Saturday 31st December 2016

Lagos, Issuing Houses Seal Deal on N47bn Bond To create 900, 000 Jobs through Employment Trust Fund

The Lagos State Government yesterday announced the closing of its N47 billion 16.5 per cent 2023 Series 1 Bond Issuance under the N500 billion Third Debt Issuance Programme targeted at improving the physical and social infrastructure base of the

State.

At the signing ceremony held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said that despite the continued challenges in the economy and difficult market conditions which have seen the last three Federal

Government Bond auctions undersubscribed by an average 32 per cent, Lagos State sold some 80 per cent of the bonds it offered at a 57bps spread to the sovereign.

He expressed appreciation for the confidence investors

have reposed in the State Government, saying that it was an eloquent testimony of the government’s credit worthiness.

He said: “We are truly humbled by the confidence investors have once again demonstrated in the Lagos

State credit story. The state government remains committed to improving the physical and social infrastructure base of the state and proud of its reputation as a most responsible issuer in the Nigerian capital markets”.

The governor also acknowl-

edged the support received in the issuance process from the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, as well as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Continued on page 6

Boko Haram Attacks Military in Borno, 15 Terrorists Killed, Says Army … Page 6 Saturday 31 December, 2016 Vol 21. No 7926. Price: N250

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CAN Expresses Concern about Buhari's Silence on Southern Kaduna Killings Declares January 8 national day of mourning

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday expressed concerrn about the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the persistent killing of Christians in Southern part of Kaduna State, describing it as “perceived official endorsement” of the dastardly act by the President.

The National General Secretary of CAN, Reverend Musa Asake expressed this concern at a press conference in Abuja,

where he noted that Christians had been subjected to systematic genocide and persecution since 2009, especially by the Boko Haram sect.

Asake said: "I have been directed by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr. Samson Ayokunle to bring to your attention the on-going ethnic/ religious cleansing of Nigerian Christians in general and those of Southern Kaduna in particular Continued on page 6

Budget 2017: Buhari, Saraki Meet Again Getting economy out of recession tops agenda Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, yesterday met behind closed on the last working day of the year to deliberate on pressing national issue.

Also yesterday, the president assented to Endangered Species Control of International Trade and Traffic Amendment Act 2016, earlier passed by the National Assembly.

The President of the Senate, who arrived at about noon, also joined Buhari to observe

the Jumat prayer at the Villa.

Saraki’s media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu later told THISDAY that the smooth passage of the 2017 budget and other issues concerning the economy that must be quickly dealt with, topped the agenda of the meeting.

Saraki, who spoke with State House Correspondents on what Nigerians should expect in 2017 from the National Assembly said: "In 2017, our attention will be on the economy because that is really a major issue Continued on page 6

SAVING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES…

President Muhammadu Buhari signing the last bill for 2016 “International Control and trafficking Amendment act 2016 “ , while the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Mr. Ita Enang looks on at the Presidential Villa, GODWIN OMOGUI Abuja …yesterday

Enugu Clash: No Mosque Was Burnt, Say Cattle Dealers ...Page 6

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Boko Haram Attacks Military in Borno, 15 Terrorists Killed, Says Army Michael Olugbode Just few days after President Muhammadu Buhari claimed that Boko Haram had been effectively defeated, the terrorists early yesterday attacked a military facility in Rann, in

northern part of Borno State, injuring several soldiers in the process.

A military source who confirmed the attack said that 15 members of the terrorists were killed, while some soldiers were injured in the attack.

According to the source, the attack happened around 6am and lasted for about three hours.

The source said: “Boko Haram insurgents launched heavy attack on soldiers stationed in Rann. Though it was a surprise attack, the military successfully

repelled it."

He said it was during the push back that 15 insurgents were killed and some soldiers wounded.

The source equally revealed that the troops were able to capture some equipment from

the retreating insurgents.

A source in the youth vigilante who also spoke anonymously gave a lesser figure of casualties.

According to him, the military succeeded in killing eight insurgents after an unsuccessful

attack on soldiers stationed at Rann.

He said a soldier was injured in the attack.

This is the first attack by the terrorists on a military position after they were pushed out of their Sambisa forest stronghold.

Enugu Clash: No Mosque Was Burnt, Say Cattle Dealers Ugwuanyi visits market

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu Normalcy has returned to the Garriki Cattle Market, Awkunanaw, Enugu barely 24-hours after a dispute that claimed two lives broke out in the area.

This came as cattle dealers dismissed reports that their mosque was burnt as result of the minor disagreement.

The cattle dealers said that a burnt property in the market was as a result of harmattan haze, which no single individual or group was identified as being responsible for.

Leaders of the cattle market spoke yesterday when

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State visited the market for on-the-spot assessment and interaction with the cattle market’s community.

Ugwuanyi was conducted round the market by the Chairman of the Garriki Cattle Market Association, Alhaji Baba Ali, the former Senior Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor on inter-community matters, Ahmed Abubakar, among other leaders of the Hausa community in the market.

Speaking on the incident that took place on Wednesday, Baba Ali said: “Something happened by accident that we did not expect. Since 1970, we have

been with the Igbo people here in peace and we have not had any problem. Something just happened by accident but we have settled the problem.

“Any other news they are telling you is mere propaganda.

We don’t have problem. We have been together since 1970, both Amagu and Amaechi; we have been together like brothers and sisters.

“What happened was that one Hausa/Fulani man attacked an Igbo boy and the Igbo boy died and the Hausa man too died, bringing about some riot but we have settled the matter. Nobody burnt any Mosque. What happened was a fire accident. We have two

mosques here; you can see people praying there, the other one is in the other side there.

“Since then, we have not had any other problem. Security here is very tight. Both the DPO and the Garrison Commander are here day and night and the market is moving. Nobody stopped the market.”

In his own narration, Abubakar said: “We‘ve been living peacefully with our host; we live like brothers. If you come here, you see Igbo people speaking Hausa language.

This thing that the media is reporting about burning of our Mosque is not true. This is our Friday Mosque and you can see people praying there. This

is the Mosque, today is Friday, look at all the Muslims they are doing their prayer here.

“We have another Mosque over there. Then the other one is the place where we rest and this is dry season, fire incident happened. We didn’t see anybody going to burn any house.

“Your Excellency, with the good work you are doing in Enugu state, both the Igbo and the Hausa people here are living peacefully like brothers.

So welcome to the market.”

On the measure being put in place to forestall further occurrence, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security matters, Gen. Fred Eze (rtd)

said: “The government is interested in peace of the place. Security agencies were deployed to contain the situation and immediately the market leaders put heads together, discussed and agreed that there should be peace and everywhere is calm. That is why the market is operating.

“It was a quarrel between two individuals and not an organized group crime. It was a problem between two people, it was not a group action but that was unfortunate. Two people had misunderstanding and what happened led to their deaths and so it had nothing to do with the groups in the market."

SOUTHERN KADUNA: BUHARI’S SILENCE, PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT OF KILLINGS, SAYS CAN in the last few weeks.

"The Church in Nigeria since 2009 has been subjected to a systemic genocide and persecution through the instrumentality of Islamic fundamentalists Boko Haram, leading to the killing of thousands of Christians and destruction of hundreds of churches, and over 50,000 houses. The current unprecedented onslaught against Christians in Southern Kaduna by the Islamic fundamentalists disguising as the Fulani herdsmen under the watch of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and President Buhari has reached an alarming stage.

"While we commend President Buhari for waging war against Boko Haram fundamentalists since his assumption of office, his silence over the on-going genocide in the last

few weeks speaks volumes over the perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.”

Asake said that the recent defense of the President’s silence that he had received briefing from the governor of Kaduna State over the matter was unacceptable, “because the Presidency knows that the people of the affected area had already protested against the governor’s unacceptable biased handling of the continuous killings.”

The CAN General Secretary continued: “Common sense tells anyone that at that instance, the President has to more directly wade in because lives are involved. The continuous killings have shown that the Governor of Kaduna State lacks the will power to arrest

the situation and bring it under effective control.

“We know that Southern Kaduna has been under 24-hour curfew daily, as directed by the governor, yet the enemies of the people are still prowling going from house to house, killing defenseless people without government’s protection."

CAN alleged further that the security operatives in the area appeared to be turning a blind eye to the killings, adding that they only rush to trouble spots after the perpetrators had performed their act of killings and destruction of houses and farmlands.

The Christian body said it had previously drawn attention to the imbalance in the appointments made in the country's security institutions, "hence we re-emphasise that leader-

ship/management of security institutions both at the national and state levels be reviewed to ensure a balance of Muslim and Christian representation.”

He said such balance, will build trust and confidence among all citizens of Nigeria in the security empowered to protect our nation.

CAN urged the state and federal government to increase their efforts in putting an end to the killings and also ensure that those behind the killings were brought to book under the laws of the land and compensate those affected.

Asake stressed: "In view of the present predicament, the President of CAN has directed that Sunday January 8, 2017, should be declared national day of mourning by Christians, including those in Diaspora.

We are to pray fervently for our Southern Kaduna brothers and sisters who are victims of these wanton killings and also for the peace of our dear country Nigeria.

"Therefore, all Christians are to dress in mourning attire of black clothes or dresses in all our church services on January 8, 2017. We are to pray that God, who delivered the Jews from Haman, should deliver Christians from Hamans in Nigeria."

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan has alleged this week that the unrest in Southern Kaduna State had claimed over 808 lives, in 53 villages in the area, with 1,422 houses, 16 Churches, 19 shops, and one primary school destroyed.

The latest killing last week took place despite a curfew on

three local governments affected by the crisis.

At a press conference Thursday, the Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu, said the government had failed to protect locals.

Yakubu added: “Unfortunately, our government both at the Centre and State levels have failed woefully,” he said.

“If anything, government has shown outright partisanship in favour of the herdsmen to the disappointment of the majority Southern Kaduna indigenes and Christians.

“We call on Southern Kaduna indigenes to remain steadfast in prayer, united, strong and never to cave in to the antics of our adversaries. Tribe and denominational differences shouldn’t put a chasm between

had was for us to capture the place. I think is a great feat. It shows what we can do as a country when we have the commitment, purpose and the leadership required to do that. As we have done that in the North-east, I believe the other issue before us is the fight against corruption, the economy, providing jobs and peace in the Niger Delta."

On the president signing

17 bills into law, the Senate President said: "it shows in part what we have been able to do in the National Assembly and there are many more bills to come. The President is also responding to them. You are going to see more of that in 2017. For us in the Senate, just in this last three months, we did much more than what we did in the entire year. The National Assembly is settling

ceremony, Executive Secretary of LSETF, Mr. Akin Oyebode said the award of the offer letters was in fulfillment of one of the cardinal promises of the Ambode-led administration to set up a fund to drive the growth of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in recognition of their critical role as the engine of growth and leading creator of jobs in any economy.

Oyebode, who said the award of the offer letters was also an eloquent testimony of the readiness of the state’s government to support the thriving youths and residents of the State, said a total of 1,000 MSMEs have been earmarked to benefit from the pilot scheme, out of which 281 micro enterprises have so far been approved.

He said out of those ap-

proved, 150 beneficiaries had collected their offer letters, while the process for approval for others in the pilot scheme is ongoing.

To ensure transparency and unbiased process, Oyebode said the LSETF engaged partners to help with the selection, verification and disbursement of the loans to beneficiaries.

He added that application process was still ongoing and that once completed, a full list of beneficiaries would be made available to the public.

While disclosing details of the loan, Oyebode said the beneficiaries of the micro enterprise pilot scheme were given loan approval ranging from N300,000 to N500,000, with an annual five per cent interest rate, which is the lowest anywhere in the country.

down and as such, you will see more bills passed to the President for signature."

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, who also spoke with State House Correspondents, said the bill signed yesterday

by Buhari, was one of the ten bills forwarded to him by the National Assembly.

Enang said the President had signed all the bills sent to him.

"The intent of this amendment is to bring the penalty provisions in line with the economic realities and to serve as a deterrent to people trafficking in endangered species because they are the preserves of the country."

According to him, the Act aimed at discouraging trafficking in endangered species and will encourage the culture of the preservation of endangered species.

He added that with the assent, the President has increased the penalties for violations of the provisions in line with today's realities.

The president had in November signed eight bills into law which included the Prevention of Crime Amendment Act 2016, the National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds

(Registration) Amendment Act 2016, Telecommunications and Postal Offences Amendment Act 2016, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority Amendment Act 2016.

Others are the Produce Enforcement of Export Standards Amendment Act 2016, the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Amendment Act 2016, Bee Import Control and Management Amendment Act 2016, and Water Resources Amendment Act 2016.

Earlier in the month, the president also signed eight bills into law which are the National Judicial Institute Amendment Act, 2016 and the Advertising Practitioners Registration Amendment Act, 2016.

Others are Utilities Charges Commission Amendment Act, 2016, Quality Surveyors Registration Amendment Act, 2016 and Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency Amendment Act, 2016.

Others are Treaty to Establish African Economic Community Relating to Pan African Parliament (Accession and Jurisdiction) Amendment Act, 2016, University of Abuja Amendment Act, 2016 and Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers Amendment Act, 2016.

BUDGET 2017: BUHARI, SARAKI MEET AGAIN for us as a country. We want to see some of the economic bills passed, to see that there is greater improvement in the budget process in 2017 and to see that the government implements the budget early.

"Also, one of our pet projects is ‘made in Nigeria products.’

We want to see to it that government continues to support Nigerians in this area, so that the difficult times Nigerians

are going through can ease.

So, next year is very important to us and I think on the part of National Assembly, we will continue to give our support to ensure that the right things are done."

On the fall of Sambisa forest, the Senate President said: "it is a great progress from where we were before. If you look at where we were a year and half ago, the challenge we

LAGOS, ISSUING HOUSES SEAL DEAL ON N47BN BOND Justice, Mr. Abubakar Mallami and their teams, the Security and Exchange Commission, the Federal Debt Management Office and the state’s advisers.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer, Chapel Hill Denham, Financial Advisers and Lead Book Runners, Mr. Bolaji Balogun said Lagos State was leading from the front in the issuance of Bond despite the prevailing market dynamics.

“We are deeply honoured to work with the Lagos State Government, which has again affirmed its peerless credit reputation in tricky market conditions right at the end of the year to issue the only bond by a State in Nigeria, in 2016 and I thank all of our colleagues in the issuing party for working with us to deliver a successful outcome,” Balogun said.

It would be recalled that the state government had registered a N500 billion Third Debt Issuance Programme and has a credit rating of A+ by Global Credit Ratings Co. and Agusto & Co. The Bond, whose Book Keeping was concluded on Friday, December 23, 2016 with the first issuance priced at 16.5 per cent, will mature in December 2023.

Lagos Targets 900,000 Jobs By 2019…

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) yesterday distributed offer letters to some of the beneficiaries of the pilot scheme of the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF), with a pledge to create at least 300,000 direct and 600, 000 indirect jobs by 2019 through the initiative.

Speaking at the distribution

T H I S D AY SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016

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NEWS

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

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

NEITI: Unremitted NLNG Earnings by NNPC Hits $15.8bn Chineme Okafor in Abuja The total amount of earnings due to the Federation Account from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation reportedly claimed and should have remitted but did not, has risen to $15.8 billion, a new report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has revealed.

NEITI’s annual audit report released yesterday in Abuja, which covered operations in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector for 2014, stated that as at the close of that year, the NNPC could not account for $1.42 billion proceeds paid to it by NLNG. It said in addition to $12.92 billion NLNG payments for the previous years which the corporation was yet to account for, the total unremitted NLNG proceeds to the Federation by NNPC had gone up to $15.8 billion.

The audit report also said Nigeria earned $55.5 billion from the oil and gas sector, while another on solid minerals mining stated that N55.82 billion was made by the country from the solid minerals sector in 2014.

“NLNG paid $1.42 billion to NNPC as dividends, loan and interest repayments for 2014 but the amount could not be traced to the Federation Account.

“Between 2005 and 2013, there was an outstanding of $12.92 billion of dividends, interest and loan repayment made by NLNG to NNPC but not remitted to the Federation Account.

“The 2014 audit uncovered evidence of $1.5 billion paid by NLNG to NNPC between 2000 and 2004 but also not remitted.

This brings the sum of unremitted

NLNG dividends, interest and loan repayment to $15.8 billion as at the end of 2014,” said the report.

The report on oil and gas equally showed that $4.7 billion and N318.2 billion that should have gone to the Federation Account from oil and gas businesses were not remitted to it by the NNPC and its Exploration and Production (E&P) arm, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

It added that Nigeria lost $198.7 million in that year to crudefor-product swap and Offshore Processing Arrangements (OPA).

“At the close of the 2014 audits, NPDC had not paid the outstanding $1.7 billion for the eight OMLs (Oil Mining Licenses) under the Shell JV divested to it by NNPC. NPDC had also not paid for the four OMLs under the NAOC JV divested to it

by NNPC. Those four assets were recently valued by DPR (Department of Petroleum Resources) at $2.25 billion; NPDC had sought clarification for the basis of the valuation,” it explained.

It said the total revenue flows for the oil and gas sector fell from $58.07 to $55.5 billion between 2013 and 2014, indicating a decline of about five per cent.

The report added that 22 billion litres of petroleum products were imported into the country in 2014, and N1.2 trillion processed as subsidy claims by oil marketers.

According to it, 41 oil and gas companies and 16 government agencies were audited for the 2014 audit by SIAO and Co., a Nigerian accounting and auditing firm.

The other report however noted that there was an improved revenue flow for the country from the solid

DONE DEAL...

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Adeyemi Ashade; and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, during the signing of N47 billion bond deal with issuing houses at the banquet hall, Lagos House, Ikeja... recently

minerals sector in 2014, with a 48 per cent rise from the N37.676 billion earned in 2013 to N55.8 billion in 2014.

Conducted by another Nigerian accounting and auditing firm, Amedu Onekpe and Co, 498 companies were covered, out which only 39 met the materiality threshold payments of N3 million and above, and accounted for 90.89 per cent of total payments

for the sector.

The report explained that Dangote Cement accounted for 32.18 per cent of the total N1.2 billion paid as royalties for the sector, while limestone and granite accounted for 56.68 and 30.59 per cents respectively of the 36 million tons of solid minerals produced in the sector in 2014.

“The value of exports of solid minerals in 2014 was $26.14 million

out of which Lead/Zinc accounted for 90.13 per cent with Free on Board (FOB) value of $23.561 million. Exports figures reported by companies were different from those declared by government agencies,” said the report.

NEITI also stated that N9.9 billion that accrued to the sector up to 31st December 2014 was shared in July 2016 among the three tiers

of government, adding that it was the first time revenue from the sector was distributed.

It said: “The solid minerals sector accounted for four per cent of total national export earnings for the year 2014; this disclosure reconfirmed Nigeria’s over dependence on oil and gas and marginal interest in the solid minerals sector in spite of the infinite opportunities.”

Afenifere Chieftain Charges Mimiko PDP Condemns Sheriff’s Nigeria Will Emerge Stronger in 2017, Says Atiku to Uphold Good Governance Visit to Benue State Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has predicted that with concerted efforts by all, Nigeria would come out the gloomy economic situation to become stronger.

He said 2017 would be a year of new hope for Nigeria and Nigerians.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media office in Abuja to mark the New Year celebrations, Atiku described the outgoing 2016 as "a year in which the nation faced a multitude of challenges, but which ended on a high note, giving us hope and confidence in what we as a nation can achieve when we stand to work together.

"Our military has recorded an important victory over Boko Haram and we should be grateful for the sacrifice our men and women in uniform are prepared to make to keep us safe. To honour them, we should also remember that it is our collective responsibility to make peace, and not just in the North East.

“I believe we can and will work around our differences, because we know that our strength lies in our

diversity. And when we make our New Year’s resolutions, I hope my countrymen and countrywomen will join me in aspiring to be tolerant and to listen with an open mind and heart to those who do not share our views. We should respect each other’s views and traditions, and we should remember that our humanity shows in how we treat the most vulnerable.”

Atiku also addressed the economic challenges Nigeria is facing, saying the federal government has given assurances of a speedy recovery. "I am confident that we will see investments in key sectors, and that steps will be taken to restore business confidence.

We’ve been dealt a cruel hand, but things are looking up, and I’m confident we will emerge stronger: we’re learning to be more efficient and effective, and we’re learning to evaluate what we really need and what we can afford. We’re suffering, but we’ll become more innovative and competitive.”

The former vice president concluded that hope was important to everything Nigerians aim to achieve in 2017, as that hope and perseverance would guide them through the darkness that announces the break of dawn.

Yoruba leader and Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo has charged Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to "continue to flaunt and hold the banner of good governance."

Adebanjo also declared that Mimiko "has upheld the cardinal policy of the Action Group, led by the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which is Education for all."

The Afenifere Chieftain made the charge in Ondo city yesterday during the commissioning of the Awosika Memorial Caring Heart Mega Primary School where he was guest of honour.

Adebanjo said quality education remained the forerunner of an egalitarian society, pointing out that the Mega school type of educational infrastructure being provided by Governor Mimiko is unequalled.

The Awosika Memorial Mega Primary School is the Type B of the Mimiko’s educational intervention at the Primary level.

It has 21 Standard classrooms, capable of accommodating 521 pupils; computer laboratories; library; recreation centre and play

ground, an event hall, modern conveniences and 24hrs water system.

Inaugurating the school, Governor Mimiko explained that without education, many families would have been recycling poverty from generation to generations.

He said the joy of education was the fact of it being a precursor to an egalitarian society. “When I see Parents removing their Children from Private schools to Public schools, (The Caring Heart Mega Primary Schools), that is, Social Integration, I am happy,” he said.

He added “Our paradigm of transformation is both at the economic strata and social strata level where the child of the gardener is in the same school with the child of the commissioner; where the wife of a driver stays side by side with the wife of the commissioner and the Permanent Secretary in the same hospital as obtains now in the Mother and child hospital.”

Governor Mimiko said education would enable the society drive towards an equitable standard while providing opportunity to build God-given talents.

From George Okoh in Makurdi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has condemned the recent visit by the Chairman of a faction of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Benue State, describing it as an illegal visit by an impostor.

The party accused Senator Sheriff of plotting to assist the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forthcoming local government election in the state.

The condemnation of Sheriff was made known by the Benue state Chairman of the PDP, Chief John Ngbede.

The party said it observed with interest the visit to the state yesterday by a former national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Mohdu Sherrif, "during which he was received in solidarity by newly appointed Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, and the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, who extended to him compliments of State protocol and courtesy, including official transport and security escort.

“Ironically, the same Gov. Ortom has since assumption of office refused the PDP in the state use of public spaces for its functions, even including in May this year when the party was

denied space to hold its state congress for the election and inauguration of its State Exco, yet yesterday he opened his arms wide to embrace Sherrif.”

The party noted that no national leader of the PDP that was visiting the state on legitimate party business would completely shun the Party’s State Secretariat and prefer to consort with leaders of another political party as Sherrif did.

It said it was an act of utmost political recklessness for functionaries of the APC-controlled Ortom administration in the state to be seen playing active part in the visit of Sherrif and taking up supposed positions on the purported arrangement of a Sherrif faction of the party.

The state chairman said, “Subsisting court judgements have given legitimacy to the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi as its highest leadership organ duly mandated and running the affairs of the party, with all statutory organs and members of the party at the national level and in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT Abuja, the 11 state governors on the platform of the party and the National Assembly Caucus all loyal to it.

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DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

RingTrue

Yemi

Adebowale The Surefire Truth about Our Sliding Economy 07013940521 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

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inister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed continued with his usual embarrassing rhetoric about our slithering economy on December 20, remarking that the current hardship and economic crisis “are not the making” of the present administration. The minister, who spoke at a special town hall meeting for youth held at the Presidential Villa, stressed that the hardship was brought about by years of lack of planning, profligacy, mismanagement of funds, massive corruption and lack of investment in social programmes by the previous administration. The low price of crude oil is also persistently chanted by Mohammed and his cohorts as being responsible for our economic woes.

The truth that must be told is that the current economic recession and hardship in this great country is a product of the slipshod economic policies of the Buhari administration. All these factors listed

by Mohammed are just propaganda. For example, the current forex policy is unfriendly and stifling. Banning deposit into domiciliary accounts (which was reversed after a big damage had been done), restricting international transfers, limiting USD to certain sectors, while hindering several sectors, are the most preposterous of these policies. Worse still, our President has been going all about de-marketing our nation, telling the international community that virtually everybody in Nigeria is corrupt.

So, which foreign investor will bring money into such a system?

We are in this dire economic situation because foreign investors have lost confidence in our economy and in the Buhari administration. In the last 18 months, many have liquidated their investments and have been massively withdrawing their funds from Nigeria. The investors, desperate to get out of Nigeria, are paying any amount to exchange their Naira for USD. Billions of USD was moved out in this process, which led to the crash of the Naira and massive job loss.

Let me give pragmatic examples here, using foreign airlines. United States-based United Airlines shut its Lagos- Houston route in June this year, ending the carrier’s only route to Africa because of difficulties in remitting revenue from tickets sold in Nigeria. “Repatriation has been a significant issue, as has been the downturn in the energy sector,” said United Airlines’ spokesman, Jonathan Guerin. The Boeing 787 serving Lagos-Houston route was diverted to the San Francisco-Tel Aviv route by United and was expanded to daily in October from three times weekly. So, United has simply moved the investment to Israel from Nigeria.

Spanish carrier, Iberia Airline pulled out of Nigeria in May, also citing difficulties in remitting its tickets’ revenue. Another international carrier, Emirates reduced it frequencies from a massive 21 weekly flights to Nigeria, to just 7. In fact, Emirates shut its Dubai-Abuja route, all due to this same crooked forex policy.

According to the International Air Transport Association, as at May 2016, foreign airlines had about $575 million trapped in Nigeria. You can see why these airlines are fleeing Nigeria and reducing frequencies.

South African giant, Truworths announced its exit from Nigeria back in February, due to the same unfriendly economic policies listed above. South Africa’s Tiger Brands also sold off its stake in Dangote Flour, following challenging economic environment in Nigeria. Sun International, with 49 per cent stake in Federal Palace Hotel (Lagos) is leaving Nigeria, also due to challenging economic conditions and regulatory dispute.

In the last 18 months, 20 foreign shipping companies have departed Nigeria, sacking over 3000 Nigerians. According to the President of the Dockworkers Union

The foundation of this crippling economic crisis was laid by the Buhari administration during its first few months in power, due to its numerous actions and inactions. The major school boy errors were the failure to devalue the Naira and refusal to remove subsidy on petroleum products on time, amid dwindling forex inflow. When Buhari assumed office, it was obvious that the dubious subsidy regime was no longer sustainable due to the dwindling price of crude oil and falling forex inflow of Nigeria, Anthony Emmanuel, federal government’s importation policy is largely responsible for the closure of some of the shipping businesses.

The truth is that Nigeria has suddenly lost its status as destination of choice for foreign investors because of the slipshod economic policies of the Buhari administration. This is why we are facing this economic mess; and this is why massive unemployment has persisted. Even the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) acknowledged this much in its current capital importation report. An analysis of the NBS figures showed that the level of investment inflow into the country recorded a huge decline of $4.51 billion, from $8.08 billion in the first nine months of 2015 to $3.57 billion in the same period of 2016. This amounted to a decline of 55.2 per cent. The report states further: “Investors may be concerned about whether or not they will be able to repatriate the earnings from their investments, given the current controls on the exchange rate. In addition, as growth has slowed in recent quarters, there may be concerns about the profitability of such investments.” Clearly, foreign investors are running away from Nigeria.

Local manufacturers are also going through hell due to these same stuffy economic policies. According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, hundreds of their members have shut down in the last 18 months, while thousands of workers are being sacked on a daily basis.

Average industrial capacity utilisation also nosedived to about 30 per cent from a high of about 49% during the Jonathan administration. Nigerian Manufacturers have never had it so bad in the 55-year history of this nation. Even our own Erisco tomato processing company was shut few weeks back, throwing over 3000 Nigerians into the labour market Early this year, PZ Cussons Plc confirmed that it was paying as much as 70 per cent more than the official rate for Dollars in order to remain in business. It added: “Whilst the official Naira exchange rate continues to be stable, a lack of availability at that rate is resulting in the majority of Dollars being purchased at a premium of 50 per cent to 70 per cent. The resultant cost impact is being managed through changes to relative pricing in an environment where trading conditions remain challenging.

The situation in Nigeria remains extremely fluid.”

According to the NBS, the harsh economic situation in the country has thrown 1.7 million Nigerians into the job market in the last nine months of 2016. The NBS report, covering January to September this year,

showed that the number of unemployed Nigerians rose from 9.48 million at the beginning of the year to 11.19 million by September ending. The NBS raised the alarm that the country’s unemployment rate had increased to 13.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2016 from 13.3 per cent in the second quarter. The report states that the number of unemployed in the labour force increased by 555,311 persons, while the underemployment rate rose from 19.3 per cent in second quarter to 19.7 per cent in the third quarter.

The foundation of this crippling economic crisis was laid by the Buhari administration during its first few months in power, due to its numerous actions and inactions. The major school boy errors were the failure to devalue the Naira and refusal to remove subsidy on petroleum products on time, amid dwindling forex inflow. When Buhari assumed office, it was obvious that the dubious subsidy regime was no longer sustainable due to the dwindling price of crude oil and falling forex inflow. But because Buhari and his cohorts in the then opposition party had teamed up with labour unions to frustrate attempts by the Jonathan administration to remove fuel subsidy, it became difficult for him to implement subsidy removal. So, Buhari settled for the populist path and for over a year, spent billions of USD, subsidizing the warped fuel subsidy regime. Billions of USD was also wasted, sustaining a dubious exchange rate of N197/$. Our reserves were depleted, trying to sustain this N197/$ exchange rate.

For over a year, the consequences of the fixed forex rate manifested in the wide gap between the official and parallel market rates, acute forex scarcity, mounting trade debts, increasing factory closures, unavailability of investors to

meet offshore obligations, mounting inflationary pressures and sharp drop in capital inflows. By the time the Buhari administration eventually removed subsidy and devalued the Naira in the middle of 2016, huge irreparable damage had been done to the Nigerian economy. This is the mess, clearly caused by this administration.

The Buhari administration must learn to take responsibility, instead of trying to shift the blame of our economic mess to the Jonathan administration. It must come up with and implement policies that will help restore investors’ confidence in this economy, instead of unnecessary propaganda. It must come up with bold policies and programmes that will see portfolio investors returning to this country. This administration must sit down with manufacturers and agree on policies and programmes that will lead to increase in industrial capacity utilisation. Lai Mohammed and his cohorts must spend quality time thinking about right policies to fix Nigeria’s current economic woes instead of this persistent trickery.

This morning, I urge Buhari and his economic team (if there is any) to reflect on this note from the International Monetary Fund: “Eliminating existing macroeconomic imbalances and achieving sustained private sector-led growth require a renewed focus on ensuring the competitiveness of the economy.

As part of a credible package of policies, the exchange rate should be allowed to reflect market forces more and restrictions on access to foreign exchange removed, while improving the functioning of the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market (IFEM). It will be important for the regulatory and supervisory frameworks to ensure a strong and resilient financial sector that can support private sector investment across production segments (including SMEs) at reasonable financing costs.”

I hope the President will read this and act appropriately.

Ambode Must Stop Wasting Money on Gigs In the last 19 months, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has been spending a lot of tax payers’ money on sponsorship of gigs. This has to stop, considering the huge infrastructural challenges across this state. An eight-day music festival tagged “One Lagos Fiesta” that has gulped millions of Naira, is about now being rounded off across the state. Just few weeks back was the “Lagos Street Party.”

There was the “Evening with Ambode” that featured legends like Ebenezer Obey, Lagbaja, Shina Peters and Salawa Abeni.

The state was also a leading sponsor of AFRIMA, a pan African music award held in Lagos this year. These gigs should be private sector-driven. That is the standard in developed societies. Those around Ambode won’t tell him this because of what they are benefiting from the gigs. I sincerely hope that 2017 will be different.

Funds going into these shows should be redirected, to tackle infrastructural challenges, particularly in blighted communities across the state. It is very sad to note that many public schools in this state lack functional toilets, water and basic infrastructure. In this same Lagos, pupils still sit on bare floor in some public schools.

Inner roads are in a real mess in most LCDAs. I can say with all authority that 99 per cent of inner roads in Ikorodu West and Ikorodu North LCDAs are in tatters.

The few public schools in these areas are in shreds. This governor should visit these areas unaccompanied, to experience what I am saying.

Ambode needs to pick a copy of The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) 2016 “Global Liveability Ranking” and spend quality time reading it. In this document,

Ambode

Lagos was ranked amongst the worst cities to live globally. Nigeria’s most populous city was considered the 3rd least (138) liveable city in the world on the list of 140. The survey took account of cities’ healthcare, education, safety, culture, environment and infrastructure. Damascus, the warravaged Syrian capital city, languishes at the bottom of the table, followed by Tripoli in Libya and our beloved Lagos.

A government, whose 2017 budget comes with a huge N170 billion deficit and working on loan to fund it, has no business carousing. There is a lot of work to be done in Lagos. Sponsorships of gigs must stop.

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

NEWS

In Brief

GloTreatsFun-seekerstoSpectacularEvening

The ongoing One Lagos Fiesta has continued to generate steam, especially attheGlostandsinallfivelocationswheretheeventisbeingheld.Globacom, co-sponsorandexclusivetelecompartnerofthefiestatreatedgueststoan eveningofsublimeentertainmentwhichfeaturedmusic,comedy,dance,games and competitions at the Agege centre onTuesday. At the Ikorodu centre on December26,NollywoodactorandGloambassador,OdunladeAdekola,who wasattheGlostandattractedfun-seekerswhoabandonedotherstandsjustto seeandtouchthecelebrity.Odunlade,whilespeakingattheGlostandpraised Globacom for making telephony easily accessible to the masses and urged themtocontinuetopatronizethecompanyasitisawhollyNigerianbrand.He recalled that it was Globacom that liberalized the telecom market with the introduction of per second billing, a feat that other operators said was not possibleatthetime.ThethespiansaidGloisatrulypeople-orientednetwork because of its commitment to entertainment by the magnitude of support itisgivingtotheOneLagosFiesta,andthathewasproudtoidentifywiththe brand.Gloisalsoprovidingsublimeentertainmentinothervenueswherethe event isholdingsuchas Epe,BadagryandVictoriaIsland.

King of Morocco Visits Okunoren

TETE-A-TETE...

L-R: Secretary to the State Government, Anambra State, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu with NDLEA Commander, Anambra State, Sule Momodu at an event in Awka... recently

Rivers Assembly Inaugurates APC Members, Re-elects Ibani Speaker Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Rivers State House of Assembly has inaugurated members of the assembly elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing to an end months of agitation for their swearing in.

This came as the assembly, yesterday, also re-elected the member representing Andoni Constituency, Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, as the Speaker, following the resignation of Hon Adams Dabotorudima, shortly after administering oath of office on those declared winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The member representing Port Harcourt Constituency 1, Hon

Victoria Nyeche (APC), had been battling to be sworn in since the Court of Appeal upheld her election in the March 19 rerun election.

The wait came to an end yesterday as the assembly inaugurated her, alongside lawmakers elected in the December 10 rerun election.

Those sworn-in include; Hon. Farah Dagogo, (PDP), Degema Constituency; Hon Adonye Diri (PDP), Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Hon Victoria Nyeche (APC), Port Harcourt Constituency 1, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani (PDP), Andoni Constituency; Hon Granville Tekenari Wellington (PDP), Asari-Toru Constituency 1; Hon Enemi Alabo-George, (PDP), Asari-Toru Constituency II and Hon Abinye Blessing Pepple (PDP), Bonny Constituency.

Others include; Hon. Mathew Dike (APC), Tai Constituency; Hon Josiah John Olu (APC), Eleme Constituency; Hon Innocent Barikor (APC), Gokana Constituency; Hon Friday Nubari Nke-ee (APC) Khana Constituency II and Hon Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku (APC), representing Ikwerre Constituency.

Ibani had resigned his speakership after the Court of Appeal annulled his election and was re-elected in the December 10, legislative rerun elections.

After his swearing in yesterday, the presiding speaker, Rt Hon Adams Dabotorudima, resigned his office, paving the way for Ibani’s return as the speaker.

In his acceptance speech, Ikuinyi called on all the lawmakers to look beyond party affiliations

and cooperate for the good of the state.

The Speaker thanked God for his victory at the polls. He also thanked his constituents and members of the state Assembly for standing by him during his travails.

He said: "First, let me thank God for his providence and grace.

Without him I wouldn't have made it here. Today, Adams has shown that as a man who represents his people, Okirika, he can be trusted beyond Okirika and Rivers State.

"For members of the Assembly, having exited this Assembly one year ago you stood by me. As I ascend this throne today, it is not a private estate. My knowledge is limited, whatever you will do to make this institution successful, we are always willing to learn.

Bomb Scare in Yola, Anti-Bomb New Abia House Speaker Resigns after 24 hours in Office Squads Defuse Suspicious Bag Emmanuel Ugwu, in Umuahia

The new speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Bishop Kennedy Njoku, yesterday, resigned from office, barely 24 hours after he was elected to replace the impeached speaker, Hon. Mains Azubuike.

Njoku, who represents Osisioma North state constituency, was to perform his maiden function as speaker by presiding at the plenary session of the House, where the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu presented his 2017 appropriation bill.

But the lawmaker, who was able to bear the title of speaker for just 24 hours, announced his resignation immediately after the

opening formalities of the plenary session.

He did not give any reason for stepping down but the deputy speaker explained later that Njoku’s resignation was “on personal grounds.”

Following Njoku’s resignation Hon. Chikwendu Enyinnaya Kanu, who represents Isiala Ngwa south state constituency was immediately nominated to replace him as new speaker.

The emergence of two successive new speakers in a spate of 24 hours may not be unconnected with the failure of the lawmakers to reflect the interest of governor Ikpeazu in their replacement of the impeached Hon. Azubuike.

Daji Sani in Yola

Tension gripped Yola on Thursday over a Bomb scare, following the sighting of a strange bag by the road side in front of Federal College of Education (FCE).

The discovery cause serious traffic jam along the Jimeta-Yola road for hours, as residents close to the scene of the incident scampered for their dear lives.

The development led to the arrival of a team of policemen and soldiers, who cordoned off the area before defusing the bag.

While confirming the incident, the Adamawa Police command Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar said that the

Anti-bomb squad that went into action immediately discovered that the bag was not containing any explosive.

He said it was just a bag containing waste materials and not explosives as the public thought.

Abubakar, however, lauded the public for been vigilant and urged them to always alert the police whenever they sighted any suspicious object.

The chief security officer of FCE, Mr. Salihu Muhammed, who was among those that reported the matter to the police said that the suspicious bag was abandoned by an unknown person and they immediately alerted the police.

NDLEA Arrest 234 Suspects, Seize 7,550kg Indian Hemp Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested 234 suspects in possession of cannabis sativa, popularly called Indian hemp and other psychotropic substances.

The state Commander, Alhaji Idris Bello disclosed this in lokoja yesterday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Command in

2016. Bello, who described the war against drug as a dangerous one, said, among the arrested suspects were 10 female, in connection with seizure of 7,550.844kgs of cannabis sativa and psychotropic substances, adding that 3,425.600kgs of the seizure came from the patrol in 2016.

According to him, they also impounded eight vehicles used in the transportation of these illicit drugs, while 20 persons have

been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

Bello added that 30 cases were still pending and that 140 drug users were counseled in the year in review.

The NDLEA Commander explained further that "various black spots in lokoja metropolis, where trade in illicit drugs are being carried out were raided and some completely destroyed, like the central

hotel drug haven in lokoja.

"A joint raid by security forces led by the NDLEA dislodged some notorious cannabis smoking joints in Idah town and Igalamela /Odolu local government of the state in 2016."

Bello, while maintaining that kogi State being a drug transit state as revealed by its geographical location, noted that traffickers always invented more ingenious means of concealing their illicit wares.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco was recently on a state visit to Nigeria where he led a 300-man delegation to meet with President Muhammadu Buhariandnumerousothergovernmentofficialsaswellasmembersofthe PrivatesectorinordertofirmupbilateralagreementsbetweenbothNations.

Inhisentouragewerehiscousin,PrinceMoulayIsmailandhisAgricultureand Fisheries minister, billionaire Aziz Akhannouch.The billionaire monarch has beenvisitingvariousAfricancountriesinabidtostrengthentiesanddiversify itspartnerships.WhileinNigeria,theKinggavetheMade-in-Nigeriadriveof theFederalGovernmentagreatboostbyvisitingtheLagosstoreofrenowned menswearbrand,OkunorenTwinsinDolphinEstate.Thebrandwhichiswell knownwithinandoutsidetheshoresofthecountryasamarkofqualityinMen’s tailoringisnostrangertomonarchyhavingbeenthefirstindigenouscompany to receive a royal warrant from the late Ooni of Ife. Its tagline; Conceived in Africa,whichlendscredencetothepromotionofAfricanideasandsolutions toward solvingAfricanchallenges,ringsverytrueat atimelikethis.

PDP Chairman: Expects New Political Party

Asisbeingspeculatedinthepoliticalcircleinthecountry,thePeoplesDemocratic PartyPDPmaymetamorphoseintoanewpoliticalpartyin2017.Thishintwas droppedinMinna,yesterday,whentheformerNigerstatechairmanofthePDP AlhajiAbdulrahamanEnagitoldNigerianstoexpectthebirthofanewpolitical party in the country in 2017. Enagi, who fielded questions from newsmen at the venue of the Inter party Advisory Council organised forum, said the new partywouldbedifferentfromtheonesexistingnow."Preparationsfor2019 politicallywillcommencein2017,andmostlikelynewpartiesmayemergeapart fromtheoneyouknow.NowthepopularonesaretheAPCandthePDPbutwe areexpectingmorenewpartiestoemergenextyear."Enagisaid2017"wllbe ayearofpoliticalpreparationforallparties"saying"subsequentelectionswill bebasedoncandidatespersonalintegrityandnotpartyplatform.Wethank Godfor2016ourexpectationfor2017isthatthingsshouldmovefasterand better thanthethingsweexperienced in2016."

Artiste Seeks FG Intervention

A reggae artist, Mr. Peter Oke has called on the Federal Government and corporate bodies to come to the aid of upcoming artists who are talented butarenotfinanciallybuoyant.Hesaidthisduringthelaunchofhisfirstalbum titled“LongTermDream”inLagosrecentlyandalsosaidupcomingartistswho arelessprivilegedneedshelp.Oke,whosestagenameisHarvestmanexplained thatifonlytheseartistscanbeassistedhooliganismandgangsterismwould reduceinthecountry.Heurgedwell-meaning Nigeriansandorganisationsto cometotheaidofthepoorartists.Healsonotedthatdevelopednationsinvest inkidswhenever theyarediscovered withtalentsand help themnurtureit.

Aregbesola Tasks Health Practitioners

The Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has charged medical practitionerstoalwaysprioritisethesafetyoflivesaboveotherconsiderations whiledischargingtheirduties.Hesaidhealthcaregiversmust,asamatterof necessity,seetheneedforthemtoconstantlyestablishpersonal/professional sacrifices,standardandqualityhealthcaredeliveryinalltheydo.Aregbesola gavethecharge,whilereceivingthemanagementteamoftheNigerianMedical Association (NMA), led by its President, Dr. Mike Ogirima, at the Governor's office, Osogbo. Describing medical doctors as the best trained individuals in the world with longest university training and experience, said safety of livesremainsunnegotiabletohealthcaregivers.Aregbesola,wholamented the indiscriminate industrial action usually embarked upon by the health practitionersinthecountry,calledontheleadershipofNMAtodotheneedful in reducing the rate of strikes by its members. According to him, as much as medical practitioners press home their welfares, so they were expected to prioritise the good health of people in the society. He appealed to the management of NMA to let their interests in medical practice be inclusive of thephysical infrastructurefor healthcaredelivery.

Ekiti MonarchTackles Area Boys

An ex-envoy and the Alawe of Ilawe -Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, has lamented the growing activities of the street urchins popularly called ‘area boys’inhistown,callingonAyodeleFayose’sgovernmentandstakeholdersto tacklethemenacetopreventcrime.Themonarch,whowasaretireddiplomat urged thegovernment to set up aBananaindustryinthetownbeingthehub of banana and plantain plantations in Ekiti state to create employment for theteemingunemployedyouths.ThetraditionalrulersaidthisonFridayata dinnerheldwithstakeholderscomprisingIlaweelites.Themonarch“expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the people of Ilawe for their support since he ascended the throne five years ago. We have resolved to address as a matter of urgency the need for additional bank in Ilawe and to end the menaceofAreaBoyssyndromeinthistownandthecommencementofbanana industry project, so that our youths can get employment.” Taking stocks of the progresses made in 2016, Oba Alabi praised the human rights Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN) on his contributions to the construction of a Federal Government College in Afunremu, a section of the community , saying this will help inboostingeducationat thegrassrootslevel.

11

T H I S D AY SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016

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12

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

FAIR OR FOUL?

The KARIS Award given by the Household of God holds lessons for Nigeria, writes Stanley Bawonda

I

n a country where everything is monetised even in the religious arena, it is refreshing to see a church chart a different path; a road of genuine love and compassion that is generally less travelled by our compatriots.

Shakespear’s maxim–“nothing comes of nothing,” accurately defines the motive of the average Nigerian, who always expects something from anything in which he’s involved. Thus, the heart for real charity, unconditional love and compassion – the core issues in the teachings of Jesus Christ, has little consideration in our moral ethos.

These days, awards have become the latest product to be proliferated in our society. Trust Nigerians, the financial rewards that recipients of such phoney awards are obliged to give to organisers is the underlining motive for conferment of most awards. In plain language, when people get awards, they are expected to pay for them – yes, in cash. Invariably that nullifies the integrity of such awards. That is why most people have little regard for chieftaincy titles, doctoral degrees (honoris causa), titled religious honours conferred on mostly wealthy adherents of such faiths as Christianity and Islam.

However, an award earns value and respect if given on merit, and without any ulterior motive. If the giver benefits nothing and the recipient enjoys all the accolades, recognition and financial rewards, the exercise becomes worthwhile, and therefore, deserving of respect. The KARIS Award given by Rev. Chris Okotie’s Church, Household of God, Lagos, to Nigerian achievers whose exemplary services to our country is either undervalued or unappreciated, is an exercise well applauding.

The story of the KARIS award is part of the church’s GRACE programme – a larger love feast that ministers every year since 1995, to four Lagos – based charities – the Pachelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Spinal Cord Injuries Association, Sunshine Foundation and the Little Saints Orphanage. Each of these organisations received N 2 million at the GRACE event, held at the church’s glittering auditorium in Lagos, on Sunday, December 18, 2016.

Rev. Okotie said GRACE, acronym for God’s Riches as Christ’s Expense, is a practical demonstration of Christ’s compassion and love for the poor. The pastor himself is renowned for his generosity right from his days as music star. Back in the 1980s a former Commonwealth Light Weight boxing champion, Dele Jonathan, who needed financial help when he became sick, was given N5000

by Okotie. In response to an appeal fund published by the Daily Times, the then music star responded with the donation which stunned an appreciative public.

He came into ministry in 1987 with the same heart of cheerful giving. He quietly donated substantially to the late First Lady, Stella Obasanjo’s Child Care Trust, and continues to support the Gideon’s Bible ministry annually, among other charitable activities.

AN AWARD EARNS VALUE AND RESPECT IF GIVEN ON MERIT, AND WITHOUT ANY ULTERIOR MOTIVE. IF THE GIVER BENEFITS NOTHING AND THE RECIPIENT ENJOYS ALL THE ACCOLADES, RECOGNITION AND FINANCIAL REWARDS, THE EXERCISE BECOMES WORTHWHILE, AND THEREFORE, DESERVING OF RESPECT

Most of Okotie’s philanthropic activities are done outside the glare of media kleiglights. When he conceived the GRACE programme 26 years ago, it became his church’s major outreach by which he ministers to the poor at a corporate level.

Every year, GRACE which holds the Sunday before Christmas, attracts movers and shakers of society from all walks of life. He expanded the GRACE vision with the introduction of KARIS award in 1996, an award to unsung heroes and heroines, whose contributions to society are not well appreciated in their generation.

Thus, KARIS, first given posthumously to famed mathematician, Prof. Chike Obi, has been awarded to other achievers across Nigeria.

The roll call of past awards reflects the nation’s ethnic, religious and gender diversities, without sacrificing merit. This is a lesson to the organisers of the national honours given by the federal government, which has become controversial because of the perceived degrading of the exalted honours when some folks with questionable credentials benefited. Some prominent honoraries even rejected the honours for same reasons.

The past Karis Award Recipients (some of whom being posthumous their awards were received on their behalf) were Prof.

Chike Obi (Prof. Emeritus) (1996), for the full list of all the past awardees, visit the church website at www.householdofGod.ng. A former Principal of Queen’s College, Lagos, Mrs. Efunjoke Coker, was given the 2016 KARIS award on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the church’s auditorium.

The Karis Award had not only recognised the contributions of these great Nigerians but had also succeeded in drawing the attention of Nigerians and the government to the recipients’ achievements, and in some cases, the governments and other Nigerians had followed suit in honouring the Karis Award recipients. For instance, after Mrs. Margaret Ekpo was given the Karis Award in 2001, the government named the Calabar Airport after her.

Likewise after the Karis Award was given to Mr. Taiwo Akinkunmi in 2003, he was given a national honour. Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, Karis Awardee 2010, had gardens and monuments named after him by the Lagos and Ondo State Governments and some former members of Rangers Football Club were honoured by the Anambra State Governor after the Church nominated Mr. Emmanuel Okala as the 2011 Karis Awardee.

The pan-Nigerian coverage of the KARIS is in tandem with the spirit of federal character, even if that was not one of the criteria of the award. Few years down the line, Okotie again introduced the Queen Esther, bible costume pageant. This is a contest that involves the display of the costumes worn by women in the bible era. A contestant whose costume best reflects a female bible character is adjudged the winner of the Queen Esther pageant. This year, the crown was won by Akpobaro Ejiroghene.

Bawonda, a public Affairs Analyst, wrote from Lagos

IN RICE THEY TRUST

V

Gbolahan Akintunde writes that the economic collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi States which results in Lake rice should be encouraged

isionary Leadership is not by words of mouth but by action and actualisation of plans that make life more abundant for the greatest number. This assertion is true of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who has in the last 18 months executed many peopleoriented policies with seamless ease.

The latest which is novel in the country and which took many by surprise is the agricultural collaboration between Lagos State and Kebbi State for the production of rice. The end result of the agreement is the recent launch of the Lagos-Kebbi rice, called LAKE rice.

It all started in March when the Lagos State Government entered into an agreement with the Kebbi State Government and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on massive production of locally grown long grain rice. It looked like an ordinary MoU which we are all used to, the ones that would be signed and thereafter ended up in the dustbin of the two parties.

The MoU involved the government of Lagos State investing about N10 billion in rice production and the rice would be ready and available in Lagos around December. Lagos government built a rice production plant in Kebbi which can produce 20 metric tonnes of rice per hour. The rice is out in record time and it is available for sale all over Lagos as planned, at a subsidised price of N12,000 per 50kg bag and N6,000 per 25kg bag. Imported rice ranges between N17,000 per bag to N22,000 per bag.

The success of the LAKE rice is very instructive. It shows that Ambode is a thinking governor who has a vision and worked towards realising same. Ambode knew that with the skyrocketing price of foreign rice called (aroso)

in local parlance, it will not be affordable to the common man so he decided to embark on the local production and processing of rice which would be affordable which yielded result. Apart from the revenue which would accrue to the Lagos State Government, it will encourage local farmers to go into rice production while thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created in both Lagos and Kebbi States. The rice will not only be available, it will also be affordable. As it was done last week when the rice was launched, it was distributed across the 57 LCDAs in Lagos State.

It is an irony that Lagos chose to partner with Kebbi State instead of partnering with one of the South west states in the spirit of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). This perhaps could be explained in terms of the track record of Kebbi State as a rice growing state.

Just like Ebonyi with the famous Abakaliki rice, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Kogi, and Ogun known for Ofada rice, are all rice growing states. It is pertinent to note that Igbemo rice used to be more popular in those days before it was overtaken by Ofada rice produced in Ogun state.

It still baffles many observers that the once rice growing states of the Southwest, especially Ekiti State with the famous Igbemo rice, have taken the back seat in rice production. Ekiti State case is very pathetic in the sense that this is the time the rice farmers would have made a kill in sale of their brand of rice which is in high demand all over the Southwest.

Igbemo rice is so delicious such that many people across the Southwest especially in Lagos booked in advance to buy and this may take

up to one week. Simple economic sense then dictates that the high demand for the rice ought to have gingered the state government to seize the opportunity to tap into the mass production of rice by encouraging local rice farmers to grow more.

This may have possibly encouraged Lagos State to partner with such Southwest state government even if it would still have partnered with Kebbi State. An investment of N5 billion in rice production in a state like Ekiti means a lot and this would have revolutionalised the agricultural sector in the state. Alas, this was not to be in a state where the major programme of the present administration in the state is stomach infrastructure. What a missed opportunity!

The Ambode example is a wake-up call for the governors of the Southwest under the aegis of the DAWN Agenda. They should collaborate with Lagos state in the production of rice in the region. If it is only rice they produce, they cannot meet up with the rice demand of the Southwest states alone not to talk of the whole country or export. Rice farmers are the richest in the USA and I believe the same thing could be replicated here with the right policy from the government.

Lagos has little or no land to grow rice in commercial quantity but it has resources to make this happen in other states as we have just seen in the case of Kebbi State.

Figures available from the Federal office of Statistics showed that 2.1 million metric tonnes of rice is imported into the country yearly. This amounts to 42 million 50 kg bags of rice worth N360 billion while five million metric tonnes of rice, amounting to about 100 million 50kg bags of rice, is consumed yearly in the country. This is

a lot of revenue to local rice farmers if the right environment and tools are available to them.

Local rice production on a large scale will take many rice farmers out of poverty and make many millionaires in the value chain of clearing, planting, harvesting and processing.

This will only happen if the problems militating against the commercial production of rice such as low technology base (mechanisation), high interest rates, poorly funded research institutes and corruption ridden fertiliser distribution and low public sector investment in agriculture are effectively tackled.

Ambode’s initiative of the LAKE rice is commendable and should be emulated by other governors not only the Southwest but in the country. Little wonder that President Muhammadu Buhari showered encomiums on Ambode and his Kebbi State counterpart during the launch of the LAKE rice in Lagos.

The president noted, “What the two states have done is evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue”.

The production of the LAKE rice should be sustained while other Southwest governors should take a cue from this by encouraging local farmers to grow rice in commercial quantity. The Lagos State Government should not allow the LAKE rice to be hijacked by shrewd merchants who are only after huge profits to the detriment of the common people whom it is meant for.

If that happens, prices will skyrocket beyond the reach of the common man and the purpose would have been defeated.

Akintunde wrote from Surulere, Lagos

13

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

In the spirit of the time...

The AsiwajuThey Don’t Know

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he seemingly ingrained tendency for human beings to so easily forget their antecedents, repay good with evil and seek to destroy those God chose to use as their benefactors never ceases to amaze me.

As a passionate member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I am saddened at the concerted, coordinated and consistent effort by a caucus within the party to diminish the influence and relevance of one of the prime architects and engineers of the party, namely Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The latest example of this grand conspiracy to undermine the Jagaban and erode his political base is the recent brazen and insulting manipulation and outright rigging of the Ondo State APC governorship primaries that has blatantly exposed the party to huge shame and unbelievable embarrassment just to prevent Asiwaju’s purported candidate from clinching the ticket.

There is absolutely nothing wrong or illegitimate about this objective even if it is morally abominable. However, there is everything wrong with the brazen robbery of the Ondo State APC governorship ticket. It makes absolute nonsense of APC’s claim to moral integrity and to being a vehicle of positive change.

What is amazing is that most of those involved in the ‘bring Tinubu down’ project are those who owe their political ascendancy to the Jagaban. The prominent and enviable positions they occupy today are due, apart from God, to Asiwaju who identified their talents, recognised their capacities and decided to back their political careers with his time, energy, intellect and financial resources. Despite the treachery of such people, they are at least living testaments to Asiwaju’s acumen for identifying, hunting for and nurturing leadership materials.

Incidentally, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun himself, who overruled the majority decision of the National Working Committee on the Ondo primaries, became National Chairman of APC principally because of Asiwaju’s strategic and material support. In the process, the Jagaban stepped on several toes.

But this kind of betrayal is not limited to Odigie-Oyegun. Some others who have become leading public office holders across the land courtesy the Jagaban are repaying Tinubu’s benevolence with unbelievable ingratitude. Even President Muhammadu Buhari’s closest advisers and teeming admirers acknowledge Asiwaju’s

Religious And Sectional Manipulation In Nigeria

critical role in the electoral elevation of Buhari to the apex office after three previous failed attempts.

Thankfully, the president so far has continued to show his appreciation for the Jagaban’s indispensable and inestimable contribution in collaboration with others to his success.

As for those who are today revelling in biting the fingers that fed them, I can only refer them to the book of Proverbs 17:13 in the Bible: Evil will never depart the house of anyone that repays evil for good.

I am in a position to speak authoritatively on Tinubu and his politics as one of his followers and associates over the last decade. I can testify to his immense capacity for hard work, capacious memory, integrity, fierce commitment to any cause he believes in and genuine patriotism as well as faith in Nigeria.

I only laugh when those who are beneficiaries of his so called ‘imposition’ of candidates for elections accuse Asiwaju of having a ‘domineering attitude’.

Ibrahim Balogun, Epe, Lagos

O

ne of the very important values accepted by most people and nations in the world today is the equality of all men. The idea presupposes that everyone is born equal and should be treated as such regardless of racial, ethnic, religious and cultural differences. The Nigerian Constitution, the Charters of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Organisation (UNO) support this value. In fact, equality of persons is one of the very essential principles of democracy. Any government that respects democracy must highlight equality of all men in its constitution.

But despite constitutional provision for equality in our country, we are confronted with dangerous tendency of mutual distrust and manipulation of what divide us by powerful political and religious cum ethnic mongers. In truth, socio-economic and political inequality is a reality in Nigeria. But in spite of various efforts to eradicate the problem as evidenced in the creation and proliferation of states, ethnic “arithmetic”, ethnic balancing, federal character, NYSC scheme, Federal Unity Colleges, various formulae for revenue allocation, the policy of WAZOBIA, relocation of federal capital, official and unofficial exhortations for national unity and

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

interethnic tolerance and inter-faith groups, the problem still haunts us.

It is important to understand that governments, leaders, or groups who manipulate the people have a reason for doing so. The reason is simple.

Manipulators have something to hide. They want to cover the fact that they exist by exploiting and oppressing the people. So they pretend to be friends of some people. They pretend to be protecting the interests of groups to which they belong by race, ethnicity or religion while, in actual fact, they are only taking care of their selfish interests. By this manipulation, such governments and leaders want to break the unity of the entire people. They want to weaken the consciousness and opposition of the entire people to their bad government and bad leadership.

Since independence, various selfish leaders have manipulated our people by placing emphasis on our artificial differences. For example, some have based their political campaigns on ethnicity, regionalism and religion. Today, religion has become a strong weapon used by selfish leaders to manipulate and divide the people. Their misuse of religion has led to riots and loss of lives and property. But while in office, their performances, ways of life and style of living belied their religious claims as they are more corrupt and perverted than Satan.

This devilish manipulation of our people through ethnic, religious and sectional differences has caused a lot of harm to our nation. It breaks the unity of the people and turns their attention away from the urgent and real matters of public interest.

Consequently, terrible leaders easily get away with their various acts of impunity. Furthermore, internal disunity caused by manipulation prevents the people from playing a more prominent role in the development of the country.

It is time we recognised that the old saying, “unity is strength” remains valid. It is only in unity that we can win the war for economic development, social progress and political emancipation.

It is when we are united that the war against insurgency and what actually prompted it can be successfully fought and won. Trading of blames by various leaders, to further deepen our division, is counter-productive.

The Nigerian people must know that the poverty, ignorance and disease which oppress the working masses today, do not recognise ethnic, language, religious or regional differences.

Rasak Musbau, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Secretariat, Alausa, Lagos

14

POLSCOPE

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

with Eddy Odivwri eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com 08053069356

Babachir Lawal: What is Your Defence?

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any times, I fear that the ululation about anti-corruption fight is a lone fight

by President Muhammadu Buhari as many people around him either do not believe in the fight against corruption or have just been extremely careful in ensuring that they do not get caught in the cesspool of corruption, and not necessarily that they are not partakers in the feast of unleavened bread.

In the present case involving the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, I have examined the details of the allegations against him and I am wondering why he has been so quiet. Why has he not mounted a strong defence to clear his name and integrity of the injurious allegations against him? Aside the initial blurting where he described the verdict of the senate committee which investigated him as “balderdash”, Mr Lawal has been silent. Is he benumbed with guilt? Or is he merely dismissive of the allegations because he believes the Paulean declaration, that If the President be for him, who can be against him?

This will be a major litmus test for the Buhari administration and the avowed fight against corruption. Will the president be impartial and intolerant of any form of corruption, no matter who is involved?

Would he strike Lawal if found wanting or he would deoderise the reeky deal and paper over the obvious crack? Nigerians are waiting and watching.

This is particularly challenging for Mr President not only because Lawal is a very top government official, but also because two previous allegations against two Lawal prominent officials of the administration : Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Tukur Burutai (accused of owning expensive off-shore houses, seemingly above his earnings) and the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Dambazzau (accused of compromise in the funds allocated for the purchase of arms by the Jonathan administration); were all swept under the carpet or so it seemed when some reports cleared the accused persons of any blame.

Now for Babachir Lawal, the story line of the accusation against him is as straight as six o”clock. His office had the duty to award contract for the supply of food and other items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Lawal really awarded the contract to Josmon Technologies Ltd, though without following due process. But that would not have been much an issue if that was the end of the story. It is curious that for IDPs who were dying in hundreds due to malnutrition and starvation, the N248, 939, 231 contract was to clear grass, not to supply food or beddings or other victuals…

Worse still, the contract was awarded to an engineering company. What is the business of an engineering company with grass-clearing or attending to the needs of refugees? Pray, what kind of “invasive plant species” would need over N248m to clear? The grasses would never grow again? How big is the area to be cleared? And let me also ask: was the so-called grass even cleared? Of what use is grass-clearing to a man dying of hunger?

As if all that was not enough, N200million out of the contract sum, found its way back into Lawal’s company, Rholavision Engineering Ltd. Josmon Technologies Ltd, paid N10m into Lawal’s company’s account 20 times from March 29. What kind of kick back is that? If the remaining N48 million plus was what was actually needed to clear the so-called grass, why the overkill “padding” of N200million? Was that not the hallmark of the PDP-led administration that virtually wrecked the Nigerian economy? The words of Buhari are echoing in my head: “if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us…”

Pray, must we take advantage of every oddity to enrich ourselves in such ungodly manner? Where is our conscience? Was it not bad enough that people were held up in refugee camps? Why further worsen their woes by not only diverting the funds for their upkeep, but also cornering a huge chunk of it for personal use? If it is confirmed, it will be a despicable act of man’s inhumanity to man. Already soldiers in the “war front” are fainting because of lack of water and food. The video of soldiers begging for food and water trended all through the week, in the social media.

I have seen the bank statement of Rholavision showing the undeniable payments from Josmon Technologies. What is Lawal’s defence? If the allegations are confirmed, as they seem, Babachir has breached public service code by engaging in acts betraying conflict of interest.

His lawyer, (can’t remember his name) who appeared on AIT last Monday, mouthed red herring arguments and merely nibbled on the matter by claiming that Lawal was not “properly invited” to defend himself by the Senate committee. What does that mean? The SGF was formally written by the Shehu Sani-led senate committee that investigated the allegation and he rebuffed the invitation. So how “proper” can an invitation be?

The lawyer claimed that Lawal had relinquished his shares from the company at the time the payments were made into Rholavision Engineering’s bank account. But the SGF’s letter to the CAC showed that he only informed of his resignation from the company only on September 16, 2016 when he wrote to the commission informing it of his intention to relinquish 1, 500, 000 ordinary shares, whereas he claimed that he had resigned since August 15, 2015, and as a result was not a party to whatever business Rholavision contracted.

It was just a ploy to sell short our collective intelligence. His lawyer who was flaunting some unseen documents on his Ipad (on set) even indicated that Lawal wrote his own lawyer about resigning from Rholavision in August 2015. Does the lawyer not know that it is the document to the CAC that matters? Clearly, Lawal was trying to be clever by half by pushing such specious and silly arguments about having resigned before the ‘kick-backs” were paid. The payments stretched from March till September 2016. But even if he truly resigned, is he not alarmed that such payments were made into his company? Or would he claim that he was not being briefed about the goings-on in the company?

What are the payments for? And for crying out loud, what is the Director of Josmon Technologies who effected the payments saying?

No doubt, the suspicious payments are taken to be bribes.

It is instructive that the N2.5 billion fund allocated to the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE), under the office of the SGF could not be accounted for. Little wonder that hunger is ravaging the IDPs while some N200 million is sitting pretty cool in some people’s bank account. How terrible we can be! Acts like this blur the difference between this government and the condemned and odious past governments. It’s as if nothing has changed despite the loud and repeated dress-ups.

In a way, it is as offensive, if not more, as frittering away money meant for the purchase of arms meant to fight Boko Haram insurgents, leading to the mass killing of people including even soldiers.

In this case, people who have been rescued are simply being starved to death by diverting the funds meant for their welfare.

Surely, if the allegations against Lawal are confirmed, I dare say that it would be as heinous as the crime committed by the many disgraced officials of the immediate past administration, and so should not only be sacked immediately but also given a tougher prosecution for the monumental betrayal of the signature identity of the administration that undeservedly appointed him.

Canticles...

It’s Tomorrow, But is Christmas in the Air?

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id you say tomorrow is Christmas?

Need you ask? Is it not obvious?

Nothing is obvious to me. Only the Christmas Carol songs.

So what else do you want?

Haba! Need you ask? Have you not always been in this city at Christmas? Where are the decorations on the streets? Where are the Yuletide lightings? Where are the flying hampers? Where are the gift trains? Where is the shopping frenzy? Where are the bright and seductive colours Christmas is known for?

Where is the fun? Where is the festive feel?

Have you been to Balogun market or Oyingbo market this week? Didn’t you see the surging crowd of people buying and selling?

My brother, go and check well, people are turning to second-hand clothes for Christmas.

Ask those who run boutiques or sell children’s clothes and they will tell you market is dull and dry? Can you imagine buying Okereka clothes for children at Christmas?

But didn’t you notice the mass movement of travellers out of the cities for the yuletide celebration in their villages?

Hmmm, check well. They are fleeing city hardship. They want some rural relief and break.

For them to even garner transport fare is a huge challenge. Just go around to check.

Are you implying that people will not have rice to eat at Christmas?

Ugh,You and I know that it never usually ended with eating rice and chicken. Even now, finding rice to eat will be a big problem. With a bag of rice selling for N20,000 per bag, how many families can afford that? And have you heard of the cost of palm oil and even onion and tomato? My brother, leave matter, condition is critical!

Why are you complaining? Those are the usual signs of Christmas. Cost of items will hit the roof.

That’s how it has always been. In any case, must a family buy a bag of rice? They can buy in smaller measures.

Look out of the window and you will see that a lot is happening. Don’t sit in your room and think that Christmas is dull. A lot is happening. Go to the city malls and the mass of shoppers, go to the Cinemas and you will find surging fun seekers. Theatres are organising plays. Comedians are hosting shows. Musicians are blasting away at various shows. Come on, Christmas is bubbling!

There is city buzz for fun. Check out the hot joints. My brother, step out and find…

You talk as if you don’t know there is recession.You may need to compare the volume of transactions then and now and you will understand what I am saying.

Leave that thing. Recession is in the mind. Life goes on. We are not new to recession. We had a worse one in 1989. But here we are waxing even stronger and kicking. Forget your sorrow and dance. Forget your sorrow and sing. Forget recession and groove!

Let me tell you. The only thing in abundance is fear and insecurity this Christmas. How can normal people hit the streets as you are recommending with all the insecurity around?

Ugh? Insecurity? That’s another dimension from your huge bag of pessimism.

It is not a bag of pessimism. It is the reality. Can’t you see the anger in town? Can’t you see the impatience and frustration wrecking our people? Can’t you see how the collapsed socio-metrics is turning us into sub beasts even at Christmas?

I don’t know what you are talking about.

How can you not know? Are you not in the society? Can’t you see the only commodity cheaply available is violence and frustration? Did you not hear of how an innocent poor LASTMA official was murdered in the Apapa area of Lagos by a brainless mob? Did you not hear of how two masked men abducted a female Customs official in the presence of her two daughters at an eatery in FESTAC town? Or would you say you did not hear of how an angry set of youths clubbed a travelling young man (a driver) to death in Kafanchan (Southern Kaduna) simply because Fulani herdsmen have been terrorising their communities unchallenged? All of these calamities are taking place in the week of Christmas. Is that what Christmas is known for? Where is our humanity? Where is the love we should be sharing and celebrating with?

Hmmmmm…, the times are evil my brother. We need to watch and pray. But let me not fail to wish you compliments of the season.

Father Christmas Grotto

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

VINTAGE ITA MARUN

When Rotary Club Breathes Life to Ita Marun Community

It was a n unusual journey. During the week, Samuel Ajayi joined the Rotary Club of Lagos, under Modupe Sasore, to Ita Marun, a Lagos village of about two and half hours’ drive from Victoria Island where the club is erecting an industrial borehole for the community.

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‘Lagos is Big…’ he trip, to this reporter, was just another routine.

But not until about an hour of driving past Chevron Roundabout along the Lekki-Epe Expressway and there was no sign of Ita Marun. at that point, it became apparent that Lagos is indeed much bigger than what many have always assumed it to be.

Ita Marun community is a very small one with less than 50 houses and it lies less than 50 metres to the Atlantic Ocean. It then goes without saying that the people’s means of livelihood is in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They are fishermen and also palm oil producers. And this is where the meeting point between the community and the Rotary Club of Lagos is cemented.

Lease of Life for Ita Marun…

Gladys Modupe Sasore, lawyer and former Presidential Adviser, who is the current president of the club, told THISDAY that her club saw women of the small community spending considerable time and energy extracting succulent seedling from their palm kernels. The club then decided to provide an extracting machine for women of the community.

“This is what Rotary does,” Sasore said with satisfaction written all over her face. “We decided to provide a palm kernel extracting machine for the people of the community and it has become so invaluable to them as you can see.”

‘Every House has a Generator…’

To say Ita Marun is cut off from civilisation will be stating the obvious.

There are signs that an electricity project had been conceived for the community.

In fact, its poles have been erected, cables put on them and a transformer provided. But that is where it ends.

No one can say precisely when the real electrification will take place. It is therefore not surprising that virtually all houses in the sleepy community have a generator no matter how small.

“We have no choice than to have a generator,” Sulaiman Nojeem, the secretary to the community told THISDAY. “We have to charge our phones and watch television. We have no electricity and water. We don’t know when government will provide these and before they do that, we have to help ourselves.”

Rotary and the Water of Life…

And talking of water; that is where Rotary Club of Lagos deserves some commendation. Like this reporter told Sasore, the mere fact that the club and its members took the pain of leaving the comfort of their homes and offices to brace the almost three-hour drive from Ikoyi to the community is a sign that truly, Rotary is about humanitarian services.

Niyi Sowemimo, Project Director of the cub, said the aim of the visit was to inspect the water project the club is doing in the community. Proximity

Members of the Rotary Club of Lagos by the industrial bore-hole being provided by the club for the Ita Marun community.

Members of the Rotary Club of Lagos under coconut trees by the Atlantic Ocean to the ocean means the community is surrounded by water, but it is also water they can only fish in; obviously not safe for drinking and cooking.

What Rotary Club of Lagos decided to do, after the providing the palm kernel extraction machine, was to conceptualise the idea of an industrial borehole for the community with a mini water treatment plant. The project, which is nearing completion, will be able to provide safe and potable water for the community. Pipes have already been laid to about five fetching points in the community to ensure that no part of the community is denied access to good and safe water.

For the Women, a Financial Helping Hand…

During the visit, the club also finalised arrangements to facilitate small interest-free loans of N20,000 each for 30 women in the state who are into petty trading. The loan scheme, which is being facilitated by a member of the club, Elizabeth Olofin, would be paid back after six months and the number of beneficiaries will be increased after the first phase.

To ameliorate the effect of lack of electricity in the area, the club also facilitated a solar energy company to meet with the people of the community and introduced different solar energy

A thatched roofed house in the village

President of Rotary Club of Lagos, Mrs. Modupe Sasore with the women of Ita Marun community

gadgets to them depending on their financial strength. And to crown a day of humanitarian gesture, Sasore, presented cloths, books and other items to women and children of the community. These items were handed over to Nojeem.

Ita Marun might have been probably forgotten by the state government or the local government, but the gesture of the club shows that humanity actually transcends the luxury of comfort environments. The village, with thatched roof houses, generally typifies an agrarian life totally disconnected from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Yet, the village is classified as being part of Lagos. Ironically, it is just about ten kilometres from the headquarters of Lekki-Magbon Local Council Development Authority (LCDA).

Stealing a Weekend Away at Ita Marun…

Beyond the rural outlook of Ita Marun, ironically, the village might actually be sitting on a gold mine in terms of tourism. Located far away from the madness of a disorganised setting that is the Lagos metropolis, between the village and the bank of the Atlantic Ocean are rows upon rows of coconut trees. In fact, the meeting between the the club entourage and the community took place under the coconut tree.

THISDAY found out that during its first meeting to the community, the place was littered with refuse.

The club then decided to provide an incinerator for the community very close to the bank of the ocean. The meeting is a few metres away from the incinerator.

Ehi Braimah, Director of Publicity of the club and chief executive officer of New Media and Marketing, told THISDAY that the fact that the club and its members braced all the odds to visit the village, despite the distance, showed that truly, Rotary is for humanitarian services.

He said the water project is a gigantic one that will outlive the current leadership of the club. He also added, on the lighter mood, that a weekend away from Lagos in Ita Marun won’t be a bad idea at all.

“Setting a camp by the bank of the Atlantic Ocean would not be a bad idea at all. It will be a very good way of getting away from the stress of the city and enjoy nature at its very natural best,” Braimah said.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Nojeem, thanked the club for always coming to visit them and providing for them. He said the community would strife as much as possible to maintain the facilities the club has provided for them to ensure their longevity.

16

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 24, 2016

THE ALTERNATIVE with Reno Omokri President Buhari’s Christmas Day Misadventure and the Genocide in Southern Kaduna

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wo weeks ago on this same platform I warned against the statement of the Governor of Kaduna, who in a recorded interview with several journalists said that his administration had traced those Fulani herdsmen involved in killings in Southern Kaduna and rather than arresting and prosecuting them, the Kaduna state government had offered them money to placate them so they would not kill again.

I wrote that if killers heard that other killers were paid by a government not to kill that they will also go and kill in order to get their own blood money.

With what is happening in Southern Kaduna today, I have been vindicated.

When you allow criminals profit from their criminality, what you have is always more crime.

What is going on in Southern Kaduna is nothing short of genocide!

In the past week an untold number of people have been killed with some reports alleging that hundreds have been killed.

Certainly, thousands of Nigerians have been killed in and around Nigeria’s Middle Belt since the beginning of the year.

Yet, the President of Nigeria has remained silent.

Last week there was a terror attack in Germany where a terrorist named Anis Amri killed 12 people. The day after the attack, President Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement condemning the attack and commiserating with the victims.

Three days after that incident, suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Goska village and killed 11 people including the 14 year old daughter of former Chairman of Jema’a LGA, Barr.

Gideon Morik.

The same President Buhari who was so quick to issue a statement condemning the German terror attack and commiserating with the German people and their government has continued to remain silent when Nigerians are killed.

This is is more so when the Governor of Kaduna has, in a recorded interview, admitted that the people doing the killings are foreign herdsmen!

This leads me to ask the question of President Buhari: Are German Lives More Inportant Than Nigerian Lives?

And when asked why the President has continued to ignore the killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna the President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, said that it is because the Kaduna Governor has assured the President that he is on top of the situation.

Really?

Did the German leader, tell President Muhammadu Buhari that she was not on top of the situation in Germany before he released his statement condemning the terror attacks there?

The number one job of the Nigerian Army is protecting the nations from external aggression, yet while foreigners are killing Nigerians in Southern Kaduna, our army is being sent to the Niger Delta where nobody is killing Nigerian citizens!

And to add insult to injury, the Kaduna state governor is trying to blame Niger Delta militants for the killings in Southern Kaduna.

Let me say that I condemn militancy and I am a man of peace any day. My weapon is the Word of God and my sword is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But if only President Buhari was as interested in the loss of lives in Southern Kaduna as he is in the loss of oil in the Niger Delta, the killings could have ended long ago.

And quite sadly, while I waiting for the All Progressive Congress to condemn the carnage in Southern Kaduna, the party, through it’s a Ekiti chapter, released a statement condemning the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye? For his praise of the Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose, and went ahead to insult the sensibilities of Nigerian Christians by accusing Pastor Adeboye of collecting a bribe from Governor Fayose.

Christians are being killed in Southern Kaduna and I ask where is the Vice President, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo? Where is Reverend Father Mbaka? Where is Pastor Tunde Bakare?

I want to address in particular the Vice President and I will quote from the Bible to him.

Pastor Osinbajo, this is what Esther 4:14 says ‘if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Mr. Vice President sir, please permit me to rephrase that Scripture and say ‘if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the people of Southern Kaduna will arise from another place, but you and the political family you belong to will answer to God. And who knows but that you have come to your Vice Presidential position in Aso Rock for such a time as this?”

And now I must ask you to permit me to pivot to another issue which I believe is of utmost importance to the contemporary history of Nigeria.

On Christmas Day of 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted leading citizens of the Federal Capital Territory led by the minister of the FCT, Muhammad Bello, and during the visit he returned to his old habit of blaming and said, and I quote, “there was no money saved, no infrastructure built, and power is still our main problem.”

This is patently untrue and without mincing words, President Buhari was wrong in his assertions.

The Naira is about to hit 500 to $1, but rather than find

Buhari

solutions, President Buhari is still blaming ex President Jonathan while our economy is collapsing all around him!

But it would have been bearable if the president was accurate in the accusations he made, but no, the President did not have his facts correct and exposed the fickleness of his anti corruption stance.

Former President Jonathan left $2.07 billion in the Excess Crude Account when he handed over to President Buhari on May 29, 2015. He also left Foreign reserves of $29 billion for the incoming government in May 2015. In addition to this, the Jonathan administration left behind $5.6 billion in dividend payments from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company which amount has since been utilized by the Buhari administration.

If ex President Jonathan left no savings, with what money did President Muhammadu Buhari use to bail out those states that could not pay salary (mostly APC states) after he assumed office in May 2015? Of course the Central Bank of Nigeria did not print money! That money came from somewhere. They came from savings left by the Jonathan administration.

On Tuesday the 26th of July, 2016, President Buhari commissioned the $1.457bn Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail project.

This was a project built and COMPLETED by the Jonathan administration. It is a 187 kilometer railway that enables Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. Is this not infrastructure?

The only federal university in President Buhari’s state is the federal university Dutsin-Ma was built by former President Jonathan who also built 11 other federal universities in Zamfara, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa and Ekiti states.

By building 12 new federal universities and 165 almajiri schools and renovating 507 additional secondary schools all over Nigeria through the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Jonathan administration not only increased access to education, the policy also had the intended side effect of putting hundreds of thousands of youths to work which stimulated the economy and contributed to GDP growth. Are these not infrastructure?

To prove that former President Jonathan prudently and judiciously developed all parts of Nigeria, I will now list, state by state, some of the infrastructure that the Jonathan administration invested in every state of Nigeria. This is not an exhaustive list as Jonathan did far more than this. I challenge President Muhammadu Buhari to contradict me on these projects.

In Abia, Jonathan completed power plants in Aba and Alaoji and reconstructed and reopened Ohafia barracks to stem kidnapping.

In Adamawa Jonathan constructed 5 Almajiri schools and the NAF Comprehensive Secondary School and a Terminal at the Yola airport.

In Anambra Jonathan completed Onitsha River Port, repaired

Onitsa-Owerri Rd and kick started the process of the 2nd Niger Bridge.

In Akwa Ibom Jonathan established a new Federal Polytechnic in Ukana and the Nkari Earth dam and rehabilitated FG roads.

In Bauchi Jonathan equipped the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi and built 5 Almajiri schools.

In Benue Jonathan took the Loko-Oweto bridge to more than 65% completion and completed the Makurdi Water Supply Scheme supplying to 1 million people.

In Borno, Jonathan fought desertification with the Great Green Wall Project and rehabilitated the Uba – Mbalala Road.

He also set up the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast and the Victims Support Fund which raised 59 billion for the Northeast. Interestingly, it is from this PINE that a certain Babachir Lawal is accused of pilfering 270 million from.

In Cross River Jonathan rehabilitated the Margaret Ekpo International Airport and Modernised the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

In Delta Jonathan took Itakpe-Ajaokuta-warri railway to 80% completion and kick started the $16 billion Gas City Project at Ogidigben which is the single largest investment in the oil and gas sector in Africa.

In Ebonyi Jonathan established the Federal University in Ndufe – Alike, repaired over 250km of roads and built power substations.

In Edo Jonathan completed the Ihovbor power Station, reconstructed the Benin-Ore-Sagamu and equipped the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

In Ekiti Jonathan established the Federal University in Oye – Ekiti, and repaired Federal roads.

In Enugu Jonathan gave the South East their first International Airport by upgrading the Akanu Ibiam Airport and revived the Port Harcourt-Enugu rail line.

In Gombe Jonathan established the Federal University in Kashere and built 5 Almajiri schools.

In Imo Jonathan rehabilitated the Sam Mbakwe International Airport and completed power stations and built sub stations.

In Jigawa Jonathan established the Federal University in Dutse, built 5 Almajiri schools and built strategic grain reserve silos.

In Kano Jonathan revived the Lagos-Kano rail, built 5 Almajiri schools, renovated the MAKIA International Airport and built strategic grain reserve silos.

In Kaduna, Jonathan completed the Standard Gauge KadunaAbuja rail that enables you work in Abuja and live in Kd. In Katsina Jonathan established the Federal University in Dutsin-ma, built 5 Almajiri schools and multiple silos.

In Kebbi Jonathan established the Federal University in Kalgo, built 5 Almajiri schools and multiple strategic grain reserve silos.

In Kogi Jonathan established the new Federal University in Lokoja, and completed the Geregu power plant.

In Kwara Jonathan revived Jebba-Kano, Ilorin–Offa rail lines, built Almajiri schools, and kick started the ongoing reconstruction Ibadan Ilorin road.

In Lagos Jonathan revived the Lagos-Kano rail, introduced inter city air conditioned diesel trains and rehabilitated Murtala Mohammed International Airport In Nasarawa Jonathan established a new Federal University in Lafia and rehabilitated the Lafia–Makurdi road.

In Niger Jonathan dredged River Niger up to Baro, developed the Baro Port up to 95% completion and advanced work on the Zungeru power plant.

In Ondo Jonathan completed and commissioned the 500 MWs Omotosho Power Plant Phase 2 and renovated the Akure airport.

In Ogun Jonathan rehabilitated the Sagamu-Ore road as well as the Ijebu Igbo Ajegunle–Araromi–Ife-Sekona Road (Section II).

In Osun Jonathan re-equipped Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, constructed silos, built power substations, and repaired Efon Alaaye-Erinmo Ijesha-Iwarga Road.

In Oyo Jonathan kickstarted the reconstruction (not repair) of the Lagos-Ibadan road and mobilized two construction giants (Julius Berger and RCC) to the site to work simultaneously. He also commenced initial groundwork for the proposed LagosIbadan hi-speed rail.

In Plateau Jonathan repaired the Vom-Manchok road, constructed an earth dam in Heipang and built power substations.

In Rivers Jonathan revived the Port Harcourt-Enugu Rail, was Rehabilitating the Port Harcourt International Airport (still ongoing as at the time he left office) and upgraded the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

In Sokoto Jonathan fought desertification with the Great Green Wall and built 5 Almajiri schools.

In Taraba Jonathan established the Federal University in Wukari and constructed the Kashimbila Multi-Purpose Dam Project.

In Yobe Jonathan established Federal University of Gashua, built Almajiri and the Gashua–Hadejia 132KV double circuit trasnsmission line.

In Zamfara Jonathan established the Federal University Gusau, built multiple Almajiri schools and constructed strategic grain reserve silos.

If President Muhammadu Buhari believes this is nothing, then he should define what nothing is.

––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.

Plus Amam Onyerinma Why I Am a Life Coach and My Plans for Nigeria

LOUD WHISPERS INTERVIEW AUTO FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE COVER

pg. 20 pg. 24 pg. 26 pg. 36 pg. 41 pg. 49

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 31, 2016

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PLUS

I’m Not a Mind Reader but Can Discern People’s Actions, Words and Body Language Her wide smile is endearing; so is her visage. Patient, empathetic and attentive, her gaze calmly settles on the troubled soul before her. She chooses her words carefully, kindly and blends them with a reassuring grin.

She knows life is not a bed of roses. But she also knows how to guide a willing soul through the thick and thin – to find the roses among the thorns. Dr. Amam Onyerima, a top-flight educationist, derives fun and pleasure sharing knowledge and imparting ideas to people on how to improve their life and that of others. She is the face behind the ‘Live abundantly’ brand, which encourages people to live a contented and better life. Apart from being a certified life coach, based in Los Angeles, United State of America, her other passion is caring for the less privileged – especially those with special needs. She is a regular visitor to an orphanage in Idimu. Being in Nigeria provides a window for her life and work; little wonder she has made up her mind to return to the country after decades overseas.

She speaks with Azuka Ogujiuba during one of her recent visits to Nigeria about her life and her plans for the future. She sheds light on why people can be suicidal, the difference between a motivational speaker and a life coach

A

re you like a mind reader or something?

No, I’m not a mind reader. But I am very aware of what is going on around me. I pay attention to people’s actions, their words, and non-verbal communication.

Is it correct to say life coaching is new in Nigeria?

To be honest, life coaching has been around for decades. But there has been a greater awareness in the past 20 years.

I have been a life coach for over 10 years. Previously, it wasn’t considered or taken seriously as a viable profession because people felt if I give you ‘advice’ then I am coaching you. But coaches don’t dispense ‘advice’. They guide the client to uncovering the answer. If you are going through major shifts in your life, then a coach supports you in attaining a desired goal. Unlike psychology which focuses heavily on what happened in the past and how it affects you today, coaching is about where you are today, then moving forward. Simply put, it is an action-based profession.

We are certainly aware that things have occurred in the past but the coaching focus is on the present; about what is going on in your life today. It’s about moving you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, professionally from where you are at this moment to where you wish to go, whatever the goals are, no matter how small or varied, the coach is there to propel change. There are different types of coaches: business coaches, executive coaches, personal coaches spiritual coaches, transitional coaches; they all operate within the coaching realm.

We attend a training and certification programme and then we identify our niche and continue to harness our skills

through further training and practice.

What is the difference between an inspirational speaker and a life coach?

Well, not every inspirational speaker is a life coach neither is a life coach necessarily an inspirational speaker. I know coaches who do not like speaking publicly; they just want to work with individuals or in a small group. In essence, a coach supports a process whereas an inspirational speaker aims to motivate.

How does one live above the frustrating issues in the country and find happiness?

Happiness is an internal state of being; it is how you feel about yourself at the core of your being. When you are happy as a person, with yourself, with your life, with your situation then the things which occur around you are merely a condition. The condition can weigh on you but if you are internally happy, if you’re in a place where you recognise life is full of events and some of them are beyond your control; then you can stay happy. Happiness is truly a state of being therefore you can be ill and still be happy. This is because you have recognised there are events in your life that are unexpected and being unwell is a condition. Having a cold does not make you unhappy rather it is uncomfortable and bothersome. We all need to find that source of deep happiness which can be beneficial, resourceful, gratifying and satisfying regardless of the life conditions we currently face.

Is depression a bigger part of unhappiness?

Depression is a serious psy-

19

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS

My Saddest and Toughest Times in Life Were Between 2007 and 2011 chological illness, if left untreated, can lead to suicide. It robs the individual of happiness and the desire to experience living. It is a mental disorder where events which have occurred in life weigh heavily and, along with a chemical imbalance, can tip the scale resulting in the taking of one’s life.

What about bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder formerly known as manic depression is also a mental illness characterised by mood swings.

It is essential that those suffering from mental affliction seek medical treatment as they can enjoy a rewarding life through medication and therapy and, of course, coaching.

How can an unhappy person get to appreciate himself again?

As a coach, my job is to find out what causes you to be unhappy because if I can understand the root of the suffering…the trigger then we can collaboratively work on designing a plan/action which can provide skills and steps for taking control of your life and bringing happiness and a sense of fulfillment.

Even if one deals with the trigger, is there a possibility that one can always go back to being unhappy?

Of course, you can return to a state of unhappiness if you don’t use the tools.

You must remember, we are all born happy but through the process of living we have learnt unhappiness from the things that happen in our life as well as those around us. The awareness of unhappiness is key to unveiling of our true happiness. You do understand that being happy and being unhappy are all part of the life experience. You can’t be happy 100% all the time, you are going to have moments when you are questioning yourself or somebody does something that is painful, you have to get over it by recognising that it is part of human experience.

So one doesn’t need to have everything to be happy?

No you don’t, you can be happy with a minimal amount of things. You can live in a shack and be happy because you’re content with your inner state of being. Happiness is the result of doing things which bring joy; being true to the core of oneself through your interaction with self and others. You have seen mechanics that are very happy. They are happy because they enjoy what they do; they have tools in their hands along with dirt and oil and can perform a

task most would prefer to avoid. That is why it is important to respect others regardless of their station in life. Happiness is not about the accumulation of wealth, things, or accolades. These things can offer comfort and attention not happiness. You can buy a new dress for $4000 and turn around and be sad 25 minutes later because you are using the dress to mask unhappiness, therefore it loses its charm. On the other hand, you can open your wardrobe and find another dress which has memories and you look at it and say ah! What a beautiful dress! I remember when I wore the dress. Do you understand the difference?

What has been your biggest depth of misery?

Well, I wouldn’t use the word ‘misery’. But I would say the saddest and toughest time in recent years was between 2007 and 2011; also, two years ago. The loss of loved ones and financial challenge was very sad and painful but it wasn’t misery. I understood and viewed the upheaval as part of my personal experience. A phase we shall only encounter if we are alive. That is why I celebrate the memories I create with others, such as this interview, so when we depart, those memories can fill the emptiness, the space, the void.

What about your happiest moment?

They are numerous; being around children makes me very happy; being around family and sometimes sitting and holding some rocks in my hand evoke happiness.

You’ve written two books. Which one has been published?

Yes, one has been published, the other is a work in progress. ‘Successes Don’t Fail’ has been published and was launched last year in Los Angeles and earlier this year (February) in Nigeria.

What is the motive behind the book?

The motive behind ‘Successes Don’t Fail’ is simply to encourage others through my life experiences to recognise we are not defined by the failures and sadness in our life. There is so much we should be grateful for and the way to live abundantly is to recognise who you are, to literally dissect your life in an organic or inorganic manner and look at all the piece/components and see what is going well and what is not going well. Recognise it for what it is

and then make the changes that are necessary to be a happy and successful person. Nobody is a failure, we’re all born happy and successful. Even unsuccessful moments lead us to our greatest success.

Did you train as a life coach or you stumbled on it?

In a way, I stumbled on the coaching profession – thanks to my life coach who recognised my talent and I was encouraged to pursue the training.

My ethos is very simple, ‘Encouraging people to live better life’.

You are based in the US. Are you thinking of coming to Nigeria?

Indeed. I am returning to my motherland after 40 years abroad.

Are you going to have an office or a life coaching school?

Well, right now I am researching the market in Nigeria because there are many coaches in the country and they are doing invaluable work. The goal is to establish an office which shall offer personal and professional coaching amongst other services. I am also working on establishing a unique charitable organisation.

Tell us about your involvement with special needs children.

Indeed, plans are in place to establish an NGO which shall focus on the empowerment of women and the education and well-being of children. A symposium to launch the organisation is slated for March 2017. We are currently developing a website which should be available before the New Year.

When you are not busy, how do you relax?

I read; I write; I listen to music; and I walk. I truly enjoy time with myself.

You’re well-travelled, where’s your favourite place on earth?

My favourite place is wherever I am at that moment in time. So right now, this is my favourite moment because I am with you. I am present and enjoying this moment. I strive to live life in the moment. It isn’t an easy feat but I take in the surroundings, I take in the look in your eyes, your make up, how you smile. I take in everything around me because when I walk away from you that is the memory you have left with me. This time and place is important to me. Where I am, is where I am happy at that exact moment.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016 with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

LOUD WHISPERS

Loud Whispers Person of the Year – President Muhammadu Buhari

Y

ou see, the madness that has enveloped the world this year has crept into my house. This year we have seen Brexit, the rise of Donald Trump, the fiasco in The Gambia and now President Buhari Muhammadu against all odds won the most coveted award of the year which is the Loud Whispers Person of the Year Award.

This award is given once a year and its recipient is voted for by my readers via SMS to my phone. Readers choose who I will yab for the last article of the year. Last year, it was Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who was then emerging from the surprise victory of this year’s recipient at the polls where Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the shoeless wonder was roundly defeated.

Nominations this year had come out following feedback from readers, and immediately I knew I could be facing trouble. Nominees were Tony Elumelu , the UBA Chairman who throughout this year has had what you want to call an overexposure following his tireless trudge around the world, preaching his own brand of entrepreneurship. The other nominees included, Mrs Bolanle Austin Peters, my favourite sister, who this year also exported the Nigerian musical and co-produced the massively influential movie on Ebola, ‘93’, which received major international accolades and finally Dr Bukola Saraki came in as the last nominee for his wonderful turn from pariah to the most influential political person.

My money and guts were on Bolanle Austen Peters to win. You see, Bolanle is my sister, I can yab her anyhow I like and pata pata she will just block my number and cancel the free food order I usually get at her restaurant, Tera Kulture in VI. The others could do massive damage to me should any of my yabis hit the wrong chord. So I went into a series of fasting and prayers and at the end of it all, I got a message from heaven. The message said I should go and read Revelations 21vs 6. That Bible portion says, ‘It is done........’ I was so happy that Bolanle would win.

But as the votes started coming in, President Buhari started gaining traction. His lead was so far out that I started wondering if I read the correct Bible portion. Why do people want me to yab President Buhari?

Don’t these people know the kind of situation they want to put me into? I cannot yab President Buhari at all. What if he does not like it and send that his social media boy after me? That Tolu Ogunlesi to come and do to me what he did to Barde after seeing stripper poles in his house and sending it out on social media. The things he will see locked up in my store will lead to the breaking of my head by my wife, let alone Nigerians.

So I decided to do the next best thing. I put in a call to President Jammeh in The Gambia asking for advice on how to scuttle the elections. He said he was still learning the ropes as I could see, he was not doing it well. And that I should try IBB who successfully scuttled June 12. IBB did not take my calls but was gracious enough to send me a message that he was in retirement that I should try somewhere else or that I should go read any of the many books written on him by his many disciples. I was left to my own devices. So I started voting for Bolanle myself. Called my family and friends, begging them to vote for Bolanle and even called Bolanle herself, begging her to vote for herself while also asking her staff, friends and family to vote for her so that she would win. She bluntly refused and even offered me money not to let her win. Kai, trouble. By this time, Buhari was already leading by over 80 per cent of the votes with Tony Elumelu coming a distant second.

You would begin to wonder why I was going through all this stress to rig this election. You see, I am a man of integrity – very high integrity, ask the founder of MMM and he will tell you. I knew within myself that I would respect the outcome

Buhari

of the elections and yab to pieces whoever emerged as the winner, hence my decision to rig and distort the electoral process before the results started coming in. I even refused to deliberately count some votes.

I cancelled votes from Biafra sympathisers, Supreme Court judges, Ekiti people, Asiwaju’s neighbours, EFCC detainees but still, the President emerged as the winner of this year’s Loud Whispers Person of the year and so I am morally bound to yab him, respecting the wishes of the people in their votes which were freely given.

So here goes. My lord, President Muhammadu Buhari , let me first apologise before I embark on this tortuous journey to Golgotha and may I seek your indulgence in remaining very patient and calm as you read just like you were when Orubebe was shouting during the counting of your votes.

You see, you may not know me, but I know you very well. Long before your first appearance as our military Head of State and your present incarnation as our civilian President of ‘Change’, I was a young, small boy at the Command Secondary School in Ipaja when you visited in your capacity as Director of something at the Army. Long before your visit, we were made to undergo what we used to call compulsory labour which involved cleaning up the compound and cutting all the grasses so that you would not lose your temper when you appeared. We slaved away for two weeks, suffering and crying with blisters on our tiny palms so that you would be happy and smile at us. Your visit lasted only five minutes and we were all very angry with you. So all this suffering for just five minutes? We did not like you at all o. The fact that you looked very handsome in your well starched military fatigue did nothing to change our dislike of you.

Till today at our reunion we still remember that day almost 30 years ago and shake our heads and that is why most of us have not been voting for you o.

However, today you are our Commander-in-Chief and President so we do not have any choice but to remain loyal and wish you the very best. Sir, since you emerged as President after a long-fought battle, by the way, hope you remember to send end-of-year chicken to President Jonathan who did not pull a Jammeh on you - things have been going one kind.

I am constrained to advise you on very

important matters of state, if you will take my advice.

Sir, I feel that you must quickly do something about your cabinet. I will not name names but my strong feeling is that you should start thinking of people like Ayo Fayose, Nnamdi Kanu, Musiliu Obanikoro, Rueben Abati and Femi Fani Kayode as likely replacement for some people in your team especially that red beret-wearing Cuban. Sir, these people are true patriots who even had the sound mind of snapping themselves a selfie while in detention and sending it out on social media. Hope you know what a selfie is sir. A selfie is… Sir, this present cabinet as presently constituted cannot even defeat the super Falcons in a football match.

I have watched very closely how you have diffused some very sensitive matters that would have disrupted the national equilibrium. The issue of your madam’s BBC interview was a classic and that quip of the ‘other room’ will remain immortalised in the minds of the world. That statement warmed me up towards you and I began to consider forgiving you and may be fighting my command old students to grant you amnesty. After all, Mandela was freed after 27 years so why can’t we forgive you. Our President of Command Old School union is Olumide Lala and I will discuss this matter with him only if you do something about the Cuban in your cabinet.

Another issue that touched me during the year is the issue of the economy. Sir, it is bad, I cannot lie. Today, I tried to buy hair attachment for (you know who) and the price had gone up tremendously.

Everything is up although the good thing is that the current inflationary trend is keeping errant men at home but still leading to situations there since they can no longer afford a basic standard of living.

Let us do something in the New Year and I tell you this award you are winning today will give you a strong moral platform to fight for the common man. This is our mandate to you: fight for the economy squarely and nothing else in the New Year.

Inflation is now hovering above 18 per cent, unemployment is at a record rate, the Naira is on a free fall and there is despair in the land. I am sure you know all of these and I am also very sure that you have very good intention of tackling the situation but you can only do this with the right team of

advisers around you. Hence, I am hoping for a cabinet reshuffle.

Let me use this opportunity to address the issue of Biafra. You see, I am from Akwa Ibom, in the South-south. What that also means is that to get to my mother in Uyo, I must pass through the areas these people are planning to take out of Nigeria. If they succeed that would mean that I must get visa to go see my mother and that will be a calamity. You see sir, I do not joke with my mother’s afang soup as I travel there once a month for my portion. That is why the issue or non-issue of Biafra must be resolved once and for all. I think you made a tactical error by not attending that conference in Enugu. That would have given you the opportunity to speak directly to the people instead of through your officials who might have lost credibility in the eyes of the longsuffering people, thereby giving people like Nnamdi Akanmu and his henchmen undeserved credibility. My thinking is to make a quick tour of the South-east, going beyond the state houses that litter the lands and houses overfed Machiavellians. The hotspots that make up the Onitsha and Aba markets should be your points of call. Go, touch and feel the people directly.

My brother, Charly Boy will guide you and then you will feel the direct pulse of the people and you will be able to better understand their issues, thereby taking the wind out of the sails of the separationists.

Remember, you said in 1983 that we must all salvage Nigeria together abi you don forget?

By the way, what really is the true state of your relationship with the Asiwaju? Is there a real fight or not? We need to know so that we know how we can intervene. Today, he is not attending very important state and party events, tomorrow we are getting reports that everything is OK. If everything is not OK, let us know. Me I know how to tackle the Asiwaju. Ask him, he does not joke with me. Truth is that as we move towards 2019, you will need him o. Do not get carried away by eaglet political mercenaries who believe because they have delivered Ondo they now have the magic wand.

You see, the Asiwaju is what in Shomolu we call ‘iwin’. He no dey die, he no dey lose influence, ‘he dey kampe’ as Obasanjo will say. You will ignore him at your peril. I am sure with your political sagacity you will understand what I am trying to say. If there is a problem mend it NOW. Send him two baskets of ‘orogbo’ with Schnapps and that is all. The Asiwaju is a loyal and a strong soldier. You will need him come 2019 that is if you are gunning for a second term. But if you are not, do not worry, carry go.

So sir, let me congratulate you once again for this award. It is a grass-roots award which should galvanise you to greater heights. Before I close this citation, let me leave you with some of your wise sayings, ‘ I belong to all and no one’. Kai, that was awesome. You said that at your inauguration and some people’s eyes turned red o. It was at that point the whole world realised that Nigeria was now going to put a man on the moon. That quote could be equated to the John F. Kennedy one except for the accent, ‘ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for it’. Kai, baba you are wise o. Another one that killed me again was the ‘....my wife belongs in the kitchen and the other room’. That quote clearly delineated the role of our wives in modern day society. It was massive, when I told my wife, she locked me out of the ‘other room’ and kicked me to the couch.

The woman no understand, the mistake I made is that like you, I should have made the statement in Germany not in Shomolu but no problem, that is a small sacrifice to make for the development of our country.

How will you get the plaque of this award? Should I send it by courier and to what address, or should I just give it to Ambode, I am seeing him at Olamide’s concert for onward delivery?

Thank you my lord, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God bless us. Oya cue in the national Anthem.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

SPY GLASS

Lekki Garden’s boss, Richard Nyong, Keeps Low Profile Richard Nyong, CEO, Lekki Gardens, once took the Lagos housing sector by storm.

In fact, his profile got a boost when his firm successfully delivered over 2,000 housing units comprising thousands of semi-detached houses, terraced duplexes and flats in more than nine residential estates.They are named Lekki Horizon, Lekki Paradise, Lekki Gardens II, III and IV in Victoria Island, Lagos.

But surprisingly , there was tragic twist to his story when he and his contractor were arrested in connection to the death of some workers in one of his construction sites in Lekki, Lagos State.

Nyong’s arrest had generated so much discourse in the public until it the dust settled.

Following the ugly development, he reportedly went underground. Indeed, the issue of his whereabouts has continued to give his fans a serious concern . It is said that the once bubbly young man felt betrayed by many of his friends during the trying time; hence, his decision to keep a low profile.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s heart of gold

Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu is not one of your run-off-the-mill politicians. In many ways, he is head and shoulders above several others in the game.

He has confirmed that he is one of the few who play politics with human face.

Ekweremadu started politics as a local government chairman and rose to become the Chief of Staff to Enugu State governor and later the Secretary to the State Government. It is no secret that this great achiever has soared higher on the wings of his uncommon brilliance and acumen to become the Deputy Senate President of Nigeria.

While the forgoing may not be news, especially to those

with Bayo Adeoye ....08054680651 who have been following his story with interest, he is recognised as a politician with unparalleled love for fellow human beings. With his actions, Ekweremadu seems to have entered a vow to be committed to the course of humanity, an attitude that makes him unable to stand the sight of his fellow human being in distress or wants. Spyglass gathered that he showed his milk of kindness during the Yuletide when he donated several food items to people across his local constituency. It was revealed that he gave out money to widows and also empowered several others with motorcycles and gridding machiness.

A source disclosed that as a tradition, thousands of members of his constituency will storm his residence today during which free foods and drinks will be in abundance. But you will be wrong if you label it a ceremonial affair, as the darkskinned business guru has also been ‘secretly’ involved in philanthropic gestures.

As part of his philanthropic gestures, thousands of indigent students have benefited from his heart of gold, while many schools have been rehabilitated by the politician.

Babajide Obanikoro’s grief

Babajide, the son of former defence minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, is grief-stricken at the moment.

As gathered by Spyglass, young Babajide is sad with the death of his former girlfriend, Dayo Adeleke whot was recently murdered by her domestic staff.

As revealed by a source, Dayo, who was about to marry, left Babajide Obanikoro for her new fiancé Tolu Oshinowo, before she was sent to the great beyond by her Cameroonian house help.

But despite losing out in the game of love, Babajide remained extremely fond of Dayo, the source claimed. And news of her death really hit him hard so, he remains heavily grief-stricken.

The beautiful lady was hacked to death by a stranded Cameroonian she was helping to rehabilitate at her Park View Ikoyi family house on December 19.

Expectedly, her death caused quite a stir in high society.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede ‘s Uncommon Charm

Although he has been out of office as Managing Director of Access Bank Plc for some time, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede still has a place among the banking gurus in Africa.

Ever charming, the tall and handsome banking wizard has always been a toast of many celebrity journalists at social events. His ranking on the social scene deserves a worthy mention for anyone who will like to pen his biography someday- of course, it is a fact that he is choosy about the kind of social events he attends.

Little wonder, his 50th birthday celebration recently was widely attended by high-flying businessmen. Though the party was celebrated in London, many honoured the man who, like some others, redefined the financial institution industry in Nigeria.

At an event in Lagos last week, he wowed his guest so much so that many of them, simply out of admiration, described as an encyclopaedia of the Nigeria financial and economy .

In appreciation of his brilliant presentation, he was given a standing ovation at the wellattended event.

Honour for oil and gas wizard, Funso Lawal

For those who are conversant with happenings in the nation’s oil and gas industry, the name Otunba Funso Lawal (CON), evokes the image of a giant; hence, he means different things to different people.

In recognition of his efforts, he was, again, deservedly rewarded with the Lifetime Merit Achievement Award during the end -of- the-year dinner organised by the prestigious ‘Petroleum Club’ (the club was conceived about nine years ago by Godwin Ihetu and him) last week in Lagos .At the well-attended event, many of the guests eulogised the Ogbomosho, Oyo State-born Chairman of Sogenal Oil and Gas and lauded his contributions to the growth of the club.

Over the years, ‘The Petroleum Club’ has helped to re-shape the down stream sector and over

haul the oil sector in general, as its has created a platform where the industry’s professionals can come and discuss issues that have to do with the industry and also help proffer solutions with feasible ideas.

His inspiring story started a long time. Today, he is a big player in the Nigeria’s corporate world, with inspiring and intimidated resume. Besides, he has made worthy contributions to the nation’s political scene, even without making so much noise about.

This billionaire businessman is one of the few in Nigeria who can rub shoulders with other celebrated business tycoons around the world.

Smiles in Dora Akunyili’s home

The home of the Akunyilis in Agulu, Anambra State, will today resonate with love and celebrations as one of their daughters, Somto Dorothy Akunyili, is formalising her marriage union with Chinonso Saviour Asuzu, who hails from Isiekenesi in Imo State.

According to a source close to the family, the couple was brought together by a mutual friend in 2012. At that time, little did they know that both of them were birthday mates. To solidify the relationship, Chinonso usually showers her heartthrob with gifts to celebrate her birthday every year.

Unarguably, the Akunyilis are determined to record today in memories for their charming and ever promising doctor daughter and her beau in spite of the demise of their ever-lovable mother.

Somto Akunyili had her medical degree from the Chicago Medical School in Illinois. She is the third child of Prof. Dora and Chike Akunyili. She is currently in her final year of radiology residency training at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Michigan.

Chinonso Asuzu had his medical degree from the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow. He is the first son and first child of five children. Tough a Russsian-trained physician, he is currently residing in the United States.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

INTERVIEW Steve Ayorinde

Governor Ambode’s Impact is Real, Remarkable

Acknowledging a year that many have described as outstanding in the state, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in an interview with Adedayo Adejobi, appraises Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s performance and also highlights what to expect in the New Year

H

ow would you rate the performance of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the last one and a half year?

I would rate it the same way Lagosians have rated the administration. And their verdict, without a doubt, is that the administration has scored A+ in the delivery of services, as promised during the campaign to Lagosians, in terms of security of life and property; in terms of improved infrastructural development, of roads, traffic management, sports development, tourism and culture, health care, and of course, in job creation and opportunities for younger ones. There is no other way to show that our self appraisal, in the last 18 months, is in sync with those of Lagosians. Lately, there was an approval rating of 79% for Governor Ambode, the highest for any Governor in the country and indeed the highest ever attained by any Governor in his first two years. So, we really need no further evidence of the acceptance by the majority of our people. The popularity of the governor is not in doubt and this is attributable to his keeping his electoral promises and ensuring that truly there is continuity and improvement in Lagos State. We are satisfied with the rating we are getting, both at home and abroad.

It looks like the LAKE rice is the icing on the cake for a long list of achievements of the governor in 2016?

Without a doubt, yes. Our analysis shows that the acceptance that greeted the LAKE rice is perhaps the single biggest news item of the year in this country. And what this shows is that positive news can be very impactful. As we speak thousands of LAKE rice are still being pumped into the market for Lagosians to take advantage of. What this has demonstrated is the capacity to pursue a great vision with courage. Lagos signed an MOU with Kebbi in March and today, many homes are having the best Christmas of their lives because of the commitment and large Heart of a visionary Governor.

Is this a one-off intervention?

No it is not. The partnership between Lagos and Kebbi on rice will continue and will even transcend rice production. Lagos is the largest market in the country and it is has the comparative advantage in terms of disposable income, which is why we are entering into partnerships with other states that will impact on our people. But LAKE rice will continue into the new year and will continue to sell at those subsidized prices. But don’t forget that Lagos State is also developing its own capacity for milling through the Imota Rice mill. We expect that in the new year, our capacity to mill will be about 10.5 metric tonnes, since we will achieve 2.5 metric tonnes already at Imota and we are expecting another 8 metric tonnes from Abuja. So 2017 will be a year of rice aplenty for Lagosians.

Many people acknowledge that it”s been a great year for Governor Ambode and Lagos State. What stood out among his achievements in your opinion?

They are numerous. But our main achievements rest on a tripod – security of life and property, infrastructure development and job opportunities. In terms of security, it is crystal clear, that Lagos State has demonstrated leadership by the sheer amount of investments it has continued to pump into assisting the Nigerian police and other security agencies.

Don’t forget that policing is a federal responsibility, and there is no state police in Nigeria at the moment. Even the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (retd) and President Mohammadu Buhari, affirmed this fact, during the launch of security equipment, first, in November in 2015 and then, in May this year. They agreed with a majority

Ayorinde

of Nigerians that Lagos has shown more commitment than any other state, in terms of the support given to the Police. As we speak in Lagos, there is no police station that has not benefited from the support that Lagos state is giving, and there are 117 of them.

At least, each police station, courtesy of the Lagos State Government, is enjoying a brand new patrol vehicle, that is being fuelled, maintained and repaired by the Security Trust Fund of Lagos State. There is no police station in the state that does not have a minimum of two patrol bikes, courtesy of Lagos State Security Trust Fund. The command and control centre in Lagos, without a doubt, is the most equipped in the country.

It runs at par with what you have anywhere in the world, such that, any distress call, using our Emergency numbers – 112 and 767 – can be picked immediately and you will be attended to, regardless of what the distress call is about. You will also see that, in terms of the amount of investment we have put into the Emergency Rescue Operation in Lagos State, it is second to none, as alluded to, by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who represented the President, when we unveiled the Emergency Rescue Operation Unit at Cappa, in Oshodi. Everybody has seen what our rescue operation wonder machines – ‘Charlie and Goliath’, the huge cranes, have been able to do at critical moments, even assisting neighbouring states like Ogun whenever they are in emergency situations. Again, there is clear evidence that, yes, we may not be able to eradicate crime completely in a mega city like ours, because there is no society that can totally eradicate crime, but what the state has demonstrated, convincingly, is that we have the capacity to go after every criminal and every kidnapper.

How well has the administration fared in the area of social infrastructure and worker’ welfare?

In the area of infrastructure development, we believe that we have done remarkably well. The first thing to note is that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been very prudent, very resourceful and very creative in managing the resources of the state. Not a dime

has been borrowed from any commercial bank since he became governor. Not a dime has been taken from the federal government for bailout. No single person is being owed salary or emolument in Lagos State. As a matter of fact, pensions have been and are still being paid. And as we speak, more than N11 billion has been paid on pension. So, for the Ambode administration, it is not just about being responsive to the huge work force, and we have almost 130,000 work force in state, and whose salaries are being paid on the 22nd or 23rd, like banks. Their leave bonuses and allowances are also not being toyed with, same with taxes and pensions.

Also, those who have left the service are also being taken care of. Before the Governor took over, the pension arrears had piled up for up to five years. What Governor Ambode did was to clear off the arrears, and he now started paying on a regular basis. Workers in the state were paid their December salary well ahead of Christmas with a 20% bonus.

This is also about the only state, as far as I know, that has been employing in different sectors – teachers, LASTMA officers, nurses and fire brigade officers. As you know, it is not the job of government just to be employing people, but to also create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. One of the key things that ensure that there are opportunities is when the workforce of the state itself is happy. You can imagine the rippling effect of the economy of the 28 states that are struggling to meet their obligations to civil servants. The large chunk of the government workers means a lot – the civil servants, the teachers, the nurses, the local government workers and many others. They are an integral part of the society. If they are being owed two or three months’ salaries, the effect on the society itself will be telling. But if they are getting their salaries, it means they can patronise those who are in the agricultural sector, those who are in the transport services and practically every aspect of the society. So, these things have a way of working together.

Why businesses, in spite of the times that we are, are still booming in Lagos, is because the work base of the civil service and the public service is very solid.

Do you think the administration has achieved optimum feats where physical infrastructure is concerned?

Yes, very much so. Aside from the social infrastructure, from what I have described, physical infrastructure is also very important to this administration. Two flyover bridges, in Ajah and Abule Egba, were commissioned last year, and they are nearing completion.

These two projects will be delivered just about the time we will be celebrating Lagos @ 50 come May. We think this is remarkable.

In the last one and half months, this administration has fixed, repaired and rehabilitated more roads in an unprecedented ways. The evidence is there, from Ipaja-Ayobo, to Ago Palace Way, in Okota, that appeared to be jinxed hitherto, to Brown Street in Oshodi, to Ikoyi, to the massive construction, going on in Epe, to Badagry. Everywhere is being touched. And of course, the icing on the cake is the 114 road projects, per every LCDA which were simultaneously commissioned recently. Another set of 114 roads in a similar vein will be announced in due course. This is about Lagos at work; tax payers’ money in action and it is an undeniable testimonial of progress. And this is in addition to what the Lagos Works Corporation is doing, in fixing roads, including federal roads. You saw what we did on Apapa- Oshodi Road. It is a federal road, but it was so bad that Governor Ambode decided to fix that portion. The same thing happened in the case of Ile-Epo, on Agege Motor Road towards Abule Egba, not to talk of the brilliant idea of the Light Up Lagos Project, that has seen the metropolis being lit up, including again, the federal roads, from Ikoyi, to Victoria Island, to the Third Mainland Bridge, to Alapere and every other areas. It is not just about the street light alone. It is about re-invigorating the IPP projects and also bringing back communities that have been long forgotten, like Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and some other areas, who had never seen electricity in the last ten to fifteen years.

Now, this administration is re-connecting them to the national grid, giving them transformers, generators so that they too can truly be part of the state. Don’t forget that the key mantra of this administration is that no part of Lagos will be left behind. You will see this concept of inclusiveness with what we have done with the 114 roads in every LCDA, in the Light Up Lagos Project, in road rehabilitation project, and even in entertainment, arts and culture. For the first time, Lagos State de-constructed the idea of Lagos Countdown that used to hold in one place on a single day. We decentralised it by taking the fun and the entertainment to the people.

Therefore we had it for five good days, in five different locations, representing the five administrative centres of Lagos – in Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Badagry and Epe. And we have even expanded the scope this year by running it for eight days instead of five days of last year. And it is not just about hip-hop alone, now you are seeing the likes of Adewale Ayuba, Salawa Abeni, Sir Shina Peters, Femi Kuti, Chief Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade sharing the same stage with their younger colleagues from the contemporary hip music in the spirit of oneness that Ambode’s Lagos represents.

The previous administration in the state adopted the use of every 100 days to render account of stewardship to the people. It looks like Governor Ambode’s is slightly different.

This administration has maintained the concept of continuity but continuity with improvement and inclusiveness. As a matter of fact, what further evidence of government of inclusion will the people want, if not in the government giving information and taking feedback directly from the people? Therefore, instead of the old 100 days of rendering account of stewardship to the people, we now do it quarterly, four times in a year, but not as a press conference. We take it round the three senatorial districts, whenever we

25

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERVIEW Ambode Wants to Turn Badagry into the New Hub of Tourism in Africa hold the Town Hall meetings. It has even been held in Badagry, where, for the first time in the history of the state, the Executive Council Meeting was help there, outside of state house. The quarterly town hall meetings have been very effective and that is how we will proceed in connecting with the people throughout the tenure of this administration.

Lately, this administration has been concentrating on Badagry, and Governor Ambode has even promised to make it the hub of tourism in Africa. Is there any plan to make it the capital of Lagos as well?

Badagry is not the new capital, but we are saying that Badagry is as important as any part of the state. As a matter of fact, the announcement from Ambode is that, he will turn Badagry into the new hub of tourism in Africa that will be comparable to the best that you have in Dubai, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore and other countries. We have got all the natural resources, to achieve this feat. But it is just the political will and a good manager of resources that can turn this into reality. So, people should watch out for what Badagry will metamorphose into in the next two years, in terms of hotels, in terms of resorts, in terms of activities and in terms of the marina in Badagry that will transform into a destination of choice, not only for Nigerians, but for people from all over the world to come and visit. Badagry is so rich in history and heritage, that we just cannot allow it to remain the way it is. We need to spruce it up, and make it a world-class destination that people can visit and stay there. A few years ago, Nigerians used to visit Ghana, when they discovered that it was peaceful. It had good roads and constant electric power. Badagry can be another jewel by the sea that will attract the world and Governor Ambode is determined to provide the needed impetus to make this happen. Epe is another work in progress.

We are grateful that the Federal Executive Council has approved the construction of the Badagry Sea Port. When that comes, you can imagine Badagry, just the same way that the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki area will transform that area. In about three years’ time, people will marvel at what will come out from that axis. The Eko Atlantic is there also. Imagine the numbers of jobs that will be created. The Smart City Lagos, is coming around that axis. Imagine the billions of dollars in investments that will come there.

A new airport is coming into that axis. In those days when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu asked Lagosians to imagine the opportunities that abound in Lagos, little did they know that in their lifetime, they would begin to see all those things come into fruition! We have a man who understands how money works, who understands management and who understands how resources can multiply, at the helm of affairs of Lagos State and that is why Lagosians are proud of their governor as a silent achiever.

One of the core policies of this administration is job creation and employment.

Do you think most of the objectives have been achieved?

Yes, almost all the objectives have been achieved, In terms of job creation, all these developments mean that opportunities are being created in the state. If so many roads have been constructed with local contractors being used, if activities are going on and if concerts are being held, it means that jobs are being created. Forget the fact that Lagos State is recruiting in different areas. We have recruited 1300 teachers for primary schools.

Now, we are recruiting another 1000 teachers for secondary schools; a few hundred engineers and architects for the Physical Planning Ministry. A few hundred for fire brigade and a few hundred for LASTMA have also been employed. It means that there are opportunities in Lagos. Of course, the big one is the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund, which has just rolled out. About 100,000 direct jobs are expected from that exercise. The N6.2 billion needed for this year is already being disbursed. This means, if you pump N6.2 billion into this exercise, to get people engaged, to encourage small businesses and start-up businesses, with loans of between N100,000 and one million naira, or even up to N3m for other young entrepreneurs in the Transport business for example, imagine how many people will be employed. So, when people now say that if you ban okada, or if you ask street hawkers to leave the highways, so that they don’t die needlessly, or get robbed or turn to armed robbers themselves, what would they do? I say to them ‘How much do you get on a daily basis when you

Ayorinde

have to kill yourselves to sell two pieces of sausage rolls on the highway?’ What is the total worth of the investment in an okada, maybe N150,000, at most? But now, we are saying that there are opportunities for you to get between N100,000 and one million naira for you to start your own business that wont endanger your life or the lives of others.

If you are a barber, or a mechanic, or a hairdresser, or an artist or a young musician, who needs encouragement, and we can see that from what you are bringing, that what you need is just N500,000 or N750,000, and the government provides it, we will only collect administrative charges and assist your business to thrive so that you can repay your soft loan. This is what you can never get anywhere in any financial institution. Imagine if 300,000 people benefit from that directly or indirectly, and then they employ one or two other persons, what this means is that 100,000 direct employees would have fed 300,000 to 450,000 beneficiaries, in one single year with N6.2 billion. The following year, another N6.2 billion goes into the same exercise.

Those who have benefited already will not return because they will be building their businesses. So, you will see that, for Lagos, it is a thinking government. The work plan is well-laid out, and we believe that, in about two to three years’ time, what Lagos would have become, in terms of opportunities, will be limitless. Again, of course, as people are investing, and we make Lagos much safer, and investors are coming, it is our young ones, fresh graduates and artisans that they will enjoy as beneficiaries.

It is gratifying to know that Lagos has become an oil producing state. How do you think this will impact on the people of the state?

It will have a very positive impact.

Although we are trying to diversify from oil, oil and gas will still have its roles to play in creating wealth. The oil that was discovered in Badagry, Lagos, is a private sector venture.

But, one, it has made Lagos a bona fide member of the league of oil producing states, now entitled to derivation funds from the federal government, taxes will be paid to the government in the state and massive jobs will be created. It means that oil that is discovered in Lagos may feed directly into the refinery that Dangote is building around Lekki Free Zone axis. It is projected to be the biggest refinery, if not in Africa, but certainly in West Africa. A petro-chemical company component of that, which is also coming, will transform Lagos into a more self-sufficient enclave, in terms of energy needs. Therefore, adding oil to it simply means that there is an undebiable blessing that had long been hidden but is now oozing out for the benefit of Lagosians.

So, we welcome this additional source of income but we are not distracted by it.

The outrage sparked by the ban on street hawking seems to have abated.

Do you think it is a battle that has been won?

It was never a battle. It was and will continue to be a dialogue with Lagosians. It is

In the area of infrastructure development, we believe that we have done remarkably well. The first thing to note is that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been very prudent, very resourceful and very creative in managing the resources of the state. Not a dime has been borrowed from any commercial bank since he became governor. Not a dime has been taken from the federal government for bailout. No single person is being owed salary or emolument in Lagos State. As a matter of fact, pensions have been and are still being paid. And as we speak, more than N11 billion has been paid on pension a dialogue that is well-meaning, because the law has always been there since 2003. There was a need for that law at that time. The need for that law is still very germane now.

One, it is unfair to continue to expose our people, no matter their economic class, to the sort of hardship that they go through on the road, trying to sell a few oranges, sausages or bottled water. The chairman of the National Corporation Commission, in commending the Lagos State Government, said that if only we knew the amount of assaults and attacks – particularly sexual assaults – that these people are exposed to, that we would know that they ought not to be on the streets at all. In any case, what we are saying is that illegal trading, illegal market, street trading and street hawking are not allowed on our highways. Just like okadas are restricted from such highways. This is the necessary thing to do because we are trying to build a decent, tidy megalopolis that we all will be proud of.

Why do our people go elsewhere and respect the laws of the land there, and think that Lagos should be a dumping ground, where anything goes? Lagos reserves the right to insist on the level of beauty and decency that it wants as a metropolis. Lagos has the right to say that it will no longer allow people, in the name of hawking and street trading, to destroy public assets, by digging potholes on major roads and highways, in order just to sell a few pieces of orange and banana. It is a crime against the state. And it is your tax and mine that people are destroying just to sell their wares. We say that it is not fair that those who have shops will now flood the major highways, just to take advantage of the rush hours. We say that those who want to buy, because they are also criminalising it, are found guilty. They should buy their bread, gala and water, before they hit the highways, if they cannot wait for dinner because they reckon they will spend some hours in the traffic. There is nowhere in the world, there is no city in the world, that has population that is more than five million, that you will not encounter traffic. In any case, Lagos is not even among the ten cities with the worst traffic in the world. Go to India, China, Thailand or Indonesia, and you will see what traffic means and what road rage is. We are saying that we do not want those who will transform, by 6:30pm, when gun has already been planted inside the bread, harassing, sometimes killing people in traffic. Even those who are dashing off and around the major

highways, just to get something to sell or buy, often get knocked down by vehicles on a daily basis. People don’t see that, and some people still argue that we should allow them to continue to die. When the unfortunate happens, it is the local government people that will now go and look after the body, take them to the morgue, identify and notify the families. We don’t have to allow that to continue to happen. And in any case, we insist that that, which will not be allowed in the states where some people are coming from, should not be forced on our throats.

According to the police, 80% of those who engage in this street hawking, come from a single particular state in Nigeria. If they must come to Lagos, why can they not respect the laws of the land? If they cannot do it where they are coming from, is it fair to force it on Lagos State, and now blame Lagos for enforcing its own laws, in its own state?

There has been some muffled grumblings among some Lagos politicians that the governor has become inaccessible.

What do you have to say to this?

I do not understand what being inaccessible means in this regard. When people say someone is inaccessible, what I think of this is that people are always quick to say that they can’t reach anyone who is saddled with the responsibility of public service. There are two things to note here: the first is what they want to reach you for. The second is, how many people, really, can you accommodate, in terms of personal relationship, once you have been given this type of job? I believe that if you carry the sort of weight that you claim you have, gaining access to the governor shouldn’t be much of a problem.

I concede that a governor is not somebody that you pick up the phone and you just call, and you expect him to be there. A governor is voted into office to be busy; to serve the generality of the people. But then again, it is a question of the genuineness of the motive of the people trying to have access. It may turn out to be that, usually, 8 out of 10 times, those who make this sort of claim, make them for self-serving and flimsy reasons. But this is a governor that is always available anyway - at Town Hall meetings every quarter, where anybody is allowed to ask questions and engage with the governor and his team. This is a governor that has held several activities, political, business and entertainment-related where guests from every strata of the society had always been invited and welcomed. What class of politicians will it be then, that finds it difficult to meet the governor at such fora, and then suggests that he has been shut out if his intentions are pure? Something clearly is not adding up, if any politician of note claims that he is not able to reach the governor, I would hesitate to take that with absolute seriousness.

What should we expect from Lagos State government in 2017?

A lot, in continuation of the noiseless but strategic achievements that the Ambode administration is now known and celebrated for. 2017 will be an important year for Lagos.

The state will be 50 and it will be an opportunity to celebrate. But we shall be celebrating for a good reason. In 50 years, Lagos has remained the only state that has remained indivisible since it was created. It has shown that something great can come from Nigeria and more than any other state, our state has demonstrated the spirit of togetherness and unity in diversity that has kept Nigeria itself great. A good number of the iconic projects started last year and in 2016 will be ready for commissioning. The flyover bridges at Ajah and Abule Egba would be ready. The Agege Pen Cinema flyover bridge will start.

A new set of 114 roads will be announced and completed in 2017. The Online Vehicle Ownership Verification will continue. The Osgodi Transport regeneration would be completed. The Fourth Mainland Bridge will commence in the course of the year, the Smart City project that would bring about the installation of 13,000 CCtv cameras all over Lagos will progress steadily; five theatres will be built across the five divisions in the state and five stadia projects will start also across the five divisions in the state; and the channelization of our waterways, construction of more jetties and the introduction of standard ferries would come to transform water transportation in the state. The Cleaner Lagos initiative will ensure a cleaner environment and of course the Lagos City Marathon will hold in February. I may know of a few places worth visiting in 2007, but I know of only one place to live in the new year. Its called Lagos.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

AUTO

Coscharis, Ford Gift 2017 EcoSport to Next Titan Season Three Winner Stories by Bennett Oghifo

F

ord, in collaboration with its local partner, Coscharis Motors has rewarded the winner of season three of Nigeria’s entrepreneur reality TV show, The Next Titan with 2017 model of Ford EcoSport.

The Ford EcoSport was presented to the winner, Marvis Marshal-Idio by the marketing team of Coscharis Motors at the prestigious Season Three grand finale held on Sunday, 18th December 2016 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel in Lekki.

Speaking at the event, the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde said that the company’s support for the show is borne out of its commitment to growing the business community and encouraging budding Nigerian entrepreneurs.

“Coscharis is the official automotive sponsor of The Next Titan Season Three. We congratulate Marvis Marshal-Idio for her determination and great spirit throughout season three of the show. We are committed to growing and supporting initiatives geared towards the development of Nigerian entrepreneurs. Nigeria is a nation of entrepreneurs.

We encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in young Nigerians through practical business exposure and mentorship,” Babarinde explained.

According to the Executive Producer of the show, Mide Kunle-Akinlaja, the Ford sponsorship has helped to fulfil the objective of the show which is to encourage young Nigerians to toe the path of entrepreneurship, rather than waiting for elusive paid employment.

Kunle-Akinlaja said: “We are indeed grateful to Ford and Coscharis Motors for the invaluable support and sponsorship that gave birth to the success of the third season of the show, which aims at encouraging and inspiring young and talented Nigerians with

Ford Brand Manager, Coscharis Motors, Mr. Felix Mahan; Winner of The Next Titan Season 3, Mrs. Marvis Marshal Idio; and Divisional General Manager, Dealer Network Development, Coscharis Motors, Mr. Olalekan Adenuga, during the presentation of Ford EcoSport 2017 model to the winner of The Next Titan Season 3 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos...recently

business ideas that can be built into new enterprises that are innovative, exciting and sustainable; and also contribute towards the social development of Nigeria through job creation.”

Commenting on the reward, the winner, Marvis Marshal-Idio, said “winning The Next Titan, in which over 50,000 eligible, young Nigerians with diverse business ideas, is a rare privilege. I am not going to take the fact

for granted. I won’t have been an owner of a SUV if Coscharis Motors didn’t support the show. So, I am grateful to Ford and Coscharis Motors for their support to millions of young Nigerians through this show.”

The World’s Fastest Electric Car

A

re you ready for a huge number rollercoaster? Because having as many horses as a Koenigsegg One:1 paired with instant torque delivery is only the beginning of the NIO EP9’s capabilities.

What makes this the fastest electric car on the planet? Well, a peak output of 1360 horsepower certainly helps, and so does a combined peak torque of 4671 ft.-lb. thanks to packing four 1091 ft.-lb. inboard electric motors at the wheels.

Four-wheel drive and torque vectoring is given just like on a Rimac Concept One, and so is an active suspension with 4-way adjustable dampers and a hydraulic third actuation for ride hight control.

What’s more, British NextEV’s new brand NIO promises a range of 265

miles to go with this 777 Volt powertrain coupled with a pair of indirectly water cooled lithium-ion battery packs.

The chassis of the EP9 is a full carbon fiber tub built to FIA LMP1 standards, which you will need given that the performance claims include a 10.1 quarter mile time, a 0-124mph sprint of 7.1 seconds, 2.53 G in cornering at 143mph, and a 194 mph top speed.

For those track days, the EP9 also comes with 19-inch wheels wrapped in custom slick tires, massive, six-piston carbonceramic brakes, an active rear wing and twice the downforce of a current F1 car.

These are all pretty steep claims from NextEV, but so was that they’ll break the EV record around the Green Hell. And they just did that: The NIO EP9 weighs 3825 lbs, of which the battery pack counts for 1400 lbs.

The NIO EP9 electric car

The BMW Group at the NAIAS 2017 in Detroit

B

MW has chosen the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, taking place on 8 – 22 January 2017, to stage the world premiere of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and the US premiere of the BMW Concept X2.

Also part of the line-up at the BMW stand are the new BMW 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid, the sporty BMW M550i xDrive, and the luxurious BMW 6 Series model range. Plus, BMW ConnectedDrive will be showcasing a selection of new services.

World premiere: The new BMW 5 Series model

range sees the world’s most successful business sedan enter its seventh generation. Further enhanced dynamics, unbeatable assistance systems, an unmatched level of connectivity, and a new and innovative operating system headline the most important new features.

The BMW 530e iPerformance will add a plug-in hybrid variant to the latest-generation BMW 5 Series model range from March 2017. The sporty BMW 530e iPerformance Sedan combines the dynamicflairforwhichthebrandisrenownedwith the ability to run purely on electric power – and therefore with zero local emissions

The premiere of the new BMW 5 Series will also feature the presentation of the new BMW M550i xDrive. With its powerful M Performance TwinPower Turbo engine, rear-biased BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system and M Performance-specific suspension set-up, the new BMW M550i xDrive is a four-door sports car and business sedan of unrivaled dynamic aptitude.

The BMW 6 Series model range, due to go on sale in spring 2017, offers attractive new additions to its list of optional equipment. The options available exclusively for the BMW 6 Series Coupe, BMW 6

Series Convertible, and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe add eye-catching exterior and interior accents which vividly showcase the sporting character of the three luxury-class models.

US premiere: The sporty, urban concept underpinning the BMW Concept X2 – the new kid on the block in the compact segment – blends dynamic excellence and solidity with a design that stands apart from the other X models.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan also introduces buyers to the next development stage of BMW Connected, complete with additional digital services.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

27

AUTO SAFE DRIVING

JONAS AGWU

with

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

2016 CHRISTMAS: BEWARE!!!

T

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Rolls-Royce Ghost Wins Auto Zeitung’s Best Luxury Car Stories by Bennett Oghifo

R

olls-Royce Ghost has been commended by the German car magazine, Auto Zeitung as being the best luxury car in the world.

This success confirms Rolls-Royce’s position as the pinnacle luxury car manufac-

turer and proves how firmly the brand is established in Germany. Rolls-Royce Ghost ranked first in the category “The best luxury car”, said a statement by the automaker.

“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is the most celebrated luxury brand in the world. We are delighted that this position has been further confirmed by the readers of Auto Zeitung,” Torsten Müller-Ötvös,

Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, continues, “The outstanding position of Rolls-Royce as a synonym for ultimate luxury is based on our profound understanding of the needs and expectations of a particularly demanding clientele. For these, our hand-built cars are an expression of their own lifestyle and personal success.”

In 2016, almost 60,000 readers and online users of Auto Zeitung took the opportunity to submit their votes in a total of 24 vehicle categories.

Ghost is a vision of simplicity – it takes the core brand values of Rolls-Royce and creates effortless luxury, but also stands for a new generation of younger and contemporary Rolls-Royce customers.

Toyota ‘Coaster’ Undergoes Model Change After 24 Years

T

oyota Motor Corporation will launch the completely redesigned Toyota Coaster at Toyota dealers (Osaka Toyopet dealers in the Osaka region) nationwide across Japan on January 23, 2017.

Toyota Coaster is a popular commercial vehicle in Nigeria but it is not certain yet when the remodeled version will get to the country.

The Coaster was first launched as the “Light Bus” in 1963, in response to increased demand for a minibus that could approximately seat 25 passengers comfortably. In 1969, the vehicle underwentapartialredesignand was later renamed Coaster a name which it has continued to use for over the past 50 years.

The Coaster supports the movement of people around the world. At present, it is for sale in over 110 countries and regions, and total sales have now exceeded 550,000 vehicles. The Coaster is also regularly seen

Remodeled Toyota Coaster

in Japan, where it is used in a variety of situations including the transportation of passengers to and from restaurants, hotels, and kindergartens1.

The current, third-generation Coaster was launched in 1993.

While this model has received praise for its outstanding reli-

ability, there have been growing calls for a new design that incorporates the full safety features package. In addition, since the revitalization of the tourism industry is expected to lead to increaseddemandforminibuses, Toyota has aimed to develop a vehicle that will be cherished

and ridden for many years to come. This complete redesign marks a significant evolution from the current model, and features a full range of safety functions, improved comfort, outstanding reliability, and a design appropriate for a new generation of minibuses.

Hyundai Motor Scores Top Rank in Auto Bild’s Quality Report

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ankedfirstforthethird time in seven years: Hyundai Motor has been awarded first place in Auto Bild’s Quality Report 2016 and has secured one of the most coveted accolades in the automotive industry. Following its top rankings in 2010 and 2011, Hyundai Motor has succeeded against

its competitors in Germany once again. The in-depth evaluation of quality and reliability, including customer feedback, a customer survey and extensive testing, is conductedannuallybyGermany’s best-selling motoring magazine.

The overall result is extremely positive for Hyundai Motor. The brand recorded a total score of 2.14 on the scale of five. “That was a

successful performance. Well done,Hyundai!”wastheverdictof the testing team. Hyundai Motor achievedthefirstplaceforthethird time in seven years, moving up two places from its third-place ranking last year. The magazine was particularly impressed by the endurance testing of the Hyundai models.AHyundaii30underwent testing over 100,000 kilometres,

scoring a “1”, which made it the best-everofAutoBild’sendurancetested vehicle.

Judging by the interim findings of endurance tests currently in progress, the Hyundai i30 is certainly not an exception. Auto Bild comments: “Hyundai can be justly proud of the improvements in quality achieved over the past few years.

he effect of impact speed on the risk of death for pedestriansis colossal, but for vehicle occupants also, injury severity increases with impactspeed.Thehigherthespeed of a vehicle, the shorter time the driver has to stop and avoid a crash. This is why the possibility of fatal injury increases from close to zero to almost 100% as the change in impact speed increases from 20km/h to 100km/h. Acar travelling at 50km/h will typically require 1.3metres to stop while a car travelling at 40km/h will stop in less than 8.5metres.An average increase speed of 1km/h is associated with a 3% higher risk of a crash involving an injury.

Travelling at 5km/h above a road speed limit of 65km/h results in an increase in the relative risk of being involved in a casualty crash that is comparable with having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05g/dl. For car occupants in a crash with an impact speed of 80km/h,thelikelihoodofdeathsis 20 times what it would have been at an impact speed of 30km/h.

It is because of the grave risk involved that a maximum speed limit of 100km/h for private cars and 90km/h for taxis and buses is set on the expressway while at built up areas such as commercial and residential areas; 50km/h is the speed limit.

However drivers are counseled to adhere to common sense speed limit by adjusting speed to suit environment, his mental state and experience. Seat belt, one of the most effective means of reducing deaths and injury for vehicle occupants is the use of seat-belt by all occupants in the front and rear seats as contained in section 58(3) and (4)of the National Road Traffic Regulations,2004.Seat belt use saves. They don’t prevent crashes but play a crucial role in reducing the severity of injury to vehicle occupants. Vehicle safety featuresaredistinguishedby“.primarysafetyandsecondarysafety”.

Primary safety features aim to prevent an accident taking place, e.g.Goodbrakesandtyres.Secondary safety features aim to prevent or minimize injury to a vehicle occupant once the accident has occurred. Seat belts are a secondary safety device with a number of objectives which includes; preventing ejection from the vehicle in an impact, reducing the risk of contact with the interior of the vehicle or reducing the speed of such impacts, providing a distributed force to the wearer to give the necessary support in an accident and restraining the vehicle occupant before guiding them back into their seats.

Child Restraint- Remember that the safest way to carry a child and to protect that child is to use a child seat that is suitable for the weight and size of that child. Do younowthatevenataminorcrash; an unrestrained child would be thrown about inside the vehicle,

injuring themselves and others?

Theycouldalsobethrownfromthe car through one of the windows.

Do you also know that in a crash at just30km/h, an unrestrained child would be thrown forward with a force, 30 to 60 times their body weight? They would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring themselves and quite seriously injuring or even killing other people inside the vehicle.

Do you know that it is not safe to hold a child on your laps? In a crash, the child could be crushed between our body and part of the car’s interior? That even if you were using a seat belt, the child would be torn from your arms and you would not be able to hold onto to them, no matter how hard you try. Do you also know that it is also dangerous to put a seat belt around yourself and a child or around two children; or to carry that child or children in the front passengers’ seat or on your tummy? That the safest way to travel with that child no matter the distance is a child seat or restraints.

Drink driving/drugs-driving is a serious occupation which demands total concentration. It is said to be the most dangerous of all human activities…Arecent WHO studies shows that 40 to 60 percent of all injury deaths are attributed to violence.

This is particularly so for traffic accidentinvolvingalcohol.ALCOHOLmisuse is usually on the high side this season. So too is drugs, whetherlegalorillegal.Butdoyou know that an estimated 25% of those who drive after drinking get involved in accidents which are alcohol induced and that the chances of you being involved in an accident are multiplied 10times and that such Accident could be fatal depending on the levelofalcohol.Likealcohol,drugs affect your driving behavior and can lead to some of the following individually, or in combination: slower reactions, which can make you react incorrectly, poor concentration and confused thinking.An unconcentrating driver is like a mad man with a sharp knife who knowswhohisnextvictimwillbe.

Adruggeddriverisoverconfident andhasdistortedperceptionofthe event and situations around him.

He is at risk of taking unnecessary risks which can expose him to unimaginable danger. He also has poor coordination, lacks the composuretoputhimselftogether in an emergency situation. He is restive and erratic, unable to be in control of his actions as he loses his composure, sometimes feigning ignorance and showing arroganceatthesametime.Healso has blurred vision, dizziness and severe fatigue. Drugs and alcohol therefore increases the chances of roadcrashesbutalsotheirfatalities.

Use of phone while drivingphoning mania-is a global problem. Section 80, sub section 7 of the National Road Traffic Regulations stipulatesthatnodriverofavehicle shallwhilstthevehicleisonmotion receive or make telephone calls in any form.

Concluded

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 31, 2016

FAMILY HEALTH with

Kicking Off Very Well in 2017

I

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com, .Cel, 08053372356

am quite pleased that we all made it through the Christmas, well, healthy, and hopefully we overcame all accidents, dangers and ills that could arise during the festive season.

We would now look at how we can kick start the new year healthy, and maintaining the good momentum in wellness.

To start, please make up your mind that you are going to do all it takes to be healthy.

The secret really is that you just make up your mind to do a little thing, something to keep you in progression , in keeping well. Health is wealth. When one is ill, you would wish that by all means, you go back to your well state.

So how do we go about this ? As I said, take a little step each day.

There are some basic steps The everyday lifestyle adjustments most important for greater health: • Take a daily 30-minute walk.

• Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

• Spend time each day with a friend or loved one.

• Reduce your consumption of junk food, such as cookies and chips.

• Cut back on refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, white rice).

Many of us will make a healthy New Year’s resolution – maybe to lose weight, quit smoking or drink less – but what’s the best way to stick to it?

Psychologists have found we’re more likely to succeed if we break our resolution into smaller goals that are specific, measurable and timebased.

Getting Started Immediately Below are some of the most common New Year health resolutions, that gives you help to get started and achieve your goal.

• Lose weight • Get practical tips to lose excess weight, including getting started, healthy food swaps, and get onto a 12-week weight loss plan.

• Quit smoking. We’ve got all you need to help you achieve your goal to stop smoking, • Get active.

• Boost your fitness with fun and practical ideas to help you get into shape, • Drink less alcohol • Calculate your units, get tips on cutting down, track your drinking and find out where to get help and support.

• Eat more fruit and veg • Whether you’re cooking for a family or eating on the go, stick to tips and recipes that can help you get your 5 A DAY. Useful tips • Make an appointment for a check-up, vaccination, or screening. Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water to prevent the spread of infection and illness.

Healthy You • Make healthy food choices. A healthy eating plan emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts and is low in saturated fats, transfats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

• Be active to improve overall health. Try simple things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Consider mall walking . Be active for at least 2½ hours a week.

• Be smoke free .

• Get enough sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions—such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression.

Vegetables are filled with nutrients, water, fiber, and very few calories.

If you fill half of your plate with vegetables, you’ll get fuller faster and cut down your calories without feeling deprived.

Use herbs and spices to jazz up vegetables instead of using butter and/or salt to flavor them

Healthy Family • Learn how to be healthy before, during, and after pregnancy.

• Reduce auto-related injuries by using seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats .

• Learn positive parenting tips to keep teens safe on the road.

• Lower the risk of food borne illness as you prepare meals for your family.

• Gather and share family health history.

With the new year comes the opportunity for a fresh start. For many people, this means leading a healthier lifestyle and losing weight. If this is your goal, follow these tips to stay on track.

GET MOTIVATED Get Started 1.

Get started.

What is motivating you to lose weight? Do you want to look better in your clothes, feel more energetic, or simply improve your health?

Get clear about what you want, and then use that to inspire you throughout your journey.

2. Have a plan If you were to go on a long road trip, you wouldn’t just jump in the car and go. If you did, you’d arrive hungry, tired, and fatigued.

That’s the same way you’d feel if you jumped into a whole new lifestyle with no planning.

Before January 1st arrives, outline the changes you want to implement and decide how you’ll fit them into your schedule. Keep in mind that it may be best to take steps rather than tackle everything at once.

3. Make goals Goals help measure progress. If you don’t know where you want to end up, you won’t really know how to get there. When making your goals, you need to make SMART goals: • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Realistic • Timely For example, a SMART goal would be something like, “I will walk for 15 minutes 3 days for one week.” Or, “I will prepare one new healthy recipe each week for the month of January.”

4. Track What You Eat Looking closely at what you eat is often an eye-opening experience. Log to keep track of everything you put into your body. You don’t

have to do it for the rest of your life, but it is a great habit to start. Tracking will help you tweak your diet so that you can still enjoy foods you love without sabotaging your weight loss or healthy eating efforts.

5. Use Reliable Resources It may be tempting to try a fad diet, but these are usually unrealistic, difficult to maintain, and sometimes even dangerous. Instead, find a reliable source of information to help you understand nutrition.

6. Eat Breakfast Every Day Surely you’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is! Eat a big healthy breakfast as early as possible. It will give you more energy, lead you to make healthier choices during the day, and keep you feeling full so you eat less later on.

7. Fill Up on Vegetables Vegetables are filled with nutrients, water, fiber, and very few calories. If you fill half of your plate with vegetables, you’ll get fuller faster and cut down your calories without feeling deprived. Use herbs and spices to jazz up vegetables instead of using butter and/or salt to flavor them.

8. Exercise In order to burn calories at a faster rate and build a healthy body, you’ll need to incorporate exercise into your life. Take it slow at first, and then increase your time and/or intensity once you feel comfortable. If you haven’t exercised in a while, talk to your doctor to make sure that you are healthy enough to begin an exercise plan.

9. Take It Slow A major mistake many people make when trying to tackle a health resolution is trying to do everything at once. This is almost always a recipe for disaster. Spend a few weeks just trying to achieve 1-2 goals at a time. When you have established new good habits, put a couple more goals on your plate. Remember: You want to make permanent changes, and these will take time to implement.

10. Be Prepared for Lapses A lapse is when you temporarily “fall off the wagon.” This is a normal part of the process; no one is perfect. It is important for you to take a moment to recognize that you got sidetracked, but don’t use it as an excuse to throw in the towel. Every day is a new chance to start over, so return to your healthy lifestyle immediately.

GLOBAL SOCCER

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • JUNE 16, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Wilfred Ndidi

Set to Restore Leicester’s Pride

31.12.2016

BATTLE FOR SECOND PLACE PAGE. 29

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER

Set to Restore Leicester’s Pride Just two years ago, Wilfred Ndidi was playing for Lagos amateur youth side, Nathaniel Boys, before he was spotted by scouts of Belgian side, K.R. C Genk. After a successful trial with the Belgium club, he made his debut for the club in January 2014. He was also part of the Nigerian team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he put up a decent showing. Though, not very convincing in Super Eagles’ last two 2018 World qualifiers against Zambia and Algeria, he's now set to play for Leicester. Kunle Adewale writes about Ndidi's proposed move to English champions, Leicester and his chances of being successful

A

fter doing the unthinkable last season by emerging English Premier League champions, it has been a different story for Leicester City this season. The champions now occupy the 16th position in the league. One of the reasons attributed to this unimpressive performance of Cladio Ranieri-led team is the exit of their tough man in the midfield–N'Golo Kante. That is why Leicester has made a January move for Nigeria’s Wilfred Ndidi as a replacement for Kante.

“I never had any doubt about his talent. He distinguishes himself anytime and he is focused. I always knew he would go places and I am not surprised at the height he is taking his football to,” the founder of Nathaniel Boys, Yemi Idowu told THISDAY. Leicester had tabled a £16 million for the Genk midfielder, though the Belgian club wants £20 million for the Nigeria international but the Foxes fully expect to complete a deal early in the January transfer window. The 19-year-old is viewed as one of the brightest prospects in Belgian football and Genk know they are facing a losing battle to keep him.

But they are determined to maximise his value when the transfer window reopens with both clubs remaining in contact with a view to concluding a January deal. Ndidi is viewed as the long term replacement for N'Golo Kante, who left for Chelsea in the summer.

However, director of sport, Dimitri De Conde insisted that he would frustrate Ndidi’s move to Leicester in the January transfer window, just as he stated that the club is already planning to replace the player next summer if he eventually joins the Foxes. He added that Leicester is not the only club interested in the 20-year-old midfielder.

"Seeing Ndidi leave in January? It's possible, but I'm going to do everything in my power to stop it from happening.

Our plan was to replace him next season. Yes, we're talking with Leicester,

but they aren't the only club interested,” De Conde told L'Avenir newspaper.

Ndidi will join Leicester after he completed a medical with the Premier League champion and has agreed a five-year contract. He will join his international team-mate, Ahmed Musa.

In a chat with THISDAY, former Nigerian international, Waidi Akani said Ndidi’s proposed move to the English Premier League was a good omen for him, the Super Eagles and the Nigerian football fans.

“Without trying to take anything away from the Belgian league, it should be a stepping stone for any footballer that wants to go places. It should just be used as a ladder to join the big leagues in Europe and that is exactly what Ndidi has done. I watched him developed while he was with Nathaniel Boys and there was never any doubt about his talent,” Akani said.

The former Super Eagles defensive midfielder said the national team would also benefit from Ndidi’s Premier League move.

“His move to England would also benefit the national team technical crew, in that playing alongside national teammate, Musa they would develop good understanding, which would make the job of the Super Eagles coaches simpler.

“Moreover, the move to England would further expose Ndidi, as he would be seen week-in-week-out all over as against the Belgian league which is hardly seen on television.

“Nigerian football fans will be able to watch another of their players on a weekly basis. On the whole, the move is a welcome development and one can only hope and pray that he settles fast to the English style of football,” the former NEPA of Lagos player said.

Meanwhile, Alex McLeish, who bought the teenager when he was Genk Manager says Ndidi can eventually be the solution, saying the prospective signing can be their next Kante.

The former Birmingham and Aston Villa boss believes the Nigerian youngster is well-suited to the Premier League after snapping him up for Genk

Ndidi

31

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Ndidi

for a bargain of £80,000.

McLeish acted after a recommendation from scout Roland Janssen, who spotted Ndidi in Lagos in an academy tournament and brought him to Genk for a trial.

The 57-year-old Scot, who was in charge of the Belgians for the 20142015 Season, told MirrorSport: “He is Kante-like. He will cover the ground like Kante does. In terms of technique, you wouldn’t say he is the best passer in the world but he keeps it simple. I saw him on tape and at the next recruitment meeting we pushed the button. I immediately saw the speed of the boy.

“We had no money to spend on any bigger names to help the first team because those were the parameters under which I took the job. But I said, ‘Let’s get this guy’, I recommended we signed him for 100,000 Euros. I’ve taken a big interest in the kid since and they want a fortune for him now.”

Ndidi

McLeish handed Ndidi his debut in January 2015, when injuries and international call-ups to the Africa Cup of Nations saw him play Ndidi out of position at left-back. But he saw enough in a 1-0 away loss at Charleroi to know the youngster would have a big future.

The Scot’s successor, Peter Maes, then started to play Ndidi in midfield as he matured.

McLeish added: “I gave him his debut at left-back, because we were absolutely short. He did well for a kid just coming in that day and was amazing. He is lean and has a fantastic spring. His speed got him out of a lot of trouble and although we lost the game 1-0, we all agreed he could be a big player for the team.

“We all felt midfield would probably be where he could be most effective.

He has blossomed after my successor decided to move him there.”

McLeish added: “I have always promoted kids, since my days at Rangers,

Motherwell and Hibs “Some of them don’t quite make it as there is a high attrition rate, but when you see the ones that do, it gives you great satisfaction. To see the progress Ndidi has made since is brilliant and he has had a great year at Genk.”

It however remains to be seen whether Ndidi would live up to expectations.

Born on December 16, 1996, Ndidi has made appearances for the Nigerian U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He is known for his versatility and can play as a central defender, defensive midfielder or full back.

Ndidi exploded onto the scene during his first full season in 2015/2016 Belgian league.Originally playing in the centerback position, he displayed a wide range of passing and shooting than needed for the role. He was redeployed

Without trying to take anything away from the Belgian league, it should be a stepping stone for any footballer that wants to go places.

It should just be used as a ladder to join the big leagues in Europe and that is exactly what Ndidi has done. I watched him developed while he was with Nathaniel Boys and there was never any doubt about his talent

as a defensive midfielder and central midfielder for the rest of the season.

During the Belgian playoff game against Club Brugge, Ndidi scored a world class goal and it was named the goal of the season in the Belgian league.

He received the award as the thirdbest young player in the Belgian league for the 2015/2016 season.

Ndidi was part of the Nigerian youth setup during his time at Nathaniel Boys of Lagos. While playing the African U-17 Championship with Nigeria, he was excluded along with two other players from the competition as a precaution, following an MRI test that showed he was just slightly above the threshold.

Notwithstanding, he joined up with his teammates in the U-20 team the following year, forming the bedrock of the midfield. He was called up to the senior national team on October 8, 2015., making his debut in the friendly against DR Congo, and playing again a few days later in the 3-0 win against Cameroon, as a replacement for Mikel Obi. Ndidi is expected to travel to England on January 1 ahead of his unveiling by Leicester.

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

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

GLOBAL SOCCER 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Countdown… 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Countdown…2017 Africa Cup of Nations Countdown…

Cote d'Ivoire celebrating their AFCON win in 2015

Pharaohs Hit by Defensive Blow

E

gypt will have to do without key defender Rami Rabia in the upcoming African Nations Cup finals after he suffered a training ground injury on Christmas Day. He will be out for six weeks with an ankle injury, said a statement from Al Ahly.

It is expected to be a serious blow to coach Hector Cuper’s hopes for the Pharaohs at the tournament in Gabon, where they have a tough group with Ghana, Mali and Uganda.

Rabia had just returned from a serious knee injury that kept him out of action for a long spell.

He made two appearances after recovering from the knee injury – coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 league win over Al Masry before playing the full 90 minutes against lower-tier Aluminum in the Egypt Cup last week.

Fellow Ahly defender Ahmed Hegazy, who usually partners Rabia in the heart of Egypt's defence, resumed training on Sunday after recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a fortnight.

Zaha, Bailly in Cote d’Ivoire Squad

A cluster of Premier League stars including Eric Bailly and Wilfried Zaha was named on Wednesday in defending champions the Ivory Coast's 24-player squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

Crystal Palace winger Zaha

features in the list released by the team's French manager Michel Dussuyer despite playing two games for England.

But as those caps were both in friendlies the 24-year-old remains eligible to line up for the country of his birth.

He made it plain to the Ivorian Football Federation in November that he wanted to play for Ivory Coast rather than the Three Lions of England.

Missing from the squad for the tournament in Gabon starting on January 14 was the Elephant's injured Chinese-based captain, Gervinho.

Paris Saint-Germain defender, Serge Aurier, and Stoke City forward, Wilfried Bony also figured.

The Ivory Coast warm up for the defence of their 2015 title with friendlies against Sweden and Uganda.

At the Nations Cup, Ivory Coast and Togo meet on January 16 in the opening Group C match followed by Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocoo.

Massa, Aucho Boost Cranes Camp

Uganda captain Geoffrey Massa and his Baroka FC teammate Khalid Aucho have commenced training with the rest of the Cranes squad as they prepare for the upcoming 2017 Afcon.

Massa, who turned out in Baroka’s 1-0 loss to African champions Mamelodi Sundowns last Thursday in Polokwane, and Aucho took part in the full training session. The duo arrived in Kampala last Friday but were given three days off, one more than the rest.

US-based midfielder Mike Azira, who plies his trade for the Colorado Rapids, arrived on Monday night and did only a third of the session before doing a recov-

ery session on his own.

Uganda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was visibly pleased with the arrival of the three professionals and said, “Azira is joining us from a different time zone and different climate so we tried to help him acclimatise to the training by doing 35 per cent, then recovery.”

“Massa and Aucho have also joined and are involved in the full training session. It is good to have the three players join us. We now have a squad of 24 players this week until Friday, when we reduce the squad by one goalkeeper and three players.”

Aucho praised his teammates’ work rate and said, “We found the mood in camp is very high. Everyone is working very hard to make the final 23-man squad that will go to Gabon.

This is very important for us as a team to work together.”

Five players will join the squad over the weekend including goalkeeper Robert Odongkara, Farouk Miya, William Luwagga Kizito, Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito and Moses Oloya.

Gabon Recall Sunderland’s Ndong

African Nations Cup hosts Gabon restored Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong to their squad as they became the first country to name their final 23-man selection for next month's finals.

Ndong was kicked out last month after skipping training ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Mali but was named on Tuesday to take part in the January 14 to February 5 tournament.

Gabon, who play the opening game against Guinea Bissau in Libreville, go into

the finals having changed their coach.

Former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho signed earlier this month to replace ex-Portugal international Jorge Costa.

Tunisia Line Up Two Friendly Matches

Tunisia’s national football team started training on Sunday for the African Cup of Nations which is set to kick off in Gabon on January 14th.

The Carthage Eagles has lined up two friendly matches against the Catalonia and the Basque select sides in Spain.

They north African nation will then host Uganda which qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1978 on January 4th in Tunis.

“We can say that they (local players) are fairly stable, they play regularly, I choose the best, but for foreign players, maybe it will change. Some have lost their places in the clubs, they are not always playing or they rarely play,” said Tunisian national football team coach Henryk Kasperczak.

The Tunisian team, which has had a successful run of ten matches without defeat, will play its final preparatory match against Egypt in Cairo on January 8, before flying out to Gabon on January 11.

The Carthage eagles is placed in Group B in the tournament and will play its first match against Senegal on January 15, before facing its north African neighbour Algeria on January 19th and later Zimbabwe on January 23, 2017.

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DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Hot Shots Diego Costa

Chelsea

13

Alexis Sánchez

Arsenal

12

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Man Utd

12

Sergio Agüero

Man City

10

Romelu Lukaku

Everton

10

Eden Hazard

Chelsea

9

Christian Benteke

Palace

8

Jermain Defoe

Sunderland

8

Theo Walcott

Arsenal

8

Sadio Mane

Liverpool

8

Michail Antonio

West Ham

8

Nathaniel Clyne and Raheem Sterling battling for possession

Liverpool, City Battle for Second Spot at Anfield There is no doubt that the biggest fixture is the Premier League this weekend is the encounter between second placed Liverpool and third on the log-Manchester City. With Chelsea comfortably leading the log with six points, the Reds and the Citizens will be battling for the second position to put pressure on the league leaders. With both teams easily winning their last two matches, fans are in for a great encounter

M

anchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure reckons today’s encounter against Liverpool at Anfield is a Premier League Cup final.

Chelsea may be running away at the top of the table after an incredible 12 wins on the bounce, while Liverpool and City are Chelsea’s closest pursuers, but defeat today could well leave the losers with simply too much ground to make up.

Toure, who has his sights set on a third Premier League title said: “I’m used to winning Premier Leagues, I think it’s second three times, and I want to win another.

It’s going to be tough but we have to keep going because Chelsea are very good this year.

“So for me this game is almost a final of the Premier League.

In the race for the title it is very important to win these games.

It’s going to be fantastic for the fans and we have to be ready. We have to continue because the Premier League is very tough.”

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp insists history will count for nothing when Liverpool take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at Anfield today.

The German will come up against Guardiola for the eighth time in his career when his second-placed side faces City, who are just one place and one point behind the Reds.

Guardiola has enjoyed trophy-laden success with Barcelona and Bayern Munich and is regarded by many as one of the

greatest managers in the world.

However, Klopp's results against him have been as good as anyone's with four victories - albeit three in cup competitions - in eight meetings during their time in the Bundesliga.

"We know everything about how Pep played with Bayern but that is not important anymore because it is different players and different systems," said the Liverpool manager.

"We are a different team so at this moment both sides cannot be sure which idea the other team has. It is not that we have a look back at the last few games against Pep Guardiola because our teams don't play each other.

"In Holland it was Johan Cruyff and Total Football. He (Guardiola) was very nearly perfect with Barcelona, he had a big influence with Bayern and changed their style completely.

"He is an outstanding manager, 100 per cent.

I am not interested too much in giving things a name but you can see on the pitch he is an influential manager. He has a clear idea and a pretty much good idea. He has had a fantastic career until now.

"He had a nice style with Barcelona and was really good with Bayern and now he is at City and he is there to be successful and not to show how good he is. That is how we all are. We want to help our team. He is very influential but the Barcelona style is not possible for each team to play. It depends a lot on the players you have.

"If a Sunday morning team tried to play like Barcelona it would be pretty difficult. You always adapt to your players and that is what he is doing and it is what we do."

Neither Philippe Coutinho or Joel Matip (both ankle injuries) will be available for the match, which is expected to be an entertaining game with

Liverpool the Premier League's highest scorers and City joint-second.

"If I didn't sit on the bench I would buy a ticket for this game, 100 per cent," added Klopp.

The two coaches are different cuts of cloth originating from the same thread.

Whether the preferred style is brash, loud colours or the understated yet sharp, tapered style of timeless grace and movement, both Klopp and Guardiola - and by extension both teams they lead - are now the fashion forward of a Premier League whose vanguard of foreign managers are no longer content to just hoof it up the pitch to re-create the blood-and-thunder days so many on the isle wistfully recall.

Klopp leads his Liverpool side into a mouth-watering clash against Guardiola's Manchester City today to ring out 2016 with the prize of second place as Chelsea's closest pursuers.

The two managers are no strangers to each other, having squared off eight times in the German Bundesliga in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons as Klopp managed upstart Borussia Dortmund and Guardiola directed leviathan Bayern Munich.

The entertaining matchups were usually rife with subplots, the main one being Klopp having to deal with losing stars such as Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski to the deep financial pockets Bayern unleashed to devastating effect. But for all the money Bayern Munich backed Guardiola with, the Spaniard was stopped one round short of the Champions League final each of his three seasons in Bavaria.

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

18 18 18 18 17 18 18 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18

27 24 19 20 17 9 2 1 1 -8 -9 -8 -8 -11 -4 -8 -4 -15 -20 -25

46 40 39 37 33 33 26 24 23 22 22 21 21 20 18 17 16 14 12 12

Premiership MONDAY Burnley Chelsea Leicester Man Utd Southampton Swansea Liverpool SUNDAY Watford Arsenal Tottenham MONDAY

v v v v v v v

Sunderland Stoke City West Ham Middlesbrough West Brom Bournemouth Man City

15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 17:30

v v v

Tottenham H Crystal Palace Burnley

13:30 16:00 16:00

Middlesbrough

v

Leicester

12:30

Everton

v

Southampton

15:00

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

34

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Edo boy displaying his Mojisola Ogunsanya Trophy and N1,500,000.00 he won at the GOtv Boxing Night

Klitschko and Joshua

Schumacher

Klitschko Says His Game-plan would Shock Joshua

Schumacher’s Most Memorable Formula 1 Moments

Wladimir Klitschko has issued Anthony Joshua with an ominous reminder of the 53 knockout wins collected over his prestigious career.

Joshua, whose IBF heavyweight title will be up for grabs against Klitschko has offered "respect" to his veteran challenger's fighting style but insisted he preferred to watch risk-takers inside the ring.

Former unified world

2016 marked the 10th anniversary of Michael Schumacher's 91st and final F1 victory as part of a career that remains unsurpassed in terms of record-breaking achievement.

Although Schumacher's initial retirement in 2006 was followed four years later by a less successful stint back in the sport with Mercedes, it's the success of his 'first' career which continues to define his legacy.

"Michael's a long, long way away, so it will be a millimetre step closer to Michael!" said Lewis Hamilton, the man now second to Schumacher in F1's all-time winners' list, when asked in Abu Dhabi what another win would mean in terms of trying to catch the German's record 91 victories.

As Schumacher continues his recovery from the severe, lifechanging injuries sustained in his skiing accident three years ago this month, we remember the achievements which made him one of sport's leading legends.

champion Klitschko said: "I think trainers and fighters have been studying my style and they are aware I can knock people out with both hands. I showed it many times.

"I do have a lot of weapons.

One of them is the jab. It depends how much Anthony is going to give me to use, and which weapon I'm going to choose."

Of Klitschko's 53 stoppage wins in his 68 fights, five have come in the eights outings since spoiling David Haye's challenge in 2011.

He will be 41-years-old when he challenges the unbeaten Joshua at Wembley Stadium on April 29, but Klitschko insisted his most recent fight, a world title defeat against Tyson Fury, is not evidence of his decline.

"Actually the opposite," he said. "With age I got faster.

And my endurance got better, my anticipation.

"Until now I've seen progress. I always ask my team - you guys better tell me before I slow down, because maybe I won't feel it. Just tell me if it's there. So it's not just my opinion. It's the opinion of people who are close to me."

Gilgal Capital to Inject $1.5b Into Nigerian League As part of efforts at bringing lasting improvement to Nigeria’s football, United Kingdom-based Gilgal Capital is set to inject a handsome $1.5 billion into the Nigerian League in a period spanning 20 years.

At a media parley in Ikeja, the Chief Executive of Arabella 21st Century limited, Otunba Femmy Carrena, whose company brokered the deal with Gilgal Capital said, hopefully, in the next 18 months all grey areas would have been tidied up.

“Running football involves huge finances and that is why we need investors that would put in the kind of capital that

can take our football to the level where we all dream of,” Carrena said.

According to him, the primary area the investors needed is the league, saying Nigerian football would not be the same if such money was pumped into it.

Asked why he took the proposal to the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalong, and not the Nigeria Football Federation or the custodian of the leagueLeague Management Company, LMC, Carrena said: “We needed a guarantor that was why we met with the Sports Minister and the federal government that provided the enabling

environment for the investors to operate. We don’t want the investors to be discouraged at the initial stage.

“The investors are not coming in to distort the existing status but rather to discourage government’s involvement in football. We want to discourage situations whereby clubs go cap in hand to the government.”

Speaking further, the Chief Executive of Arabella 21st Century limited said funding had been the major thing that had kept the Nigerian league down.

He said further that 20 per cent of the fund would be from the public raised through Initial

Public Offer, IPO. Meanwhile, the Nigerian representative of Gilgal Capital, Babatunde Aina said the complex nature of Nigeria was an initial hindrance to Gilgal Capital investing in Nigeria.

“The complex nature of Nigeria was an initial hindrance to investing in Nigerian football, but one cannot, however, ignore the large market of the country.

“Some requirements had to be met before we put our money in Nigerian football but Arabella had put a structure that would make it work. It is a public driven thing with government being just a regulator,” Aina said.

Murray to Approach Australian Open Differently Andy Murray is taking a different approach in his build-up to the seasonopening grand slam as he bids to finally better five runner-up finishes at the Australian Open.

The world No 1 is preparing for the tournament at Melbourne Park, which gets underway on January 16, by competing in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi rather than the mixed team round robin

format of the Hopman Cup in Perth which he has favoured for the last two years.

Murray, who plays his first match at the Abu Dhabi event yesterday, said he would be going into the Australian Open with confidence after a strong finish to last season.

"I've played really well there in the past and it hasn't happened for me so I'll need to do something a little bit different this year," Murray said.

"I love the conditions there and I enjoy the tournament a lot, and I'll be going in hopefully playing well and with a lot of confidence because of the way I finished 2016, so I'll give it a good go this year."

The 29-year-old won nine titles in 2016, including Wimbledon and his second Olympic gold medal in Rio. He also overcame Novak Djokovic, who has beaten him in four Australian Open finals, in the ATP World Tour

Finals to take top spot in the rankings.

However, the Scot admitted that the 24-match winning run that helped him land his last five tournaments of the season took its toll.

"Getting to No 1, it took me basically the whole year, right down to the last tournament, the last match of the year to finish No 1, so that was really, really hard and it took a lot out of me physically and mentally," Murray said.

NANF Showers Amodu’s Widow with Xmas Gifts The Larry Kubeinje led National Association of Nigeria Footballers in conjunction with all his state's chapters impacted on the lives of the widows of its late members arising from the mandate of the Association's Congress, who has charged the new exco to take the welfare of the member as a priority in relations with the recession experience in the country.

Consequently, the newly rectified NANF exco in keeping with the traditions during the Christmas celebration instituted the "NANF Xmas Milk of Kindness Mobile Train"

to torch the life's of widows of NANF with specially packaged food box hamper comprising of 50Kg bags of rice, groundnut oil and assorted drinks with cash donations was sent to widows of footballer nationwide through its state's chapter.

In Lagos, the NANF mobile train first point of call on Boxing Day was at the Surulere home of the ex - Super Eagles handler and NFF Technical Director, Amodu shuibu, where the NANF food box hamper including cash sum was presented to Amodu’s widow.

The widow of Amodu was full of praise for the NANF's team lead by former national player, Clement Temile, who made the presentations on behalf of NANF team which includes former national goalkeeper, Segun Oguns and other members.

She thanked the NANF team for appreciating her late husband contributions to football development and finding time to visit with them especially at Christmas and supporting her family after the demise of their breadwinner.

She also noted that a lot of

Nigerians and members of the football family do not remember them again and the once full house during festive period like Xmas is quite and lonely but for NANF visitation coming at the first Christmas celebration post Amodu demise.

She use the opportunity to appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for paying the family her husband’s outstanding entitlement recently while also reminding the sports minister to fulfill the promises made to the family during his visit to her after Amodu's burial.

Three years on from his devastating skiing accident, here are moments that made Schumi F1's most successful driver

Spa days - Where it all began Spa-Francorchamps would become synonymous with Schumacher from the moment he made his remarkable F1 debut with Jordan at the 1991 Belgian GP. Hired as a stand-in for Bertrand Gachot, who had recently been jailed, the 22-year-old Mercedes protege stunned the sport by qualifying seventh - four places ahead of experienced team-mate Andrea de Cesaris.

Fourth in the Sunday morning warm-up suggested that even greater feats might await in the race, although questions around what Schumacher might have achieved ultimately went unanswered as he burnt the clutch out by the first corner.

Still, an immediate connection to Spa had been made - a link which would only strengthen 12 months later, by which time F1's hottest young talent was racing in the colours of Benetton.

While an eyelid would barely be batted these days if a 23-yearold won a grand prix, Belgium 1992 saw Schumacher become F1's youngest race winner in a quarter of a century - and the then-fourth youngest in history.

The German had already secured five podiums in the opening 11 races of his maiden full campaign and at Spa qualified third behind 1992's big two - runaway world champion-elect Nigel Mansell and triple title winner Ayrton Senna.

Although dropping at the start to fourth, the kind of fickle weather that has turned many a Belgian GP intervened on this particular late August day - with Benetton's young star ultimately the chief beneficiary.

Schumacher timed the switch back to dry tyres to perfection although only after running off the road at Stavelot and dropping behind team-mate Martin Brundle.

Seeing the sister Benetton's rubber was beginning to blister, Schumacher came into the pits - two laps earlier than race leader Mansell - and made up the difference to take the lead. The Briton came back at him, but a broken exhaust put paid to Mansell's hopes of a victory and F1 had its newest race winner.

For Schumacher, there would be no looking back.

Schumacher's arrival as champion Twenty-two years on, and Schumacher's first world championship success in 1994 continues to be defined - and some would say tainted - by the season-ending collision with Damon Hill which settled the title race in the German's favour.

The wider narrative of the year - in which Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed at Imola, several other drivers were involved in nasty accidents, and Benetton found themselves at the centre of numerous technical controversies - meant it was hardly an uplifting season.

Adelaide 1994, however, remains the place where F1's championship record books began to be rewritten, even if confirmation of Schumacher's maiden world crown came when he was standing at the side of the track. Although it was Hill who arguably ended the season the stronger - winning in atrocious wet conditions at Suzuka and then pressurising Schumacher into the error that led to the clash in Adelaide - the German had already won eight times and lost a hatful of points via two disqualifications and then a two-race ban.

But if question marks remained after 1994, the following year there was no doubt who was the deserving champion. Schumacher, delivering several of the best drives of his career, won nine times in 1995 and wrapped up his second crown with two rounds to spare.

He was F1's then youngest-ever double champion, but soon on the move...

T H I S D AY SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

FAIRGROUND

Betty Irabor, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Others Turn up for the Future Awards

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T

he Future Awards Africa 2016 took place recently and the special black carpet and ceremony gave the term ‘star-studded’ a new meaning. Nigeria’s most inspiring youth, celebrities, captains of industry, cultural, political elite and leaders most in touch with Nigeria’s young generation were in attendance.The elegant black carpet was graced

by OmotolaJalade-Ekeinde, Betty Irabor, Mo Cheddah, Linda Ikeji, Osas Ighodaro, DJ Obi, TokeMakinwa, Ayo Makun, Dorcas Shola-Fapson, Bolanle Olukanni,Osas Ighodaro Ajibade, Ini Dima-Okojie, Uti Nwachukwu, Mimi Onalaja, Kunle Afolayan, Bovi, Baby Face, Omowunmi Akinnifesi,Wole Ojo, Uche Nnaji and others.One ofthe unforgettable highlights of the event were the musical performances of Falana, Simi, Timi Dakolo and Davido, respectively bringing their A-game to entertain and thrill guests.Davido who was unannounced by organisers before the show performed his classics ‘Dami Duro’, ‘Skelewu’ amongst others with alive band.The evening ended on a high with Mark Okoye,the 30-year old Commissioner, Economic Planning and Budget Planning, Anambra State, winning the coveted TFAA Prize for Young Person of the Year. About The Future Awards Africa The Future Award Africa has been called the ‘NobelPrize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’

by Forbes. It is a set of prizes given annually to celebrate and accelerate innovation, creativity and enterprise amongst young Africans aged 18 – 31.

It has produced over 150 winners and over 1550 nominees since its first edition in 2006. It is presented in conjunction with The Future project, which has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through(inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship. This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership. Our projects include Aiki.ng, an employability portal presented with Microsoft; the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging leaders, #StartupsAfrica, Intern4Jobs, YMonitor.org presented with National endowment for Democracy (NED), The Future Enterprise Support Scheme and The future Awards Africa, described as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’.

Founded by the Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams,TFP is supervised by a Global Board of Advisors drawn from Africa, Europe,North America and the Middle East, including the Coordinating Minister of the Nigerian Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senior Economic Advisor with the open Society Foundations, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; co-founder of ONE, Jamie Drummond and the Chief of Cabinet with the Africa Development Bank, Anne Kabagambe.

About Red Media Africa: Red Media Africa(www.redmediaafrica.com) is the PR &Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED.It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment and action to help brands and organisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottomlines and lead in their industries. It has 6 major practice areas:Corporate Practice, Technology Practice, SME Practice, Governance Practice,Faith Practice and the International

L-R; Mo Abudu, Peter Obi, Adebola Williams, Nana Akufo Addo, Kayode Fayemi

Kehinde Paul, Winner, TFAA Prize for Sports

Abiola Olaniran, Winner, TFAA Prize For Technology Abiola Olaniran, Winner, TFAA Prize For Technology

Adeolo-OsunkojoWinner The Future-AwardsAfrica-Prize-for-Screen-Produce

Adebayo Oke-Lawal, Winner, The Future Awards Africa Prize for Fashion

Adenrele Sonariwo, Winner, The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture.JPG

Bolanle Olukanni -Winner The-Future-AwardsPrize-for-On-Air-Personality Visual

Adenrele Sonariwo, Winner, The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture

Ifeanyi Orajakar, Winner, TFAA Prize for Business

Julius Adewopo Winner TFAA-Prize-for-Agriculture

Evans Akanno, Winner, TFAA Prize for Creative Professional

Tosin Ajibade, Winner, The Future Awards Africa Prize for New Media

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

37

FAIRGROUND

The Private Viewing of Ferona’s Intimate Collection at Alara

L

uxury Haute Couture brand Ferona recently came to Lagos, Nigeria for a night of romantic minimalism and private viewing of their latest SS17 collection at Luxury concept store, ALARA. Guests immersed themselves to a night of detail and technique as each design walked the runway.

About Ferona: FERONA is a fashion label that has and will continue to establish a name for quality, detail, luxury and fit.

Renowned for relevant couture that offers versatility, function and wear ability, the artistic approach of the house is rooted in the heyday of couture and embodies a modern effortless glamour. Each and every individual piece is created with the highest level of craftsmanship, using traditional haute couture hand embroidery techniques by a team of some of the very best couture specialists, trained to the highest level in the creation of haute couture FERONA is a British Couturier based in London, synonymous with the hand creation of uncompromising evening, cocktail and bridal couture. FERONA pieces are commissioned strictly by appointment only.

Each client is ensured an unrivaled couture experience designed to go above and beyond their expectations.

Founder Alara Collecions Renin Folawiyo

Jennifer Onah

The Alara models

Lasgidi Cops Wins Best of Nollywood Award

N

ew crimes series by a newcomer in the game, Ye m i s i Wa d a , ‘Lasgidi Cops Special Crimes Unit, has won ‘Best TV Series Award’ in the just concluded ’ Best of Nollywood Awards’.

There were apparently many aspects of this production that many talked about Nigeria’s own idea of the ‘CSI’ series but without trying to copy that.

Betty Irabor Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Others turn up for The Future Awards Africa Practice - with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. RED owns the continent’s largest portfolio of youth media brands.Its Content Division holds brands across TV, radio, online and events includingY! Magazine,YNaija. com, Rubbin’ Minds, #YTech100 and the The RED Summit. It also anchors a development firm, The Future Project, which projects include Africa’s leading youth platform, The Future Awards

Africa,HowCanIGetInvolved. com and Aiki.ng, which is run in conjunction with Microsoft.

The private viewing of Ferona’s intimate collection at Alara Luxury Haute Couture brand Ferona recently came to Lagos, Nigeria for a night of romantic minimalism and private viewing of their latest SS17 collection at Luxury concept store, ALARA. Guests immersed themselves to a night of detail and technique as each design walked the runway.

Cont’d from Pg. 36

Somkele Iyamah Idhalama, Winner, The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting

Theodora Mogo, Winner TFAA-Prize-for-Beauty

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 31, 2016

December 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 31, 2016

FITNESS FILE The Edenlifestyle corner with

MAJE AYIDA

Happy New… You

majeayida@edenlifenigeria.com www.edenlifenigeria.com, 07062614551

A

s another year starts, many people have been thinking about New Year Resolutions. The number of overweight and obese individuals continues to skyrocket in epidemic proportions and as such many resolutions will evolve around the pursuit of an elusive weight loss goal.

As a fitness professional, for years I’ve seen the pendulum swing back and forth as to which “diet” works best for weight loss: low-carb, highcarb, low-fat, the fill-in-the-blank diet (rice diet, grapefruit diet, peanut butter diet), you name it. The diet rage of the day just leaves overweight individuals confused as to the best way to lose weight and keep unwanted pounds off. It turns out that we may just be better off forgetting the word “diet” altogether.

I’ve seen clients try different diets over an over, just to fall off the wagon, get discouraged, and then try a different diet. Which is why I am more concerned with helping clients stick with a plan they can follow while incorporating lifestyle changes they can stick with. One of the major problems with diets is adherence, which is so hard for so many overweight people struggling to shed unwanted pounds.

Reducing calories and exercising more are well known strategies to pursue. Here are some weight loss tips designed to help you jump start your new journey to a slimmer waistline.

Keep Moving Each Day Research confirms that physical activity is essential to human health and is also an important catalyst in your weight loss efforts. Exercise doesn’t have to be in the form of a grueling 5 mile run or lifting heavy free weights.

The key to using exercise to fuel your weight loss efforts is that you need to do something to stay moving each day.

Set 30 to 60 minutes aside each day for some type of aerobic or resistance activity. The best part is that your time can be broken down into convenient 10 or 15 minute segments and you’ll still receive the same health and weight loss benefits.

Keep a Detailed Food and Exercise Journal This may be one of the most important tips that many people on a weight loss mission fail to undertake. Keep a detailed record of each bite of food and drink, including the time and amount consumed. Don’t cheat. Record every food item including between meals snacks and sneaking a bite of your favorite chocolate bar.

Write down your physical activity also, including type of exercise and the duration of each segment during the day. Many people are amazed to find out the number of calories eaten outside of normal meal times.

Set Realistic Goals Often in our zest to reach an imaginary weight goal, we set an unrealistic target and timeframe. When it becomes clear that the goal can’t be met, our best intentions are forgotten and any lost weight returns with a few extra pounds to discourage us from trying again. Permanent weight loss must be

accomplished slowly, with a plan to drop no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. This allows our body time to adjust naturally and make the necessary metabolic changes to maintain our lower weight.

Set Specific Goals Make a plan to achieve your weight loss goal. Chart your day to include 3 well-balanced meals and develop a calorie-controlled menu that will allow you to hit your target. Schedule physical activity at a specific time as you would a business appointment. Avoid generalizations about diet and exercise, and be specific with regard to intent and end result.

Allow Yourself Room for an Occasional Slip Everybody is human and inevitably you will make a small slip in your dietary plan. Fortunately your body is very forgiving and does not assess caloric intake for a single meal or even an entire day. Allow yourself an occasional treat when you really need it to keep yourself moving forward toward your weight loss goal.

Practice portion control As an advocate for portion control, watching how much you eat is one of the best ways to lose weight. I have been counseling clients for years, and I have seen in my practice that when clients watch the sizes of their portions (aka eat less), they shave hundreds of calories daily, and lose weight effortlessly. While it may seem obvious that larger portions have more calories than smaller portions, most people don’t recognize just how many more calories a large portion contains.

Another advantage to practicing portion control is that you do not have to cut out entire food groups to get thin and you get to indulge in your favorite treat every now and then. No dieting and no deprivation.

Think positive Instead of dwelling on the foods you cannot eat, try instead to focus on

what you can have. I tell my clients that there is no restaurant that is completely off limits. You can always find something healthy to eat. For example, when going to an Italian restaurant, instead of dwelling on the fact that you shouldn’t eat fettuccine alfredo, called a “heart attack on a plate” by the Center of Science for the Public Interest, think instead of what you can eat: whole wheat pasta with veggies and fresh tomato sauce or fresh grilled fish with sautéed spinach.

Eat structured meals and snacks Speaking of nibbling and mindless munching, one advantage to eating structured meals and snacks is that you tend to get famished less often.

And when we are famished, we tend to just grab whatever food is in sight.

And, we also often end up grabbing junk food. Planning in advance is also important. Keep healthy foods at arms reach and bring along a fruit and yogurt if you know that it will be hard to buy something healthy midafternoon.

Do Something Different Remember the feeling you last had when you did something different?

We are creatures of habit and although most habits keep us safe they don’t always challenge us. Have some fun by changing a habit and doing something you haven’t done before. It can be as simple as taking a different route to work or waking up in the middle of the night and looking at the stars. The challenge is to experience something new.

Spend 5 minutes looking through Google for something new. Try a new sport, join a new club, start a new business, try a new hobby, reconnect with an old friend, go to the theatre, book a weekend break.

Life is short. It’s amazing what happens when you try something new.

With new experiences come more new experiences. Without change you get the same results so get out there and explore.

Happy New Year!!

As an advocate for portion control, watching how much you eat is one of the best ways to lose weight. I have been counseling clients for years, and I have seen in my practice that when clients watch the sizes of their portions (aka eat less), they shave hundreds of calories daily, and lose weight effortlessly. While it may seem obvious that larger portions have more calories than smaller portions, most people don’t recognize just how many more calories a large portion contains

DECEMBER 31, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

Ifi Alexander SS17 Collection (Tears)

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FASHION FILE

Ifi Alexander SS17 Collection

R

eal men don’t cry. Well that’s what we were told as little boys.

But over years gone by, I’ve cried over painful goodbyes; I’ve laughed so hard that my sides hurt and tears ran down my cheeks unabashedly.

I have learnt that tears do not reflect weakness but on the contrary strength, and most often that we are still flesh and bones after all. And it is okay to cry sometimes.

Inspired from British embroider “broiderybitch”, this collection depicts the delicate balance between vulnerability, expression and strength. Ifi Alexander is the creative director of the brand and a graduate from the university of Lagos.

Credits: Models: George Esemene and Josh Ntat Photography: Seyi Akinbola @ trans4mazfotography Styling: @ifi_alexander

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

44

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

LARA GEORGE

I Want People to Discover God Through My Music Lara George came into limelight years ago as a member of the Kush music group alongside TY Bello and a few others. Going solo, she released a hit single, ‘Ijoba Orun’, which made her soar in the music scene for a long time. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, she talks about her music, new album and KUSH

M

I just released two new singles y two new singles are ‘Eyin Loba’ and ‘Nobody Greater’ and they are out right now on different platforms to buy. The new album is coming out in the first quarter of next year. Everybody should look out for it.

Ijoba Orun is an old Yoruba song I only rewrote the song. It was a song I used to worship with in my own quiet time with God. And I found the words to be so deep and intense. Also, they were words I could relate with. It’s my prayer and desire that whatever I find myself doing on the face of this earth, that God will look at me and say this is my child in whom I am well pleased, and then make it to Heaven at the end of the day. That’s what drives a lot of things that I do. That’s why that song is a song I relate to so intensely and deeply. That prayer resonates in many people’s hearts as well.

It’s a calling and a choice Everything in life is a choice. The Bible says that the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. So, even when you feel you are carried away by some big revelation, you still have the ability to stop yourself if you want to. For me, music is a responsibility; let me put it that way. It is talent; when you are given, you need to use it wisely, to push people’s life and not to bring it down. This is the reason I chose gospel because at the end of the day, I don’t want God to ask me what I did with my gift and am crying and all. So, that’s the reason.

Lara George is an architect by training I’m a wife, and a mother of two children. My son just recently got into secondary school and I’m excited about that. I am also an entrepreneur.

I am involved in real estate, building and construction, as well as a music entrepreneur, as I’m involved in the distribution side of music. I try to be as versatile as possible.

Being part of a Catholic Church concert I was invited last year for the first time and I was a bit skeptical initially as it was a Catholic Church and a concert too. I had never seen a contemporary concert done by a Catholic Church, so it was surprising. When I got to the event, it was an amazing one, power packaged, no holds barred whatsoever. So, when I was invited this year, I had to honour the invitation because this year is bigger and wider with its reach. And I think it’s a good initiative.

In five years I’ll be bigger and better

Lara George

With a wider reach, I want to be an international artiste; I want to go to the ends of the earth. That’s what God wants and I want God to help use my music to get there. So, when people listen, they would find God through the words I sing.

I would love to do a song with Donnie McClurkin...

This is because I just love his music.

He is like my all-time favorite gospel artiste and I have so many.

I like to call my style urban inspirational

I like to infuse ethnicity into my songs because I feel music is deep when it’s from within. It’s got to be you with familiar sounds that evoke a lot of things.

My role models and mentors I like to borrow different pieces from different people. People like Shirley Ceaser, Dr Ron Kenoly, Don Moen and Ron Kenoly.

Dansaki is a song of thanksgiving When you say Dansaki in Yoruba, which was borrowed from Hausa, it means to hail and say you are celebrating the person. It simply means you are celebrating God and it was borne out of

gratitude. I just wanted to bless God and say thank you for everything.

I am still very much in contact with my Kush members Emma is very much around and involved in Nollywood, behind the scenes, while TY Bello is very much in photography. Dapo is also into the movies.

Nothing major from us all at the moment but we just did a remake of ‘Let’s Live Together’ for the half of the yellow sun movie and featured Flavour. At the moment, everyone is busy doing so many things.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY THE LEGACY CALLED THE EXPERIENCE For the past 10 years, thousands of people have converged on the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos for a worship concert (The Experience Lagos) which is regarded as the biggest gospel music concert in Africa and, arguably, one of the biggest in the world.

At this worship concert, gender, nationality, status and race cease to exist as people lift up their voices in praise of the Almighty God. The Experience Lagos, which debuted in December 2006 with about 70,000 worshippers, was mostly thought of as an over-excited gathering of Christians, who would soon lose their spark only to metamorphose into something bigger in the following years.

The Experience Lagos has been home to thousands of worshippers every December as it heralds the festive vibes of Christmas. Gospel ministers across the

world see this one- of- a- kind concert as a glowing platform for them to worship.

Last year, The Experience celebrated in awesome style, the decade landmark and this year’s edition showed that there was no stopping the move with the theme, Revealing Jesus.

In attendance were top government officials, including a former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife and a whole lot of celebrities from the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Throwing more light on the 2016 theme, the senior Pastor, House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin

stated: “The purpose of this year’s edition is to further reach the world with the message of the Gospel of Christ, in a fashion so simple, yet effective.”

MAYOWA OLAWALE-GREAT

My Brands will Be on Every Lip Soon Mayowa is a serial entrepreneur who has grown a brand for himself in modelling, movies and affiliated brands. Koolblazes is instrumental in the success of the likes of Francis Idugboe, Uzy Hamman and Vicky Njoku (Vicky Heldan). In this chat with Tosin Clegg, he talks about his efforts and achievements

FANS CONNECT WITH NKECHI EMMANUEL Nkechi Emmanuel, aka Nurse Titi of Clinic Matters, has been a household name ever since she became part of the series.

Her Fans Connect Day Out, a one-day hangout with a few randomly selected

fans, to appreciate them for their love and support took place recently.

The event themed “Am the Best”, was part of her initiative to further strengthen the relationship with her fans. She gave them a special treat at

the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Whilst this was going on, she talked about her breakout role, challenges as an actress, plans for the coming year and her career at large. It was indeed a beautiful night for everyone.

FRAICHEUR OPENS AT MARYLAND MALL

On the 29th of December 2016, the third “Face of Okija” pageant, which promotes humanitarian service and Igbo culture, will hold in the town of Okija in Anambra State.

The Face of Okija is a beauty pageant with a difference. It is a rich cultural event aimed at rejuvenating Igbo culture which has been badly eroded by all manner of external influences. The Face of Okija supports and promotes Igbo language and culture and lays great emphasis on the qualities of the archetypal African woman which include honesty, decency, modesty, humility and service. This is the true definition of beauty.

This is the beauty celebrated at the Face of

Okija pageant.

This year, the contest, which is open to citizens of Igbo land at large and indigenes of Okija in particular, introduces a long-awaited twist with the introduction of a male category.

The Face of Okija pageant winners will be announced; the Queen and the King will become ambassadors of the ObiJackson foundation for the duration of their reign.

Prior to 2016, publicity for the pageant was limited to Okija and its environs. However, the foundation has taken a big step this year by extending the reach of its recruitment messagebyaddingonlineadvertisingtoreach indigenes all over Nigeria and hopefully in

Diaspora. On the reason for these two big decisions, the founder of the Foundation Dr. ErnestAzudialu Obiejesi said: “In all things, males and females are represented, including creation and especially in service to humanity, so the Face of Okija must reflect this duality.”

This year, the King and Queen will be hired by the foundation and will earn a fixed salary of 1.4million for one year, an official vehicle for the duration of reign, a scholarship grant of N1 million and a chance to impact the lives of the indigenes of Okija, Igboland and Nigeria positively through a mix of social welfare programmes that they will be required to champion.

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hat are the experience and challenges so far?

Let me start with @clubmlagos. It has been exciting, considering the idea is one of a kind. That which makes it exciting also poses a challenge. It seems people are afraid of change, owing to the fact that movies don’t show mostly at night in Nigeria.

Who are your mentors and role models?

I owe my Koolblazes Modelling Agency adventure to my cousin, Seun Oshofisan who showed me the ropes.

Where do you see your brand in five years?

This is a question I’d always dreaded owing to the fact that the available responses are limited.

Hence, my response is, in five years, we hope our brands will be on every lip and in every heart.

JOY KINSLEY

I’m Standing Out in the Coming Year Chukwurah Joy favor popularly known as JoyKinsley considers her journey into Nollywood as a divine direction. She speaks on her projections for the incoming year and the new trend rocking the industry

E

Why did you choose acting as a career?

ver since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be a star. Sometimes, in my dream, I see myself acting with other celebrities. One day, I saw one of this bulk SMS messages on my phone, requesting for an audition in Okota. I responded with the attitude of ‘you never can tell’ in mind.

I did the audition, I was successful. After then, I started attending auditions. My very first attempt encouraged me. Moreso, I have the zeal for acting.

You got a role on your first outing. Did you consider your journey an easy sail?

Not easy at all. I met so many disappointments along the line. Some promised me jobs, but I didn’t get at the end of the day

Can you give us an insight into some of these challenges?

The competition is always intense; affluence also determines your future and stand. People who come into the industry with rides of their own, are more hopeful than those who trek into the industry.

Have you paid money for a role?

No, the industry is becoming more competitive.

Nobody can tell what will happen. I’m doing other things that will compliment my career; things that will give me the kind of money that I need.

Jehovah witness; I used to go from house to house to preach the gospel. I thank God for making a way for me right now. Even in school, I was an entertainer, I act and sing. In rap a lot but acting is my first love.

You said you are looking for money. Do you need the money to pay your way through?

You said you used to evangelise. Is that why you cannot give yourself out for any role?

No, I want to start producing my own movie.

That is why I’m searching for funds

Do you have the skills that will enable you to stand out as a producer, taking into consideration that some of your colleagues have gained international recognition through outstanding production?

I’ve gathered enough skills, coupled with my experience. Right now, I can make a statement as a producer. I have been to different locations, in and out of the country, I’ve met renowned producers, shared experiences and learned more about the job. I have what it takes to produce a good movie.

Why did you adopt the name joykinsley?

My name is joy and my father’s first name is Kinsley. I put the two together as my stage name.

That’s why people call me, joykinsley.

What’s your dream?

Yes. I was offered some naked role when I went to the east for a movie. The role I got was more of kissing and sex. I rejected the script and came back to Lagos. It was more like a blue movie.

To make it big, locally and on the international scene. I want to go to Hollywood and make movies. I want to go bigger than Hollywood.

Let’s pip into your background?

Growing up was not very easy, I lost my dad when I was very young, I was eight years. My aunty brought me up. I attended Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, I read economics.

How was life with you then?

My aunty was Jehovah Witness. She imposed it on me then. I did not have any choice. I was a

Are you single to the core?

I am not single; at the same I’m not searching What kind of opportunity are you looking at?

One that which will launch me big and high. I’m available for branding in the incoming year, willing to work with any corporate organization that is willing to work with me, including the individual, corporate organization, and government.

How has 2016 been for you and what are your projections for 2017?

I did some business this year, apart from movies, and I want to start producing my own movies.

2017 is going to be a very good year for me.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016 T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

PERSPECTIVE Eighth Senate and Bills that Have Impacted Youths Chuks Okocha

Y

ear 2016 will go down in history as the year that the Senate passed legislations op that would positively impact on the lives and welfare of Nigerians, especially youths and the physically challenged persons.

From the Nigerian Peace Corps bill to the amendment of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the legislation against discrimination against the physically challenged persons, the Senate came out as a group of elected representatives with listening ear to plights of the people they represent.

For instance, with recent statistical data showing that the average rate of unemployment in Nigeria is now 24 percent in the second quarter of 2016, the passage of the Nigerian Peace Corps establishment bill by the 8th Senate could not have come at a better time.

The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill that scaled Third Reading in the Senate and is currently awaiting concurrence by the House of Representatives was principally targeted at curbing youth unemployment, and helping to render community services and other civic duties in the country.

According to the sponsors of the bill, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Binta Masi Garba, it is structured to address unemployment — especially among the youths that constitute about 70 percent of the population. In addition to this, the Peace Corps Bill has other necessary components like the promotion of civic engagement, volunteerism, community services and nation building across.

The Peace Corps Bill first came to the National Assembly in the 7th Assembly.

However, it was frustrated. But, on Thursday 24th November 2016, it was read for the third time and passed by the Senate, under the leadership of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who stated that the Bill will allow for a more coordinated and efficient response to many of the pervasive issues confronting the country.

Presenting the report of the Committee to the Senate at the Plenary, Senator Bayero

Bukola Saraki Nafada said that of the 237 memoranda received by the committee when it conducted a public hearing on the bill in April, 219 were in support, while Fourteen (14) objected to the establishment of the Corps. The implication is that the bill has a wide acceptance.

Nafada further highlighted that the Ministry of Interior, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) in their presentations did not support the establishment of either the Nigerian Peace Corps or National Unity and Peace Corps.

He told the senate at the plenary that the Senate Committee agreed to merge the two bills sponsored by Ndume and Binta Garba respectively, since the two bills were basically the same, stating therefore that the merged bills shall be known as “Nigerian Peace Corps Bill, 2016.”

Giving further details on the Bill, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior said that the Head of the Corps will be a Commandant General with six (6) deputy Commandants-General and Six (6) Assistant Commandants-General drawn from the Six (6) geo-political zones which should reflect the Federal Character principle; and the Corps should be domiciled in the Federal

Ministry of Interior.

Speaking after the Bill’s clause-by-clause passage at the Senate Plenary, Saraki expressed his pleasure that his colleagues allow the bill to proceed to the third reading – saying that the Nigerian Peace Corps would have a stronger framework for addressing the rising unemployment in the country by providing job opportunities for the youth, The Senate President further stated that the Bill will also facilitate the training of youths to advance the course of peace building and conflict resolution through education, mediation and arbitration among warring groups or communities, whenever and wherever there is crisis in the country.

Saraki went on to say that the bill would not have come at a better time than now when the country is witnessing strife in some parts of the country due to the prolonged Boko Haram and Niger Delta militancy. He further stated that the Corps has been functioning for some time without legal backing, adding that now that it is recognized, it will go a long way in institutionalising peace in the country.

In his contributions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu said the Bill would create job opportunities and help in augmenting the efforts of security agencies. In the same vein, Senator Sabi Abdullahi argued that in tackling security issues, there is the need to use multiple approaches, hence the need for the bill. “We need to allow more participation in the security space,’’ he said.

Another interesting piece of legislation that portrayed the 8th senate as not only compassionate but possessing the capacity to always positively respond to the plights of Nigerians is the passage of a bill aimed at ending the discrimination faced by Nigerians with physical disability.

Before proceeding on break, after completing it’s mandatory 180 legislative sitting, the Senate on Wednesday, 13th July 2016 passed the bill on Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill. The Bill sponsored by Senator Francis Alimikhena was presented for first and second reading in October and December, 2015 respectively.

The Bill seeks to provide social protection to persons with disabilities and provide safeguards against any discrimination they may suffer in the course of their daily life.

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It also establishes a National Commission that will ensure that their right to education, healthcare and other social and economic rights contained in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) are guaranteed.

Commenting before he hit the gavel signifying that the bill had scaled the third reading, Saraki observed that the Bill failed to secure Presidential Assent after its passage in the 6th and 7th Assembly. He however expressed his desire to see that the Bill was quickly passed into law by the current administration. Already, a similar version of the Disability Bill has been passed by the House of Representatives.. What is outstanding now is for both chambers of the National Assembly to harmonise the Bills before it is sent to the President for assent.

In the same line, the Senate also demonstrated compassion when it passed into law the legislation that would guarantee the validity scores recorded by any candidate in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination for three academic sessions.

This will save parents and students the cost of paying for the examinations every year even after scoring the requisite mark but unable to secure admission due to shortage of space in the institutions.

The Senate has ordered the discontinuation of the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) by the Universities. The examination was declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Deliberating on the report by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND presented by its chairman, Senator Barau Jibrin on the Bill for an Act to amend the JAMB Act and other matters connected thereof, 2016( SB.245), the senators amended subsection (a) of section 5 to read as follows: ” 5(b) the Matriculations Examinations conducted by the Board shall be the sole examinations required for admission and entry into all Universities, Polytechnics (by whatever name called) and Colleges of Education (by whatever name called), to the exclusion of any other institution or body.

–Chuks Okocha (Special Assistant to the Senate on Print Media)

South-EastSummit:DayBuhariCouldNotVisitIgboland Jude Ndukwe

T

hat day was December 22, 2016.

The occasion was the Economic and Security Summit of South-East Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari, the tough talking, body language-fear-inspiring, retired army general Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the federal republic, was scheduled to be at the occasion as chief guest of honour. But as we heard, Buhari did not turn up for the auspicious occasion.

Rumours had it that the president stayed away because of a certain threat by members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who vowed to resist his entry into the region.

Assuming that is true, a president who really cared and wanted to attend the summit even if to prove critics wrong that he is anti-Igbo would have found ways to neutralize the threat by IPOB by reaching out to them. There is nothing wrong if he does so directly or through any of his ministers/aides or even governors of the region. That is what it takes to be a leader!

Anyway, the summit ended successfully, but many were already blaming IPOB for the president’s absence. Those who seem to know better say with the president’s statements, his body language and actions against the Igbo, it was a sealed fate that there was no way he was going to be attending such a summit by the region, one of the chief groups of the president’s proclaimed 5 per cent part of the country!

Following that ill-advised absence, a statement was issued by the presidency

through Mallam Garba Shehu, giving some of the most bizarre reasons why a president would not visit a particular region. Part of the statement read: “…some other stakeholders from the South East came and advised him to not go in view of the closeness of the date to Christmas; that given the sensitivity of the period to the people, a presidential visit may come with overexertion and possibly, be disruptive of Christmas”.

It was the same people that willingly and voluntarily invited you, Sir! The first question one would want to ask is, who are “those other stakeholders from the South East” who came to advise the president? If Garba Shehu could be so detailed as to reveal the identity of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as the one who passed the invite to the president, one wonders why the actors of a more critical aspect of the event were not revealed. The feeling here is that there was no such advice.

This part of the excuse could have been cooked in order to continue to lay the blame of the president’s failure to be at the summit at the feet of some imaginary “stakeholders”.

Furthermore, it is most ridiculous and unbelievable that the reason a president of Nigeria gives for not attending an occasion in the South East is because of its closeness to Christmas and that such a visit could be “disruptive of Christmas” when everyone knows that the Igbo man’s best moments to receive August visitors to his abode are at Christmas and the New Yam festival.

How come Buhari does not know this? One who has been the president of Nigeria before this dispensation ought to know a fair share of his peoples’ diverse cultures especially those

of the major tribes!

That was nothing but a lame excuse for the president’s deliberate refusal to be at the summit. It is nothing new but this administration’s continued flagrant display of hatred for the Igbo is well-documented.

It is quite ironical that while Buhari would not attend a security and economic summit in the south east because he would not want to disrupt the Christmas season there, he was very quick and happy to send all manner of security agencies including the military, who are currently doing a python dance there.

The disruption which these security agencies have since been causing to dwellers and travelers to the region since the inauguration of this administration is unimaginable. For example, it is reported that about seventy military/police check points are mounted between Onitsha and Owerri alone, a distance of just about 85km.

This has caused untold hardship to a people and a region that is not in any way at war.

Why the needless heavy presence of the army there if not to disrupt the people’s Christmas celebration and dampen their season of joy?

As if that is not bad enough, the presidency has also unleashed men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service on travelers to the south east. Many Igbo sons and daughters travelling from especially Lagos and other south west states have complained bitterly how they have been forced to part with money ranging from between N5,000 – N50,000 or they have their luggage especially bags of rice bought or received as gifts from offices/friends, and even their cars impounded, leaving families stranded on the

road, that is for those who cannot part with the amount quoted by their ‘captors’.

The question is, why are there no such checkpoints by the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies in the north even where terrorist activities and murderous invasions of communities by the notorious Fulani herdsmen are at their peak? Are the Igbo the only ones who drive cars that need to be checked by the Customs? Are they the only ones who travel at Christmas which is normally a public holiday season that sees Nigerians of different ethnic origin and religious background travelling to different places?

When has the south east turned to Seme border or any other border as to attract the heavy presence of the Customs if not just to deliberately add to the inconveniences and sufferings imposed by the Buhari-led administration on Ndigbo and disrupt their Christmas?

This proves that Buhari’s excuse not to attend the summit was nothing but exactly what is, just an excuse! Even if the date was not convenient for him, he could have sent a representative be it Dr Ogbonnaya Onu or Dr Chris Ngige or Rochas Okorocha or any other person. But no, it is all about Ndigbo so it means nothing to this president!

The good thing is that the summit held and was successful even without the president.

Ndigbo have since learnt to live without him, and they are sticking together now more than ever before, thanks to Buhari and his anti-Igbo postures!

–jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: StJudeNdukwe

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

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WITH

MARITIME BITS

JOHN IWORI 08057763164

L-R: Immediate past president, Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Dr. Omogbai Omoh-Eboh and the pioneer president of MAAN, Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour shortly after the unveiling of Rhodes-Vivour’s book titled “Commercial Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria through the Cases” in Lagos...recently

L-R: Pioneer Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro and her husband, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN at the 2016 Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) gala night and awards organised in Lagos…recently

Lekki Deep Seaport Promoters Jittery over FG Disinvestment Plans Fresh facts have emerged that the promoters of the Lekki Deep Seaport are now jittery over the decision of the Federal Government to divest from the multi-billion naira project.

For long, speculations about the Federal Government divestment plans on the Lekki deep seaport were rife as not a few stakeholders in the maritime industry wondered why it would put huge funds in a venture it lacked the capacity to manage efficiently.

They argued that it was the inability of the Federal Government to efficiently manage the terminals that informed the port reforms that

removed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from the day-to-day running of the nation’s seaports during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The exercise which was midwife by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) removed the role of cargo handling in the nation’s seaports from the NPA. Confirming the divestment plans of the Federal Government, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman said the authority would scale down the 20 per cent shareholding in the Lekki deep seaport.

Usman who dropped the hint in Lagos during

Stakeholders Seek Maritime Policies Review Stakeholders in the maritime industry have called for a review of the key policies in the maritime industry for the benefit of Nigerians.

They specifically called on the Federal Government to urgently review the maritime policies which they maintained have negatively affected port operations in the country over the years.

The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Victoria Haastrup told newsmen in Lagos that there was need to expedite action on the passage of maritime bills presently before the National Assembly.

Though these bills are many, she particularly called for the quick passage of the Port and Harbours Bill which has been in the National Assembly since the 6th Assembly.

Haastrup who recently took over the mantle of leadership of Nigeria’s foremost maritime institution, the Certified Institute of Shipping, Nigeria (CISN) as its fourth President emphasised that in order to re-engineer the maritime sector, government should provide an enabling environment through monetary and fiscal policies for trade growth and economic sustainability.

Her words: “The maritime industry should be overhauled in the areas of maritime policies, institutional, regulatory and legal framework. This is because our policy framework is out-dated and incoherent. The Nigerian Ports Authority Act is 29 years old. New laws are urgently required. The National Assembly should pass the Ports and Harbours Bill currently before it.

“Government should do constant dredging of the channels in order to maintain a given draught. The dilapidated port access roads should be fixed while inter-modal transportation should be enhanced. The laying of channel buoys, the procurement of additional harbour crafts, the establishment of new signal stations and anchorages aimed at ensuring safety of navigation, protection of maritime environment and enhancement of maritime safety should be undertaken by the government to bring down the cost of doing business”.

Haastrup who is also the Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium Limited, the concessionaire of Terminal C in the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa also called for capacity building to ensure the sustainable development of the maritime industry in the years ahead.

On his part, the immediate past President of CISN, Professor Isaac Adalemo stressed the need for training and re-training to ensure that Nigerians nay Nigeria take its rightful place in the scheme of things in the maritime industry.

According to him, there was need to fill the yawning gap in professional training and development of the shipping sector of the economy.

a press conference to mark her 100 days in office stated that her management team considered the present equity share of the Federal Government in the project as too high.

According to her, the authority had already paid 4.4 per cent of its level of equity in the project.

Though she stated that the deep seaport would not suffer funding issue because of NPA’s decision to slash its shareholding in it, there are fears in some quarters that the scheduled date for project completion may not be realised.

THISDAY checks revealed that the promoters

NCS Impounds 43 Bags of Cannabis No fewer than 43 bags of cannabis have been impounded by officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command (WMC), Apapa, Lagos.

The cannabis which worth over N250 million in the open market were intercepted by officers and men of the WMC on patrol along the Agbara/Badagry following a tip off.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), WMC, Comptroller Yusuf Umar who disclosed this at the command headquarters revealed that the seizure was the fourth one the WMC was making in the last six months.

He also revealed that the command has made several other seizures in the year worth over N3. 3 billion with a duty paid value (DPV) of N3, 383, 206, 242.

According to him, this is against the 13 seizures valued at N6 million and DPV of N8 million made in 2015.

He expressed delight that WMC has done well in improving its seizure profile since he took the

mantle of leadership in December 2014.

Umar stated that WMC would continue to fight smugglers as long as they refused to turn away from their nefarious activities in the area under its jurisdiction.

The CAC expressed appreciation to the management of NCS, especially the Comptroller General Customs (CGC), Colonel Ibrahim Hammed Ali (retired) for the support and co-operation the service has given to the command in the discharge of its statutory roles and responsibilities since his appointment.

He also commended the Zonal Co-ordinator, Zone A, ACG Charles Eporwei Edike for his encouragement, which he said, has spurred officers and men in WMC to do more.

While applauding officers and men of WMC for their efforts since the beginning of the year, he charged them not to rest on their oars as the task ahead was enormous.

Maritime Infrastructure Commission Underway A former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr Omar Suleiman, has called for the establishment of Maritime Infrastructure Commission in the country.

He stated that Nigeria’s quest to become the hub of maritime activities in the West and Central African subregions will remain elusive without a deep seaport.

Suleiman who served as NPA Managing Director from 2011 to 2012 argued that for Nigeria to make a head way in the comity of maritime nations, she must have port facilities that can accommodate large vessels with draught of at least 15 metres and that carry up to 10,000 TEUs. His words: “Without deep seaport, our hope of being hub will not materialise”.

According to the former NPA helmsman whose short tenure was credited with many achievements, the inability of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to provide a transhipment tariff is hampering the use of Nigerian ports for transhipment of cargoes to “landlocked countries like

Niger”.

Describing investment ratio of 60:20:20 among private sector, Federal and State governments respectively in the development of some deep seaports in the country as inadequate, Suleiman said “about 50 per cent of the port cost is taken by the breakwater”.

“Investors are reluctant to pay for breakwater, unless in special cases, breakwaters are provided by the government of that country. In Nigeria, government through NPA should provide breakwater and channel.

These constitute the infrastructure for safe navigation on which compulsory pilotage is being charged.

“The 40 per cent government exposure is not enough to build the infrastructures. This is one of the main problems of ports development.

Government should review this policy to accommodate the peculiarities of maritime infrastructure. The best way to go is to set up a Maritime Infrastructure Commission to take care of all maritime infrastructure issues,” he said.

of the project are worried over its fate as the downturn in the economy makes it virtually impossible to get investors with deep pockets that are willing to put their funds into the project.

Already, the promoters have gone to the drawing board to re-strategize and chart ways and means that will not allow the project to suffer any funding setback.

This is coming on the heels of the Usman’s failure to make public the rataio of reduction to be effected in the shareholding, how much the 20 per cent equity amounted to, and the sum the 4.4 per cent that has been paid represented.

Investor Seeks Full Private Sector Participation in Port Dev One of the investors in the development of deep seaports in the country, Mr. Victor Akpanika has called for the full participation of the private sector to ensure that Nigerians derive maximum benefits from the projects.

In a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for the Amendment of the National Inland Waters Authority (NIWA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Act, Akpanika drew the attention to some of the anomalies in the system that need to be address by the authorities.

According to Akpanika who is the Managing Director of Port Notel Limited, the promoter of the Port Nortel Deep Seaport in the Akwa Ibom State, there was need to promote private sector full participation in ports development, ownership and operations in the country in place of the current Act that grants the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) the exclusive rights and authority to own and develop ports as landlord port owner, while at the same time acting as technical and commercial regulator of the maritime industry.

He argued that the policy stifles the growth and profitable development of this vital sector of our economy.

He explained that this does not only lead to over bearing bureaucratic interference, lack of probity and the absence of competition amongst the various ports, but also give room for insufficient funding to build capacity.

In the same vein, he added, this contends with wide spread globalization and trade liberalisation, that is forcing businesses and shipping companies to move towards countries with modern ports infrastructure, providing cost effective and efficient shipping services.

Continuing, he said: “Full scale privatization rather than the current partial privatization of the maritime transport sector, will liberate us from these ills and yield huge revenue to the benefits of the Federal Government. If properly managed as was the case in the telecommunication and power Sectors, it would attract various serious and financially solvent players. This, in a nutshell, would free the government from heavy financial burden. It will create employment opportunities for our teaming youth population”.

According to him, the Port Notel position is based on eight years field experience in promoting the development of a Greenfield deep sea port, off the Atlantic Coast of Ibeno Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. During our interactive sessions, in and outside the country, with various stakeholders, we gained more understanding of the issues militating against active foreign participation in developing Greenfield deep sea port projects in Nigeria.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 31, 2016

COVER

THE WORLD IN

2016

Into the consciousness of a bewildered nation, a certain James Onanefe Ibori returned and his loyalists rolled out the drums. His ‘replica’ in current dispensation, Rotimi Amaechi, tried, yet again, to convince his friends and co-travellers in Abuja that he is not a prophet without honour at home. Yet again, he failed. But his failure compared better compared to that of a certain David Cameron who was consumed by Brexit. While in Italy, Prime Minister Renzi made good his vow to take the exit door if his referendum on political reforms failed. Americans heaved a sigh of relief that Fidel Castro, their nemesis for decades outliving nine American presidents, had finally kissed the dust. His people mourned and celebrated him as one-in-a-lifetime a hero while others mocked him in death. The story of the world in 2016 is that of war and muscle flexing as Vladmir Putin and Bashar al-Assad showed in Syria while Hillary Clinton could not do hers over a certain Donald Trump. In a couple of weeks, Barack Obama will be an ex-president while Joaquin Guzman, the notorious drug lord, will spend the end of the year not traumatising his native Mexico. His own empire, like others before him, seem to have fallen. Samuel Ajayi, in this concluding part, looks at those who made 2016 as eventful and fearful as it could been. A year like no other…for the world and for humanity

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • December 31, 2016

COVER

CAMERON, MR. DAVID: WHEN BREXIT BECAME POLITICAL EXIT

OBAMA, PRESIDENT BARACK: A LEGACY OF HISTORY

AMAECHI, MR. ROTIMI: A POLITICAL MINSTREL’S CRAVE FOR A HOME BASE

CLINTON, MRS. HILLARY: STUNNED BY A RABBLE-ROUSING CHALLENGER

At the start of the year, he was British Prime Minister with ratings that, though not high, were not also alarmingly low. David Cameron campaigned vigorously against Britain exiting the European Union, but those campaigning for the exit had the final say. Not only did they use anti-immigration sentiments to force the message down the throats of an emotionally charged populace, they were also aware that average Britons who felt their jobs were being taken by foreigners were behind them. Though, many of those who voted for Brexit were to later claim that they were not even sure what the thing was all about. The damage had already been done. Not only for the credibility of Cameron and his Conservative Party, but for their political brand rating as well.

And that is why Cameron started the year as British Prime Minister but ended it as an ex-PM. No thanks to a vicious campaign which showed that sometimes, the majority makes the wrong decisions.

Obama will leave office in 19 days from now but he has made history.

But 2016 gave him an unenviable task of having to hand over power to a president produced by another party; just like George Bush Jnr. did in 2008. Even with that, Obama’s place in history is assured. He was the first black president of the United States and apart from that, he was able to push through many reforms that have changed the face of America. However, his moves to ram democracy down the throat of many Middle East countries have left the region in crisis more than at any time in history. From Egypt to Syria; from Yemen to Iraq, the region is burning.

And more than his party losing the presidential election in 2016, these are what have been the defining moments of his year.

Rotimi Amaechi has been a fighter for years. And in 2016, he showed that he still had the energy for political battles. However, his battle ground has always been his home state of Rivers. Amaechi wants to prove a point; to show his friends in Abuja that he is in control of the state. But he always underestimates the power of political emotions: his people simply do not like the company he has been keeping since 2013 when he abandoned the PDP for the APC. Early this month, the by-election in his Rivers provided another opportunity to show his reach. But he came out, once again, holding the short end of the electoral stick. But that was not without blood being shed; as it’s usually done whenever there is any election in the state.

Amaechi, either for right or wrong reasons, is one of those who shaped 2016 in Nigeria.

Mrs. Hillary Clinton would have made history from two fronts in 2016.

The first as that, had she won the race to the White House, she would have been the only former First Lady to have become president. Secondly, she would have also been the first woman to become the president of the United States of America. But in Donald Trump, she had a nemesis who rabble-roused, invoked the spirit of white supremacy, sent out hate messages and gave a gospel that resonated with native white Americans. And with those, he bulldozed his way into the White House and one of his casualties was Clinton.

Clinton, though, had moral burdens to deal with. The allegation that she destroyed sensitive mails with her phone after being accused of sending classified state secrets with her private mail address would not just go away despite the FBI giving her a clean bill of health.

For her, 2016 is a year that could have been a year of history. But, alas, it was never to be.

MATEO, MR. RENZI: A PATH OF HONOUR, A DIFFICULT PATH Mateo Renzi, the former Italian Prime Minister, was the youngest man to occupy the seat when he assumed office at the age of 39. But he left office in 2016 by making good his words to resign if his referendum on political reforms was defeated. And he did not even wait till the final results came before he made good his threat. Renzi had wanted constitutional reforms to reduce the number of senators in the country as well as reduce their powers. He also wanted to reduce the political power of the regions. In Italy, any political reforms that will affect concentration of power have to be subjected to popular referendum.

Renzi was actually targeting economic reforms. But the “No” campaign, led by comedian, Beppe Grillo, an admirer of Donald Trump, won the vote.

Renzi might have been consumed by one of the major political turmoil of 2016, but he left office with his head held high.

IBORI, MR. JAMES: A HISTORIC WELCOME FOR THE JAILED HOME BOY

DSS: A SECRET POLICE WITH ITS OPEN SECRETS

Ever since he became the governor of his native Delta State in 1999, James Onanefe Ibori has been a recurring decimal in the country. But towards the end of 2016, when many, outside his core loyalists and state where he still has a vice-like grip on politics, have forgotten about his existence, he happened, once again, on the consciousness of the nation. He was released from jail in the United Kingdom and activities in his hometown of Oghara went into overdrive. While many felt it was improper to celebrate a convicted looter, to his admirers those with such ideas can tell that to the marines. Their hero is back.

Ibori has crawled his way back to the nation’s political consciousness.

If there is any year the Department of State Services, DSS, had come under intense scrutiny, it is 2016. This year alone, the agency chose which court orders to obey and which ones not to. But its greatest public spat was the invasion of homes of some judges on Friday October 8 and Saturday October 9. The DSS later informed a shocked nation that it found caches of cash in the homes of these judges.

While many believed there was a lot of corruption in the judiciary, not a few also believed DSS moves that against the judiciary were because some of these judges had given judgements against it.

While it is supposed to be a secret police, the DSS conducted most of its activities in the open in 2016.

PUTIN, PRESIDENT VLADMIR: FORCING THE WORLD TO TAKE NOTE OF HIS INFLUENCE

Never smiling president of Russia successfully proved in 2016 that the world, nay the West, would always have him to deal with. And they did with his activities in Syria, especially in Aleppo. Putin put his country’s military might at the disposal of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad as the latter battle rebels for the soul of his country and preservation of his own presidency. Earlier this month, the last stronghold of rebels was taken by the Syrian army aided by massive aerial bombardment coming from Russian army. While the West did everything to get Assad out of power, Russia put everything into ensuring that did not happen. And in 2016, if there was any one that will be having the last laugh, it is Putin’s Russia.

While he knew he did not have the economic or the military might of the West combined, he, however, showed the West that his country remains a super power that has to be engaged by the world and not brow-beaten into submission. He started with the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. In 2016, he made a bold statement with Syria.

DECEMBER 31, 2016, THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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COVER LOERA, MR. JOAQUÍN GUZMÁN: A DRUG LORD WHO GAVE AMERICA A HEADACHE No one is sure of his year of birth. Some say it was 1954 while others say it was 1957. But everyone is sure of one thing: there is Mexico and there is Joaquin Guzman. Once described by the Forbes by one of the richest and most influential men in the world, Guzman made his money from drugs. He challenged the state and undermined the authority of his fatherland. But like every empire, his collapsed in 2016 and he became another footnote in the infamous history of organised crime.

CASTRO, PRESIDENT FIDEL: EXIT OF THE LAST VESTIGE OF COMMUNISM Fidel Castro nearly triggered Third World War during the blockade when the American President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy almost took on the old USSR. One man was the cause: a certain Fidel Castro. After it placed its Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, ICBM, in Turkey, which USSR saw as a threat, the latter too moved Intermediate Range and Medium Range Ballistic Missiles, IRBM and MRBM, into Cuba where they would be a major threat to continental shelf of the US. For 14 days, the world was on the brink of a nuclear war.

The United States had earlier launched a covert campaign, led by exiled Cubans, to overthrow Castro. They were to land at what was then called the ‘Bay of Pigs’. It was spectacular failure as Castro’s force routed almost all of them, either killing or capturing them, including US soldiers. Kennedy seemed humiliated. And for the rest of his reign, Castro was a pain in the neck of America. Castro urvived over 600 CIA-sponsored assassination attempts. Castro left office in 2008 surviving nine American presidents.

On November 25, 2016 Castro died and with him, the longest head of state the world had ever known died. And also the last vestige of raw communism.

ENTERTAINMENT

Family Entertainment Centres are a Much Needed Boost in Leisure Circuit

I

Kemi Osinibi

t is no secret that the family unit is the heart of every society. Therefore, creating opportunities to build and strengthen this integral unit is very important.

Family entertainment centers were first established with this purpose of providing diverse opportunities for families to play, bond and share memorable experiences together in a lively and safe environment. Unfortunately, despite its growing popularity across the world, family entertainment centers are nonexistent in Nigeria despite the importance of family in our culture and it being a large market.

What exactly is a Family Entertainment Center (FEC)? An FEC a multianchor entertainment destination that caters to families and young adults.

They are often entirely indoors and usually have at least five anchor attractions and activities for diverse age groups.

The indoor facilities typically range from 150sqm play centers to 7,000sqm mega urban centers that appeal to all ages.

MandK Activity Center Limited, an FEC company founded by Kemi Osinibi and Mope Abudu, is working hard on plugging this gap and changing the face of Nigeria’s leisure industry with the launch of ‘Maxtivity’, its flagship FEC brand. Pointing out the market opportunities, Kemi Osinibi says “worldwide, the FEC industry is rapidly expanding and now has different categories of centers, both outdoor and indoor, including Family Entertainment Centers (FECs), Children’s Entertainment Centers (CECs), Children’s Edutainment Centers (CEdCs), Adult Entertainment Centers (AECs) etc.”

The usual characteristics of FECs include: • unlike theme and amusement parks, their markets are local community based; • their locations are in, or near, residential areas; • regular repeat visits from customers due to their convenient locations and attractive activities; • the average length of stay per visit is

one to two hours; • FECs have multiple attractions, including providing food and beverages. This is what differentiates FECs from single anchor entertainment facilities such as cinemas, go-kart tracks, bowling centers etc. It is this ability to provide multiple attractions that makes FECs ideal for families as they cater for a variety of age groups and interests; • FECs can also cater for birthday parties and other special events.

The types of attractions often found in FECs include thrill rides, soft play area for young children, wall climbing, bumper cars, laser tag, trampolines, miniature golf (outdoor), children’s adventure play arena etc.

Despite a ready market for FECs, no one has yet created the right type of product in Nigeria and people that have had the experience of visiting and enjoying the offerings of an FEC have done so while on holiday outside of Nigeria. According to Mope Abudu and Kemi Osinibi, their desire to make a positive contribution to the family entertainment segment of the leisure industry motivated them to establish Maxtivity, the first of its kind FEC in Nigeria. “Everyone agrees that one of the best ways to build and strengthen the family unit is through shared leisure and interactive activities in a warm, convivial atmosphere that creates lasting memories” says, Kemi Osinibi.

She went further to state that “from in-depth research and interviews, we found out that existing entertainment centers don’t always provide the kind of facilities that everyone can enjoy.

There is a huge amount of focus on providing activities for children under 7 years of age, but not much for older kids, teenagers, young adults and parents. Essentially, the bulk of the family unit is missed out. Most of the few places that cater to a broader audience, are unfortunately not within relatively short distances from main residential areas. At Maxtivity, we will provide a great range of attractions, activities and exciting games for everyone to engage in and enjoy, regardless of their age group”, she concluded.

The company’s plans are ambitious, as it intends.

Osinibi

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

POLITY

Bishop Splashes N100m Season’s Gifts to S’ East Residents Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

I

n a move aimed at cushioning the effect of the lingering recession especially during the yuletide season, an Enugubased pentecostal cleric and the Founder/General Overseer of City of Liberation and Comfort international Ministries,

Bishop Ginika Obi has splashed gifts worth over N100 million on thousands of south-east residents.

The gifts which included about 20 cars of different types including jeeps, Honda Odyssey, Sienna etc, cows, household items like refrigerators, flat-screen televisions,

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS VANESSA ITSEOGHENAOKE DAKPOKPO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS VANESSA ITSEOGHENAOKE AVIOMOH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as HAMMED FESTUS SANNI, now wish to be known and addressed as YAKUBU SUNDAY FESTUS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MR. IROKO OLUTUNDE JONATHAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ADELOWO OLUTUNDE JONATHAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MONDAY IJEBOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MONDAY MICHAEL IJEBOR. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as RAJI YAKUBU, now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI YAKUBU JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

washing machines, pressing boards, cows, bags of rice, tubers of yams and chickens among others were handed over to the people who gathered from different states within the zone.

Though, majority of beneficiaries got the gifts through the process of raffle draws, those within the ages of 50 - 80, both men and women, as well as pregnant women got most of the items without going through the draw process.

THISDAY checks revealed that it cost only a thousand naira for any body to buy the lottery ticket and qualify to try his luck if he or she can become an owner of any of the luxury cars.

It was observed that the crave to win any of the cars was the major reason why the worship service at the Church’s headquarters was filled with both members and non members of the church.

It was also observed that the selling of the tickets even continued while the Bishop was

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Chairman LTV 2016 Christmas fair, Mrs. Adebusola Akinwunmi; Commercial Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), Tope Ayeni; and Sales Services Manager, NBC, Kehinde Jemirin, at the NBC/Coca-Cola Day 2016 LTV Family Christmas fair in Lagos...recently

Members of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library’s (OOPL), Mothers’ Club, in a group photograph with motherless children of the “Gideon’s Home”, Asero, in Abeokuta, during the hosting of the children by the club at the Amusement Park of OOPL, Abeokuta...recently

conducting Sunday prayers preceding the lottery session, which was held after service. A lot of people scrambled for the lottery ticket at the cost of one thousand naira per ticket barely few minutes to the raffle draw.

The event was held under the platform of ‘BGO Foundation’.

Speaking before the commencement of the two-day event, Bishop Obi said God called himmin 1998 to liberate mankind and in his resolve to key into the demands of his assignment, he

decided to work for the emancipation of the people through the foundation.

“God gives us anything we are returning to him. He has so much blessed me and my family, and the best way to appreciate God is to bless people’s lives,” he said.

He urged religious leaders to imbibe the spirit of giving as they are called to cater for both spiritual and physical needs of the people.

He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the country was

headed for a disaster, insisting that despite the present economic situation, the future of Nigeria remained bright. He therefore urged Nigerians to join hands and pray for their leaders.

He also appealed to the leaders at all levels to ensure that the general welfare and well being of the people remained uppermost in their hearts.

Among those that went home with cars include, Mr. Ozoemena Chukwuka, Onyeka Igwesi, Ruth Obi and Mrs. Uche Nwosu.

Olubunmi, daughter of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, after obtaining her bachelor of law degree from Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA...recently

L-R: The Past President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and former MD of Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation (Nigeria Re), Sir Ogala Osoka presenting the award and certificate to Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Segun Omosehin, after his investiture as fellow of the CIIN in Lagos...recently

L-R: Innovation and Consumer Insight Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc; Mr. Lanre Dalsiva; representative of Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Lagos/Deputy Corp Commander, Mr. Micheal Olusegun Okpade; and Unit Commander, FRSC, Ojota, Mr. Ganiyu Kehinde Hamzat, at the Honeywell/FRSC ember month safety campaign flag-off in Lagos...recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 31, 2016

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POLITY Yusuf Ali

Magu’s Rejection in Order Mallam Yusuf Ali was one of awardees of the recent Kwara State Polytechnic’s Fellowship. He spoke with journalists on the award and other national issues. Our correspondent, Hammed Shittu, was part of the interview.

What is your take on the recent rejection of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, by the Senate as the substantive chairman of the agency? am not sentimental about issues. The president has done his own side by submitting the name of Ibrahim Magu to the Senate for confirmation and the Senate has also done its own side by rejecting him confirmation as the substantive chairman of the EFCC. In fact, there is nowhere in the Nigerian Constitution that says that the Senate should give reasons for rejection of his confirmation. For me, I don’t think people should start reading their personal interest into the Senate action. It is unnecessary. The Senate merely looked at the security report presented to it by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the report questions the integrity of Magu.

I

How do you think the acting CJN can tackle corruption in the judiciary?

Nigerians are skeptics. We don’t believe in our leaders and institutions. And you can’t blame them.

Maybe, it is a product of their experience of having been let down by the system. I have said this severally, it takes two to tango. Before you can see somebody taking bribe, there must be a giver before you have a taker. Usually we go after the takers.

The givers are there still waxing stronger. Until the day the Nigerian elite start to think that justice could not be bought, we will be running in circles. The truth is bitter, but we must say it. The average litigant in Nigeria believes that you can buy justice. So, with that frame of mind, it is a very difficult. That attitude of believing that you can buy justice must stop. What I have said is very apparent from the way litigants react to judgements. Somebody who had tried to reach a judge unsuccessfully, if judgement goes against him, he believes that the other person has given higher which may not be true.

But more than it all, Nigeria is a very rife market for rumours. Tell people to come and tell you what happened, they begin to scratch their heads.

How will you assess the anticorruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari?

At the presentation of my book ‘anatomy of corruption’ in Abuja in May this year, in my speech I said categorically that top to bottom approach on the fight against corruption can never work. If you want to fight corruption, you must create a mass movement. Majority of Nigerians must buy into it. But when you arrest three people out of 10,000, what have you achieve? What is going on is fight against corrupt people, not against corruption per say. Corruption is an institutionaled

Yusuf

thing. So, to fight against it is more than what we are doing. Because if we are not careful, things we are not doing properly may become a culture. If you want to fight against corruption, we have to dig deeper.

I tell people that for the street to be clean, every member of the street must keep his corner clean. Corruption is symptomatic of a deeper problem. When you are talking about corruption, we should not limit it to bribery. Bribery is a fraction of corruption. Nepotism is corruption; ethnicity is corruption; tribalism is

Nigerians are skeptics.

We don’t believe in our leaders and institutions.

And you can’t blame them. Maybe, it is a product of their experience of having been let down by the system. I have said this severally, it takes two to tango. Before you can see somebody taking bribe, there must be a giver before you have a taker. Usually we go after the takers

corruption and influence peddling is also corruption. People still stop motorists on the highways, extorting them. What do you say to that?

There are all sorts of corrupt allegations about government officials. It is a good attempt that we are trying to fight corrupt people, but we should give attention to fighting corruption itself.

Will the award being given to you spur you to do more philanthropic works?

My philosophy about life is that anytime something good comes your way, it is an invitation to do better. And the price for doing well is to do better still. To me, recognitions like this humble me and make me know that what God wants to do He does, irrespective of who your parents are. Who you know and who you don’t know? This award came from the blues. I wasn’t expecting anything at all. The other day, the Rector of Kwara Polytechnic, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu and his team came here and said that they were planning their convocation and that they wanted to give fellowship awards to five eminent Nigerians. They mentioned Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Erisco’s owner, the CEO of Kamwire limited and myself. I know the CEO of Kamwire is the largest employer of labour as an individual in the whole of North-Central. Those who work in that company would be more than 1000 and then they mentioned my name. I then asked ‘why me?’ So I see this honour as an invitation to do more to the society to justify the confidence the people reposed in me. That is the way I see.

What is your take on African leaders?

A country gets the kind of leader it deserves. And that is why I am always against the setting up of special courts. I ask ‘are you going to bring people from heaven to come and sit on those courts’? We are having those problems because of leadership and followership problem.

Look at the campaign rhetoric of Donald Trump before the US presidential elections. Look at what is happening now because he knows his society would not accept certain things. Nigeria and by extension African society is where anything goes. If we want to hold our leaders accountable and we want them to be upright, it must start from all of us. All leaders have their evil tendencies; it is the society that disagrees with them. We don’t have minimum standard for our leaders.

The American society is what it is today not because their leaders are superhuman but because the average American would insist you do what is right. Watch this hacking by Russia preparatory to the American presidential elections, you will see the outcome. Because that is the society that digs deep unlike us that are very superficial here. Here we try to look for quick fix solutions. There is nothing inherently wrong with Africans, it just that we are too lax.

You have just do little believe that you have excelled, whereas people outside there, for everything they do they have to improve upon it.

How will you describe the current recession in the country?

The problem of recession for me as a layman is lack of confidence in the Nigerian market and economy for people who want to bring their money here for investment. Simple!

What caused it I don’t want to dabble into that; the way out is for us to go out and market our country. After all, there was a time in this country that oil was selling for $11 and we were doing well. Then we were producing 2.2 million barrels. Now even at 40 something Dollars we are not producing well. So it is not about oil, it is about lack of confidence in Nigeria.

What is your take of the craziness for certain courses in tertiary institutions?

The colonialists gave us the kind of education they wanted, just to have a pool of averagely educated people that would be used in the civil service and other places. When they left, unfortunately we never thought that is a problem. The chicken has come home to roost. Every person who went to any higher institution in Nigeria looks for government employment. The way the new set of universities are going, which is entrepreneurship is the best option.

We must prepare the graduates for the world outside the universities and from the world outside of paid employment.

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SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, 2016 T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER •DECEMBER 31, 2016

nEws

Royal Father Returns Weapons Snatched from Immigration Personnel Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The traditional ruler of Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West Local Government area of Delta State, His Majesty Couple Oromoni yesterday handed over two G3 rifles dispossessed from two immigration officers in Warri by Ijaw militants along the Ogbe-Ijoh/ Aladja River to the Police.

Handing over the weapons, the traditional ruler, HRM, Couple Oromoni, the Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, said the recovery of the weapons were made possible with the intelligence gathering efforts of the community

that immediately mobilised spies to go after those involved in the operation.

He noted that as a peace loving community they had been traumatized by the news of the disarming of the immigration officers and since then have never relented in their collective effort to ensure that the arms were not only recovered but taken away from the community by handing them over to the Police.

According to him, "When we got the news that two immigration weapons had gone missing, our people moved swiftly into action by setting up a high powered intelligence

gathering machinery among our men who with the aides of spies were able to track those behind the act and from there recovered the weapons.

"As you all are aware, Ogbe-Ijoh people are peace-loving people who would not allow such allegations of missing military rifles dent our good name and reputation. This was the main reason we immediately dispatched our spies to move out to retrieve these weapons from those responsible for this act of lawlessness on our river.

"As soon as these weapons were retrieved, I personally contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of

the area to inform the Commissioner that we have being able to get the weapons and wish to hand them over but when it was taking time for the Commissioner to come, we had to hand them over to the DPO as we do not want to continue to hold on to the weapons," the monarch said.

The Royal father told the Police Commissioner that having recovered the weapons, he should help the community by contacting the immigration office in Warri to stop going after his indigenes and harassing his subjects unduly over their missing rifles, stressing that the people being hunted were innocent.

Chi Limited Rewards Consumers through Social Media Promos Rebecca Ejiforma Chi Limited, Nigeria’s market leader in fruit juices and beverages, has leveraged on the provision of real-time, personalised experiences to reach consumers by regularly connecting with them through various initiatives in the digital social networking space.

A statement by the company states that it achieves this by constantly activating all important consumer touch points in exciting and fun ways that also rewards the consumer.

Active across all the leading social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, CHI Limited recently concluded a series of social media contest such as ‘My 100% Achievement Contest’ and ‘Tea Side of Life Promo’ for Chivita 100% fruit juice and Chi Ice Tea respectively. Other promos included Hollandia Yoghurt’s ‘Colours of Goodness Contest’, Chi Happy Hour ‘Burst of Refreshment Dance Contest’, Chi Exotic ‘My Exotic Weekend Promo’ and Chivita Active ‘Vegetable fruit Mix Promo’.

In what was a very creative and

effective social media engagements, the highly successful promotions generated huge interest and tremendous participation. The number and quality of entries from consumers for the promos also ensured that it remained very interactive and competitive.

To stand a chance of winning in the various social media contest, Consumers had to like the brand’s page on Facebook and follow it on Instagram and Twitter. Entries were to be made through the social media platforms. From the submissions, entries were selected and final winners emerged from the overall number of likes and points each of the selected entries received.

At the prize presentation ceremony held recently in Lagos, lucky winners were rewarded with mouthwatering & exciting prizes including Smartphones, Laptops, iPads, iPhones, Game Consoles, Gift Vouchers, Exquisite Dinner vouchers and Products Packs of the various brands. Reacting afterwards, the visibly excited winners were full of praises to the management of Chi Limited for rewarding them for their patronage and loyalty.

Ex- Golden Eaglets, ACP Killed in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

CULTURE ON THEIR MINDS..

L-R: Founder, Obijackson Foundation, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi; Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; and Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Solochukwu Lobelu, at the 2016 Face of Okija and Okija Igbo Music and Cultural Festival in Okija Town... recently

FG Pledges to Complete Assumpta Science Centre in 1Q 2017 Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has assured that the federal government would complete the Assumpta Science Centre at Ofekata near Owerri, Imo State, before end of March 2017.

He said government through his ministry has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Pontifical Council for Culture to build the Science Centre in Nigeria. He urged both the state and local government to join hands together to ensure the success of the laudable project.

The Minister made the disclosure

at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of Assumpta Science Centre, at Ofekata, near Owerri, Imo State.

According to the minister, the project is being implemented in line with government's commitment to the initiative of International Universities and Youth Cooperation for African countries in informal science learning activities for sustainable development.

Onu assured that on completion, the Centre would contribute meaningful to the development of the country and that other African countries would become self-sufficient in utilising the available resources God has given them.

The minister maintained that national development would be difficult to achieve without the application of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), urging all and sundry to key in to ensure that the laudable project was sustained.

The Minister stated that the difference between Africa and developed nations was the application and actualisation of science, technology and innovation in all sectors of human endeavor.

He expressed appreciation to the people of Ofekata for their commitment and the donation of their land to ensure that the Assumpta Science Centre became a reality.

The Minister further assured that

government was committed to the completion of the project in four months, calling on the state and local governments to join hands to ensure the success of the laudable project.

According to him, the neglect of science and technology in the past has affected Nigeria’s economic growth and development, but expressed optimism that things would change with the government's commitment to use science and technology as driver of the economy.

He stressed that with the coming on board of the Assumpta science centre and other scientific innovations, Nigeria was at the centre of development with the available resources.

Works Controller Cautions Motorists on Speed Bennett Oghifo

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr. Godwin Eke, yesterday, appealed to motorists to avoid excessive speed on the LagosIbadan road to avert accidents.

Eke made the appeal during an inspection to monitor traffic flow on the highway by engineers supervising sections one and two of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Reconstruction/ Rehabilitation project.

“My advice to motorists is that they should drive with caution, carefully and slowly because

we noticed that they are overspeeding.

“There is usually temptation to over speed when driving on a smooth road like this,” he said.

Section one of the project spans from Lagos to Sagamu interchange and is being handled by Julius Berger, while section two spans from Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan, and is handled by Reynolds Construction Company.

The controller said that section one of the project under his jurisdiction was almost 40 per cent completed.

“This action to monitor the

flow of traffic was necessitated by the insistence of the Honourable Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, saying that since we have some improvements on the road, we should go to the highway and get the feeling of the motoring public so that we can know the area we have to improve upon.

Giving a brief history of the highway, the Federal Controller of Works, Ogun, Mr Olukayode Popoola, said that last year, the gridlock on the highway was bad to an extent that some motorists slept on the road.

“There is a lot of improvement because a lot of money has been spent on this road to alleviate the suffering of road users,” he said.

Popoola appealed to motorists to continue to cooperate with the contractors on the project when they return to site on Jan. 3, 2017 to speed up work.

He also called for increased funding of the project for its speedy completion.

Also, Mr. David Ogunjana, Federal Roads Safety Corps Unit Commander, Ogunmakin, Ogun, expressed worry at the speed of vehicles on the highway.

A serving Assistant Commissioner of Police, in- charge of training in Edo State Police Command, ACP Osawe has been reportedly murdered by unknown gunmen in his house at Upper Sokponba road, Benin City.

Also, Gombe United defender, Uzama Douglas was shot dead in Benin City by cultists last Thursday.

ACP Osawe was said to have left his office on that faithful day at about 3pm for home and that when one of his children placed a call to his phone, it was answered by an unknown person that described himself as a Policeman.

Narrating the incident, a close relation, who does not want his name in print said that on getting to his brother's house, he found him in his pool of blood.

A close friend of the former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles invitee said that the left back was shot in the capital of Benin.

The ex- Golden Eaglets, and the ACP were declared dead on admission to hospital.

“He was still on break in Benin City and was yet to resume for the new season,” the close relation said about the Gombe player.

“He went out with friends when some cult boys carried out an attack on them. He was shot and that was it.

“The killers fled and left my friend in cold blood,” the emotional friend stated.

A top official at Gombe United said the club was shocked at Uzama’s murder. “The Gombe United family has learned with sadness of the untimely death of our defender, Uzama Douglas.

“This is a sad loss to Uzama’s family, Gombe United and the nation.”

Kennedy Obiokor, Uzama’s roommate said “I am devastated at the loss of my roommate, Uzama Douglas. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this terrible time.”

Power Oil Ends Year with Free Gift Wrap As a special way to appreciate Nigerians for their loyalty and support in 2016, Power Oil has volunteered to wrap gift items for customers to make them attractive and appealing to the intended receivers.

This service which is coming at no cost is available in more than eight shopping malls across Lagos including Shoprite in Lekki, Surulere, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Festac, Ejigbo, Prince Ebe Ano Chevron among others, where the wrapping machines are installed in strategic areas to ensure adequate coverage and to see that everyone benefitted from the seasonal offer.

The Brand Manager of the firm, Amisha Chawla stated that the initiative was considered as a way of connecting with customers in the season.

“We thought about what special thing we can do to excite and connect with our customers in this yuletide season, and we agreed on this unique concept .With this, people can purchase their gift items, we are on the ground to help with the

packaging at no extra cost.

“We have stalls strategically positioned in these malls along with brand ambassadors and professional gift wrappers who are always available to attend to shoppers interested in having their gifts wrapped. This exercise began on 21st of December as we planned to end it today” Commenting on the exercise at Ikeja City mall, the Public Relations Manager of Power Oil, Omotayo Azeez pointed out that” because this season is synonymous with love-sharing and gift exchange amongst loved ones, we thought that there is no better way to show our numerous customers how much they are valued. This exercise is basically designed to encourage everyone to give out gifts to loved ones in a presentable manner that attracts no extra charge “Power oil takes off the pressure of extra expense on gift wrappers and even goes a step further to help them have the gifts wrapped in a presentable manner by professional wrappers at no cost”.

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Saturday, December 31, 2016

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Price: N250

MISSILE Fayose to Buhari

“This year’s Christmas is the worse in the history of Nigeria. People cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy themselves due to the hardship caused by the APC government. As I have maintained, the main issue confronting Nigerians now is hunger and hunger does not speak the language of political propaganda that is being used by the APC-led federal government. It is therefore no longer about diversionary news; it is about preventing Nigerians from dying of hunger.” – Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State lamenting the state of the nation under President Muhammadu Buhari.

PENDULUM Dele Momodu

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

The Season for True Change F

ellow Nigerians, as we enter the last day of the year today and start the beginning of a new year tomorrow, please, permit me to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous year ahead. This is the ritual we are all familiar with. Many of us would head to church tonight to try and pray and possibly cajole God to grant all our best wishes pronto, as soon as the new year begins. More often than not, we want God to do things for us even if we refuse to do His bidding, the commonest of which, according to my faith, is to love our neighbours as ourselves and forgive our enemies seventy times seven times. The dearth of love and the absence of forgiveness, I believe, is one of the major reasons Nigeria is in such a mess today.

I will never get tired of sermonising about this unfortunate reality. Nigeria needs love in all ramifications. It seems we are too oppressive to one another. The wickedness of man’s inhumanity to man has manifested itself in our daily lives. It is the reason some of us misbehave and carry on with no modicum of care in the world. We love religion but hate religious tenets which regulate our beliefs.

We love the good things that we see abroad but fail to replicate same at home. In fact, we believe those things are not meant for us and should be the exclusive preserve of those who can afford to travel and return home to regale us with tales of a glittering Dubai and a New York that never sleeps.

We have lamented endlessly and it seems there is no end to our woes in sight. Life should not be as tough and rough as it is in our dear beloved country. I think this season affords us the opportunity to rethink and reroute our ways of doing things. We must start by reconciling our many and varying differences. We can’t and won’t go far until we come to terms with the issues that divide us and make a conscious effort to embrace the things that can unite us. No nation can ever develop in an atmosphere of permanent state of topsy-turvy.

At the level of different tiers of governments in Nigeria, there is so much chaos everywhere; unpaid salaries, poor infrastructure, vindictiveness, profligacy, nepotism, and all the ailments Fela sang about aeons ago are still very much with us. We have blatantly refused to try new methods and methodology and yet expect miracles to happen. Of all our problems, the one that worries me the most is our propensity to prefer the use of brute force above the well-tested strategy of persuasion despite the failure of tyranny on too many occasions. I wonder why mankind starts a war, destroys everything along its path before returning to the negotiation table. Why was it blinded in the first instance about the possibility of peaceful settlement?

The latest theatre of madness is in Syria where foreign powers are taking time and turns to gang-rape that historic country. No matter the outcome of the latest ceasefire, Syria and Syrians are already sentenced to a life of perpetual misery and penury. When and if tomorrow comes, the same super powers would queue up to determine who gets what business for the reconstruction of a totally battered nation. It is such a big shame. I’ve noticed and noted the same similarities in Nigeria where we prefer to waste our resources on fighting dirty and abandoning governance

Buhari before returning to our senses and begin to preach peace and reconciliation.

I had admonished the ruling party in Nigeria, APC, when it started its own war of attrition but hardly did anyone listen. Rather they accused us of working for certain enemies at the time when we were only concerned about the collateral damage to true and productive governance. Nigerians voted last year for a singular purpose which was to arrest the drift towards perdition and enthrone a new regime of performance, discipline and integrity as opposed to incompetence and corruption. Nigerians wanted to witness a sporadic change in their lives and not listen to a plethora of excuses for failure. If truth be told, the APC frittered away its humongous goodwill and lost a lot of its uncommon equity when it got carried away over the assumption of its invincibility. APC behaved like it had all the time in the world and failed to take cognisance of the traditional impatience of Nigerians. It is not too late for APC to retrace its steps and give Nigerians a new political order. I shall endeavour to give my humble suggestions, as always.

I have always maintained that nations are never governed by saints but by performers.

Therefore, let me assure President Muhammadu Buhari that his seeming search for saints to work with may not yield fruits after-all. I now plead with him to urgently search for some vibrant and accomplished Nigerians to work with in the new year. In another five months, two years would have passed since Nigerians in our collective wisdom or amnesia catapulted the President back to power after over three decades in retirement.

It is a rare honour and privilege that should never be rubbished by anyone. I’m certainly convinced that a few things have definitely gone wrong with his avowed plans to make Nigeria one of the greatest nations on earth.

Let me fathom a few guesses.

The President is probably surrounded by

people who are not in tune with current trends in the modern world. The President may be a veritable victim of his own persona which makes people around him to live in dizzying fear of an omnipotent boss. Only the President can release such people from their gilded cage. The President would not be privy to quality advice and factual information if the people around him are too timid jelly-like to speak out their minds because they are afraid of a backlash. There may truly be a powerful mafia that has grabbed the jugular of Nigeria while the President has been practically hypnotised by them. Whatever it is, only the President can confirm if he thinks the current mafia is what he needs to deliver on his attractive promises to Nigerians made on the soap box.

I doubt if there is any serious Nigerian today outside the corridors of power who feels the present team of President Buhari can drive Nigeria to the promised land we all anxiously want to see. If I were the President, I will change the tempo of governance within the first month of 2017. I do not know the level of power and authority currently given to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, but I would like to see him get more involved and become very assertive. He is relatively young, highly cerebral and innovative with far reaching global contacts that Nigeria can benefit from. As a distinguished scholar, he is conversant with modern trends and can gain access to the most brilliant Nigerians that litter everywhere on this planet. I’m not sure Nigeria is currently making use of one of its best assets in government today.

The time has come to reduce the dangerous level of mistrust and distrust in our country today. From North to South and West to East, Nigerians are at war against themselves and their country. The perceived fear of a Northernisation agenda can be curtailed if President Buhari can make that extra effort to speak directly to Nigerians and explain certain decisions that inform some of his appointments. He should never dismiss the agitations of any part or group of Nigerians.

Every Nigerian citizen should be given a sense of belonging. The senseless killing of Nigerians in certain parts of our country should be totally discouraged. No country can afford to operate in complete paranoia.

The rule of law must be followed and obeyed in dealing with criminals and troublemakers.

The government should never assume the role of accuser and judge at the same time.

A situation where the government becomes a Law unto itself may lead to occasional skirmishes and even anarchy. This explains the volatility we’ve witnessed recently in some parts of Nigeria.

The Buhari government must rejig its war against corruption. There is no marked difference between the style operated by President Olusegun Obasanjo and the current format. Instead of the present staccato fashion, President Buhari should restructure the operations in a way that it would not only target certain individuals but also the particular institutions that attract and thrive on corruption. As noted on this page in the past, not all corrupt tendencies emanate from greed. My thesis is that corruption in Nigeria has become almost irredeemably endemic as a result of chronic needs from top to bottom. It is so easy to attack a few

Governors, Ministers and legislators but corruption begins from the time many of the government operatives were certified paupers.

Significantly, the government cannot preach integrity when it is distinctly lacking in such integrity itself, epitomised by its failure to keep its covenant with its workers through the payment of their salaries. You cannot continue to recklessly commit the country’s funds to frivolous and wasteful projects and expect that those involved in doing the donkey work on these projects should go unpaid but nevertheless retain a semblance of decency.

It is impossible for an average Nigerian to survive on his normal income. I still don’t know how most workers manage to get to work on paltry salaries. Many don’t receive their salaries for several months and the employers can also not be totally blamed due to some dwindling turnover. The quality of education has dropped abysmally and many graduates are thus not employable by the few companies that can still afford to do so. And if lucky to get the job, you must pay for transport, cough out one or two years’ rent in advance, feed on something and still cover sundry bills. This reality has driven many Nigerians to desperation and the need to survive, by fire by force. No amount of preaching by any government can change the debilitating conditions that force many honest people to resist the temptations of surviving against all odds.

In other climes, the solution is not too far-fetched; there must be a credit system. It is a no-brainer that credit begets and creates wealth. It expands the economy and puts more money and purchasing power into the hands of a lot more people. However, obtaining credit in Nigeria is not an easy matter and never a better option due to many factors that are so obvious to you and I. The Buhari government should work with the Central Bank of Nigeria on how to ease the inherent fiasco of obtaining rents, mortgages, car loans, health insurance, education grants and scholarships, business start-ups and so on. No government can employ even ten percent of all employables but it can help facilitate many difficult necessities of life.

Those hoping President Buhari would help them find jobs should, please, stop living on false and misguided hopes. I reiterate, there is a limit to the number of jobs that any government can create of its own accord.

All that government can do is to formulate policies that can alleviate the suffering of average Nigerians. This is not too visible at the moment.

President Buhari should not be distracted by the politicians who think more of contesting elections and who will therefore be telling him that all is well. Mr President Sir, all is definitely not well. Indeed, it seems that nothing is well! The best and easier way for you to win the next Presidential election if you are so interested, and rightly so, is to perform now. Believe me, Nigerians would voluntarily ask you to continue.

That should be your priority at this highly critical, tense and depressive period in our country’s development. Only true change across board can ameliorate the situation.

The time to embrace such change is now, as we begin a new year. That must be the President’s New Year Resolution. It will take us all out of the doldrums.

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