a senate president with the number we had and the division APC had, we would have produced a senate president. But, we felt it does not make sense and the only thing we thought of is to have a bi-partisan leadership…

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DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

Plus From Being a Local Govt. Chairman, I Never Knew I Could Get this Far in Politics also gone. There must be a new rule for the next parliament. That was why in 2003, we had the Senate Rule of 2003, a rule prepared by the management and given to us. I met a rule given to us in 2003, namely Senate Rule 2003 as amended in the cause of our stay in the Senate. We did some amendment in 2007, we all left the Senate. But some of us were re-elected. So, when we came back, we were given another amended constitution in 2007 and we operated that rule until 2011 and that Senate ended with the rule of 2007 so the management also produced another rule for us in 2011, which was given to us on the inauguration day. The same thing happened in 2015 at the floor of the Senate. We were given new set of 2015 rules. So, for some of us who have been there, we are not surprised by the development, because we knew that’s how it has always been. Some of our colleagues complained that there was a rule in 2011 which was used during the orientation programme, but by that time the Assembly had not been proclaimed they had to use the 2011 rules for the orientation. When we came on the day of inauguration, there was a new set of rules, and when they saw it, they were alarmed. So what was their contest? It was that in the 2011 rules they saw in the content that presiding officers, namely the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Chief Whip and Clerk of the House should be nominated and elected by raising of hands. So they were expecting that their party leadership would stay at the gallery and watch who raised hands. Unfortunately for them, the rule had also been amended by the management of the National Assembly, which of course, was within their powers. The House settled for secret balloting. We were there and they started reading out the rules of engagement; what would happen on how the Ekweremadu Senate President and Deputy Senate President kidnapping PDP politicians and asking them would be elected and it must be by secret to pay ransom. Look at what is happening ballot. So we were all given ballot papers and in the oil industry and nobody is pursuing we voted. So, some claimed that there was it. There are strategic places that we need to forgery, some of them wrote to the police, but tackle in government. I think that government in fairness to them, none of them who wrote needs to sit down with the people to fashion to the police said Ekweremadu forged any a more realistic way to tackle corruption. document or Saraki also. What they were say- I must give it to him, there is some kind ing was that they didn’t know when it was of sanity in the system. I also believe that amended. That was the only thing they said impunity has reduced. We need to fight corthey never accused anybody. So it was the ruption in a more civilised manner; making police that looked into it and that there was sure that the rule of law is respected. If we nobody to be charged and no offence was ignore the rule of law, whatever we do will committed at all. But because of the pressure be misinterpreted. I had to be sure that same the government in power was putting on standard is applied across board irrespective them, they moved the whole thing to the our political differences. office of the Attorney-General. Looking at all the documents before us, no offence has been The seeming war between the executive committed. So they sent it back to the police and legislature is no doubt dragging the and asked them to further their investigation. country back, what is the solution?

There was nothing to investigate if you come I don’t think there is any war going on. there a thousand times they will say there is What is happening is that the executive arm nothing Ekweremadu did, neither Saraki. So has refused to carry along the parliament. the police left it; but due to pressure from the Don’t forget that our structure in the Senate, highest quarters, the Attorney-General went where we have executive arm of governahead to charge us to court for forgery. What ment doing two possible terms in office they charged us for was the statement that of four years each also envisage that those was made to the police. If you match it to in parliament, as far as their constituents the offence that was being charged, it doesn’t want them to go back, they keep coming make sense, so there was no connection. If back. The idea is how to build institutional you charge a case at the federal high court, democracy. So we expect that when there is you have what they call proof of evidence, a new government, they should also turn which includes the statement of the witnesses. over to the parliament in order to know But no witness was prepared to come and how things are done because some of us say Ekweremadu or anybody committed any have been there several times. As for me, I offence. Government realised that instead of have seen four presidents namely: Obasanjo, wasting public funds to prosecute us, they Yar’adua, Jonathan and now Buhari. So if a withdrew the case because it was heading matter comes up now, the parliament needs nowhere. I have left it behind and forgiven to be consulted. So those who have been those who are behind the conspiracy. there know how it is done. All the problem we had in the budget issue was due to the President Buhari is fighting corruption; fact that everybody we had in that circle was do you think he is fighting it the normal new. Prior to that, the offices of the Senate way?

President and the deputy have also tried to I think he is fighting it the best way he coordinate the budget, but that didn’t happen knows. Maybe, if I were the president I last year because the APC wanted it their would have done a different thing. For him, own way and we had all issues. That is part the end justifies the means. But in a democra- of the things that caused the rancour between cy, the end doesn’t justify the means, both the the legislative and the parliament, which is end and the means are very important. See lack of engagement. Prior to this government, what they are talking about the PDP election every two weeks, we used to have meeting expenses. If you say Enugu State spent N450 between the President and Vice-President and million and this money was given to Enugu the leadership of the Senate. But it doesn’t State from the office of the National Security happen any longer. Since this leadership Adviser. So you are telling the people who came into the National Assembly, we just disbursed the funds to return that money met once with the president, which is not the or you charge them to court. What are you correct thing to do. Sometimes, they invite the going to charge them with? In law, you have Senate President and the Speaker; they forget to establish that the money came from the they are just two people out of 20; because office of the NSA. You have to establish that they have 10 in the leadership of the House the money was stolen and that those you and 10 in the leadership of the Senate. There gave the money knew the money was stolen is no way you can engage 20 persons by before you can secure a conviction. And talking to two people. But unfortunately, that that’s why nobody is being charged, because has not been happening. If you engage the they knew what they are chasing, because full leadership of the House in matters that no offence has been committed. You have concern the country, people will come with to establish that the principal person who ideas and tell you this will work and this will disbursed the money stole it. It is just like

not. They will advise you on how to go about every policy. Don’t forget that it is the same constituent that Buhari is caring about that we are also caring about. They elected us the same way he was elected and we don’t have different people to care about. That is why at all time, we should be on the same page on all issues. The National Assembly is ever ready to work with the president, but they are creating a gulf between the Presidency and the Senate and it is completely unnecessary. I think there should be shared responsibility and vision on matters concerning the welfare of Nigerians.

Nigerians are suffering under the yoke of recession. What is the way out?

Well, for me, the way out borders on engagement. We need to engage ourselves in the policy of the government on how to get out of recession and the parliament would in turn will sell it to the people they are representing. But where the government is fighting to take us out of recession and those efforts are not in accord with the reality on ground, we are likely to run into problem.

There is need for cordial engagement. We all need to make sacrifice to ensure we get ourselves out of recession. So, we can only make sacrifice when we engage ourselves in discussions, talking about diversifying our economy. Look at the legislative list in the country, it favours the federal government more. If you want us to come out of recession, empower the various states. And by doing that, you are empowering various people. So, how can you empower the states by taking some things from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, the resources of the country, both the solid and liquid minerals?

In that way, they will make their own effort, depending on the Federal Government in releasing funds through the resources available in their states I did a study that every state in Nigeria have a solid mineral that can make them self-sufficient, but they can’t develop it because it is all in the exclusive list.

We need to do fiscal restructuring, each state would be self-sustaining financially. But right now, we are talking about bailouts, which means that each state would have to fall back to the Federal Government, which originally is not the idea of a federal structure. Each state is also meant to contribute to the economy. But we have a centre that is feeding the component units. We need to work on all that. I have pointed all these out if we must come out of recession. I believe that things like refinery are things we need to give priority to. I mean construction of refinery. We are going to save a whole lot of money from importation of fuel product. We are going to save the money we use in buying the product from overseas and this money we spend are moneys we realised in the sale of crude oil.

So, if we do that, we save a lot of money and the exchange rate will also improve.

As for me, I have seen four presidents namely: Obasanjo, Yar’adua, Jonathan and now Buhari. So if a matter comes up now, the parliament needs to be consulted. So those who have been there know how it is done. All the problem we had in the budget issue was due to the fact that everybody we had in that circle was new. Prior to that, the offices of the Senate President and the deputy have also tried to coordinate the budget, but that didn’t happen last year because the APC wanted it their own way and we had all issues. That is part of the things that caused the rancour between the legislative and the parliament, which is lack of engagement.

Prior to this government, every two weeks, we used to have meeting between the President and VicePresident and the leadership of the Senate. But it doesn’t happen any longer. Since this leadership came into the National Assembly, we just met once with the president, which is not the correct thing to do. Sometimes, they invite the Senate President and the Speaker; they forget they are just two people out of 20; because they have 10 in the leadership of the House and 10 in the leadership of the Senate. There is no way you can engage 20 persons by talking to two people. But unfortunately, that has not been happening.

What are your plans for the future, politically?

I don’t make any plan for myself; God makes plans for me. I do my best in every opportunity made available to me. I have to work so that those who elected me would be proud of me, make sure my colleagues would be happy and ensure that I am productive and leave a milestone.

2019 is approaching and your people are agitating for power. Do you think you have the clout and experience to contest?

Politics is not a capacity business; it is dynamic. Circumstances threw up Jonathan and he became president. Circumstances threw up Buhari and he became president after four attempts. He came at the right time and it happened. I am not bothered about 2019. But I will make use of the opportunity I have now if 2019 comes up and it is the desire of my people and Nigerians to give me an opportunity at a higher level, I will thank them and make the best out of it. Otherwise, I thank God for what I am today.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016 with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Michael Ikpoki, CEO of MTN

MTN - Welcome to the Market I was delighted when I saw the front page piece that MTN has started talks with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the possibility of listing its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. If this move goes through, it will be positive in many ways. First, it will deepen the market, giving both the traders and the investors enough shares to deal in. It will improve the liquidity of the market, increase its capitalisation and finally lure more firms like it to the market. So you see why I am happy at this development. The sheer size of this offer if well handled would shore up the All Share Index and give Dangote cement a run for its money as the largest capitalised stock on the market.

All hands should be on deck to support this move as it is now looking as the only positive news to come out of that market in a while. I am sure my former colleagues would be salivating in their little red gowns, awaiting this ‘gbemu’ , that’s what they call major deals on the market. I miss the frenzy of the market. Guys, I used to be a broker o.

I traded for my Oga Chukwujama as a young broker in the market but I guess that life was not for me, as I bought when everybody sold and sold when everybody bought, I quickly retire abeg.

But today, it’s not about me, it is about MTN. Congratulations and I wish a significant part of your shareholding is offered and at a good price so that the average Nigerian can also afford to partake. I hope this move would inspire that other one whose major work is to be denigrating Ibibio people in television commercials to also come to the market. Kai, where will I get money to buy these shares when they come out?

Jimoh Ibrahim: Comedian at Large I never knew he had it in him. This piece would have been more hilarious if I could mention the name of the other combatants, but I had sworn never to yab him again. Moreover, since he just came out, we should allow him to rest small even though he himself no wan rest. If you guys have been following the exchanges between these two, you would laugh and roll on the floor forgetting that you can no longer afford to eat in this Nigeria. Jimoh Ibrahim won this battle of wits with his precise and pinpoint jabs that hit the mark and made his opponent cringe to defensive mode. His response to the lady sending him a tweet, asking him to be her Sugar Daddy was a classic that would even make Alibaba look amateurish.

He offered to send her to school after which he would get her a job in a sugar factory. This shows that if Nigeria does not have any use for him in politics or business, we can find a job for him in the comedy circuit. Baba, I hail o. Your yabis are second to none o. I can just imagine you on stage at the Eko Convention Centre with your sexy tummy (I am sure that was what the lady saw, not your money, cos we doubt if there is any left - NICON and all the businesses don finish) in your beloved ankara and

Jimoh Ibrahim

Toke Makinwa

Kemi Adeosun : Reno You Missed It Look Reno, I hear you attended Command Secondary School in Ipaja, making you my junior so I will speak to you today with that mindset. I have been reading and following your positions since you made yourself the unofficial spokesman for ‘dissidents based in the U.S.’. I must say sha that your positions have been quite commendable especially the way you use facts and data to make your point and I have hailed you on this same page.

But this time, I think you missed it.

Your pillorying madam’s qualifications and Alma Mater as the reason for this recession is taking things to a childish level of simplicity. That argument if you were serious about it is beneath what I want to believe is your level of intellectual sagacity.

To say the least, it was pedestrian and self-serving. You kindly forgot that your master read zoology and went about for years without shoes in the bushes of Otueke and in your mind’s eye, this did not affect the way he ruled us, this did not make him see us as animals in a zoo. Brother, no be wetin you study

dishing out yabis, the whole hall would just be rolling on the floor. By the way, what are your plans for T.B. Joshua who predicted your victory? Any missiles for him? No fear abeg, Oga just send one let me laugh.

Toke Makinwa’s Book - Advice to Maje Ayida My brother, I have read snippets from your ex -wife’s book and I must say, she finish you o. From giving her STI to watching you having sex with your lovely mistress-cum-babymother, the woman no leave anything to the imagination. I hear all the women in Lagos

or where you study am o, na how you apply yourself. Madam Kemi is obviously biting more than she can chew right now but I tell you even the President of the IMF will also struggle with the wahala in our economy today. But let me even state very clearly here that even though we are still very far from the light, I still admire Madam Kemi’s stoic resolve to continue to face the challenge even though she is being pummelled from all sides. The best we can do is not to distract her until she at least gets to the next cabinet reshuffle. So my brother, let’s not look at the qualifications but her policies and send constructive criticisms that would help her. That is the patriotic thing to do, after all what did you yourself read that gave you the qualifications to handle whatever it was you handled in the last disposition. By the way, when are you coming home sef? Leave all these overseas socio -political crusade, come home and join hands with home-grown dissidents and see how truly the music plays. I tire American Social critic.

are buying the book and it has now sold out. Just last night, I was with a female journalist who had read the book and was enjoying all the gists and expose, even Tiwa Savage did not go this length. This woman has killed you o.

But don’t worry my brother, my advice to you is simple: do not react o. Do not say a word. It is frustration and jealousy that is doing her. I am sure when she watched the video she must have seen her inadequacies, hence this massive attempt at ruining you. But what she does not know is that she has made you more attractive to other women, because they really do like bad boys. I tell you

Yemi Shodimu

from personal experience. I am badder than you o but they still disturb me like no man business. So don’t worry you are still in business. But sha, hope you have cured the STI. That one is not really good and that your Lebanese/ Calabar woman, does she have a sister?

My brother Maje, you are my hero and I have been begging our mutual friend, Segun Akande, to give me an intro but the Mohawk-wearing short man has been too busy fighting Lanre Olusola.

So this is my reach out as I give you my shoulder to cry on. By the way, do you still have a clip of the sex tape? You can send to a brother to learn one thing or the other and finally, should you ever decide to write your own book against my advice, I volunteer to ghost-write it for you. I get experience. Let’s do this.

Toke wins this round. Kai, women, they never cease to amaze you.

Isale Eko - Yemi Shodimu Emerges Executive Producer Isale Eko, that play I am trying to put on stage with my friends, Olisa Adibua and Nsebong Ekong has just received a fresh burst of energy with the emergence of the iconic and versatile creative genius, Yemi Shodimu as co-executive producer. Yemi comes to the production suite with years of uncanny and unparalleled contribution to the creative industry. His mandate is clear: strengthen the script, ensure historical accuracy and lend his years of experience as the production begins its journey to the stage. Congrats Egbon .

Nnamdi Nwankwo - Let Me Yab You Small It was his birthday sometime this week and I have decided to yab him small as I no get money buy am gift na.

This bros is a superman who carries his chest like he can fight. He will just be frowning and making everybody fear him like Godzilla. But deep in his heart, he is a nice person. I think he just puts on that facade to protect his fragile heart. I have come to know the true Nnamdi and since then, I have stopped shaking when he walks in. The fine-dresser and consummate banker has been a brother to me in the last one year. He has lent me money, shouted at me, threatened to castrate me and hugged me at the same time. He is such a colourful character that you can’t ignore. A strong personality, passionate professional, say what you like about Nnamdi, he remains a loyal soldier and dedicated workaholic. All these praises na make he fit give me the Gucci bag he promised me o. He has shown me the bag, made me salivate and keep telling me he will give me. Well, I am tired of waiting and hereby announce to the whole world that I would storm his office at exactly noon on Monday December 5 when he would be having his Monday meetings and grab the bag right in front of him and run into a waiting car across the street and unlike that Nollywood producer, nobody will catch me o. Happy birthday bros, you self just give me the bag na.

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

SPY GLASS

Worry Over Ooni of Ife, Brother’s Animosity

Royal War! Brothers at War! Kingship Tussle! All these may read like the familiar Nollywood movie titles. But beyond the cinematic or filmic setting, the hitherto unreported sad development in the Ile-Ife Kingdom may aptly fit into any of these descriptions. Or how better can one describe the smouldering war between the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his brother, Adetunji Ogunwusi?

Spy Glass gathered that Adetunji Ogunwusi, who is also a top player in the real estate business, has allegedly refused to see eye- to- eye with the Ooni, since he lost the contest for the throne over a year ago.

As proof of his displeasure, Adetunji has allegedly shunned several attempts by their father, Ropo Ogunwusi, to resolve the matter.

However, the silent war reached its crescendo when the Ooni honoured another of his sibling, Adegboyega, with the title of Sooko Laekun of Ife (the Sooko of Ile Ife is the head of the princes and princesses of the Kingdom). This, it was learnt, further infuriated Adetunji, who allegedly vowed never to have anything to do with the Ooni.

Worried by this unsavoury development, top personalities and some elders in the town and across the state are doing everything possible to reunite the brothers who used to be business partners. The Ooni has also reportedly extended a hand of friendship to his brother in an effort to end the bitter war.

Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife will be celebrating his first year on the throne on December 7. Consequently, the ancient town is now agog and in frenetic preparation for the ceremony. Top hotels have been fully booked in preparations for the ceremony.

The week-long ceremony, which kicked off yesterday in Lagos with breakfast with the handsome monarch at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, will climax on December 7.

Stephen Omamuli’s Excites Customers

Over the years, Stephen Omamuli, boss of Class Hospitality Limited, has been passionately committed to redefining the hospitality business in Nigeria. Since he started his business in 2004, he has become a reference point in the nation’s hospitality business. This is not a mean feat,

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 as those close to him attribute it to his relentless efforts to distinguish the services provided by his outfit, a wholly hotel management and consultancy company.

Having painstakingly studied the business environment, Omamuli, also a lawyer, is set to change the game with the launch of the Class Hospitality Reward Club, a rewarding package for his loyal customers.

This novel scheme will see his customers getting loyalty cards that will enable them gather points to win free rooms on a regular basis depending on frequency of their entries.

For the Delta State- born businessman, there is need to reward loyal customers who, over the years, had kept faith with Class Hospitality by making hotels under its brand their second home.

Interestingly, the launch of the reward club coincided with the birthday celebration of the respected businessman. It was a fun-filled moment for his esteemed guests as well as his customers on the occasion, which is still the talk of town.

Akin Alabi: Tale of a Desperado

During the last general elections, Akin Alabi, a businessman and NairaBET bosss, offered to serve his people in the Egbeda/ Ona-ara Local Government of Oyo State in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Though he put in his all during the electioneering process, he lost the bid to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

However, developments after that unsettling loss seem to point to one fact: a desperado in quest of power by all means. Spyglass gathered that the recent defection of the NairaBET boss to the ruling APC is part of his political desperations. It was revealed that he had hoped to use the defection to lure some top political heavyweights, especially the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, his side. But the plan could not fly, as not only Ajimobi but many of the state top APC chieftains were absent during the welcome party to the APC. The reason, it was learnt, is that he is regarded as a paper weight politician with low political value.

Still pursuing his agenda, Alabi is also said to have reached out to the party national leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, through the former governor’s friends, in an effort to get his nod. But the efforts, it was learnt, did not yield the desired fruits.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is Humility Personified

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant”, this quote

by Max DePree aptly captures the quality of Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The governor popularly known as Gburugburu, is surely a rare political breed whose attitude is worth emulating. Despite his great achievements in life, the former member House of Representatives remains humble and still sees humility as way of life.

Humility, many say, should be his second name. This may not be an exaggeration when you take the pain to study his lifestyle, philosophy and human relations, even as the number one man in the state. In all his dealings, he would leave you with one impression: that he is a good Christian. This lover of the masses spends his spare time in total worship of God. Also, Ugwuanyi, who is described as a prayer warrior, doesn’t make any move or take any step without seeking the divine guidance.

His sustaining power, sources said is firmly rooted in his absolute trust in God and in the efficacy of prayers.

A strong believer in the power of the masses, Ugwuanyi was said to have pitched his tent with the masses long before he entered into public office. That relationship has strengthened since he became governor with his sure-footed and dedicated service to the people of the state.

This sense of dedication to the needs to the people is said to be responsible for his growing reputation among the followers across the state.

Even as governor of a state, Ugwuanyi’s simple lifestyle and sense of modesty still confound many who wonder how a man would combine such high office with simplicity without either of them suffering.

Ugwuanyi remains the only lawmaker in Nigeria to have been a two-term Chairman on Marine Transport in the House of Representatives till date. This showed the level of trust and confidence his colleagues in the parliament reposed in him. Prior to that time, he had held the position of Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, where he helped enact the all important Pension Act 2004.

Following his party’s primary election of December 8, 2014 in Enugu, Ugwuanyi won PDP’s gubernatorial ticket, which made him the State’s PDP governorship candidate for the 2015 general election. However, another PDP

gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Ayogu Eze, was not happy with the conduct of the primary. Eze went to court to challenge the legitimacy of Ugwuanyi’s emergence as the PDP’s flag-bearer for Enugu State governorship seat. But his petition was finally dismissed by Justice Evoh Stephen Chukwu, an Abuja Federal High Court Judge, who ruled that Ugwuanyi’s election in the gubernatorial primary was legitimate and legally binding,

Shina Peller Under Fire

His name is synonymous with night club business in Nigeria.

Having been plying his trade for some years, the CEO of Aquila Group of Companies has continuously redefined the face of the business to the admiration of all.

His entry into the business had been hailed by many who know his antecedent as an accomplished entrepreneur. From the outset, his vision was clear and his strategies were also realistic. Consequently, since Aquilox Nite Club kicked off, he has proved that he has that Midas touch to change the clubbing business in Nigeria.

Aquilox, we learnt, is now a meeting point for top businessmen, politicians and die-hard fun lovers, among others, from across social divides. Besides its neat ambience, the club also runs a very tight security system that makes many of its patrons confident of their safety.

However, the outfit, which is regarded as one of the biggest and most luxurious in the continent of Africa, seems to be sliding into infamy, as many are now complaining of the alleged shabby treatment they get from the club.

Many who spoke to Spy Glass lamented the lack of respect for patrons of the club by the management, a situation that has constantly resulted in fracas at the Club.

The upscale fun place is allegedly fast becoming a black spot, owing largely to the administrative style of the place, where patrons and customers are not treated equally.

The top socialite is also the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Oil and Gas Limited, a new-generation, systems-driven oil and gas firm that has made a strong presence in the oil sector in its 12 years of existence.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2016

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24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

VINTAGE TOE EKECHI

Araba Title as Handshake Across a Troubled Niger Raheem Akingbolu, who witnessed the conferment of honorary title of Araba ofTemidire Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on the Chairman of Allianz Media as well as Marketing and Media, Dr.TOE Ekechi, writes that the occasion was a right step towards unifying Nigeria

W

hen he was conferred with the title, Ugo Eji Ejemba of Ngor Okapala, comprising of 31 autonomous communities in his native Imo State, Theordore Okwurunicheta Ejike Ekechi, popularly called TOE, it was a recognition well-deserved. But little did he know that across the Niger, in far away Ekiti State, honour would come again.

At the occasion, which was put together to celebrate the first coronation anniversary of the Amuro of Temidire Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area, Oba Ayodele Kupoluyi, Ekechi and few other prominent Nigerians were honoured. Ekechi was installed as the ‘Araba’ while his wife, Benedicta, was installed as ‘Yeye Araba’. Others honoured with chieftaincy titles included Chief Olatunbosun Isijola, ‘Bobagunwa of Temidire’; Solagbade Alabi, an engineer as Bobajiroro; his wife, Magdalene, as ‘Yeye Bobajiroro’; Sir Dozie Mbanefo as ‘Gbobaniyi’ and Chief Ojo Afolayan as ‘Asojuoba’.

The Elekole of Ikole Ekiti and paramount ruler of Egbeoba Land, Oba Adewumi Fasiku, led other royal fathers to the ceremony which attracted people from all walks of life. Oba Kupoluyi became the king after the death of Oba Olabode Falade and received his Staff of Office on October 21, 2015.

The star of the occasion was, however, Ekechi, who was conferred with the title ‘Araba of Temidire’ attracted more ovation from residents and guests because of the way friends and Igbo leaders, who came with him showered encomiums on him, describing Elechi as a passionate Nigerian who mixes freely with all, regardless of tribes or religion.

It was not the first time, Dr. Ekechi would be so honoured but perhaps the fact that this came from Yorubaland made the difference.

An Igbo trader based in Isaba area in Ikole, who simply introduced himself as Mike Agoawike, confessed that he came to the palace to witness the event uninvited.

He disclosed that he was moved by the story he heard from home during the last Christmas in Imo State about Dr. Ekechi and he considered it necessary to close his shop on this Friday to be part of the programme.

From left, Dr. Theodore ‘TOE’ Ekechi, Chairman of Marketing and Media Limited and Allianz Media Limited, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ayodele Ayodeji Kupoluyi, the Amuro of Temidire-Ekiti and CEO of Starcom Media, his wife, Olori Omorinsola, and Chief (Mrs) Tata TOE-Ekechi, after the installation of the Ekechis as the Araba and Yeye Araba of Temidire Ekiti respectively at the first coronation anniversary of the Oba Kupoluyi...recently

“I am an indigene of Imo State but have been based in Ikole for 13 years. Though not invited for this event, I was shocked when I heard on Ekiti Radio that Dr. Ekechi, a man of honour from my state, would be honoured in Temidire. I didn’t know him but was moved by what I heard about him during my last visit to the village for the Christmas.

He has helped many people and did a lot of things to move our state forward,” Agoawike explained.

It would be recalled that Ekechi, who is the Chairman of Marketing+Media Limited and Allianz Media Limited, was recently honoured by the 31 communities of Ngor Okpala in Imo State with the title of Ugo Eji Ejemba (Eagle Worthy of Representing a Nation) of Ngor Okpala, on him. Ugo means an eagle in Igbo language. As the adage goes; when the eagle lands, other birds scamper for safety. With the way stakeholders in various communities reacted to the occasion, the leaders knew they could not have made a better choice Earlier, Oba Kupoluyi, had admitted that he wouldn’t have been where he is today if not because of the impact those honoured made on him as friends and business

partners.

“My decision to confer honorary title on some of my friends and community leaders was informed by their contribution to my career and by extension the development of our dear community. They have become part of us in this community and I’m not in doubt that the partnership would take further develop the town” the king said.

The new Araba of Temidire, appreciated the monarch for the honour done him with a promise and willingness to partner the monarch to transform the community. Ekechi, an indigene of Imo State, said the title conferred on him was an expression of love across the Niger and by the title, he has now become part of Temidire town. “With the acceptance of the title, it implies that I have made a commitment to the aspirations of the community because for a community to which I have a title as high as Araba (the big tree) I have to be committed to its progress.

I have accepted to be defined by that which they value so naturally. I must be showing interest in what happens in this community,” Ekechi promised.

He explained that for an Igbo person like him to be bestowed with such a high title in

Yorubaland, it showed the future of the country was not only bright but assured. He said the title, ‘Araba’ in Igbo language, means ‘Okosisi’ which translates to the unshakeable tree in a forest that serves as a landmark.

“It also signifies that Nigeria has a greater future as a prosperous and peaceful entity. I see this title as symbolic and very significant in within the circumstances of Nigeria’s geopolitical equation where is there is so much cry of divisiveness from different extremes of the country. For this (title) to happen, there is indeed handshake across the Niger” he said.

Ekechi, who himself has tried his hands on politics, advised politicians to dwell on issues that unite the nation rather than those threatening disintegration.

“I have learnt over the years that politicians only talk about lack of unity and cohesion when things do not benefit them.

They talk about disintegration only when things do not benefit them, personally,” he said.

Not only has Ekechi made his mark as a successful businessman in Nigeria with interests in advertising and marketing communications, commodity brokerage, solar energy and consultancy services, he has also used his wealth and resources to empower many youths of the area. Many people in his area believe he is a good ambassador of the clan who has done his best to bring positive development to the area.

On the monarch and the impact his reign has had on the people, the Chairman of the Coronation Anniversary Central Planning Committee, Chief Gbenga Babalola, said: “Within the last one year on the throne of his fathers, he has been able to achieve what has not been possible in our 63 years of existence in Temidire.”

On his ascension, Oba Kupoluyi said he never thought of becoming a king but eventually became one by divine grace. He noted that the last one year had been both challenging and worthwhile for him. He added that the support he received from the people of the town had kept him going.

“We are committed to peace, unity and development of our community. This is our focus and we are committed to delivering that within the shortest possible time.

Carnival of New Lagos Enabled by the Lagos State Government, though purely packaged byWhite Stars, “The Lagos Street Party, a two-day street carnival, begins today in Victoria Island with 500,000 fun-seekers converging to herald the advent of Yuletide. Gboyega Akinsanmi writes

Y

uletide is here again with all its signs. After 11 months of shrinking economy, Nigerians look forward to some good moments, which they believe the new season will offer. Already, White Stars, an entertainment firm, has wrapped up “The Lagos Street Party (TLSP)” for residents to have some fun and relax their mind in spite of the country’s economic conditions.

Unlike One Lagos Fiesta, conceived and driven by the state government, the street carnival, which kicks off today and ends tomorrow, is purely a private initiative. With support from the state government, White Stars came up with the initiative to enable residents herald Yuletide with some amusement.

Executive Director of White Stars, Mr. Akin Akinyelure explained that the street carnival “is to provide a platform for the residents to relax and enjoy themselves within two days.” He added that it would indeed offer real entertainment, live music, diverse cuisine and creative indigenous games in a beautiful environment.

The first day, according to him, will feature colourful cultural parades, displays, acrobatic acts and live performances by several musicians from Nigeria. He named some musicians that would be at the party to include, Olamide, Phyno, MI Abaga, Kaffy and Ice Prince while some of the DJs are Humblesmith DJ Spinall, and DJ Lambo.

Akinyelure, therefore, assured that the

street carnival would truly be two days of amusement and fun. He, also, noted that the organisers would not limit the artistes “to a particular number. Several artistes will perform at the two-day party. While some will perform briefly, others may perform more.”

The carnival will not leave any category of people behind, according to White Stars’ director. He noted that there “is provision for senior citizens and elder statesmen at the carnival. We are planning something special for them in terms of high life music in order for them to relax and enjoy themselves within the two days.”

Besides entertainment and fun-making, the carnival offers upcoming artisans and tradesmen a platform to exhibit their skill and talent, which Akinyelure said, fit into the agenda of the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. So, he said, there would be an exhibition section at the carnival, and that the park exhibitions would a mini type.

However, he said there “is a bigger plan coming up soon. It is the governor’s idea to help artisans and tradesmen who do not have platforms to exhibit their skill and talent. We have decided the carnival will provide an avenue for people to exhibit their skill and talent. We believe that visitors to the state will be able to see what Lagos residents can produce.”

The street party will indeed be a carnival of New Lagos, according to the Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde. Also, the commissioner said, “It is

a gain of Lagos brand campaign,” which he said, was launched “to showcase the state’s potentials for tourism, arts and entertainment globally.”

Ayorinde explained the significance of the street carnival, which he said, at least one million fun lovers across the state “are expected to attend the street carnival. It is a mega street carnival to welcome Yuletide in an unusual way. It will also kick-start series of festivities lined up to celebrate Yuletide into New Year.”

The commissioner said at least 500,000 persons “are expected each day, thus bringing the number of participants to one million. It will hold from mid-day to 12 midnight between December 3 and 4, 2016.

The carnival will witness local and foreign visitors.” Contrary to what some people think, he said, it will not kill other carnivals like One Lagos Fiesta, but complement them.

Aside, Ayorinde assured that the state government “has made adequate preparation for the success of the carnival.” On security concern, he said there was nothing to fear, citing the success the state recorded when it held One Lagos Fiesta between December 27 and 31, 2015. In Agege alone, according to him, about one million converged without any record of conflict, violence or unrest.

He, thus, said the case of “The Lagos Street Party” would be better handled. Already, he said adequate security “has been made for the carnival. There will be security officers on ground. We have already made arrangement with the State Police Command, Rapid

Response Squad and Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit to ensure security of lives and properties.”

Ayorinde, equally, cited the gain of Lightup Lagos, which he said, gave residents confidence “to drive, even walk anytime.

Under the Ambode administration, almost all highways, inner-city roads and streets have been lit. Aside, security operatives patrol all nooks and crannies of the state day and night. So, we have nothing to fear at all. We have made adequate security arrangement.”

On this note, the commissioner explained that the street carnival “is in line with Ambode’s initiative to use entertainment in driving the state economy and market the state’s potentials to domestic and foreign investors,” who he said, would contribute meaningfully towards making Lagos Africa’s model megacity.

However, the street carnival will lead to the closure of Ahmadu Bello Way, a major road in Victoria Island. Aside, it will lead to cordoning off Tiamiyu Savage, Akin Adesola and Bishop Oluwole on December 3 and December 4. But Ayorinde said alternative routes would be created for motorists.

Early this week, the acting Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Olarenwaju Elegushi allayed fear and panic the street carnival “has generated,” noting that businesses “do not have to close down because of the carnival.”

Elegushi assured that adequate arrangement “has been made to ensure traffic flows with ease.”

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES BY

The Public: No ‘General’

T

HE Guardian front and inside pages of November 24 welcome us to this month with on unauthentic line: “…distabilising (destabilizing) the political landscape.” “…despite the incalculable damages (damage) he has done to the judiciary.” “…is now holding at (on) the office premises, NHIS Headquarters, UtakoAbuja, at the same time.”

Still on THE GUARDIAN: “The latest decampee (defector) to the APC is….”

“He was received with so much enthusiasm when he decamped (defected) to the APC….” “…the drive to educate the general public (the public) on the importance of….”

“Meanwhile, as part of its cooperate (corporate) social responsibility….” “…to embrace a healthy lifestyle in other (order) to reduce the effect of the scourge.” “…said that the day is (was) a day set aside by….”

“He assured of more reliable and accurate result….” Who did he assure?

Now the last entry from THE GUARDIAN under review: “More winners emerge in Ribena Back To School scholarship” Education: Ribena Back-toSchool Scholarship We continue with this front page impropriety from last week’s edition of this medium: “…has withdrawn majority (a majority) of the police security details.”

“I was taught in the Army that where there is conflict (a conflict), the next strategy is actually rebuilding.” “…PMB became the flag-bearer (standard bearer) of the APC.” “With a new man at the helm of

affairs at Stamford after the sack of Jose Mourinho….” Global soccer: just at the helm at Stamford. Adding “of affairs” indicates illiteracy!

“Pictures show some of the people who were there to pay their last respect (respects) to the….” “…thereby resulting to (in) death.”

THE Guardian of October 14 fumbled two times: “The United States has donated a whooping (whopping) N995 billion to the Multinational Joint Task Force to boost military operations against the Boko Haram insurgency, the U.S. government has said.” Conscience, Nurtured by Truth: no whooping cough, please “Also, the (The) Presidency has pledged to garner the necessary investments to improve the wheeling capacity of the nation’s transmission infrastructure.” Would it have been ‘unnecessary’ investments?

Still on THE GUARDIAN under focus: “He said that is (was) why he would come back to salvage the state and rescue it to put it back to realize it’s (its) pride of place as he left it in 2003 and go even beyond that.”

“Cash and carry (Cash-and-carry) democracy, bane of Nigeria’s development” “Falana supports Soyinka’s objections on (to) Sexual Offences Bill” “Train to become a certified child care personnel (official)” ‘Personnel’ is a collective noun.

“In other jurisdiction (another jurisdiction or other jurisdictions), you don’t just file for the sake of filing, you can’t just take a matter for the sake of taken (taking) it.”

“We therefore regret any inconveniences this might cause our esteem (esteemed) distributors. This announcement is ordered by Tiens Group—Nige-

ria.”

“NDIC boss charges corps members on bank saving (bank-saving) culture” “…and newly-elected officials swornin (sworn in) at the federal and state levels….” Phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation.

“Oil swap (Oil-swap) contracts: AITEO not front for Jonathan, AlisonMadueke—Spokesperson” Except if the headline caster meant that oil was swapping contracts!

“Jigawa council chairmen pledge support to (for) APC govt” “I wish you many more years in good health and prosperity, to further your accomplishments to (in) journalism and humanity (service to humanity, you mean?)”

“I and my wife, Lady (My wife, Lady…and I….) Etymological sequence is critical to good writing.

“Use of made-in Nigerian (Nigeria) cars by Mr. President (Buhari) will lift auto industry” “Tribunal will recover Abia stolen mandate, APGA chieftain assures” Who did the chieftain assure?

“Soyinka laments Chibok girls (girls’) continued captivity” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY, October 16) THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 9 comes up next with the following errors: “Dangote commissions (inaugurates/auspicates/launches, et al) $500 million cement plant in Ethiopia” “Buhari to flag off (inaugurate) super highway in Cross River” “First and foremost, you must look at the PDP; they mismanaged their victory and haven (having) mismanaged the victory….”

“The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria…played very prominent roles during the electioneering campaigns that ushered in the

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

new administration.” ‘Electioneering’ and ‘campaigns’ cannot co-exist in the same lexical environment as the former encompasses the latter.

From THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 2 issues the next set of diseased lines: “Ekweremadu: Igbos (Igbo) right to vote for PDP” “On the occasion of your birthday anniversary….” For the umpteenth time, ‘birthday’ and ‘anniversary’ cannot cofunction. ‘Birthday’ is the anniversary/ commemoration of one’s birth.

FEEDBACK

TAKE note that the old, grammatical rule that “one” must be followed by “one” and its parts –“one, one’s, oneself”, has changed. The feeling that the repetition of “one”—one’s (e.g. One must do what one can to ensure one’s family a decent standard of living) makes for a stilted style has now led to the permissible shift from “one, one’s” to “he, his” (e.g. One must do what he can to ensure his family a decent standard of living).

In general, a shift in the number or nature of pronouns is undesirable, but this particular shift is established usage. Examples: When one is in power and things go his way in highly competitive elections, his first task is to fight his own mentality. Perhaps one has gone to the university where he has been given the wrong orientation that his degree is an opportunity to reach for the skies just like that. One could be said to hate himself if he lacks self–confidence in his abilities.

Every user of the language, particularly every journalist or communicator, must keep abreast of the current changes—the dynamics—in the language. (BAYO OGUNTUNASE/08056180046)

‘Nigeria Needs Men of Integrity’ Fadekemi Ajakaiye

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igerians need to imbibe integrity as a way of life, former Minister of finance Dr. Shamsudeen Usman has said.

Usman spoke after, he was inducted, alongside five others, as Fellows of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN) at its 2016 yearly Presidential dinner and induction ceremony in Lagos.

At the event, which also saw the induction of 55 new members of the society, the renowned economist said Nigeria needs men of integrity now than before.

He recalled that before now, there was a popular saying that the private sector was the giver of corruption, while the public sector was the taker.

He expressed delight for being associated with the society and tasked Nigerians from all walks of life to imbibe the culture of integrity in order to wade off corruption in the country.

According to him, there is need to ensure that companies commit to the international code of corporate governance.

He further expressed happiness with the existence of SCGN to champion the course in order to stem the tide of corruption in the country.

Also former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc and inductee, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, expressed regret that integrity is being paid lip service in the country. He noted that Nigerians should make integrity a way of life and not just for public officers in the highest level but for everyone.

Earlier, the former Managing Director of Nestle Nigeria Plc and President of the Society, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye described integrity of character and accountable leadership as pillar of the

L-R: Former Managing Director of Red Star Express Plc., and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe; Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Pan -African University, Ajah, Prof Albert Alos; former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Felix Ohiwerei; and former Managing Director of Nestle Nigeria Plc., and President, Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, during the Society’s 2016 yearly Presidential dinner and induction ceremony in Lagos... recently

society which was established 11 year ago.

He said the society deeply remained focused towards the enhancing programmes , in the development and promotion of corporate governance best practice in Nigeria.

According to him, the society aims to be recognised as a reference point both nationally and international in matters

relating to corporate governance and to provide a template for formulation and enforcement of corporate governance standards for Nigeria and other emerging economies.

The inductees, he said are distinguished Nigerians, whose characters are found to be in tandem with the objective of the society.

Other inductees include, former

Managing Director of Red Star Express Plc and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr Isaac Orolugbagbe, the founder and Managing Director of JNC International Limited, Mrs. Clare Omatseye, Former deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Odozi Victor and pioneer Vice –Chancellor of the Pan -African University, Ajah, Prof Albert Alos.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

AUTO

Jaguar Shows-off Strength, Beauty, Pace at The Art of Performance Tour Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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he weather forecast the night before said it would rain in the morning but as it turned out the sun rose and shined bright, making the interior of the Jaguar XJ more comfortable, cooler and cosier. The seats are comfortable and can be adjusted as desired.

Now to the tracks: The car gives an interesting gentle growl as it glides to the starting line and picks up at a stately pace that is quite swift for a car of that size. The XE, XF, and F Type come out sprite. It is certainly in the DNA of the Jaguar. It leaps when you least expect it to and gives a measured roar like the animal, pulsating as it paces to a quick stop, while it growls. The car’s ABS adds to the control, particularly at turns and curves.

Control begins from the steering wheel that presents a nice grip and the EPAS (electric power-assisted steering).

Driving on a slippery surface should not be a problem, as the car glides and cuts off its power at a turn it considers dangerous.

Experience Jaguar’s exhilarating drive once and you will definitely want another thrilling effect on the road. It becomes extremely interesting when you take the Jaguar to its natural habitat- the racetrack.

At The Art of Performance Tour in South Africa, recently, Journalists from some countries in sub-Saharan Africa had the privilege of racing the Jaguar XJ, XE XF and F Type on the tracks of the Department of Community Safety in Pretoria.

These machines combine beauty, strength and speed fluidly and, more importantly, the mechanisms within keep the driver safe and in-charge. It is a set of sports cars any speedsters would love. For the Jaguar, if the coast is clear, then it is time to put the accelerator down on the floor board and you will see the car come alive, doing speed that you will love, and taking curves as any race car would. Its performance clearly shows a powerful machine designed

The Jaguar XE makes its natural move on the race track

for long journeys, as well as for city runs.

The Jaguar XE, XF, F Type – V6 or V8 - should be in the collection of any car enthusiast. Here is what the British auto maker says of the pack.

“Jaguar XE is the most advanced, efficient and refined sports saloon that Jaguar has ever produced; Jaguar XF, luxury business saloon with distinctive design, dynamic drive and state-of-the-art technologies; Jaguar XJ, premium luxury saloon, spacious and beautiful yet powerfully agile; Jaguar F-Pace is Jaguar’s luxury performance SUV. Advanced Driving Dynamics: Featuring a

range of sophisticated technologies including Adaptive Dynamics, Integral Link rear suspension, Torque Vectoring, and Jaguar’s next generation braking system - XE offers unparalleled Jaguar refinement and ride quality.

According to the automaker, “Jaguar has always had a passion for creativity, innovation and dynamic design; qualities we feel are perfectly expressed in XE. With the introduction of this astonishing vehicle we have joined forces with the very best British creative minds to craft a series of collaborative projects.”

Infotainment: InControl Touch is the new

multimedia system available on XE, XF, F-TYPE and F-PACE, featuring an 8-inch Touch-screen with intuitive touch and swipe controls. It incorporates a cutting-edge navigation system with 2D or 3D maps and voice prompts.

There’s seamless phone connectivity as well as climate, entertainment and vehicle controls to suit your mood. InControl Touch is the hub for many active safety features and additional optional extras.

Jaguar is represented in Nigeria by Cosharis Motors Limited. So, you can enjoy the cutting edge of performance for yourself.

Cosmas Maduka is Auto Personality of the Year 2016

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he President of Coscharis Motors, Dr Cosmas Maduka, CON, recently won the Auto Personality of the Year award 2016.

Dr Maduka is the President/CEO of Coscharis Motors, a subsidiary of Coscharis Group with investments in Automobile, Technology, Foods & Beverages, Medicals, Agriculture and Car leasing in Nigeria.

The award was presented by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association during the award ceremony held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in recognition of his unrivaled commitment, dedication and investment towards driving the auto sector in Nigeria.

According to the organizers, this award category celebrates auto dealership owners that have been “visible in virtually all segments of the motoring space in Nigeria”.

“This award is a testament to our commitment to continually grow the auto industry, provide value for money and bridge the

automobile sphere with varieties of premium and low earn automobiles stated Dr. Maduka.

“We see the evident challenge and impact of recession on the auto industry in Nigeria, but situations as this award, encourage us to rise above such threats and confirm my belief that this is the right place to be, it can never be worse than what it is”.

We won’t relent in our brand promise to deliver quality services but will continue to remain focused on strengthening our brand experiences and customer satisfaction, especially by providing customers with access to global best products and services.

Coscharis Motors as one of Nigeria’s leading premium importer has the exclusive franchise for Rolls-Royce, BMW, MINI, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, MG and Joylong brands and also provides premium aftersales, financial and mobility services. As an indigenous company, Coscharis Motors operates over 9 sales and service networks in more than 8 states in the country.

... Mercedes-Benz Wins Top Categories at NAJA Awards Show

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n 24th November, 2016, the Nigerian Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) held the much-anticipated auto award show at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. MercedesBenz emerged winner of two distinct awards; Luxury Car of the Year (Mercedes-Benz S-class) and Heavy Duty Truck of the Year (MercedesBenz Actros). “We keep winning! We really appreciate this recognition and promise to

continue offering our absolute best in luxury, safety, comfort and service.” says Mirko Plath, MD/CEO of Weststar Associates, sole authorized distributors of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Nigeria. Special guests of honor present were Boboye Oyeyemi MFR, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps duly represented

by Assistant Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, Zonal Commanding Officer Lagos/Ogun State and Prince Anofi Elegushi, Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State.

L-R: Ford Brand Manager, Coscharis Motors, Felix Mahan; President, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka; and General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde, during the 2016 Nigeria Auto Journalist Association Awards held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos... recently

... Ford Ranger Wins Pick-up of the Year Title in Nigeria

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he Ford Ranger has been selected as the 2016 Pick-up of the Year by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), reinforcing its status as a segment-defining model in the highly competitive light commercial vehicle sector.

The award, which was accepted by the marketing team of Coscharis Motors, the sole authorised Ford dealer in Nigeria, at the prestigious NAJA annual auto awards,

held at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos and was well attended by key stakeholders in the Nigerian automobile industry.

“We’re delighted that the Ford Ranger won this coveted Pick-up of the Year title, which recognised its impressive range of technologies, bold design and outstanding capabilities,” said Rob Johnston, Regional Manager Sales and Marketing, Ford Customer Services Division for Sub Saharan Africa.

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 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

Still on The Naked Road

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L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation and Bureau for Public Enterprise, Senator Ben Bruce; Managing Director, Volkswagen of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran; and Hajiya Sadiya Abdulari, when the Senator and his team visited the auto plant in Lagos... recently

Ben Bruce Advocates Switch to Energy Efficient Vehicles, Electric Cars Stories by Bennett Oghifo

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hairman,SenateCommittee on Privatisation and Bureau for Public Enterprise, Senator Ben Bruce has advised auto manufacturers in the country to embrace global trend by producing energy efficient vehicles.

Sen.BenBruce,wholedmembers ofhiscommitteetoVONAutomobiles Limited, in Lagos, recently, said Nigeria cannot afford to be a dumping ground for obsolete technologies in the auto industry.

He said he drives an electric car, adding that the world was shifting to energy efficient and electric vehicles, stating that Nigeria should position itself to benefit from new technologies.

The Senator said it was important forgovernmentpoliciestoencourage production of vehicles and their purchase by everybody who hasasourceofincome,addingthat itwouldbebetterfortheeconomy.

He wondered why the government would have a policy that encouraged people to leave their country, and Nigerians “to invest all this money in the economy and then you turn against them; when it is time to buy vehicles, you buy vehicles that are imported and not those made in Nigeria; it makes no logical sense and it sends the wrong signal to potential investors that government cannot be trusted.Youdestroythefaithinthe Nigeria economy. As long as we treat investors badly, money will not come to Nigeria; Money will go to Switzerland, Brazil, Japan,

America, China and elsewhere.”

He said as a private sector person and a Senator, “my obligational responsibility is to promote what is good about Nigeria and when you come to a facility like this, I’ve been to many facilities, this is world-class; a facility that produces these types of vehicles, what else can you ask for, but for a government to make it possible for them to invest, the least they can do is to support them.”

He said fresh graduates should be able to buy the smallest car.

“Once you graduate, you go to the bank and get single digit interest, 10 per cent deposit and pay over seven years. There will be no maintenance problem. With this, in addition to my request for energy efficient vehicles, we would have gotten something for

Nigerians.”

On the effect of government policies on vehicle production in the country, the Managing Director of VON Automobiles Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran said, “Manufacturing has been tough in this environment for the reason that specific attention has not been paid to our own peculiarities.

All the people that we compete againstoperateinanenvironment that makes it easy for them to access the things they need to put together to add value to their various environment, but here, youhavetobuildyourownpower station, roads, water system, coming through the port is a hell, inflation affects us too, at 21 per cent, and when you put all these together, the cost of production is naturally higher.”

2017 Toyota Highlander gets Revised Look, 8-speed Auto

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f you’re looking for a reliable and somewhat roomy SUV with third-row seats, the Toyota Highlander is a worthy option. The model, which is closely related to the Lexus RX, also won’t bust the budget like so many of the more premium offerings in this segment.

The current Highlander arrived on the scene as a 2014 model. For the 2017 model year it receives some updates that include revised styling, an 8-speed automatic transmission, engine stop-start, and the addition of a sporty SE variant.

Before you get excited about the SE, note that it is just a trim.

Opting for the SE adds things like 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, stiffened suspension, black elements around the exterior, and black leather trim in the cabin.

The standard powertrain for the 2017 Highlander remains a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder, most likely matching the 185 horsepower of the base 2016 model. This engine is still mated to a 6-speed auto.

Above this is Toyota’s familiar 3.5-liter V-6, which now features direct fuel injection and, hopefully, will eclipse the 270 hp the engine offers in the 2016 model.

The V-6 comes standard with the 8-speed auto. At the top of the range is the Highlander Hybrid,

2017 Toyota Highlander

which uses the V-6 as its internal combustion component and should have a combined output

around 280 hp. This model relies on an electronically-controlled CVT.

All-Electric Maserati Sports Car to Debut

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Maserati executive has confirmed that the Italian brand will be build an electric version of its upcoming Alfieri sports car.

Maserati’s region manager for Europe, Peter Denton, confirmed the news to

just-auto, saying that an all-electric Alfieri should arrive around 2020. The Alfieri will be a full on sports car, aimed at competing with the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar F-Type. When the electric version turns up, it will be taking on the likes of the Porsche Mission E. “Alfieri will be bigger than

Boxster and Cayman,” said Denton. “It is being designed as a competitor to the 911 but it will be a larger car. More the size of a Jaguar F-TYPE,” he said. The standard car will also be priced in the range of the F-Type as well, though expect the electric version to cost even more.

Maserati will skip the plug-

in hybrid option altogether and move straight ahead with a fully electric version, as Maserati expects that tax breaks on plug-in vehicles will come to an end.

An all-new Maserati GranTurismo will be released before the Alfieri, sometime in the next two years.

(Source: Just-auto)

sIconclude t o d a y, let me remind you that a pavem e n t marking that is not reflectorised or illuminated, according the Federal Road MaintenanceAgency,(FERMA),is likeacosmeticapplicationofwhite powder on a lady’s face that wears off with little perspiration. But a pavement marking is meant for safety and not for aesthetics. It is notmeanttobelikeappliedlipstick on a woman’s lips, which sticks to the drinking cup after few sips.

Pavementmarkingismeanttobe of a high luminous intensity and not to be picked (stuck to) up by vehicletyresafterfewpasses(sips).

It is expected that if minimum retro-reflectivity is maintained in our pavement markings, signs and delineations, there will be increase in night-time and poor weather safety on our roads and ultimately fewer crashes, injuries and fatalities will be reported.

Retro-reflectivity is a critical element that has helped US Department of Transport achieve its safety goals of reducing fatalities by 20%. Your knowledege of the traffic rules and regulations is of crucial importance as it ensures good driving culture. Remember the biblical injunction which says obedience is better than sacrifice.

Let it be your key phrase always.

Learnthesignsandobeythem.The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Japan have made significant progress in redressing road crash.

Underlying this progress is the consciousness on the part of motorists to do it right while realizing theneedtoadoptnewapproaches toroadsafety.Oneofthesenewapproaches to road safety is the safe system approach which requires thattheroadsystembedesignedto expect and accommodate human error, recognising that preventive effortsnotwithstanding,roadusers remain fallible and crashes will invariablyoccur.Itexploitssynergies between measures that address infrastructure, vehicles and driver behavior when they are designed in concert. The basic strategy of a safe system approach is to ensure that in the event of a crash, the impact energies remain below the threshold likely to produce either death or serious injury. This threshold will vary depending uponthelevelofprotectionoffered to the road users involved. For example, the chances of survival for an unprotected pedestrian hit by a vehicle diminish rapidly at speeds greater than 30km/h, whereas for a properly restrained motorvehicleoccupant,thecritical impact speed is 50km/h for side impact crashes and 70km/h for head-on crashes.

Le me share this story to drive home the point:Samuel Ketusa lived at Aladimma Estate in Owerri, with his wife and two beautiful children. He had everything, or almost, everything working for

him: a well paid job, 3-bedroom apartment, and some savings in hisaccountfortheproverbialrainy day. He also had been able to buy good cars for himself and his wife.

His children were in one of the best private primary schools in Owerri.

Oneday,onhiswaybackfromthe office, his wife called him to help her buy corned beef for dinner.

Parking his car on the opposite side of the supermarket, he began to cross the road. He never made it to the other side. APeugeot 307 seemed to race out of nowhere to ram into him, sending him flying into the air and landing some meters away on the other side of the road. He was dead before the horrified crowd could get to him.

Bebe Ofuru used to sell food items in the market place. She was struggling to complement herhusband’sincomeasasecurity man at a construction company in Apapa. Most mornings, her selling endeavour commenced on the road, where she hawked purewaterandpuff-pufftomotorists and their passengers, before proceeding to her corner in the market.Onefatefulmorning,Bebe wasjustroundingupherroadside hawking,whenamotorbikebroke free from the line-up of vehicles in the traffic hold-up, and in an attempt to beat the queue, crashed into her as she was finishing up a transaction with a vehicle occupant. Nobody could explain what happened, but Bebe ended upparalysedfromthewaistdown.

BebeandSamuelhadonethingin common. They were both pedestrians. Pedestriansfacethegreatest danger on the road. And they form the largest category of road users. They cut across all levels and all socio-economic strata of every society globally. The need to avert the daily risks faced by these categories of road users forms the thrust of the 2013 United Nations Global Road Safety Week with the theme “Pedestrian Safety”. Slated from 6-12April, 2013, the aim is to improve global road safety as part of UN resolution.According to the WorldHealthOrganisation,fortoo long, road safety has been viewed through the lens of motorists, ignoring the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. The Global Road Safety Week will draw attention to the urgent need to better protect pedestrians worldwide, generate action on the measures needed to do so and contribute towards achievingthegoaloftheDecadeof Action for Road Safety 2011 -2020 to save 5million lives.

Some of the actions that can be taken by countries to improve pedestriansafetyasrecommended by the United Nations include: raisingawarenessofexistingtraffic laws on speeding, drinking and driving; increasing enforcement of the above traffic laws; improving lighting around facilities used by pedestrians; removing objects from streets which block facilities used by pedestrians; improving the safety of routes to and from schools; encouraging the use of reflectivematerialsbypedestrians.

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 3, 2016

FAMILY HEALTH with

Managing Your Stress

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are all involved one way or the order in day to day activities.

This can either be for pleasure, work or just family. There is contact with another person, and this, will one way or the other result in clashes and competition and rivalry. This will in turn cause emotional turmoil, anger, frustration, and a complete overload of vexation. Your psyche and personality is touched, and you are bound to react.

This results in your being stressed.

Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever-increasing demands of life. Surveys show that many people experience challenges with stress at some point during the year.

In looking at the causes of stress, remember that your brain comes hard-wired with an alarm system for your protection. When your brain perceives a threat, it signals your body to release a burst of hormones to fuel your capacity for a response. This has been labeled the “fight-or-flight” response. Once the threat is gone, your body is meant to return to a normal relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop stress of modern life means that your alarm system rarely shuts off. That’s why stress management is so important. Stress management gives you a range of tools to reset your alarm system.

Without stress management, all too often your body is always on high alert. Over time, high levels of stress lead to serious health problems. Don’t wait until stress has a negative impact on your health, relationships or quality of life.

Do you know anyone who isn’t at times stressed out these days? The pace of modern life makes stress management a necessary skill for everyone. Many people juggle multiple responsibilities, work, home life, caregiving and relationships. Learning to identify problems and implement solutions is the key to successful stress reduction.

The first step in successful stress relief is deciding to make stress management an ongoing goal, and to monitor your stress level.

• Once you start monitoring your stress level, the next step is identifying your stress triggers. When or under what situations do you experience the most stress? Some causes of stress are easy to identify, such as job pressures, relationship problems or financial difficulties. But daily hassles and demands, such as commuting, arranging child care or being overcommitted at work, also can contribute to your stress level. Positive events also can be stressful. If you got married, started a new job and bought a new house in the same year, you could have a high stress level.

While negative events in general are more stressful, be sure to also assess positive changes in your life.

• Once you’ve identified your stress triggers, you can start thinking about strategies for dealing with them. Identifying what aspect of the situation you can control is a good starting point.

For example, if you have a difficult time falling asleep because you’re stressed out, the solution may be as easy as turning off the TV when the evening news is too distressing. Other times, such as high demands at work or when a loved one is ill, you may only be able to change how you react to the situation. And don’t feel like you have to figure it out all on your own. Seek help and support from family and friends. You may want to ask them what stress-relief techniques have worked well for them.

And many people benefit from daily practice of stress-reduction techniques, such as deep breathing, massage, tai chi or yoga. Many people manage stress through practicing mindfulness in meditation or being in nature. And remember to maintain a healthy lifestyle to help manage stress — eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Having a healthy lifestyle will help you manage periods of high stress.

Stress won’t disappear from your life. And stress management isn’t an overnight cure. But with ongoing practice and incorporation of resiliency into your lifestyle, you can learn to manage your stress level and increase your ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Management Techniques: If you’re stressed, whether by your job or by something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause. The most unhelpful thing you can do is turn to something unhealthy to help you cope, such as smoking or drinking.

In life, there’s always a solution to a problem, Not taking control of the situation and doing nothing will only make your problems worse. The keys to

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

or a new sport, helps to build confidence. This will help you deal with stress.

Find out which sport you’re best suited to.

By continuing to learn, you become more emotionally resilient as a person. It arms you with knowledge and makes you want to do things rather than be passive, such as watching TV all the time.

Avoid unhealthy habits Don’t rely on alcohol, smoking and caffeine as your ways of coping. Men more than women are likely to do this. We call this avoidance behavior.

Women are better at seeking support from their social circle.

Over the long term, these crutches won’t solve your problems. They’ll just create new ones. It’s like putting your head in the sand,. It might provide temporary relief, but it won’t make the problems disappear. You need to tackle the cause of your stress.

Help other people Evidence shows that people who help others, through activities such as volunteering or community work, become more resilient. Helping people who are often in situations worse than yours will help you put your problems into perspective. The more you give, the more resilient and happy you feel.

If you don’t have time to volunteer, try to do someone a favour every day. It can be something as small as helping someone to cross the road or going on a coffee run for colleagues.

Work smarter, not harder Working smarter means prioritising your work, concentrating on the tasks that will make a real difference. Leave the least important tasks to last.

Accept that your in-tray will always be full. Don’t expect it to be empty at the end of the day.

Try to be positive Look for the positives in life, and things for which you’re grateful. People don’t always appreciate what they have. Try to be glass half full instead of glass half empty. Try writing down three things that went well, or for which you’re grateful, at the end of every day.

Listen to an audio guide on beating unhelpful thinking.

The power of exercise to protect against stress is encouraging news for women, who are more likely than men to experience certain harmful health side effects from feeling chronically maxed out, including a higher risk of depression and autoimmune diseases.

Moreover, scientists have discovered that anxiety-inducing situations can actually lead to different hormonal changes in women’s brains than in men’s

good stress management are building emotional strength, being in control of your situation, having a good social network and adopting a positive outlook.

Be active Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling, clearing your thoughts and letting you to deal with your problems more calmly. Get started with exercise.

Take control There’s a solution to any problem. If you remain passive, thinking, ‘I can’t do anything about my problem’, your stress will get worse. That feeling of loss of control is one of the main causes of stress and lack of wellbeing. The act of taking control is in itself empowering, and it’s a crucial part of finding a solution that satisfies you and not someone else.

Connect with people.

A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way. If you don’t connect with people, you won’t have support to turn to when you need help. The activities we do with friends help us relax. We often have a good laugh with them, which is an excellent stress reliever. Talking things through with a friend will also help you find solutions to your problems.

Have some ‘me time’ Many of us work the long hours, meaning we often do not spend enough time doing things we really enjoy. We all need to take some time for socialising, relaxation or exercise. Setting aside a couple of nights a week for some quality “me time” away from work.

By earmarking those two days, it means you won’t be tempted to work overtime, he says.

Challenge yourself Setting yourself goals and challenges, whether at work or outside, such as learning a new language

Accept the things you can’t change Changing a difficult situation isn’t always possible. Try to concentrate on the things you do have control over. If your company is going under and is making redundancies, for example, there’s nothing you can do about it. In a situation like that, you need to focus on the things that you can control, such as looking for a new job.

• Relaxation techniques are an essential part of stress management. If you’re an overachiever, you may put relaxation low on your priority list. Don’t shortchange yourself. Everyone needs to relax and recharge. Relaxation is invaluable for maintaining your health and well-being, and repairing the toll that stress takes on your mind and body. Almost everyone can benefit from learning relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques can help to slow your breathing and to focus your attention on the here and now. Common relaxation techniques include meditation, tai chi and yoga. But there are more-active ways of achieving relaxation. For example, walking outdoors or participating in a sports activity can be relaxing and help reduce stress. It doesn’t matter which relaxation technique you choose. What matters is that you select a technique that works for you and that you practice achieving relaxation regularly.

• Exercise: Unfortunately stress doesn’t just mess with your head; it actually messes with your waistline.

When you’re faced with a nerve-racking situation, your body increases production of the hormone cortisol, part of what experts call the fight-or-flight response. If the stress-inducing situation disappears, your body returns to normal. If it remains? Well, that’s the problem. The kind of stress most of us face is the ongoing sort — bank card bills, relationship tension, office layoffs — which keeps cortisol levels elevated for days. And that increased cortisol, in turn, appears to encourage the body to store additional abdominal fat.

The power of exercise to protect against stress is encouraging news for women, who are more likely than men to experience certain harmful health side effects from feeling chronically maxed out, including a higher risk of depression and autoimmune diseases.

Moreover, scientists have discovered that anxietyinducing situations can actually lead to different hormonal changes in women’s brains than in men’s.

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 16, 2011

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

03.12.2016

ELCLASICO:ADIFFERENTKINDOFDERBY PAGE. 29

Marylove Edwards Aiming for the Sky

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Aiming for the Sky

Nigeria has recorded little success when it comes to lawn tennis. In this country, tennis is still regarded as an elitist sport and no doubt, capital intensive. Little wonder, Nduka Odizor’s fourth round feat at the 1983 Wimbledon is still a reference point, 33 years after. However, 11-year old Marylove Edwards looks good to turn things around for Nigeria. With 17 titles in her kitty, both locally and internationally, and heading for the famous America tennis camp (IMG) in Florida, that produced such stars as Andre Agasi, the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) Marylove sees herself playing her first Tennis Grand Slam in the next five years. Her father, Eddy, projects that the next eight years will see the first African winning a Grand slam title with her daughter.

Kunle Adewale writes on how “Project Marylove” began seven years ago and the ultimate aim

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hough, just an 11-year-old Junior Secondary School (JSS 11) pupil, her confidence is rousing.

Speaking with her gives an impression that she grew up in a high-brow area in Lagos; rather, Marylove Edwards was born and brought up in a two-roomed bungalow, in Agege.

Her romance with tennis started seven years back as a four-yearold kid.

“I’m a sports person and always wanted my children to go into sports and as soon as Marylove was four, I took her to the tennis court to begin training. I still take her Monday to Thursday while her personal coach takes her through Friday to Sunday,” said her father, Eddy Edwards.

For young Edwards, her father has been the brains behind her success. “My father has been very supportive; he has invested so much in developing me. He hired the services of a coach in the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to train me, while at home; he spends time to train me daily after school. He has been very encouraging, ensuring that I attain the height I want to as a player.

The training kits such as shoes, soft balls, rackets, and sportswear are provided by him. The tennis circuits I have attended have been sponsored by him. My father has been everything to me,” she said.

According to her coach, Kayode Savage, it was as if her development has been fast-tracked.

“The level at which she is developing is tremendous and unbelievable. She won her first tournament at eight and we felt

that by the time she’s 12 or 14 maybe she will be playing U-12 but she’s already rated eight in Africa; already in the Under-14.

She has great determination and her never say die attitude is one of her greatest strength. Even when she’s down, she keeps fighting on and this is very good considering her age. She trains four to five hours daily,” Salvage said.

The proprietor of her school, Bayonle High School, Bayo Lawal, also have kind words for the tennis wonder kid. “She is a very hard working girl and had not allowed her stardom to get into her head.

She has regard for constituted authority and she is really inspiring her colleagues especially in areas of sports.

With 17 titles in the kitty at a young age, it is not surprising therefore that the Nigerian tennis prodigy is already targeting playing in a Grand Slam in the next five years.

“Growing up, I always watch the Williams sisters, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and hoping that one day, I’ll be like one of them and even better their records. So, in the next five years, I hope to have a shot at the Grand Slam,” she said.

Edwards dream of becoming a tennis superstar may come to fruition, thanks to the involvement of Temple Management Company, TMC, an event firm involved in the entertainment, sports, media and arts, which was magnetised by her ingenuity.

“With the partnership with TMC, who are now driving her higher, they have made the project easier. She now participates in tournaments and circuits outside Nigeria. She trains with ease and

Eddy Edwards, supervising his daughter, Marylove’s training, at the tennis court of the Lagos State Property Development Company Estate on Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos. Inset- the Edwards

travelling to tournaments is done on time. In the next five to six years, I do see her participating in World Tennis Association tournaments. We are aiming at the top in the nearest future,” her father said.

Before TMC came on board, Marylove’s major challenges had been travelling worldwide for tournaments due to the unavailability of tournaments in Nigeria, but she is looking beyond the continent after the TMC deal.

In a chat with the head of sports, TMC, Koye Sowemimo, who holds an English FA Level 1 football coach and a licensed FIFA match agent, he said it was love at first sight between his company and the 11-year-old.

“We were notified of a young and upcoming tennis star and I took a big interest in watching her play at the National Stadium. Immediately I saw her, I realised she was a big talent and she has what it takes to be a champion. Afterwards, I met with her parents and we struck

an agreement to manage her career for the next five years and even beyond. She is different from the usual traditional tennis player. She has a very unique style and generates a lot of power, but the most important aspect of her was that I have seen is her hunger for the sport. I’ve watched her trainings and during matches; she is just amazing and she is optimistic that she would one day become a world champion.

“As part of the arrangement to sell her to the sporting world, TMC has put plan in place to send Marylove to the best tennis campthe IMG Tennis Camp in Florida,” Sowemimo said. Sowemimo however admitted that making her win a Grand Slam and WTA tournaments would involve a lot of hard work on her part.

On how the girl has been able to cope with tennis and education, the father said: “Most parents thought it’s not possible but with proper planning it could be worked out. Because I am self-employed, I have been able to manage

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DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER We were notified of a young and upcoming tennis star and I took a big interest in watching her play at the National Stadium. Immediately I saw her, I realised she was a big talent and she has what it takes to be a champion. Afterwards, I met with her parents and we stuck an agreement to manage her career for the next five years and even beyond. She is different from the usual traditional tennis player

Marylove with her personal coach-Kayode Savage

my time. I’ve been able to keep my life and time for her. After school, there is somebody on ground to pick her to the tennis court for her training by 3:30pm and by 6:30, she is done with her training.

When she gets home, she does her assignments and that is how we have been operating in the past seven years without interruption.

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

We have been steady and focused without getting tired; and have been pushing and pushing to make her the best.”

Older Edwards, however, admitted it’s not all Uhuru, especially in such situations when she had to go for tournaments outside the shores of the country while school is in session.

“Nothing could be perfect, but as much as possible to balance things, I have a kind of mutual agreement with the school management, so that when she goes for competition, on her return, the school tried to update her on things she had missed. The school and I tried as much as possible to make things up for her,” he noted.

For those who are of the opinion that he might have been inspired by the father of the Williams sisters- Richard Williams, who was their first coach while they were still kids, he said: “I was not inspired or influenced by anybody.

My first intuition was to allow my children to toe the line of sports and be the best. Her younger sibling is into football and doing very well.

Marylove Edwards poses with some of her trophies

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

El-Clasico

Head to Head 02/04/16 21/11/15 22/03/15 25/10/14 23/03/14 26/10/13 02/03/13 07/10/12 21/04/12 10/12/11 16/04/11 29/11/10 10/04/10

A Game Like Never Before

Barcelona Madrid Barcelona Madrid Madrid Barcelona Madrid Barcelona Barcelona Madrid Madrid Barcelona Madrid

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Madrid Barcelona Real Madrid Barcelona Barcelona Madrid Barcelona Real Madrid Madrid Barcelona Barcelona Madrid Barcelona

When Barcelona and Real Madrid meet, the whole world stops. Few rivalries are so strong without geography, and while it feels strange to class this game as a derby, it is a clash in almost every sense of the word. In Spain, there is real bad blood between the two cities, Barcelona and Madrid, thanks to former leader of the country, General Franco’s treatment of Catalonia. To this day, some in the region campaign for independence from the rest of the nation, meaning every time these clubs lock horns it is a tasty encounter. On the pitch, traditionally, the two clubs represent different ideologies. Barcelona have become known for religiously sticking to one style of football, breeding talent after talent from their youth academy, while Real have portrayed what they are, the Royal’s club, by signing the very best players for the highest transfer fees.The individual rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also follows that pattern, with Ronaldo moving to Madrid for a previous world-record $90million and Messi working his way up through the system at the Camp Nou. As they prepare to face off again today, it is Madrid who go in as favourites, but Barcelona can never be counted out

T

he most awaited match in modern day football is here as Barcelona is all set to take on arch rivals, Real Madrid, at the Nou camp today and this mouth-watering fixture is already slated to become the most watched game of the year. Madrid will travel to the Catalan on the back of a partially convincing victory against Sporting Gijon while Luis Enrique’s side will come into the fixture with an incredibly unsatisfactory display of football in a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad, a match which could have well gotten out of their hands.

The Spanish champions had a bright start to the league but a poor run of form saw them overtaken by the European

Champions. Madrid have a comfortable sixpoint cushion at the top of the La Liga table with each team playing 13 games apiece.

Catalan coach, Luis Enrique, laid special stress on the high-voltage match, stating that the fixture was a must-win game for them if they plan to stay in contention for the La Liga crown before the teams go into the winter break. Zinedine Zidane’s side remain unbeaten in the league, drawing three and winning 10 and the Frenchman would not want these statistics to change against Barcelona today.

Another highlight of the match, and perhaps the most important, is the fact that Argentine Lionel Messi and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo will once again feature against each other at the Nou camp. The duo, who have nine Ballon d’Or titles between them, are widely regarded the best players in the history of the game and both

of them are coming into the game hitting a good run of form for both club and country.

Messi had a perfect start to the season which was capped off by brilliant performances for his national team in the World Cup qualifiers, while Ronaldo started the season slow, but picked up his pace by scoring five goals in his last two league games to be the top goal scorer of the league with 10 goals.

Interestingly, Barcelona have no new injury setbacks and will have Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all fit for selection today.

Club captain Andres Iniesta who was ruled out for six to eight weeks in late October after suffering knee ligament damage against Valencia had been certified fit for the El Clasico, but whether the Catalan coach will risk the Spaniard maestro to play a full 90

minutes is what is left to be seen.

Turkish international, Arda Turan, who missed the last clash against Sociedad due to fever will also be available for selection while defender Samuel Umtiti will be unavailable owing to a hamstring injury he picked up during the international break.

Meanwhile, Los Blancos have been incredibly unlucky when it comes to injury to their key players as a number of starters are out for a long period of time owing to major injury concerns. Welsh winger Gareth Bale suffered a traumatic dislocation of the perineal tendons against Sporting Lisbon penultimate week, which ruled him out for a period of at least four months, while influential midfielder Toni Kroos will also miss the clash owing to a broken metatarsal he suffered against Leganes.

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DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER Premier League Chelsea Liverpool Man City Arsenal Tottenham Man Utd Everton Watford West Brom Southampton Stoke Bournemouth Burnley Leicester Middlesbrough West Ham Crystal Palace Hull Swansea Sunderland

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MONDAY Deportivo

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Bundesliga Fixtures

TODAY Juventus

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SUNDAY Milan Lazio Pescara Sampdoria Sassuolo Fiorentina

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Crotone Roma Cagliari Torino Empoli Palermo

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TODAY Leverkusen Dortmund Bremen Hoffenheim Wolfsburg RB Leipzig

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SUNDAY Darmstadt Augsburg

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Hot Shots

Head to Head

season will not decide the title race.

"We're not thinking about the consequences of the result, only about preparing well for the game. Whatever happens it won't be decisive.

It's a good match against a great opponent who will certainly make it difficult for us and that's all there is to it, but it won't be decisive, not at all," the Frenchman told Real Madrid's official website.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain Referee: Carlos Clos Goméz

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Granada

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Serie A Fixtures

Also on the injury list is substitute Alvaro Morata who had proved quite effective for Zidane coming off the bench.

There have been concerns over defensive midfielder Casemiro, who was out for a considerable number of times, before returning to training. Whether the Brazilian midfielder will be fielded by Zidane remain to be seen.

The Brazilian midfielder played the full 90 minutes against Cultural Leonesa on his return from a leg injury that had kept him sidelined since September and Zidane said he could play against Barcelona if needed even though there are only three rest days between the two fixtures.

"Casemiro felt fine. He struggled a little bit early on but that's to be expected after almost two months out. It was important for him to play a full match and he's happy and well prepared. When you look at the way we've played in midfield in our recent games, we've been strong. Casemiro has come back; he's fit and ready to help the team. He's with us and we'll have to see what we're going to do on Saturday, but we're going to need everyone," he said.

Zidane however played down the significance of the encounter, saying the outcome of the match would not be "decisive". Speaking after Real's 6-1 win over Cultural Leonesa in the second leg of the Copa del Rey round of 32, Zidane said the result of the first El Clasico of the

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TODAY

TODAY Man City Crystal Palace Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham West Bromw West Ham

Man City Man City Chelsea Man City Man City Chelsea Man City Chelsea Man City Chelsea Chelsea Man City Chelsea

Madrid Barcelona Sevilla Atletico Sociedad Villarreal Eibar Bilbao Celta Vigo Las Palmas Malaga Espanyol Alavés Real Betis Leganés Valencia Deportivo Sporting Osasuna Granada

Spanish La Liga Fixtures

Premiership

16-12-03 15-08-16 15-01-31 14-09-21 14-02-03 13-10-27 13-02-24 12-11-25 2012-03-20 2011-12-11 2011-03-19 10-09-24 10-02-26

La Liga

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Chelsea Chelsea Man City Chelsea Chelsea Man City Chelsea Man City Chelsea Man City Man City Chelsea Man City

Diego Costa Sergio Agüero Alexis Sánchez Romelu Lukaku Eden Hazard Jermain Defoe Sadio Mane Zlatan Ibrahimovic Theo Walcott Michail Antonio Chalie Austin Leroy Fer Philippe Coutinho Roberto Firmino

Chelsea Man City Arsenal Everton Chelsea Sunderland Liverpool Man Utd Arsenal West Ham Southampton Swansea Liverpool Liverpool

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High-flying Chelsea Face CityTest Only one point separates Manchester City and Chelsea at the top of the table and neither side has lost a league match since the start of October. This could be a game to remember between two of the Premier League’s title favourites, and a battle between two great tacticians. Can City halt Chelsea’s amazing run?

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helsea's renaissance under Conte comes under renewed scrutiny when the Premier League leaders visit Manchester City this weekend on the back of a seven-match winning streak.

Only one point separates the two sides with Chelsea on 31 and City on 30 but Conte's impact at Stamford Bridge appears greater than his City counterpart Pep Guardiola's at the Etihad.

That is largely due to the contrast from last season.

Chelsea are 17 points better off than they were at this stage last season in the final days of Jose Mourinho, while City have four more than after 13 games under Manuel Pellegrini.

The goal Tottenham Hotspur scored in a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last Saturday was the only one Chelsea have conceded in the last seven matches as Conte's 3-4-3 system continues to flourish.

City, after a runaway start, have not been firing on all cylinders of late, eking

out narrow wins over Crystal Palace and Burnley, and former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola accepts Chelsea are setting the standard.

"We are going to play against the best team at the moment in the Premier League," he said. "The last five or six weeks they have played amazing. We have to try and discover his secret and what we need to do to beat him and will prepare as best as possible."

Former Chelsea midfielder and Coach Ray Wilkins said his old club's progress will be clearer after this weekend.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

L-R: Events and Sponsorship Manager, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Omolara Sonaike; Compensation and Benefitting Manager, Mr. KenStephen Ha, TECNO Mobile’s GM (left), and Tom Glick, Chief Commercial neth Omeni; Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Colaco; Supervisor, Can Factory, Mr. Officer for City Football Group, moments after signing the partnership Kazeem Oketola, and IT Officer, Atinse Eseosa, during the closing ceremony agreement between TECNO Mobile and Manchester City recently of the 2016 FCWAMCO Games held in Agege Stadium, Lagos, at the weekend

Glo Corporate Customers Return from Old Trafford Selected corporate subscribers of next generation network, Globacom have returned from a sponsored trip to the United Kingdom where they watched live the Barclays Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester penultimate Saturday.

Globacom, the official telecoms partner of Manchester United Football Club in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic, used the trip to thank select high net worth individuals whose firms have supported the company with their patronage over the years.

Some of the corporate subscribers on the trip were Nowmen Emeghalu, Adekunle Fatai Salau, Adewale Saka and Abayomi Orenuga. Others were Olufemi Sijuade, Emeka Eboegbune and Kunle Osobu, all from the public and private sectors of the economy.

Coordinator of Enterprise Solutions, Globacom, Folu Aderibigbe, who accompanied them stated that the trip was sponsored by the company to show its appreciation to the subscribers’ for their unwavering patronage over the years.

Aderibigbe, therefore, called on Nigerians to join the Globacom network to enjoy unique

benefits.

The Glo delegation arrived in Manchester Airport on Friday, and was received by Manchester United officials.

The team later joined other football lovers to enjoy every moment of the encounter between Manchester United and Arsenal from the Hospitality Suite of Old Trafford Stadium the following day.

Earlier on Friday, the team was taken on a guided tour of the Old Trafford Stadium by the Manchester United tour guide and they had an opportunity to see all the trophies the club had won in the English Premier League, Carling Cup, FA Cup,

Champions League and other competitions. They were also shown the Museum, the Dug Out, the Tunnel from where players emerge into the pitch, and the Players' Dressing Room.

The team also met four Man United legends including Lou Macari, Author Albiston, Gary Pallister and Brian Robson, who took time to educate them about hitherto unknown facts and figures about the club.

Globacom had in 2010 signed a five-season relationship with Manchester United. The deal which saw the two global brands partnering on several football developing projects was renewed for another five years in 2015.

Manchester City Celebrate Global Partnership with TECNO Mobile Premium mobile phone brand, TECNO Mobile, and the English Premier League’s Manchester City, are celebrating the launch of their new global multi-year partnership.

As the official tablet and handset partner of Manchester City Football Club, TECNO Mobile will work with the club to grow their strategic marketing and advertising campaigns across the globe, including Africa where TECNO is already recognised as the market’s leading mobile phone

brand.

TECNO, part of Transsion Holdings, was first established in China and over the last decade has grown its global presence to over 40 emerging markets, where City’s fan base is also strong and continuing to grow every day.

Speaking at the launch of the global partnership, which took place at the City Football Academy, Manchester City’s elite training and youth development facility, Tom Glick, City Football Group’s

Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome TECNO Mobile to Manchester City’s growing repertoire of global partners.

Its global focus coupled with a commitment to each of its local markets reflects our ethos and we look forward to working with them to connect with Manchester City’s global fan base.”

Stephen Ha, General Manager of TECNO Mobile, added: “We are honoured to be partnering with such a successful and well

known club as Manchester City, continuing our long association with sport at the highest level.

“Providing our consumers with an unparalleled mobile experience is a top priority for TECNO Mobile and we see many similarities with Manchester City when we look at their commitment to delivering a premium match day and digital experience for their fans. We are delighted to join their team and can’t wait to kick start this partnership together.

GOtv Boxing Night

Fijabi Chants War Song against Ghanaian Challenger Olaide Fijabi, West African light welterweight champion, has told his Ghanaian challenger for the title, Raphael Kwabena King, that he will encounter a different boxer from the one he met during a challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 9.

Fijabi is slated to defend his title against the Ghanaian at GOtv Boxing Night 10 scheduled to hold on December 26, at the Indoor Sports Hall of

the National Stadium, Lagos.

The first fight between the duo ended in a split decision victory for Fijabi. But the coming one, said the Nigerian boxer, will provide him an opportunity to prove that he is much better than the Ghanaian.

“He was defensive throughout our last fight. I have watched the fight again and I have seen what needs to be done to counter his defensive

strategy and knock him out. He has strength in abundance, but he fights only one way, which I have figured out. It will be a knockout,” Fijabi said in Lagos on Wednesday.

Another headline bout of the evening will see Nigeria’s Stanley Eribo fight Tanzania’s Meshack Mwankemwa for the African Boxing Union welterweight title. GOtv Boxing Night 10, a milestone edition,

will feature five other fights, including Oto Joseph versus Nurudeen Fatai Part 111.

This is a fight that has bad blood written all over it. The two previous fights, including a title fight, Joe Boy came out victorious, a streak that Fatai will want to end.

Also in action is Waidi Usman, West African featherweight champion, who takes on Dare Oyewole in a challenge bout.

Glo subscribers at Old Trafford: L-R: (Front row)Man United legend, Lou Macari, Nowmen Emeghalu, Adekunle Fatai Salau, Adewale Saka, Abayomi Orenuga and Authur Albiston . Back Row: Man United legend, Brian Robson, Olufemi Sijuade, Coordinator of Enterprise Solutions, Globacom, Folu Aderibigbe, Man United legend, Gary Pallister, Emeka Eboegbune, Kamaldeen Shonibare, Head of Corporate Sales, Globacom, and Kunle Osobu at the hospitality lounge of Old Trafford recently

Super Falcons Target 10th AWC Win against Lioness After a not too convincing victory against South Africa in the semifinal of the Africa Women Championship, where the Super Falcons had to rely on Desire Oparanozie’s goal from the free kick to earn a lone goal victory, the Florence Omagbemi-led side will today take on host nation, Cameroon, in their quest to win the AWC for an unprecedented 10th time.

In the first semifinal game, Raissa Feudjio scored in the 71st minute as the Indomitable Lioness defeated the Black Queens of Ghana by a lone goal to set up the repeat of 2014 final where the Super Falcons won 2-0 in Windhoek, Namibia.

The Nigerian side which landed in batches at the capital city, Yaounde, on Wednesday afternoon were welcome to a noisy and hostile reception.

A team official expressed disappointment at the flight frustration suffered moving to Yaounde after a tiring game against South Africa on Tuesday.

"Honestly, it was a terrible experience and we are disappointed. The environment was hostile and the LOC mapped out plans to frustrate us," an official told the media.

"They communicated our schedule to us which stated departure for 9am from Douala airport, we left Buea at 5.30am and the players couldn't sleep after a stressful match-day. They abandoned us at the airport and we waited for about six hours before the first batch could travel by air. The most shocking moment was how hostile the Cameroonians are at the airport.

"The second batch later traveled by road after a technical issue with the aircraft; we boarded and the flight started smoking. We have to run for our lives and traveled by road to Yaounde, we are disappointed.

"Nigerians shouldn't panic, we are aware of the antics and the plans to frustrate the group. However, this is the moment we need our High Commission and the Federation to give us adequate support. It will be a collective effort to conquer the hosts and we are determined to win."

A Super Falcons player, who spoke on anonymity, lamented the hostile reception by the hosts' city dwellers, insisting they were more determined than ever to retain the title.

"It is really not too nice a reception from the Cameroonians in Yaounde. Though we are not bothered by their hostilities as we know all they are to win the title.

"We are ready and looking forward to the final. We have never lost a final and this time will not be an exception", a player said.

The players are currently lodged at the Djeuja Palace Hotel and expected to resume training on Thursday by 5pm local time at the Omnisport Stadium, Yaoundé.

Unprecedented Turnout at Lagos Triathlon Championship A Triathlon fiesta facilitated by the Lagos State Sports Commission and organised by the Lagos State Triathlon Association was concluded on Tuesday.

The championship, which featured about 80 athletes, saw them competing in cycling, running and swimming. Director General of the Sports Commission, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya

said the motive behind staging the event was to give athletes in Triathlon, which is regarded as a lesser sports, a sense of belonging."We discovered that we have many of our athletes who have the potentials to excel in Triathlon, and we believe that giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents will be a good service to their career and sports development in the state.

That is the reason the Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode graciously approved fund for us to organise this competition.

"I am so happy with the enthusiasm showed by the athletes in the first phase of the competition held in Alausa, Ikeja on Sunday where they competed in Duathlon event (cycling and running) and their performance in the last phase

at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere points to the fact that we are in the right path.

"I want to assure that the next edition will be better packaged as we will make available clean water for the swimming event of the Triathlon tournament. We will not relent in our efforts to always provide enabling environment for all our athletes to excel. "

Super Falcons players set for Cameroon hostility

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

WRITERS’ WORLD

Tips on 2016 Highest-paid Authors: J.K Rowling

BISI DANIELS bisi.daniels@thisdaylive.com Blog: www.bisidaniels.com, 08050220700

J.K. Rowling is the third highest paid author in 2016, with an earnings estimated at $19m.

T

he famous author stumbled repeatedly early in her career.

For example, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” the first book in the “Harry Potter” series that made her famous, was rejected by several publishers before being picked up by Bloomsbury in 1997. It is now the best-selling book series of all time.

In September, 2016, she released three new e-books online. The trio is collectively known as Pottermore Presents, but they have individual titles too.

This compilation by the Telegraph is very revealing: • Rowling went from being unemployed and living on state benefits to becoming a multi-millionaire in five years. However, as a teenager she lived in a Grade II listed cottage in Gloucestershire, which she states was “not a particularly happy time in my life”, due to her mother being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and a strained relationship with her father.

• After the position of Head Girl at Wyedean School and College, she graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA in French and Classics, and then worked as a researcher for Amnesty International.

• Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression which she claims gave her inspiration to create the Dementors in the Potter series. She also suffers from insomnia which she puts down to working too late and reading things on which she has a strong opinion.

• On a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990, Rowling wrote her initial Potter ideas on a napkin. She typed her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on a typewriter, often choosing to write in Edinburgh cafés, accompanied by baby daughter Jessica, named after Jessica Mitford, a heroine of Rowling’s youth.

• Rowling worked as an English teacher in Portugal during her brief marriage to television journalist Jorge Arantes, with whom she had Jessica. Despite her current fortune, she has no desire to stop working as she believes it sets a good example to her children - she now has another son and daughter with second husband, anaesthetist Neil Murray.

• According to a recent interview, JK Rowling admits to buying her wedding dress for her second marriage to Neil Murray in disguise, to avoid being recognised - such was the price of fame.

• Rowling’s ambiguous pen name using the initials ‘JK’ was a publishing suggestion to make her identity anonymous, for fear that a wizarding story penned by a woman might be unpopular. ‘K’ is the initial of her grandmother’s name ‘Kathleen’, since Rowling had no middle names of her own. As a result, a girl called Francesca Gray wrote Rowling her first fan letter addressing her as: ‘Dear Sir...’

• Twelve publishing houses rejected her original Harry Potter manuscripts, but eventually small publisher Bloomsbury gave her a chance with a small advance. Little did anyone know it would become the bestselling book series in history. Her seventh and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows broke sales records as the fastest-selling book ever.

Books and fortune

By the summer of 2000, the first three Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban earned approximately $480 million in three years, with over 35 million copies in print in 35 languages. In July 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire saw a first printing of 5.3 million copies and advance orders of over 1.8 million. After a postponed release date, the fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, hit bookstores in June 2003. The sixth

J.K. Rawling installment, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, sold 6.9 million copies in the United States in its first 24 hours, the biggest opening in publishing history. Prior to its July 2007 release, the seventh and final installment in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was the largest ever pre-ordered book at Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores, and at Amazon.com.

Rowling, now Britain’s 13th wealthiest woman—wealthier than even the Queen— does not plan to write any more books in the series, but has not entirely ruled out the possibility.

Life after ‘Harry Potter’

According to records, although J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is finished, the author continues to work on more written works.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of five fables mentioned in the Harry Potter book series, was released on November 4, 2008—at a tea party for 200 schoolchildren at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. Rowling donated all royalties from the book to the Children’s High Level Group (which has been renamed Lumos), a charity that Rowling cofounded to support institutionalized children in Eastern Europe.

Rowling’s first book aimed at adults, The Casual Vacancy, was published in September 2012. The novel, a dark comedy about a local election in the small English town of Pagford, received mixed reviews. A book review in The New York Times called the novel “disappointing” and “dull.” A review in The Telegraph, however, gave the book three out of five stars, stating that the novel is “ . . .Jane Austen herself would admire the way [Rowling] shows the news of Barry’s death spreading like a virus round Pagford.”

In 2013, Rowling broke into a new genre: crime fiction. But this new work involved a mystery all of its own. She published the mystery novel Cuckoo Calling that April under the pen name Robert Galbraith. In its first few months of release, the novel had modest sales and received positive reviews.

Sales for the work skyrocketed in July when its author’s identity was discovered. According to Bloomberg News, Rowling said that “I had hoped to keep this secret a little longer, because being Robert Galbraith has been such

a liberating experience. It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name.”

Later that year, Rowling announced a new film series with Warner Bros. The first film in the series, which was released in November 2016, features a script by Rowling, her screenwriting debut, which is based on her Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Rowling is also reportedly working on a new Harry Potter-related book. On her website, she announced that she will write “an encyclopedia of Harry’s world” and the royalties from this volume will be donated to charity.

In 2014, Rowling published a short story about grown-up Harry Potter and a Hogwarts school reunion on her website Pottermore. Since the site launched, she’s added more stories and information about all things Harry Potter.

In June 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two-part play written by Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany and based on Rowling’s story, debuted on the London stage to a sold-out audience. Although she had originally stated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows would be the final book in the series, the play features an adult Harry Potter and has been officially touted as the eight installment of the series. The play’s cast differs from that of the original films. The next month, as with her previous books, fans lined up at book stores pending the midnight release of Jack Thorne’s script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Writing advice from Rowling

Sadie Trombetta, a freelance writer, compiled these pieces of writing advice from Rowling.

“Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have “essential” and “long overdue” meetings on those days. The funny thing is that, although writing has been my actual job for several years now, I still seem to have to fight for time in which to do it. Some people do not seem to grasp that I still have to sit down in peace and write the books, apparently believing that they pop up like mushrooms without my connivance. I must therefore guard the time allotted to writing as a Hungarian Horntail guards its firstborn egg.”

“You’ve got to work. It’s about structure. It’s

about discipline. It’s all these deadly things that your school teacher told you needed... You need it.”

“I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me.”

“Write what you know: your own interests, feelings, beliefs, friends, family and even pets will be your raw materials when you start writing. Develop a fondness for solitude if you can, because writing is one of the loneliest professions in the world!” “[... Y]ou need to write something that a publisher would want to publish (it only takes one, but it might take a while to find them. If you are turned down by every single publisher in existence, you will have to consider the possibility that what you have written is not publishable). Next, you need to approach the publisher, either directly, or (which is advisable if you can manage it) by securing an agent who will act on your behalf. The best way to find agents’ and publishers’ addresses is to consult ‘The Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbook’, which is updated every year (Double-check that you are writing to the right person/people; don’t, for example, send science fiction to a publisher of medical textbooks). Wait. Pray. This is the way Harry Potter got published.”

“Sometimes you have to get your writing done in spare moments here and there.”

“I always advise children who ask me for tips on being a writer to read as much as they possibly can. Jane Austen gave a young friend the same advice, so I’m in good company there.”

“Perseverance is absolutely essential, not just to produce all those words, but to survive rejection and criticism.”

“What you write becomes who you are… So make sure you love what you write!”

“All a writer needs is talent & ink.”

“Failure is inevitable — make it a strength.”

“You have to resign yourself to the fact that you waste a lot of trees before you write anything you really like, and that’s just the way it is. It’s like learning an instrument, you’ve got to be prepared for hitting wrong notes occasionally, or quite a lot, cause I wrote an awful lot before I wrote anything I was really happy with.”

“I just write what I wanted to write. I write what amuses me. It’s totally for myself.”

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JUNE 2011 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER THISDAY, THE16, SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

FAIRGROUND

Rich, Classy, Fashionable Jahdara

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

here have been fashion events all-year round but the House of Jahdara launch certainly got our attention. The event was held recently at the house’s lush space fashion in Lekki Phase One. Attracting an array of guest from various walks of life. Designer, Adesola Adepoju sure did pull off a successful event.

The guest, list was seasoned with opulence and style.

The South Africa-trained designer decided to deviate from the usual runway showcase, putting on a beautiful presentation, using statuesque models wearing statement house of Jahdara pieces accessorized with bags from Polo Avenue and fascinators from Ene Maya.

The House of Jahdara is a multi-faceted global Womenswear collection which provides ‘affordable luxury’; specializing in Ready-to- wear, Couture, Bespoke and Swimwear. The designer displayed her best pieces, including her latest collection which was presented to guests in attendance.

The black-carpet event was hosted by popular TV personality, Vimbai Mutinhiri. And the store was officially opened with the cutting of the ribbon

by THISDAY Style Editor, Ruth Osime, represented by Editor, Prints-Thisday Style, Funke Baabs-kufeji. Guests were treated to Belvedere cocktails and canapés, with House Music rightly supplied as they shopped the pieces at the showroom, selling shopping vouchers worth over a million naira. The House of Jahdara showroom located at Grace Anjous drive, Lekki Phase One, Lagos, is officially opened for business, Mondays to Saturdays.

Designer, Adesola Adepoju

Designer flanked by her mom and friends

Toyosi Philips

Bolinto and Liz Osho

Wana Sambo

Shina Peller

Funke Babs-Kufeji

Designer flanked by her sisters-Yetunde Ajibade and Adeola Omotimirin

Latasha Ngwube

Kunbi Bailey and Vicky

Efe Tommy

Konye Nwabogor

Emmanuel Ikubese

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

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FAIRGROUND

Nnenna Okoye: Technology Has Shaped Online Retail in Nigeria

N

nenna Okoye is a beauty enthusiast and CEO of online beauty retail store, Youtopia Beauty, which specialises in selling hard-to-find beauty products mainly for the African skin. She has bagged herself a beauty certification from a renowned beauty school, the beauty academy in London, where she specialized in skincare.

Nigeria’s beauty sector is expanding and thriving. Amidst economic challenges, the sector has maintained its growth among other industries. The demand for skin care, oral care, hair and makeup products has soared. This has thus made the business of beauty a very lucrative business in Nigeria. Similarly, online transactions have become a dominant trend in Nigeria. There is no doubt that shopping online is very convenient for people. Individuals can shop from any and every location, provided there is internet connection and access to a computer, tablet device or Smartphone. Moreover, online shopping allows people to easily compare products, prices and items across shops online to validate if a

product seen on a particular shops website is more affordable or better than the other and vice versa.

Online retail in Nigeria has evolved. It is the latest way of buying items on the internet by shoppers all over Nigeria. “I noticed that there were not a lot of options in Nigeria and many people, including me, relied on products sold abroad. Skincare products were not largely sold online, compared to makeup and hair products. So, I decided to make it easier for people looking for very specific brands by starting an online retail business that focuses more on skin care, although not neglecting hair and makeup products.” The online beauty store also offers free online Virtual Consultation. A skincare consultation set up to help as many people as possible suffering with skin problems like acne. These severe skin problems lead to low self-esteem and lack of confidence. Thus, the aim of the online consultation is to reach a broader audience; people from different parts of Nigeria and Africa, as a whole.

In regards to technology, Nnenna explained that it has made online shopping convenient,

fast, accessible and stress-free experience for customers. It provides businesses with the platform to understand the needs of their customers and better satisfy those needs.

No doubt, a happy, satisfied, and returning customer leads to more profit for a business.

Through interactive and personalized product displays, online retail has been able to thrive.

The evolution of technology within the retail and e-commerce sector is shaping how consumers behave and interact with different brands. For instance, when customers make an online transaction, the retailer gets data about the customer. This data includes the type and number of products a particular customer purchased. An accumulation of this information enables the retailer to have an understanding of the pattern of inventory flow of products and this helps in getting the required items and prevents preferred products to be out of stock.

She further explained that many Nigerians still find online shopping risky due to card fraud and fake products. Online security concern is certainly an important consideration for customers when selecting an online

Nnenna Okoye , Founder, Youtopia Beauty

retailer. For this reason, many people disregard online transactions. Moreover, some customers prefer the in-store experience. They require the advice of sales assistants. These kinds of shoppers want to touch, see, and test products personally. “Customers always want to know what they are buying. They want more than product descriptions. Unfortunately, online shopping is not able to allow them do so. Thus, in order to serve these customers, a physical store was opened in Lagos, Nigeria.”

BK Unique Hair Unveils The Rita Dominic Signature Hair Line

N

igerian-Canadian beauty entrepreneur, Blessing Kenneth, welcomed renowned journalists, as well as A List celebrities to the official store opening of BK Unique Hair in Lagos, and the launching of Rita Dominic Signature line at her Victoria Island Store.

Founder and President of BK Unique Hair, Mrs. Kenneth introduced herself along with her team, comprising Ada Anyanwu, Executive Assistant; and Yvonne Vixen Ekwere, Liaison, to the journalists. She ushered all into the BK Unique world by giving an overview of the brand, with a major focus on A list award-winning actress, Rita Dominic’s Signature Line she has been working on for over a year.

BK Unique Hair Inc., made its debut into the hair care industry in 2008 with skin wefts, and was fully launched in 2011 in Canada.

Mrs. Kenneth said, “Through unwavering

passion, commitment and dedication, we have evolved as one of the top hair extension providers in North America and internationally.”

Following the press briefing, it was an exciting afternoon filled with cheer as leading lady and BK Unique Brand Ambassador, Rita Dominic, mingled with fans and celebrity friends, including Kate Henshaw, Hilda Dokubo, Osas Ajibade, Toke Makinwa, Ugonna Omeruo, Idia Aisien and many more. Guests had delectable treats, finger foods, cocktails, and customised gift bags.

Together, Mrs. Kenneth and Rita announced that proceeds from the sale of the signature line would be donated to cancer research, as well as women undergoing cancer treatment.

BK Unique Hair is available for purchase at the BK Unique Hair Inc Store located in Sleek Studio Square- 133 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island Lagos. It will also be available in select salons around town, shortly.

Blessing Kenneth- CEO and Founder BK Unique Hair

Idia Aisien and Rita Dominic

Leo Mezie Thanks Apostle Suleiman Johnson, Nigerians

N

ollywood actor, Leo Mezie, is full of thanks to Nigerians, most especially to Apostle Suleiman Johnson of Omega Fire Ministries for donating towards saving his life.

Mezie, who survived an advanced stage of kidney disease, said his battle with the disease and consequent victory made him to realise that indeed, “There is God, and He works in a miraculous way.”

Leo returned to the country from the UK last week after months of medical sojourn, very hale and hearty.

News broke around July that the popular actor was down with advanced stage of kidney disease and required over 60,000 pounds to carry out a transplant.

“I was devastated, I was broken but God decided to give me a second chance, to serve him.

“I had made up my mind that I was going to die; I had begun to make preparations, because from research I knew that people live a maximum of 10 years after a transplant, some even less than that. But my wife told me I should not give-up, she gave me strength to fight on. My friend, Mrs. Juliet Bumah, Saturday Editor

of The Telegraph came to my house in company of other media friends and that was when they told me they had to let the world know about my plight, because I would not be able to shoulder the medical bills alone. Then I was already spending about N170,000 weekly, on dialysis aside monies I was paying to see consultants weekly too. I agreed with them, the first picture of me sitting in the hospital bed that went viral was released by Juliet, whom we all call ‘Supawoman’.”

The way Nigerians responded to the ‘Save Leo Mezie’ appeal according to the actor overwhelmed him. “I never knew I was this loved by Nigerians, I never knew God also loved me this much.”

Mezie, at the formal media chat held at celebrity restaurant, O’jez, on Tuesday to announce his return to Nigeria, displayed public gratitude to Apostle Suleiman Johnson. “I want to at this point thank Apostle Suleiman Johnson for all what he did for me. I have never met him before; I took ill but as soon he heard the news, he contacted me and asked that we stopped all further public appeal for fund. He then took over all my medical bills, I mean every one of it throughout my stay in the UK. I did not lack anything. I thank God for using Apostle Suleiman Johnson to

Leo

save me from death.”

He cleared the air on the issue of kidney transplant. “I want to clear the air here, I did not undergo a kidney transplant, although that was what the doctors in the UK said, but on my arrival, God did His work and I was only treated effectively.

I will call what happened a miracle, because tests revealed that my kidneys were badly damaged and the only solution was a transplant, but after weeks of treatment, the doctors were even shocked that they were able to revive my kidneys. I give God all the glory.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 3, 2016

December 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 3, 2016

FITNESS FILE

The Edenlifestyle corner with

Improve Your Leg Day Game

O

ne of my favourite workout quotes is ‘friends don’t let friends skip leg day.

Too many men I know focus on upper body workouts alone. I guess they figure you only have to look good in a t-shirt.

They are wrong.

Have you ever felt drained, dizzy or even nauseous after an intense weight training session? Well guess what?

You should experience one of these symptoms each and every time you properly work out your legs. When training your legs, you’re basically working half your body in one session.

Training your leg muscles doesn’t only work your lower half; it actually works your entire body, increases your heartbeat and gets your blood flowing to help burn fat and work your cardiovascular system. Working out your legs is also crucial to maintain a nice symmetry, which is simply the proper balance between the size of each and every one of your body’s muscles. (In layman terms, it means you won’t look like a Popsicle, with a muscular upper body and chicken legs).

Leg muscles?

Before we go into the details of each leg exercise, it’s important for you to know which muscles are involved in your leg routine. Your main leg muscles consist of the gluteus (buttocks), the quadriceps (front of the upper legs), the hamstrings (back of the upper legs), and the calves (back of the lower leg). This article will focus on the gluteus and quadricep muscles.

Get beefy Now that you’ve learned the basics of leg anatomy, it’s time to learn how to get your legs fit. Follow these exercises and transform your chicken legs into stronger, beefier legs. This training routine is designed for both beginners and more advanced trainers.

Simply increase or lower your weights and repetitions depending on your level of expertise; higher repetitions with lower weights for beginners and lower reps with heavier weights for more advanced trainers. Remember to achieve perfect form before packing on the weights and lowering the repetitions. Take a two to three-minute break between your sets for better results.

Standard squats The squat is the mother of all leg exercises. If you were to do only one leg exercise, it should be the squat, since it works your entire body. The focus, however, is on your gluteus and quadriceps. The regular squat is a great exercise in order to build your legs and your overall fitness level.

Sets and Repetitions Four Sets; Reps 15-10-8-8 Instructions 1. Get into a comfortable upright stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart. Your toes should be either pointed straight ahead or slightly outward. Don’t point them inward,

MAJE AYIDA

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

without necessarily needing a spot.

Remember to always maintain perfect form.

Sets and Repetitions 4 Sets; Reps 15-10-8-8 Instructions 1. Place your feet flat on the platform, shoulder-width apart, with your toes pointing slightly outward. You can vary your foot positions in order to hit your muscles from different angles. A wide stance will work the outer quadriceps, while a narrow one will work the inner quadriceps.

2. Lower the platform until your knees are at a 90-degree angle. Make sure that your lower back is properly aligned with the seat to prevent backinjury.

3. Press the platform outward until your legs are nearly straight out. Do not lock your knees at the start of the movement in order to keep the tension on your leg muscles and avoid injury.

Make sure not to bounce at the end of the motion because that can also cause serious injury.

Leg extensions Leg extensions are a great finishing exercise. It’s even a good idea to do a light set before starting your leg workout, since it works your entire quadricep region.

Sets and Repetitions Three Sets; Reps 10-10-10

Squatting deeper than parallel to the floor will NOT damage your knees, as many lifters believe, but it could be dangerous for beginners. This focuses the tension on your hamstring muscles instead. Knee damage is a result of raising your heels off the floor, not of lowering your butt to the floor because this will put a lot of strain on your knees.

2. Keep your vision focused straight ahead or slightly above eye level. Do not tilt your head backwards or raise your eyes too much because this will disrupt your balance.

3. Place the barbell squarely on your traps (trapezius muscles) and shoulders (not the neck) and grip

the bar comfortably, with your hands slightly wider than your shoulders.

This will automatically straighten your back and force you to maintain a strict form.

4. Slowly bring your butt towards the ground, but make sure to keep your heels planted firmly on the floor.

Do NOT start by bending your knees.

5. Continue downward by slowly bending your knees. Be careful not to let your knees move forward or sideways - always keep them in-line.

This will relieve some stress off of them.

6. When your thighs are parallel to the ground, begin exhaling and return to the starting position. There should be no sideways movement, especially in the knee or hip area.

7. Squatting deeper than parallel to the floor will NOT damage your knees, as many lifters believe, but it could be dangerous for beginners. This focuses the tension on your hamstring muscles instead. Knee damage is a result of raising your heels off the floor, not of lowering your butt to the floor.

Leg presses The leg press is another great overall quadricep muscle builder. It’s also a fun exercise to carry out because you’ll be able to pack on the weight rather quickly compared to other exercises,

Instructions 1. Sit on the seat of a leg extension machine with the footpad firmly placed on the outer part of your shin.

Make sure your knees are flexed at a 90-degree angle. If your legs are forced too far beyond this angle, knee damage could result early on in the movement.

2. Extend and straighten your legs until they’re parallel with the floor.

3. This is the only leg exercise in which you can lock your knees without risking knee damage. It’s actually a good thing to lock your knees and hold the position for a second or two in order to squeeze and burn your muscles.

4. After reaching the end of the motion, slowly return the weight to a point near the starting position.

This will allow you to keep constant tension on your quadricep muscles.

5. Pointing your toes toward each other at a 20-degree angle works the inner quad area, while pointing your toes outward works the outer quad area. Try to vary the angle of your toes every once in a while to work your legs from different angles.

Well that’s it; your glutes and quadriceps should be pretty tired by now, but guess what? This is only the first part of your leg workout. To maintain a nice symmetry, you’ll need to work on your hamstrings and calves, so make sure to read the second part of this intensive leg workout next time.

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DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE

Spazio Label Debuts with Campaign Featuring Beverly Osu

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

FASHION FILE

Spazio Label Launches Debut Campaign

S

tunning actress and media personality, Beverly Osu, is the face of ready-to-wear campaign for new brand, Spazio Label. Spazio creates easy but appealing clothing that will leave every woman’s closet trendy.

This collection represents the everyday woman, who wants to embrace her inner style and is not afraid to take fashion risks.

Every woman is catered to by the brand because she finds a unique piece that is afford-

able, stylish, trendy and for this reason, the brand was created.

Credits Photography - @m4lphotography Make Up - @stephanieani_mua Models - Beverly Osu @beverly_osu , Melanie W of Few Model Management @fewmodels Styling / Creative Direction @thestyle_concierge Clothing - Spazio Label @spaziolabel Location- Mystiquee Bespoke Perfumery @mystiqueeperfumery

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

WITH

MARKET PLACE

OMOLABAKE FASHOGBON 08033621009

L-R Past President,Association of Telecommunications Organisation of Nigeria, ATCON, Mr. Lanre Ajayi ; past President, ATCON, Mr. Titi Omo-ettu, current President,ATCON, Mr. Olusola Teniola; Executive Vice Chairman,EVC, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta,past President,ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and CEO Phase3 Telecoms, Mr. Stanley Jegede during the presentation of gift to the EVC of NCC by ATCON.

L-R Camp Director, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos, Akhamie Priscilla; Public Relations Manager, Power Oil, Azeez Omotayo; Corps member, Anetor Paul; and Medical Consultant, Dr. Gbolahan Diya at the Power Oil health activities at NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos recently

FG Spreads Agreement with Firm on Agriculture Support The Federal Government,through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, has extended the deal between her and Cellulant Nigeria Limited on the provision of Growth Enhancement Support Program, GES, to Nigerian farmers.

The GES which uses e-wallet technology, provided by Cellulant, to allot government subsidies, fertilisers, improved seedlings, agrochemicals and good farming practices to Nigerian farmers, has been the flagship program of the FMARD in the last four years and has served an average of 6 million farmers annually

Sheraton Opens Refurbished Club Lounge Sheraton Hotels, Lagos, has unveiled its renovated club lounge just as it announced the completion of the reconditioned 107 club rooms and suites.

The new club lounge which is the company’s exclusive lounge destination combines intuitive design with a higher level of comfort and access as well as avails guests with added privileges and highly personalised services.

Also, the 107 new additions boast of features and designs which blend seamlessly with local cultural elements and permeates through the re- energised interiors to provide a sense of place According to the organisation’s Area General Manager for Nigeria, Barry Curran, the latest development underscored the company’s new elevated and customised approach to design as part of Sheraton 2020, a 10-point plan designed to put the brand back in the global spotlight and solidify its positioning as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere.

“We are confident that these modern enhancements and added amenities will enable our guests to experience more during their stay. All of the 107 Sheraton club rooms and suites have been completely redesigned to create a modern and elegant experience.

“Purposefully designed with attention to detail, they come equipped with the renowned Sheraton signature sleep experience providing unmatched comfort. Particular attention has been given to lighting to ensure efficient task lighting where required and just the right level of ambient light for relaxation.

The use of a mosaic pattern on the wall tiling adds intricate detail to the room.

The bathrooms are thoughtfully designed using quality materials and fittings with premium bath amenities”, he explained.

by the end of the year.

The Chief Executive Officer of Cellulant Nigeria, Bolaji Akinboro explained that prior to the extension of the agreement, the present administration had requested for certain improvements to the e- wallet technology so that it could continue to serve Nigerian farmers better.

“The upgraded technology was field tested with a pool of 500,000 farmers who grew 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice and maize from May through September 2016.

The approval of the President for the continuation of the program and the retention of the

technology provider, was also to ensure the continuation of the project even when present government is out of office”, he stated.

The e-wallet system started in Nigeria and was soon implemented in other Africa countries to include Togo and Liberia. Plans are also in the pipeline to extend the system to 13 other sub-Saharan African countries and the Middle East. Meanwhile, government had concluded arrangements to kick-off an all-round farming year using the technology beginning from November 2016 till May 2017.

The program aims to reach between 5-9million

Firm Unveils largest Shrimp Farm in Africa Leading fishing company, Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, ASL, has opened its ultra-modern 160 hectares shrimp farm in Lagos to soidify its leadership position in the seafood segment in the Sub-Saharan Africa.

The latest development according to the company, would aid food security in the country, improve Nigeria’s trade balance in international markets, create employment opportunities as well as boost Nigeria’s production capacity in the seafood market as the new farm will oversee the nurturing, hatching and processing of shrimps that will serve both Nigeria and the export market.

Inaugurating the project, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, noted that the development was a confirmation that Nigerians were moving in line with the Federal Government agenda on diversification through agriculture.

The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, stated that “The

Nigerian Government is keen to support local investments in agriculture. We must start looking inward and encourage development in areas where Nigeria has a competitive advantage. ASL has led the way by building this impressive facility which will see many Nigerians employed, catalyse growth in the economy as well as generate foreign exchange through the exportation of products”.

The Managing Director of the company, Kamlesh Kabra added that : “The new project is a proof of the company’s continued dedication to investing in Nigeria.

We are proud of the fact we are developing products in which Nigeria has a competitive advantage, all of which are locally sourced and where Nigerians do the value addition in Nigeria. The company’s tropical shrimps are distributed worldwide to over 20 countries, including all the European countries and the USA, bringing much-needed foreign exchange into the Nigerian economy. This Farm will substantially increase our export volumes and foreign exchange generation.”

Dufil Bags Labour-Friendly Organisation Award Dufil Prima Foods has been awarded the labour-friendly organisation of the year by Nigeria entrepreneurs.

The recognition came after an intensive and rigorous screening by stakeholders and independent auditors that saw the organisation qualify for the award considering its immense contributions to the ‘real sector’ entrepreneurial growth and development through its operations, sponsorships and Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, activities.

The organiser of the programme also commended the Dufil for its steadfastness even in the midst of economic challenges where many businesses had packed up and some embarked on mass retrenchment, as it noted that the company was committed to protecting its workforce as well as created new employment opportunities.

Group Head, Public Relations, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Ashiwaju Temitope, stated that “The organisation is focused in its drive to make life better for Nigerians. We have been adding value to the lives of millions by dishing out quality

products including Indomie Instant Noodles, Power Oil, Power Pasta, Minimie Chinchin and Minimie Noodles.

“We have been able to keep faith with the Nigerian economy by not laying-off staff at this challenging period while we have also created many direct and indirect employments in addition to independent entrepreneurs that have been made from our efforts. The company has also been involved in some of the most humane CSR sponsorship one of which is the Indomie Independence Day Awards. Therefore, the recognition we are getting today is a right step taking a look at our accomplishment in the country ” The Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award is a business one that seeks to recognise, showcase exemplary entrepreneurship and reward corporate organisations practice in Nigeria. The 2016 edition had in attendance representatives of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Ooni of Ife and other dignitaries.

farmers with quality seedlings, fertilizers, and pesticide and as part of the subsidy scheme, both government and the farmers will contribute to the costs of the farming inputs.

In the next phase of the project, the Federal government had also approved the company to work with the financial sectors under the Nigeria Agriculture Payment Initiative (NAPI) to digitise payments in the sector so as to also increase the adoption rate of mobile phones in the remote areas and encourage government’s drive towards financial inclusion of those who live in the hinterland.

British Council, Gtbank Partner to Promote Artwork British Council in collaboration with Gtbank has demonstrated it’s commitment towards the promotion of Nigerian art industry having co-launched ‘Wind Sculpture VI’, a six-by-three metre artwork produced by a UK-born Nigerian artist, Yinka Shonibare.

The sculpture which was unveiled recently at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park in Ikeja would remain on exhibition in the center till next year January.

Speaking at the launch, the deputy British High Commissioner, Simon Sheriffs, explained that ‘Wind Sculpture VI’ which was made from fibreglass and steel is part of the sculptor artistic inquiry into the motion of wind as it passes through fabric.

“This exhibition is part of the UKNigeria art season which has been on for over a year now and it is coming to a culmination. The art season is designed to create opportunity for people in the UK and Nigeria to mix and collaborate. And also get better as a result. This art displayed today is a great example of the reason for the UK-Nigeria art season”, he said.

The Director of Programmes, British Council, Louisa Waddingham, added that: “The display of Wind Sculpture VI is at the heart of what British Council had planned for the UK-Nigeria art season. We are displaying the artwork in this beautiful public park because we hope that it will be visible to as many people as possible.”

The owner of the artwork, Yinka Shonibare, urged government to regenerate art scene in Lagos, which he said would create massive employment opportunities in the art, culture and tourism sector.

44

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 3, 2016

ENCOUNTER FADAMA Project:

Anambra to Begin Rice Export Mr. Chukwuka Patrick Egbue is Project Coordinator for World Bank/FADAMA 3, Additional Financing in Anambra State. He tells Kasie Abone that not only would the state achieve its 300, 000 metrics tones projected for rice production but will soon become a major exporter of rice. All thanks to Governor Willie Obiano

C

an you givetell about FADAMA project in Anambra State?

FADAMA is an agricultural project, it is a partnership between the federal government and the World Bank and the state government also. The Federal government is being represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance on one hand and the state government on the other side, World Bank as the fund providers. FADAMA has come a long way. We started with FADAMA 1, FADAMA 2, FADAMA 3 and now we are in FADAMA 3 Additional Financing. All through, the main purpose of FADAMA is to positively affect the lives of the rural farmers in the sense that the project is targeted at raising their living standards in a sustainable manner, so that the project comes and intervenes and by the time the project leaves them they can sustain the living standard the project has brought them up to. FADAMA has been trying to create good farming environment. FADAMA is coined from Hausa word born from irrigatable farm lands. FADAMA means irrigatable farm lands. It started in the North.

In the North they use their dams to achieve all year round crop production.

So, that is what has moved down to this place. So, over the years and over the period of the project we have had a consistent increase in food security and number of user families that are benefitting. That is why they see the individual as a unit in the bigger family that FADAMA is targeting. That is why in most cases the approach of measuring the success of FADAMA project is not on individual family basis but the approach we use is Community Driven Development approach. This way what FADAMA does is that these individuals are organised under groups so that they will have a pool of competencies. The farmers are registered as cooperatives.

FADAMA now interfaces with them through these groups and these groups have land in a contiguous area. A group is made up of minimum of 10 have their farm land s together. Then if they are more than one, if you have about 10 hectares to a group and you have a total of 50 hectares, that means five groups for 50 farmers, this forms a cluster. So, a cluster is made of groups and groups are made up of individual farmers. This is the process through which FADAMA intervenes.

How will you assess the FADAMA project so far in Anambra state vis a vis achieving the much expected food security in the state?

The project is trying with what the present administration in the state is doing. Without sounding patronising I have been here for a while but I have not seen a governor that has gone beyond lip service in agriculture.

Governor Willie Obiano set up four pillars of development but agriculture is the number one pillar. He is doing a whole lot. What we are finding out is

that with the state governments personal commitment, because when the World Bank was here you could see his passion, his eyes lightens up when he is talking agriculture. And without any paper to back him up he knew exactly everything that is going on everywhere in the state as regards agriculture.

Achieving food security for FADAMA we are nearing there. The governor has said over 200, 000 metrics tons of rice would be produced this year. Last year over 100, 000 metric tons was produced.

Before he came in the state was not doing more than 50, 000 metric tons.

There is a geometric improvement in food security along the line of rice. And because of his support, when the World Bank came in, he immediately released his counterpart fund. The counterpart funding is the impetus the World Bank needs to support the state completely.

So, because he has released that counterpart funding we do not owe. We are one of the few states in Nigeria that do not owe. The World Bank’s weight is fully behind us that is why we are also going into cassava. No state except Kano has more than one value chain.

Besides the counterpart funding, which other ways does the government support your project?

The state government is supporting us in so many ways. Presently, we have two government workers that perform oversight functions. We have a Senior Special Adviser (SSA) ensures there is smooth operation between the government and the project. And again government is supporting through the inputs through the ministry of agriculture. The government is helping us to procure the right seeds for the farmers.

If you don’t have the right seed you won’t have the right yield. They are procuring certified hybrid seed. These are difficult to come by. They have brought out so much money, over N300 million to help to procure this so that farmers can get this at reduced price.

Then again the governor is supporting so much by providing micro credit to farmers through ASBA, a business development organ to empower these farmers by providing them access to credit facilities. The farmers having credit facilities are a plus because it enables them to provide their own beneficiary contribution and we now provide our own support. What FADAMA is doing in the state is massive because we are doing 13 feeder roads costing so much money and we are also doing irrigation projects. The idea behind this is that if you are producing all year round you are automatically increasing food production.

How would you assess farmers’ response to these innovations in farming?

For the farmers, the irrigation is a new thing because what they used to do is to go near the river to do their rice farming in the dry season. With what we are bringing now they can not only farm near the river but they can also farm upland.

Egbue

Is there any particular type of crop FADAMA focuses on?

Yes, FADAMA was focusing on everything, on the entire agricultural value chain, livestock, crop production, fishery, everything. But presently, in this FADAMA 3 AF FADAMA is focusing only on crops, rice, cassava, tomatoes and soghum and horticulture. Presently FADAMA focuses on specific crops. For Anambra here we are focusing on rice because there is something we call the staple crops processing zone. This was created to tackle the problem of high dependency on imported food items, the staple foods that we use, rice, cassava based products, soghum used everywhere even in the brewery sectors, tomatoes.

So, but for Anambra State, FADAMA is focusing on rice because you find out that every year, millions of dollars of foreign exchange is spent on importation of foreign rice. So, the government is looking at what is called import substitution to empower and create enabling environment for the production of some of these crops. So, they are focusing on staple crops.

Are there specific areas of focus for FADAMA projects?

Usually FADAMA projects are all over the state but due to specific nature of rice, because when rice was allocated to Anambra State due to its comparative advantage you find out that it is only about eight local government areas that grow rice in the whole of Anambra State. These local government areas, Ayamelum, Anambra East and West, Ogbaru, Ihiala, Orumba North and South, Awka North. And along these eight local government areas, the FADAMA scheme is aiming to support over 4, 000 farmers. Next farming season we will also support them.

How achievable is Governor Willie Obiano’s projection of over 300 metric tons of rice production for the current farming season?

It is achievable especially given the type of efforts that are being put in. In fact, we are looking beyond that. If you see the theme for this year’s farming season, the theme was “Beyond Food Sufficiency: Thinking Globally Acting Locally.” So, we are looking seriously towards exports. We are exporting our vegetables. But beyond vegetables, Anambra rice is set to take over as the best rice in the country in milling, processing and nutritional content.

Because we make sure that these are high breed high yield seeds. This is

what you don’t get in imported rice.

In fact, most imported rice are animal feed. They have lasted for many years and chemicals are being used to preserve them. So, the nutrition content is negative because it starts causing a whole lot of cancerous problems.

Presently the cost of foodstuff in the state is still high, how soon are we going to start seeing a drop in the price of foodstuff?

Very soon. They are all-year planting.

In rice we are supporting them with inputs. What we expect is that in the next few months when the farmers start bringing out what they stocked from last year, then price have already started going down gradually but just wait for another three months. We are predicting a bumper harvest.

For people who aspire to be farmers, what will it take them to get started?

Nothing. All they need to do is partner with Anambra State and maybe partner with FADAMA. We attach them to groups so that if they are new farmers they will have to learn. They will be them through the ropes. But the government has been magnanimous.

The government has a land bank that is why the governor has been able to attract a lot of investors. What he does is that the investors are bringing in the millions of dollars and the governor is bringing in easy access to land for them to be able to invest on. If you move through Igbariam after the university you will see a massive investment going on there.

What is your special message to farmers?

Let them support what FADAMA is doing, let them support people who are coming to train them because we train the farmers mostly free. Let them support the infrastructure projects FADAMA is setting up there. The roads is to enable have access to market, to evacuate their farm produce. The irrigation is to farm all year round. Then the small infrastructure, the trowels, the planters is to ease them because we are moving from subsistence agriculture so that their yield will become better.

We have tractorised for them. What we do is to cut off 50 per cent of the cost of the tractor. His cost of production will reduce by half. Apart from reducing the cost of production, the best one is the training. The knowledge that they get. That one is unquantifiable and it outlives them. We can leave tomorrow and say we can no longer intervene but what they have learnt outlives them.

45

DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

ENCOUNTER The Rice Debate

Why Nigeria Can’t Meet Local Rice Production Demand

S

Stanley Nkwazema ince the rice and cement Armada of the early 80s when the late Alhaji Umaru Dikko was Minister under the regime of Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari democratically elected government which encouraged importation of several shiploads of rice from the United States and Brazil, to meet the short fall, there have been several claims and counter claims on the quantity of rice consumed by Nigerians, the quantity imported and the quantity produced locally by the established farms and subsistent farmers in the country.

The claims are however getting more interesting following inconsistencies and policy reversal on the duties to be paid on the imported ones and incentives thereafter for the local producers. In this case the subsistent, semi and well established farms.

While many – from different strata of the society have fallen in love with the local brand of rice to the extent of patronising it as a staple food, others will never have anything to do with the home grown species and qualities for several reasons. They will rather prefer the foreign brands for its peculiar taste and fine grain, others just love it for the status associated with consuming the foreign brands. They have now graduated to the basmati brand which is believed to be better for people diagnosed with sugar problems as it is believed to be low in carbohydrate. Rice is one of the staples in the country and could be found in the homes of the higher class, the middle-income earner and the downtrodden.

This is basically why every policy or decision taken by government on the importation or tax on rice affects all homes.

Interestingly, Nigeria is the world’s second and Africa’s largest importer of rice and over the years, the country has depended so much on imports to fill the local supply gap which arose due to inability of local producers to meet demand. Though rice is a staple food for Nigerians, transitional government policies on importation and high processing costs due to infrastructure challenges have failed to foster a condusive environment for local rice production to thrive.

The consumption of rice in Nigeria has grown rapidly over the past decade and is currently at an all-time high of 7 million Metric Tonnes. More so, only 2.7 million MT is produced by the farmers in Nigeria, which presently leaves a gap of 4.3 million MT to be cushioned by importing it into the country.

This clearly means that we have only 49 per cent self sufficiency ratio.

At this rate, there is a per capita consumption rate of 27 kilogrammes at $460 per metric tonne.

Rice represents that staple food which falls on the same level of carbohydrate in the class of Garri, corn, yam, across all social strata of the Nigerian society. The Preferred variety is parboiled which is mostly sourced from imports. Rice consumption forecast to grow at minimum of 5% per annum.

According to available industry reports, local production of the commodity fluctuated between 2,400 to 3,600 in the last five years, while imports have grown from 4,800 to 5,850, within the same period ,in geometric projections.

However, since 2011, without capturing informal estimates of cross border trade on the same product from Benin Republic and in some cases Togo, imports have exceeded local production making up over 50% of consumption..

Out of the 36 Nigerian states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), only about eight states , Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Nassarawa and Anambra farm heavily on the product. Since 2011, imports have exceeded local production making up over 50% of consumption. Informal cross border imports from Benin Republic not captured in formal imports estimates.

Within local production, eight of 36 Nigerian states contribute over 50% of the local production: Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba. Nasarawa, Anambra and Taraba states produce over 50% of the product it claims.

Even as Olam Intergrated $120million rice farm and Mill in Ondorie, Nasarawa State is the acclaimed leader in the production of rice in Nigeria with over 10,000 hectares fully irrigated farm, Anambra State claims that the large industrial farms in the state have pushed local rice production within its territory from 90,000 metric tons to 210,000 metric tons. At this rate, we shall soon surpass the 320,000 metric tons we consume in Anambra State per annum. This could be verified by the authorities as a landmark achievement.

Conversely, Nigeria imports mostly from Brazil, Thailand, India, Vietnam and USA to meet the 4.3 million metric tonnes shortfall valued at over N365 billion to meet the annual demand which stands at 7 million MT. The Vice President and Head of Government Relations in Olam, Ade Adefeko, who in a chat, gave a candid insight into the rice palaver after a chat with THISDAY, explained that there were no shortcuts to solve the problem.

Adefeko, who is also the Chairman of the Export Group of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry NACCIMA, noted that the rice industry was huge but bedevilled with several challenges which was surmountable.

On the issue of value chain of processing, production and end use, he stated that inadequate irrigation leads to highly volatile productivity levels while low levels of farming technologies – mostly rudimentary for subsistence farming, hamper yields due to the inability of farmers to mitigate impact of weeds, insects and birds.

With the aforementioned , Adefeko disclosed that limited processing capacity would actually exist, with mill processors generating substandard output due to poor quality control practices, poor drying and sorting techniques and power failures which lead to high cost of production.

For the end-users, the cost is now passed through several middlemen, squeezing margins for retailers, and perceived high quality of imports leads consumers to shun local produce while the Open market is mostly dominated by the retail channel.

Interestingly, Olam located 265 km south east of Abuja on the banks of the River Niger, commenced business in 2011, with an initial investment of N25 billion. The company presently cultivates 4,450 out of 9,479 hectares, employing 1,044 regular and 450 seasonal farmers out of which 959 are from the local communities. The farm is expected to yield 10 MT per hectare (over two annual crop cycles), based on four varieties of high-yield rice tested with the West African Rice Development Association. With 4,040 hectares already under cultivation, a further 3,000 hectares on target for 2016/17, up to 1,000 workers are employed on the farm depending on seasonality About 4,000 farmers including 500 women are currently engaged in the programme, with a target of 16,000 by 2018, ultimately supplying 30-40% of the mill’s capacity. In 2014, the company introduced seed of high yield variety and evenly distributed to 888 farmers involving 990 Ha. Olam collects rice in four warehouses, controls quality and hires transport to factory.

In the current farming season, 4,000 farmers have been mobilised to produce one of the best qualities of rice that can compete with imported products in the domestic market creating high-end rice from Nigeria, and for Nigerians Scalability of the nucleus model is significant, and it is hoped that other players will replicate the success of Olam’s rice farm to further enhance Nigerian food security Again, in other to help farming communities thrive and commit to the next generation through, the company is providing school

buildings, materials and scholarships for students and connecting communities through development of 54km of roads between surrounding villages. It also ensures access to clean water and electricity through provision of boreholes and solar lamps.

Unarguably, the biggest player for now, many believe that Nigeria will need more companies in the mould of Olam to achieve local production needs and sustainability.

After a recent observation of the Olam trend, which typically has embodied the traditional inclusion and bettered it Adefeko, who spoke with THISDAY in Abuja, is however advising against taking a hasty decision on the issue without commensurate plans to bridge the wide gap. “Government wants to ban rice importation by 2017 and wheat by 2018. How do they want to take care of the gap that has been in existence and will further widen? You do not take care of policy issues by political fiat or by electoral cycles of four years. It might cause a major food crisis. There must be a rethink on this issue if we want to avoid serious problems because rice is a staple food consumed by all.

He warned that the ban could be detrimental to the nation’s economy as smugglers will feed fat on the porosity of the nation’s borders and enrich their pockets. “The truth is that there will be plenty sides to the ban.

The revenue will drop. Few will benefit by smuggling in the product because of the porosity of our borders.”

Again “before we can do that we need to stimulate the local production and marketing of the product. Many still feel imported rice is still the best. But our soil is better conditioned to produce nutritious rice. Our mills are also improving. But you don’t encourage them by an outriht ban.

To the NACCIMA export group head, four years are just too short. “it will be near impossible to sail”.

A case in point, Paddy Costs is currently about N175,000 per tonne , up from N120,000.

This will translate to rice being produced and sold at round N14,500 to N15,500.

However, the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonanya Onu, while confirming that the country spends over N365 billion annually on the importation of rice ,reiterated Federal Government’s focus on food security, saying Nigeria had no business importing food. ”It is lamentable that, the country is spending over N1 billion daily, on importing rice, for instance. Its time every Nigerian takes agriculture more seriously, adding that Nigeria must feed Nigerians. There is no reason Nigerians will go to bed at night on an empty stomach,” he insisted while pleading that more needed to be done to realise the lofty dreams for a stable and prosperous nation in food self sufficiency.

Onu said “even as many believe that before we talk of banning rice importation, we must increase our local rice productivity level to

avoid food scarcity in the future. All hands must be on deck to support PMB’s economy diversification to agriculture, because this will create jobs and food sufficiency.

Although it seems the Federal Government has already concluded plans to suspend importation of the country by 2017. But in conflict with the plan for 2017 that the policy would not be enforced until it has developed local industries to produce maximally for local consumption The Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, had recently after a joint meeting with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and permanent secretaries of federal ministries stated that with the emerging political will power of the present government and the availability of arable land, Nigeria can sustain itself with rice production.

“The meeting was on the new policy on agriculture and food sustainability. We discussed how we can boost rice production in Nigeria and start thinking about how we are going to put policy in place on how rice importation will be banned in the country.

We have the potential. We have the human resources. We have the arable land to grow rice. In the next two years, we will not need to bring rice from outside Nigeria. We are going to ban it. It is only in Nigeria, a country of millions of people, that there is no food security. We discussed the policy with the relevant permanent secretaries and CBN governor.

“The policy is going to be in place and we gave our commitment that we are ready to support the government policy in ensuring that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in food production in the next two years. Nigeria is currently a major importer of rice. Now, the political will is in place to stop it. We in about nine states are going to be seriously engaged in massive rice production. We are hoping that in the next two years, rice importation into Nigeria will be banned. We are committed and the political will is in place,” Yari said.

It would be recalled that the Bank of Industry (BOI) had shortly before the present administration came into office disclosed that it is working with the Ministry of Agriculture on a N13 billion Rice Intervention Fund for the establishment of 10 integrated rice mills and six cassava mills across the country. The Bank explained that the objective of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda is not only to increase crop production, but also to create value-added food processing industries as a means of reducing food imports. But that project we gathered may have gone the way of others and yet the problem lingers.

The truth, however, is that having rice mills all over the the country without the concomitant rice farms is like to putting the cart before the horse.

46

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Atiku: Anenih has no Need to Apologise Jude Ndukwe

F

ollowing some details in Chief Tony Anenih’s book titled ‘My Life and Nigerian Politics’ that was recently presented to the public, in which the author explained how he stopped Atiku Abubakar’s ambition to succeed his then boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as president during the build-up to the 2003 presidential election, Timi Frank, a National Working Committee member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is demanding that Anenih apologise to Atiku for what he termed the former PDP BOT chairman’s “loss of moral right to talk about former vice president Atiku Abubakar” claiming that he should also apologise to his own political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for whatever Frank invented in his own imagination.

The fact is that Atiku’s over-ambition to succeed Chief Obasanjo at the time was well known and documented.

Frank’s admission that more than 22 PDP governors were backing Atiku on his ambition to succeed Obasanjo then

Abubakar

further confirms Chief Anenih’s assertion on the subject.

But for Atiku’s over-ambition, what any politically savvy person would

have done would be to wait until his boss served two terms having showed interest in running for the presidency a second time. But such virtue of patience took flight from Atiku as he started plotting how to succeed his boss albeit prematurely.

The needless tension and fractious relationship that characterized the Obasanjo/Atiku presidency at some point is a copious and cogent testimony to Chief Anenih’s position. This slowed down economic projections and developmental plans at the time.

To say that Anenih is not called Mr Fixer for nothing is actually true. The experienced politician is known to fix issues not only in his party but even at the highest levels just as he “fixed” Atiku and his ambition in the Obasanjo era.

He also brought this enviable and fatherly figure to bear on the PDP campaign organization during the 2015 general elections where he intervened on several occasions on points of disagreements between different arms of the campaign organization and other stakeholders that worked for the party at the time. As former president

Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser on the Campaigns, he ensured that inter-directorate frictions were not only promptly settled but also mostly nipped in the bud, thereby effectively ‘fixing’ whatever was there to be fixed.

Little wonder former president Goodluck Jonathan implored Chief Tony Anenih not to quit active partisan politics, saying, “We agree that you will not attend meetings at 2am, 3am, but, in the areas of security and politics, we will consult you”. Coming from a man who surely knows far better than Frank, it confirms that the former minister of works and housing rather than apologise to PDP or any other entity is rather receiving worthy commendations from high places.

Rather than dissipate energy on trying to needlessly fault the facts from Chief Tony Anenih’s book, people like Timi Frank should actually wait for another century or more for their principals to reach the heights a gargantuan figure like Tony Anenih has since surpassed.

---jrndukwe@yahoo.co..uk; Twitter: stjudendukwe

Tony Anenih and his Legacies Christian Omoregie

L

ast weekend, Chief Tony Anenih, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formally bowed out of “active partisan politics”, after decades of towering political presence in the country. The High Chief of Esan Land used the occasion of the public presentation of his autobiography, “My Life and Nigerian politics”, to make the announcement to an audience that, perhaps, was not yet ready for political voyage without Anenih, who has been a mentor figure. As a matter of fact, no less a person than the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, protested Anenih’s decision to quit active politics by imploring the elder statesman to reconsider his decision. Jonathan was of the view that Anenih, as a result of age, might not always be available as before, especially during the midnight meetings and other party engagements, but that he should leave his doors open to all, particularly PDP members, for consultations. By the way, Jonathan was not the only person feeling this way! Many others present at the occasion felt the same.

At 83, Anenih deserves to be left alone to use the remainder of the years left for him on this earth to stay close to his creator and his family members who, undoubtedly, have missed his warmth due to the many years of his devotion to politics. Clearly, there is only one explanation for wanting to drag Anenih back to politics. And this has to do with his irreplaceable sagacity and stoical calculations in political strategizing. As Professor Epiphany Azinge, who reviewed the autobiography, rightly asserted, “like Anenih or hate him, you can’t ignore” the old man. How can you ignore a man who, in the Second Republic, chaired

Anenih

a relatively unpopular National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Bendel and transformed it into a mass party, with which he defeated a very popular Governor like Professor Ambrose Alli? Who can ignore the man who was largely instrumental to building what, perhaps, could pass as Nigeria’s first real national party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)? Who can deny Anenih’s deft strategy in taking his friend, an inexperienced politician, by the hand and selling him all across Nigeria as the SDP presidential flag bearer until General Ibrahim Babangida whimsically banned General Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua and his ilk?

In the current Republic, Tony Anenih’s style of noiseless but strategic politicking has not only left him achieving so much, but has also rewarded him with a staying power which no other politician of his era can boast of. Anenih helped to build the PDP into, not just an election-winning machine, but more importantly the

most widely accepted political party in the history of Nigerian politics. He has served as a Minister of the Federal Republic, the Acting Chairman and substantive Chairman of the BoT of the PDP. More importantly, Anenih’s advice, skills, sagacity, and reputation as a bridge builder across the length and breadth of the country, have come very handy to the PDP and the leadership when the party was faced with seemingly intractable problems.

As Anenih’s book reveals, the overambitious expectations of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his plot to unseat his principal, Olusegun Obasanjo, together with the fissures it created for national stability and the electoral fortunes of the PDP in the 2003 presidential election, were just some of the situations Chief Anenih was called upon, as the “fixer”, to fix.

Although those who choose to see Anenih in other light refer to him as “Mr. Fix it”, the old man says he would rather be seen as an achiever. And who can claim to have achieved more than Anenih in this country, politically, without contesting for an elective position? In about four decades, Tony Anenih, through the support of the people, produced Dr Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (the old Bendel State), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor as Governor in his native Edo; he has also recommended many across the country for ministerial and other appointments. Similarly, many senators, members of the Houses of Assembly and representatives since 1999 have been groomed and helped by the grand old man of Nigerian politics. In short, Anenih remains the greatest mentor for younger people finding their way around Nigerian politics and government.

And what has kept Anenih this long and successful in his career is the fact that he has built his politics around people. It is his belief that to succeed

you need people around you and that explains why his home whether in his native Uromi or in Abuja is always a beehive of activities with different groups waiting to consult him. And in doing this, the man has seen different shades of loyalty and disloyalty, support and betrayal. Yet, in all, he has always come out stronger because he readily forgives and brings back acolytes who have wandered far away from him.

Anenih is one of the few Nigerian politicians who see politics as an ennobling activity. In a season where politicians cut the image of fraudsters, untrustworthy and selfish people, Anenih has put his resources and time to the service of the Nigerian people without making any noise.

Although many Nigerians know him more as a leading politician, how many are aware that his generosity and philanthropy are providing free health services for many of our senior citizens and the aged in our land?

At the University College Hospital Ibadan, the Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre which takes care of the health challenges of the old, almost for free of charge, is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa. Besides, as a businessman and farmer, Anenih is providing employment for many and giving them an honest means of livelihood.

The quality of the crowd at the presentation of Chief Anenih’s book, especially now that his party is out of power, testifies to his appreciated worth and the legacies he is leaving behind. The content of the book should provide for thought for the general public, especially those who are politically inclined. They could glean some of his legacies (in politics, business and philanthropy) from the narrative.

– Mr Omoregie, a freelance journalist, attended the book launch and contributed this piece from Abuja.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

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POLITY

FayoseAntagonismofOkonAbang, AnotherCryof DesperationInpunity-RuinedPDPMafias G. G. Godwin

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here is a very popular Igbo parable that says that the man who loses a case in an arbitration mistakenly picks another man’s walking stick when leaving the venue. That is to say that, he did so out of confusion and tension. That is often the case of the man who loses in a case before the panel of the Igwe or Eze in council. Such a man will mistakenly collect someone else’s walking stick while hurrying to dash out in anger.

One more parable can be useful to drive home my point: “A lazy man will always complain that his hoe and cutlass are not sharp”. Sure we have, through these native wisdom, sufficiently explained that a drowning man will always look for what to hold onto as he struggles for survival.

What else can be the reasons for a loud foul-cry by the self-volunteered spokesperson for the latest team of politicians who have bagged a disastrously shattered political value? How can one explain Fayose the ‘busy-body’ fashion of joblessness or counter-prioritised executive duties of a democratically elected governor of a state? kind of thoughts you habitually think”.

My candid advice to His Excellency, If Fayose really understands elementary the executive governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Economics as he is expected to, he would Ayodele Fayose is to re-focus his brain on have learnt of the immeasurably high more innovative thoughts to better the opportunity cost of choosing the unlives of his people, instead of grabbing remunerated tongue-lashing and ‘we-noevery matter that flies over his head as go-gree’ choice-responsibilities in place if he is idle. He must also stop to always of the duties for which he was elected by think from a negative, sentimental and Ekiti people. unfounded, I-feel-cheated, every now and The morale-booster of Fayose is simply then. the fact that one or two judgments reWas it not Norman P. Vincent who cently delivered by Okon Abang went the advised world citizens in this manner: other way in the courts. Is this a strange “Change your thoughts and everything occurrence that the decision of a lower changes. Your life is determined by the court was overturned by a higher court?

If one case or two decided by Abang were overturned at the Appeal and Supreme courts, it does not automatically mean that there are not many more other decisions of the same jurist that were upheld by the same higher courts.

Can someone remind Fayose that Okon Abang has recorded verifiable exploits on the Bench as a judge. Let more rational thinkers properly educate Fayose for him to know that several judgements and rulings of this jurist have been upheld by higher courts over the years. This will be a simple adventure and mission to accomplish.

Proceedings and decisions in record books of every court of law are public documents that anyone, including Fayose can access anyday, anytime. Now that this recommended mission has been made easy, let him obtain copies of various judgments that have ever been delivered

by Abang and select only the ones that proceeded to Appeal and Supreme courts.

What happens when Fayose discovers that a thousand and one of such decisions

by Abang that were challenged at higher courts, were upheld by the same higher courts. The exposition from such a mission will be revealing. If his conscience is still alive, he will not mind apologising to the public.

Infact, it will interest Fayose and his research-phobia team of critics to know that while the few of them who lost political cases in Abang’s court are ridiculing him, a million and one other Nigerians, especially the ordinary Nigerian citizens, are hailing his unrivaled courage to dispense justice without fear or favour.

In many quarters, Abang is being adored as a hero in the front of justice delivery, as he is discovered to be one of the few oracles of justice that have refused to have their palms greased. We all know that the

moment a judge has been oiled by a party, there is the consequent gruesome murder of justice, for the inglorious benefit of the wrong person especially in cases concerning selfish politicians.

On one of the recent cases decided by Abang, which is still alive in the Supreme court, it was alleged by citizens from the state concerned that the high-profile PDP members who are a party in the matter boasted that they would, as they did in some other courts, procure judgment not minding whatever it would cost them.

When the matter approached judgment, it was alleged that they approached every one they knew was related to Abang in one way or another, including people from his community, his acquientances, old school mates etc to reach Abang but they got the same response: “Abang is a no-go area for bribery when he is presiding over a matter “.

The same politicians from the state in question were still the same people going about lamenting to their close friends that “Abang could not be gotten to be sorted hence they lost the said matter in his court”. It is now an open secret that they could not bribe Abang in the matter in which they sincerely knew that they had no case, hence they lost as anticipated.

Such politicians should let this truth out and call Fayose to order, knowing the truth about the incurruptibility of Abang.

When this is done, Fayose will take a bow and close his mouth, especially knowing the fact that Judiciary still remains the last hope of the common man.

Moreso, we now have a better and more focused judiciary at the apex temple of justice, in whom Nigerians have confidence.

– G. G. Godwin from Abia State.

Email: sirgggodwin@gmail.com

Ede Poly Trains 4,000 Students on Agricultural Skills Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

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n an effort to grease the wheel of economic development and to accelerate youth agricultural entrepreneurship skills, the Federal Polytechnics, Ede, Osun State has trained over 4,000 final year students on various agricultural programmes.

The agricultural programme, meant to make the students self-reliant was flagged off between the management of the school and Agrikk Matas Institute in Osogbo.

Giving the breakdown of the skill

acquisition, the Rector, Patrick Husseini, contended that the skill acquisition programme revolves around fishery, piggery, grass-cutter and mushroom training for both HND and ND graduates.

Husseini further explained that the authority only started with the four skills, saying other aspects of the agricultural training would equally be explored in order to make the graduates of the institution to be self-reliant after their studies.

The Rector opined that the institution would not relent in its efforts to offer the students the best for the future endeavours.

He also, noted that in line with the federal government efforts to revamp the

economy of the country, the authority of the institution would not relent in its efforts to transform the nation’s economy through their graduates. He said apart from training given to the students, effort was also on to make all staffs of the institution to be self-sustaining through several agricultural programmes.

In his own reaction, the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development, Mr. Biodun Oluwasegun Babalola, expressed optimism that after the programme, the students would be useful for themselves and the country at large.

Babalola who commended the efforts of the rector towards making the graduands

of the institution to be self-reliant after graduation contented that institution would not relent in the pursuit of excellence at all times.

He promised that any students that excel in any skill of the Agric programme will be assisted by the institution. He, therefore, commended the rector for his developmental mission and vision for the institution.

In her remarks, the Director, Agrikk Matas Institute, Mrs. Afolabi Olubumi said adequate training will be given to the participants in line with the institution’s request. She urged students to take their chosen field seriously in order to make a success of it.

Christian Journalists Pray for Nigeria

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hristian journalists will on Saturday, December 10, 2016 pray for Nigeria. The Christian journalists under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ will gather at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, to praise and worship God as well as Pray for Nigeria.

The Programme tagged “Provoking Heaven For Nigeria” is being put together by NACJ. A statement issued in Lagos said the programme was informed by the current economic hardship in the country.

“We believe our prayers for the country would turn the current situation around for good because there is always a spiritual dimension to every human problem. The Bible says we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and Nigeria is our Jerusalem.

There is no better time to pray for our dear nation than now. In view of the above, we have carefully invited seven notable men of God to anchor the programme.

Fani-Kayode

They include Bishop Tom Samson of Christ Royal Family, Rev. Duro Aina of Conquerors

Assembly, Rev. Olumide Emmanuel of Calvary Church, Prophet Chukwuemeka Peters of Fire Pentecostal Assembly, Apostle Victor James of Experience Grace Ministry, Apostle Toyin Praise, and Pastor Julius Ewa. Chimson Asuya and several other musical groups will minister in songs.

Signed by NACJ Secretary General, NACJ, Mr. Charles Okhai, the statement said: “We are specific with seven, because, spiritually, seven is God’s number of perfection. We believe God would use this prayer meeting to perfect our nation both politically and economically. We are therefore delighted to use this opportunity to invite well-meaning Nigerians to join us for five solid hours of heaven provoking session of praise, worship, and prayer rain featuring seven great men of God. In view of the fact that with God all things are possible, with this prayer exercise, we are delighted to announce to Nigerians that this very spiritual exercise will turn the economy around and our nation will once again occupy an enviable position on the world map.”

According to Okhai, eminent Nigerians from all walks of life have been invited to grace the event. It is time for us as a people to take our destiny in our hands, and we are willing as a group to give ourselves to whatever it takes to restore the glory of our great nation. For historical perspective, we are packaging a special magazine on Nigeria as a nation as well as chronicle the entire event. Copies of the magazine will be given to all state governments, national assembly, and the presidency. A good number will also be sent to Nigerians in diaspora through our international co-ordinators in South Africa, Canada and the United States of America.

He explained that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina who is equally our ambassador is one of the celebrities expected to grace the occasion.

Other expected personalities include former commissioner in Imo State, Dr. T. Ekechi, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and a host of others who are passionate about Nigeria.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

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WITH

MARITIME BITS

JOHN IWORI 08057763164

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello; Mr. Gbolahan Gbadamosi; Principal Partner of Mike Igbokwe & Co, Mr. Mike Igbokwe SAN, at the formal unveiling of the pioneer President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour’s book titled “Commercial Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria through the Cases” in Lagos...recently

L-R: President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Mr. Greg Ogbeifun, his wife, Christy, and the Minister of Transportation, Right Hon. Rotimi Amaechi shortly after the 2016 gala night and awards organised by SOAN at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos…recently

SOAN Raises the Bar, Presents Charter of Demands to FG Nigerian ship owners under the auspices of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) has raised the bar in the shipping sector of the economy just as they presented a charter of demands to the Federal Government.

They strongly believed that if the demands which encompass the core areas in the shipping sector of the economy are strictly implemented by the President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration, Nigeria will take its rightful place in the comity of serious maritime nations.

In an address he presented at this year annual

dinner organised by SOAN at Eko Hotels and Suits, Lagos, the Pr4esident of SOAN, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun called for a review of the provisions of the Cabotage Act 2003 with a view to ensure its strict implementation.

He argued that since Nigeria exports her crude oil on free on board (FOB) basis, a national fleet programme for the country will make the nation to change to CIF basis to buyers.

Other demands include a review of duties paid on imported vessels, corporation income tax for companies acquiring new Nigerian flagged

18 Suspects in the Net over Contraband worth N1.07bn Following the renewed efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), more contraband has been impounded by the service.

The efforts of the service also led to the seizure of 29 prohibited items with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1.07 billion.

In the same vein, it recovered over N54 million under-payments just as no fewer than 18 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

The confiscated items include 2,522 bags of 50 kg foreign rice, 61,333 cartons of imported foreign poultry products, 720 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 1,618 cartons and 1,466 pieces of furniture, 269 pieces of unused tyres.

Others are 59 cartons and 1,964 pieces of spare parts, 39 pieces of used compressors, 29 bales of second hand clothing as well as 480 pairs of used shoes and 9 vehicles of assorted types.

These were disclosed by the NCS, Customs Area Controller (CAC), Federal Operations Unit, (FOU) Zone C, Mr. Mohammed Uba Garka.

He attributed the success recorded by service to what he called the “reinvigorated anti-smuggling activities” of the unit.

He revealed that the items were seized in the in the South-East and South-south geopolitical zones of the country.

According to a statement issued by the unit and signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs. Ifeoma Onuigbo quoted Garka briefing newsmen on the items seized at the premises of both the Imo/Aba Command in Owerri and Benin warehouses of the NCS in Edo State.

He said that 18 suspects who were arrested in connection with the shady deal are now undergoing interrogation for possible prosecution.

Garka stated that the seizures represented protection of the nation’s economy and security of the citizenry.

His words: “Let me state clearly that it is simply not enough to inform you about the seizures and its DPV, what is of paramount importance is that we are implementing government’s policies that would boost our economic growth and provide employment.

“Many of the bags of the seized 50kg foreign rice were cleverly re-bagged and re-labelled by the smugglers to beat security check points on the roads and to give the false semblance of locally produced ones. Just as some items such as body sprays were criminally used to conceal other unauthorized imported seized items”.

He regretted that accidents had continued to occur on the nation’s highways as a result of the rampant use of second hand tyres being imported by smugglers, stressing that the ban on the importation of furniture and rice was meant to encourage public patronage and consumption of the locally produced ones to further boost the nation’s economy.

“If the rampant incidence of rice importation is allowed to go on, it would definitely discourage local production and consumption with a devastating effect on our economy.”

vessels and port cost concessions, a review of fines and penalties for offences as contained in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act 2007. He specifically call for a stop in the collection of the Sea Protection Levy from ship owners.

He also demanded a review of some policies and programmes that will drive the desired growth in the industry and make it compete favourably with foreign ship owners operating in the Nigeria’s territorial waters.

Giving an insight into the demand, the SOAN

Edike: How to Get out of Recession The Zonal Co-ordinator, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), ACG Charles E. Edike has given an insight into how Nigeria can get of the present recession in the country.

He maintained that the present economic situation the country has found itself will become history if everyone does what is expected within the ports and other sectors of the economy.

Edike has under his watch, the coordination of all NCS formations in Zone A which constitutes more than 70% of all the revenue generated by the service annually.

Apparently talking as someone with a thorough knowledge of the nation’s seaports, airports and international land borders as he had previously served as Customs Area Controller (CAC) at PTML, MM, TIN Can and Apapa Area commands of NCS prior to his elevation. The Customs Chief who stated this at a public lecture organised by the

League of Maritime Editors in Lagos, praised officers and men of the NCSfor their efforts to shore up revenue for the Federal Government as it struggles to meet national obligations and commitments under very challenging economic circumstances.

Edike who was honoured by the League of Maritime Editors with “The Best Administrative Drive in Revenue Generation”, award commended the editors for the honour, just as he dedicated it to all officers and men of NCS in Zone “A”.

“I thank the Editors for this honour.

However, I am dedicating this award to all officers and men of the Service, especially in Zone “A” for their efforts.

Truly I say to you that without them, what we are being honoured for could not have been possible”, he said.

The Zonal Co-ordinator enjoined all officers and men in Zone “A” to continue what he described as the “good work they are doing”.

“ECOWAS Must Eradicate Maritime Piracy to Grow Its Economy” The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has charged member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to eradicate the scourge of piracy in the sub region in order to grow the economy.

Peterside who stated this while delivering a goodwill message at the delocalised meeting of the Joint Committee on Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament also said that the fight against piracy must be a collective responsibility of member states to be successful.

According to him, the theme of this meeting, Maritime Security and the Fight Against Piracy: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament in the Implementation of the Integrated Maritime Security Policy of ECOWAS could not have been more timely coming exactly one month after the signing of the Lome Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa by Heads of government in Africa under the auspices of the African Union.

He observed that the adoption of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (EIMS) and the 2012 Yaoundé declaration of the Heads of States and Governments of Central and West African States on Maritime Safety and Security is a clear demonstration of the critical role of the ECOWAS parliament in ensuring Safety and Security of the sub region’s shipping and maritime transportation including the territorial waters and the seas.

The objectives of these two subregional instruments are in sync with the goals of the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050 which culminated into the signing of a Charter on Maritime security, safety and development in Africa on the 15th October, 2015.

While acknowledging that the ocean provides a unique opportunity to optimize the benefits of the blue economy and to provide special opportunities to tap into the benefits of nature, he urged the participants to engage in sensitizing member countries on a harmonized legal framework that will ensure safe, secure shipping and cleaner oceans in the ECOWAS sub-region.

President enjoined the federal government to amend the Act to support the Nigerian shipping fleet.

According to him, Nigerian ship owners should be allowed to carry at least 50 of government owned cargoes, adding that this was necessary for the development of the local industry. The Association equally demanded for the amendment of the cabotage law to effectively enforce local content. Review of the maritime law to permit the setting up of a Protection and Indemnity (P & I) Club in Nigeria.

Accolades as Ex-MAAN President Presents Book Stakeholders in the maritime industry have commended the pioneer President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour on formal public presentation of her book, titled “Commercial Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria through the Cases”.

The book is a comprehensive and quick reference material offering practical and in-depth guidance through Nigerian cases. On a ‘subject by subject and case by case’ basis, the book guides the reader on the court’s interpretation of statutes by summarizing the decisions of the courts with relevant quotations from respective cases.

Published by one of the most trusted names in legal publishing, LexisNexis South Africa, the book which was unveiled in an impressive ceremony at the International Centre for Arbitration and ADR, Lagos, attracted key players in the maritime industry and beyond.

The book draws from Rhodes-Vivour’s experience in international arbitration with extensive years of practice in the field of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

A Justice of the Supreme Court and a distinguished Professor of law, Hon. Justice Chima Nweze, in his opening remarks, a stated that the book supplies the missing link in arbitration literature as there has been no major work devoted entirely to cases and materials on arbitration.

To him, ‘the book issued by the reputable publishers LexisNexis will soon prove to be a most invaluable vade mecum for all arbitrators; judges; practitioners; law teachers; law students; policy makers and all who have an abiding interest in arbitration law and practice.’

A partner in White & Case’s international arbitration group, Elizabeth Oger-Gross spoke on the topic “The Inter-relationship between Effective Systems of Dispute Resolution & Economic Development”.

She described an effective system of dispute resolution as ‘a system that puts an end to the dispute – it does not drag on forever’, ‘a system that the parties trust – they believe, even when they lose, that the process was fair,’ and ‘a system that works.’

She stated that parties in international disputes prefer arbitration as they are often reluctant to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of the other party’s national courts and international arbitration provides parties with neutrality, enforcement, expertise and speed.

While noting that economic development has been fueled in large part by foreign investments and cross-border operations, she stated that to attract foreign investment it is imperative for states to make arbitration friendly policies which will result in enhanced use of international arbitration by States and investors.

T H I S D AY • SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 3, 2016

PEOPLE Ibiamu Ikanya

I Give More Attention to APC than My Wife

Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya is the All Progressives Congress Chairman in Rivers State at the party’s most trying times when the state became a political killing field. He speaks with Ahamefula Ogbu on the happiest and saddest moments in his life and wishes that security agencies will contain militants in Rivers December 10 rerun elections

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erun election in Rivers State is almost here, what is the situation like for your party, the APC? For us in the APC, we are back to the units, wards and local governments, we are back to the electorate; we are campaigning, giving people reasons to vote for APC candidates in the rerun election.

We are asking Rivers people to come out and vote for APC, vote against the PDP in Rivers State because the PDP government so far is the worst we have ever seen since the creation of Rivers State. As usual, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has started his usual intimidation.

You have seen the aftermath of the court’s ruling; some of the judges are going to stand trial for their role. You also heard that some of the judges that were arrested by the DSS were those that accepted gratification from politicians in Rivers and the Akwa Ibom State over the elections. That will tell you that the judgment of the Supreme Court did not go down well and did not represent what actually transpired in Rivers State during those elections.

What did you mean that Governor Wike has begun his usual intimidation?

Since Nyesom Wike assumed duty as Governor, when we were to do a rerun election, the first thing he did was to borrow N30 billion; in the last rerun election he also borrowed N30 billion, in this particular election he has gone to borrow another N10 billion. Anytime we want to have election, even a rerun election, the government will go and borrow money in billions to prosecute elections. It is intimidating, it is harassment; it creates impression that whenever there is an election, he goes to borrow so he has excess cash for the prosecution of the election. Apart from that, he intimidates APC members.

In the last election, he warned INEC that anybody that wants to come to Rivers State should sign his or her will before coming. He said to his supporters, beat them, kill them, don’t allow anybody to come to your place and do nonsense; he was just encouraging violence and we saw the highest level of violence. They burnt down Senator Magnus’ office in Bori; they burnt down the INEC office in Bori; soldiers were killed in Akuku Toru Local Government Area and so many of the sorts because he had asked the people to do violence. Now he started by setting up a Commission which came up few days ago with indictment for Honourable Asita who is the Deputy Governorship candidate of APC in the 2015 election; indicting Hon Bari Mpigi who is our candidate and who is the person that is winning the House of Representatives seat for Tai/Oyigbo federal constituency and also indicting Odii, an APC leader in Abua/ Odual. What he is doing is to get these people out of circulation so that they would not be able to participate in the election in their places.

Remember also that he did that to Ojukaiye just before the last rerun election.

On a trumped up charge, Ojukaiye has been incarcerated for which we are seeking justice. Apart from that, he is now telling his supporters to do violence. As I speak with you, I have it on good authority that Nyesom Wike does not want this election to hold. He is planning pockets of violence in the state and I can give you an example. The APC applied for permit which was granted by the Nigeria police in Rivers State to stage a peaceful demonstration to the Assembly and to compel the Speaker to swear in two of APC candidates that were declared winners in the House of Assembly; that same day after police had granted the APC permission to stage peaceful protest, Nyesom Wike now called the same CP to say I am going to that same Assembly. A Governor that wants peace, having heard that APC was staging a peaceful demonstration would have allowed the APC demonstration to take place after which he would have visited the Assembly to

peaceful demonstration and PDP jumped in to stage a fight. They brought in their thugs and all those people they granted amnesty to fight APC but with the vigilance of the Commissioner who advised APC not to go to the Assembly and with the maturity of the APC who decided to obey the advice of the Commissioner of Police, it was averted. They are planning to import militants to disrupt the rerun election.

Have you reported that to security agencies?

I have not, I am just telling you because if you report to the security agencies what will they say? At best they will say it is a rumnour, so I am just letting them know that I am aware of what they are planning so that whenever you see any policeman wear APC vest, you know he is not a policemen, he is a militant. Ordinarily tell me how an army man will wear APC vest and carry gun. They are afraid that in a free and fair election, Andoni will vote APC between 90 and 100 per cent.

Ikanya

do whatever he would do; but he mobilised his PDP people to confront the APC. But for the maturity of the APC, there would have been a terrible clash and that is orchestrated

by Nyesom Wike and his PDP. Now he is planning series of attacks on APC leaders.

We have it on good authority that very soon, Nyesom Wike will start to attack APC leaders in the state. He will start to attack their houses, convoys and send people to attack them.

How authentic are these allegations; what are the sources?

It is not a mere allegation; when you have some intelligence and you see signs of the things happening, then you know that the intelligence is correct. I had intelligence that Nyesom Wike will not allow this election to take place that he would cause some problem and thereafter, he is convicting people who didn’t stand trial, people who were tried in absentia as the committee didn’t hear from them or invited them. The committee didn’t even call or interview them one day.

They didn’t appear before them only for the Commission to indict them in absentia. I don’t know where that has happened before in the country and if that is the law. Now, APC was staging a peaceful demonstration, Wike went to cause trouble.

Look at the amnesty programe Wike claimed to have done, what happened, we watched the video where those militants who purportedly surrendered their arms and were repentant were chanting war songs right before the soldiers and you can see the quality of arms that were displayed; canons, who is using canons again now? Dane guns, is that the kind of ammunition that those boys used in killing soldiers? Look at how rusty those guns were, so it simply means that the whole of that thing was a mere deceit because we had said to him, ‘you are not sincere about the amnesty programme, all you are doing is to look for a platform that you can release these hoodlums back to the society so that they can continue to wreak havoc’.

There have been commissions of inquiry that probed atrocities committed in the state, so why is Nyesom’s own different and how is it different?

Amaechi decided to set up a commission to probe the killings of Rivers people during the election, Nyesom Wike went to court, obtained an injunction to stop that Commission from working and that Commission was

made up of people of integrity and quality.

They were not Rivers people, they were Nigerians that had been tested, people of very high integrity, people that cannot compromise truth, yet Wike went to the court, got injuction, stopped that Commission. So what was he now going to do by setting up his own Commission that the other commission would not have done better? So nobody believes in his processes. You can see how he has emasculated the courts in Rivers State; a court in Rivers State will issue an order to upturn and order of a superior court; it has happened in Rivers State. When a Court of Appeal will declare a candidate as the winner of the election and a high court in Rivers State will say I hereby give an injunction , don’t swear this person in, countering what an Appellate court had decided on.

Can you cite an instance where that happened?

Yes. Victoria Nyeche won her case very clearly, then a high court in Rivers State sat down to grant injuction against; that injunction was just vacated a few days ago.

That judge had no business interfering with a matter that had been decided on by a Court of Appeal; so many examples. Let’s look at even the Chief Judge of Rivers State who was supposed to be cleared by the State House of Assembly but she was not cleared because there is no House of Assembly as prescribed by law in the state, so he just made her a Chief Judge, so ab initio, the Chief judge he made was an illegality as far as we are concerned.

Can you give a summary of what the political situation in Rivers State is now?

Apart from the high level of violence that Nyesom Wike and the PDP are planning, the Rivers people are determined to cast their vote come December 10 and it is very clear to Rivers people; they now know who the aggressors are; it is very clear to Rivers people now who the killers are because each time they kill, they say it is APC and PDP and I keep asking them, give one example of violence caused by APC. It is only when APC is doing an event that PDP will confront. It is when APC is going for campaign that they will kill people during the campaign but whenever PDP is doing their campaign, nobody attacks them, so you can now say who their backers are instead of saying it is APC and PDP but thank God for the last outing where we were to go for a

Do you think APC is popular in Rivers State to win an election?

APC is still very very popular in Rivers State to win election. You saw it now, when Nyesom Wike mobilised his PDP thugs to confront APC, which crowd was more? We were more than them in every unit. We are more than PDP in every unit, it is just the intimidation. If the security agencies are able to mop up fire arms, illegal arms in Rivers State; if they are able to stop militants from parading, we will win. Now they have gone to Delta, to Bayelsa to mobilise these militants just for a rerun election but if the military is able to stop them and people actually come out to vote, who will vote for a government that has not paid people salaries for months?

Who will vote for a government that within one and a half years has borrowed over N200 billion plus the allocation; unbudgeted N200 billion? Who will vote for a government that is harassing workers? Lying that he has paid them whereas he has not paid and if you are a worker and you dare mention that you have not been paid, you are sacked.

On this issue of Tompolo’s contract, though it has been denied that it was revoked and awarded to you, what do you know about that?

I hear that Tompolo has a contract with NIMASA but I don’t have any contract with NIMASA, NIMASA also has not given me any contract not to talk about contract that belongs to Tompolo. There is no truth in that report which has been retracted and I have asked the newspaper to do a written apology to me because there is no truth in the report, I don’t own the company they mentioned and nothing like that existed; I have not been given any contract in NIMASA not to talk of giving me a contract that belongs to Tompolo.

I learnt Tompolo did surveillance contract with NIMASA, none was given to me.

But did you apply for any job or contract in NIMASA? Yes, I did. I applied for debt recovery but I was not considered.

Why were you not considered?

I’m told that we were more than 40 that brought proposals from which they selected and I was not the one selected. Of course, you know that out of 40 they will select one, so I was not fortunate to be the one selected.

So, it was mere rumour that you took over Tompolo’s contract?

I didn’t win the contract of debt recovery.

Do you have any regret being in politics given the violence you have experienced?

No regrets, politics is about governance and leadership and is not gotten on a platter of gold, you must work for it, you must beg for it, you must solicit for power and sometimes you have to deny yourself of some privileges, you have to make some sacrifices to be able to get to power and when you get the power

51

DECEMBER 3, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PEOPLE Black Friday, Day We Remembered Slain Colleagues During Rivers Election is Saddest Day in My Life has trained me because she is a fashion you use It to change the society, you use it to Then you talk about the she designer. raise enablements for the society to be better What kind of pranks did you play as a than it was; that is the essence of politics and ward Chairman in Onelga, child? the essence of power, so far, I have been in in a sense, yes, playing pranks?... party politics for quite a long time now since he had just finished a AllStubborn I can tell you is that if I believe in a cause, NPN. Sometimes you win and sometimes you go all out for it. I have a strong character, lose but we are still on. stakeholders meeting of Iyou cannot bribe me, I cannot be disloyal, so if I agree with you, I am with you but I Has your wife tried to talk you out of his ward and the young cannot tell you yes to mean no. If I have to politics? say no, I will be polite but I will tell you no.

My wife has had cause to complain a few man is from the same My friends say I don’t talk like a politician times because she tells me that I am more because I talk straight. concerned about APC than my family, that ward with the State You said your parents were disciplinarAPC takes the whole of my time and she is ians. What were the things you did that right; how I wish I am able to give enough attention to my family but this is a project Chairman of PDP; he did made them to punish you often?

I had a friend whose father was a priest my party sat and elected me to manage or supervise or take care of the party as Chairthe stakeholders meeting and I think I was about four years old and being the son of two teachers we were relatively man so I must not disappoint those who rich. That time people will bring garri, fish elected me as their Chairman so I need quite on Thursday night, on and other items to teachers, those things were a lot of time to work and you must also know not in their house so he will ask me to go and that as a party executive, it is not a paid job, Friday they went to his bring garri from our house; so I will wear my it is a job that you are doing to be able to knickers and I will pack garri in my pocket bring out the ideology of the party like we are house, killed and beheaded and go to the backyard to offload it for him, talking about change. then I will go again until they will catch me him, killed his son, killed his and beat me. He will stand somewhere and Has your wife ever feared for your life? watch the beating, tell me sorry and after She has, especially when there was an wife who was pregnant; I some days he will send me again and I will attack here, when gunmen invaded here. It go and if I give him the garri he will chew it. was not just my wife but my children were am not even talking about There was a period I actually went through also truamatised. hell. father took a second wife and the those that were killed in secondMywife was in the village and I think I What has been your saddest experience was in primary two or so and my father was in politics?

Obio/Akpor, not those that in his station somewhere in Akwa Ibom State The saddest day of my life was when we we were still called Eastern state. Then, remembered those that were brutally murwere killed in Ogoni. The when whatever I did was wrong; it was a hell of dered during the presidential and governorIkanya Then I will wake up in the mornship elections in Rivers State. We had a black one that readily comes to experience. ing and go to the river to pick periwinkle, Friday and that black Friday was the worst and joined APC. APC was originally made back, drop the basket of periwinkle and day of my life. I saw the wives of those that up of ANPP, ACN and APGA which were mind was one lecturer who come I will be sent to go and pick palm fruits. By were murdered; I saw the parents of those not PDP but these four having formed APC time I finish picking the palm fruits, my that were murdered. I remembered Chief now wooed five governors from the PDP that always raised the alarm the mates have gone to school and after dropping Adube, he was murdered in his house. He moved with their supporters into APC so it with my foster mother, I will jump into was killed, his wife, daughter, son, driver and is not true that APC and PDP were the same that Ndigbara wants to that the river to bath, come out, chew palm kernel, even his visitor were killed. Someone who party before, that is not true but what is true it on my hand and use it as pomade, just visited a friend was killed because he was is that some persons who later left PDP to kill him, he reported to spit then I will run to school. Whenever my dad with his friend, the leader of APC in Abua/ join APC were in PDP before but some other visited, I would be given food but when my Odual. There also was this friend murdered persons were already in APC had nothing to police and wrote several dad goes back to his station, no more food. I in his house but before he was killed, he kept do with PDP ab initio. had an uncle that was a fisherman, he will go shouting that they were after him; in fact he petitions… and fish, when he comes back he would go was even appealing to the police officer then Can you tell us about your growing up? that was serving in Ahoada, then the man was brutally murdered in his sleep.

Then you talk about the ward Chairman in Onelga, he had just finished a stakeholders meeting of his ward and the young man is from the same ward with the State Chairman of PDP; he did the stakeholders meeting on Thursday night, on Friday they went to his house, killed and beheaded him, killed his son, killed his wife who was pregnant; I am not even talking about those that were killed in Obio/Akpor, not those that were killed in Ogoni. The one that readily comes to mind was one lecturer who always raised the alarm that Ndigbara wants to kill him, he reported to police and wrote several petitions.

They actually chased him, he ran to a church premises and they caught him there, shot him and also killed someone that was in the car with him, so when we did the Black Friday, there was a compendium with photographs of those killed and they were close to 200 and only APC members.

After we marched and mourned all these people that were brutally murdered for no just reason on Friday, then the following Monday the PDP people wore white to mock the dead APC members and they were saying that when anybody dies we say it is APC, they were just accusing us and denying that those that were killed were not our members. I said to the PDP chairman, you are a childhood friend to Chief Adube that died, you grew up together, you were eating together before the man left PDP to join APC, you were friends, you sleep in his house, he sleeps in yours; the children of Adube cook for you and then you told Adube not to leave to APC and Adube refused saying the game is up, PDP is not going to win let’s try APC. At the end of the day you disagreed with your friend, then you paid your friend a visit and said he will regret his decision and a day or two after, your friend was killed in his house with his wife, children, the visitor, the driver and you couldn’t pay a visit and couldn’t even ask who killed my friend; then something must be very wrong. Then I asked Felix Obuah, if you say nobody died, what killed your friend, his son, daughter, his driver and visitor, did they die of food poisoning?, somebody killed and butchered them. That same day they went to another community and killed over 20 persons. That day was the saddest day in my life.

Those in PDP and APC were one family, at what point did you people part ways?

PDP and APC were not one family… Some persons that were in PDP moved from PDP

That is a very long story. I was born in Ikuru town and I am from there. My Dad is from the Royal palace of Ikuru town and my mother is also from a royal family from Iko town. Iko town is in present Akwa Ibom State. It is also an Andoni community called eastern Andoni which is now Eastern Obolo Local government in Akwa Ibom State. My parents were teachers. My father was a headmaster and my mother a classroom teacher. I was born into a family of teachers as a first son and into disciplinary home as a child of teachers. I was taught high morals, discipline, punctuality, I was taught how to speak the truth and how to be able to express and manage myself, so I grew up in that direction. I had my primary education in Ikuru town then left with my parents to their station in Ekede. It was a junior primary school then, they had up to elementary three and I was to do elementary four which was available at a place called Ngo, Andoni so we had to trek. If the water is full they ferry us in a canoe to somewhere we could walk to school in Ngo but if the water had ebbed, we now cross by foot and walk through the narrow sandy path in-between mud; so I did that and did my primaries four, five and six at the primary school at Ngo and I finished in 1972.

In 1973 I wrote common entrance and we had to paddle long distance to write the entrance, I was in Regina school for two years and Rivers State was created and then I got admission at Stellamaris college in Port Harcourt where I finished my secondary school. I got a job as an auxiliary teacher and later got admission to then Rivers State college of Arts and Science to read Petrochemical Engineering. Two years after, it was converted to a university and so I finished from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, I did my youth service in Bauchi State and I got my first job with then utilities Board. It was later converted to Rivers State electricity and water board. There was a department attached to it called gas department that supplied domestic gas to companies in Trans Amadi. After three or four years, I applied, wrote aptitude test and was employed to work in NAFCON. I was trained in NAFCON , they had to train their operators for months before you can work for them. I left NAFCON in 1991 to run for election on the platform of NRC to become the Local Government Chairman of the then Bonny Local government. That time, Andoni , Opobo, Bonny were in one local government. I won that election and became Local government Chairman of the then Bonny Local government.

Was that your first foray into politics?

No, that was not my first time in politics.

In the days of NPN, we were not in the mainstream but that was when I learnt to join the campaign, to run errands for party leaders and elders, so we were just joining in the campaign of NPN. Apart from that, I was also a students’ union leader. When we helped NPN come to power in Andoni they were building only culverts and I organised some students and we started campaigning against NPN, we were going from school to school to talk about how NPN was governing and called on leaders of NPN to do more projects in Andoni or face rejection; unfortunately the coup that stopped the NPN otherwise I was leading a protest against some NPN officials in my place.

I also did politics in the school as a student.

I remember that I was President of Ikuru town students Union. I served as Assistant secretary on Andoni students union and later as president of the students union. In UST I was elected to represent my department and when I was elected into the parliament I was chairman of the committee that organised election for the students union so I was very active in students union of UST then; so I have been in politics.

How did you meet your wife?

I think she belonged to a political group and I was going to campaign, we were trying to form some political groups and then I saw her. After the meeting, I just went to her to tell her that you are my wife and she said God forbid.

What did you do that convinced her?

I had to do a follow up from there and after a long interaction, it came to fruition.

So she met you in politics and…?

Yes and I had to stop her from being in politics with me because both of us cannot abandon the children and go for politics.

You are a fashionable person, how do you choose what you wear?

I don’t think I am a fashionable person, my wife is the fashionable person. My wife has trained me to be a fashionable person, I thank God for her but the credit is hers. I used to be a very timid fellow in terms of dressing before I met her. She will tell me no, I don’t like these your bogus dresses. All those are now confined to the boxes. She started telling my tailors the shape she wants me to wear, she will choose my shoes, my shirts and all.

I use to wear anything but I have started enjoying it and now I can choose my wears,

into a communal house, roast fish and put in a plate with water we fetched from the pond, he will bring his garri and give me some.

Those days there were no rabbis so you could leave your garri and rat will eat part of it, you just use your hand to scrape the surface and eat the rest and nothing will happen. He will always watch to see if my father’s wife was coming so that he will hide the food so she won’t see I was eating.

Also in the university, you know my father was a teacher, so I was not having money to buy meal tickets so we were going on a diet of 001, we were eating once in a day, just managed to graduate. One particular experience I remember in my primary school days was when we finished exam, we were asked to pay money for craft, I think two or three pence. I didn’t have money to pay so I asked my father’s wife and she harassed the hell out of me so I didn’t pay. On the day of calling the result, the teacher now got up and said the first person in this class is bracket first, one person I am not going to mention his name, he did not pay for handwork; the other person Alice Mathias and they clapped for her, my little cousin. They called all the people that passed and I didn’t hear my name so I cried oo, kai, from school to the house then my Dad’s mom asked why I was crying and I said I didn’t hear my name. She said I should stop crying that we would go and ask the teacher. When we went they said I didn’t pay for handwork and she paid and the result was released and I was the person that had the bracket first.

Many people don’t know that I have seen hardship but we thank God that He has been merciful, we give God the glory.

What has been your happiest moment in life so far?

The happiest moment of my life was the day my wife accepted to marry me. So many other days o, another was the day Amaechi appointed me Commissioner in the State because I was in exile, some of my brothers after helping them to power came after me so I ran to Abuja till Amaechi appointed me Commissioner, don’t mind the portfolio, just being appointed Commissioner from exile, things changed, you now have house, vehicle and other thing. That was one of my happiest moments.

Do you intend to go for elective office?

I don’t think so. I want to groom successors and prepare to retire. I am interested in building people that will take over from me.

I want to be an adviser, groom people to take over while I would be consulted.

52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • NOVEMBER 26, 2016

POLITY

Investing in Agriculture Can End Our Economic Woes, Says Ugwuanyi Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

E

nugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has said that the huge potential inherent in agriculture makes investment in the sector an economic imperative.

The governor was speaking at the third graduation of trainees from the Songhai Agricultural Project (CADP) held at Obinofia Ndi Uno, in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

He noted that the importance of agriculture as a viable economic activity is underscored by his administration’s interest in commercial farming, pledging to continue with the Songhai Farm initiative in the state.

“With the increase in population and the nation’s dwindling oil revenue occasioned by glut at the international market resulting in recession, there is an urgent need for every government to embrace farming as a way out of the doldrums,” said the governor who was

represented at the event by his deputy, Mrs. Cecelia Ezeilo.

Ugwuanyi added that the huge attention farming enjoys in his administration stems from the vision to make Enugu State selfsufficient in food production and, also, to attain the capacity to export to other countries.

The Enugu State commissioner for agriculture, Mr. Mike Eneh, said that participants have within the training period benefited from a number of programmes such as

aquaculture, cassava multiplication, cashew cultivation, among other skills.

According to one of the graduands, Mr. Tama Anayo Adolphous, the training has provided them ample opportunity to be productive. He thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for his support, adding that the N2.5m grant from the World Bank to each trainee and the immense support given by the state government will help them realize their dream to become agricultural entrepreneurs.

Charles Udoh is Akwa-Ibom State Commissioner for Information

G

overnor Udom Emmanuel has appointed Mr. Charles Udoh as the Commissioner forInformation and Strategy of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State following the confirmation of the 20 names he submitted to the State House of Assembly.

Until his appointment as the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Udoh was the Head of Brand and Marketing Communications at Wema Bank Plc. Mr. Udoh has had a varied and extensive experience spanning over two decades within the financial services sector where he had diversified experience in digital and offline brand management, communications and Public Relations. He started his career as a trainer and consultant at the Financial Institutions Training Centre, FITC. He later joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc in 2003 where he drove the bank’s highly successful brand transformation. In 2006 he moved to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as the Group Brand Manager and Head of Corporate Communications.

From GTBank, he was headhunted by KPMG Professional Services as Group Head, Corporate Communications for Diamond Bank Plc in 2008. At Diamond Bank, he initiated creative communications and media campaigns that energized the Diamond Bank brand as a leading national and truly international bank brand.

As a communications expert with a desire to set up his own professional practice, the new Akwa-Ibom State Commissioner of Information

established Adam & Agnes Limited, a brand and marketing communications company that is etching credible footprints in Nigeria working for notable brands like Exxonmobil, FCMB, AXA Mansard, LAMATA, AFREN and CNBC AFRICA until he was headhunted again by Wema Bank Plc to lead the new push to transform the bank from a regional bank to a national bank brand.

While building brands during his career, Udoh conceptualized and orchestrated over 100 major local and international advertising, brand, marketing communication and public relations campaigns (digital and offline) that effectively reinforced and built brand perceptions while driving sales.

He is a training faculty member of several reputable institutions including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), FITC, Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fidelity Bank Plc, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Unity Bank Plc, Dangote Group and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Mr. Udoh is a member of several CIBN committees, including the Ad-hoc Committee on Communication (Chairman), Bankers’ Dinner Planning Committee (member and chairman, Publicity Sub-committee). He led the team that drafted the current CIBN Communications Policy.

He also served as Vice President of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers

PHOTO NEWS

of Banks in Nigeria, and he is a member of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria.

A graduate of University of Uyo, Udoh attended Diamond Hill Primary School, Calabar, West African Peoples’ Institute, Calabar and the School of Art and Science, Uyo. As a footballer, he played for NEPA football Club, Uyo, Mobil Pegasus, Eket and Destiny Insurance, Uyo. At various times, Udoh was a member of the state football team in the old Cross River State and also Akwa Ibom football team when the state was carved out of Cross River. He also played for his University as a member of the school team. He is a recipient of the Society of Nigerian Artists Special Achievement Award and National Youth Service Corps commendation.

Udoh

L-R: Chairman, House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Activities of the Federally Owned Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Hon Chukwuemeka Anohu; Deputy Speaker, Hon Sulaimon Lasun and a member of the Committee, Hon Chukwuemeka Ujam at the Inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Activities of the Federally Owned Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) held in Abuja

L-R: Regional Public Affairs and Communications Manager Lagos/West, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Ifeoma Okoye; Director Human Resources, NBC, Grace Omo-Lamai; Chairman, NCF National Executive Council, Chief Ede Dafinone; and Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, NBC, Sade Morgan, at funding raising dinner organised by the Nigerian Conversation Foundation , co-sponsored by NBC in Lagos...recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

Managing Director/CEO, Wema Bank, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi (left) and the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Etisalat Nigeria Mr. Matthew Willsher, at the Wema Easy Savers launch in Lagos... recently PHOTO: DAN UKANA

Medical personnel employed by the Sarah Adebisi Sosan Foundation (SASF), rendering free medical services to people from over 40 villages from the riverine communities in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, as part of the efforts to help residents of the riverine areas have access to free health care, by the foundation.....recently

L-R: General Overseer, the City of the Lord Church, Rev. Joseph Sunday Oladele; his wife, Christiana; Deputy G.O., Rev. David Oyelaja; his wife, Rev. Mrs. Margaret Oyelaja; and Director, Education, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Adesol Coker-Shologo, during the church’s convention thanksgiving service in Lagos...recently PHOTO: Yomi Akinyele

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 3, 2016

MEDia & MaRkEting

Matching Profitability with Social Responsibility: The Promasidor Example

with

KASIE ABONE 08057511558 (sms only)

T

here is a growing trend by corporate organisations to balance their books with robust corporate social responsibility, CSR, initiatives for maximum returns to stakeholders and host communities Corporate organisations in Nigeria are currently devising various ways of putting a human face on their business operations in their various host communities.

In Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Kaduna, Oyo, Rivers, Imo and many other states across the country, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiatives are becoming major planks of public relations activities used by many organisations to reach their publics.

In the context of the increasing demand on organisations to conduct business ethically with minimal harm to the environment and people, the onus is, therefore, on companies to commit to sustainable business practices, which transparently benefit stakeholders.

Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell brand of milk, is one of the socially responsible corporate organisations in Lagos with a good track record of social responsibility initiatives.

The company’s CSR is driven by a vision to always be responsible and responsive to its various stakeholders. Over the years, the company has been very active in supporting national development aspirations in line with that vision.

For instance, Promasidor Nigeria has been invited to receive the award of the Best Company in Education at the prestigious Lagos State PR Industry Awards, LAPRIGA, next month. The Gala Awards Dinner, part of activities marking the 26th AGM/PR Week of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, was inspired by the desire to recognize and reward corporate organisations and individuals for their ground-breaking investments in CSR projects and to encourage more investment in the practice.

So, all roads will lead to the Civic Center in Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday, December 21, when Promasidor Nigeria Limited will receive the award for Best Company in Education.

The company has also won the Sustainability Enterprise and Responsibility Award, SERA, for the best company in education earlier in the month of November.

Also, last year, Promasidor emerged as one of the winners of the Lagos State government Support-Our-Schools-Initiative Corporate Social Responsibility Award for 2014.

Other winners of that award are: Nestle Nigeria, NBL, GTBank, FirstBank, UAC, Daystar Christian Centre, ESSPIN, UNICEF,

His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Kolawole Agbabiaka, Osolo of Isolo commending Mr. Olivier Thiry, Managing Director of Promasidor

CAP, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR/NNPC), MTN Nigeria, Fountain of Life Church, and Addax Petroleum Nigeria.

The award was given to Promasidor in recognition of the company’s contribution to the Lagos State Government Ministry of Education Support Our Schools Initiative project for promoting teaching and learning of Mathematics through Mathematics competition in all public senior secondary schools in the state.

The 2016 edition of the Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competition came to a glorious end recently with Juliet Ekoko and Ayooluwa Oguntade, both of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State, winning the Junior and Senior categories respectively. The winners got N1 million each and an all-expense paid education excursion outside the country.

Excited by prospects and potentials of the competition, students and their parents have commended the initiative by Promasidor Nigeria. Some parents, students and teachers have enjoined the government and other corporate citizens to emulate the great initiative.

The Registrar of the National Examination Council, NECO, Professor Charles Uwakwe has also commended Promasidor for the Cowbellpedia initiative which, he maintained, will stimulate the interest of students in Mathematics. He pledged NECO’s continued

support for the project in appreciation of what he described as Promasidor’s great Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the Nigerian society.

Before the award on education, and in recognition of the enormous contributions of Promasidor Nigeria Limited to the Isolo community of Lagos, the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, the Council of Chiefs and the entire Isolo Kingdom had earlier named Promasidor The Best Corporate Social Responsibility Performing Company of The Year 2014.

Presenting the award, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Kolawole Agbabiaka described Promasidor as a pacesetter for others to follow in terms of CSR, adding that the community sees the positive impact of Promasidor every year in the areas of education, infrastructural development, health and economic empowerment, among others.

The Oba disclosed that Promasidor had greatly assisted the Isolo community in the area of execution of various projects that impact positively on the welfare of the people. His words: “In terms of infrastructure development and general support to the entire community, Promasidor has carved a niche for itself. This would be difficult for anybody to match.” Alhaji Samsudeen Abiodun Olaleye, Immediate past Chairman, Isolo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA); said

JLF Foundation Set to Reward Budding Writing Talent

I

n recognition of creative writing, as an invaluable talent worthy of reward, JLF nongovernmental and not-for-profit organisation has announced a writing competition tagged “JLF Writing Competition”. The winner of this competition will be rewarded with N150,000 while the first and second runners-up will receive N100,000 and N50,000, respectively. The top three winners would have the opportunity to be mentored by the judges.

JLF writing competition has been organised in a bid to discover and promote literary talents in Nigeria.

According to the foundation, it is “instituted for the purpose of iden-

tifying talents in literature with the intent to evaluate and maintain the success of each competitor by selecting the best. The 2016 edition is planned to be bigger and better.”

Participants are required to pick a story, chapter or verse from the Bible and write a synopsis into the present day or the future.

Contestants would be given two weeks to submit their synopses.

The judges would each pick the best six synopses. The shortlisted contestants would be given two weeks to fully develop their synopsis in either of the categories: short film, full length film and mini-series.

The contest is open to all ages, religion and social background.

All synopses are to be uploaded on www.jlffoundation.org. The competition is opened from November 22 and closes December 5, 2016.

Results of winners and invitation to receive prizes will be announced on January 20, 2017.

The panel of judges is made up of seasoned and accomplished professionals in the creative industry. They are literary writer and recipient of NDDC/Ken Saro Wiwa Literature Prize, Mr. Anthony Kan Onwordi; renowned actor and multi-award winning filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan; writer and award winning creative entrepreneur, Victoria Thomas and multimedia journalist, writer and filmmaker, Wana Wana.

Promasidor is exceptional when it comes to noticeable CSR in the Isolo Community under the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Lagos State. His words: “Promasidor, what you have done to Isolo community has no parallel. At the company, they are always talking about issues that will bring real development to the residents of the community.”

The company has also donated a borehole and water treatment plant to Isolo community, apart from activities in the areas of healthcare, solar powered street lights and security.

Oba Agbabiaka, who also described the water project as another most thoughtful, generous and kindest corporate act, said Promasidor has been the only corporate positive voice in the kingdom that has demonstrated an unmatched and unprecedented corporate concern and action by providing borehole and water treatment plant that cost millions of naira.

The Osolo noted that the organisation has greatly impacted on the social and economic environment of the kingdom. He listed some of the projects the company has undertook to impact positively on the community to include donation of hospital equipment to the general hospital of Isolo, construction of street lights and bus stop at Cowbell way, Isolo, offering of yearly scholarships to bright students of the community, among others.

Winners Emerge in Oral-B 5th Anniversary Promo

T

hree winners have emerged in the first Oral-B fifth anniversary Monthly National Consumer Promotion E-Draw, which will last from October to December.

The trio, Ngozi Maryann Okpani from Ore, Ondo and Jason Akor from Markurdi, Benue who won N100, 000 apiece, and Ademola Ottun from Surulere, Lagos won N200, 000. Ngozi Maryann Okpani and Ademola Ottun had already been presented their cash prizes.

In addition to the consumer promotion, Oral-B will

visit various communities in Nigeria to provide free dental checks to people through the Oral-B Mobile Dental Clinic Programme, which currently reaches over two million Nigerians annually.

While commending Oral-B’s initiative, Jason said, “I am truly impressed by the transparency at play in this promotion and I want Nigerians to know that it is indeed a real promotion.

I encourage everyone across Nigeria to participate for a chance to win great prizes.

I will continue to support Oral-B, as it is my family’s best when it comes to oral care products.”

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

nEws

Osinbajo Rejects Quota System, Says Nigeria Should Embrace Merit Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that merit should be uppermost in giving reward adding that quota system was detrimental to the progress of any society.

He said this in Abuja at the conferment of the Nigerian National Order of Merit, NNOM, on two professors, Omowunmi Sadiq, an environmental scientist, and Tanure Ojaide, a poet and literary critic.

According to him, the nation

had placed quota before merit which “we know does not work.”

Nigeria’s quota system which enjoys constitutional flavour allows mediocre to gain admission into higher institutions and secure jobs in public offices while those who were better qualified were relegated.

Osinbajo called on leaders to make sacrifices and commit to a country run on merit, integrity, hard work justice and patriotism.

“To build a new Nigeria, we need a new tribe of men and women of all ethnicities, of all faith

committed to a country run on high values of merit, integrity, hard work, justice and love of country.

“A tribe of men and women who are prepared to make the sacrifices and solve the constraints that is crucial to building a strong society.

“Who are prepared to stick together, fight corruption side by side, insist on justice even when our friends and those of our tribes and faith are at the receiving end.

“A tribe consisting of professionals, businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and all of those

who believe that this new Nigeria is possible. “This requires a new way of thinking, a new leadership corps, a new tribe.

“The challenge for us today is a challenge of finding a society where everyone especially those of us who lead in every aspect of leadership agree that this country is worth fighting for, that this country can truly be great.

“And the evidence we have seen today is that this country can truly be great and so may I just challenge us today that it is time to populate that new tribe.”

Young Music Artistes on African Voices The issue of young musical artistes who are breaking new grounds and pushing their craft to new heights on the continent takes centre stage on this weekend’s edition of CNN’s African Voices sponsored by data grand masters, Globacom.

African Voices is aired on CNN International at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, and at 12.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. on Sunday. There are also repeat broadcasts at 11.30 a.m. on Monday and 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Globacom, this week’s programme promised to be as entertaining and informative as previous editions.

The young musicians to be featured on the programme are Noluvuyiso Mpofu and Busiswa of South Africa and Sauti Sol of Kenya, the company stated.

Mpofu is described by CNN as a powerful opera singer who is using her voice to open doors

and turn heads not just in her native South Africa but also on the African continent and beyond. “In Nairobi we catch up with Sauti Sol, a band whose special sound makes you want to get up and dance – just ask President Obama,” the CNN vignette on the programme stated. It also describes Busiswa as “a dance club sensation who is taking poetic license with pop music”.

Mpofu won third prize at the 2015 Operalia, an international competition founded by the renowned opera star Placido Dominigo. It takes place each year in a different opera house around the world. At the finals of the 35th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition took place in Cape Town earlier this year, she made it through the preliminary rounds, which began with 854 participants worldwide, and was one of four South Africans in the final 16. She ended up overall second.

Navy Launches Operation Eagle Eye Exercise in N/Delta Against Militants Sylvester Idowu in Warri

WE CELEBRATE YOU...

L-R: Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Mrs. Satiyat Oseni Elamah; her husband Mr Oseni Elamah, Chairman of Edo State Revenue Service, and Edo First Lady, Mrs. Beauty Obaseki at a ceremony to Mrs Elamah's 50th birthday in Lagos recently

'Sheriff Faction' Members Are Spoilers But Should Be Accommodated, Says Okowa Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that though activities of members of the so-called Modu Sheriff faction of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had shown them as "spoilers", they should be tolerated and accommodated by the leadership and members of the party.

Specifically, Okowa urged the members the PDP in Delta State not to hold the divisive sins against members of the Sheriff faction but instead should be treated as "our brothers and sisters" in order to make them more active, look into their grievances and reintegrate then fully into the party.

He noted that unity and understanding remained the strength of the party and appealed to the members to avoid "politics of bitterness and division."

Okowa made the remarks at a Delta North PDP Stakeholders Forum held at Obiaruku, the administrative headquarters of Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, on Friday.

The governor pointed out those factional members could not be labelled as "members of true PDP" were the existence of the much-talk-about faction in PDP to hold any water.

He hinted that practically all the leaders and elected members of the PDP across the country belong

to the Ahmed Markafi-led PDP caretaker committee.

According to Okowa, "People are talking about faction in PDP; if there is faction, can members of the faction be called members of true PDP? PDP Senators, members of House of Representatives, all the governors and former governors are supporting Alhaji Ahmed Markafi as recognised Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP. "Members of the Sherif group are just playing the role of spoilers, but, don't throw them away, provide enabling environment for them to be active in our party because, they are our brothers and sisters."

While thanking the Chairman of the PDP in Delta North, Mr.

Moses Iduh, for convening regular meetings of the party, the governor said that chairmen of the party at the local government level should hold monthly meetings regularly, "which is compulsory for all political office holders to attend."

Okowa said, "The party is for everybody; nobody is above the party and there is no room for pride; the unity of all members is the strength of our great party.

However, he cautioned political office holders against disparaging the government, saying that those who nursed political ambitions should not overheat the polity but work more on selling themselves to the electorate through acceptable democratic means.

IG Investigates Non-payment of Allowances to Officers at Ondo Election Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

Following the rampage caused by the non-payment of allowances to the 26,000 Police officers who took part in the just concluded Ondo governorship election, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday set up a seven-member Special Investigative Panel to resolve the discrepancies.

THISDAY had reported during the week that the inability of government to pay the Police officers after the election caused rampage in Akure, the state capital.

Admitting the delay and

omission for the payment on the part of the authority, the IG in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP, Don Awunah, in Abuja, said he felt deeply concerned about the non-remittance of allowances and entitlements to the officers.

The statement reads: "The IGP is deeply concerned about the delay, omission and discrepancies in payment of allowances to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who participated in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ondo state.

"Also arising from complaints of irregularities from certain quarters and discoveries of pos-

sible anomalies and plausible foul play has set up a special panel to investigate, streamline and enhance payment of entitlements of the force personnel who engage in the ad hoc duties."

The investigation panel, according to the statement, will be chaired by a former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Ali Ahmadu (rtd), has six members drawn from different departments within the Force.

The statement read: "The special panel is empowered to launch an investigation into the entire payment with a view to: ‘Investigating thoroughly the recent payment of

allowances to personnel of the force to determine if the money released for the payment of the allowances was utilised accordingly, providing bank records as evidence.

"Liaise with the Ministry of Finance on the perennial problematic nature of paying allowances.

"Setting up standard modalities that will be adopted by the force to address payment of allowances given for the conduct of subsequent elections in the country."

However, the IG, said the panel should recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against erring officers both within and outside the force.

Tough time now awaits militants and other criminals along the waterways in the Niger Delta region as the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas Thursday evening launched a new strategy code named Operation Eagle Eye in Warri, Delta State.

The exercise, which is incorporated into the Chief of Naval Staff annual sea inspection, involved the deployment of nine capital ships, over 80 gunboats and 11 inshore patrol cars and five Navy helicopters, will cover Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states and last for five days.

Flagging off the first of the two phases of "Exercise Eagle Eye", Ibas said the operation would be conducted within the Eastern and Central commands area of responsibilities covering a coastline of 220 nautical mile extending seaward up to 80 nautical mile and sea area of 39,000 square nautical miles of the nation's

territorial waters.

Vice Admiral Ibas, who was represented by Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Adebayo Adejuwon Oshinowo, said the Nigerian Navy had to introduce new operation concept to address the emerging challenges in the nation's waterways and water off-shore arising from proliferation of various militant groups and criminal elements taking advantage to engage in all forms of illicit activities including piracy and attacks on ships in the waterways.

He said with the challenges the Navy felt the need to continue to exercise own personnel, the ships as well as operational readiness to tackle any further emerging situations.

Vice Admiral Ibas also disclosed that the Navy was monitoring the capacity and capability of the militant's expertise in diving deep into the sea to bust pipelines assuring that his personnel were working to tackle that also.

Guinness MD Counsels Drivers on Responsible Drinking Bennett Oghifo

“Whatever you do this season, please do not drink and drive.

When you go out in a group to have fun, designate someone to drive and that person should not drink. If you are going out alone, arrange for taxi to take you home after you have had some drink. I urge everyone to drink responsibly and also act as ambassadors of responsible drinking during this season and beyond”, were the admonishing words of Peter Ndegwa, the Guiness MD in Nigeria.

This was at ongoing campaign on responsible drinking being spearheaded by the duo of Guinness Nigeria Plc and the Federal Roads Safety Corps, FRSC. Speaking at the flag-off of this year’s ember months responsible drinking campaign which took place at the Ketu Motor Park in Lagos, Ndegwa disclosed that the partnership between Guinness Nigeria and FRSC, which has lasted

over a decade, had blossomed into an impactful platform, making it possible for both parties to jointly deliver ember months campaigns that annually reach millions of Nigerians.

“Through our ember months’ campaigns, we aim to play a part in helping consumers make the right choices. The message we deliver to consumers through our annual campaigns is consistent with our values at Guinness Nigeria. Consumers are at the heart of everything we do as an organisation and are the basis for our success. We are therefore genuinely concerned when we see consumers put themselves at risk through practices like drink driving.

The timing of this campaign takes into cognisance the high frequency of vehicular movement during ember months, particularly during the Christmas season. Historically, the occurrence of road accidents also increases during ember months.

This campaign therefore aims to help prevent alcohol-related accidents this season,” Ndegwa said.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 3, 2016

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nEwsXTRA

2019 Election: Presidency, Senate Collaborate on Diaspora Voting Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal Government has pledged to support any mechanism for the inclusion of Nigerian Diasporas to participate in future elections.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Geoffrey Onyeama disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a seminar on the validation of proposed National Policy on Diaspora matters.

Onyeama, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador

CONGRATULATIONS...

L-R: Former THISDAY Director, Corporate Services, Mr Gbayode Somuyiwa; his son/one of the First Class graduands, Mr. Simi Somuyiwa and the Mother Oluyemisi at the Call to Bar of new wigs yesterday in Abuja... recently

Abia Govt., Security Agencies Overwhelmed as Herdsmen Attack more Communities Emmanuel Ugwu inUmuahia

Again, Fulani herdsmen have gone berserk attacking another community in Abia State and inflicted life threatening injuries on dozens of farmers after destroying their farm crops.

The latest community that came under attack is Ozu Item in Bende local government where the Fulani herdsmen invaded, destroying farms and attacked people with dangerous weapons.

The secretary to Abia State government (SSG), Dr. Eme Okoro hails from Ozu Item.

The attacks which have followed the same pattern from one community to another have

left the state government and the state police command helpless as no concrete action has been taken to stem the tide of attacks.

It was gathered that while some of the victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia most of them were taken to private hospitals, including Tochi Hospital in Uzuakoli also in Bende local government.

At the FMC, one of the victims, Mr. Sunday Oru, 40, lay writhing in pains at the accident and emergency unit as the herdsmen fractured his right arm and chopped off the fingers. He told journalists that the herdsmen had invaded their farmlands on

Thursday and plundered rice, cassava, okro and plantain and fed their cattle with the crops.

According to him, thousands of cattle were led into Ozu Item community by herdsmen and when the farmers became alarmed and asked the herdsmen to leave the community they arrogantly refused and entered the farms.

“They (herdsmen) vowed that instead of being expelled from our community they will conquer us and occupy our community,” he said. He explained that it was after the herdsmen invaded a rice farm on Thursday morning and youths and farmers went to expel them that the herdsmen went beserk hacking people, chopping

off fingers and raining matchet blows on people.

“We are not civil servants. We are farmers and our crops are very important to us but the cattle are destroying everything,” he lamented.

The state police command confirmed the latest attack with the police public relations officer (PPRO) Nta Ogbonnaya Nta insisting that “the police is on top of the situation”. When our correspondent, who contacted him on phone wanted to know if any arrests has been made following the series of attacks by herdsmen the police spokesman said that the matter was being investigated.

Moroccan Monarch on Official Visit to Nigeria Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja met with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who arrived Nigeria on Thursday, for a 3-day official visit to Nigeria.

The visiting monarch inspected a guard of honour mounted by men of the Guards Brigade.

The Guards Brigade also honoured the visiting King with 21-gun salute.

After the inspection of the guard of honour, Mr. Buhari and Mohammed met behind closed doors, before leaving the Presidential Villa for National

Mosque to perform the 2-raka’at Juma’at Prayer.

King Mohammed, who is leading a 300-man delegation, is visiting Nigeria for the first time since he ascended the throne in July 23, 1999.

The meeting between Buhari and King Mohammed, continued after the Juma’at prayer.

The meeting focused on bilateral trade and economic relations.

Laoye Jaiyeola, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), said that public and private sectors of both countries would collaborate to leverage on opportunities for sustainable

economic growth.

Jaiyeola spoke at the NigeriaMorocco Business Meeting, with the theme: “Business Climate and Investment Opportunities.”

According to him, improved business relations between Nigeria and Morocco would create mutual benefits, connect the continent’s markets and enhance competitiveness.

Speaking with State House correspondents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema said that Nigerian and Morocco would sign agreements on trades, oil and other sectors.

On what Nigeria stands to gain

NNPC Counsels FG on National Fleet John Iwori The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has counseled the Federal Government on the proposed national fleet for the shipping sector of the economy.

The corporation said it should avoid the pitfalls of the past in the establishment of the national fleet even as it listed the benefits of the proposed shipping carrier.

It warned that the establishment of a national fleet should not be considered solely as the responsibility of government but should be private sector driven as it is obtainable in other parts of

the developed world.

According to the corporation, there was need to be very careful in the choice of the business model.

This is very important for the success of the business being proposed by the Federal Government under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

Speaking in Lagos at the at this year annual dinner organised by Ship owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru said the proposed national fleet for crude oil affreightment would be of huge economic benefits to the country

with multiplier effect on the nation’s economy.

Besides earning billions of dollars which will address the nation’s foreign exchange nightmare, the NNPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stated that a national fleet programme would also increase capacity building as it will provide a training ground for the nation’s cadets from which Nigeria can earn foreign exchange like other countries.

He argued that that since Nigeria exports her crude oil on FOB basis, a national fleet programme for the country will make the nation to change to CIF basis to buyers.

from the Morocco King's visit, he said: "Hopefully in the short and medium terms it could run into billions. We are looking at a transAfrica gas pipeline that is going to run along the coast of West Africa from Nigeria to Morocco giving us the potential to supply gas to Europe directly.

Sola Enikanolaiye, said Nigerians abroad were crucial to the sociopolitical and economic development of the nation, hence the government would support mechanism for their inclusion in future elections.

“To achieve the immense potentials of the Diaspora, there is the need for effective promotion and harnessing of the capacity of Nigerians at home and abroad, for the socio-political and economic development of the nation. In addition, the empowerment of Nigerians in the Diaspora as change agents for national development should be speedily scaled up.

Workers Training Institute is Dream Come True, Says Mimiko Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has said that the dream of his administration to build a world-class training institute that was globally competitive had become a reality as the State government's Public Service Training Institute Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore local government area of the State was ready for commissioning.

Mimiko who led the State delegation on inspection tour of the institute in readiness for its commissioning, said the Institute was for the public service of today and for the future, noting that the institute would provide modern training for the State workforce.

"This is a training institute for the public service, the public service of today, the public service of tomorrow. In the last seven and a half years, we have placed emphasis on training. This is an attempt to institutionalise public service.

"This is a world-class training centre and as you have seen, the structure is ready and the gadgets are also ready. Our dream is to have a Public service training institute that is globally competitive and the dream is now fulfilled" Mimiko said.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OBIDIKE UJU MARYJANE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHUKWUDOLUE MARYJANE OBIANUJUNWA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MRS RACHAEL NNEKA UNOMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MS. RACHAEL NNEKA NWAEJI. All former documents remain valid.

Guaranty Trust Bank and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AARON IREDESAYO EMMANUEL-OKE, now wish to be known and addressed as AARON IREDESAYO OLUSOLAPE OKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS IYIOLA OPEYEMI OLUSOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEKOYA OPEYEMI OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AVWOBOBE ESEOGHENE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SALAKO ESEOGHENE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

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MISSILE Galadima on Buhari Administration

“The government of change has not changed the personnel of those they call names every day. People are just stealing left, right and centre because their initial fear that when this government comes in, they would be chased, is no more there. So, it is business as usual in everything.”

– Buba Galadima, member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), chastising the Buhari administration

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

As Ghana Heads to General Elections

F

ellow Nigerians, this seems to be the season of elections in different parts of the world.

We can start from Nigeria, our dear beloved country. Two critical elections have come and gone in recent months. The first was in my home State of Edo where the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, trounced his arch-rival, Pastor Ize-Iyamu of PDP. Godwin Obaseki has since been sworn in as the Governor while the PDP stalwarts and teir gubernatorial candidate continue to lament like the Biblical Jeremiah. It is not clear if their lamentations and grumblings would be limited to their homes and party offices or if they would pursue the matter to the Supreme Court, starting with a Petition to the Election Tribunal.

Elections are seemingly forever contentious everywhere including, even now, America where some Hillary Clinton supporters are already seeking a recount of some swing States. It is apparently in the nature of human beings to reject defeat even where there has previously been concession. We all love to win. But the truth is that only one contestant can win in an election that requires just one victor.

In Ondo State, another APC candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu has just overwhelmed the PDP candidate Eyitayo Jegede and the AD candidate, Olusola Oke. It was bound to happen as a result of the war of attrition rocking PDP, a party that once boasted to be Africa’s largest political congregation. Theirs was a classic case of a house divided against itself cannot stand. The division within PDP has been so deep that it would seem someone somewhere has hypnotised them so much that they can no longer see that they are miserably on the road to eternal perdition. Again, whilst all the other candidates and even the outgoing Governor, Dr Rahman Mimiko, have congratulated the victorious Aketi, the PDP candidate by Supreme Court fiat, Mr Eyitayo Jegede still seems to be in a state of shock and stupor and has been ominously silent.

What looks obvious to all discerning minds is that APC is determined to stamp its full authority on Nigeria. The party is working, some people are saying by hook and crook, while others believe that the change mantra is working even if many Nigerians are grunting aloud. Those opposed to the Buhari government are convinced in their opinion that the ruling administration is merely manipulating the system in its own favour to create the impression that it is loved by the generality of Nigerians. On the other hand the pro-Buhari supporters are boasting that these elections have demonstrated clearly how much Nigerians love and adore our no-nonsense President and that this is clear manifestation of their endorsement of Buhari’s policies, no matter how draconian it may appear to the so-called wailing-wailers.

So far, so good, the winning streak of APC is confirming the latter view.

From Nigeria, let’s make a brief stop-over in Banjul, The Gambia, one of my favourite tourist destinations, where reports oozed out yesterday that the strongman, President Yayah Jameh, has finally lost his grip on power, after over two decades of iron-fisted rule. He lost resoundingly to a political tyro, Adama Barrow, after most of the opposition parties formed themselves into a strong coalition to focre what observers are calling a real political paradigm shift in Africa because nobody believed it was a possible feat.

Even international observers stayed away after the country was plunged into international information darkness by the banning of international calls and internet activity. The outcome of the elections in The Gambia should however not be surprising to any student of history because whatever has a beginning must have an end. A good actor should always know when to quit the stage.

I strongly believe that no President or Prime

Dele Momodu with President Mahama two days ago Minister should ever spend more than a total of two terms spanning a maximum of eight to ten years in power. After that, the law of diminishing returns would naturally set in. Whatever a leader can’t achieve in those eight to ten years may never be actualised in an entire lifetime. A serious leader must set a powerful template in his first tenure and consolidate decisively if lucky to get a second term. The tendency to become an autocrat or dictator after eight or ten years is simply too strong and can only be managed by constitutional means which limits terms to two and no more.

This is what has happened before our very eyes in Ghana, where President John Dramani Mahama would face the battle of his life next Wednesday, December 7, 2016, when he seeks a re-election. It promises to be a battle royale between President Mahama and his strongest challenger Nana Akufo-Addo. Ghana is currently on edge as both the President’s NDC party and the opposition NPP are taking this election like the Mohammed Ali/Joe Fraizer rumble in the jungle fight. Neither of them is willing to yield any ground or quarter.

President Mahama comes with very powerful commendations from party faithfuls and nonpartisans. He is largely believed to have changed and transformed Ghana like no other leader since the time of the great Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. In fact, his aggressive investments in infrastructure development has earned him the sobriquet of Kwame Nkrumah II. The manner he has been commissioning new projects daily has also attracted his latest nickname of The Commissioner-in-Chief, a positive change from the Commander-in-Chief that is the favoured moniker of most African leaders. It is doubtful if any President has surpassed Mahama currently in the area of infrastructure within the past four

years in Africa. If infrastructure alone could win an election, this election would have been a no-contest and President Mahama would have won with automatic alacrity.

His most vociferous critics are saying people need jobs and food in their stomachs and not infrastructure. His humble response is that he appreciates the hardship Ghanaians are facing and pleads that they should endure a little as he is not engaging in quick fixes but enduring legacies. President Mahama insists that the best way to solve the excruciating problems of unemployment is through deliberate and total commitment to investing heavily in infrastructure development. The schools he is building will afford more students the opportunity to get enrolled, educated and finish with skills hitherto denied them. The schools would employ many more teachers. He is skilfully shifting attention away from humanities to technical studies. He says this would make it easier for Ghanaian youths to be more readily employable. He wants Ghana to train her young ones to become the best artisans in West Africa. As a matter of fact, he has converted and upgraded Polytechnics and Technical Colleges to universities. This has generated a lot of excitement.

President Mahama has built some incredible hospitals of international standards. The aesthetic and clean hospitals have even been likened to hotels. He says these hospitals would employ more Doctors and nurses and other medical personnel.

He has virtually contained the erratic power outage that ravaged Ghana not too long ago and this is probably his greatest achievement, even if many of his fellow citizens may not appreciate such miracle. As a Nigerian, I know what we have suffered because of electricity failure. Any leader who is able to tackle and bring an end

to the intractable issue of power in Nigeria would be worshipped forever. The gains are only too evident because no nation can seek to be an industrial power with electricity and other alternate forms of power supply in which President Mahama is also investing..

On his part, the main opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo is an accomplished lawyer and was a Minister of Foreign Affairs under President John Agyekum Kufuor. He is widely respected at home and abroad. This would be his third attempt after losing to the late John Evans AttaMills in 2008 and to John Dramani Mahama in 2012. It remains to be seen if he would be third time lucky now that he is facing an extremely popular leader and incumbent President whose slogan TOASO (a Twi word for Continue) has resonated massively across the nation.

Nana Akufo-Addo prides himself as an anti-corruption agent and has promised to sweep corruption out of the Ghanaian system.

The present Government asks for evidence of such corruption but Nana and the opposition have not been able to point to any corruption or scandal to substantiate the label of an anticorruption crusader like President Buhari was able to do in Nigeria. His slogan of Change is however popular among his dedicated followers who love him to bits. The issue is what kind of change? His cerebral composure has been taken for ivory tower arrogance by his critics.

His supporters have been labelled as being too volatile and querulous and ready to pick a fight at the slightest provocation. They are generally disparaged as intolerant of any other view or candidates but theirs. Nana has come a long way since his first attempt. This looks like his last chance at 72 years old. If he fails this time, it may be difficult for him to come back at 76 to run another race. President Mahama on the other hand was born in 1958 and turned 58 only a few days ago.

There is therefore so much at stake in this election. Will Ghanaians abandon a youthful President who has laid a good foundation on which to build a superstructure next term or reject a much older but very idealistic candidate who has promised them a radical change very similar to what we promised Nigerians last year?

It is a big dilemma for many Ghanaians. Change has become a very complex slogan in Ghana.

Mahama says he has already brought change to Ghana by transforming the country from an analogue infrastructure era to a digital age level.

Nana dismisses Mahama as incompetent and mediocre. He and his party have not seen much to trumpet about Mahama’s much-advertised achievements. The most astonishing aspect of this electioneering campaign has been the way the opposition has pooh poohed and dismissed Mahama’s monumental achievement, the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, easily the longest flyover in West Africa, as a non-event, and ordered its bigwigs to avoid driving on it so as not to validate its importance of what Ghanaians now call their own Dubai.

As always with Ghanaian elections, it will be a very close race, and whosoever wins can only do so by the whiskers. Most recent polls have predicted a win for President Mahama by a slim margin but no one can be absolutely certain until the results are finally announced hopefully on December 8. The tension in Ghana is so thick and palpable right now that you can literarily cut it with a blade. My prayer is for peace to reign in Ghana and for the victor to be magnanimous and the loser to be graceful in defeat.

May almighty God help the Republic of Ghana.

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