SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST 2020

Aisha Buhari Flown to Dubai for Medicals

Bennett Oghifo

Aisha, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been flown to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for treatment of a persistent neck pain.

One of the aides of the

Nigerian First Lady who spoke to THISDAY last night confirmed that she was flown to Dubai eight days ago.

The source said the First Lady had been complaining of neck pain for several weeks and decided to seek

help abroad following the ineffectiveness of drugs prescribed by her Nigerian doctors.

“The neck pain deteriorated shortly after she returned to Abuja from a trip to Lagos in July after visiting Florence, the

widow of former Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who died of COVID-19 complications on June 25.

“She first experienced the health challenge during the 2019 Presidential election campaign and she sought

treatment abroad afterwards.

However, recently the pain returned and was even worse than the first time. So, she was flown out last week. It was indeed a medical emergency,” the source told THISDAY. Another source close to the

First Lady told THISDAY that the president’s wife called him immediately she landed in Dubai last Saturday.

However, Aisha Buhari’s Media aide, Aliyu Abdullah, Continued on page 5

Fuel Scarcity Looms as NUPENG Orders Tanker Drivers to Suspend Lifting...Page 6 Saturday 8 August, 2020 Vol 25. No 9252

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Nigeria Gets $114.28m W/Bank Facility to Tackle COVID-19 Cases hit 45,687 with 32,637 discharged and 936 deaths James Emejo in Abuja The World Bank Board of Directors yesterday approved $114.28 million financing to help Nigeria prevent, detect

and respond to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with specific focus on state level responses.

On the same day, 443 new cases of COVID-19 were

recorded nationwide, taking the number of confirmed cases to 45,687 with 32,637 discharged and 936 deaths recorded.

The World Bank intervention

includes $100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and $14.28 million grant from the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, said: “Nigeria has ramped up its efforts to contain the COVID -19 outbreak, but more needs

to done at the state level, which are at the frontline of the response. The project will provide the states with much Continued on page 5

Tension Persists in Edo as Pro-Oshiomhole Lawmakers Fail to Access Assembly Obaseki: Attempt to invade Assembly, a coup d’etat Tinubu: Obaseki’s actions, assault on constitutional democracy US worries about ‘deteriorating political climate in Edo State’ Buhari receives Ize-Iyamu, urges APC to avoid Rivers, Zamfara pitfalls Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja; Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Supporters of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State turned out in large number in the early hours of yesterday at the state’s House of Assembly, in solidarity with Obaseki and the Speaker, Francis Okiye, impeached by factional lawmakers on Thursday, and prevented the pro-Oshiomhole lawmakers from accessing the Assembly.

On the same day, Governor Obaseki, in a statewide broadcast, described the failed invasion of the Assembly

complex as an attempted coup d’état that was tantamount to treason and contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

However, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu said Obaseki’s actions so far in the Edo House of Assembly crisis “is an assault on constitutional democracy.”

The crowd that consisted members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and women groups, condoned off the Edo Assembly complex, preventing pro-Oshiomohole Continued on page 5

ACF to FG: Stop Southern Kaduna Killings Now... Page 5

CONDOLENCE VISIT… L-R: The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari and the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, during the presentation of a condolence letter to President Sall, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, over the demise of Khalifa Ahmed Tijjani Inyass, the leader of Tijjaniya Movement in Africa, in Dakar…yesterday

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ACF to FG: Stop Southern Kaduna Killings Now Makarfi wants adequate mobilisation of security agencies to secure the area John Shiklam ÓØ ËÎßØË The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the attacks in Southern Kaduna, calling on the state and federal governments to stop the killings.

In statements issued yesterday in Kaduna, the ACF expressed regrets about the killings and called for dialogue among stakeholders in Southern Kaduna, to ensure peaceful coexistence.

The ACF, in a statement signed by the spokesman of the forum, Emmanuel Yawe, said it was alarmed by the persistent killings in that part of the state.

“Today, there are media reports, quoting the Southern

Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) that 33 people, mostly women and children were killed in raids carried out between Wednesday and Thursday in communities in Zangon Kataf.

“All the mentioned areas have been under a 24-hour curfew for the past 65 days.

“That an operation in breach of security could go on, on such a massive scale and such a long period is a serious indictment of our security system,” the statement said.

Yawe said people in Kaduna and indeed the whole of Nigeria, were getting tired of assurances and promises from security agencies, noting that these promises were

made to be broken.

“The agencies will have to prove that they are equal to the task of stopping these senseless murders.

“For now, Nigerians may soon be in desperation to resort to self-help. Apart from the security agencies, the Kaduna and the federal governments must demonstrate the political will to stop the killings,” the forum said.

The statement noted that the state government recently set up a white paper drafting committee on reports of 1992 riots in Zangon Kataf, pointing out that “this does not show seriousness.”

The forum also called on the people of Southern Kaduna

to, irrespective of tribe and religion, come together and resolve to live in peace.

“This trend of shedding innocent blood on a daily basis must stop,” the statement added.

Also, a former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Makarfi, said he was “disturbed and saddened by news of the resurgence of violence in the southern part of Kaduna State.”

A statement signed by his spokesman, Mukhtar Sirajo, said the resort to violence as an expression of grievance “complicates issues rather than solve problems.”

According to Makarfi, “Constructive communication between and among people

and communities is the surest recipe to mutual respect and understanding, without which there can be no development.”

Makarfi, who served as governor of Kaduna state for eight years, appealed to all “to eschew violence and embrace dialogue as a means to a sustainable resolution to whatever problem, however knotty.”

He further called on the people to cooperate with the government as it grapples with security and other challenges.

He also called on the government at both federal and state levels to ensure that the security agencies are adequately mobilised to properly secure the area, in

particular, given the suspected infiltration from outside.

He urged the authorities, particularly at the state level, to intensify efforts at finding lasting solution to the problem through constructive engagement of all stakeholders, such as traditional, religious, community and political leaders.

The former governor expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, as well as to the government and people of Kaduna State.

He prays to God Almighty to grant eternal rest to the soul of the dead and comfort families of those who lost their loved ones “and all of us.”

TENSION PERSISTS IN EDO AS PRO-OSHIOMHOLE LAWMAKERS FAIL TO ACCESS ASSEMBLY lawmakers, who arrived at about 8 AM, and the police, who were allegedly on ground to assist them enter the complex, from achieving their mission.

Also, the women group, led

by Edo South woman leader of PDP, Lady Uwa Osunbor, denounced the purported impeachment of Okiye by the 17 factional members of the House who were allegedly inaugurated on Thursday and which produced Mr. Victor Edoror as their Speaker.

Lady Osunbor said: "We voted for them since last year, they are supposed to be in Edo Assembly to perform their duty, but they relocate to Abuja.

"They are aware that the election is approaching, now that we are ready to vote to reelect our Governor, they don't have what to campaign with, they decide to use the House of Assembly to cause confusion, and we are not going to agree with them.

"When we elected them, they preferred to stay put in Abuja. Let them remain in Abuja. They should not come to disturb us here. We are not tigers and lions, we are compassionate mothers. We are here to beg Edo women, Edo youths, not to listen to them.

"All those illegalities they did in somebody's private living room is not for Edo state. We have not inaugurated them; the people we inaugurated are already doing the legislative business.

Let them go back to Abuja with their trouble. We are preparing for election to re-elect our Governor and they cannot disturb us.

"That is why we are here to show solidarity with our Speaker, Hon. Okiye. He is the Speaker that we know."

The impeachment saga also took a spiritual dimension as priestesses of Benin extraction, who are traditional worshippers, laid curses at the assembly gate.

Speaking on behalf of others, the priestess of Ekutetebite Negwogho group, Princess lnibokun lmasemwenbor, said she inherited her symbol of authority as juju priestess from her grandfather and that whatever she pronounced on anyone would come to pass.

"I was at home when I saw on television the crisis at the Edo Assembly. I heard some of the things said that some people from other ethnic groups are trying to turn Benin upside down. We Benin people don't like what they are doing.

"APC is oppressing Obaseki; that is mere oppression, they want to oppress our Obaseki.

"Why I am interested in the matter is that we did not have access road to my community before Obaseki became Governor. We used to spend so much to come to Benin. But now, we can travel in and out of our community with ease, no more erosion.

"For that reason, I must support Obaseki for a second term. Whoever says he will turn the state upside down to rig the election, let the heads of our ancestors torment them.

"Obaseki is a peace maker, he gave us amenities of life and for that reason, I have to back him up with my strength.

Obaseki: Attempt to Invade Edo Assembly, a Coup D’etat Governor Obaseki condemned the failed invasion of the Assembly complex, describing it as an attempted coup d’état that was treasonable and contrary to the provisions

of the Nigerian Constitution.

Obaseki, who said this in a statewide broadcast yesterday, assured that his administration would do all that was necessary to defend the rule of law and democratic ideals.

“Any person or group of persons who set out to test our will in this regard will meet with the full wrath of the law," the governor warned.

He noted: "These events portend grave danger to the safety and security of our polity. It had all the hallmarks of an attempted coup d’état.

“The people of Edo State rose as one to prevent the desecration of our democracy.

It is however worrisome that certain persons are willing to plunge the society into avoidable anarchy and conflict just to satisfy their illegitimate objectives."

According to the Governor, "The crisis in the Edo State legislature dates back to June 17th, 2019, when upon my proclamation of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly, some members-elect refused to present themselves for inauguration.

“The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in a judgement delivered on the 12th of September, 2019, decided that my proclamation of the House of Assembly was lawful and that the National Assembly could not take over the function of the Edo State House of Assembly as the conditions for doing so did not exist.

“The court judgement affirmed that the Assembly was duly inaugurated and held that the Governor or any other person could not issue another proclamation.

"Even after this judgement, the 14 members-elect stayed away from the House and

refused to be inaugurated to perform their elected role of representing their constituencies. Having failed to sit for over 180 sitting days, the leadership of the House of Assembly had no option but to declare their seats vacant and requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections to fill the vacancies that had then been created.

"Following this action by the leadership of the House, the 14 members-elect approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, to challenge the constitutionality or otherwise of the declaration of their seats vacant. This suit is still pending in the court.

"I want to salute the resolve of all well-meaning Edo people in standing up to thwart the evil plans of these undemocratic elements who are bent on perpetrating an illegal assault on our democracy by the purported inauguration in a private residence.

"These acts are tantamount to treason, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

"Be assured, dear people of Edo State, that this government will take all steps necessary to defend the rule of law and democratic ideals."

US Expresses Concern about Political Climate in Edo State The United States Government has expressed concern over the deteriorating political climate in Edo State.

It also expressed disappointed with the role played by some political actors in the state and the alleged interference by security forces in political matters.

The U.S. Mission in Abuja,

in a statement issued yesterday, said as the 2020 off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo draw nearer, all stakeholders should work towards a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful process.

The U.S. also urged all stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, and the security services, to continue to improve the electoral process.

It stated: "As long-time friends of Nigeria, we continue to follow political developments ahead of offcycle elections in the country.

The United States supports a democratic process where the will of the Nigerian people is reflected in the results, and does not favor any party or candidate.

"We are concerned with reports of the deteriorating political climate in Edo State and are disappointed with the role played by some political actors in the state. We are especially concerned with allegations of interference by security forces in political matters, which we will continue to monitor closely in the run up to gubernatorial elections in the state in September.

"We look to Nigeria as an important leader on the African continent. As a democratic partner of Nigeria, the United States remains committed to working together to achieve our mutual goals of peace and prosperity for the

citizens of both our countries.”

Buhari Receives Ize-Iyamu; Urges APC to Avoid Rivers Experiences President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja received the governorship candidate of the APC in Edo State, IzeIyamu, urging party leaders and campaign team to do all that was necessary, following legal and constitutional means, to win the election.

Buhari received the governorship candidate at the State House alongside Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and APC Campaign Chairman for Edo State elections and Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

In a statement, the President’s Spokesman, Garba Shehu, quoted the president as charging the party leaders to avoid the pitfalls that affected the party’s victory in Rivers, Zamfara and Bayelsa states in the 2019 elections, pointing out that with the resolution of the “acute crisis” in the party in Edo State, he was optimistic that the party would regain its pride of place in winning elections, and serving the people.

Continued on page 14

AISHA BUHARI FLOWN TO DUBAI FOR MEDICALS said he was not aware of his principal’s trip to Dubai.

Abdullah said: “I have not been to the Villa for the last two weeks so I cannot say for sure if she is in the country or not. However, I

can categorically tell you that there is no emergency.”

The President’s wife also travelled out of the country for several weeks last year to treat an undisclosed ailment.

CoPREP will finance further support to all states and Abuja Federal Capital Territory through the NCDC to implement their COVID-19 Incident Action Plans.

Essentially, the funding will support the operationalisation of 37 Emergency Operations Centers; training of 30,000 healthcare workers in infection prevention and control; support for emergency prioritised water sanitation and hygiene activities; strengthening of risk

assessment and community and event-based surveillance; provision of on-time data to inform the response and mitigation activities and additional support to laboratories for early detection and confirmation.

Others include, equipping and renovating isolation and treatment centers, as well as community support centers; and improving in-patient transfer systems through financing of ambulances and training as needed.

NIGERIA GETS $114.28M W/BANK FACILITY TO TACKLE COVID-19 needed direct technical and fiscal support to strengthen their position in combating the pandemic.”

Through the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP), the federal government will provide grants to 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as immediate support to break the chain of COVID-19 local transmission and limit the spread of coronavirus through containment and mitigation strategies.

According to a statement from the Bretton Woods Institution, grants to states will be conditional on states adopting COVID-19 response strategies which are in line with the federal government’s guidelines and strategies.

CoPREP will enhance the institutional and operational capacity for disease detection through provision of technical expertise, coordination support, detection, diagnosis and case management efforts in all states and the FCT, as

per the WHO guidelines in the Strategic Response Plan.

The support will also help the government mobilise surge response capacity through trained and wellequipped frontline healthcare workers and strengthen the public health care network for future health emergencies.

In addition, the project will finance federal procurements of medical equipment, laboratory tests, and medicines to be distributed to the states based on their

needs.

The programme complements the Second Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement Project (REDISSE II) which is already providing shortterm emergency support to implement national and state Incident Action Plans. So far, all 36 states have incident action plans cleared by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and funds have been disbursed to 23 states.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8 2020

NEWS Nationwide Fuel Scarcity Looms as NUPENG Orders Tanker Drivers to Suspend Lifting

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

Cites bad Apapa roads, extortion by security agencies, area boys Ahamefula Ogbu The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed Petroleum Tanker Drivers to withdraw from Lagos State with effect from Monday, over failure of relevant authorities to address their concerns about bad roads, extortion by security agencies and street urchins, among others.

The action is expected to cause fuel scarcity, as the drivers would no longer load products from tank farms, most of which are in Lagos, especially as pumping products through the maze of pipelines has become inadvisable because of pipeline vandalism.

A statement by the National President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Eniredonana Akporeha and the National Secretary, Comrade Olawale Afolabi on behalf of Oil workers in the country said they were left with no option than to resort to withdrawal of services as their complaints and demands after several months were left unattended.

“The entire rank and file members of the Union are deeply pained, frustrated and agonised by the barrage of these challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State and are left with no other option but to direct the withdrawal of their services in Lagos State until Lagos State government and other relevant

stakeholders address these critical challenges.

“It is sad and disheartening to note here that we had made several appeals and reports to the Lagos State government and the Presidential Task Force for the decongestion of Apapa on these challenges but all to no avail.

“We cannot afford to fold our arms while our members are being consistently and continually extorted, intimidated, harassed and victimised by different groups and segments in Lagos, hence we highlight to the general public the following three major challenges Petroleum Tanker Drivers are facing in Lagos State.

“It is really disturbing and as well inexplicable that security agents, who are expected to ensure free-flow of traffic and protection of road users now use their uniforms and arms to intimidate, harass and extort money from Petroleum Tanker Drivers. This reprehensible conduct is taking serious tolls on the psychological, emotional and financial state of Petroleum Tanker Drivers and their capacity to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the nation.

“This menace must stop and the leadership of these security operatives in Lagos State must go all out to call their men to order with immediate effect.

Every one of them should be contented with their salaries and allowances rather than turning

hapless Petroleum Tanker Drivers to money making machine,” they said.

They listed as part of their grouse, the “Menace of containerised trucks at Apapa, Kirikiri and Beach Land axis of Lagos State and collusion of government officials hindering petroleum tankers from loading activities at depots and tank farms,” adding that often, traffic gridlocks were deliberately created and that this stops their members from loading products.

According to them, “Persistent traffic gridlock and indiscriminate parking of containerised trucks on major Lagos roads and bridges leading to Apapa port, Kirikiri, Beach Land, Satellite Town, Ijegun, are other major setbacks bedeviling the smooth running of the operations of Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos State.

“As of today, MRS depot has

been held captive for more than three months from discharging products to Petroleum Tanker Drivers despite heavy availability of Petroleum products stockpiled in their tank farm facilities.

“For safety reasons, Petroleum Tanker Drivers cannot continue to struggle with these containerised trucks in these corridors, considering the inflammable nature of the products our members carry and we cannot afford to undermine safety standards, procedures and protocols in the course of our services.

“This is a situation that appears to have defied solution, considering government’s nonintervention, lack of sensitivity over the years and collusion by those called upon by the Presidency to proffer solutions to the problem.

“Ikorodu road through Funsho Williams Avenue (formerly

Western Avenue) to Ijora inward Apapa and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway through Mile 2 to Berger Yard inward Tincan Island, have been overwhelmed with indiscriminate parking of these articulated vehicles, aggravating the gridlock faced

by Petroleum Tanker Drivers that ply the roads daily to lift products.

“For several months now, the Mile 2-Apapa Expressway (formerly Malu Road, now Mobil Road) has been witnessing terrible traffic gridlock leaving petroleum tanker drivers stranded and helpless.

“It’s really worrisome that Lagos State which is known to be a mega city and centre of excellence has now become a safe haven for area boys and area god-fathers who now see Petroleum Tanker Drivers as soft targets, extorting money from

them every day, assaulting them and vandalising their trucks in some instances, especially when some of the tanker drivers show restraints in paying them illegal fees and levies.

“Petroleum Tanker Drivers now battle with both area boys and area god-fathers amidst deplorable state of the roads in Lagos State, and this is really causing PTD lots of havoc on a daily basis. A distance of just about 10 kilometres for example, now takes seven to eight hours of maneuvers and meandering by petrol tankers, many of which break down in the process, upturning their contents, killing PTD members and endangering the lives of several other Nigerians who traverse the roads. Without sounding immodest, further delay in their repairs portends greater danger to the citizenry.

Buhari Signs Companies and Allied Matters Bill Omololu Ogunmade inAbuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja signed the Companies and Allied Matters Bill, 2020 passed by the National Assembly into law 30 years after its initiation.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said with the presidential assent, the new Act repealed and replaced the extant Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Adesina said the Act introduced several corporate legal innovations conceived to enhance ease of doing business in the country.

He listed such innovations to include: a.

Filing fee reductions and other reforms to make it easier and cheaper for small and medium-sized enterprises to register and reform their businesses in Nigeria; b.

Allowing corporate promoters of companies to establish private companies with a single member or shareholder, and creating limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships to

give investors and business people alternative forms of carrying out their business in an efficient and flexible way; c. Innovating processes and procedures to ease the operations of companies, such as introducing Statements of Compliance; replacing “authorised share capital” with minimum share capital to reduce costs of incorporating companies; and providing for electronic filing, electronic share transfers, e-meetings as well as remote general meetings for private companies in response to the disruptions to close contact physical meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic; d. Requiring the disclosure of persons with significant control of companies in a register of beneficial owners to enhance corporate accountability and transparency; and e. Enhancing the minority shareholder protection and engagement; introducing enhanced business rescue reforms for insolvent companies; and permitting the merger of Incorporated Trustees for associations that share similar aims and objectives.

EDO APC CANDIDATE . . .

L-R: Caretaker Committee Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) , Mai Mala Buni; President Muhammadu Buhari and Edo APC Gubernatorial Candidate Pastor Eze Iyeamu during the flag presentation at the Presidential Villa , Abuja …yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Kaigama Worries about Lingering Tiv, Jikun Conflict Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan Diocese, His Grace Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has lamented the negative impact of the communal clashes involving two neighbouring states, Taraba and Benue.

He urged influential leaders such as Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Paul Unongo and former governors of Benue State, Senator George Akume and Senator Gabriel Suswam to collectively work for an end to clashes between the Tiv and Jikun ethnic groups.

While lamenting the numerous deaths and wanton destruction of properties that have resulted from the inter-state communal clashes, Kaigama said that land dispute and politics had been

identified and major causes of the conflict.

Speaking during the meeting of Women Inter State Peace Building Initiative (WIPI) conference at Masaka in Narasawa State, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Bishoo Ignatius Kaigama urged the women to intervene and speak to their sons to drop their arms and embrace peace and brotherly love.

Kaigama urged prominent politics leaders in the area collectively speak out against the orgy of violence visited on each other by the Tiv and Jikun ethnic groups.

“I beg our eminent and respected elders such as Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), Sir and Lady Abu King Shuluwa, Mr. John Mamman, Senator George Akume, Mr. Damian

Dodo, SAN, Senator Gabriel Suswam, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Chief Paul Unongo, Elder Sam Ada, Senator Joel Ikenga and others to individually and collectively speak out clearly and emphatically to calm nerves,” he said.

Kaigama called on the federal and state governments to seriously check the reoccurring crisis, adding that the conflict had succeeded in destroying the agriculture and scaring investors thereby plunging the population into greater poverty.

The women from Taraba and Benue states under the auspices of the Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management (FPHCM) met to deliberate on how to implement initiatives aimed at ending the inter-state conflict.

Kaigama whose speech was titled, ‘Tiv, Jikun Women, Veritable Instruments in Search for Peacefully Coexistence’ urged the Taraba and Benue state governments to take concrete measures to ensure end to conflict between the two neighbouring states.

He said that the meeting was a very significant move towards building peace among Tivs and Jikun people.

According to him, the initiative would go a long way to restoring peaceful coexistence among the two ethnic groups.

He advised the people of the areas to cultivate friendship to transcend ethnic difference.

Kaigama said that land and politics appeared to be at the heart of the conflict between Tiv and Jikun.

SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

NEWS

APC Had Agreement on Power Rotation, Says Ngige Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

COURTESY CALL… L-R: Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. Popoola Olukayode; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, during a courtesy call by the Federal Controller at Lagos House, Marina.... yesterday

NDDC Asks Nwaoboshi to Refund N2.5bn Allegedly Received for Supply of Plastic Chairs ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has demanded that Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, should refund a sum of N2.5 billion, allegedly given to him by the Commission for the supply of plastic desks and chairs for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region.

In a swift response, Nwaoboshi denied benefitting from the contracts, saying the Commission just wanted to divert attention.

The Senator was among the lawmakers named by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, as one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the NDDC. In a letter dated July 5th, addressed to Nwaoboshi, signed by NDDC director of legal services,

Peter Claver Okoro, a copy which was sighted by THISDAY, said the contract was fully paid for but the commission did not receive the items.

The Commission asked that N2,552,305,600 paid to contractors for the production of plastic desks and chairs for the primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017 under its 2016 budget be refunded.

It gave the lawmaker a twoweek ultimatum to refund the said amount.

The letter reads, ‘’That sometime in 2017, the Commission awarded contracts to certain companies for the production of desks and chairs for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta Region under the 2016 budget at the Commission. The list of the companies is attached as ‘’Annexure A’’, the total value of the contracts was Two billion, five hundred and fifty two million, three hundred and five thousand

HURIWA Backs Malami on EFCC Reforms Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has thrown its weight behind the reforms being engendered by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and warned against detractors being used by those found on the wrong side of the law to desist from distracting him.

The Rights body pointed out that what Malami had been trying to achieve was to ensure that rule of law and not rule of man was the grundnorm and for investigations to be properly carried out and cases where getting conviction stood good chances taken for prosecution.

HURIWA lamented on what it called campaign of calumny by beneficiaries and cohorts of those benefitting from the poor handling of investigations and prosecution as well as those who felt their falling out of favour was the making of Malami.

“It has come to our notice that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice; Abubakar Malami (SAN), who is the Chief

Law Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been the subject of a vicious and sustained attacks in recent times.

“The campaigns, which intensified since the AGF urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Ibrahim Magu for alleged infractions is being executed by elements close to power backing Ibrahim Magu and these groups hide under compromised Civil Society Organisations and induced media platforms to launch personal attacks against the Chief Law Officer of the Federation.

“To achieve their nefarious objectives, they have twisted several allegations which range from mismanagement of funds, abuse of office to obstruction of criminal investigations just to distract and even disable the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and make a mess of the whole anti-corruption fight especially that involving Ibrahim Magu,” Huriwa alleged.

and six hundred Naira.’’ ‘’That instead of supplying the chairs and desks to the Commission’s warehouse in Port Harcourt or to any of the NDDC offices in the nine Niger Delta states, the items were supplied to a warehouse described as Akuede Akwis’ located at Benin Expressway, Okpanam, before Wichetech Aluminum Company.’’ ‘’That the 2019 budget of the Commission also contains the following heads: Provisions and supply of Plastic Chairs and Desks for Primary and Secondary Schools in Delta North Senatorial District (Serial No. 21). Provisions and supply of Plastic Chairs and Desks for Primary and Secondary Schools in Delta North Senatorial District (Serial No. 33). Production and distribution of Desks and Benches in selected schools in the Niger Delta Region for (Serial No. 396).’’

‘’That despite having fully paid for the 2017 contracts for the production of chairs and desks, the items have not been supplied to the Commission. The resultant effect is that the Commission and the Niger Delta region have been deprived of the use of the desks and chairs.’’

When contacted by THISDAY, Nwaoboshi in his response said the Commission just wanted to divert attention from the ongoing probe.

He said, ‘’Did he say it was awarded to me? They just want to divert attention. Please I challenge them to go to court. Be rest assured I am on my way to court for defamation.’’

The Senator in a statement later issued by his media team said the letter which was written on the 5th of July and as at today, 7th of August had not reached Nwaoboshi either in person or office or by substitution.

Probe Threat to Life of Tombomieye, NNPC COO, Group Tells IG A group, Niger Delta Young Business Leaders Forum, has warned against continued attacks and threat to life aimed at blackmailing the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Upstream of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Adokiye Tombomieye and charged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to investigate it The group which condemned what it called campaign of calumny against the official alleged it was orchestrated by some misguided Niger Delta youths to intimidate, blackmail, extort and stampede him for financial gains against the tenets of the recent office he occupies in the oil industry.

The group in a statement by its Coordinator, Richard Akinaka, alleged that preliminary investigation into the smear campaign against Tombomieye revealed that some unscrupulous Niger Delta indigenes were trying to extort the oil chief.

“We therefore, call on the Inspector-General of Police and the other security agencies to immediately launch an investigation

into these acts of harassment, intimidation and threat to life of a public official whose only crime is working judiciously along other top official to fulfil the mandate handed them by President Muhammadu Buhari,” the group charged.

According to Akinaka,” Adokiye is one of the reputable sons of the Niger Delta and a role model to many young aspiring Business leaders and should not be smeared in any manner.

All checks showed that those behind the blackmail and smear campaign are out to extort him.

This act is a typical way used by these clueless, greedy and empty few to drag indigenes of the region in position power into corrupt practices.”

Akinaka wondered why people from the region would rather than celebrate that one of their own was elevated now resort to threatening to protest against his recent promotion from the position of Group General Manager, crude oil marketing division to chief operating officer, Upstream which he said was “shameful and criminal.”

Former governor of Anambra State and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said that rotational presidency was a gentleman agreement reached by the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders during its formation.

Against the background of resurgent debate on the necessity or otherwise of the concept in the nation’s polity, Ngige said it made for the stability of the country.

Speaking in an interview with THISDAY to mark his birthday, the minister said that even though it was not contained in the party’s constitution, the framers of the constitution of the APC agreed that it was something possible.

“It is not written in our constitution, but for me, it will make for stability and fairness if it rotates back to the South. I was in PDP, we practiced it. It makes for stability. We don’t have it in our party constitution but we, the framers of the constitution of the APC agreed that it is something possible. I was one of the wise men that drafted the APC constitution with Chief Segun Osoba as head. That’s

what we agreed on; that we don’t have to insert it but these are things that could be done by gentleman agreement,” he said.

Ngige said that the gentleman agreement on power rotation was what guided the party during its presidential convention where President Muhammadu Buhari emerged APC candidate in 2014.

He said, “Whether there should be rotation, zoning or not for me is a simple matter. It is a gentleman agreement. Even the American constitution doesn’t have everything written in it.

“When we went for the first national convention of the party to elect the presidential candidate, we told all the southerners to step down. It was only Okorocha who refused to step down and we quarreled with him. People like me quarreled with him from the South East and I told him I won’t support him and I did not.

“So, that is it. If you are talking about merit and competence, you can also enthrone it. If you come to the Southern part, you will also see competent persons.

So for me , this is the way I look at it but everybody has his own opinion on the matter but the side of the divide I will stand and stand firmly will be known after May 29, 2021.”

Pan-Okun People Relief Response Agenda As part of its drive to promote awareness against the ravaging effects of COVID-19, create a unity of purpose and help mobilise huge resources for the entire people of Okun land, especially in the area of health development, the Pan-Okun People Relief Response Agenda has commenced moves aimed at actualising its purposes.

This was contained in a statement issued by the body after a strategic meeting of its Steering Committee on Monday.

It said implementation of the core mandate of the group is being proposed to kick-start this month of August. The committee resolved that healthcare projects across the entire Okun land of Kogi State which will be encompassing and beneficial to the people in a COVID-19

and post COVID-19 era would top all considerations.

The group also stated that such intervention as provision of materials in hospitals and healthcare centres across Okun land, which is the main goal of the initiative, could be the group’s legacy to Okun development at this critical time.

The committee further urged members of the group to go all out to canvass for more financial support from public-spirited individuals and groups. It further urged members of the initiative to reach out to prospective donors within the next two weeks in order to speed up implementation process. The group has, as its targets, the sum of N500 Million Naira to enable it support health facilities across Okun land among others.

60 Dead Persons still Paid Salary in Imo Agency An audit report carried out by the the Imo State Secondary Education Management Board (IMSUBEB) has revealed that not less than 60 dead persons in the agency were still receiving salary till date.

The report also shows that several persons who were 60 years and above the age of retirement were still drawing salary while more than 40 staff of the agency who absconded from service were being payrolled.

The shocking revelation was made at the weekend when the committee set up by the Agency of Imo State Government to look into its activities submitted its report to Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Receiving the report, Uzodimma lauded the agency for the courage to carry out the audit

and encouraged other ministries and agencies of government to do likewise for the purpose of sanitising the payroll system of the state.

“No amount of distraction will deter government from completing the automation exercise. It is unfortunate that agents of opposition party keep trying to blackmail the government.

Unfortunately, I will not allow them to have their way,” the governor said.

The Governor said his administration was committed to the payment of salary and emoluments of civil servants and pensioners and urged those yet to receive their pay to approach the relevant offices with the appropriate data so that they could be payrolled in line with the automation process.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

08054699539

Messing up Nigeria with Chinese Loans

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n sane climes, when a government signs any loan agreement, the interest of the citizens is prioritised. That has not been the case with loan agreements signed with China by Nigerian governments - past and present. Some critical things are signed away by our governments in these deals.

Between 2010 and March 31, 2020, 11 of such loans have been obtained from the China Exim Bank. They all have a seven-year moratorium, 20 years tenor and obtained at 2.5 per cent interest rate, with varying maturity dates.

The clarifications by Patience Oniha, Director-General, Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) on Wednesday left many questions unanswered. First, the Chinese determine the cost of projects (whatever figure put forward is accepted), give us loans tied to the projects and the projects must be executed by Chinese firms alone. We don’t have a say in anything other than to repay the loans. This is the level my beloved Nigeria has degenerated. That was how the Chinese decided that the Lagos to Ibadan railway will cost $500 million. It is being executed by a Chinese firm in conformity with the agreement Nigeria reached with China. So, they import all manner of equipment and manpower for the project. Don’t be surprised to find even clerks imported from China for the scheme. Our people are largely used as manual labourers.

China clearly uses such loans to boost its exports of goods and services at the detriment of Nigeria. When they charge 2.5 per cent interest, they know what they are doing. Some naïve Nigerian officials celebrate this. The Chinese have their neo-colonial plans well-laid out but this government is too blind to see it. The truth is that if we throw the contract open and pick the best contractors for the jobs, Nigeria will execute these projects cheaper without compromising quality. The costs of projects tied to Chinese loans are usually outrageous, because they singlehandedly determine them. This is contrary to Nigeria’s procurement law. The law requires procurements to undergo a competitive bidding process to ensure that the government and the people get value for money. It only exempts procurements for emergencies. The Chinese bypass this law by insisting that projects tied to their loans must be executed by Chinese firms and our government agrees. There are numerous exploitative dangers associated with such agreements. So, my dear Patience Oniha, why is it that Nigeria’s public procurement laws are never followed by our government when it comes to projects funded with Chinese loans? It’s a shame that information is also hardly available to the public on these projects at conception stage for critical assessment.

We only hear of approvals by the Federal Executive Council. That was why those that conceived the Lagos to Ibadan railway were unaware of the hindrances on the route which slowed it down. Trustworthy bodies like the AfDB and the World Bank don’t insist on specific contractors for the projects they fund.

They insist on open competitive biddings.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) persistently warns Nigeria and other third

Oniha

world countries that mounting debts to China are dangerous. It stresses that Chinese creditors create some instability or vulnerabilities. Those managing our economy must spend quality time reading IMF’s caution.

On the flip side, most of the projects the Nigerian government has been funding with Chinese loans ought to be private sector driven. That’s the standard in lucid places.

Let’s look at some of them: Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Idu-Kaduna section); Abuja Light Rail Project; ICT Infrastructure Backbone Project; Airport Terminal Expansion Project (Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt); Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project; 40 Parboiled Rice Processing Plants Project; Railway Modernisation Project (LagosIbadan section); rehabilitation and upgrading of Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi Road and the supply of rolling stocks and depot equipment for Abuja Light Rail Project.

Why take loans for railway, power and airport projects? The standard in modern economies is for the government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to play leading roles in developments like these. This is how modern economies run.

A modern government should also be seen promoting Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) models for projects, using local and international companies. The Chinese government should have been approached for a BOT agreement for all the railway, power and airport projects.

If they truly love Nigeria as they claim, they will cuddle it.

Governments in modern societies are always working to free resources for health, education and other welfare sectors. In Nigeria, we are busy diverting our limited resources to areas better handled by the private sector.

This is why Nigeria is lagging behind in virtually everything. Experience in rational climes has shown that areas like railway, power and airport are better handled by the private sector with the government creating an enabling environment. To exit the club of

underdeveloped countries, Nigeria must run a modern government capable of stimulating a modern economy. Unfortunately, the Buhari government as presently constituted lacks the capacity to do this.

So, all the government thinks about is to take foreign loans. Buhari and his men think the only way to narrow Nigeria’s infrastructural deficit is to borrow and this has been on in the last five years, amid so much poverty. The government is now notorious for binge borrowing and does it with so much impunity, throwing this generation, and indeed, the future generation into bottomless debt. This country evidently has very little to show for all the loans but government cares less about wise counsels in this direction. That was why it recently railroaded our kick and follow Senate into approving a mind-boggling $22.7 billion 2016-2018 external borrowing plan, which the president said would be used for critical projects across the country.

Again, this government only thinks about accumulating debt and not about the repayment implications. The N2.45 trillion set aside for debt servicing in the 2020 federal budget is almost 25 per cent of the budget size. There was a report in 2018 that the Buhari government was spending 69 per cent of its revenue on servicing both local and international debts. I thought government officials would come out to dispute this figure when the former Vice-President (Africa) of the World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili unveiled it. It did not happen. The following year, in the 2019 budget, over N2.1 trillion was set aside for debt servicing. No country can attain development with this kind of humongous debt settlements. If we are not careful, Nigeria may be plunged into insolvency by the huge repayment commitments.

Our country’s revenue to debt repayment ratio is evidently horrendous. Agents of this government dubiously harp on debt-to- GDP ratio, instead of the lucid debt-to-revenue standard. Ezekwesili’s remarks on these are instructive. Back in 2018, she said: “The Federal Government is digging in instead of digging out. Already, the debt service to revenue is so high. Today, it is 69 per cent.

69 per cent of revenue is used to service our debts. That is not a sustainable situation.

I see the government quote all the time ‘Debt to GDP ratio’, but that is like a blunt instrument in an environment where your GDP is not reflective of your productivity. We measure your productivity by the revenue the GDP generates in the form of revenue of government that comes as a result of the GDP. Your debt to GDP is three per cent and you think that gives you the legroom to borrow and borrow. No, that is not your instrument. Your instrument is your debt service tool, which is the revenue.”

Also, I can clearly remember the then Chairman, Senate Committee on Debts, Shehu Sani, remarking that if Nigeria must borrow, it must borrow responsibly. He added: “If we must bequeath to the future generation a pile of debt, it must be justified with commensurate infrastructural proof of the value of the debt. The payment plan of this debt will undoubtedly last the length of our lifetimes and possibly beyond. We must

Power Rotation: Tanko Yakassai is Making Sense

Yakassai

There is no section of this country that cannot produce high quality President for Nigeria. This is my conviction. So, there is nothing wrong with rotational Presidency. The problem we’ve been having is that we don’t put forward our best legs. This is why we have so many vagabonds in power.

Elder statesman, Tanko Yakassai, was right when he made a case for the sustenance of the zoning of political offices, saying zoning and power rotation will take care of the aspiration of different groups in the country. “Once power goes round, at least once or twice, everyone will be reassured

that they will get the opportunity to produce the President.” Yakassai, who was a guest on ARISE television, said he settled for zoning because he realised that the stability of the country should be paramount.

He also called for a return to the Parliamentary system of government to end the marginalisation by some parts of the country. I also concur. The Presidential system is too expensive. So, how do we get back to Parliamentary system of government? It would require amending the constitution. A tough one, but it can be done. Let’s start mobilising towards this.

leave behind a legacy that will appease and answer the questions the next generation of Nigerians will ask.”

The words of wisdom of the SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, on binge borrowing, would also be useful to the current managers of Nigeria’s economy. She stated: “In a country where fiscal regulation is weak, debt may be accumulated in ways that are not transparent, and very seriously to the detriment of its citizens… with interest rates at historically low levels, borrowing becomes an attractive proposition yet heightens the concomitant risk of debt ballooning to levels which are not sustainable over the longer term. This situation raises the possibility that countries which have ‘borrowed their way out of trouble’ following a setback will eventually face very severe debt distress.”

Genuine patriots have spoken. Unfortunately, this country is already in a mess with foreign loans. Is this the change Nigerians voted for? I don’t think so.

Uzodinma

Trauma of Imo State Pensioners Some state pensioners were attacked last Tuesday at the Imo State Government House while protesting huge unpaid annuities. They were bloodied by hoodlums allegedly hired by Governor Hope Uzodinma, for picking up courage to embarrass him. The protesting pensioners were attacked on approaching the main gate and mercilessly flogged by the thugs. Some of the senior citizens fought back but were too weak to sustain the fight, leaving them sobbing and shouting. Those still in doubt about who hired the thugs need to listen to the Senior Special Assistant to Uzodinma on print media, Modestus Nwamkpa who described the protest as an illegal one. He said: “Government has discovered that most of the protesters are not pensioners but members of the opposition being used to discredit the performances of the Hope Uzodinma administration in the state.” I guess there is no need debating who the main man behind the attack is again. His handwriting is on the wall.

Dr. Ebenezer Ibekwe, one of the unpaid pensions lamented thus: “How can you owe an old man like me and declare him a ghost pensioner and still don’t want me to demand my entitlements? Already, they have detained our leaders using the DSS. The thugs they hired were flogging pensioners with canes because we said we are not ghost pensioners as they are tagging us.”

It is inhuman and most unfair treating our senior citizens in this manner. This is a continuation of Rochas Okorocha’s callousness in Imo State. It is the fifth time in less than a month the senior citizens are protesting against the non-payment of their pension and gratuities

by Uzodinma. This governor is looking hopeless for the good people of Imo State. He has to amend his ways to avoid the wrath of the good people of this state.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY Femi Otedola’s ‘Darling Nana’ Glows at 50 Nana, the beautiful wife of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola turned 50last Sunday with a birthday party limited to family members at their London home. Ferdinand Ekechukwu captures the glitz at the event

N na Na

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

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SUPER SATURDAY Femi Otedola’s ‘Darling Nana’ Glows at 50

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hat better way y to celebrate one’s birthday other than with family? y You may y ask. Well that’s exactly y what Nana Otedola did.

This beautiful wife of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, turned 50 last Sunday. y In the mood of celebration, Otedola hosted his wife to a private p party p y same day.

Not because he fancies showing g off his enormous wealth; far from it; but because he cherishes Nana, the mother of his children and the one who adds p plenty y sheen to his glowing and glorious g being. g The businessman had earlier taken to his official Instagram g p page g to celebrate his wife of 28 years. Referring y g to her as darling, g Otedola shared a picture p of Nana, which he accompanied with a romantic message. g “Happy birthday y to darling g Nana.…F.Ote $,” he wrote on Instagram. g Then the messages g from her children to Nana, the shrewd entrepreneur p behind Garment Care, followed. For Florence Otedola, “It’s my y mum’s birthday. y Wish her a happy ppy birthday,” y she wrote, with a love emoticon attached. Also Tolani, Femi’s eldest child expressed p her birthday wishes thus. “Happy ppy Birthday y to the most vibrant human I know.

Loving, g creative, kind and jjust all round amazing. g Love y you to the moon and back mummy.”

“Mama mia!!! Happy pp birthday y to @nana_otedola the most g golden and loving g woman I know.

You guide g me through g everything y g in life. Period.

I still dream of being g as intelligent, g compassionate, p cool and beautiful as y you mama!! Iya y mi, love y you so much!” the y youngest g of her daughters, g Temi, wrote as wished her “mama mia” a heartfelt birthday wishes. They y all shared sweet birthday y messages g as well as p photos and videos from the intimate celebration.

However, one needs not be there to know it was a beautiful ceremony. y The 57-year-old y billionaire Nana with Femi Otedola appeared pp p in g good spirits p and danced his heart out as seen in videos he shared from the celebration.

In one of the videos, one could see Otedola and his wife dancing g to the evergreen g song, g “The Merciful God” by y Sunny y Ade. One could hear DJ Cuppy ppy cheering g her p parents. Another voice was heard saying y g that the g gathering g looked jjust like a Lagos g party. p y In another video, Nana was spotted p blowing g off the candles on her cake as some family voices in the background g cheered on. In another short video post, p the billionaire businessman could be seen showing g off his moves while dancing on the occasion of his lover’s birthday. y In the video, Nana could also be seen dancing g while the lovebirds were being g cheered by y voices behind the camera. Nana is well known for living g a high g standard lifestyle y with her family. y She was born in London and also holds both British and Nigerian citizenship. She started her business career

in 2005 in the United Kingdom. g Currently, y she owns a dry y cleaning g business in Lagos g called “Garment Care” where she deals with many y hotels and restaurants. Moreover, she is less active on social networking g sites such as Instagram g Twitter. Besides, Nana is often seen traveling g with her husband and children across the world. From time to time, one can see their p photos from such countries as France or Italy. y She also keeps up with the latest trend in fashion.

Half a century y is a long g time in anybody’s y y life and Nana understands this. She appreciates pp how far she has come in life. She is however not unmindful of the fact that at 50, life now seems shorter but in words and deeds. She evinced her g gratefulness to God for the g grace and good g health to daily y wake up p without any y aches and anxieties. Interestingly, g one of the major j sources of jjoy y of Femi Otedola is Nana, his beloved wife and eternal soul mate.

Otedola family y exemplifies p a successful family y life with g good p parenting g despite p success in business.

His marriage to Nana has been blessed with lovely children.

Nana is beside herself with jjoy y for being gp privileged g to witness yet y another glorious g addition to her inspiring p g days. y She is celestial; the one who can wish away y the crippling pp g stress of running g a conglom g erate with just j the soothing g poetry p y of her voice. Nana understands that turning g 50 and still remaining g fit and fabulous is an indubitable reminder of how far one has come in life – the many y storms weathered; the vicissitudes, the tragedies and the joys; everything in the mix.

Those who know the family y intimately y said Otedola was ready y to open p the vaults to celebrate his wife’s milestone birthday y with a party p y that would be talked about for a long g time but for the COVID-19 limitations. Happy birthday to a celestial woman at 50.

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΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

WHAT MAKES A REVOLUTION? Nigerians are seeking a revolution against corruption, insecurity and poverty, writes Fredrick Nwabufo

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hat makes a revolution? Knowledge. Information. Awareness. Awakening. The biblical Moses was a prince in the ménage of the persecutors of the Hebrews – his people. He did not know their toil because he was far removed from them. He lived in the cloistered world of princes while his people retire to a night of torment and awake to a morning of labour.

But one day, a bolt of epiphany hit Moses – the prince of Egypt. He saw his people in servitude – and I guess the prince knew he was not free himself if they were in manacles. Conscience-smitten, he committed a homicide. He became a fugitive, and eventually the liberator of his people.

Awakening! Anyone can be Moses – in the case of Nigeria. Like the people of Israel under captivity in Egypt, most Nigerians have retreated into a carapace; they have become tepid and so disillusioned that they are living through each day listlessly. They have seen state violence. They have read how active citizens were tortured and incarcerated for demanding a better deal for the country. They have seen critics of the government magicked from sight for seeking to hold the government to account.

Nigerians have seen it all. This explains their docility but does not excuse it. Like the Hebrews, some of them will seek to remain in Egypt out of fear for Pharaoh’s whip. They will curse their intending liberators and murmur against their ‘’chi’’. They desire change but have been psychologically sterilised to fight for it.

The #RevolutionNow protests across the country on Wednesday unbolted a new perspective in my conception of the reception of Nigerians to change.

Citizens without any financial or material inducement poured into the streets in states and even in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) despite violence and threats of bloodshed by security agents. This counts for something.

It is crystallising. A few Nigerians are unplugging themselves and awakening others. There is a rise of new consciences. More and more citizens are breaking out of their carapaces and daring the undared. I have studied the circle of protests from Katsina, where the billboard of President Muhammadu Buhari was

NIGERIANS DO NOT WANT TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN THEIR SLEEP BY BANDITS. THEY SEEK PROTECTION OF THEIR LIFE AND PROPERTY. THIS IS WHAT REVOLUTION MEANS TO NIGERIANS

torched, to Kano, and now to the latest rounds of mass actions across the country, I can say the revolution will come.

The government huddles in fright sensing the awakening of timorous citizens. The deployment of instruments of suppression against citizens is symptomatic of the authorities’ morbid fear. They know the armies and chariots of Egypt are no match for a handful of Moses. And if they were holding up the end of their bargain with Nigerians, no citizen would be in the street brandishing placards of judgment against the administration.

The protests for change are a judgment against the administration. And if the government is a thinking one, it will appreciate the courage of Nigerians to register their concerns in peaceful protests. Only a non-performing government will be afraid of citizens’ protests or interpret civil actions as subversion.

Also, I think there is a deliberate misconception of the intent of citizens’ clamour for a revolution by the government. Perhaps, the misreading is a consequence of the administration’s insecurity. I believe, Nigerians seek change not bloodshed. They want to be able to apply for jobs they are qualified for without needing to pay a bribe or having access to power. They want to enjoy the electricity that they pay for.

Nigerians want good roads and the necessary infrastructure that will make life liveable. They do not want to die of malaria owing to poverty and lack of money to buy even drugs of N100. They want to educate their children and have the means to provide for them.

Most importantly, they do not want to be slaughtered in their sleep by bandits. They seek protection of their life and property. This is what revolution means to Nigerians. Change not bloodshed or an overthrow of the government.

Nigerians only want to overthrow corruption, insecurity and poverty. I think, President Buhari himself will join the army of protesters if he has the capacity of discerning the genuine intention of citizens demanding change.

Nigerians seek a revolution against corruption, insecurity and poverty. Buhari can join the cabriolet.

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

REFORMING THE NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE Henry Udutchay commends the present effort to reform the prisons

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ugust 14, 2020 marks exactly one year since President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the act changing the name of Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service. This was a defining moment for prison administration in Nigeria, which for many years had suffered severe neglect.

Although prison reform did not feature prominently in President Buhari’s reform agenda, it was generally agreed that it was long overdue. It was therefore not surprising that the president wasted no time in signing the bill when it was passed by the National Assembly. It was a clear demonstration of the president’s concern and commitment to comprehensive prison reform.

Prior to this historic transition from Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service the state of Nigerian Prisons was deplorable and dreaded.

Rather than being a place for reform, it became a breeding ground for criminals; this was in addition to providing cover for thriving illicit drug business and other sundry crimes.

The welfare of prisoners and prison officials was nothing to write home about. Indeed, the condition in the prisons were so dehumanizing that the inmates were exposed to frequent outbreak of diseases which accounted for loss of many lives in the prisons.

This was also largely responsible for frequent jailbreaks in various

prisons across the country. It was also discovered that some of these jailbreaks were encouraged or in connivance with prison officials, who out of frustration of poor condition of service become willing instruments in perverting the purpose of prison administration.

There was also the issue of over congestion of prisons in the country which had compounded the problem of prison administration in the country.

It is against this backdrop that one would begin to appreciate the commendable effort by the present administration to reform the Nigerian Prison system from the dreaded image of the past to a true correctional centre, where the prisoners would have the opportunity to be reformed and rehabilitated back to the society.

However, it must be acknowledged that the present reform of the Nigeria Prison Service goes beyond the change of the name; it is rather a process set in motion since the inception of the administration of the present Comptroller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed, which began in 2016. Backed with deep knowledge of the rot in the Nigerian Prison System and a desperate need for reform, Ja’afaru Ahmed took his assignment with a missionary zeal borne out of a sincere commitment to bring a new face to prison administration in the country.

At first it would seem a daunting task considering the myriad of problems that have bedeviled the Nigerian

Prison system. But with an incredible panache, focused leadership and sincere commitment has been able to achieve what would ordinarily appear to be an impossibility.

His tenure has witnessed massive improvement in every facet of prison administration in the country, which has impacted positively on the lives of both prison inmates and officials.

One of his most laudable performance indicators is the area of welfare of prison inmates and officials, which has received tremendous boost. With the understanding that a demoralized workforce will always constitute a clog on the wheel of progress of the organization, the CGP had ensured that priority was given to the welfare of his officers and men, which in turn has enhanced their commitment to service delivery.

Similarly, rehabilitation of dilapidated prison infrastructure across the country had been pursued vigorously and holistically. As a result, many prisons in the country today have received tremendous facelift. It is no longer the story where the prisons where more like dungeons; all the prisons in the country can at least pass a test of being habitable, unlike what it was in the past. There is also enhanced security system in and around the prison premises which has curtailed or eliminated the nauseating stories of jailbreaks in the country.

Equally, a comprehensive training

and skill acquisition scheme have been given adequate attention to ensure that prison inmate will acquire one skill or the other, which will enable them to face life outside the prison. Indeed the concept of correctional service is to reform the inmates and rehabilitate them into the society. This would also make their adaptation into the society less difficult.

There is no denying the fact that CGP Ja’afaru Ahmed has perform remarkably well to transform the image of the Nigerian Prison. This explains why President Buhari extended his tenure to enable him continue with the good work he is doing. He has set a high bench mark for succeeding administration to attend because of his numerous achievements.

However, this achievement cannot be removed from the support of Hon Minister of Interior, Dr. Rauf Aregbesola, who has been very instrumental in getting the necessary government attention for the success of the prisons reform.

By and large, the face of Nigerian Prisons has changed significantly under the present administration. The transformation from Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service is a welcome development; it is one that would go a long in changing the negative perception about the Nigerian prison System.

Henry Udutchay, hochay2000@ yahoo.com

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΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Disturbing signals...

Redeeming Edo’s Lost Glory In Sports

Terrorism and Banditry in Nigeria

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’ve observed that many Nigerians are so much concerned about the recent port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. Today, I say ‘amen’ to all the prayers showered upon the people. However, I’ve also observed with dismay, the nonchalant attitudes of many Nigerians towards happenings in our country, ranging from terrorism to banditry.

Nigerians are quick at registering their thoughts and prayers with people of other countries but act like nothing is wrong with ours. Funny how Nigerians supported the black lives matter protest from the beginning to the end, calling for justice for George Floyd but are yet to raise their voices against the killings in Southern Kaduna. Funny how Nigerians condemned Donald Trump for the airstrike in Iran, yet lost their voices in calling for an end to terrorism and banditry in the northern part of Nigeria.

Over the years, thousands of lives have been lost to inhuman acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, rape and ritual killings in Nigeria. For the few of us who seem interested in seeing an end to these misdemeanors, all we could do was to seek justice on social media. For the ‘international activists,’ they’re more interested in seeking justice for killings and raining thoughts and prayers for incidences outside Nigeria. Even the president of Nigeria went ahead to wish Saudi Arabia king a quick recovery a day after the last killings in Southern Kaduna. Till this moment, Mr. President is yet to say anything about the killings.

Rather, he commended the service chiefs, saying they’ve done their best in the fight against insurgency.

Many killers are freed, absorbed into the society and empowered in the name of ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members while people who have been rendered homeless with their loved ones killed by these said ‘deradicalised’ killers are there at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. Unfortunately, some not-to-be-called-humans still find interest in looting the money meant to take care of these people’s needs. Most unfortunate, many Nigerians are more concerned about international affairs.

Should we continue to see these happen without taking giant steps towards seeing to their end? Should we continue to stick to international affairs rather than holding our government accountable for all the lives that have been lost? Should we continue to prioritize the wellbeing of the people of other countries over our own people? These are questions we need to ponder upon. Killings in Southern Kaduna have for many years been the travail of the people. Hundreds of people have been killed since its inception.

Unfortunately, no one could point out any reason for the killings: religion, ethnicity; different people are of different opinions.

Borno, Yobe and other Northeastern states are

being ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents. Many have lost their lives since the beginning and many are still dying as a result of this. The people of Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto have lost their loved ones to banditry and kidnapping. The people have lost count of the number of lives that have been lost to this menace, yet no assurance that such won’t occur in the future.

On July 14th, 2020, Sa’adatu Usman, a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto was shot dead by kidnappers in Nasarawa. On 24th of July, 2020, Yusha’u Cisse Hashim, another student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto was shot by bandits at his home in Katsina with his siblings still in the hands of these deadly people, demanding N300 million ransom. Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a student of UNIBEN was raped and killed in a church. Till date, investigation is ongoing with no justice assured. Many women have died in same manner, especially during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Nigerians should start taking Nigeria seriously. It’s high time we took responsibility by serving as front line army in the fight against these evil occurrences.

My thoughts and prayers are with families who have lost their loved ones to all these happenings in the country.

Bashir Turawa, Ilorin, Kwara State

A

s a sport professional, my pains close to four years of Obaseki government in Edo, is the zero absence of Edo at the sporting arena, which is the state’s socioeconomic industry, where for more than five decades she commands high level of experience, and expertise, essentially her net exports across Nigera and the entire world.

Too often, a man is not greater than his dreams.

Until it is actualised, a dream remains a personal passion for the dreamer. Even when it is shaped, it is only those who can see it that will run with it.

Such were the big dreams and the realities of the Midwest, the landmark achievements of one man, Brigadier General(rtd) Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia who transformed the state in sports with unassuming young athletes who became instant conquerors. Nigerian states and opposing athletes were amazed and remained absolutely awe-stricken by the sheer brilliance of athletes of Edo extraction. What an era of glorious allconquering athletes created by General Ogbemudia of blessed memory? A one-man revolution brought the evolution and the creation of jobs. Young men and women became colossal successes and turned celebrities overnight.

Dr. Ogbemudia’s yeoman achievements were hinged on school children having regular sport competitions in both divisional and zonal levels of the state. The late general gave scholarships and took personal interest in their education and training. The former military governor also set up the College of Physical Education in Afuze to hone the skills of teachers and athletes alike and the defunct Midwest’s numero uno position in the First National Sports Festival held in Lagos in 1973 was easily established. That victory is legendary.

But the creation of Delta State from Bendel with the other renamed Edo has destroyed the myth and the invisibility of the “heart” which was the nucleus of the defunct Midwest or Bendel.

Recall the heartbeat as an aspirational mantra of Edo was derived mainly from the sporting prowess of the Edo State and people.

Interesting, it could be observed that this imperious power declined under Obaseki’s watch, like no other dispensation which is why Edo has completely abandoned this success to Delta.

Without doubt, Edo is presently not just a shadow of itself, but the state is absent and has indeed become a sad spectator in sporting activities.

Olu Amadasun is a former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation and former President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria

Bible Bashing?

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

P

resident Donald Trump has claimed that Presidential candidate Joe Biden will ‘Hurt the Bible.’ How, Why? The Bible is either a publication of which over five billion copies have been printed (Guinness Book of Records) so it can’t physically be removed or it is a set of stories and beliefs that have lasted over 2,000 years so it is unlikely that one person, even a president, could remove that from society. There are also a number of other sets of written beliefs in the Quran, the Torah or the Book of Mormon with literally hundreds of millions of copies printed and one of these four sets of beliefs could be found in almost every home although President Trump hasn’t mentioned them, possibly because he is not familiar with them.

The only real way to hurt a Bible is physically, a Bible Burning and no President or Candidate would do that, we hope. Any attempt to stop the observation of a religion, and sadly there have been many attempts, are doomed to failure as history has shown.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾AUGUST 8, 2020

NEWS

Sokoto Marginalised, not Catered for in Federal Affairs, Laments Tambuwal Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has lamented that the state was not properly given the chances it deserved in the federal scheme of things as stipulated by the Constitution of the country.

Tambuwal made the observation yesterday when the Federal Commissioner representing the state in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu Tafida and his team paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Sokoto.

The Governor said Part I, Section 5 (1) 8 E, CAP F7 (2004) of the laws of the Federal Republic

of Nigeria mandated the FCC to provide guidelines for monitoring and distributing infrastructural facilities, social amenities and other projects; and programmes executed by federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

But, “in Sokoto State, we have been left far behind, especially in federal appointments, infrastructural development and federal presence.

“That is why when I came in a few years ago, I decided to create a Ministry of Careers and Security Services. What we use to have before was a department.

“Now, the commissioner is saddled with the responsibility of

collaborating with the federal government to see how we can ensure that what belongs to Sokoto belongs to Sokoto,” Tambuwal emphasised.

While commending the framers of the Constitution for deeming it fit to establish the FCC, the governor also appreciated the gesture of President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting his nominee and appointing him to represent the state in the Commission.

He assured Tafida and his team of his administration’s cooperation and support in the discharge of their duties.

Briefing the governor on why they visited him, Tafida who also

pointed out that Sokoto State was “inadvertently shortchanged” in federal representations and location of developmental programmes, said: “since the establishment of the FCC some 20 years ago, public perception of it had remained at the lowest.

The challenges, therefore, Tafida stressed “are not only limited to federal posts and political appointments but that of the overall development of state government and its 23 local government areas.”

“This underscores the need for us to work together and ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of posts and infrastructural development in the country.”

LEGAL FIREWORKS ...

L-R: Mr. Obidike Okolo, National Publicity Secretary, National Rescue Movement (NRM); Prince Chinedu Obi and Mr. Valentine Offia at the Federal High Court, Abuja after NRM’s filing for the disqualification of governorship candidate of APC in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu …yesterday

Ugwuanyi Canvasses for Fair Ashafa Pledges Housing Share of Federal Appointments Development Implementation Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has emphasised the vital role of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in implementation and enforcement of the principles of fairness and equity in the distribution of all public posts and socio-economic infrastructure, among the various federating units of the country.

Ugwuanyi stressed this yesterday, at the Government House, Enugu, when he hosted the Commissioner representing Enugu State, in the Federal Character Commission, Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor, who was recently inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside other members of the Commission.

The governor noted that the Commission was saddled with the responsibility of working out an equitable formula, subject to the approval of the President, for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the public service of the federation and of the states, the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other government security agencies, government owned companies and parastatals of the states, etc.

He pointed out that the Commission’s responsibilities, which were apt, underscored the strategic role of the state’s representative, Mrs. Tor, “in ensuring that Enugu State was availed its fair share of posts in civil and public services of the federation.”

While congratulating Mrs. Tor on her new appointment, Governor Ugwuanyi prayed for God’s guidance

and protection, assuring her of his administration’s willingness and readiness to avail her all necessary support and collaboration to maximise the state’s opportunities in the civil and public services of the federation.

“I pray that the good Lord grants you the health, presence of mind, focus and courage to enthrone a new paradigm that will expand the frontiers of Enugu State opportunities in the Federal Civil and Public Services”, the governor added.

In her remark, Mrs. Tor, who was accompanied to the reception by her colleagues in the Federal Character Commission, from Abia, Anambra, Lagos, Cross River, Delta and Nasarawa States, expressed gratitude to Governor Ugwuanyi for deeming it necessary to honour her in spite of the fact that they are in different political parties.

Former lawmaker and Managing Director of Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has pledged that he would use his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari to justify expectations and deliver on the housing policy of the administration.

He stated this in his acceptance speech on the appointment where he said, “It is with the highest sense of responsibility and consciousness of the task ahead that I accept my appointment by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria.”

He pledged to ensure a vigorous implementation of the federal government’s housing policy which entails the provision of mass affordable housing for millions of

Nigerians and the rejuvenation of the economy through the creation of meaningful jobs for millions of young Nigerians.

The Senator pleaded for the cooperation of the government and the private sectors as he would need their assistance to perform better, adding he and his team would be fully determined to leverage on this important cooperation in order to create housing opportunities for many Nigerians while creating millions of jobs in order to stimulate the economy.

He acknowledged the work already done by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under the able leadership of His Excellency Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, the Federal Housing Authority and other complementary agencies in this regard.

‘Farming Activities Resume in Katsina Communities’ Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Government has stated that normalcy and farming activities had returned to communities hitherto captured by bandits in front line local government areas of the state.

The Special Adviser to state Government on Security Matters, Mr. Ibrahim Katsina, disclosed this while addressing journalists yesterday.

He stated that despite pockets of challenges to the security operation, farmers in most of the affected

communities had gone back to their normal farming and business activities.

He said: “As you can observe, in spite of the pockets of challenges to the security operations, most of the affected communities have gradually gone back to their farms and going about their normal activities.

“We wish to acknowledge with satisfaction the efforts of military and other security forces in the restoration of gradual peace in the affected areas. We hope the tempo

will be sustained so that sooner than expected, banditry will be a thing of the past in the state.”

He called on members of the public to shun all forms of inducement that could trigger insecurity and support government and its security forces for sustainable peace and development to thrive in the state.

He expressed optimism that the tempo would be sustained in order to enable the remaining Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to return to their ancestral homes.

Election Tribunal Affirms Victory of Princess Onuoha The Election Petition Tribunal in Owerri has dismissed the petition against the election of Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha representing Isialambano/Onuimo/ Okigwe federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Princess Onuoha is a member of the All Progressives Congress.

Hon. Obinna Onwubuariri of the Peoples Democrstic Party had petitioned the tribunal sitting in Owerri to challenge the election of Princess Onuoha.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Esther Haruna, the petition was dismissed for lack of merit.

Gender Activist Seeks Enforcement of Girls, Women’s Rights Tobi Soniyi A gender expert, Iheoma Obibi, has advised the federal government to put in place and enforce policies that would promote gender equity and protect the rights of women and girls.

Obibi, also a steering committee member, Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF), gave the advice in Lagos at the weekend.

According to her, this would bring a robust political and socio-economic development to the country.

Speaking on the theme of the conference was: ‘The Role of Feminism in Advancing the Rights of Women in Nigeria’.

Obibi said that the role of feminism in advancing women’s rights, though popularly misunderstood, was all about equality, fairness and a level playing field, irrespective of gender.

She also called for the implementation and enforcement of laws relating to gender-based violence, Child Rights Act, Female Genital Mutilation and Access to Education of Girls in those states that had yet to domesticate such laws.

Addressing the issues of molestation and assault of female students in secondary schools, Obibi urged the government to create mechanisms to protect and tackle issues of inap-

propriate relationships with minors.

She said that her committee intended to partner strategic male allies to further drive the forum’s advocacy on safety of the girl-child and women.

“All institutions must have safeguarding policies to alleviate or totally eliminate issues pertaining to sexual harassment.

“Secondary schools should have sexual health policies that make staff accountable.

“In my days, lecturers were not allowed to have female students in their offices with their doors closed among other precautionary measures.

“All these simple measures protected both the lecturers and students,” she said.

Also, Ms Chiwendu Anozie, Coordinator NFF, said the forum has been playing a critical role in advancing the rights of women.

According to her, this is by constantly questioning the patriarchal system and its effect on the family, institutions, and accepted societal norms.

Anozie said that feminism had provided the space to interrogate the intersectionality of age, class, education, locality and who has access to reproduction sexual health services, privilege and access to power.

Tension Persists in Edo as Pro-Oshiomhole Lawmakers Fail to Access Assembly Cont’d from Pg.5 President Buhari urged party leaders at the national and state levels to follow the electoral process in an open and transparent manner.

“What I want is a transparent process so that the confidence of the people will be strengthened,” Buhari states.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, who presented the candidate, told the President that: “Pastor Ize- Iyamu is a seasoned grassroots politician who is loved by his people,” noting that the president’s blessings on the candidate further validated the party’s confidence.

In his response, Ize-Iyamu assured the president of his commitment to ensuring good governance in the state if elected in September, recalling that he served as Deputy Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of the APC at its formation.

Tinubu: Actions of Obaseki, Assault on Constitutional Democracy A chieftain of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu in a statement yesterday said the recent actions taken by Obaseki on the Edo State House of Assembly crisis “represent the gravest possible assault on constitutional democracy and the rule of law and escalation of violence and tension in the state he purports to govern.”

Tinubu state: “Not satisfied with making a mockery of our constitution by blocking the timely inauguration of two-thirds of the elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly,

Governor Obaseki has now resorted to the strong-arm tactics of dictators.

“First, he sponsors hoodlums to deface, indeed destroy, parts of the House of Assembly Building in Benin, feigning the building is undergoing renovation. Then, he imports sand and gravels to prevent access to the assembly complex. In effect, the man has spent state funds to thwart the very apparatus of the state government he was sworn to uphold. He has squandered public money to defeat the very will of the public. This is tragic beyond words.

“As a pretext for his refusal to allow the Edo House of Assembly to function, Governor Obaseki’s actions are perverse. This is a cowardly act and a move to thwart representative democracy in Edo. No renovation has been planned for the state house building. No appropriation was made in the state’s budget. The only reason any renovation could be deemed necessary is the destruction wrought by his own goons.

“Governor Obaseki’s governance of Edo State recalls the worst excesses of our military past and represents a direct threat to the democratic order.

By his refusal to permit duly elected members of the Edo State House of Assembly to perform their constitutional duties, Governor Obaseki betrayed contempt for the people of his state and, unfortunately, his ignorance of Nigeria’s constitutional order. As a Governor he ought to know better than to obstruct the functioning of his own legislature, but perhaps he is in need of a quick lesson.”

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

NEWS Ganduje Inaugurates Kano Gold Durbar, Says it Can Boost Nigeria’s Economy Ibrahim Shuaibu Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Jameelah Sanda Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has advocated for the collaboration of the state governments with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to boost the Gold economy in

the country.

Recall that recently, the federal government had launched one of its initiatives on Gold popularly known as Presidential Gold Mining Initiative which is the first step taken to revolutionise the Nigerian economy.

Speaking during the formal

launch of 'Kano Gold Durbar' held at Ado Bayero Mall in the state capital, the Deputy Governor, Nasiru Gawuna, explained that by collaborating with the federal government, state governments would fi nd it much easier to utilise the Gold available in their respective areas for

economic development.

"It is on this note, I find it worthy to appreciate and commend the federal government on its recent initiative of Presidential Gold Mining.

What is more interesting is the aspect of jobs creation whereby about 250,000 jobs are going to be provided

Filmmaker, Femi Johnson Launches MonoRoom Reality Show for Actors Femi Johnson, a fast-rising Nollywood producer and director, has launched a monologue reality TV show titled 'MonoRoom' for up-and-coming actors in Nigeria.

Femi, who believes that the mostimportantresourcesinNollywood are talents, has overtime championedthecampaignfortalent development in Nollywood through his online teachings.

Femi Johnson is an awardwinning stage director and has alsoworkedonshowslikeAfrica Magic’s Hush and The Johnson,

Desperate Housewives Africa, Casino, Oloibiri, Hello Mr Right, Voice to Fame, Prayer Request andlotsmoreindifferentcapacity.

MonoRoom was created to give talented actors, who have never had the chance to express themselves on the big screen, the opportunitytoshowcasetheiracting skills to the global audience.

Interested actors will have to registeronwww.femijohnson.ng forfreeandsubmitamonologue video which will be screened.

After screening, 26 actors will

be selected from the entry for the first season. In each episode, an actor will be filmed preparing and performing a monologue that was created and scripted by the actor.

FemiJohnsonwillbeavailable to correct, advise and direct the actors in other to bring out the best in their performance.

According to Femi Johnson, “MonoRoom is first of its kind and the aim is to feature over one thousand actors within 39 seasons. The reality show will be

distributedacrossdifferentmedia platforms which include but not limited to cable, terrestrial and social media.Audience around the world will be opportune to watch the actors perform. “MonoRoom will give featured actors a head start in the industry both locally and internationally, because clips from the show will be sent to producers, directors and casting director for a possible engagement of the featured actors on the MonoRoom.�

Quickraiz Partners Actors Guild to Rescue Sick Actors To help cater for the well-being of entertainers, an online crowdfunding platform, quickraiz. com,haspartneredActorsGuild of Nigeria (AGN) to raise N50 million for ailing actors and aged actors.

Launched in 2018, Quickraiz, owned by Ativo Nigeria Limited, is an online fundraising platform that allows individu-

als and organisations to legally expand their target audience to raise funds for their medical, educational and other needs.

The agreement signed on July 24, 2020, targets the amount for the first period of three months.

Speaking on the partnership, the MD/CEO of Ativo Nigeria Limited, BayoAdeokun said the ultimate objective is to assist

AGN members, who cannot afford medical bills, raise funds.

Adeokun said: “In recent times, we’ve seen many old actors and actresses having health issues, and are unable to finance their medical bills and, with the advent of COVID-19, their condition worsen day-by-day. “As a passionate group, which cares about the welfare

of its members, the National Executives of the Actors Guild of Nigeria took it upon themselves to assist the ailing actors that couldn’t pay their medical bills by partnering us as a professional crowd-funding platform in Nigeria to flag off a N50 million fund to cater for their members, both home and abroad.�

under this initiative, " he said.

Ganduje represented

by Gawuna disclosed that Kano State on its own part, had established the office of the Special Adviser on Solid Minerals doing everything possible to encourage mining and other minerals businesses in the state.

The deputy governor expressed optimism that Kano was the right place to hold such an important programme and assured the participants of the state partnership so as to boost Gold trading activities not only in Nigeria but worldwide.

Also speaking, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, explained that the programme was designed as a private sector initiative to celebrate Kano being the city of Gold and to see how Nigerian economy could be developed out of the Gold businesses.

"With one of the largest economies and population in Africa, Nigeria is a top con-

'Zambia Never Signed any Agreement Waiving Immunity' The Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Solomon S. Jere, has denied reference made to his country in a recent publication in THISDAY with the headline: "Concerns Mount

Voices Features Onuesoke Mobilises against Proposed African Educational Reformers National Water Resources Bill Sylvester Idowu Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“ Managing Director of DAS Energy Services, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has urged Nigerians to speak out against the House of Representatives proposed National Water Resources Bill 2020.

Onuesoke who made the call yesterday revealed that the Bill, if allowed to sail through, would vest the power over all water sources across the federation in the hands of the Executive.

He appealed to freedom loving Nigerians to resist the move to grab land around waterways for cattle herders by the Executive Arm of Government.

The Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who described the move as decoy to advance the interests of the cattle-herding population, recalled that the Bill when first introduced last year by the Presidency had generated controversy across the country, because of its desire to have the federal government take charge of lands and water resources in the country.

According to him, “Even the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.Femi Gba-

jabiamila, had raised concerns over the piece of legislation on July 23, querying that “Is this not the same Bill that generated controversy in the Media.�

He added that Gbajabiamila, however, allowed the Bill to pass when the Chairman, Rules and Business, Hon. Abubakar Fulata who presented the Bill convinced him otherwise.

Onuesoke argued that The Bill entitled: 'National Water Resources Bill, 2020', was arbitrarily reintroduced in the Green Chamber, in breach of its rules,

legislative convention and provisions of the 1999 Constitution beforetheHouseadjournedfora two-month recess on Thursday, July 23, 2020. “The reintroduced bill, though was negatived by the 8thSenate,headedbyDr.Bukola Saraki, the Rep.Yakubu Dogaraled 8th House, passed it. But the unpopular piece of legislation hadn’t secured the concurrence of the Senate and the assent of PresidentMuhammaduBuhari, before that Assembly elapsed in June last year.

African Voices Changemakers, magazine programme of the Cable News Network (CNN), features two young, passionate Africans devoted to the educational empowerment of youths in their native countries. The programme is sponsored by telecommunications firm, Globacom.

TheyincludeOrondaamOtto, a Nigerian social reformer and development enthusiast who is an executive director of Slum2School Africa, where he leads a team of 40 managers and hundreds of volunteers to provide equal opportunities for

Lagos Gets 20,000 Face Masks Mary Nnah

As part of its contributions in eliminatingthespreadofCOVID-19 in Lagos State, the Redeemed Christian Church Of God has donated additional 20,000 medical face masks to the Lagos State Government. The donation was made during the inauguration of OCareFaceMaskFactory;thefirst certifiedandregisteredmedicalface masks facility in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, PastorIdowuIluyomade,theSpecial AssistanttotheGeneralOverseer, Christian Social Responsibility, said the mission would continue

tosupportgovernment'seffortsin the fight against COVID-19. “It will be recalled ahead of the Coronavirus pandemic, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General OverseeroftheRedeemedChristianChurchofGod,hasdonated11 IntensiveCareUnitbedsfullyfitted with Ventilators to Lagos, Ogun and Plateau states to contribute totheimprovementofhealthcare facilities in Nigeria which is now found very useful at this period of the COVID-19 pandemic,� he stated. In the same vein, The Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG)hasdonated10,000 Hand Sanitisers, 10,000 Surgical

Face Masks and 200,000 hand gloves to support the efforts of the Lagos State Government in equipping the medical staff with necessaryprotectivegearsneeded tocontaintheCOVID-19pandemic.

Managing Director of TransgreenNigeriaLimited,Mr.Cyprian Orakpo assures other religious bodies, medical institutions, governmentagencies,stategovernments,educationalinstitutionsand thegeneralpublictogoaheadand placeorder,asTransgreenNigeria Limited is sure of better delivery ontimeasthecompanybelievein making affordable medical face mask accessible to all.

tender as the largest emerging market for luxury goods in Africa, especially for Gold.

"In Kano, the Sabon Gari Market was the fi rst place where mostly women who serve as brokers, working from home with more than 2,000 distinctive visitors daily from across Africa, conducted conventional business in precious stones."

Speaking also, the leader of the stakeholders initiative in Kano, Magajin Garin Kano, Alhaji Nasiru Inuwa Wada called on the federal and state governments to create a synergy between the actual Gold Miners, the title holders and all the people involved to give room for a systematic Gold trading activities.

"Nigeria as a country should be able to certify its own Gold and sell it anywhere in the world as Nigerian certified Gold.

It is high time that we should be able-bodied to utilise the Gold that we have to create a Gold economy in Nigeria," he advised.

over Loan Agreement Clause Waiving Nigeria’s Sovereign Immunity: Experts fear repeal to fate of Zambia, say waiver of immunity, unconstitutional.�

High Commissioner Jere said in a statement yesterday, “Your paper wrongly published unfounded information about Zambia. Zambia has never signed any agreement that waives immunity with any country or institution. “Furthermore, Zambia has never lost any institution such as the wrongly cited Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) or the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO).�

He said, “ZNBC and ZESCO are state owned institutions and no such facility in Zambia has ever at any time been taken over by China, as alleged by your newspaper.�

disadvantaged children across slums and remote communities in the country.

The 32-year-old got a degree in Human Anatomy from the University of Port Harcourt from where he developed his flair for helping others. His goals include seeing that every African Child gets the best education and to see an Africa whose potentials are maximised, whose story of greatness is told and a continent celebratedfortheinnovationsand uniqueness of her people.

The second feature is Peter CHANGE OF NAME Tabichi, a science teacher from ')% )$/ #&'.& & ) ** * rural Kenya, who gives away

most of his salary to support &'. ."*! +' #&'.& & ) ** * indigent pupils in his local

Nyamira County. $$ ')% ) ' ,% &+* ) % "& - $" Tabichi, 38, a Franciscan friar &*+"+,+"'&* & ,+!')"+" * '& )& who teaches Mathematics and & +! & ) $ (, $" *!',$ + # &'+ Physics at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani, ')% )$/ #&'.& Nakuru County, won the 2019 * ."*! +' #&'.& & Global Teacher Prize for his $$ * $$ ) $ - &+ “exceptional� commitment to ' ,% &+* ) % "& - $" (, $" & the pupils of a school in Kenya's ,+!')"+/ *!',$ + # &'+ *( " $$/ remote Rift Valley region. ** &# Both will be onAfrican Voices

Changemakers on DSTV Chan

nel 401 on Saturday at 9.00 p.m.

and on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.30

a.m.,12.30p.m.and7.30p.m.The programme will be repeated on

Monday at 5.30 a.m. on the same

channel.

16

SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

17

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Patoranking’s Third Studio Album is ‘Three’ Ini Edo as Larry Gaaga’s Side Chic pg. 19

Joy Ugwueke My Family Comes First Before Movies pg. 20

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Patoranking’s Third Studio Album is ‘Three’ Patoranking’s new body of work, ‘Three’, which comes exactly one year and three months after his sophomore album, holds a lot of meanings to the reggae/dancehall superstar, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Patoranking

3

2 days to the release of Three. That was how singer/songwriter, Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie popularly known as Patoranking surmised it as he announced via a post that his third studio album release comes this month. Aptly titled “Three”, the 12-track album, which is his third and marks a milestone in his personal and music career will drop on August 28 as confirmed by the singer via the post.

The reggae-dancehall music act had shared a video on Instagram introducing fans to the new body of work a couple of days back. “Three out in 32 Days #Three #Threethealbum,” he intoned. The album will be released exactly one year and three months after his sophomore album – Wilmer which was dedicated to his first child. Three will feature

star singers including Tiwa Savage, Flavour, Sauti Sol and King Promise.

No artwork and tracklist released yet but he shared a video on YouTube to create alert and publicity.

Since he burst onto the music scene in 2012, the Jamaican style singer has had nothing but a steady ascent to the top, two successful albums, God Over Everything and Wilmer. The ‘Waya say’ artiste released his debut album “God Over Everything” in 2016 that had collaborations with Phyno, Olamide, Wizkid and more.

However, in 2019, Patoranking dropped his second album “Wilmer” which featured the likes of Dadju, Davido, Busiswa from South Africa and other great talents. The sophomore album debuted at number five on the Billboard Reggae Chart and also happens to be a title track of his ode to his daughter, Wilmer. With ‘Three’, the ‘Alubarika’ crooner

is set to burst speakers with some spanking new tunes. The album theme is Love Life and Happiness.

This latest body of work from the Africa A-list superstar holds a lot of meanings, “from being his 3rd album in his 3rd decade as he marked his 30th birthday in May, to representing the energy of kindness, joy, creativity, imagination and growth which we all agree is reflected in his personal life and career,” reckoned a statement from the singer’s promoters.

In the music scene, the singer has a new remix of Bob Marley’s legendary hit ‘One Love’ for Unicef with The Amplified Project and various artistes across the globe.

The singer sang alongside top artistes as well as the reggae legend’s family members. Patoranking recently made the news after announcing a full programme scholar-

ship which he recently unveiled. It would be recalled that the singer a few months announced that he would be giving back to society by giving scholarships to those who can’t afford to pay their fees. Pato partnered with the African Leadership University to launch the ALU Patoranking Scholarship which aims to fully cover education and accommodation expenses for selected beneficiaries.

Even with the continuous spread of the coronavirus, the Amari Musiq boss vowed to fulfill his promise and in a new Instagram post, he confirmed that 10 Africans had been selected for scholarships. According to him, they were selected from the hundreds of applications from exceptional young people across Africa. The students will be schooling at the Rwanda and Mauritius campuses of the ALU.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Ini Edo as Larry Gaaga’s Side Chic In a new series now showing on Nvivo television, delectable Nollywood actress Ini Edo stars alongside treasured music executive, Larry Gaaga who makes his Nollywood debut in the sizzling romantic film titled, ‘Side Chick’, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Ini Edo and Larry Gaaga

A

cclaimed Nollywood actress Ini Edo and top record label executive Larry Gaaga got their fans and followers talking after they were both seen in a trending loved up photo.

Gaaga who is married and with kids, had posted the photo on his Instagram page accompanied with a caption in which he emphasized on the need to stop fighting the old and instead focus on building the new.

Alongside the picture which showed him grabbing Ini Edo’s backside, were Gaaga’s words: “The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. My mandy?? @iniedo”. As if that was not enough, Gaaga would then ‘shuffle’ his post with a love and bride emoticon while tagging the official IG handle of the movie star.

Ini Edo didn’t help matters as well, as she further excitedly swelled the gist with a comment on the photo: “Zaddy Jay to the world”. This led not a few social media users to hurriedly conclude that the music producer is Ini’s new man. In fact, many who had been engaged by the beautiful post flooded the comment section with speculations that the two creative entrepreneurs may be on their way to tie the knot.

However, moments after the post had garnered several reactions, Ini who was formerly married, returned to set the record straight, debunked such speculations and noted that they were working on a project. She further revealed that the photo of her and Larry Gaga, whose real name is Larry Ndianefo was just snapshot from one of their scenes in a movie. “Guys, it’s a movie duuuuuh”, she wrote.

Well the movie is finally out and now

showing on free streaming platform, nvivo television. The fahionista confirmed the release with a video clip of the movie shared on her Instagram page. “The wait is over…diary of a side chick @larrygaaga debut as an actor and boy did he kick ass??? @iniedo is Mandy Small girl with big god streaming this August on @nvivotvofficial,” she informs.

The new movie titled “Side Chick” which is showing as Nvivo original series is suspense filled of passion, lust, betrayal and blackmail, featuring great Nollywood stars like Uche Jombo and Emem Inwang. Starring Ini Edo as Mandy, a small girl with a big god, the adventures of Mandy would make every other lady to want to meet this ‘big god’.

Delectable Mandy is just a food blogger that has fallen in love with a married man (Larry Gaaga). Mandy ever the fighter is ready to keep him.

She would gladly go as far as setting up her rivals to keep her big god all alone to herself. Mandy navigates the ups and downs of being a side chick on this sizzling romantic diary of a side chick from the stable of Uche Jombo Studios Production.

Highly respected music executive Larry Gaaga who makes his first Nollywood appearance plays the role of Jamal, the typical Nigerian big man who has found himself in quite an entanglement. For Uche jumbo, she brings to life the character Betty, Jamal’s wife. Putting her family and business first, she’s always there to clean up Jamal’s mess.

Emem Inwang plays Mandy’s cousin Uduak visiting from the United States.

She supports her cousin through her woes. Bryan Okoye plays Simon and Magely Veltor as Sisis Hernandez.

‘Side Chic’ is produced and directed by yours truly, Ini Edo.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR Joy Ugwueke

My Family Comes First Before Movies Nollywood movies with classical village or socio-cultural settings, popularly referred to epics, delight many Nigerian homes. Many actors have carved a niche for themselves in this fragment.

One of such is fast-rising diva, Joy Oluchi (Ugwueke)Anamasonye. Joy, a Mass Communication product of IMT Enugu and the second in the family of six, was opportune to be featured in several acting gigs in her teenage age, but nearly lost her passion to societal pressure. In this interview with Chinedu Ibeabuchi, she shares her joy and pain in the industry

W

hen did your sojourn into Nollywood begin?

I joined the Nollywood industry in the year 2003 and I featured in several films like Last Kobo, where I acted as the wife of Hanks Anuku. Other actors that featured in that movie were Chidi Mokeme, Ngozi Ezeonu, Queen Nwokoye, among others.

herself grow, you are likely going to face the challenge of investing in new clothes shoes, accessories, to keep up. The road to success is not easy but it is best to be yourself be real and original.

How should we describe Oluchi Joy? I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenges and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive for. I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness and my greatest enemy is failure.

With the growth of cinemas, buying of movie DVDs has been greatly affected. How’s that affecting the Asaba axis of movie productions?

Yes. It has greatly affected most movie makers especially epic movies. They are now forced to step-up to meet with the market demand.

Cinema movies are high budget movies, not like what is widely done in Asaba which is on a low budget.

However, Asaba axis movie producers have found a new market online, with several video-on-demand platforms. YouTube is another platform where producers make money by making their content available for free but earn money from Youtube based on the number of viewers. Good content sells itself.

Most people no longer buy DVDs because they prefer watching movies online or on pay-Television.

How do you relax when not acting?

Meditation, yoga and breathwork; I enjoy the company of myself as it helps me think, reflect and reminiscence.

Nollywood movies, especially Igbo epics movies have been criticised for same storylines and painting pictures that exaggerate customs. What’s your view about this?

My view is that everybody has a choice in this life. Mr. A should not be judged by the decision of what Mr. B chooses to watch. Not all epic movies are criticised. As a matter of fact, epics have a huge following, especially among average Nigerian homes.

Tell us about your love life?

My love life is my personal life and I like keeping it personal. All I can say for now is that Joy is out of the market. I am happily married to the man of my dream.

Certain movies demand you play a romantic role. Can you kiss on set?

When I was single, it wasn’t an issue because I kept my work highly professional. People who know me will testify to that. Now that I am married, I don’t think I can kiss a man on set. The sanctity of my marriage matters to me.

Did you face any obstacle in acting as a result of marriage?

I stopped acting after my marriage for personal reasons. But I am gradually having a comeback into the field with the consent of my husband.

As a married woman, how do you combine home front with

Joy Ugwueke

acting?

All you need is the perfect partner who will support and encourage you to follow your career by giving you the needed space. I don’t take that for granted as my family comes first before any other thing.

Many actresses have been accused of living above their means, what’s your view about this?

The challenge most actors face is that sometimes they tend to live beyond their means to keep that image. As an upcoming actor, you face even more challenges, because the production might not have enough provision for you in terms of costumes and welfare, etc. They pay more attention to the big stars but it depends on your level of desire and how far you want to grow in the industry. As a lady who wants to see

As a person, what’s your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is a failure or not living up to expectations. When I see my friends that we started same time in the industry and how much growth they have achieved today, it makes me realise how much I failed myself. I joined the movie industry in the year 2003 and left in 2005 because I needed to focus on school.

And because at that time, people had a mentality of girls in the industry are irresponsible. I had d passion, but same time I wasn’t proud of what I was doing because of how people would perceive me, even to the extent that I won’t admit to claims of any movie I featured in. That was the beginning of my failure. I allowed the imagination of how people would perceive me to drive me away from my big dreams. Many potential talents have been perpetually buried just because of societal pressures.

It took me 14 years to realise I was cheating myself. I should have put myself first.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Abiodun Jimoh

A Good Story is the Foundation of a Good Film Cerebral, versatile and reserved are a few words to describe his personality. The name Abiodun Jimoh definitely rings a bell, but many may not put a face to the name right now, as he rarely performs in front of the camera. The founder of Prodigy & Pens is the brain behind the blockbuster “Somewhere in the Dark” which won multiple awards both at home and abroad. Jimoh has a number of classic movies to his credit and, in most cases, combines roles as a writer, producer and director, a rare trait that gives his works coherence. Omolabake Fasogbon writes about his ability to smoothly combine roles, the “weird behaviours” in Nollywood and the move to produce the first ever Nigerian flick in French

H

e takes a steady look at the flying birds, he marvels at the growing plant, he watches with curiosity the bond of mating lizards, he feels the coolness of the breeze, he listens to the noise in the market with rapt attention, he retreats to his jotting note and visualises his adventure with the zoom lens. These aptly capture the world of the multi-lingual artiste and model who wears several other caps.

Abiodun is a born creator who gets to refine his skills in the field. Again, as a little boy, he always mimicked reality with his imaginative pencil, an omen that he would end up in a creative industry someday. He said, “As a child, we knew nothing, all we wanted to be was a pilot, doctor, accountant and every other job that was pleasing to the ears. Yet, I’ve always been an artist but didn’t see a career in it since no one was available to put me through. I love drawing, colouring, painting and writing stories. I drew a lot of Marvel and DC Comic characters. I even had my own characters and had a lot of fans and readers in my primary and secondary schools. But, as I grew up the zeal to draw reduced, while the muse to write stories increased, so I wrote more. My first book ‘False Targets’ was published in 1999 by GU Books, now Booksurge, USA. I later wrote ‘Girls Hostels’ which sold out over 10 thousand copies within a year.”

Beyond writing, he was doing well as a French tutor but his zeal to impact larger audience did not let him stop there. “I quit teaching to face acting majorly in 2006, so as to reach out to a bigger audience with my gift,” he said. And ever since, as he desired, has impacted souls with his divine assignment, but not without some ambiguities.

He spoke about the ambiguities thus: “The movie-making chain is tough but script writing is the toughest. In my years of experience as a script writer, producer, director and actor, I must say that writing is the most tasking which at the same time is the foundation of a good movie.

But the good thing is that I am most passionate about writing. A good story is the foundation of a good film. There is no good film without a good script, regardless of the budget. Yes, I love directing because as a writer, I direct with pictorial perspective of what has been written. However, there is no better film director than the one who started from the background of storytelling, that is, script writing.”

He further talked about his role behind the scene, even though the actors are the most noticed at the end of the day. “I am a film director and I

am proud of it. It gives me joy to produce young and new talents year in year out. Note that every department has its importance in film making but the director is the highest in film hierarchy.”

Though well lettered, he said formal education was not a must criterion to become a good director.

Learn it! Be trained,” he stressed.

Speaking on the job, one could but feel his passion, which happens to be his driving force.

Asked if he would quit showbiz for a better offer, he retorted, Never! I will die there.”

He diverted a bit to discuss some quirky acts in Nollywood: “The industry has enabled me meet the weirdest people on earth. I’ve been exposed to so many weird behaviours too, some of them unprintable but as an adventurous person and as a writer, I see everyone like a character in my story, and everything as a plot in my story.”

Can you please go specific on these weirdest behaviours? This reporter pleaded, and he obliged, but his revelations were disquieting. “People are just getting to know about transgender, she-males etc., through social media exposure. The modelling and movie industry had exposed me to this as far back as 2002. Behind the curtains, while we changed, you discovered that everybody is not really what they seemed, you’re scared at first, then shocked and later get used to it. The Abiodun Jimoh garments of men cover many things,” he stated.

What about temptations being a male producer and director? “This is not scarce,” he said. “Hmm- man and when perhaps they break up, she may mmm! Only God can save. You see, a lot of ladies decide that she was sexually harassed while their are in the industry to seduce directors, producers relationship lasted. The issue is there and it is and production managers. The temptation is high sickening but it is more sickening when people in this case but professionalism keeps everyone chase clout with it.”

For the University of Ibadan graduate, his in check. More often than not, ladies or guys who multiple award winning and much talked about come to the industry with their bodies are the ones without talents. They never last. The few work, “Somewhere in the Dark” tells all about his professional ones always make better impacts.” savvy. Coincidentally, the movie launched him Part of his weird experience in the industry and to limelight and is still an epic reference point which he has had to live with is sexual harass- in the industry till date.

He spoke about the flick thus: “The movie almost ment from female counterparts. He confesses: “As a matter of fact, men have suffered sexual hit the rock at a time during production as a result harassment more than female and this cut across of some conjuring scenes that scared almost all all sectors, not just in showbiz. I have witnessed the crew members but we were able to manage female’s touching, yet the man is supposed to be it. Somewhere in the Dark is a work I cherish till strong, unfeeling and quiet, but if a man tried half tomorrow. It won the AMVCA Best Indigenous of that, she has been sexually harassed. Men get Language Movie. Moreso, Gabriel Afolayan won harassed more, day in day out. The only difference Best Actor with the movie (AfroNolly Awards, is the stereotype: Men don’t cry, men shouldn’t USA), Jumoke Odetola won Best Actress at Best complain and men are strong. Therefore, no of Nollywood Awards, as well as Best Actress in need to rant...After all, it is also believed that the City People Awards with the movie. It was the men always enjoy sexuality, but women have first indigenous language movie to be acquired the right to choose or decide when they enjoy and aired on EbonyLife TV. I can go on and on, it or not. As a matter of fact, they may enjoy a counting the feats of the movie.”

On taking multiple roles in the high demanding sexual play while in good terms with a particular

work, he explains: “Writing, directing and producing have become my life. The experience for me is simply living, without them, no life for me.”

As a French scholar, he hinted of his plans to transfer his knowledge into a film work: “We are working on producing the first ever Nollywood movie which language will be wholly French.

Already, there is a script for it, we’re looking for sponsors.”

For Kilanta, as he is fondly called, his dream is to make Nigerian movies world’s favourite.

“Late Legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti had a dream that he called ‘Buy Africa’. America sold their world to us via their films, now we prefer most of their things to ours, it is all propaganda.

We can change the narratives by selling the African brand to the world too; the film is a very strong medium.”

Though an entertainer, he looks on other sources to entertain himself. “I play games with my protégés. The Prodigy studio has a spacious lobby that whenever we want to have a break from work, we play different games like football, volleyball, video games, word games etc. When I’m alone, I read, I play PS and I daydream,” he said.

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˜ ˞ AUGUST 8, 2020

JOE/FAJ

THEFRONTLINES

Whistleblowers’ Controversies:: Who Is Lying?

JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T

he cardinal thrust of the General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign for president in 2015 was his promise to Nigerians that he would rescue their country from the cobwebs of corruption and return to them, a clean, rejuvenated and corruption free country.

Almost six years down the line, the same regime that swept to power claiming the prize as the fi first in Nigeria, if not Africa, to perform the feat of unseating an incumbent has itself become trapped in the cobwebs of the same vice it promised to fi fight ab initio.

Almost on a daily basis, Nigerians hopelessly watch in awe and are continuously reveled with corruption exposĂŠ of unimagii nable kind. From what used to be the pilfering of a few Nairas by some corrupt public offi fficials and their cohorts, it has been revealed that the kleptomaniacs in Nigeria are having a fi field day and have graduated to stealing billions of dollars and trillions of Naira with brazen impunity.

Of the several policies put in place by the administration to fight corruption, a particular one specially designed to encourage fi those with privileged information leading to where stolen monies are stashed called the Whistleblower Policy was pronounced with so much hope, enthusiasm and optimism.

According to the details underlining the policy, a whistleblower whose information is accurate and leads to the recovery of stolen funds stands to be compensated or rewarded with certain per centage of the recovered funds.

However, there is also repercussion for false declarations as the whistleblower risks a jail term of several years for providing false information. So far, the policy has recorded some successes and failures. One of its most celebrated success story is what is now known as Ikoyigate scandal. As the name goes, it represents relii able information provided by a whistleblower which eventually lead to the uncovering and recovery of $43 million stashed at flat fl 7b of Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

But despite some of these successes, the policy has come under severe scrutiny and is today raising lots of questions over the Buu hari regime’s sincerity in delivering on the outcome of this policy.

For instance, some privileged information passed to government are either swept under the carpet or dismissed as outright lies or completely ignored especially when top government offi fficials of the administration are fi fingered in some of these heists. Two examples here would suffi ffice.

SamanoWhistle Blower S Recently, promoters of a Mexico-based company known as SAMANO SADE CV accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and several other top administration offi fficials including late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and former Director General of State Services, Lawal Daura of short changing them of $125m being proceeds of 5% commission promised them for providing useful information on the whereabouts of 48 million barrels of stolen crude oil abandoned in China by oil thieves.

SAMANO in its petition by its lawyers to the federal governn ment claimed that in 2015, it was approached and offered the stolen crude oil for purchase by some unnamed individuals.

Seeing that it was stolen crude oil from Nigeria, it said it decided to inform the Nigerians authorities of its existence. Its offi fficials reportedly met with Abba Kyari, Lawan and the current Managg ing Director of the NNPC, Melee Kyari. The company claimed that the Nigerian offi fficials went to China, sold the crude oil for $2.5b and pocketed the money without remitting 5% proceeds of the sales to its company as earlier promised, an action that has provoked the petition.

However, lawyer for NNPC says he is taking legal action against the company and its offi fficials over attempts to swindle the Nigerian government of over $125 million and accusing it of being a crime syndicate.

Counsel to the NNPC, Afe Babalola & Co., said in a statement recently that the management of the national oil company has already initiated plans to seek redress “for the injury to the Corporation and its offi fficials through series of falsehoods peddled

by SAMANO and its agent�.

While investigations on this allegations are still unraveling, it has been discovered that just about the same period the SAMANO incident occurred, a similar allegation also reared its head accusing the two key fi figures: late Abba Kyari and Lawan of complicity in the disappearance of over N2b looted funds reportt edly discovered to be stashed in an NNPC residential address in Abuja.

In a petition addressed to Buhari, Brigadier General Adamu Yusuf (rtd) claimed that following a tip off he received from an ass sociate, he contacted the late Chief of Staff to the President whom he met in person and briefed on the details of the discovery. Kyari contacted Daura who was still at the helms of affairs in the DSS offi ffice to investigate.

After successfully confi nfirming the veracity of his information, Kyari promised him and his group 20% of the total value of recoveries as commission for the accurate information provided even though the whistleblower’s policy was yet to be made offi fficial. He afffirmed that following an intervention of security operatives who stormed the residence under the guidance and directives of Daura, stolen cash and some gold bars valued at over N2b were safely evacuated from the building over a period of three days adding that, Kyari himself confi nfirmed to him that the operation was successful and he would get back to him at the appropriate time.

And similar to the SAMANO case, he was promised 20% commission for his efforts. After waiting for several months without any revert from Kyari, he became apprehensive and alarmed because calls placed to Kyari’s number were now barred.

In the same vein, messages sent to Kyari’s number were not only ignored, his previous interactions with Kyari mysteriously wiped off and disappeared fm his mobile phone and at this point, Kyari became incommunicado. The turn of events prompted him to seek self help and bring the developments to the President’s

jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)

attention. Relying on his military contacts as a retired senior military offi fficer, he reached to General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) for intervention. Through the instrumentality of Danjuma, he was able to see the President through the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mungono. After explaining his role to the President, he was asked to drop his petition with him. He did and to this moment, nothing has been heard of the matter.

In an all holds bared encounter with me at the time, Yusuf made far reaching revelations about what transpired and was thorr oughly exasperated that given the weight of evidence provided by him to the President, no follow up action was taken to bring the culprits to justice.

Providing a vivid insight into how he came about the informaa tion that led to the discovery of the stashed funds, Yusuf said he got very reliable information from a friend, Hon. Chuma Nzeribe that money was stashed in Flat 6, Block 1 (NNPC Quarters, Area 11, Garki). Subsequently, his contact in the Villa immediately, who was then the Director of Administration in the CoS’ offi ffice, Alhaji Badamasi Gamawa introduced him to late Mallam Abba Kyari (then Chief of Staff to the President).

He said heI met with Abba Kyari and told him he was in custody of privileged information revealing where money was stashed. “I told him emphatically that the people involved who have provided me the information to expose where the money was kept need to be compensated. The Chief of Staff agreed with me totally. In fact, he promised that 20 percent would be given to them. At that time, there was no whistleblowing policy�, Yusuf stated.

Asked if there was a written agreement to that effect, he replied that he did not see any need for an agreement and believed him on the strength that a man in such an exalted position should be trusted and seen to be above board, that he would be full of integrity.

Hear him: “I trusted him believeing that he is a man of integrity, because he is working with a man of integrity (President Mohamm madu Buhari). Like in the military, anything that is written about a military offi fficer is what he is and you don’t rise to such an exalted position without people knowing who you are. “Everybody in the military, once you call my name, one thousand generals will tell you this is how he is. So I didn’t know that this civilian, Abba Kyari has no integrity. He is a man who is the opposite of what he claims to be and I’m highly disappointed by this realization. “I honestly didn’t have a reason to distrust him, I regarded him as a man of honour and would have looked rather shameful for me to ask him to draw an agreement. If there is no trust, because I know myself, I am straight forward, what I say you can confi nfirm from anybody.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

23YearsAfter::DidFelaLeaveWithOurCourage?

T

hat day, the twelfth day of August, 1997 was electric...a deep pall of sadness swept over the nation, yet a distinct halo of exhilaration swooshed over metropolitan cities of Nigeria... as the prodigiously gifted enigma who called himself “one who keeps death in his pouch - he who resists death� was laid to fi final rest in his large Gbemisola Street, Ikeja, Lagos home.

People! All sorts. The Good. The Rough. The Naive. All sorts. At the sunset of Africa’s revered iconoclast, the several shapes and shades of humanity were fully represented.

It is to the glory of Nigeria and the unbended souls of our fallen African heroes that the “send-off’ of Fela Anikulapo Kuti should attract such an unprecedented turn-out of people, that even the usually sedate newspapers could describe it as “mammoth�.

In death, Fela poked his fingers in the faces of dictators, corr rupt people and oppressive apparatus, all over the world. But the pain lingers for his immediate constituency - the Nigerian populace. They have lost the single most virulent voice capable of communicating their frustrations, neglect and anguish to those whose birthright includes oppression and corruption. The poor and needy of Nigeria are now deprived of a ringing voice who could put his political poetry into music and blare it into the consciousness, and to the embarrassment of the establishh ment. Now, there is a strange silence - isn’t there?

Do the Nigerian people have any succour in a rejuvenated voice who can step into Fela’s self-appointed role? Can we begin to rejoice at the possible emergence of a force that will carry the crusade of Fela on wax, even without the so-called excesses of the giant? From among our legion of musicians and singers, is there one or two whose creative genie will be kick-started by the shock of Fela’s absence and the necessity for another trenchant voice in the wilderness that is Nigeria?

We took a short drive across the boulevard of Nigerian music; probing and synthesizing the landscape littered with serious pretenders, professional misfits, genuine talents and colourful lay-abouts. Of course, Nigeria is not short of musii cians: every street, similar to football, has a silent star - either in a full-blown dreamland or in extended depression. But who among our “super-stars� (largely created by our exuberant music press) can muster the courage, virtuosity, consistency and

tremendous knowledge of Fela?

We do not need martyrs, but we do need exemplars who can instruct us on the benefits of martyrdom. How will our hiss tory look like without the fact that during the darkest period of our national life, when the civil war was ravaging, only the then Olufela Ransome-Kuti, arguably, had the nerve, audacity and gut to lambast the atrocious carnage Nigerians were turning the Igbo cities to? He valiantly supported the secession of Biafra!

Apart from lamenting the socio-cultural inadequacies of his people as in Jeun Koku, Sakara Oloje, Roforofo Fight, Excuse O, Water E No Get Enemy, E No Possible, etc; Fela lambasted the inferiority complex of his own people, and evoked the pangs of nationalism with JJD, Lady, Gentleman, Colomentality, Why Blackman Dey Suffer, Buy Africa, etc.

Fela struck with blinding fury at sundry governments foisted on his people, specifically denouncing their inefficiency and corruption. The catalyst of his more politically scathing lyricism began with the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd). From 1976 till his last recorded album in 1993, he thunn dered relentlessly with: Zombie, No Bread, Ikoyi Blindness, Sorrow Tears and Blood, No Agreement, Suffering and Smiling, Vagabonds In Power (VIP), Authority Stealing, Power Show, International Thief Thief (ITT), ODOO, Arrangement and Beast of No Nation (BONN).

In all his unflinching vitriol at successive blundering governn ments, Fela’s object of attack never folded their hands and gaped entranced by his pulsating rhythms. From 1974 till few months before his death on August 2, 1997, Fela was arrested, detained, beaten, clubbed, jailed, tortured, disgraced, abducted, thrashed by the muscles of the state - sometimes for weeks and months. He was once jailed for 17 months! In l977 alone, at the height of his confrontations with the Obasanjo regime which led to the sacking and razing of his first Kalakuta Republic, Fela was arrested and detained every quarter of the year!

But, this is not an empty search for “shoe-steppers�, clones, imitations or “sound-a-likes�. We do not glorify confusionists, rabble-rousers, chauvinists and pseudo-critics. But who will be our authentic voice now? Who? Who will carry the banner for millions of voiceless and powerless souls in Nigeria, nay Africa? Who will dare the beasts in our rulership, and remain constant as Anikulapo-Kuti?

Who will withstand inhuman treatment in the hands of brutish

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDEE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

security personnel, with unbending and undefeated spirit? Who will be our next megastar? Who? Before we skirt around the musical firmament searching for rough gems in a cesspool, let us underscore the tragedy of our current circumstances, 23 years after Fela’s demise. Today, to our collective shame, the impunity and affront of our political and executive class in sacking and sweeping treasuries under all sorts of colourful pretensions and programmes, have reached an all time high.

Nowadays, institutional corruption and wickedness have been decorated as federal character, quota system, affirmative actions, social interventions and such fancy euphemisms for playing “ludo� with public funds by appointees of so-called anti-corruption crusaders. We have now elevated our frustraa tions, spiralling poverty, lack of vision and hopelessness to the point where security blunders, police bestiality, rapes of minors, hollow exhibitionism on social media, thoughtless hate speech, and disreputable video clips, among other callous displays, are condoned, and even justified.

Our gluttonous elites swagger around the country tormenting and titillating our vulnerr abilities with their opulent and unconscionable dalliances. They do as they wish, steal as they are led, and faint or bluster on live television during make-believe probes - without care or reprimand.

Of course, there is hardly any one to lambast and lampoon their excesses... no one to call their scurrilous spades the exact inglorious names they ought to bear... allowing us the probability of moderating and cowing the propensities of our greedy five percent from collapsing our economy...earlier than anticipated.

Next time, hopefully, we shall poke through the living tapestry of our creative adventurers, perhaps we can find a credible voice of reproach and condemnation. Or more.

SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

POLITY Air Peace and West’s Politics of Landing Rights Chidiebere Nwobodo

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ecently, the Western oligopolistic interests bared its fangs and displayed its vicious economic bullying at Air Peace, Nigeria’s biggest and fastest growing indigenous airline. An Air Peace aircraft that was scheduled to leave for evacuation mission in United Kingdom, was denied Diplomatic Landing Clearance by British authorities, on flimsy excuses.

The Air Peace flight, was meant to airlift some Nigerians, who are also British citizens, on Saturday 11th July, from Lagos to Heathrow, London. And to evacuate stranded Nigerians in United Kingdom in return on the earlier scheduled date of 13th of July, 2020. Flight tickets had already been purchased for both trips by prospective passengers.

I know of a friend who had traveled from Abuja to Lagos to join this flight, only for it to be canceled at the eleventh hour—simply because United Kingdom authorities are scared of competition being provided by Air Peace to British Airways and other western airlines.

On declining to grant the landing permit, British authorities advised Air Peace to contract another airline, Air Partner—a British airline, to airlift Nigerians that were awaiting evacuation in United Kingdom; at a more higher cost. Air Peace had to take the additional cost to ensure Nigerians were evacuated, instead of refunding them their ticket fare. Those that should have been airlifted from Lagos to London by the same Air Peace, made alternative arrangements which enabled them travel back to United Kingdom.

Now, let us dissect the main issues. Towards the end of March, 2020, amid global lockdown orchestrated by Covid-19 pandemic, British Government announced a £75 million pounds evacuation intervention, to evacuate stranded British citizens around the world. It is instructive to note that the air service contract was awarded to British Airways (BA), EasyJet, Virgin, etcetera—all British airlines. British Government chose indigenous airlines, to avoid capital flights. I did not read or hear that any country, especially Nigeria, denied these airlines Diplomatic Landing Clearance.

In fact, on April 20, 2020, UK deployed Boeing B747 BA flight to evacuate 213 Britons from Nigeria. Nigerian government granted the aircraft landing permit, not minding that UK was one of the epicenters of the Covid-19 at that period. Within 6th and 8th of May, 2020, a BA Boeing 747 belonging evacuated 304 Britons, and 253 Britons, respectively. As usual, Diplomatic Landing Clearance was gifted them by “magnanimous” Nigerian government.

When the first batch of Nigerians were evacuated from UK to Nigeria amid Covid-19 in April, 2020, it was via BA. No story was heard. Fast forward to July, 2020. Nigerian government had contracted Air Peace - an indigenous airline, to evacuate Nigerians stranded in the UK. Then just from the blues, the

Air Peace airplane

same British authorities that enjoyed unfettered evacuation of her citizens in Nigeria, using BA, decided that Nigeria’s biggest indigenous airline was not fit to land on its soil. This economic bullying of Nigerian airline. Period.

British authorities want BA and other UK airlines to maintain their age-longed monopoly over these lucrative routes. So, as long as it is British airline doing the evacuation, no problem.

Once Nigerian government contracts indigenous airline for the same purpose, the issue of Diplomatic Landing Clearance will come up. The West has always seen their economic interests as superior to ours despite resource stripping visited on us in the name of colonialism. This is very unfortunate.

We have to resist this strangulation of our business interests.

It is high time we let it sink in the psyche of these imperialists that Nigeria is no longer an annexure of western powers.

Nigerian government has to stand up to this nauseating economic bullying of our indigenous airlines and businesses by Western interests. This is an insult on our collective intelligence as politically and economically independent nation. The most populous black nation on earth should not be treated with this utter disdain and disrespect.

A British government that has consistently evacuated its citizens from Nigeria using its own airline, will not only deny Nigerian airline the same privilege, but will have the audacity to arrogantly recommend to Nigerian government one of its airlines for the same purpose- even at a higher rate. This impunity should be brought to an end. Air Peace should be given the needed and necessary diplomatic backing to compete with the likes of British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, etcetera, in the international routes.

No matter what President Donald Trump means to some people, one attribute even his critics will acknowledge, is that he is passionately dedicated to putting America and her business interests first. Maltreat an American company like this, Trump administration will ensure a swift and more consequential retaliation. He will unilaterally place a ban on all the hostile countries’

airlines till further notice. Trump has been at trade war with China, and other developed economies, just to protect America’s economic interests.

Any time developed economies feel threatened by the rising profile of Air Peace in the international routes, they will hurriedly deploy politics of Landing Rights to frustrate the African fastest growing indigenous airline. This ugly development has to be curtailed. It is not about Air Peace as an airline, alone, but Nigeria as a sovereign nation. The assault on our promising indigenous airline—Air Peace, by foreign interests, is becoming overbearing.

In May, 2020, Canadian authorities blocked Air Peace from coming to evacuate 319 Nigerians stranded in Canada, citing fallacious and nebulous excuses. Another airline was given the contract. No retaliation whatsoever from Nigerian government. It is a pity that this deliberate and desperate business strangulation has been happening, albeit unchallenged by Nigerian government. Leaving Nigerian airlines at the mercy of western idiosyncratic and oppressive tendencies, is one of the surest ways to stifle the desired growth of the nation’s aviation industry.

Western powers in aviation industry see the rising profile of Air Peace as an emerging threat to them, especially in the international air routes. Juxtapose this scenario with recent allegations by American Justice Department, against Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, you will get the clearer picture of the international conspiracy against emerging aviation giant like Air Peace.

The Nigerian government must rise in support of Air Peace to withstand this unprovoked bullying. We cannot continue to play the ostrich when we are being muscled out of the competition for global resources. Allen Onyema, the chief executive officer of Air Peace, is positioning the country on the world aviation map, using his leadership dexterity at Air Peace. He should be supported by the government to withstand these unnecessary bullying by foreign interests in the world aviation industry. Any country that refuse to grant Diplomatic Landing Clearance to our indigenous airlines to land on their soil, should expect the same ill treatment from us. It is that simple and it is the language our competitors understand. If Air Peace is supported to be a global player in the international routes of the industry, Nigerian economy stands to benefit more because most of the potential jobs and business opportunities will be created for Nigerians.

Ethiopian Airline has done it for Ethiopia. It has created cumulatively over 400,000 jobs and added $I.9 billion dollars to Ethiopian economy. Nigerian airlines, starting with Air Peace, should be able to replicate this feat for Nigeria and Nigerians.

But this might never happen unless the Federal Government braces up to the responsibility of protecting them from leviathans and buccaneers in the international aviation market.

–––Nwobodo writes from Abuja.

Major Danmole, Civil War Veteran, Clocks 80

M

ajor Kehinde Danmole (rtd) today, August 8, joins the league of Octogenarians. He was born on August 8th, 1940.

Commencing his education at St Paul’s School Breadfruit Davies Street Lagos between 1949 and 1956. He thereafter proceeded to Molusi College ljebu lgbo between 1957 and 1961.

Between finishing school in 1961 and October 1963, he was employed at the Federal Ministry of Communications, first at Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited (NET) and subsequently at Post and Telegraph Headquarters (P&T) in Lagos. With a burning desire to serve his fatherland, he him chose a career in the military.

He was given admission to Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a pioneer officer cadet of Regular Course 1. Simultaneously, he was also was selected to join the Nigerian Air Force as a pioneer officer cadet. He attended the Officer Cadet Military Training Course between 1963 and 1964 at the Nigerian material accounting and Air Force Military Training School. He served as a logistics officer at the Nigerian Air Force Base Kaduna until he went abroad for the Supply Officers Specialist Management and Logistics Course at Nach Schub Schule Der Luftwaffe Erding, Germany where he obtained a Diploma.

On returning from Germany in 1966, he was employed at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre (now Nigerian College of Aviation Technology) Zaria as the Superintendent of Stores.

He was granted a direct commission to the Nigerian Army in June 1968 in the rank of Full Lieutenant. His regiment was the Ordnance Corps. He fought gallantly alongside other officers and men during the Nigerian Civil War at various stations including Abak, lkom, Calabar, Owerri, and Port Harcourt.

He was the Commanding Officer of 3rd Marine Commando Ordnance Field Park and Depot.

After the war, he attended many other courses in financial and material accounting and obtained an Advanced Diploma in Purchasing and Supply management from the Commonwealth and Foreign Officers Ordnance School Blackdown Camberley

Surrey England. He is an Associate member of the Royal Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of England.

When he returned to Nigeria, he served at the Nigerian Army Central Ordnance Deport Yaba and retired in December 1975 as the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Technical Training School Ojo Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos. For courage and gallantry in the service of his nation, he has been variously decorated with the Republic Medal, Defence Service Medal, National Service Medal and General Service Medals of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Upon retirement, he channeled his energies towards human capacity development, prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of the adolescent blind, as well as support for cancer patients and survivors. Equally into other business interests including real estate and the establishment of Kendam Limited, a toy and educational aids supply company.

He enjoys sporting activities and has variously been a member of the Lagos State University sports Council, Lagos State Sports council, and Chairman of Lagos State Amateur Cycling and Athletics Associations respectively. He is a quiet socialite and is an active member of Island Club, lkoyi Club 1938 and Eko Club where he was honored with the Commander of the House of Blessings (CHB) for outstanding contribution to the development of the club and humanity. He is widely travelled and an avid art, coin and stamp collector.

Kehinde Danmole believes that life is not worth living if you cannot lend a helping hand. As such, he is involved in various philanthropic activities. He is an active Rotarian, Rotarian Past President and a Paul Harris Fellow. He is also an awardee of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He was a member of the Lagos State Expanded Programme on immunization and Chairman of Lagos PolioPlus Campaign. He is a patron of the Boys Scout Movement of Nigeria, Aguda and Trustee of Deaf & Bind Association of Nigeria. He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Atunda Olu School for Physically challenged children and Wesley School for Deaf and Dumb Children.

Major Danmole He is currently a trustee of the Vivian Fowler Trust Foundation for University Education, the Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Nigeria Society for the Blind and Chairman of Kehinde Danmole Foundation, an endowment which he founded and devotes his retirement years to.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

POLITY

Obaseki and Edo Assembly…Lest We Forget Patrick Obahiagbon

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he matters at hand are very y pressing p g and urgent, g and it needs the immediate and comprehen p nsive attention of the people p p of Edo State and that of the nation at large. g It has become imperative p for us to remind Edo State citizens and Nigerians g how the Edo State Government under the leadership p of Governor Godwin Obaseki descended from the sublime to the ridiculous on the Edo State House of Assembly matter.

Lest we forget, it was the governor’s penchant for jackboot democracy and political intimidation rather than persuasion and constructive engagement that got us to where we are just now on the Edo state house of Assembly matter.

Lest we forget, that the Edo House of Assembly saga, we must remind the world, began with the Edo State Government’s unconstitutional bid to sideline majority lawmakers-elect, who he felt were not aligned to his political ideology.

Lest we forget, that seeking to avoid the people’s representaa tives from expressing the people’s will in the house, Mr. Governor meddled into what ordinarily ought to be an independent matter of the legislature by orchestrating the exclusion of duly elected legislators in a sham inauguration.

Lest we forget, that in an advertent and well-calculated move, the Obaseki led government illegally swore in some members of the House under threat to their lives and unbridled executive intimidation and these details are still fresh in the public domain.

Lest we forget, that in a graphic cameo, the Edo state governn ment, kidnapped few members at the dead of the night, swore them in, effectively imposing a Speaker on them contrary to the clear provisions of section 92 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Lest we forget, that on the 18th of June 2019, the Edo state govv ernment went ahead to attack the excluded majority members with a mob of thugs and criminals supervised by Mr. Governor’s Chief Security Offi fficer at the Golden Tulip Hotel where they had gone to seek refuge as their personal homes were subject of state-sponsored nefarious attacks.

Lest we forget, that at some point in this long-standing drama, the party structure, from the national level, and also the Federal Government of Nigeria decided on an intervention. However, their efforts were met with stiff and overt resistance by the government of Godwin Obaseki. First, were the intervention plans and missions from both the Federal House of Representaa tives and the Nigerian Senate.

All genuine efforts by both the Federal House of Representaa tives and Nigerian Senate to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis

Obaseki

did not enjoy the cooperation of the Governor and he in fact even threatened on one occasion that he will not be available to receive the Federal legislators. In spite of his hostile attitude towards both the Federal House of Representatives and the Nigerian Senate, the committees setup by both chambers of the National Assembly still proceeded on their fact-fi -finding mission to Edo State. They submitted their reports to their respective chambers and advised the Governor to issue a fresh proclamation and inaugurate all the 24 members. This advice fell on deaf ears as the Governor resorted to litigation to truncate the process of reconcilii ation. Even the attempts by some other Governors to resolve the issues peacefully also met with a rebuff by Governor Obaseki.

It must be said that Governor Obaseki even hardened his heart to the reconciliation efforts made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This was the height of arrogance and his anti-party disposition. At all points in time, the Governor found ways, both uncooperative and evasive, to resist the attempts at reconciliation and elongate the life of the crisis.

It is the continuation of this disrespect and disregard for the law and constitution that manifested, albeit, not for the fi first time, on the 6th of August, 2020, wherein Governor Obaseki defiled fi and desecrated the sanctity of the Edo House of Assembly by mobilizing some of his party members and thugs to prevent elected

members of the Edo state house of Assembly from performing their legitimate duties. He had since relocated some seven members of the Edo State House of Assembly to be sitting in the premises of Government House, Osadebey Avenue, Benin City, just to prevent access of the State House of Assembly to the seventeen majority members.

We must set the records straight by letting the world know that it was the Governor who led party members and thugs, who were armed to the teeth, to the premises of the State House of Assembly yesterday just for the singular purpose of preventing the majority seventeen members of the State House of Assembly from performing their legitimate parliamentary duties.

It is good to observe that the Police made arrests of not less than seven of these thugs who were armed with fi five doublebarrel long guns, two single-barrel long guns, and ten live cartridges within the Edo State House of Assembly premises.

We call on the Police to conduct a transparent investigation on who were their sponsors and prosecute all those arrested and make sure the full weight of the law is brought to bear on those arrested and their sponsors.

On this occasion, the governor supervised both the vandalizaa tion of the State House of Assembly by ordering the removal of its rooftops, carting away public properties from the House of Assembly and tipping trucks of granite sand at the front of the gate of the House of Assembly’s premises.

The questions to be asked are viz: Why would the governor lead his party members and thugs to stop the majority members of the Edo state house of Assemm bly from having and enjoying a peaceful sitting in accordance with their constitutional obligations?

Were these actions to prove to the whole world that both himself and the Deputy Governor enjoys immunity as he has boasted? And was it as a result of this naked display of his imm munity that the Commissioner of Police became overwhelmed and was now unable to allow the seventeen majority members of the House of Assembly access to conduct their peaceful parliamentary sitting? Does these actions not tantamount to overheating the polity and thus scare away voters from exercising their electoral franchise in the September 19th Governorship elections?

––Obahiagbon g is Vice-Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, APC National Campaign Council.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

2020 World Breastfeeding Week Activities in Delta End Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

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ctivities marking the 2020 World Breastfeeding Week in Delta State came to a close yesterday with the state government and other stakeholdd ers restating their determination to double efforts at bridging the gap towards meeting the 2025 Global Targets of 50 percent breastfeeding rate.

The Delta State Government was passionately monitoring progress arising from its partnership with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, which endorsed the global targets for improving maternal, infant and young child nutrition, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye said in Asaba on activities to mark the Week.

Dr. Ononye underscored the commencement of the establishment of Breastfeeding Support Groups in the 25 local government areas and wards of the state, which is designed to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counselling across the state.

The initiative is being undertaken through the Delta Primary Healthcare

Development Agency in collaboration with Partner Agencies, the commissioner disclosed.

He advised women, including nursing mothers and care-givers, to take advantage of the initiative of the state government by accessing the services of the breastfeeding support as they become functional.

Dr Ononye said, “Though we are presently in a pandemic, let us remember that in our survival instinct the most vulnerable population, especially women and children deserve attention and a high priority given to them in the distribution of resources.

“We are encouraged to promote breastfeeding all of the time: institutions, organizations, families and individuals are enjoined to implement the breast feeding policy as adapted by the Delta State in line with the Global Guidelines.” He pointed out that though the breastfeeding target was to scale-up the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months to at least 50%, Delta State Government targets 80% in the first instance.

“The World Breastfeeding Week reminds us of the need to promote, protect and support breastfeeding practices in order to adequately develop the young, who are the leaders of tomorrow, for a better and productive adulthood.

OlatundeThani, The Diamond of Our Time Turns T 60

D

ay and night are gift from God and indeed, the end of a chapter marks the beginning of another. The end of yesterday has set the pace for the beginning of a new Journey and a diamond one for Tunde Thani.

It is no gain saying that Diamonds last forever. The sparkle never fade as it reaches far beautifying those who come in contact with it; this encapsulates the man Tunde Thani.

Hails from Epe in Lagos State, Tunde Thani graduated from the prestigious University of Lagos. His frenetic dance to the tune of communication and marketing, started with writing copies and performing client servicing; his glorious light started shining as a Copy writer and Client Service Executive with Centre Spread: the place where he bridge the gap between theory and practical . His days in Centre Spread and the exposure acquired propelled him into starting his own agency ‘Explicit Communii cations Ltd’ in 1996. Over the years, Explicit Communications has metamorphosed into Explicit Group where he currently sit as the Group MD/CEO. From the day he joined the marketing world till now, Tunde Thani has had an illustrious career, leaving his footprints in various sectors such as; FMCG, Banking and Finance, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals and Multinationals.

In recognition of his impeccable personality, he was part of the team that changed g the then Association of Advertising g Practitio o-

Thani ners of Nigeria (AAPN) to existing Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). Tunde also penned his signature in Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), where he served as a council member for the body and later served as Vice Chairman, Advertising Standards Panel.

Known for his good man management skills, Tunde has successfully trained many creative eggheads in the industry. He is a philanthropist and an exemplary leader whose good deed offered him a chieftaincy title of “Arobarayo” of Ogidi Land in Kogi State. His role as the current President of Ivory League of Progress: a group of philanthropic individuals in the society, is a mark of progressive achievement and service to humanity. He is a committed Christian who spends and ready to be spent for the work of the God.

“Breastfeeding should be initiated as early as the first hour of birth and continued to the second year of life as the early initiation of unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production to sustain the infants, leads to 87% preventable deaths in infants younger than six months and also ensures quicker recovery from childhood illnesses.”

He further noted: “Delta State has adopted the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, which describes exclusive breastfeeding as giving infants only breast milk in the first six months of life; no other liquids, drinks, semi-solids or solids; and, not even water except oral rehydration solution or drops/ syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines as prescribed by the physician.

“In line with the national policy, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements.

The Last Secret of Prayer Invokes Glory of God

Oluwaseyi Adewuyi

T

he Last Secret of Prayer, a book by Prophet Eugene Goodman is a compelling read that brings the chills and glory of God through its so many chapters.

The book completely blows the mind and surpasses the reader’s high expectations, presenting double plus inspiration and awakening with strong spiritual words.

This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed spiritual culture or ordinance. Not like the former that is somehow centered on demonic concepts, this book talks about spiritual culture or ordinances the light (Christ) way, not to mention its fully developed inspired simple sentences that create better understanding when reading.

The word-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly, terrifying in some cases and charging in others that it’s almost as if Prophet Eugene Goodman travelled physically to such heavenly places and spiritual war theatres, escaped from it, and then just wrote it all down for people to know how to pray aright. Even those who have read many wonderful spiritinspired books of many great men of God which talk about prayers, will find that “The Last Secret of Prayer” is so unique because of its ordinance effect which makes it more potent.

Unlike other books that present prayer as a very scary old task, The Last Secret of Prayer is more of prayer made easy. It is easy to read, easy to understand and easy to practice with results inevitable. You just have to read to discover even greater potent of what is abound in this book.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ΀˜ 2020

AUTO Rolls-Royce Created First Goodwood Ghost in 2009 for Specific Clients

L-R: Managing Director of Massilia Motors/Country Delegate of CFAO Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Pelletier; Head of Marketing & Communication of Massilia Motors, Ms. Funmi Abiola; Event Host, Bolanle Olukanni; General Manager, Sales, of Massilia Motors, Mr. Tunji Itiola; and Marketing Officer, Massilia Motors, Mr. Hakeem Sanusi, during the virtual launch of the 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in Lagos…recently

Massilia Unveils Rugged, Smoother, New Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Stories by Bennett Oghifo

M

assiliaMotors,soledistributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Nigeria, has officially unveiled the All-new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) in a first of its kind virtual car launch in Nigeria.

The event was witnessed on YouTube by customers and other stakeholders who were shown the salient features of the 2020 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV, and also taken on a 360° virtual tour, followed by a musical session.

Managing Director of Massilia Motors/Country Delegate of CFAO Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Pelletier stated that the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is tough, reliable and comfortable.

According to the MD, “it is a rugged vehicle, yet very comfortable. It is a proper 4x4, I had the opportunity to experience it here (Nigeria) during the rainy season. It has a comfortable suspension, powerful engine. It is simply rugged and smooth.”

The MD added that Massilia Motors, in sustaining its tradition of quality after-sales services, has unveiled a Service plan, if broken down, would cost only N12,500 monthly for

Mitsubishi customers.

The new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, comes with innovative features that are bound to be welcomed by the industry and eventual owners.

The General Manager, Sales of Massilia Motors, Mr. Olatunji Itiola took the event host, Bolanle Olukanni (a celebrity TV host) on a demo of the new generation Pajero Sport, and demonstrated how to open the tailgate (booth) with just a leg motion.

He said, “Even when your both hands are engaged with shopping bags, you need not worry as you only need a movement of the leg under the tailgate (booth) to open it.”

Also coming as an irresistible new feature is the Smartphone-linked Display Audio (SLDA). This infotainment feature is easier to see with its 8 inch display screen. The SLDA enables satellite navigation i.e. Google maps on touchscreen via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay apps.

During the launch, it was evident that Mitsubishi Motors has thought through improving driving pleasure and comfort in this 7-seater model with focus on driving comfort, roominess and intelligent and intuitive operations.

Additional features of the fourth generation Pajero include an 8inch LCD coloured meter

cluster, an upgrade of the Electronic Parking Brake, now coming with the Auto Hold function, the Forward Collision Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning etc. The 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine comes with remarkable fuel economy and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is an AllTerrain champion, just as a Roof spoiler and shark fin antenna have also been added, with a variety of colours to choose from. The launch video is still available on the YouTube channel of Massilia Motors, and further details can be obtained via the website-Massilia Motors - Mitsubishi Nigeria or any of the company’s showrooms.

Head of Marketing and Communication for Massilia Motors, Funmi Abiola explained that the current Mitsubishi Motors tag line- Drive Your Ambition- is meant to underscore the fact that Mitsubishi is a Customer-centric force in global mobility, enabling customers attain their ambitions.

Massilia Motors is a joint venture of the CFAO group and the Chanrai group, uniting forces to offer ultimate customer satisfaction. Other Mitsubishi models available in Nigeria are ASX, Eclipse Cross, Pajero, Outlander and the L200 Pickup.

Altair Engineering Recognises Toyota Seat Design with Award

E

ven though the 2021 Toyota Sienna has yet to go on sale, the innovative engineering work for the new minivan conducted at Toyota Motor North America’s Research & Development Center in Michigan is already garnering awards.

Altair Engineering has presented Toyota Motor North America with its prestigious Enlighten award. The award recognizes Toyota’s work, with the support of supplier partner BASF, in substantial lightweighting of Sienna’s folding third-row seats.

The lightweighting effort was lead by Toyota Senior Principal Engineer for Body Design, Todd Muck. Working with BASF, Todd and his team reduced the heavy, 15-piece steel seat frame to a new one-piece resin seatback.

The industry-first seatback is lighter, easier to assemble, and less expensive to produce.

While all of the improvements are important, it is the seat’s lower weight that provides the most direct benefit to the customer.

“Reducing the seatback’s mass (weight) provides the customer with several benefits,” Said Muck. He continued, “Less weight can improve fuel economy. Or, we can use that saved weight in other areas, such as adding new features like the built-in refrigerator.”

However, Muck says the most apparent benefit is the reduced effort it takes for customers to raise folded third-row seats to

The 2021 Toyota Sienna

their upright position. “Our new design has made lifting the seats much easier,” he said.

“With the previous design, it would take more than 24-kilograms (53 pounds) of force to raise the seat. The new design requires less than

9-kiograms (19 pounds) of force.”

The all-new Sienna was designed and engineered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is manufactured in Princeton, Indiana. It goes on sale later this year.

Before Rolls-Royce created the first Goodwood Ghost in 2009, significant time was invested in understanding the group of clients it was tailored to. These were men and women who held the marque’s relentless pursuit of perfection in high esteem and sought a slightly smaller, less ostentatious entry to the Rolls-Royce brand.

This is contained in a statement by the automaker, which said the result was a motor car smaller in scale, less overt in design and obsessively simple. Its success fulfilled Rolls-Royce’s most ambitious expectations and it became the best-selling product in the marque’s 116-year history.

“Additionally, as more Ghosts entered the world, the brand’s Luxury Intelligence Specialists were able to identify developing behaviours in how this particular layer of clients used their motor car, the manner in which they commissioned it and how they perceived Rolls-Royce in a more general sense. This vital data would inform the design and engineering direction of the new Ghost.

“As with all primary research conducted by the marque’s specialists, these experts were asked to present their findings, offering a rare insight into this highly private consumer group. In this short film, Rolls-Royce shares some of these insights to demonstrate the underlying substance of the highly progressive new Ghost ahead of its official unveiling in autumn this year.”

The four-part series continues with RollsRoyce Product Manager, Stephen Finch, who was responsible for charting a global picture of these changes in age and attitude. Finch says “The success of the first Goodwood Ghost taught Rolls-Royce a huge amount about itself. We became aware of an entirely new group of people who used and commissioned their cars in ways that we hadn’t seen before. The new Ghost meets their demands with alacrity, and we look forward to learning what this exceptional product will teach us about this layer clients in the future.”

The marque chose the popular and aesthetically appealing medium of animated illustrations to convey these insights. Rendered first by renowned illustrator, Charlie Davis, they were animated using the latest modelling technology to cohesively and beautifully represent these findings in a fashion that befits the highly progressive new Ghost.

FRSC Zone RS2 Command Lagos Relaunches Operation Scorpion II The FRSC will commence a Special Operation tagged “Operation Scorpion” on Monday 10th August to Sunday 16th August, 2020 to tackle the menace of Road Traffic Crashes caused by unlatched trucks and trailers.

A statement by Deputy Route Commander, Zonal Public Education Officer, Ijeoma Ajuzie, “With regard to Regulation 151 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR 2012), articulated vehicles carrying containers should be properly latched.

“Thus, the Zonal Commanding Officer RS2HQ Lagos, Assistant Corps Marshal Imoh Etuk demands that all vehicles carrying containers and/or goods must be adequately secured/latched.

“Etuk charged logistic companies to ensure that their drivers are well trained; and that the vehicles are in good condition, to avoid undue waste of lives and properties.”

The statement also listed other traffic offences that would be in focus as; driving without valid licence; having expired or worn-out tyres; dangerous driving; driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs; and Speed Limit Violation.

“In the course of enforcement, errant drivers shall be prosecuted accordingly.

The Federal Road Safety Corps Zone 2 Lagos wishes all road users safer roads and fuller lives,” they said.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

08. 08.2020

NEWS

RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS

Leon Balogun

New Home in Ibrox?

PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8 2020

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Leon Balogun In the summer of 2018, he moved to England to sign for Brighton after nine years of playing in the German League, but it didn’t prove to be a pleasant move as he spent the better part of his time warming the bench and losing his place as the choice central defender in the national team. A loan move to Wigan Athletic did little to help Leon Balogun’s cause. However, another loan move to Scotland giants, Rangers has not only earned him praise from his manager but a Team of the Week place

N

igerian international, Leon Balogun may have found a new lease of life at the Ibrox Stadium with his debut for his new club, Glasgow Rangers and it would not be surprising if Manager Steven Gerrard extract the option of extending his contract to years if he can maintain his consistency.

Rangers signed Balogun on a one-year deal following his departure from Wigan.

Rangers boss, Gerrard, who has the option of extending Balogun’s contract for another 12 months - told the club’s website: “I am pleased to secure the signature of Leon.

“He is an experienced centre half who will add strength and depth to our squad. His experience in the Premier League as well as his international pedigree strengthens our squad and will assist in the development of our young defenders.

“Leon has just finished a round of competitive fixtures with Wigan, so will hit the ground running. He’s a positive and bright character and we are looking forward to his influence around the group.”

True to Gerrard’s words, the Super Eagles centre-back hit the ground running. He produced a solid defensive performance as Steven Gerrard’s men started their league campaign with a clean sheet and a win Balogun was named in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Week after his impressive debut last Saturday.

The Nigerian international, who moved to Scotland at the end of the Championship season with Wigan Athletic, helped the Gers defeat Aberdeen 1-0 in their maiden game in the 2020-21 season.

Balogun was handed his first start at the Pittodrie Stadium as Ryan Kent’s 21st-minute goal separated both teams to get the visitors off to a flying start.

The 32-year-old defender was in action from start to finish in the fixture and made the most clearances for the Gers and also completed one tackle.

Gerrard has heaped praises on Balogun following his outstanding performance in the match-day one of the new season. He was the star player last Saturday as Rangers secured a 0-1 away win over Aberdeen at Pittoride following Ryan Kent only goal of the match.

“He’s been in the door six days; this is probably one of the toughest away games on your debut. You’re only getting used to knowing the players.

“But we’d seen and what we’d seen prior, we had trust in him. But he went out and put out a performance. He deserves all the plaudits that come his way. I thought he was outstanding,” he said.

However, there was also the ugly side of the debut for Balogun after a nasty challenge and he admitted, he was unhappy with a nasty challenge from Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna.

That challenge left Balogun requiring medical attention on a head knock and he told heraldscotland.com that he failed to get up after being shoved into the goal post at a Matt Kennedy corner kick in the second half.

The 32-year-old only continued after receiving treatment.

“I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t, he said. “It wasn’t quite lights out but a little bit tough for me. I carried on playing and it wasn’t too bad. Maybe I’ll get some dizziness and a headache but I have tablets for that so it’s okay.

“I think it was McKenna who pushed me into the goal post. Was I unhappy with the challenge? Obviously, because it shouldn’t happen. But then again I didn’t die so it’s okay. It’s part of the game so I think about it like a message ‘welcome to Scottish football’.

If that’s what it is then I just need to get used to it and make sure I don’t get caught out next time.”

Balogun was deservedly lauded by his fellow Rangers players in the dressing room following the final whistle after helping them keep a clean sheet.

“It was special for me to get a round of applause from my teammates,” he said. “They told me this is a tough place to make your debut so I’m happy.

“I am just happy I was able to perform in the way I performed. That said, you are only as good as your last match so I need to rest up ahead of the next game. I want to help the group be successful.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion defender will be hoping to help Steven Gerrard’s side build on their fine start to the season when they host St. Mirren at Ibrox Stadium for their next Premiership match on Sunday.

The 32-year-old moved to England in 2018 from Bundesliga side, Mainz 05 before teaming up with the Latics after finding game-time difficult to come by with the Seagulls.

The defender, who arrived Wigan initially on loan in January, was signed permanently until the end of the 2019-20 season.

The Super Eagles centre-back featured in 11 league games for the Latics but his effort was not enough to help the side avoid relegation after they were handed a 12-point deduction.

“I am pleased to secure the signature of

Leon. He is an experienced centre half who will add strength and depth to our squad,” Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told the club website.

“Leon has just finished a round of competitive fixtures with Wigan so will hit the ground running. He’s a positive and bright character and we are looking forward to his influence around the group” Sporting Director Ross Wilson added: “We quickly targeted Leon after adapting our transfer plan when Niko Katic suffered an injury a few weeks ago.

“Leon impressed Steven and me with his enthusiasm and excitement to join Rangers from the moment we first spoke whilst the staff at Brighton and Wigan couldn’t have spoken any higher about his personality and abilities.”

Balogun has spent most of his career in Germany playing for Turkiyemspor Berlin, Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Darmstadt 98 and Mainz.

The centre-back played 52 league games for the 05ers before joining Premier League club Brighton in 2018.

Balogun, who was born to a Nigerian father and German mother, has 32 caps for the Super Eagles and was part of the side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Balogun has an imposing physical presence, standing at 6ft 3. He is fearless in tackles and brave in the air. He provides additional threat during set pieces and could occasionally provide that odd goal to win games, though he isn’t gifted in terms of pace.

It however remains to be seen if Balogun would revive his career with Rangers.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8,, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona, Napoli Delicately Poised Bacelona will welcome Napoli to Camp Nou tonight for the second leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League. The tie is delicately poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg back in February, and the winner will advance to Lisbon for a knockout tournament to determine the winner of this season’s Champions.

B

arca should be fired-up for today’s contest as they look to move on from the disappointment of the 2019-20 La Liga campaign, where they relinquished control of the La Liga title to bitter rivals Real

Madrid.

The Catalan giants have had their problems this season but must still be taken extremely seriously in this competition, which resumes on Friday night following the coronavirus outbreak.

The Spanish outfit picked up a positive result in the first leg in Italy, with Antoine Griezman levelling the scores in the second period after Dries Mertens had sent Napoli into a first-half lead.

Barca are actually unbeaten in their last 35 Champions League matches on home soil, while they have not lost in any of their last 15 home fixtures against Italian opposition, picking up 12 victories in the process.

Five-time European champions, the team’s last success in this competition came back in 2015, and they were incredibly eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals of last season’s tournament despite running out 3-0 winners in the first leg of their last-four tie with the Merseyside giants Napoli also disappointed in their domestic league during the 2019-20 campaign, only finishing seventh in Serie A, some 16 points behind fourth-placed Lazio.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side did beat Lazio 3-1 in their last league game of the season on August 1, though, and they could be sharper than Barca for this match, having only just finished their domestic campaign.

Napoli have actually never been past this stage of the Champions League, losing to Chelsea and Real Madrid in their last two last-16 ties.

What’s more, the Italian side have only won seven of their last 21 matches in this competition and have lost their last four two-legged ties against Spanish opposition.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 Today

Barcelona v Napoli 20:00 Bayern v Chelsea 20:00

Lionel Messi waltzing through two Napoli players

DefeatsontheirlastthreevisitstoSpain,coupled with an overall away record of two wins and five defeatstoLaLigaopposition,meansthattheItalian outfitaretheunderdogsheadingintotoday’scontest.

They are yet to lose in this season’s Champions League, though, and impressively overcame the reigningchampionsLiverpoolathomeinthegroup stages of the competition before claiming a point at Anfield.

Meanwhile, Chelsea travel to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie this evening, trailing 3-0 from February’s first leg.

A lot has happened in the six months since the sides last met, but Bayern remain the overwhelming favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, where Napoli or Barcelona await.

Bayern produced a hugely impressive display at Stamford Bridge and all but got the job done

inside 90 minutes thanks to Serge Gnabry’s brace and one from Robert Lewandoski.

In the entire history of the European Cup and Champions League, no team has ever won by three or more goals in the first leg of a knockout match away from home and failed to progress, going through on all 92 previous occasions.

That stat alone tells you the magnitude of the task Chelsea face, and they do not exactly enter the match full of confidence after losing last weekend’s FA Cup final to Arsenal.

This season will still be reflected on as a positive one for Frank Lampard in his debut campaign in charge, though, having succeeded in guiding the club into the top four of the Premier League despite operating under a transfer ban.

In the Champions League, the West London outfit just advanced through a tricky group

that also contained Valencia, Lille and Ajax.

Being paired with Bayern in the first knockout round brought back good memories for Chelsea fans when the draw was made way back in December, with a repeat of the 2012 final which they won.

In the first competitive meeting between the sides since that day, however, it proved to be a nightmare for Lampard as Bayern produced a classy display to run away with the first leg.

Bayern will no doubt have one eye on next week’s quarter-final with Barcelona or Napoli.

Bayern’s most recent game was the DFBPokal final against Bayer Leverkusen on July 4 - Lewandowski taking his season’s tally to 52 goals with another brace in Berlin as Bayern ran out 4-2 winners.

Flick’s men also wrapped up the Bundesliga title with time to spare - something not many would have predicted last December - seeing out the domestic campaign with 16 successive wins.

The Bayern boss has made a huge impact since succeeding Niko Kovac and is looking to become only the third manager in Champions League history to win his first five matches in charge, after Fabio Capello and Luiz Fernandez.

On the basis of the first leg and their form since then, the German champions may just be favourites to go all the way in this year’s tournament to make it a famous treble.

Michael Ojo: Farewell Gentle Giant Though he failed to make the final cut of Team Nigeria to the 2011 FIBA Afrobasket, Michael Ojo’s excitement to be given a chance to play for his fatherland was visible. For those who came across him, he was a jolly good fellow Former Florida State center and former D’Tigers invitee, Michael Ojo died yesterday after collapsing during training in Serbia, his former team, Red Star Belgrade said.

The 27 years old Nigerian-born basketballer was taken to a hospital in the Serbian capital, but doctors failed to resuscitate him, Belgrade media reported.

“The sudden and shocking death has deeply shaken everyone in the club,” Red Star said in a statement.

Ojo was reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus, but had recovered. Local media reported that he died of a heart attack.

After going undrafted in 2017, Ojo moved to Europe where he started his professional basketball career with FMP Belgrade. In 2018, he signed with the regional Adriatic League champions, Red Star Belgrade, where he was hugely popular among the club’s fans.

“Farewell good giant,” said a post on a Red Star fan page.

Ojo averaged 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in the ABAleague and 4.1 points and 3 rebounds in the EuroLeague with Red Star.

The Belgrade club released him at the end of this season and Ojo was believed to be looking for another team in Europe.

The towering 7-feet-1-inch center wore shoe size 21and Nike reportedly had to spend $15,000 on a machine to create a size to fit him while he played college basketball in Florida.

CBS affiliate WCTV reports Ojo graduated from FSU with his bachelor’s degree in international affairs.

“My degree is something I owe my family,” Ojo said in a profile with FSView. “I promised my people, because they knowAmerican culture can change anybody to anything, so I promised them just that I would be the same person I am and get my degree. I won’t let anything distract me from school, my degree is something I promised my people and I will get it.”

Meanwhile, tributes have been flowing in from members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation after receiving the sad news of Ojo’s sudden demise.

Leading the tribute is NBBF President, Musa Kida who bemoaned the sudden demise of the 27 year old.

“This is another flower that unexpectedly withered at such a time it was expected to start blossoming.

“After a sterling College career in the United States of America and after securing a professional deal in Belgrade, it is so sad that the basketball world has been robbed of this emerging talent who has been described as one of the tallest to play basketball in Serbia.”

In his own reaction, the Federation’s Vice President, Babs Ogunade said, “I met with him in February at the FIBA Women’ Olympic qualifying tournament in Serbia. I watched his match against Partizan Basketball. He was such a calm and unassuming personality”.

The North Central Representative on the board, Isah Umah described the late centre, who won the 2019 Serbian Professional League with Crvena as humble and hard working.

Umar who was D’Tigers Team Manager when the team was preparing for the 2011 FIBA Afrobasket when Ojo was invited to the national team revealed that he was a true Nigerian who bled green and white.

“He was excited to be part of team Nigeria

Ojo

and gave his best at such a young age. He did not make the final cut, but he was excited to have a chance to play for his fatherland”.

During the 2019–20 season, Ojo appeared in 22 EuroLeague games with Crvena zvezda, averaging 4.1 points and three rebounds per game while appearing in about 108 games for his club before his untimely demise as teams were preparing for life after the covid-19 global lockdown.

The Federation prayed to God to comfort his family, friends, close associates and the entire basketball family as they come to terms with this heart-breaking news.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Awoniyi

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku after his appointment

Awoniyi Craves for Super Eagles Chance Sports in Lagos to Bounce Back from Liverpool loanee, Taiwo Awoniyi believes he has done enough to get a call-up to the Nigeria national team.

The forward has represented the West Africans at the U17, U20 and U23 levels but has struggled to gain attention from the senior national team coaches.

Awoniyi’s teammates at the youth level Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho and APOEL goalkeeper Francis Uzoho have become a key member of the Super Eagles while Watford striker Isaac Success has also been given a chance in the past.

The 22-year-old has been with Liverpool since 2015 but has spent his time on loan featuring for FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Royal Excel Mouscron, Gent and recently Mainz.

Awoniyi has impressed during his temporary move away from the Premier

League club but in the 2019-20 season, the striker was restricted to 12 league games owing to a number of reasons, including injury problems.

TheImperialSoccerAcademygraduate is looking forward to getting an opportunity to feature for the Super Eagles under manager Gernot Rohr.

“I’m happy for Kelechi Iheanacho and Uzoho because they are deserving of the opportunity,” Awoniyi told BBC Sport.

“Personally, I feel like I deserve a chance. I recall when I was playing well and scoring goals in Belgium. Nigeria had a friendly game and I thought I had done enough to get a look in that would hopefully enhance my quest for a UK work permit, but I was overlooked.

“You begin to understand that it’s not something you can control or have power over. You just need to enjoy what

you do and keep on working hard.”

Awoniyi, whose loan with Mainz ended at the end of 2019-20 season has spoken highly of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

“Jurgen Klopp’s a man everyone is happy to be around. When I was going to Mainz last year he wished me luck because he is highly revered over there,” he continued.

“And during my first year of professional football in 2015, many of my teammates talked about him at FSV Frankfurt and meeting him again shows how much he’s loved by people. His personality illustrates the success in Mainz, Dortmund.”

Awoniyi could spend the 2020-21 season on another loan as he is yet to secure a work permit that would enable him to play for Liverpool.

Nigeria Teenager Alebiosu Pens New Arsenal Deal Highly talented Nigerian teenager Ryan Alebiosu has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract with English Premier League side Arsenal.

Arsenal’s retained list published by the Premier League in late June showed that the Hale End Academy product was among the players offered fresh terms by the Gunners.

AlthoughAlebiosu has recently been spotted training with the U23 squad, there is no official word yet from the Emirates outfit whether or not he ac-

cepted the offer.

According to Alebiosu, he models his It is understood that the 18-year-old game after former Arsenal star Alex Iwobi has signed his first professional contract, when he plays on the wing. a two-year deal, with Arsenal holding an option to extend by a further two years.

Alebiosu joined Arsenal at the age of seven after he was spotted by a scout while playing for his local club Man City 2-1 Madrid Lyndhurst.

He has been tested in a number of City qualify 4-2 agg positions by the youth team coaches, including right winger, right back and Juventus 2-1 Lyon right wing-back.

Lyon qualify on 2-2 agg

GSC FC Unveils Jerseys for New Season Ugo Aliogo Grace Sports Channel (GSC) football club has unveiled two jerseys for home and away matches ahead of the 2020/2021 Surulere Regional league (SLR) Lagos State.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Chairman of the club, Pastor, Mike Samako, said the club was preparing for the Surulere regional football club, adding that before the tournament there was need to unveil the football jerseys.

He also stated that since the establishment of the club in 2016, there had been remarkable improvement, while noting that there was need to intensify efforts to achieve more success.

“The club was setup to give young talents the visibility because we realised that most talented players don’t have the platform to realise their potential.Wehaveyoungtalents whose potential are not given the needed push, therefore they don’t have the right platform to express themselves. Football is capital intensive, what have kept us going is not the funding, but the passion and the desire

of the management to take the club to greater height. For the scouting of young talents, we organise grassroots tournaments where we are able to secure skillful potential footballers.

We have two sets of playersfree age and U-17. In terms of playing in the regional league, we have greatly improved, in the last FA Cup, we were the underdogs, but we surprised everybody. But this time, there was great improvement in the tournament. We had two of our players travel to Turkey for football trials, but the constraint was their physique. But their talents and skills were appreciated. However, the club said they would invite the players again.”

In his remarks, the ViceChairman, Surulere Regional League, Mr. Hamza Akeem, said the league has been in existence for eight years and it was rebranded to Surulere Regional league two years ago, “and the first season took off last year.”

He also stated that the focus of the league is to give the players opportunity to play competitive

Champions League Results

StarTimes Secures Broadcasting Rights for La Liga, UEFA Nations League From September, StarTimes will be the home of Lionel Messi and Christian Ronaldo as the Digital TV operator has acquired broadcasting rights of LaLiga Santander and the UEFA Nations League.

StarTimes securedfourseason transmission rights for the Spanish top league, which will be broadcast in French language, from 2020/21to2024seasonacross sub-SaharanAfrica.

Matches will be aired live and in HD on the StarTimes Sports channels aswellastheStarTimesON streaming application.

UEFANations League is UEFA’s newest national-team competition and is entering its second edition.

This national-team competition replaces friendlieswithcompetitive matches, allowing nations to play against equally ranked teams. The 2020/21

UEFA Nations League starting from the group stage that will begin on September 3.

The 2020/21 UEFANations League group stage matches will be played between September and November. Starting on September 3rd, matchday 1 will see great games such as Germany vs. Spain, Sweden against France and, titleholder Christian Ronaldo’s Portugal vs.

Croatia.

“We are delighted to have secured the broadcast rights to LaLiga Santander, one of the most prestigious football competitions in the world,” said Kristen Miao, StarTimes Sports Director. “The acquiring of LaLiga Santander shows our commitment to continuously enrich our bouquets and to provide our subscribers with premium sports content.”

Covid-19 Stronger, Says Aiyepeku Duro Ikhazuagbe

The Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Sola Aiyepeku, has promised that sports would bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic -enforced break and even attain new heights in Lagos.

Speaking on the effects of Covid-19 safety measures, Aiyepeku said athletes and businesses built around sports have had to face great difficulties but remained very proud of the level of compliance by stakeholders in the sector.

“One can argue that only a few sectors were hit as hard as sports when the government took the responsible step of halting activities that involved large gatherings and contact.

“Sports embody these things in many ways and as responsible citizens, we all have to comply. I have to say that I have been very impressed by the level of compliance by our athletes and other stakeholders in sports,” stressed the LSSC Chairman.

He recalled that the pandemic did damage to the preparations the state’s athletes had made ahead of their participation at the National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Benin City last March.

“I particularly want to commend our athletes because it is easy to forget that the lockdown measures were put in place a few days to the commencement of the National Sports Festival in Edo. “Our athletes had camped for weeks, they had trained really hard and all was set for us to go and compete. To see them adjust as well as they did was really impressive,” observed Aiyepeku who thanked the athletes for appreciating measures put in place by the commission to ameliorate the hardship occasioned by the lockdown.

“We are grateful that they were very appreciative of our gesture to distribute palliatives such as foodstuffs and cash to help them cope.”

On what the Lagos Sports Commission had been up to over the past months, Aiyepeku said he and his team had focused on developing a Lagos State sports policy and weekly virtual strategy sessions which had coalesced into clear plans that would be implemented once Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gives the go-ahead for sports to resume fully.

“We have already designed Covid-19 compliant events in sports that require minimal contact and requires few participants. We have the WHO guidelines on sporting activities which has enabled the major leagues and some events in Europe and America resume and we have staff and capacity to implement them.

“Our plan is to start with those and then scale up to full events as the government allows. Our main focus once sports resumes fully is actually school sports. We believe strongly that the future of sports in Lagos and Nigeria in the next 10 years depends on the steps we take now,” he further observed.

Aiyepeku revealed that the LSSC had commenced discussions with the Ministry of Education to integrate sports and start a wave of interest and participation among students that will catalyse in the production of talented and well-trained athletes that will represent Lagos, Nigeria and themselves all over the world for years to come.

Ighalo, Moses Set for Intriguing Europa League Q’finals on StarTimes After some scintillating round of 16 matches in the Europa League on Wednesday and Thursday, fans are already warming up for some trilling quarter final matches which will air live on August 10 on World Football and Sports Premium Channels, exclusively on StarTimes.

After an easy qualification to the quarter final-beating LASK 7-1 aggregate, Manchester United’s fans would be dreaming for a trophy this season after failing to clinch any in their domestic leagues. Odion Ighalo’s United are in a strong position to reach the semifinal after being handed a relatively weak opponent in Copenhagen of Denmark on Monday.

Victor Moses has shifted his focus to the Europa League after helping Inter Milan finish as Serie A runners-up in the 2019-20 season.

Inter will take on German powerhouse- Bayer Leverkusen in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.

Other quarter final matches is slated for Tuesday, with Shakhtar Donetsk against Basel, while Wolves welcome Sevilla at the MSV Arena.

The 2019/20 Europa League final was due to be staged in Gdansk, Poland, on May 27. However, the Covid-19 outbreak caused that to be postponed and the final will now take place in Cologne on August 21.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 8, 2020

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

Simy Nwankwo

Craving for Eagles’ Return

C

rotone striker and Serie B top-scorer Simy Nwankwo has set his target on securing a return to the Nigeria national team. The forward was in excellent form for the Pythagoreans in the 2019-20 season, helping the side to gain promotion to the Seria A. The 28-year-old bagged 20 league goals in the campaign to emerge as the league’s top-scorer and his 21 strikes and three assists across all competitions saw him become the club’s highest goalscorer of the season.

Nwankwo has five caps and one goal for the Super Eagles since he made his debut against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2018.

The forward was part of Gernot Rohr’s side that was eliminated in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, playing as a substitute against Croatia and Argentina.

The striker has, however, not featured for the West Africans since he made a bench role against Seychelles in September 2018 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Nwankwo feels Crotone’s relegation to Serie B reduced his chances of a regular call-up to the national team and now hopes for more opportunities with the side.

“When I went down, I knew the risks of losing that spot that I worked so hard to get to although I didn’t play more, which is perfectly understandable,” Nwankwo told ESPN. “I met a team that was already structured with one of the best African strikers at the moment Odion Ighalo. And it was normal, it was perfect for me to stay calm and learn and then watch how things are done. And then all of a sudden, I found myself out again, which is understandable.

“No grudges on anyone. I understand every situation because the national team of Nigeria is highly rated. So, if you want tºo be in the national team, you have to be in the big leagues. That I can understand.

“So now we are back up. I just have to focus, like always, on what I will do here. The only way I will get myself into the national team is about what I do here.

“This season, I’ve done well.

That puts me in a good window to be looked into by the coaches and everybody that makes the decisions. I hope that in the future I will have my chance back again.”

Meanwhile, the 28-year-old has expressed his delight with the transfer of his compatriot Victor Osimhen to the Italian top-flight, Napoli and believes the switch to the Serie A would further aid the forward’s development.

The 21-year-old completed a €70 million transfer to the Parthenopeans, following his eye-catching performances for French Ligue 1 side Lille.

The forward only spent a season with the Great Danes and made an indelible mark for the side, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances and deservedly scooped the club’s Player of the

Season award for his efforts.

Nwankwo has expressed his joy with the transfer of Osimhen to Serie A, which he rated as one of the best leagues in the world.

“I’m so happy that Victor is coming in. It is such a big team and an important and difficult league, if not the number one tactical and defensive league in the world,” Nwankwo told ESPN. “You know, it is one thing watching from the outside, another thing is actually playing from the inside. But I’m glad Victor is coming into a team that plays football and it will be very, very important for him.

“He will definitely grow. He will never be the same player again, that I can assure you. He will grow as a person, he will grow as a player, he will grow because Napoli is a really good team and the league, too.”

Nwankwo, who has been with the Pythagoreans since 2016, is looking forward to a healthy rivalry with his compatriot for goals in the Italian top-flight.

“We will score more goals, united we stand. He will do it for Napoli and I will do it for Crotone,” he continued.

“Personally, I don’t set goals. The only thing I set out for myself at the start of the season every year is just

to do better than I did last time.

“So that means that next year will be more difficult for me because now I have to do better than I did this year.”

Besides Osimhen moving to the Serie A, a number of Nigerian players have also established themselves in the division like Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong.

Ola Aina is also making a key impact with Torino, Victor Moses is on the books of Inter Milan, there is also Bologna’s Orji Okonkwo and Joel Obi could make a return to the top-flight as his club Chievo Verna are involved in promotion playoffs.

“I’m glad now we’re growing, when I came, only Joel was here, with Orji Okonkwo also in Bologna, but not playing so much,” he added.

“Then we had a couple of lads in Serie B, but now we are growing and I’m looking forward to meeting all the guys next year in Serie A. “That will bring in more Nigerian viewers back to the league. Not just only about the Juventus and Inter Milan games, but now at least you will watch every game because you have your guys representing you everywhere.

“And it’s also good to have the guys around. Once in a while for

sure, we will meet up. After games, during games, we can talk. We can also help each other one way or the other. I think it’s a good thing and I hope more guys come in as a well.”

Nwankwo, who has five caps for the Super Eagles, joined Crotone from Gil Vicente and will hope to play a prominent role for his club in the 2020-21 season.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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Saturday, August 8, 2020

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MISSILE

Obaseki to Opponents

“Any person or group of persons who set out to test our will in this regard will meet with the full wrath of the law” – Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, reacting to the failed invasion of the state House of Assembly.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Chief Alex-Duduyemi: The Man Who Saved My Life

F

ellow Nigerians, this story you’re about to read is the stuff of fairytales or even science fiction but it is very real and absolutely true. Nothing worries a man of big dreams and voluptuous ambition like me than the fear of failure and the cataclysmic humiliation that goes with it. But that was the condition under which I found myself one mild afternoon in London. We had started Ovation International magazine by then and everything seemed to be going fine until we hit a storm that shook me to my marrows.

Try as we did, this demonic problem just refused to go away. We had arrived at a cul de sac and there was no forward movement.

Turning back was also not an option. Trust me, money can be a bastard with no pity or mercy on anyone. I was a veritable victim of the stubborn goat called poverty. According to Chief Moshood Abiola, “there is no animal more stubborn than poverty; never throw away the stick with which you chased it away because it will always come back!”

It was not that I threw the cane away, in my own case. Truth was poverty and I had only been playing hide and seek. Whenever it seemed I had succeeded in chasing the foolish monster away, it would show up again with its ugly face, then the battle between us would start again. Anyway. On this particular day, I could no longer bear the heat in the kitchen and all doors seemed shut against me. I faced imminent disgrace and this ferocious tide was likely to sweep me away completely. I was practically losing my stamina, my stature and my status all at the same time. God knows I had thrown everything into this business. I knew my problem and shortcomings, the first of which was my fastidious obsession with quality. I was not willing to compromise the world class status that we had set and achieved for Ovation International magazine by this time. I was aware of a Yoruba saying that “if we can’t go forward, we should be able to retrace our steps...” This I wasn’t ready to do. It is actually anathema to me.

Another voice was telling me “iku ya jesin” (death is better than disgrace!). I don’t know how the devil planted this particular idea in my fertile brain and imagination. But it became a recurring chorus in my head that just seemed never to go away. I started singing it till it almost turned into reality.

So, I woke up and picked my Nissan Estate car, kicked the poor little Japanese toy and drove off to an unknown destination. No one in my house knew where I was going.

Only a friend knew of my acute frustration and increased restlessness. I was in exile, on the run from the draconian and bloodthirsty government of General Sani Abacha. I never planned to live outside Nigeria. For me, Nigeria remains the best country on planet earth despite our myriad stories of debilitating and self-immolating crises. But here I was, a refugee, a fugitive in all ramifications, eking out a stodgy living, by fire and by force, with my immediate family and hordes of dependants.

So, I set forth on this voyage and let the heavens fall today, if it must. Yes. Only one soul knew I had reached my wit’s limit.

Only one soul knew I was close to hurting myself, terminally! This soul made a move

Chief Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi

that altered my trip. May be my name would have been on the lips of all newscasters on major networks in the world had this soul not called one man in the nick of time. My phone suddenly rang. I wasn’t picking my calls, but this particular caller was stridently unrelenting. Then, like a robot, I picked the call. I would be eternally grateful for that singular decision. In my delirious state, I could have hit a wall, a car, a human; anything, anyone. My power of concentration had vamoosed, and my determination had evaporated. I could no longer be bothered about life or whatever...

So, I picked this call. Wow. I heard a booming voice. “Dele, Dele, Dele, my son, where are you?” I didn’t know what to say or how to answer. In truth, I didn’t know where I was and where I was headed. I was just driving to somewhere and nowhere, like a somnambulist. I recognised the voice.

Although it sounded a bit far, yet it was quite penetrative. I responded, reluctantly, to the very familiarly gentle, soothing and calming voice. Even in my deepest sleep, I would have recognised this prosperous voice as that of Chief Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi, The Aro of Ile-Ife, as he then was, and now the Asiwaju of The Source, Ile-Ife, the cradle of civilisation.

“My son, please, wherever you are, turn back and come to me at the office,” the voice commanded matter-of-factly. “OK Sir...” I was too weak to argue with my father figure. The next challenge now was how to navigate my way to Daddy’s office, right in the heart of Knightsbridge, in the lethargic, somnambulistic and noctambulistic state that I was in. Finding a place to park in that rich and luxurious neighbourhood was definitely an impossibility for a man already being flogged and flagellated by poverty. So, I drove some reasonable distance looking for a less posh area, which around the SW1 and W1 postcode of London is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but luckily I found somewhere affordable to park out of the toff zone, the country of the Sloane

Rangers! I then took a train back to one of the most expensive addresses in England.

I entered the elevator and soon I was in the top office that Aro Duduyemi stylishly maintained. As always, I was welcomed by a white lady, her name I can’t remember now. She must have worked for Chief almost eternally. “Please, come in, Chief has been expecting you...” she told me calmly and politely. I knew my way into Chief’s office, as I had been there a few times. As soon as I entered, Chief sprang up, as if to carry and lift me up. “Let’s go downstairs to have lunch and then come back up to have our meeting. Sammie Ojikutu is coming to join us...” “Thank you Sir”, I managed to muster.

We entered the elevator to the ground floor.

Soon we were inside a Chinese restaurant.

As soon as we sat down, Chief Ojikutu sauntered in. He was a very lively man and we not only had a sumptuous meal but a superlative company which jointly eased my worries.

Later, Chief and I bundled ourselves up and settled back into his cosy office.

“Dele, what happened? Our mutual friend told me you were having some difficulties.

That’s not enough to warrant taking a crazy decision. What’s not enough today will soon be overflowing...” Chief sermonised. I just stayed still, probably, or even totally oblivious of my surroundings. I was just nodding, lizard-like. Then, he pulled a drawer and brought out a fat envelope and handed it to me. The envelope was bulky. I was speechless and tongue-tied. I struggled to load it into my left pocket, where I knew I could closely guard it and monitor any intruding principality and fight with every fibre left in me. Money is indeed a spirit.

I couldn’t wait to get back to my car.

That for me was a moment of resurrection.

I was alive again. I rushed into my car. I couldn’t afford to be mugged by some bad guys. With what I knew I was carrying on me, those folks would celebrate Christmas and Easter, simultaneously. I opened the envelope, gingerly, and some wads of 50 pounds note stared me in the eyes... God! I exclaimed. Yes. The almighty must have sent one of his Guardian Angels to rescue me, and that Angel had entered the frame of the Aro of the Source to do the Lord’s bidding.

No one can tell me otherwise. Thereafter, our relationship blossomed. Any time Chief was in London, he called and invited me to join him wherever he was, in his plush Hampstead home or in his effervescent Knightsbridge office. A rejuvenation was always guaranteed. I can never forget such a good father. God has blessed me with many.

Why am I writing this today? Chief AlexDuduyemi turns 85 tomorrow, August 9, 2020. There is no better way to celebrate him, alongside his family and friends, than tell the story of his almost supernatural love for me. You will agree our relationship is surreal if you know the story behind how we met.

I grew up partly on Ondo Road in Modakeke. In those good old days, there was really no difference between Ile-Ife and Modakeke. We were members of the same family. Chief Duduyemi had a beautiful home on that road very close to Sijuwade Estate. Every time I passed, I tried to peep

into what looked like a Paradise on earth.

I think it was named Bolapat. There were a few of such buildings built close to one another. I think one of them was owned

by Prince Adeyemo Adeyera (aka Currency Controller). I dreamt endlessly of enjoying such a life of harmony, bliss and peace one day. For me, meeting such distinguished personalities belonged in fantasyland, Alice in Wonderland stuff. But God is wonderful.

Education is the fastest key that can unlock such doors, if ever. And God provided that pathway for me.

I was very well known in Ile-Ife as a prolific writer and voracious reader. On this auspicious day, I was attending the birthday celebration of Chief Orayemi Orafidiya in Ile-Ife. Practically all Ife elites marked register at the event. A band performed and the musician was happy to see me and he showered praises on me. This attracted the attention of Chief Alex-Duduyemi who sent an emissary to fetch me to his table at once. I already knew of him from one of the most commercially successful albums of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, titled, Board Members.

I knew him to be a Lawyer and serial entrepreneur. I also recognised him as a man of sartorial taste and elegance who was always impeccably turned out. I knew some of his friends, such as Chief Yinka Rhodes (they both married Sisters), Chief Bisi Omidiora, Prince Ademola Ademiluyi, Chief James Odeyemi and others, from afar.

Once I got to his table, I went flat in prostration. I could see he was very impressed.

I’m used to giving maximum respect to anyone older than me. He told me he’d been hoping to meet me one day as he enjoyed reading whatever I wrote. I was grateful to God for such honour and privilege. That was how he joined the pantheon of my idols.

Let’s fast forward. I meandered my way into exile in London and life was brutal and brutish. But on that fateful day, Chief heard of my predicament, immediately traced and found me and invited me over. In that way, he gave me a new lease of life. We became father and son. And when I returned from exile, he hosted me warmly in his magnificent home in Apapa. We met every now and then at his Penthouse office in Victoria Island.

He opened up his sprawling mansion in Ile-Ife to me where he hosted my family and some of my guests, when my Mum passed on in 2007.

Chief has been extremely kind and gracious.

His wife, Yeye Asiwaju Sola Alex-Duduyemi, accepted me into their family. I will forever treasure this love and pray that God will continue to bless them and their descendants.

Chief has requested that I propose the toast at his 85th birthday celebration, during a Zoom party tomorrow, and I have gladly accepted.

Here’s a toast to much longer life, more prosperity and good health... Happy birthday Sir. End note: The amazing story of Chief Bode Akindele, which I started last week, continues next week. I joined his family and inner circle of friends in saying goodbye at his funeral in Ibadan last week. May his soul continue to rest in peace...

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