SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2020

Osinbajo: AfCFTA May Force Many Nigerian Manufacturers out of Business Economy likely to be exposed to unfair competition, sharp trade practices Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Abuja said African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement possessed the capacity to harm Nigeria’s

economy and force many Nigerian manufacturers out of business.

The vice-president stated this in a keynote address at the 61st annual conference of the Nigerian Economic Society

(NES) with the theme: “African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Post COVID-19 Era: What Next for Nigeria?”

Nigeria signed the AfCFTA agreement on July 7 last year after pulling out initially, as a

result of concerns expressed

by Nigerian manufacturers that other Africa countries would take advantage of the nation's large economy to turn the country into a dumping ground.

Eventually, when President Muhammadu Buhari signed the agreement on July 7, 2019, after wide consultations with stakeholders, he demanded for fair trade with Nigeria.

But Osinbajo, while speaking

at the virtual event, said the agreement could expose the Nigerian economy to unfair competition.

According to him, AfCFTA's Continued on page 5

Robbery: Trouble in MKO Abiola’s House as 2 Sons Spend Day 11 in Detention… Page 5 Saturday 12 September, 2020 Vol 25. No 9286

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Burnt Card Readers Won't Stop Ondo Poll, Says INEC Chairman Commences mobilisation of cards from neighbouring states IG deploys DIG, 8 CPs, others for Edo election Kingsley Nwezeh and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed, in Abuja

yesterday, that the October 10 gubernatorial election in Ondo State would go ahead as planned despite the fire incident that burned its Card Readers meant for the election.

Also in a statement yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had deployed the

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Research and Planning, Adeleye Olusola Oyebade, to supervise the security arrangement for the September 19, 2020

governorship election in Edo State.

National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated that the Edo and Ondo states’ elections would go as

planned, during an interactive session with stakeholders and Civil Society Organisations, convened by the National Continued on page 5

FG, Labour for Crucial Meeting over Increases in Petrol, Electricity Tariffs Ngige: Government to lay bare finances, challenges at meeting Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government has agreed to meet with members of the organised labour next Tuesday as a fallout of the recent hike in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff and the general state of the economy.

Speaking with reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said the government would show its entire records of finance to the organised labour.

He said the government would also explain its challenges to the labour bodies and listen to their grievances.

According to him, all institutions handling the finances of the government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress

(TUC) and their affiliates would be at the meeting.

“The president has approved for us to have a bigger government side-meeting with the organised private labour; all the government institutions that have to do with the finances of government will be there so that we meet with them and show them the books.

“So, the invitation is going out to them this afternoon (yesterday) - to the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and their affiliates or supporters and friends in the civil society organisations.

"So, I will relate more with the Chief of Staff to the president and the leadership of the unions today so that we can do this meeting.

“At the meeting, government Continued on page 5

BRAINSTORMING ON EDO, ONDO ELECTIONS...

L-R: Former Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; and the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto/member, National Peace Committee, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, during a meeting ahead of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states held in Abuja…yesterday.

Fresh Attacks in Southern Kaduna Claim 3 lives… Page 8

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Robbery: Trouble in MKO Abiola’s House as 2 Sons Spend Day 11 in Detention Complaints by one of his wives influenced arrest of Kassim and Aliyu Detainees seek release, demand N100m damages, apology Davidson Iriekpen The controversies generated by the robbery incident in the Ikeja residence of late Chief Moshood Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, on September 12, took a twist yesterday as the two sons of the late politician, Kassim and Aliyu, detained over the incident filed for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights in court.

The Applicants told the court that they were discriminatorily singled out as a result of a complaint by their step mum,

Mrs. Adebisi Abiola, which allegedly accused them of complicity in the robbery.

They told the court that Police had since conducted several searches at their apartments but nothing incriminating or connecting them with any alleged stolen item belonging to their step mum was found.

Describing the suspicion of their alleged involvement in the robbery as “completely false and malicious in its entirety�, the duo said the allegation was “meant to disparage their persons and their immediate nuclear family, not being biological children

of the complainant�.

They argued: “That their being singled out for continuous detention and torment is simply because they are not the biological children of the complainant, Mrs Adebisi Abiola, as her own children and aides staying in the same premises were left untouched.�

Following the invasion of some gun-wielding robbers at the Toyin Crescent residence of the late politician, the police had arrested a number of suspects including the two Abiola sons.

The suspects, initiated their legal battle at an Ikeja High Court. The duo, through

their lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) applied for the enforcement of their rights to personal liberty, dignity of person, right to private and family life, as well as right to freedom of movement.

They told the court that they were unlawfully arrested and detained at the Special AntiRobbery Squad in Ikeja, following a complaint by Adebisi, after the robbery incident.

The Applicants consequently filed an exparte motion and an affidavit of urgency, seeking an accelerated hearing within the ongoing vacation period.

When the case came up

yesterday, before the Ikeja High Court vacation Judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, Messrs Chimaobi Onuigbo and Ejieke Onuoha, holding the brief of Chief Ozekhome, prayed the court to grant bail to the detainees due to their poor health and lengthy detention period in the SARS dungeon since the September 2, 2020.

However, the judge adjourned the matter to October 15, 2020 and ordered that the file be returned to the Assistant Chief Registrar for a re-assignment to a non - vacation Judge for hearing. He also directed that

the Commissioner of Police, who is the sole Defendant in the matter, be put on notice.

Specifically, they sought “A declaration that the arrest and subsequent dehumanisation and the continuous detention of the Applicants since 2nd September, 2020, by operatives of the Respondent on the alleged Petition/Complaint of one Mrs Adebisi Abiola, without granting them administrative bail within 24 hours of their arrest, are illegal, wrongful, unlawful and constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental rights.�

Continued on page 8

FG, LABOUR FOR CRUCIAL MEETING OVER INCREASES IN PETROL, ELECTRICITY TARIFFS finances, challenges and everything will be laid bare on the table. Their own fears and what they think is also good for the Nigerian people, especially the workers, they will also table it so that we look at it,� he said.

Ngige also said relevant stakeholders would be engaged on the recent hike in electricity tariff.

He said the president had given a directive that all stakeholders should be engaged on the matter.

“The electricity tariff, as you know, the electricity regulatory commission approved the increase based on certain electricity band R1 and R2 and even in the R2 band, you have soft bands so that we can protect the rural poor and people who are in the suburbs.

"So, we are going to look at them holistically because we want a stable labour industrial union in the country. The president has been briefed and he is in tune and has given the support to talk to

everybody we need to talk to,� he said.

The minister also spoke on the proposed strike action by Non-Academic Staff Unions of Universities, saying the groups had been invited to a meeting for deliberation on their demands. “The tripartite unions of university system, including some colleges of education and some hospitals; Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)

and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have been invited to a meeting.

The leadership met with me last week and the major thrust of the challenges they have is on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS) system. “They claim and allege that the IPPIS system is over deducting some line items like taxes. The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes - they claim the IPPIS system is charging more than they are suppose to debit.

"They also claimed that the IPPIS has stopped some allowances that are peculiar to the university system like, responsibility allowance, hazard allowance, field trip allowance and education of children allowance.

"At the government level, we have discussed and we now want to do a special session with them. They will come with their facts and the accountant-general will lead his team.

"The National Salaries and Incomes and Wages Commission

will also come and the Ministry of Labour will lead and then we will discuss and find out who is treating the other unfairly,� the Minister said.

Ngige, who spoke to THISDAY last night, confirmed that the federal government team would be made up of five ministers – Labour, Power, Finance, Information and Petroleum. He said the NNPC GMD and the boss of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission would also be in attendance.

world and on the import of manufactured goods from them. “The imposition of export bans, including on food items by some countries and the disruption of global supply chains at the height of the pandemic, showed just how exposed and vulnerable African countries are because of limited productive capacity and a lack of regional value chains."

He advised the public to engage in informed commentaries that could shape the economy, noting that some comments being made were

baseless and unhealthy for the economy.

He said: “I find very often that some public commentators make assertions that have no basis in economic theory or practice, and because they dominate the public space, they contribute to public misunderstanding of economic principles and their application to public policy.

"Some of you should take up the gauntlet and help to shape an informed and reasoned national discourse on the economy.�

of God."

The statement by DCP Mba said four CPs would supervise security arrangement in the three senatorial districts of the state.

They are CP Omololu S. Bishi and CP Abutu Yaro for Edo North Senatorial District; CP Philip Aliyu Ogbadu, Edo Central Senatorial District; and CP Olokade T. Olawale, Edo South Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has barred security aides attached to VIPs and political appointees from accompanying their principals on the election day.

The IG warned that anyone who flout the order would be severely reprimanded.

He charged officers and men on election duties in the state to ensure they work in line with best practices and adhere strictly to the approved code of conduct and rules of engagement for the elections.

Adamu further called on members of the public, particularly politicians, gubernatorial candidates and other relevant stakeholders in the state to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the patriotic task of guaranteeing a hitch-free gubernatorial poll.

OSINBAJO: AFCFTA MAY FORCE MANY NIGERIAN MANUFACTURERS OUT OF BUSINESS implementation could expose the country to sharp practices with dire consequences for its manufacturers who may become bankrupt while their workers become jobless.

"The reality is that if care is not taken, trade liberalisation can expose the Nigerian economy to unfair competition and sharp trade practices, with adverse consequences for our producers who might have to close down their businesses, and for our workers who would then lose their jobs," he said.

The vice-president therefore

said as Africa begins to brace up for implementation of the agreement, “we must, of course, continue to bear in mind, especially here in Nigeria that the AfCFTA is not a magic wand that automatically brings about growth and prosperity."

He observed that Nigeria would go through certain difficulties in the effort to implement the agreement, observing that African countries would need to undertake reforms, establish new traderelated bodies, improve and upgrade existing facilities.

“Finding the resources to undertake these activities at a time like this when we lack fiscal space will, of course, prove to be very difficult for Nigeria and other African countries.

"Our economists should accordingly help to come up with innovative financing solutions for our economies,�

Osinbajo added.

The vice-president noted that the entire intra-Africa trade in goods as at 2017, amounted to only $135 billion, which he put as only about 15 per cent of Africa’s total trade.

According to him, this paltry trade volume is in sharp contrast to what obtains in other regions, such as Europe and Asia which he said record 70 per cent and 60 per cent of intra-trade volume, respectively.

Speaking on AfCFTA and COVID-19, Osinbajo said: "One thing that has become clear from our experiences of the last few months is the need for a vibrant and successful AfCFTA. "The pandemic has exposed our dependence on commodity exports to other parts of the

BURNT CARD READERS WON'T STOP ONDO POLL, SAYS INEC CHAIRMAN Peace Committee in Abuja yesterday.

Yakubu observed that the 5,100 Card Readers programmed for use for the election were razed in the inferno that broke out on Thursday night, adding that investigation was on to unravel the cause of the fire.

He said: "We received the sad news last night of fire incident involving the container housing the Smart Card Readers." “Let me give you a little bit of statistics; we require 4,100 Smart Card Readers for the Ondo election and additional 100 for training, so that the adhoc Staff are properly trained using the Smart Card Reader. So we got 1,000 Card Readers from our office in Osun State.

"So, we had 5,100 Smart Card Readers and we were good to go for the Ondo election but, unfortunately, from the reports I’m getting, we lost the 5,100 Smart Card Readers in that container."

He stressed that the commission had recovered from the incident, adding that he was glad to say the Ondo election would go ahead as planned.

"We have huge capacity in the neighbouring state to get additional Smart Card

Readers and I had a discussion with the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State and we have 700 Smart Card Readers there. So, getting 5,000 Smart Card Readers to support Ondo won't be an issue at all.

This is not a general election that is holding nationwide, it is an off season election," Yakubu explained.

He further stated that the fire only affected the container housing the Smart Card Readers, noting that it was the same container that was used in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

"So, it is not that we moved the Smart Card Readers to an unsafe place.�

The INEC boss also stated that the commission was ready for the Edo State poll and that it would not be postponed.

According to him, "In September 2016, the Edo governorship election, for reasons known to Nigerians, was postponed for two weeks but it had nothing to do with the preparation of the Commission.

"We know advice came for the postponment of the election.

Is it going to happen again?

Not as far as INEC preparations are concerned. We are ready

and good to go. INEC is not contemplating postponement of the election.

"Personally, I will be in Edo State tomorrow and will remain in Edo till Wednesday and I'm only leaving Edo on Wednesday to watch what happens on the Election Day from the situation room here in Abuja. There are numbers of activities, we will be supervising the preparation of the commission, we will be holding stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday and on Wednesday is the signing of the peace accord under the auspices of the National Peace Committee. “So, as far as INEC is concerned, we are ready and not even contemplating the postponement of the Edo election.

He, however, said they learned some lessons from the burnt card readers in Ondo, stating, "We are taking measures to ensure that there is no repeat of this kind of incident in Edo State."

Speaking on security during the election, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, represented by DIG Oyebode, said Police officers deployed for the election would be guided by the Police Code of Conduct.

According to him, the IGP has advised the officers and men deployed for the special assignment to abide by the Nigerian Police Code of Conduct.

He added that “the Nigerian Police Force has a wellarticulated Code of Conduct to ensure that Police Officers do the needful during their assignment at the election duties."

He assured that the Police were ready to ensure a peaceful election, saying, “nobody can stand on the way of this election."

Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and member of the National Peace Committee, Hassan Kukah, stated that the meeting was convened by the Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar, to encourage the various agencies, especially INEC and to help inspire confidence.

He said: "You have been adequately briefed on the level of preparedness the rest is for us Nigerians to do the thing we do best, which is to pray and then we also hope that the people of Edo State will enjoy a very peaceful election, the rest we leave in the hands

IGP Deploys DIG, 8 CPs, Others for Edo Election Meanwhile, the police spokesperson, Mba explained in the statement that Oyebade’s deployment was to ensure peaceful conduct of the electon in Edo State, adding that he would be assisted by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG) Karma Hosea Hassan, who is in charge of federal operations at the Force Headquarters Abuja and eight commissioners of police.

The statement said the DIG, with the assistance of the AIG, would superintend the entire security architecture and ensure effective monitoring of the election and enforcement of all electoral laws.

Other senior police officers similarly involved (in election monitoring and evaluation) include: CP Garba Baba Umar; CP Habu Sani; and CP Buba Sanusi, while CP Akeera M. Yonous would coordinate the operations of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other special strike forces.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 12, 2020

Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

Mailafia Cries for Help over 3rd DSS Invitation

Seriki Adinoyi Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă?

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, has raised the alarm over his safety, saying “some sinister political forces want me silenced forever. I have received information about a large sum that has been paid to have me eliminated.�

This is even as the Depart-

ment of State Security (DSS) has summoned him again to appear at its headquarters in Jos on Monday. This becomes the third invitation by the DSS, aside the one from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), which he turned down.

In a statement he signed, Mailafia lamented that he was being subjected to criminal investigation and extreme

N’Assembly Postpones Resumption by 2 Weeks Deji Elumoye Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Members of the National Assembly who were initially billed to resume plenary on Tuesday, September 15 after a two-month annual vacation, will now resume on Tuesday, October 29.

The notice to that effect was issued yesterday by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Amos Olatunde, who regretted any inconvenience caused by the resumption date.

The notice entitled ‘Special Announcement’, stated inter alia: “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and

Honourable Members of the National Assembly that the resumption of plenary sessions earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 15th September, 2020 is hereby rescheduled for Tuesday, 29th September, 2020. “We regret any inconvenience caused by the change of date.�

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had on July 23, 2020 adjourned plenary to enable their members to observe the mandatory two months vacation.

The presiding officers of the two chambers had said that the National Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, September 15 for legislative duties.

political persecution for speaking truth to power.

He said, “On Thursday 10th September I was informed through my lawyer that I am being summoned once again to appear before the Department of State Security (DSS). This would be the third time that I’m being ordered to appear before the DSS at their Jos HQ. As a law-abiding citizen, I shall honour their summons and will present myself at their Jos Command HQ at 11.00a.m. this coming Monday, 14th September. “This is coming in the face of the legal battle I have in court, as my lawyer appears before a Jos High Court today, Friday the 11th, seeking a restraining order against the DIG, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who is also pursuing me.

“I spent most of my working life abroad, about 25 years in all. I served with distinction as a university teacher, banker and international civil servant. I have an unblemished record. I have been a faithful and loyal ambassador for my country wherever destiny has taken me. I have no criminal record anywhere, not even a parking ticket.

Sadly, it is in my own fatherland that I’m being subjected to criminal investigation and such extreme political persecution. “Let me put it on record that throughout my interactions with the gentlemen of the DSS, I have found them to be thorough, firm, rigorous and professional. But I have reason to believe that some sinister political forces want me silenced forever. I have received information

about a large sum that has been paid to have me eliminated. Alternatively, to have me poisoned and get me incapacitated for life. My life is in danger, all because I have chosen to speak truth to power.

And because I have dared to stand up for the Holy Martyrs -- for thousands of innocent children, women, elderly and youths that have been killed in our beloved country.�

Mailafia further lamented that “it is only in our benighted country that a man who speaks from his conscience can be hounded like a common criminal and vagabond fugitive.�

He said, “On Monday at 11.00a.m. I shall go before Pharaoh. I shall tell him to let me go and to stop the killing of innocent children, women and elderly, which is

a curse and an abomination upon our glorious land. “In speaking out, I have made powerful enemies who have profiteered from the bloodshed and violence that has brought so many dishonours to our nation. I am a man of peace. I abhor the shedding of innocent blood. “But I dare to take my stand with the defenceless widows and orphans who are being slaughtered in their thousands. If I perish, I perish. I have received extraordinary support from all the country. I have found out Nigerians are a generous and compassionate people. I urge all my many supporters throughout the country to be law-abiding and to totally abjure all forms of violence.

Let us rather be candles of light and beacons of hope in our dark and illiberal age.�

Nigeria Diaspora Network Backs Buhari’s Decision on Fuel Subsidy Tobi Soniyi The Coordinator, Nigeria Diaspora Network, Samuel Atolaiye, has expressed support for the decision of President Muhmmadu Buhari to remove subsidy on petroleum products.

Speaking with journalists on telephone, Atolaiye who is based in the United States of America said though the policy decision was a bitter pill to swallow, the benefits outweighed the disadvantage.

He noted that even though the decision was taken while Nigeria and the world were battling to contain the novel Coronavirus, he nevertheless said that removing the subsidy was a decision that had to be taken.

He said: “There is no time that is right in the eye of the critics.

The removal is something that has to be done. “The petroleum products subsidy has been a longstanding issue that should have long been resolved. “As a result of COVID-19, every responsible government must think outside the box to mitigate the impact on its people and the economy generally.

Removing petrol subsidy is one of the ways to stop economic wastage and fix the bleeding

in the Nigerian oil industry.�

He argued that, to lift more Nigerians from poverty, the government had to free the money it spent on subsidy.

He stated that before the subsidy was removed, Nigeria’s spending on oil subsidy was more than four times what the country spent on building schools and health centres in a country of nearly 200 million people, with about 87 million living in extreme poverty.

He said: “The fact that the president accepted the removal does not mean that the government is not mindful of the pains that higher prices mean at this time neither does it mean that the government is taking the sacrifices that all Nigerians had to make for granted. The president has courageously done this for the Nigerian people.�

He called on President Buhari to immediately disband the Petroleum Equalisation Fund and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency.

He said: “Documents related to their operations should be carefully reviewed/audited and the lessons learnt should be used in other government agencies. Few best brains could be transferred to other agencies where they could best contribute to the development of the nation.�

COVID-19: 188 New Cases Recorded Nigeria recorded 188 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, taking the number of confirmed cases to 56,017 with 43,998 discharged and 1076 deaths.

THE WORKS OF OUR HANDS. . .

L-R; Sale Manager Procter and Gamble, Mr. Akanbi Daniel; Minister of Women Aairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen; Permanent Secretary Women Aairs, Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu at the oďŹƒcial handover of Pampers by Procter and Gamble, donated to ministry of women aairs in Abuja..

Senator Wamakko loses Daughter Deji Elumoye Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Onuminya Innocent Ă“Ă˜ ÙÕÙÞÙ The senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial district and Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-corruption, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, on Thursday, lost his daughter, Sadiya, at the age of 23 years.

The deceased died at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, following delivery complications. Her funeral prayer was conducted same night at the residence of Senator Wamakko, Sahabi Dange, road, Gawon Nama, Sokoto.

The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Juma’at Mosque, Sokoto, Liman Malami Shehu Akwara.

The funeral prayer was attended by Senator Wamakko, former Deputy Governor and National Commissioner, National Population Commission, Alhaji Chiso Abdullahi

Dattijo, as well as another former Deputy Governor and Executive Secretary, Police Trust Fund , Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.

Other dignitaries who attended the funeral prayer of the deceased were Magajin Garin Sokoto and Magajin Rafin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba and Alhaji Rilwanu Bello, respectively.

Others were the Members of the State House of Assembly, led by the House Leader, Alhaji Bello Isa Ambarura, serving , former members of the National Assembly,former Commissioners, former Permanent Secretaries and former Directors General , as well as former Chairmen of local governments.

The funeral prayer was also attended by the State former Head of Service , Alhaji Bature Shinkafi and the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida, who led other State and local Governments executives of the party.

Others who attended the funeral prayer were Sheikh Musa Lukuwa, Sheikh Ahmadu Helele, Sheikh Bashir Gidan Kanawa, Sheikh Abdulaziz Kofar Rini, Sheikh Yahuza Shehu Tambuwal and several other Islamic Clerics, as well as traditonal rulers, among thousands of other sympathizers .

Special prayers were also offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

The late Sadiya is survived by her parents, her husband, Tambari Yusuf Arkilla, a staff of Nigeria Ports Authority, Lagos,as well as a five year old daughter.

She had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has commiserated with the former governor of Sokoto state, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, over the death of his daughter, Sadiya.

Omo-Agege in a condolence

message to Wamakko on Friday expressed deep shock and grief over the death of the daughter of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto on Thursday following complications associated with childbirth.

He expressed sadness over the development and prayed for God Almighty to comfort his grieving colleague and grant him fortitude to bear the loss. “I feel personally hurt. In this part of the world, infant and maternal mortality have cost us so dearly with many families bearing long-term psychological scars and we must all renew efforts towards further curbing the problem. “I pray that Almighty Allah, Maker of heaven and earth and all that exist therein, grant our dear Senator Wammako and members of his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss�, Omo-Agege stated.

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NEWS

No Staggered Pensions Payment in Imo, Says Uzodimma

YOU’RE WELCOME‌ L-R: Minister of Youths and Sports Development Sunday Dare and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq during a courtesy visit to the minister’s oďŹƒce in Abuja.

Delta Reverses Civil Servants’ Salary Slash over COVID-19 Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba In a bid to cushion the effects of the increased prices of petroleum products vis-a-vis hike in electricity tariffs and general inflation in the country, the Delta State Government yesterday announced a reversal of the downward review of salaries of civil servants for six months occasioned by the COVID-19.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who made the announcement yesterday said that the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa administration had do give a human face to measures to mitigate the negative financial impact of the pandemic due to the effects of the Coronavirus on state revenue sources.

Accordingly, the govern-

ment has directed the state Accountant-General and Finance Commissioner to restore the salaries of the affected workers on Salary Grade Level 7 to Salary Grade Level 17, which will take effect from September, 2020.

Ebie said, “In view of the recent upward review of pump price of petroleum products and electricity tariffs, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, has directed the immediate restoration of salaries of the affected categories of workers and appointees. “The State Government commends the understanding exhibited by the Organised Labour and the affected personnel.

As we await the full reflation

of the country’s economy, Deltans and other residents are implored to continue to lend support to Government’s efforts at confronting the current economic challenge.�

The SSG reiterated Okowa’s commitment to the well-being of the state workforce and the people of the state in general, noting that the action of the government was prompted by prevailing circumstances, which had disrupted social and economic activities in countries globally. “You will recall that following the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national economy and the consequent sharp drop in revenues accruing to all tiers of government, the (Delta) State Government, after due consultations with

the Organised Labour, carried out a downward review of the salaries of its workforce comprising political appointees and officers on Salary Grade Level 07 and above. The downward review which took effect from July 2020 was intended to last until December, 2020. “The Honourable Commissioner of Finance and the Accountant-General have already been directed to ensure immediate implementation of this directive.�

Earlier, the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) disclosed that following a meeting with the Governor Okowa, the government had “agreed that the suspension of the payment of the new minimum wage for levels 7 to 17 be lifted with effect from September 1st, 2020.�

Fresh Attacks in Southern Kaduna Claim 3 lives

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Three people have been killed in fresh attacks on ManyiMashin and Kitsarapang communities in Zangon Kataf and Kauru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

The attacks came barely two weeks after the Hausa, Atyap and Fulani communities, Atyap chiefdom signed a peace agreement to end killings in the area.

A statement by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), said the attack on Manyi-Mashin took place in the early hours of yesterday when the gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdmen invaded the village, killing two people.

The statement signed by Luka Binniyat, spokesman of SOKAPU, said the two people killed were burnt beyond recognition while Continued from page 5

many houses were burnt.

Binniyat said although men of Operation Safe Heaven promptly responded, the gunmen fled before their arrival.

The statement said a 13 year old boy was killed in the attack on Kitsarapang community in Kauru LGA of the state on September 8, 2020.

According to SOKAPU: “Early this morning, (11th September, 2020) Manyi-Mashin village, in Zamandabo ward, in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) in Southern Kaduna, was invaded by hordes of Fulani armed men who burnt down almost all the houses in the village, looting and carting away valuables. “Two persons were burnt in their homes beyond recognition: They are Cecilia Ishaya, 62, a widow and mother of 6 children and Iliya Sunday,

56, who left behind 8 children. “This was after Fulani militia on the 8th September, 2020 laid ambush for three Atyap youths from Atakmawei village in same , Zamandabo Ward in Atyap Chiefdom, as they went to clear weed in their Sugar cane farm about a kilometer from their village. “Suddenly, armed herdsmen came from hiding and struck.

They descended on them with daggers and machetes. Anthony Magaji, 25, a final year HND student with Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, was hacked down.

They axed his neck and head with macabre wounds and killed him instantly...�

According to Binniyat, farmers in Gora axis of Atyap Chiefdom have also complained that the Fulanis occasional sneak into their farms to destroy large swath of growing food crops.

The statement regretted that “All these gory development is taking place after a much publicized peace deal was reached between natives of Atyap Chiefdom on one side and their long time settled Hausa and Fulani representatives on 23rd August, 2020 in Unguwan Wakili, close to Zangon Kataf town. “SOKAPU wishes to once again request the Federal Government, through Operation Safe Heaven, under the Command of Major General Chukwu Emeka Okonkwo, to expatiate action and expel and bring to book all the Fulani militia that are currently occupying 101 Southern Kaduna Communities in four of our LGAs. The statement appealed to the youths to shun all forms of provocation and conduct avoid taking the laws into their hands.

Robbery: Trouble in MKO Abiola’s House as 2 Sons Spend Day 11 in Detention

They also applied for “A declaration that the Applicants are entitled to public apology and adequate compensation from the Respondent as provided for by section 35(6) and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, Sections 2, 3(1) (2), 17(1) (2), 18 (1) (2) (3), 19, 21 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Lagos State, 2015,

for the blatant violation of the Applicants’ fundamental rights without following the due process of law.

Their prayers included “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondent whether by itself, its agents, employees, operatives, detectives, investigating officer(s), or by whatever name called, from further inviting, arresting

or detaining the Applicant on the facts of an alleged Petition/ Complaint made by one Mrs Adebisi Abiola, in relation to a purported or alleged robbery incident to which they know absolutely nothing about�.

The Abiola children also asked for “An order of this honourable court directing the Respondent and his operatives and agents to release forthwith the Applicants

from the detention of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, detention center of the Respondent.

Aside for a demand for an apology for their ordeals, the Applicants equally asked for an order to compel the Respondent to pay them N100million as exemplary damages for the “wanton and grave violation� of their fundamental rights.

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has said that his administration had not embarked on any staggered payment of pensioners as insinuated.

However, he explained that what the government did on assumption of duty to ease the problem encountered as a result of dubious record keeping was to pay pensioners as they were screened and verified.

The governor made the clarification at the Government House, Owerri, when he received the National Union of Pensioners led by their National President, Dr. Abel Afolayan who paid a courtesy call on him.

The group had told the governor that they were made to believe that Imo State was carrying out staggered pension’s payment.

Governor Uzodinma said: “There is no reasonable Nigerian who will not want to support the pensioners, but because of the situation of pensioners I met on ground, there seem to be delayed

cordial relationship and slowed payment of pension allowances, I made them to understand that if there is anything I would do to improve the lives of the pensioners in Imo State I will not hesitate to do that.�

The governor painted an ugly situation he met on ground that included fraudulent manipulation of records to the advantage of pension administrators.

He described the fraud as monumental and that no reasonable administration would want to carry it over, hence he decided to “painstakingly scrutinise the records and raw data� made available to him which enabled his administration to establish true pensioners in Imo State.

Governor Uzodinma said: “The good story is that with these efforts, Imo State has gotten a near-master script that has resulted into close to 100 per cent clearance of all genuine pensioners in Imo State, and those owed pensions now are less than 900 and soon, all involved will get their allowances.�

Gana’s Killing: Tiv, Jukun Youths Trade Accusations

Wife demands N5b compensation

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo Controversy has continued to trail Tuesday’s killing of Benue warlord, Terwase Agwaza a.k.a.

Gana by the Army with Tiv and Jukun youths trading blames over the incident.

Gana, who had earlier been declared wanted by the Police and the Nigeria Army and on whose head a ransom of N50 million was placed by the Benue State Government was killed by the Army after intercepting the convoy conveying him and other members of his gang who had earlier in the day surrendered their arms at the Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina Ala in embrace of amnesty granted them by Governor Samuel Ortom.

Since the news of his killing was made public by the Army, there have been mixed reactions from different segments of the public particularly from Tiv political

and traditional leaders and their Jukun neighbours.

In a press release made available to newsmen in Nasarawa State, the Tiv Youth Forum had accused the Taraba State Government and the Jukuns of complicity in the killing of Gana alleging that the sum of N400 million was paid

by Taraba Government to execute Gana.

The Tiv youths equally accused former Chief of Army staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd) of paying the sum of N250 million towards the execution of Gana.

But in swift reaction, the Federation of Jukun Youths, in a press release signed by its convener, Agbujoro Agya, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY in Jalingo, commended the military for doing a great job by killing Gana, saying the dissatisfaction expressed by the Tiv youths was an indication that they had been beneficiaries of his criminal activities.

APC Members Defect to PDP in Ekreremor Major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekeremor Local Government Area as fallout of the decision of former Deputy Governor, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi to contest the Senatorial bye election under the platform of the APC. The defectors from Ekeremor Ward 4 and 5 led to the PDP

by Hon Gowon Abiezi include Messes Ben Olive, (a cousin to former Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri,) Timipakebi Koufa and Dr. Adolphus Owoupele.

The politicians who are the APC grassroots forces were received with hundreds of their supporters at the country home of former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson by

the PDP Senatorial Vice Hon. Micheal Magbisa, the PDP Chairman from Ekeremor local government Perewarebo Esemokumo and others.

Spokesman of the group, Gowon Abiezi, who declared total support for the PDP Senatorial Candidate, said that all men of good conscience in the district should defend the long standing agreement on power sharing between the councils making up the Senatorial District.

He said that they decided to defect to the PDP to support the Senatorial bid of the former Governor because of his exceptional leadership qualities and track record of performance as the first two-term Governor of the State.

9

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 12, 2020

08054699539

Deconstructing NESG’s Dispatch on Nigeria’s Economy

I

have spent quality time reading the observations of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) about this country’s economy and the holes highlighted in the actions/inactions of the government and the Central Bank. The 15-point statement issued by NESG last Tuesday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Asue Ighodalo, and the Chief Executive Officer, Laoye Jaiyeola, was penetrating and speaks volumes about why we are not getting the desired result from the policies of the current Nigerian government and the CBN. I am glad the NESG drew attention to our bizarre forex regime and other CBN policies that are disincentives to savings/investment. I fully agree with the NESG because these actions and inactions have left our economy prostrate in the last five years, with rising inflation, contrasting GDP, dwindling value of the Naira, falling industrial capacity utilisation and frightening unemployment figures. Yet, the CBN is persisting with weird policies.

For example, liquidity and interest rate management of the country’s financial system have been horrendous in the last five years.

The NESG was spot on when it said these had resulted in rated distortions, causing grave disadvantage to domestic investors and pensioners.

It adds: “This will occasion major disincentives to savings and investments and thereby, be a disadvantage to the Nigerian pensioners and long-term savers. This is inimical to this administration’s concern for the elderly, the weak, the infirmed and those who had served this country meritoriously in their prime.�

On my side, I am still struggling to understand why the CBN would slash interest on savings account to an unprecedented 1.25

Obiano

Willie Obiano’s Extravagance I was left depressed after watching Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State Governor present 130 new SUV to 130 traditional rulers in the state. Over N1 billion tax payers’ money was spent on this worthless venture. This is happening in a state where thousands of jobless youths roam the streets.

Obiano, while handing over the vehicles, said it was to appreciate the traditional rulers for entrenching development, including security of lives and property at the grassroots. He also said it was to thank them for overseeing the successful execution of the N20 million community infrastructure (choose-your-project) at their respective communities, assuring that his administration would continue to provide for the traditional institution.

So, this is all what this governor is out to achieve? Just to endear himself to the traditional rulers at the expense of the people?

How will the 130 cars presented motivate development in this state? Money that should ordinarily go to productive ventures is wasted buying cars for traditional rulers. This money would have gone a long way if used for training and providing take-off funds to jobless youth of Anambra State. It could have been given as soft loans to SMEs to expand and create more jobs. It could have been used to improve public healthcare and schools. Over N1 billion down the drain.

This is a reflection of how Obiano has been managing this state. What a country!

Buhari

per cent. All money market instruments have been deliberately wrecked by the CBN in the last 12 months. So, where is the incentive to save money? NESG argues that Nigeria needs to mobilise domestic savings and investments, even while seeking to attract foreign investment, and called for carefulness in order not to initiate policies that appear to discriminate against or discourage domestic savings and investors. According to the group, policies making average Nigerians poorer should not be encouraged.

We now have too many spin doctors, instead of economists in the CBN. Spinning liquidity and interest rate in the country’s financial system by the CBN has truly resulted in rated distortions and grave disadvantage to domestic investors and pensioners. The Pension Fund managers are in disarray; returns from the funds are now abysmally low, no thanks to the demolition of money market instruments by the CBN. Let’s flip back to forex. We have all manner of forex windows in Nigeria, making us a laughing stock in the world. Multiple forex windows attract multiple abuses. The NESG was right by asking for forex policy reforms. It expressed concerns about how CBN carries on the business of foreign exchange transactions, loan disbursements (intervention funds) and price fixings without appropriate policy clarity, adding: “This can be subject to abuses, manipulations and significant market disruptions, reflective of a policy akin to crony capitalism. We, therefore, respectfully request the appropriate authorities to properly review this policy to restore credibility into our financial sector.�

I have also been very uncomfortable with the shrouded developmental role of the CBN in our economy in the last five

years. I concur that the CBN must make its development actions see-through. This is why consumers are not feeling the interventions in agriculture. “Such roles must be undertaken in an open, transparent and fair manner,� argues the NESG. Prices of food are persistently on the rise despite the huge amount of money pumped into agriculture by the CBN in the last five years. For me, it has been trillions of Naira down the drain while the hunger in the land is getting unbearable. Local rice now costs N28,000 per 50kg bag even with massive funding and subsidy by the CBN. Nigerians, already creaking in abject poverty and under the burden of incapacitating inflation are paying more for food. The subsidy and funding for agriculture evidently benefit only producers. Not one Kobo spent on Rice and other agricultural produce by the CBN reaches consumers.

Instead of food prices to fall following huge subsidy/funding, they are rising. So, it means something is not adding up. This is why NESG called for the overhaul of the management of the federal government’s support for the agriculture sector through CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme and other related sectors. Nigerians are not getting value for the investments the government is pouring into this sector. It is the truth that must be told. The NESG was apt when it noted that despite the budgetary allocations and huge sums of money disbursed

by CBN through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, a huge gap remains in meeting the food requirements, which has resulted in increasing hunger among the Nigerian populace. Evidently, the issues are beyond money and “therefore require a complete overhaul of the management of, and support for the Agriculture sector and all related sectors - with a view to getting more value for our investments.�

The other factor hindering food production and the resultant rise in prices is the raging insecurity in the country. Thousands of farmers in the North-west and Northeast are in IDP camps, no thanks to Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militias. This is the fact reiterated by the NESG, while expressing concern about the high level of insecurity across the country and its impact on the business environment and investment flows. This, NESG said, had contributed massively to the current food crisis, unemployment, poverty, increasing community clashes, rising bloodshed and the absence of peace in the land. It therefore, called on the federal government to critically re-evaluate our security architecture and take necessary actions for safety of all Nigerian residents.

The unending closure of Nigeria’s borders has brought more pains than gains to Nigerians. Genuine Nigerian manufacturers can no longer export their produce to our

neighbours. At the same time, smuggling persists. So, what have we gained? That is why the NESG wants the federal government to expedite actions on re-opening our closed borders given its negative impact on trade and employment. It stated: “It must be noted that our work in ECOWAS should not be limited to security and diplomacy, but must also effectively harness trade opportunities within the sub-region. We also call on the government to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), so that we can move to full membership status and take our rightful place in subsequent negotiation rounds. We remain of the firm belief that with the necessary infrastructure, Nigerian economy and the Nigerian people, with our innovative capacity, hard work and creativity, will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of African and West African free trade. This will also enable fair competition, competent institutions, efficiency and transparency in our processes.�

The call on President Buhari by NESG to withhold assent to the repealed and re-enacted Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020 is apropos. Some provisions breach the Nigerian constitution and must not be signed into law. Why confer immunity on officials of the CBN? Why exempt actions of the CBN from judicial review?

Constitutionally, only the President and governors are granted immunity. NESG argues: “These are draconian, totalitarian and inimical to the development of a stable and transparently regulated financial sector.

We respectfully request that the president should please withhold his assent until the bill is properly reviewed, amended and is made fit for purpose. “We also most respectfully request that our legislative houses should subject all bills, in particular, such crucial bills, to the most efficient scrutiny necessary to assure compliance with the Nigerian constitution, transparency, good governance and the best interest of the people of Nigeria.�

This morning, my message to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is a straight forward one: Engage this private sector-led think tank and policy advocacy group, to help our dear country get out of her economic doldrums. The pains are excruciating. The NESG guys are obviously nationalists. Their dispatch is a just and fair one. This group has shown strong commitment to working with the government to actualise an appropriate, efficient and transparent environment for doing business in Nigeria. Emefiele should also be interested in a vibrant, efficient, inclusive, secure and healthy economy.

The last lines of NESG’s memo were inspiring: “All hands must be on deck in collaboration, as we work hard and without prejudice, to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams. We have no other nation that we can call our own.� This is the way forward for Nigeria.

Rise in Petrol, Power Taris and Mounting Questions I have never been a fan of subsidies because they come with all manner of corruption. More often than not, they don’t even get to the final consumers. So, I am not against deregulating supply of electricity and petrol. However, there are so many unanswered questions trailing the increases in tariffs effected few days back. In the case of petrol, I am not sorry to say that Nigerians are paying high price, largely for the inefficiency of the Buhari government and that of its predecessors.

This is the only crude oil-producing country in the world that imports virtually all the refined petroleum products it consumes.

So, what happened to President Buhari’s avowal to fix the refineries within six months?

Almost six years after, our 450,000 barrels refineries remain comatose. We ship crude oil abroad for processing and ship back the products. There is clearly no sense in this.

Deregulation should not be about price increase alone. Government ought to have worked on the challenges of local refining.

For over five years, nothing happened. This is why petroleum products are expensive in Nigeria. Government keeps talking about forex and subsidies on petroleum products because it failed to deliver on its promise.

Now, Nigerians are being forced to pay heavily for these failings. Deregulation would have been less painful if government had done its bit. The remarks of Quadri Olaleye, President of the Trade Union Congress on this are instructive. He said: “Government should fix the refineries. If we meet the quantity that we need, we won’t need to be talking about forex. The modular refinery they are talking about should commence operations; it was part of their campaign items, but till now we have not seen any in operation.�

Now to electricity. There is so much insincerity surrounding the hike in tariffs.

The new prices for band A, B, C, D and E customers are hidden. We have not been told the precise figures by NERC. So, it’s an open cheque for Discos. A government

that claims to be people-oriented ought to have insisted on universal metering before approving tariff increase.

How can government tell Nigerians that the hike in tariffs would be based on improved power supply? How can they tell us that tariff adjustments would be made only on the basis of guaranteed improvement in service? That only customers guaranteed a minimum of 12 hours of power and above can have their tariffs adjusted?

That tariffs for those consuming 50KW or less remain frozen? These are obviously not practicable. Discos are already charging all pre-paid consumers the new price. I live in Ikorodu West (Lagos State) where we get less than six hours per day. At times, we don’t even get supply for days. But we have been migrated to the new tariff regime. I loaded my pre-paid metre last Tuesday and was given just 217 kwh for N10,000. This is fact not fiction. Nigeria we hail thee.

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY Oye ye Owolewa wo olewa a

Historic Eye on US Congress Adeoye y Yakubu Owolewa is aiming g to become the first Nigerian-American g elected into the United States Congress. g He has alreadyy won the nomination of the Democratic Partyy for District of Columbia, DC, for the elections in November. Simply p y ‘Oye’ y , this pharmacist p is aiming g for a ‘shadow’ seat in the Congress. g He sheds light g on his p programmes if elected and his Nigerian background, in an interview with Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Owolewa

@

oye4dc y Instagram g handle doesn’t substantially y come close to having g a strong gp presence on social media with jjust 176 p posts and 542 followers. Perhaps p he has another Instagram g account used for some p personal p purpose. p Maybe y the aforementioned handle is one of his campaign p g tools specifically p y created to reach a p audience. But all that does not matter. What specified interestingly g y matters is that when the 2020 United States elections hold on November 3, 2020, the personality p behind social media handle @oye4dc, y a Nigerian, g Adeoye y Yakubu Owolewa will be vying for a ‘shadow’ seat in the United States’ Congress. g He is the Democratic nominee for District of

Columbia; that’s the US Capital. p “Greetings g everyone, y my y name is Adeoye y Yakubu Owolewa and I’m the Democratic nominee for the next DC US Representa p tive,” he shared in a recent post. p “If elected, I’ll become the first Nigerian g congressman g in US history. I’m glad to be here and thank you y for having me.”

Oye’s y aim of becoming g the first Nigerian-American g Congressman g if elected speaks p volumes. Can he speak p a little more about this? “Yes, there has never been a Nigerian-American g elected into US Congress. g If I win this election, that’s a big g first step. p The next step p is to make DC a state. Once that occurs, I’ll have an offficial seat and will thus become the first Nigerian g American Congressman,” g the Boston native told THISDAY via telephone p chat.

He then reiterated his manifesto. “Dr. Oye Owolewa

is a registered g pharmacist p in DC and campaigning p g g to be your y next U.S. ‘Shadow’ Representative, p where he will fight g for DC statehood. Oye y aims to expand p the conversation beyond y voting g representation p to educatting g democratic voters on how statehood affects our lawmaking g independence p as well as our criminal jjustice system y in DC. Oye y will also use his past p experience p in advocating g for statehood, where he lobbied Congress g members to co-sponsor 2019’s HR-51 bill supporting DC Statehood.

“Once DC becomes a state, Oye y p plans to use his Congressional g role to advance the cause of equality q y and fairness in the United States. Oye’s y committed to implementing p g a universal health care system y that would reduce health costs while improving p g outcomes. Oye y will also advocate for policies to combat income inequality

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

11

SUPER SATURDAY Historic Eye on US Congress

Owolewa

and ensure the wealthiest are paying p y g their fair share.

Lastly, y Oye y p plans to use his opportunity pp to serve the interests of the African community.”

Oye y Owolewa, a first-generation g Nigerian-American g is the grandson g of Chief Mrs. PC Ajayi-Obe, j y Senior Advocate of Nigeria, g late, recently y buried at Omofe Cathedral, Ilesha, Osun State. Oye y hasn’t forgotten g Nigeria g but had reason to visit jjust once: “I was in Nigeria g as recently y as 2017. I visited, but never lived for more than a month. I visited my y grandmother g (recently passed) SAN Phoebe Ajayi-Obe,” j y Oye y revealed.

An accomplished p and astute lawyer, y Phoebe C. Ajayij Obe, was the first female SAN from the Old Eastern Nigeria g and second female SAN in Nigeria. g Oye y obliged g further on his family y background, g g giving his status as well. “My y dad is from Omu-Aran and my y mother is from Ibadan. They y met in the States and had a family. y I’m the 4th of fi five children. I grew g up p in Boston and moved to Washington g DC after becoming ga pharmacist. I’m 30, single p g and earned my y Doctorate of Pharmacy y from Northeastern University, y Boston.”

His p parents, born and raised in Nigeria, g raised him with two guiding g g principles, p p a value in community y service and an early y exposure p to science. This exposure p became a love for science, culminating in him achieving g a Doctorate of Pharmacy. y Upon p completing p g his degree g in pharmacy, p y Oye moved to Washington, g DC to begin g p practicing g pharmacy p y and impacting p g the community. y Oye y has dedicated his energy gy to educating g and advocating g for DC statehood and equality. q y He p participated p in the historic March 2019 lobby y day, y resulting g in a majority j of the House of Representatives p supporting pp g DC’s Statehood for the first time in American history. y Soon after, Oye took his efforts to Annapolis where he

jjoined the effort to end big g money’s y impact p on US lawmaking. g In 2018, Oye y was elected commissioner of his neighborhood g in Southeast DC. In this position, p he served as the medium between the community and the local government. g Oye y worked to bring g resources to the underserved by y advising g DC lawmakers based on continued com mmunity y feedback. He has served as a commissioner since 2018, his first elected offi f ce. As commissioner, Oye y learned the value of being g an advocate and community y resource. Some of Oye’s y most notable achievements were increasing g science enrichment programmes p g in Southeast elementary y schools, adding g trafffic safety y measures and helping p to bring a Senior Day y Center to the neighborhood. g According g to a US online news outlet, Dr. Adeoye y ‘Oye’ y Owolewa who represents p Advisory y Neighbor g rhood Commission single-member g district 8E01 wants to take his p passion for D.C. statehood to the next level. Owolewa had said he wants to replace p Franklin Garcia as the shadow representative p this year y to help p the statehood movement go g forward. “I believe it is a critical time for the statehood movement,” Oye y said.

“I think D.C. is very y close to being g a state.” District voters elect one shadow representative p and two shadow senators to lobby Congress on D.C. becoming the 51st state.

Owolewa says y the congressional g momentum favours the District becoming g a state and a “perfect p storm” of a Democratic Senate and White House. The party p retaining g control of the House in the 2020 elections could make the District a state within a couple p of years. He said if the “perfect y p storm” happens, pp he would p push Democrats to p put statehood at the top p of their agenda: “The Democrats have to be accountable

to us” he said. “In 2008, we had a Democratic p president and a Democratic Congress g but we were not prepared p p and therefore put p on the back burner. We have come a long g way y since then and we need to seize the opportunity y when it presents p itself.”

The US Congress g voted July y this year y to end a 210year injustice y j and to give g equal q representation p to the 700,000 residents of Washington g DC. For the first time in history, y D.C. statehood was approved pp by the house, passing g the House in a 232-180 vote.

Despite p the vote, and increasing g support pp in the Senate, the q question of statehood remains unanswered and likely y will until at least after the g general election in November. If he wins, Oye y will be a shadowy y Repre p sentative as DC’s full states status lies in the U.S Senate.

The p posts of shadow United States Senator and shadow United States Representative p are held by y elected or appointed pp government g offficials from subnational polities p of the United States that lack congres g sional vote. While these offficials are not seated in either chamber of Congress, g they y seek for their subnational polity p y to gain g voting g rights g in Congress. g The election of shadow congresspersons g p from the District of Columbia was authorized by y a “state” constitution, which was ratified by y D.C. voters in 1982 but was never approved pp by y Congress. g The current DC shadow representative is Franklin Garcia.

Shadow representatives p and senators are not allowed to vote either in full floor votes or in committee. They y also have their offi f ces in the John A. Wilson Building, g rather than in the Senate offi f ce buildings. g They y are also not p paid by y US government. g So if they y can’t vote, what do they y do? Those from DC p push for D.C. to become the 51st state and, thus, for them to become fully vested members of Congress.

12

ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

BLACK LIVES MATTER AND BLACK NATIONS The West’s knee has been on the neck of black Africa for centuries, writes David Mba

S

ince the death of George Floyd, the screams of ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) have never been as loud, heard across the globe and from all races. Nations and organisations are rushing to show allegiance to the movement, producing enthusiastic headlines about change.

The focus so far has been on the glaring socio-economic inequalities experienced by the black American and European populations, exacerbated by the disproportionate effect of the coronavarius.

The BLM movement has even led to the questioning of the institutional structures that promulgate social inequality; structures which underpin a capitalism system which will always produce winners and losers.

But as the developed Western population and governments attempt to address the socio-economic inequalities that have plagued their black populations, we only need to take a step back to reflect on a greater inequality.

The problems in the West are just a microcosm of what has happened to the black populations of sub-Saharan Africa. The world’s 12 poorest countries are all in this part of Africa. According to the latest GDP (gross domestic product) figures, as published in Global Finance magazine, the 12 are Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Niger, Malawi, Mozambique, Liberia, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Madagascar and Togo.

So, if you’re looking for major inequality, consider the poverty that is a fact of life across the entire sub-Saharan region, which has a total population of 1,038 billion, three times that of the United States, and more than 27 times that of the US’s black population.

The GDP of the poorest nation – Burundi – is a staggering 98.9 per cent lower than that of the United States.

If black lives truly matter, then Black Nations Matter too.

Change must come to the global black population.

Exploitation of Africa has persisted for over 400 years, starting with the slave trade, then colonization, and then the imposition of artificial geographical boundaries, which today still cause ethnic conflict and political instability.

Furthermore, post-colonisation, Africa has suffered economic subservience to a western-driven economic machine that has hampered economic growth.

The West exploits Africa’s natural resources and charges high interest rates on any loans. Worse still, vast amounts of money – in excess of $68 billion a year – flow illegally out of Africa to tax havens in the west.

Since 1980, an estimated $1.3 trillion has left Africa to tax havens, according to American research institute Brookings.

Incidentally, British territories and dependencies are the world’s greatest enablers of corporate tax avoidance, says the independent international group Tax Justice Network.

IF BLACK LIVES TRULY MATTER, THEN BLACK NATIONS MATTER TOO. CHANGE MUST COME TO THE GLOBAL BLACK POPULATION. EXPLOITATION OF AFRICA HAS PERSISTED FOR OVER 400 YEARS, STARTING WITH THE SLAVE TRADE, THEN COLONIZATION‌

Pervasive institutional structures in the West limit the ability of African nations to invest in infrastructure, health, agriculture and education. In francophone African states, governments actually deposit their foreign earnings in French banks, as a ‘colonial tax’. Today France holds over $500 billion in its treasury, allowing African nations access to only 15% of the money in any given year.

These two examples – and there are many more – show that sub-Saharan Africans are benefiting least from their continent’s wealth and resources.

But can the West act to rectify grating inequality? Covid-19 proves that it can if the will is there – and if the lives and livelihoods of their own populations are threatened.

The human loss of life due to Covid-19 and the devastation to Western economies has resulted in governments taking unprecedented steps to shore up their medical and economic support and provide living wages to its populations.

The US government’s response, for example, has been to provide trillions of dollars in aid to maintain a minimum level of socio-economic stability. It has essentially printed money out of thin air, explained the New York Times in an article in April; an action without consequence due to the dominance of the dollar in global markets.

Some 182,000 American people have died from the Coronavirus.

While in no way underplaying this American tragedy, it is worth remembering that in Africa, according to the United Nations, 115 people routinely die every hour from diseases linked to poor sanitation, poor hygiene and contaminated water. That’s more than a million people a year.

Worse still, a child dies every three seconds globally due to food deprivation – that’s 10,000 children every day.

A study by the Africa Child Policy Forum has revealed that one in three African children are stunted and hunger accounts for almost half of all child deaths across the continent. More deaths result from their vulnerability to disease as a result of this under-nourishment.

If black lives matter, why does this ongoing humanitarian catastrophe not demand dramatic measures like the West’s Covid-19 response?

Should any sub-Sahara African nation attempt to simply print money to mitigate disaster, that nation would collapse under the burden of debt and currency devaluation.

The usual narrative of corrupt African governments and poor governance masks the root cause; capitalism and neocolonialism.

A suggestion mooted for years is a universal basic wage, a regular payment from the government to every adult to keep their populations above the poverty line.

POLIO ERADICATION: LEST WE FORGET Abdulhamid Babatunde writes that the conquest of wild polio virus is worthy of celebration

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n the midst of the widespread national hysteria over the COVID -19 pandemic, news that Nigeria has finally achieved a polio-free status is indeed a silver lining that raises optimism about the ultimate victory of humanity in the inescapable battle against virulent viruses. Conquest of the wild polio virus is particularly worth celebrating and giving thanks to God Almighty after decades of seemingly futile scientific and medical onslaughts worldwide to halt its irreversible crippling impact on the life prospects of children who were not vaccinated against it.

No review of the nation’s arduous battle against polio can be complete or objective without reference to the unfortunate events that led to several months of orchestrated mass phobia of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and eventual suspension of the immunisation exercise in some northern states between 2003 and 2004. It all started with a rumour linked to an alleged internet report that the polio vaccine contained anti-fertility agents that would render children impotent in their adulthood which gained traction from the involvement of some northern pharmacologists, pharmacists and clerics in pushing the narrative.

Even as federal health authorities initiated moves to contain the episode, political, religious and community leaders in the affected northern states were more inclined towards the pre-existing deep distrust of WHO and UNICEF health programmes, stemming from what was seen as overzealous persistence with polio vaccination of children, and not more prevalent and deadlier diseases like malaria and typhoid.

Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu headed an expert panel set up by the then Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo to conduct efficacy and safety tests on the OPV in South Africa after which the minister affirmed that the vaccine was indeed safe in December 2003. But this was largely ignored as the crisis escalated and five northern states (Niger, Bauchi, Kano, Zamfara and Kaduna) halted polio immunisation, a

development that raised regional and international concern over the alarming implications of reversing the difficult progress in getting rid of the wild polio virus in areas showing as much as 30% increase in prevalence of the disease that cripples unvaccinated children for life.

A fresh outbreak of polio was reported in Kano in October 2003, unleashing a new strain of the virus that spread rapidly to other parts of the country where there was no resistance or interruption to polio immunisation, but this sinister scenario met with hardened indifference to the doomed fate of paralysis facing thousands of voiceless vulnerable children as captured in the Kano State government’s January 2004 alibi describing suspension of the immunisation as â€œâ€Śa lesser of two evils, to sacrifice two, three, four, five even 10 children to polio than allow hundreds of thousands or possibly millions of girl-children likely to be rendered infertile.â€? It didn’t matter that the “sacrificeâ€? was carried out on the altar of unverified (scientific) information that the rest of the polio-fighting world confidently ignored! Or that some “enlightenedâ€? governors sneaked their children to OPV friendly states for vaccination while sacrificing others to the lesser evil!

It was a desperate situation requiring drastic remedial action but delicately driven by highly emotive matters of world politics and faith. For a while it seemed as if the differences were hopelessly irreconcilable.

To the best of my recollection, it took the momentous meeting of minds of two humanely motivated truce-seekers who were seized by the hapless plight of the voiceless vulnerable children “sacrificed� to a “lesser evil� of irreversible paralysis to optimize their spiritual and governance acumen respectively in facilitating a harmonized transparent process for the diverse disputants to come to terms with the rest of the world’s verifiable consensus on the efficacy and safety of the oral polio vaccine.

Thus, Alhaji AlMustapha Haruna Jokolo, 19th Emir of Gwandu and Dr (Mrs)

Ajoritsedere Josephine Awosika (MFR, mni) pioneer National Coordinator/Chief Executive of the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) were destined to spearhead the formation of the historic Joint Federal Government/Jama’atu Nasril Islam All Inclusive Final Verification Committee On Safety Of The Oral Polio Vaccine which brought together a select team of traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, pharmacists and related medical science professionals and the media that eventually and amicably resolved the seemingly intractable orchestrated stalemate over the safety of the OPV. Remarkably, Emir Jokolo selflessly delegated HRH Shehu of Dikwa, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar Elkanemi of blessed memory to lead the team as Chairman but later became the chief endorser of the polio immunisation campaign as he featured on national television giving his own son drops of OPV! The objective of the committee was to conduct a final all-inclusive verification exercise for the purpose of making an authoritative and conclusive declaration on the authenticity and safety of the OPV for the benefit and enlightenment of the general public. It resolved to take samples of OPV earlier tested by Kano State Committee and from recently delivered OPV stock of the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) Strategic Stores, from NAFDAC quarantine stock and from Sokoto, Zamfara and Kaduna States as collated by JNI. These were to be taken for verification tests in South Africa, Indonesia and India by the Committee.

At the end of the tests which lasted from February 8 - 20, 2004, the committee concluded that based on the test results, including information obtained during interactions held with scientists/professionals in countries visited, the OPV when used as recommended in the global polio eradication programme is safe. It recommended that the federal government should ensure that there are public and private institutions with state-of-the-art equipment to be able to carry out such tests and should, as a matter

of urgency, and at all costs encourage local production of vaccines. It also enjoined all stakeholders to disseminate the findings of the committee through an aggressive public enlightenment campaign to enable the public make informed decisions while relevant agencies should be further strengthened for research and quality assurance of vaccines.

It is worth pointing out that the success of the committee’s assignment was uniquely facilitated by the ever calm but firm and focused administrative dexterity of Dr Awosika, which effectively trickled down and across the dedicated and disciplined staff as well as the efficiently synergized departments of the National Programme on Immunization (NPI). The entire organization was marvellously motivated to achieving hitch-free, result-oriented outcome, without fear or favour having regard to the critical importance of its mandate to the healthy survival of Nigeria’s voiceless and vulnerable children as its future leaders.

I sincerely hope that this submission will fill some obvious gaps in our celebration of the declared eradication of polio in Nigeria as intended. There are important matters arising from this memo that were then vital lessons but now forgotten as the virus of institutional amnesia remains endemic in our governance culture. Sixteen years later COVID 19 caught us napping over issues like ensuring that there are public and private institutions with state-of-theart equipment for conducting necessary medical and scientific tests and the need to encourage local production of vaccines as a matter of urgency and at all costs. Above all we must be on our guard in pre-empting the abrupt disruption of national interest policies and programmes which can be very difficult to salvage once the damage is done. r#BCBUVOEF XBT 4FDSFUBSZ PG UIF +PJOU 'FEFSBM (PWFSONFOU +BNB BUV /BTSJM *TMBN "MM *ODMVTJWF 'JOBM 7FSJĂ DBUJPO $PNNJUUFF 0O 4BGFUZ 0G 5IF 0SBM 1PMJP 7BDDJOF

13

ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

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Gana: Blame Not the Army

T

hat Nigerian governments grant terrorist groups and marauders amnesty after so many years of preying on her citizens is one of the reasons why other terrorist groups keep emerging after the death of one.

Every terrorist group in Nigeria has the same mindset. To cause unrest in the country and snuff out as many as possible Nigerians for a while and later enter into amnesty discussion with the governments.

Before the emergence of Boko Haram and other present defiant sects, there were the Niger Delta militants who were mollified with filthy lucre and granted amnesty in a ceremonious way by the late President Umar Musa Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only God who knows the number of our uniform men they mowed in their days of operation.

The Benue State terrorist and outlaw, Terwase Akwasa, also known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ganaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; who met his waterloo recently after his four years of seamless massacring of innocent persons in the state, wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the same mindset when he chose the devilish path not knowing that his would be outrightly different.

Gana was intercepted and killed by some military men on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, while he was on his way to the Benue State Government House where he and his counterparts were scheduled for amnesty by Governor Samuel Ortom and the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stakeholders.

However, his death has been causing a hornetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest since it was announced.

Many Nigerians have been condemning the circumstance of his death. He had chosen to let peace reign, so, why did they have to kill him? Also, there have been allegations that he was snuffed out because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want him to unfurl the names of his sponsors.

Truly, Gana claimed in a viral video that he was sponsored by some persons. But the questions are, did he mention their names? Did he reveal their identity? No! All he was spewing in the video was how they bargained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I said they should give me one billion naira....â&#x20AC;?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their way. They do not unfurl the names nor reveal the identity of their sponsors no matter how encouraging the amnesty programme is. Till today, the Niger Delta boys have not come to hint us on the people who funded them. Ditto the

603 repented Boko Harams.

Despite how the 603 outlaws were comforted and mollycoddled at the rehabilitation centre, they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mention those who are funding them. What we were regaled with at the end of the day was a stale story. Who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that Nigeria governments arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t truthful?

So, alleging the military killed Gana because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want him to mention names doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hold water. If he wanted to mention names, he would have done that in the viral video. He chose not to do that because of some obscure reality.

The aggrieved khaki men had killed him because they understood his game.

These critics would do the same thing if they were in our uniform men shoes. Who would be happy to see an outlaw who had killed his or her people freed by the government after capture all in the name of amnesty? Sadly, these terrorists group and marauders are always compensated at the expense of the persons they have made homeless.

If granting amnesty to terroristsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; groups is working in other countries, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean it would work in Nigeria. The death of one evil sect is giving birth to another one. Therefore, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high time Nigerian governments began to kill those who had killed by sword with a sword.

The Biase in Executing Terwase Agwaza

I

t is unfortunate to see sentiments in everything done in this country. The execution of terrorists is now done according to tribe and religion.

Those terrorising the country in the name of Allah get preferential treatment from the government after their arrest. They undergo rehabilitation, get scholarship to study and acquire education and many more.

However, other terrorists that have not been using the name of Allah in their operations and they are not from a certain tribe get executed after surrendering themselves to the authority. What a pity!

This is an encouragement to those killing in the name of Allah, that are from a certain tribe and religion. As far as their killings are in Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and they are from a certain tribe and religion, they are entitled to free education, rehabilitation and many more after being arrested.

The killing of Terwase Agwaza, popularly known as Gana, is an

r"SFNV -VLNBO 6NPS -BHPT

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 NATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

obvious proof. I have been criticising the activities of the late Agwaza the same way I criticise those of Boko Haram, armed bandits, Fulani herdsmen and other groups terrorising the country but I am against the military and the Nigerian government for being biased in their dealings with the citizenry.

Why execute someone who came willingly and surrendered himself to the authority, but giving special treatment to those who have done worst and refused to surrender, captured by the same military; and thereafter released back to the society because they were killing in the name of Allah?

The tribal and religious sentiments, governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support to the Boko Haram members and the herdsmen are very obvious and we must rise in unison to stop this before it is too late. r"XVOBI 1JVT 5FSXBTF .QBQF "CVKB

Be Careful and Protect Others

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he disqualification of Novak Djokovic from the US Open, for hitting a line umpire with the ball is symbolic of a number of the problems the world faces. It was a simple act of frustration and a lack of self-control that led to someone being hurt, although fortunately not seriously, and it is obvious that there was no intention to cause any harm. His apology included a realization that he needed to consider his actions more carefully.

The point about this is that it is becoming a common approach around the world in relation to the COVID pandemic. There are too many people doing whatever they feel like and it is not only hurting people but killing them.

Those that refuse to wear a mask, even when it is required by law, would surely not want to kill anyone but that can happen. A heavy financial cost for Djokovic for a mistake in a tennis match does not compare to the cost of the death of people when an unmasked person spreads the pandemic.

We all need to show the maturity and try to protect everyone by fighting this horrible disease in every way possible. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

NEWS

Delta Relaxes COVID-19 Measures, Reopens Cinemas, Movie Theatres Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Cinemas and movie houses in Delta State can now reopen for business as the state government yesterday announced further relaxation of restrictions put in place in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, who announced this while updating newsmen on efforts at combating the Coronavirus in the state, however stated that the cinemas and movie centres would operate at 50 per cent capacity.

All the COVID-19 protocols prescribed by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health, like wearing of facemask, would continue to be in force and should be observed by the entertainment centres, hotels and individuals in vehicles and public places, he emphasised.

The relaxation of the restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 does not include clubs and lounges, which remain closed, Aniagwu said.

He advised the movie houses and cinemas to ensure constant

fumigation of the operating halls as well as observe all other COVID-19 protocols.

The state government is also not contemplating reopening of schools soon, the commissioner further said, stressing that the government attached more importance to the safeguard of the lives of the children than on going back to school.

Similarly, the commissioner said that hotels and eateries could now allow people to serve customers takeaway foods and also allow them eat within but with buffet not permitted. ‘’This is because, we cannot

guarantee that they will not allow everybody to eat from the same spoons,’’ Aniagwu said, adding, “The clubs still remain closed for now until we are sure of them strictly observing the COVID-19 protocols.’’

Nevertheless, Aniagwu advised Nigerians to stop playing politics with the issue of COVID-19, saying the Delta State Government has been working in collaboration with the federal government in fighting the pandemic, saying it was unreasonable to attempt to quantify the federal government’s support to the state in Naira and Kobo.

NCC Toll Free Centre in Imo to Fight Insecurity, Corruption Amby Uneze in Owerri The federal government on Thursday inagurated an emergency communication centre (ECC) in Owerri, the Imo State capital with the intent to combat crimes and corruption in the South-east region.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim (Pantami), who inaugurated the Centre on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, said that it would help the country to fight issues of insecurity, corruption and economic sabotage.

Ibrahim, said that the federal government chose Imo for the building of the Centre because of the strategic role the state played in the economy of the people of the South-east, adding “this is first to be commissioned in the South East.”

The minister disclosed that the people of the state had the opportunity of disclosing emergency developments to the authority by dialing 112 on toll free basis.

According to him, Buhari was working hard in reviving the economy of the state, adding that the adoption of the dialing code 112 was in line with what is obtainable in the United States that uses 911 and United Kingdom with the dialing

code 999.

The minister said, “Today, I commission this Emergency Communication Centre on behalf of my boss, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This Centre will help to fight corruption, crimes, assist in attending to healthcare issues and economic sabotage.

The Governor of Imo State and host, Hope Uzodinma, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that the state was grateful to the federal government for citing the Communication Centr e in the state.

He said that the state would take the advantage of the centre to fight social vices and incidences of fire outbreaks.

The governor said that the state was in support of the president’s interventionist policies and programmes such as this emergency centre.

In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garbage Danbatta noted that the Centre is a one-stop-shop through which members of the public could access help from any response agency such as the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Fire and Ambulance Services, Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, etc.

Biodata of 4m GEEP Beneficiaries Electronically Stored, Says BoI Bennett Oghifo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ...

L-R: Wife of former Deputy President of the Senate, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu; her husband, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, during her birthday celebration at their Abuja residence ...recently

HURIWA Wants Alleged IMSU Ugborodo Women Sustain Siege on Chevron Tank Farms Randy Lecturers Punished A Human Rights Organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on Imo State Government to investigate and punish two lecturers of the Imo State University allegedly involved in extortion and sex-for-grade scandal in the institution.

A statement by the advocacy group lamented that most lecturers in tertiary institutions were deliberately exploiting and extorting students against all known and laudable ethics of learning and called on Governor Hope Uzodinma to ensure decorum was returned to the institution.

The statement signed by the Executive Director of HURIWA, Comrade Emma Onwubiko said Imo State University had gained notoriety and wondered why the governor who is the visitor to the university was yet to make any comment on the issue which he

said could send wrong signals to the populace.

“Globally, university system is established to provide desirable learning and working environments where students and lecturers can pursue their studies, work and scholarship without being intimidated. This system is expected to provide unique examples in eliminating inequalities and anomalies among all segments of the academia.

“Sadly, the issue related to sexual assault in Nigerian university system presents a different and ugly picture. Perhaps, the reason why the Senate, in July, 2020 passed the protracted Bill Against Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions to protect students against sexual predators, especially among educators in tertiary institutions sponsored by the Deputy Senate President; Ovie Omo-Agege.

Sylvester Idowu in Delta Warri

For four days running, hundreds of women from the oil rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State continued their siege on Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) operated oil tank farms in Escravos protesting alleged breach of memorandum of understanding (MOU) by the American oil firm.

The protest, which entered its fourth day yesterday, almost disrupted work at the multi-billion dollars Escravos Gas-to-Liquid Limited, (EGTL) located in the community but for the quick intervention by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operations Base (FOB) stationed at the plants.

THISDAY gathered that the angry women took over the

premises of Chevron plants as early as 8a.m. on Tuesday and mounted canopies threatening not to vacate the area until their grievances were addressed by the management of the oil firm.

It was learnt that the protesting women were demanding for payment of services rendered to the company through JAD Catering services since February this year amounting to about N25 million.

They are also demanding for a review of the prices of commodities in line with what obtains in the market now.

Leader of the women, Chief Mercy Olowu alleged that Chevron management refused payment to JAD Catering services which in turn supposed to clear the outstanding to them as contractors that supplied foods and beverages to the catering company.

The Bank of Industry (BoI) has stated that the fully digitised loan records and biodata of all 2,418,936 benefitiaries of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) are stored in a central database.

The bank said this in a statement yesterday in reaction to claims by a publication (not THIDAY) that it lacked customer identification system; hence loan beneficiaries are unwilling to repay.

“We would like to state that the fully digitised loan records and biodata of all 2,418,936 GEEP beneficiaries are electronically stored in a central database. The data can be viewed at the GEEP Command Center of the Bank of Industry which is open to the public.

“The programme relies heavily on technology to deliver its three loan products; namely TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni. The loan cycle for every GEEP applicant involves the following processes,” the bank’s statement said.

The bank said its attention was drawn to the publication questioning the existence of records of beneficiaries of the TraderMoni scheme, stating that “The claim in the publication that ‘those that disbursed the money do not have records of beneficiaries like phone numbers and addresses, thus, making it difficult to track them for repayment’ is false.”

It said, “All National Social

Tiwa Savage, Jobarteh on African Voices Nigerian music diva, Tiwa Savage, is guest this week on African Voices Changemakeres, Globacom’s magazine programme on the Cable News Network (CNN).

The programme will also feature Gambian Kora great, Sona Jobarteh.

Tiwa began her music career doing backup vocals for artistes as

George Michael and Mary J. Blige.

Reputed for her blend of Afrobeat , hip hop and pop, she released her debut studio album Once Upon a Time in 2013. It was supported by seven singles: “Kele Kele Love”, “Love Me (3x)”, “Without My Heart”, “Ife Wa Gbona”, “Folarin”, “Olorun Mi” and “Eminado”. The album

was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2014.

Tiwa won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win in that category. She won the Best Female West Africa Award in 2017

and 2018 and the Soundcity MVP Award for African Video of the Year in 2020, among others.

She has interest in youth empowerment and breast cancer screening projects and has raised funds to build schools in Nigeria.

The second guest on the programme, Jobarteh, is a multiinstrumentalist who plays the cello,

guitar and traditional kora which is a 21-stringed harp-like instrument. She is also a composer.

Born in 1983, Jobarteh is the first female professional kora player to come from a family of celebrated griots. She attended the Royal College of Music in the United Kingdom where she studied cello, piano and harpsichord.

Investment Programme (NSIP) focal persons in all states of the federation, after necessary approvals, have been proactively furnished with all information regarding GEEP beneficiaries, as a matter of practice. This includes beneficiary names, phone numbers, and business location.”

The statement said GEEP agents nationwide are equipped with a proprietary mobile application that enables the full registration and capture of up to 43 unique data points of every single applicant, such as biodata, contact information, information on the market, nature of trade, GPS coordinate of the trade point, picture of the beneficiary and beneficiary’s trade, association member and all other data that enables identification and credit assessment.

Data on every captured beneficiary, he said is delivered to the bank in real time to enable verification, appraisals and credit assessment, adding that all submitted beneficiary data go through several points of verification to ensure validity of the registration process.

“It is only when this data is verified that applicants are able to receive loans. Consequently, every loan given out on the programme can be traced to a beneficiary involved in a known trade, at a known location, within a known market association, cooperative or farming cluster.

Due to data privacy restrictions, we are unable to publish personally identifiable customer information of the Bank of Industry,” the statement said.

According to the bank, they have an efficient loan repayment system, stating that “since the inception of the programme, several beneficiaries have successfully repaid their loans and gone on to access higher TraderMoni and MarketMoni loans.

“It is imperative we set the record straight concerning the operations of GEEP, so as to guard against misleading the general public.”

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NEWS Christian Aid Doles out N53m to 2,415 Households in Benue, Borno, Kaduna Adedayo Akinwale Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; Christian Aid, a faith-based development and humanitarian organisation, has distributed N53,130,000 to 2,415 vulnerable households in Benue, Borno and Kaduna states in August.

It said while 740 households

benefited from the cash transfer programme in Benue, 1,080 benefited in Borno and 595 households in Kaduna, adding that the sum of N22,000 was given to each household.

The organisation said the 45 days cash transfer intervention programme would end on

September 30, 2020.

The Senior Programmes Officer, Policy and Advocacy of the organisation, Mr. Victor Arokoyo, disclosed this while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja.

He stated: "One of the things wearealsoknownforisworking

in hard-to-reach communities becausethefocusofChristianAid is to see how we can reduce and eliminate poverty. How we can ensure that system that makes people to be poor are challenged andchangedandwebringabout happylifeforeveryone.Wework with the vulnerable people, the

LET THERE BE LIGHT...

L-R: Legal Adviser to the 6 Area Community Development Committee, Ibafo, Ogun State (ACDC), Mr. Jide Adebayo; Chairman, Isokan Temidire ACDC, Mr. Akinlosotu Henry Agboola; Ibofo Community Leader, Pastor Goke Ayeni; and Chairman, Ereko ACDC, Mrs. Gbemisola Ogunbanwo, at a joint press conference by 5 Ibafo ( ACDCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S) on irregularity of power supply in Ibafo and its environ for over five years

by Ibadan electricity distribution company (IBEDC), held in Ibafo, Ogun State...yesterday

ASUU Set Up Committee to Monitor Members on 'Sex for Marks' Menace Hammed Shittu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; The President, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) Professor Biodun Ogunyemi yesterday said that, the union had set up committee that would be monitoring the activities of lecturers in the public universities so as to put a stop to the issue of "Sex for Marks" among lecturers.

Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on the sidelines of the town hall meeting of the uniononthejourneysofar,Ogunyemi who decried the spate of the sex for marks attitude in the nation's universities said , " our union would not support such attitude so as to improve

the academic excellence of the students".

According to him, "we have set up committee to be monitoring the activities of our members in the nation's Universities on the issue of sex for marks and anyone caught will be made to face disciplinary action".

He said, " we are not in support of such attitude because the nation's universities supposed to be a center of academic excellence and not to be a center of awarding marks to those that does not deserve it.

"Our union have been condemning such attitude and we will not allow such to grow anymore and anyone found culpable would be made to

face disciplinary action so as to serve a deterrent to others".

On the move by the federal government to announce the resumption of students of nation's universities, Ogunyemi said, the union would not resume until the government resolve the pending issues before the government.

He also said, apart from this, all the laid down protocols on the Covid-19 must be put in place in the nation's universities addingthat,"thiswouldmakeus to resume for academic activities in the nation's universities".

Ogunyemi said , "it is disturbing that, the federal government has failed to respect all the memorandumofunderstanding

reached with unions on their demands.

"And, with this, no university lecturers would resume work until these demands are met because the federal government are not ready to address the issue and this would not augur well for the educational development of the universities in the country".

Ogunyemi opined further that,hewasinIlorintomeetwith the members of the union so as to let them know the journey so far on their agitations.

He said, the visit would also assist him to garner more useful ideas and opinions that would be of help to the union's agitations.

Lawmaker Charges Political Office Holders to be Agent of Wealth Creation Hammed Shittu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; FormerSecretarytotheKwaraState Government(SSG)underformer GovernorAbubakarBukolaSaraki, Hon. AbdulGaniyu Saka Cook Olododo,haschargedbothelective andpoliticalholdersinthecountry to be agents of wealth creation through empowerment of skills acquisitionsto theelectorateintheir variouschosencareersratherthan doling out peanuts to them.

Olododo, who is now a lawmaker representing Ilorin east/

IlorinsouthFederalConstituency of the state at the House of Representatives, said such step would provide opportunity for them to be agents of wealth creation and thereby reducing poverty in the country.

HestatedthisinIlorinyesterday duringthedistributionofvarious empowerment skills materials worth millions of naira to 600 indigent women in his federal constituencythathavebeentrained invariousfieldsofendeavoursby themanagementoftheAgricultural

RuralandManagementTraining Institute, Ilorin, (ARMTI).

Theaffectedbeneficiarieswere trained in fashion designing, catering services and Make-up outlook and they were provided withtheirworkingtoolsandasum of N10,000 each for the take off of their businesses.

Hesaid,"itisdisturbingthatmost of our people at various levels of representationsandofficesdodole out peanuts to the people of their constituentsasaformofdividends of democracy to them instead of

creating avenues on how to teach them how to fish through skills acquisitionontheirchosencareers.

"The people that voted us to power deserve better attention, suchasteachingthemhowtofish, empoweringthemtobegainfully employed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This avenue would givethemthechancetogainmore exposuresontheircareershaving beengivenworkingtoolstowork with and this will help them to be agents of wealth creation and thereby boosting their economic activities.

marginalised, how do we provide the succour for them, these are the things we do."

"We have a project that we are doing in Kaduna, Borno and Benue states. We are trying to see how we can respond to support the people. The impact of that COVID-19 oneverybody,Idonot see anyone that is excluded from the impact, but the impact is not thesameoneverybody.Thereare people that survive daily means of livelihood, as a result of the disruption of COVID-19, their livelihood was disrupted.

"In Kaduna,wearesupporting thepoorestofthepoor,thepeople that are seriously marginalised and vulnerable. In fact, they have double tragedy, apart from the pandemic, they also have incidence of conflict. Alot of people are in the IDPs, so we aregivingthemNonFoodItems (NFI), supporting them, some of them in cash, we also have cash distribution where we support families with cash monthly."

Arokoyo however lamented that increased frequency of cases of killings and kidnappings, especially the recent one that took place at Gadanaji community of

Kachia local government in Kaduna State which was reported in the media on 16th ofAugust, 2020 disrupted cash distribution plan but was successfully completed on Tuesday 18thAugust.

He stressed that one unique aspect of the entire cash programme was that it was linked to the livelihood of the people, adding that people are also trained on how to produce hand sanitiser,thingsthattheyproduce even after the pandemic.

The organisation said it had also distributed Non Food Items (NFI) to 3,715 households, adding that 1,087 households benefitedinBenue,1,326inBorno and 1, 302 in Kaduna.

The anti-poverty organisation also revealed that water points renovation had been completed in the three states, with a total of 87 water points renovated and 10 new ones drilled.

It said 720 community influencersacrossBenue,Kadunaand Bornostateswereequallytrained onCOVID-19WASHandwater points repairs and maintenance for increased hygiene practlces and environmental sanitation.

Nigeria to Implement Youth Employment Action Plan Rebecca Ejifoma

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the International Labour Organisation has begun a nation-wide campaign to understand the aspirations of young Nigerians on decent works.

The campaign, which is being managed by the Nigeria Youth SDGs Network, a coalition of youth-led civil society organisations, aims to help develop a roadmap towards designing effective policy and programmes that will ensure that young Nigerians are adequately prepared to get and create jobs.

As disclosed in a press release issued at the weekend, the campaign is part of the implementation of the Nigerian Youth EmploymentAction Plan (NIYEAP), a four-year detailed plan to address the youth employment challenge in Nigeria in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

CHANGE OF NAME

The statement noted that the NIYEAP had been developed to complement and operate in the context of existing policies, frameworks, and strategies such as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan; the National Youth Policy, the National Employment Policy, the United Nations Development Partnership Framework and the Call for Action.

The ministry, however, began activities for the review of the NIYEAP 4-year-plan in the year 2018, in collaboration with the United Nations which also launched the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, a multi-stakeholder partnership to advance the implementation of youth employment-related targets of the 2030 Agenda in the year 2016.

It read in part, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP) serves as a commitment of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.â&#x20AC;?

CHANGE OF NAME

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚ͺË&#x153; 2020

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Africa Fashion Week Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Partners Kwara First Lady to Promote Aso-oďŹ Organisers of foremost global fashion event, Africa Fashion Week London, has partnered with Kwara Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first lady, Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, for the 2020 edition of the show.

The partnership, aimed to promote Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locally made fabrics, Aso-ofi, to the global community for a mutually benefitting purpose.

The popular Fashion Week is one of the top fashion events in the United Kingdom that provides a platform for young African designers to stamp their feet on the global scene.

The event is also known to promote African culture via fashion platforms.

The 10th edition of the show, which is scheduled to hold between September 11th and 16th, 2020, will hold virtually on YouTube, in line with COVID-19 safety precautions.

The show will spotlight Kwaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic Aso Ofi, a well-known traditional attire of the Kwarans, for the very first time in the history of the event.

The Kwara Aso Ofi day is slated for 15th September and promises to open up the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion industry to a wider global audience.

The exciting partnership in addition to promoting Nigerian brand, is expected to drive foreign investments and job opportunities for local weavers and stakeholders in the Aso Ofi trade.

In preparation for the legendary show, organisers of the show, comprising the founder of Africa Fashion Week London and Nigeria, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi and Kwara Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Lady, have been relating with local weavers to ensure a successful outing.

For instance, some weavers from

Kwara State First Lady, Dr. Mrs Folake Abdulrazaq

Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State were empowered to create special pieces of the fabrics for the show.

Moreso, a team led by Ademiluyi paid a special visit to some weaving workshops in the state and were treated to several creative weaving techniques and the history of Kwara Aso Ofi.

In her remarks, Ademiluyi said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fashion film will also highlight the tourism potential of the state to the global market, thereby attracting tourism investments to the state.â&#x20AC;?

The team also visited the historical Sobi Rock for some photoshoot and toured the Quarry Royal Valley, a popular hiking destination located in Ilorin West Local Government Area.

Mouka Sets Aside N75m for Research Indigenous mattresses and bedding manufacturer, Mouka has said it budgeted not less than N75 million for product research.

Chief Executive Officer of Mouka, Raymond Murphy, disclosed this during a media engagement that held virtually.

Murphy stated that the company has always directed its innovations towards the demands of the market.

He added that the attitude has enabled the company to retain its leadership position in a highly competitive industry.

The CEO also restated the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to quality and vowed never to compromise quality for whatever reason. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mouka, in its giant stride, would keep on innovating and renovating its product portfolio to keep it exciting and appealing to consumers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, the company will continue to give its teeming consumers more value for money by deploying value-added promotions and producing durable products. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To this end, we have invested a great deal in state-of-the-art laboratories to ensure production of quality mattresses and other bedding products,â&#x20AC;? said Murphy.

He also extended appreciation to frontline workers and different state governments for their heroic acts during COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the company would continue to support governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts in defeating COVID-19.

It will be recalled that the company recently donated over 1,000 mattresses to Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states to support in the fight against the novel virus.

Experts Flay Omission of Tax Professionals in CAC Board Experts have faulted the non-representation of tax executives in the formation of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Board in the upgraded Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

They noted that in view of a new policy where every registered company is expected to have a tax identification number (TIN), issues on taxation become inevitable.

Speaking at a virtual training and sensitisation programme, organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), legal expert, Barr.

Chukwuemeka Eze, stated that when taxation issue arises, it would be

unlawful to revert to representatives of accountants, secretary or SMEs already included in CAC board to resolve or offer clarity on such matter.

Eze, who was one of the facilitators at the training, argued that consulting nonprofessionals on taxation issue would reduce Section 1 of CITN Act which provides that the CITN must regulate or control tax issues in all ramifications in Nigeria.

He, however, commended the federal government for responding to the call to upgrade the old CAMA, C20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, adding that it is relevant this period.

Also speaking at the exercise, a tax expert, Barrister Azeez Alatoye, stated that CAMA 2020 would be highly beneficial to SMEs and Nigerian business environment in general.

In his lesson titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;CAMA 2020 and Tax Professionals in Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? Alatoye drew attention to the inconsistency in the classification of SMEs which he said might prompt confusion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The old CAMA classified small companies as companies whose turnover is not more than N2 million while the new CAMA says not more than N120 million. Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) defines small company as one

with a turnover of not more the N25 million or less. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This implication of this discrepancy is that small companies will be treated differently under CITA and CAMA.â&#x20AC;?

Earlier, President of CITN, Gladys Olajumoke Simplice scored CAMA 2020 high, adding that it was long overdue.

She stated that the essence of the training was to put professionals through on how they can work with the new act. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The training is meant to provide various perspectives on how the law impacts our business environment, professionals and the ease of doing business in Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Hero to Reward Customers Lush Hair Unveils New Product Premium lager beer, Hero, has unveiled a promo initiative, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rise like a Heroâ&#x20AC;?, to reward its teeming customers.

Marketing Director of International Breweries, Tolulope Adedeji, stated that the initiative was put out to appreciate customers who have been consistent with the brand.

She said that the time of the promo is deliberate and strategic to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on individuals and businesses, adding that the initiative was in line with the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s values and hopes to inspire people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we launched Hero into the Nigerian market eight years ago, we were sure that the product will do well. Today, our expectations have not only been met but also surpassed due to the unalloyed support of our numerous consumers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have therefore decided to demonstrate our appreciation by

giving back to our partners. We consider our consumers partners on this journey as Hero is all about them and their satisfaction. Over the next couple of weeks, our customers will have an opportunity to win airtime and cash prize, while they enjoy their favourite beer, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win-win for them.

The Rise Like a Hero Consumer Promo is geared towards celebrating and rewarding the hero that lives in every Nigerian.â&#x20AC;?

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rise like a Heroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gives consumers chance to win cash prizes of N10,000 and N50,000 through an E-draw while grand prize winners of N1,000,000 will emerge weekly.

The activity will also see consumers win instant airtime when they send the number under Hero crown to a short message code or via a designated promo website.

Indigenous hair brand, Lush Hair has launched three new products at the Nigerian Association of Hairdressers, barbers and Cosmetologists NASHCO August hair styling contest.

The contest which held in Lagos, comprised of 8 teams of ( both model and stylist and an assistant) per team whose creativity was put to test using the newly launched Lush Hair crochet variants.

The newly launched hair variants included: Mandy Twist, Fiona Braids and Vegas Braids.

At the end of the show, model Stella Chinonso from Mushin Odi Olowo LGA, came first and won for her team a 3.8 KVA Generator Set. Mary Olawunmi and her team from Iba LGA received a 32â&#x20AC;? Television Set for the second place while model Naomi and team from Iba LGA won a standing fan for clinching the third position.

The remaining contestants were presented

consolation prizes.

Commenting, Public Relations Manager of Tolaram Group and representative of Lush Hair, Mrs. Omotayo Azeez- Abiodun, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it is indeed another auspicious opportunity collaborating with the Nigerian Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists (NASHCO) in organising August edition of hair styling contest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are glad that we are able to formally introduce a new set of crochet variants to all the hair professionals present. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While the feedbacks have been amazing, the gathering also presents an opportunity for us to reinstate our commitment to quality and standard while reminding our customers also that Lush hair is suited to all needs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The new crochet variants came as a feedback to the yearnings of most ladies who frown at spending long hours at the salon and yet want to wear beautiful and crisp looking twisted braids adorned with complementary accessories.â&#x20AC;?

Plus Sally Mbanefo I Still Sing in the Choir and Read at the Altar

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚ͺ, 2020

PLUS

I Still Sing in Choir, Read at the Altar Like a goldfish that has no hiding place, Sally Mbanefo has recently been endowed with a new portfolio as the Anambra State Commissioner for Ministry of Mineral Resources, Tertiary Education, Science, Technology and ICT. She was the immediate past Commissioner for Ministry of Diaspora AďŹ&#x20AC;airs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism. Prior to this, she had been at the federal level as the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) where she introduced the Domestic Tourism Revolution. She spoke with Uzor Maxim Uzoatu about her trajectory in the last 10 years...Excerpts Mbanefo

What was it like superintending the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks Culture and Tourism?

he Ministry has different departments with varied functions. The Tourism Department, for instance, has the responsibility of handling all tourism activities for the state. The Diaspora Affairs Department was birthed with a view to bridging the gap that existed in information and communication between the Anambra State Government and Anambra residents abroad and within other states of Nigeria. The Hotel and Hospitality Department took up the responsibility of overseeing and harnessing the potentials in the hotel and hospitality sector of the state for optimal performance. The Department of Arts and Culture was promoting, preserving and developing the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural heritage while the Department of Indigenous Artworks promoted our famous bronze works like the roped vase, Igbo language, artworks and artifacts, customs, folk songs, festivals and tradition.

What were the achievements of the Ministry under your tenure?

Under my watch in the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism we created the Homecoming Festival lasting seven to 14 days every December which was a kaleidoscope of events from Masquerade Festival to International Reggae Festival, Friends of Anambra Day, Diaspora Day, Chinua Achebe Day, Palm Wine Festival Day, Anambra Tasty Cuisine Day, Art Exhibition Day, Street & Cultural Carnival Day, Folk Songs Day, Christmas Carols of nine Lessons Day, Musical Concerts Day, Tourism Day, to Entrepreneurs Day, where we had Chairman of Britannica-U, Mrs Uju Ifejika, Chairman of Innoson Motors, Chairman Stanel World (our partners ), His Excellency and others who shared inspiring experiences with the youth. The musical concerts featured 2Face, Rude Boy, Funny Bone, Flavour and Davido.

The collaboration with the Stanel Group was ingenious as Mr. Stanley Uzochukwu created an incredible synergy with the state.

On Friends of Anambra Day, we had all the royal fathers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; friends I made when I was DG - come from the South-West and North to honour our invitation to Anambra.

Other achievements are the renovation of

the Owerre-Ezukala Caves and Waterfalls, and the Ogbunike Cave by the construction of prototype structures/buildings to provide conveniences and changing rooms, bars, souvenir shops, tourism information desks for tourists, and creating better access roads.

We also initiated the creation of Anambra Diaspora Portal used by the Ministry in keeping the database of Ndi-Anambra in the Diaspora. We further transformed the ministry into a walk-in Art gallery endowed with amazing paintings and bronze works of an internationally renowned Artist, Chidi Okoye . We created a Hotel and Hospitality Department to harness the potentials in the hotel and hospitality sector of the state for optimal performance. Then there was the E-Registration/digitalisation of hotels in collaboration with VIKO Nigeria to ensure that all the hotels in the state are enumerated in the Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s database.

We created five major revenue windows for tourism IGR. We nurtured regular interaction with hotel owners and put them through the guidelines for grading and classification of hotels which led us to commence major training of our staff and the hotelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; staff. We began aggressive inspection of hotels whilst also coaching the hotels on

Covid compliance measures in collaboration with our dynamic Commissioner of Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala.

With respect to tourism, partnership with the private sector thrives in the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest tourist destinations.

What has the state done in terms of partnering with the private sector to improve tourism in the state?

Our ministry collaborated with VIKO Nigeria Limited, whom I worked with as DG at the federal level, where at their own expense, they provided all the tourism information desks NTDC deployed at the major airports in Nigeria. When I found out he is from Anambra I invited him to help boost tourism in Anambra using technology. He helped us deploy VIKOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consolidated alliance digital hospitality, travel and tourism infrastructure for facilitation of electronic circulation of travel and hospitality booking of facilities in Anambra State. And he helped us launch Smartjobs software to create jobs in tourism for the youth. The state also partnered with Stanel World during its Homecoming festival with the Christmas festivities in events like musical concerts, street cultural carnivals and Christmas Carols. We also partnered with Innoson Group to provide shuttle vehicles

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ͚ͺ, 2020

19

I Pray My Rosary for Peace of Mind to all the hotels at a discounted rate.

What are the measures taken by the state government to sustain its tourism drive?

Since the inception of the Willie Obianoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration, the state government made security its number one priority because tourism cannot thrive in a place where there is insecurity. The State government donated major security equipment, vehicles and gadgets to the police and the state vigilante service to enable them maintain law and order in the state. His Excellency also recruited an AVM to handle creative security. The state is adjudged the safest in the country. The state government in 2018 & 2019 also renovated and constructed access roads leading to various tourist sites in the state for easy navigation of tourists to and from the tourist sites.

What are the challenges faced by the tourism sector in the state?

There is the eminent lack of interest by financial institutions to lend capital to tourism investors. This is a significant challenge confronting tourism in the state, and lack of collaboration with the private sector.

You were recently redeployed to the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Tertiary Education, Science & Technology & ICT. With what you met on ground, what is the way forward?

My new Ministry covers Oil and Gas, Solid Minerals, which also includes scrap metal and glass sand excavation. We also handle hydro-meteorological services, you know, the weather forecast required for safety in geological surveys. Our Ministry is erecting a Kaolin factory for Kaolin processing at Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA, in collaboration with the Federal Government that has already supplied Kaolin processing machines to the state as we speak.

The federal representative in the state, Mr. Dara Chijioke Okechukwu, has been very proactive in guiding us on the right path.

We also developed the Anambra State Government website (www.anambrastate. gov.ng Anambra State Government - Light Of The Nation) to serve as a portal where citizens can learn about the history of the government, as well as activities and developmental strides of the government.

Added to this, there has been the creation of the ICT Department and the set-up of an ICT Laboratory by us. We have a whole floor devoted to that in the ministry. The administration created an ICT department in the Ministry because our governor is very IT savvy. The ICT department was recently upgraded to an Agency to fast-track the deployment of ICT across the state. Recently, Anambra State won the First Runner-up award in e-Government implementation in the nation, at the National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) in Katsina State. We also won second runner-up in ICT human capital development. We also very recently won second runner-up in ICT infrastructure development.

The youth are the future. What has the ministry done in terms of youth empowerment?

A nation that invests in youth invests in its future. So in this regard, this Ministry trained 500 unemployed youth selected from across the 21 LGAs of the State on acquisition of 14 different skills at our Technology Incubation Centre, Nnewi.

This is geared towards making them self-employed. Also, when I was in charge of the Tourism Ministry, I introduced the smart jobs project for the youth, a software developed by VIKO Nigeria, and we incubated it in the youth ministry where all the training was done to empower 5000 youths as directed by His Excellency. They were trained to trade on an e-business portal for booking of hotels, transport and flights to Anambra for tourism. The youth ministry worked very hard with the transport ministry and my ministry to make this a reality for the state. The thing is, our governor is very youth friendly, and very young at heart.

Oil has been discovered in the state.

Tell us about it. I know you also have

an oil and gas background?

Yes, we do have oil in commercial quantities and the best crude quality you can imagine. We also have gas in an incredible commercial quantity. The truth is that the federal government will soon embark on a gas revolution to drive increase in usage of gas in the country. Anambra State Government has strategically poised itself to key into this initiative to improve the state revenue since Anambra Basin is very rich in gas. Our Ministry in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Committee, and with the strong support of His Excellency has provided an enabling environment to ensure that Anambra is recognised as an oil producing State. We are now looking forward to the federal government officially recognising Anambra and declaring it an oil producing state, especially now that we are very rich in Gas, and Gas is the future!â&#x20AC;?

What step has the state government taken to explore and exploit the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solid mineral deposits since you are also in charge of that?

The State Government through this Ministry is trying to develop the solid minerals sector through Characterisation of Anambra Bentonite for exploration as industrial raw material and Characterisation of Glass Sand deposits for prospective investments in Anambra State. In addition, we have very rich Kaolin deposits in commercial quantities, and so we are working on a Ceramic/burnt brick factory. Our ministry also monitors scrap metal collections, and this has given us an opportunity to build a Steel Rolling Mill. Our focus, as His Excellency keeps saying, must be on maximising IGR. In Anambra, the sky is the stepping stone. The federal rep in the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Mr.Dara Chijioke Okechukwu, has been quite resourceful.

Would you say that women have a fair representation in Governor Obianoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration?

His Excellency is a strong advocate of gender equality, and his appointment of women as commissioners, heads of agencies (DGs) and other leadership positions is a testament to this fact. Not forgetting her Excellency Ebelechukwu Obiano, the loving mother of all Anambra women, who advocates for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights and welfare through her Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFĂ&#x2030;) program. Her Excellency is also very gender supportive.

Going forward, what is the Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expectation for tertiary institutions in the State?

We are aggressively working on plans to make tertiary institutions in the state self-sufficient. That way, they will no longer depend on government funding. This includes engaging in commercial agriculture and its numerous value chains. We are also promoting e-learning whilst taking education to the rural communities. We recently launched an IGR campaign for ANSPOLY which was a School of Agriculture for 30 years before His Excellency upgraded them to a poly. In addition, our tertiary education students have excelled by winning several international awards. In July 2020, a group of Engineering Students from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University recently came second in the whole of Africa at a virtual competition in the United Kingdom for inventing racing cars. So many awards in ICT and science and tech have also been won by our tertiary institutions at the federal level.

You also double as the Chairman, State Gaming Board. What has been your achievement so far since you took over?

Before I became the chairman of the Gaming Board, the revenue that was remitted to the government account was only N10 million per annum and in almost one year since I took over as chairman of the Gaming Board, the revenue generated has skyrocketed to over N480 million in spite of the Covid challenge when Gaming was slow. This achievement could not have happened without the collaboration of the AIRS, and an incredibly hardworking Managing Director who has moved at my every call for improved revenue at such a fast

Mbanefo

pace.

You are currently on the board of ASBA (Anambra State Small Business Agency), and ANSIPPA. How has the journey been so far?

ASBA was established on December 8, 2014 by Governor Obiano to facilitate easier access to resources required by entrepreneurs and investors in MSME to achieve sustainable development in the state. ASBA secured N2 billion loan from CBN which was used to empower entrepreneurs, thereby creating over 25,000 jobs.

We developed a shoe industrial cluster at Ogbunike from where shoes are exported to countries like Cameroun, Niger Republic, Congo and Chad. This culminated in the state winning the best supporting state award for micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria from the Presidency in August 2019. The MD of Anambra State Small Business Agency is an erudite banker with incredible capacity for hard work and delivering effective results. He made sure we repaid every penny borrowed whilst empowering the community effectively. ANSIPPA is an ingenious invention of His Excellency. It is the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agency in charge of Investment Promotion and Protection. Once an MOU is signed and the project commences, it is always concluded transparently. We contribute up to 15 % in IGR as the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equity in the investments.

And yes, I am on the board, being an ex-banker. ANSIPPA is in the forefront of delivering HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legacy Projects, notably: Anambra International Cargo Airport at Umueri, Agulu Lake Hotel expansion,

Onitsha Hotel, Awka Shopping Mall, Awka Millennium City, Nnewi Shopping Mall, Century 50MW Power Plant, and Lynden Farms Phase II Expansion and many other projects.

How do you relax after all these tasking duties in Anambra?

Anambra is a quaint metropolis, green, peaceful and endowed with amazing intellectual capital. I am in the most sophisticated EXCO I have ever been in. Most of the Commissioners and Special Advisers have come from the Diaspora to retire at home.

His Excellencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for the Diaspora was exhibited by his appointments because he called these last four years the legacy years where we must leave with a bang effect! The other commissioners who are not from the Diaspora are ex-bankers like me and the rest are well-grounded indigenous professionals who have made a sterling mark in their various fields. Many times in EXCO I learn so much by listening to the unlimited horizon of knowledge and experience. So, we are very occupied with the affairs of the state. However, I do make out time to practice and sing in the choir of St Thomas Aquinas Parish, Awka, and to keep out of trouble, I also engage myself by reading at the altar as a lector in two churches, St Edwards Amawbia and St Thomas Aquinas Parish GRA. I am also a prayer coach for fellowships in Lagos, Abuja and Anambra and I mentor the youth. Because of the safety in the state, I do go for long walks in the evenings in Awka while I pray my rosary for peace of mind.

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Olajumoke Adebiyi

I Have Always Loved Music and Movies Olajumoke Adebiyi is a lawyer with a focus on music and film. A graduate of Babcock University, she has practised entertainment law at various levels within the industry, including heading the legal team at Freemedigital, a top content aggregator in Nigeria.

She is also consulting for several industry practitioners including artistes, record labels, music publishing companies and film production houses on copyright protection, content licensing, distribution, financing, investment, valuation and development.

Adebiyi shares her journey into entertainment law with Tosin Clegg be more passionate about building structures that will outlive them, not operate temporary services that merely line their pockets. The good news is there are people from every part of the industry who share my love for the industry and my eagerness for change. These real life genies are actively working to build lasting structures, educate people, and make sure things are done right so we might begin reaping the fruits of this labour of love sooner than later.

I have always loved music, movies havealwayslovedmusic,moviesand creative arts. While I was studying to become a lawyer, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that therewasaviablecareerpathmerging the two and I definitely didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d toe that path exclusively at some point in my career. When I discovered Intellectual Property in 300 Level, the idea definitely crossed my mind. I interned at some law firms which dabbled in IP law, but I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure how to go about it in the real world. After law school, I worked at a couple of firms before I got my first in-house job at a music distribution company and I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t looked back ever since.

I

My mentors in the industry There are several people in the industry that have helped shape me and that is to become the lawyer and entertainment business executive that I am, some of whom I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even met personally but have followed their work over time. Excellence and passion are two qualities that draw me towards people in a professional environment and these people are no doubt excellent and very passionate about their work. Off the top of my head, MoAbudu of Ebony life, KemiAdetiba, an award winning director and Ms. Uduak Oduok, a leading lawyer in the field of music and fashion law. These are women whose work, work ethics and record of success and excellence I greatly admire.

I take creativesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights very seriously I like to think of myself as a creative too and so I take creativesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights very seriously because I can relate. I think one of the best things about copyright and music law (and law in general) for me is the fact that it seems like thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no end to the scope of these principles to cater to the rights of creatives. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost never just one solution to any problem. I find that incredibly fascinating. With entertainment law, I almost feel like I have a super power and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited to explore more parts of it.

Entertainment lawyers still arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough I have watched lawyers become full-time music and film business executives. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to say that lawyers have it easy just because of that.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually the opposite. I remember when I first decided to toe this path full-time, I was a bit overwhelmed but mostly fascinated. There just werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many lawyers who specialised in entertainment business and law and the few that did were barely available for mentoring. I had to figure out a lot of things on my own, until I started to make contacts within the industry and I finally got some help. Being in what some consider an emerging area of practice, entertainment lawyers still arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t nearly enough and there arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many precedents on how things are done, but if you have enough girth, passion and interest in the industry, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll stay afloat for as long as it takes to eventually learn to swim.

Dealing with disagreements from artistes and other parties What amounts to disrespect is typically subjective and, most times, these squabbles usually stem from resentment built overtime which eventually spills into the business and then people go their separate ways. One thing that I find fuels these squabbles is a lack of well detailed terms of engagement between the feuding parties.

They usually start out on a good note based on a relationship and neglect to put things in writing. When problems arise (and they will), thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no agreement to refer to to help them resolve these problems. Sometimes, they eventually get lawyers involved and it mostly goes downhill from there. One recurring experience I keep hav-

The industry and technology The industry is getting more and more dependentontechnology.WithplatformslikeBoomplay, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Netflix, HBo, Disney+ etc, people are moving away from buying hard copy music and movies and towards on-demand streaming on digital platforms. With the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI), itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not hard to predict that in the coming years, the whole industry will be digitized with CDs and LPs becoming vintage reminders of a past era. Of course,ourcurrentlaws,nomatterhowadvanced, will not cater to the changes in the industry as time goes on, so there will always be a need to review the laws to accommodate these changes as they come.

Olajumoke Adebiyi

ing in this industry is me finding myself trying hard to convince industry practitioners, especially artistes, that legal representation in this business is a necessary evil. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t avoid it, and just when you think you have, you find that you have to pay for that indiscretion, sometimes dearly. They usually donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t listen, but they always come back.

Every player in the industry needs entertainment lawyers Show business is business and the best way to get a handle on your business is to hire a team with expertise within your industry. The entertainment industry, like every other industry has certain peculiaritiesthatcanonlybeproperlynavigatedby an entertainment lawyer. The mistake that many people make is they feel as though any lawyer should be able to deal with the issues emanating from show business. The truth, however, is that

while the basic principles are largely the same, the intricacies can get wildly tricky. You need a lawyer that knows about and has, preferably, been involved in the life cycle of content from creation to consumption and can help you navigate licensing, royalties, ownership, distribution, streaming, sales, publishing, copyright infringement and dispute resolution - the whole nine yards.

My wish list for my industry I definitely have a bunch of things on my wish list for my industry. I want people to respect art enough to want to pay top dollar for it. I want creators to respect their art enough to protect it fiercely and see it as the valuable thing that it is.

I want artistes and other creatives to pay more attention to their craft and learn the business. I want theindustrytobecomeveryprofitableforeveryone involved. I want more people in the industry to

Entertainment industry and Covid-19 The global economy was heavily hit by the COVID-19 and the global entertainment industry was not left out. Many artistes and labels had their primary source of major income (live shows and performances)canceledorsuspendedindefinitely.

Global big shots are taking big losses and a large number of businesses have had to close down leaving many people jobless and without income to support their music careers. Working in an organisation that runs a music streaming service however, the news isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t totally bad because live music as it were is currently in a state of comatose, a lot of the demand for music has moved online.

Now, we are seeing a steady increase in streaming numbers and hours, virtual live performances on social media platforms, etc. As a lawyer, my job description didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change much. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just much more virtual now than it has ever been. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a nice change from the norm.

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Temi Otedola

Citation poster

Temi Otedola Delights as Moremi in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Temi, daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola plays the lead role of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moremi Oluwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the upcoming Kunle Afolayan movie, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ollowing the announcement of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Citationâ&#x20AC;? earlier this year, it became one of Nollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most anticipated cinematic films of 2020. Interestingly, Temi, daughter of popular billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola features in the movie being her first, as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moremi Oluwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the Kunle Afolayan movie. The pretty 23-year-old plays a lead female character alongside other A-list actors of diverse nationalities.

Recently, Ibukun Awosika, the Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria was unveiled as the surprise cast.

Femi Otedola took to his Twitter page to celebrate his daughter for her achievement on screen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Temi Otedola is playing the role of a character called Moremi Oluwa in the movie. My daughter @TemiOtedola starring as Moremi Oluwa in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (about sexual harassment) - Kunle Afolayanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming feature film. This movie is sure to be the best ever that has come out of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;Ś Papa is proud of you. . . F.Ote$â&#x20AC;?, the oil magnate wrote.

Expectedly, Temi who is elated by her latest effort also took to social media to express excitement.

This is a stepping stone for Temi.

Reacting to the official teaser for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the fashion and lifestyle blogger wrote alongside the one minute twenty seconds clip which she also shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe this day is here. I can officially share the first teaser for #CitationTheMovieâ&#x20AC;Ś This day is an emotional one for so many reasons. As many of you already know, Citation is my debut feature film, and is directed by the legendary @kunleafo, someone who I have been a fan of since Figurine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He not only trusted me to bring â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moremi Oluwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to life, but also my Citation Family, made up of the most wonderful and supportive cast and crew members. For that trust, my heart is overfilled with gratitude right now. We put so much sweat, tears and sleepless nights into the movie, and I hope you guys will love it as much as this experience changed my life.

Enjoy this teaser; get ready for the full thing.â&#x20AC;?

In the teaser clip, Temi appears to recall her first experience with a lecturer after a tutorial class: â&#x20AC;&#x153;My first one on one contact with Prof. Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dyare was after a tutorial class,â&#x20AC;? Temi could

be heard saying in the presence of â&#x20AC;&#x153;academic royaltyâ&#x20AC;?. In the next scene, Temi, is seen in a class setting with other students. There were follow up scenes which showed her walking into the campus with a group of students, the antagonist lecturer at the senate panel hearing a case of alleged sexual harassment to the climax of the teaser which shows some form of unrest among the students and a distraught â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moremi Oluwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Temi) who seem to be losing it all.

The film narrates the ordeals faced by a female postgraduate, Moremi Oluwa, who is forced to find a way to deal with an awkward situation of sexual harassment from a male lecturer, Prof. Lucien Ndâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;yara (Jimmy-Jean Louis).

The ensuing intrigues of the teaser define Moremiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words against that of the respected academic, in a maledominated terrain. Gabriel Afolayan, Temiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love interest in the movie was captured making his first move towards the young postgraduate in the eye of the storm on campus.

Written by Afolayanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-standing business partner, Tunde Babalola, Moremi Oluwa, the fun-loving

21-year-old student eventually drags Ndâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;yara before the University Senate.

At the first official private screening of Citation, Afolayan (film producer and director) revealed the location of the movie as Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will be available for private screenings in September and October, 2020.

Temi, who has kept her love for acting on the low until now, explained that it was all about timing and that when the opportunity came, she felt she could pull it off: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was actually introduced to him (Afolayan) I told him that from university and through school I have always been into acting and that was my first passion in life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He told me about a script coming out and the lead character is actually a girl of my age and a university student and the story tells a tale of something that is so relatable and relevant to what is happening today, not only in Nigeria but all over the world.

But the process was not easy, I really had to push just for the fact that this role of Moremi was right for me, and I was willing to bring her to the screen, and do the role justice.â&#x20AC;?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚ͺË&#x153; 2020

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Tiwa Savage Wows New York Times Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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hat Tiwa Savage had priority album globally slated for this year was already established shortly after inking a deal with Universal Music Group and its affiliates Motown Records on a seven years publishing deal. The afrobeats superstar and former Mavin first lady (eternal Mavin affiliate by soul) was in for beats and business with the biggest music corporation in the world. It paved the way for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celiaâ&#x20AC;?, her fourth body of work in the African continent but Tiwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut album in America soundscape, where the Nigerian singer is courting an audience beyond with her latest record.

Thus, the reckoning by Jon Parelese, in a recent New York Timesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; piece that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;for a singer and songwriter just making her American album debut, Tiwa Savage is wildly overqualified.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celia,â&#x20AC;? released Aug. 28, is actually her fourth full-length album in Nigeria, where she was born and has been hailed in recent years as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Queen of Afrobeats,â&#x20AC;? with the West African pop finding its way to a growing worldwide audience.

For Tiwa, the narrative is probably one of her most in-depth conversations with Parelese, a musician and The New York Times chief pop music critic since 1988.

Parelese notes furtherthat the 13-tracks â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celiaâ&#x20AC;? is an album of sleekly-insinuating Afrobeats grooves that carry love songs and understated but purposeful messages of empowerment. The lyrics switch between English and Yoruba, as Savage glides through her melodies, rarely raising her airy, unflappable voice. Her latest single, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Temptation,â&#x20AC;? is a duet with the English pop singer Sam Smith, who was â&#x20AC;&#x153;flatteredâ&#x20AC;? to join her, Smith said via Zoom from London, because â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sensational.â&#x20AC;?

Smith added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tiwa has this natural tone in her voice that makes you feel like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re listening to a friend. It feels comfortable and feels wholesome and homey. And she sounds kind when she sings. My favorite singers have softness to their voice that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, you know, smash you in the face.

It just sits with you and talks to you in a kind and soft way. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how I hear her voice.â&#x20AC;? To which Tiwa acknowledged â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love you @samsmithâ&#x20AC;? via an Instagram post.

Before she started her solo career in Nigeria a decade ago, Savage worked behind the scenes in the American and British music business. She has songwriting credits on albums by Fantasia, Kat DeLuna and Monica, and she sang backup on tour with Mary J. Blige, in the studio on Whitney Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final album and onstage at Wembley Stadium with George Michael.

Now Savage is treating â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celiaâ&#x20AC;? as both a culmination and a new beginning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I first started out as an artiste, I was seen a certain way, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown since then,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve experienced a divorce, being a single mom and seeing backlash for being sometimes too sexy in a male-dominated industry,â&#x20AC;? the article further tells. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celiaâ&#x20AC;? is named after Savageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, and the album ends with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Song,â&#x20AC;? praising her with churchy hallelujahs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you tell my mom, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh, this is impossible,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll say to you, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;OK.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll walk away, and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just silently get it done. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s timid and reserved, but sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful,â&#x20AC;? Savage said, noting that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s similar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Offstage, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very reserved, very quiet.â&#x20AC;?

Still on Pareleseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; account, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her first album, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once Upon a Time,â&#x20AC;? was released in 2013,

Tiwa Savage

drawing nearly as much on American R&B as it did on Afrobeats. Her second, â&#x20AC;&#x153;R.E.D,â&#x20AC;? in 2015, was exuberantly pan-African, taking in rhythms from all around the continent and dipping into Jamaican reggae. She performed extensively, even when she was visibly pregnant. But as her popularity rose, her marriage deteriorated. By spring 2016, she and her husband were separated and publicly at odds; eventually, they divorced.

Near the midpoint of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celia,â&#x20AC;? Savage sings â&#x20AC;&#x153;Us (Interlude),â&#x20AC;? which directly addresses the breakup: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough/You werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough/Love wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough,â&#x20AC;? she laments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely the first time Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m being

vulnerable,â&#x20AC;? she said, adding that it had taken years to come to terms with the breakup: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we first started, it was just like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Me and you, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to conquer the world.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And then it got to a point where the brand was getting big, and when I had to make a decision, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just me and you,â&#x20AC;? she said. Savage wrote and recorded â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celiaâ&#x20AC;? the way many Western pop stars make albums: She convened a songwriting camp. She booked eight rooms for 15 days at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, where producers and musicians could come and go, and bouncing ideas off one another as Savage supervised, selected tracks and

came up with top lines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just put your heart into it, and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have fun,â&#x20AC;? she told them.

For all the programming, planning, brand management and careful messaging that go into her music, Savage is determined to loosen up. She is trading pinpoint choreography for more spontaneous moves; sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revealing her tomboy side as well as her glamorous one; sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaving bits of noise and imperfection in her songs. Her next album, which may arrive sometime next year, might dip into Brazilian music or other styles that have caught her ear. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m never going to stop experimenting,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just who I am. Get used to it.â&#x20AC;?

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Nollywood Movies to Watch as Cinemas Reopen With the reopening of theatres across the country yesterday after months of shutdown, Ferdinand Ekechukwu spotlights some anticipated movies

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he film and television industry around the world suffered substantial hit in the wake of the corona virus pandemic. The lockdown forced all productions to come to a halt, significantly affecting the industry. Though some production houses and practitioners have taken to some skeletal operations and activities while the lockdown eases completely, most are looking to start filming in the next couple of days following official confirmation from the Nigerian government.

The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) remarked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hip! Hip! Hurray! We are back! Visit any Cinema near you from September 11th! We cannot contain our excitement.â&#x20AC;? Patrick Lee, the chairman of CEAN, while speaking on the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in August, had said the industry kept losing N1 billion on a monthly basis, rendering staff jobless.

Lee adds: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We promise to give room for social distancing, 50 percent hall occupancy, use of facemask, hand sanitisers and we have made provision for air conditioning systems that would pump in oxygen. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen other aspects of the economy that are already opened and we have put enough safety protocols in place to ensure that when our customers return to watch movies, they are safe. Most of our staff are currently unemployed. There are over 20,000 people that depend on the industry in terms of supplies and those who work with artisans. We are at the point of bankruptcy; we want the government to help us reopen.â&#x20AC;?

The impact of the corona virus goes beyond the bottom line of the industry.

Storylines and life on set changed. No doubt, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all missed having movie dates with family, friends and lovers. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve certainly missed movie premiers, their themes and all the amazing glitz and glam of the red carpet events. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all to be missing following the reopening. Such good news! So, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to start planning those movie dates again. Now that the viewing halls and spots are opening for lovers of Nigerian films and cinema buffs, there are Nollywood movies to watch out for at the cinemas.

Some of these movies were already screening at the cinemas while a few others were almost ready to premiere before Covid-19 outbreak.

La Femme Anjola: This is one of the films put on hold due to the pandemic. It was one of the anticipated movies of 2020 because it features Nollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s screen goddess, Rita Dominic. A psychological thriller which has the classic elements of film noir but with an African twist, â&#x20AC;&#x153;La Femme Anjolaâ&#x20AC;? tells the story of a young and successful stockbroker. His life is turned upside down when he falls in love with a beautiful woman who turns out to be a femme fatale thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working with her crooked husband to take him down. Production on this first of its kind Nollywood feature is completed, the first teaser has been released, her fans and movie buffs were anticipating the theatrical release of this work as the teaser trends.

Rattle Snake: As movie buffs anticipate the release of the Nollywood classic, Play Network Studios released the official poster

for the upcoming remake of Amaka Igweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1995 crime thriller, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rattle Snakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, via a recent Instagram post. This first poster shows actress Osas Ighodaro will be playing the lead role in the much-anticipated remake titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rattle Snake: The Ahanna Storyâ&#x20AC;?. He had previously announced via Instagram that the movie would be in cinemas by November/December 2020 and now with the poster, it seems the movie production is complete.

Fate of Alakada: Being star-studded has been the recipe for its success as the fourth production in the Alakada series go by the title, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fate of Alakada: The Party Planner.â&#x20AC;? On Monday, March 23, 2020, producer Toyin Abraham shared a video announcing the immediate suspension of the movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere billed for the 29th of March and its theatrical release on 3rd of April. Expect Fate of Alakada: The Party Planner at the cinemas soon.

Unroyal: Nollywood movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unroyalâ&#x20AC;? shows a seemingly weak king played by Pete Edochie, a queen in despair, and a kingdom on the brinks of collapse. It was premiered in Port Harcourt on the 15th and released on the 20th of March. It ran for a few days before the lockdown. Produced

by Matilda Lambert, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unroyalâ&#x20AC;? is a riveting drama of a vile princess (played by Matilda Lambert). Fate, however, turns her fortune around and in her dying state, she is relegated to the same position she enjoys putting others. There would be a re-launch soon to buzz up the movie before it starts screening again at the cinemas.

Sin City: The movie is expected to open at the cinemas in the last quarter of this year.

The scheduled date for the release has been

same even before the pandemic outbreak.

The movie tells the effect of substance abuse on young people. However, in the first teaser released, it shows veteran actress Joke Silva takes up the role of a character in a wheelchair with shocking demands. She wants a six foot male neurophysiologist, broad shouldered, six pack with comforting lower body structure!

Soft Work: This movie was almost ready some six months ago by March. In the movie, a conman, who is every womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prince charming, leads a mission to steal a code in this Darasen Richards movie.

The movie director, Richards, has put together some of Nollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite actors for what is described as the most dangerous heist in Nigeria commercialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital, Lagos. In a trailer for the upcoming movie, which opens with the lead actor Alexx Ekuboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character walking up to a man, one could figure out a thriller as it shows scenes of murder, kidnap and death threats. Soft Work is cinema ready.

Rise of The Saints: Following the two minutes, eleven seconds initial trailer for the movie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rise of the Saintsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, directed

by Samuel O. Olateru, it was tentatively scheduled for cinema release across the nation from April 17, 2020. This fictional-epic has elements of a blockbuster. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rise of the Saintsâ&#x20AC;? is a movie inspired by the story of Moremi Ajasoro, warrior Queen of Ife who delivers her people from destruction in the hands of her sworn nemesis Jagan.

The new Nollywood movie stars great actors like Peter Fatomilola, Rachael Oniga, Tina Mba, and many more. The makers are sticking to original plan of bringing it first to the cinemas with a new date.

Moses Inwang Wins Another International Award Nigerian filmmaker Moses Inwang won two international awards at the 2020 The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival for his movie, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Code Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival is an annual event held in Harlem, New York but this year was held virtual like most award ceremonies so far, due to Covid-19. Held a fortnight, Inwang clinched the categories for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Directorâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Internationalâ&#x20AC;? at the 9th edition of the black excellence ceremony.

Affirming the awards, Founder/Executive Director, The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival, Veronica Keit, acknowledged Inwang for winning the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Directorâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Internationalâ&#x20AC;?, via separate email messages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations on winning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for your film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Code Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival 2020 Virtual Edition. We thank you once again for screening with us at the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival and we hope to see you again next year!â&#x20AC;?

In another related message, Keit wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations on winning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for your film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Code Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival 2020 Virtual Edition. We thank you once again for screening with us at the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival and we hope to see you again next year!â&#x20AC;? The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival as part of its mission pledges to continue the work that needs to be done â&#x20AC;&#x201C; essentially providing platforms for creatives to showcase their work.

Inwang in a social post confirmed the award. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Accolades . . . accolades . . . accolades! We are proud and happy to be recipients of the Best International Film award and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m especially

proud to win the Best Director award at the just concluded @thepeoplesfilmfestival NY (Virtual Edition). Thanks to the organizers of this festivalâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? the multiple-award winning director wrote via his Instagram handle.

The prolific filmmaker had in 2016 received a best international film award at The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Film Festival for his film, American Driver. Inwangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award winning movie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Code Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a 2019 romantic drama. The 1hr 40 minutes feature follows the story of a loving husband, Mayowa (Jim Iyke), who takes his wife of five years, Omoye (Joselyn Dumas), on a trip to a beautiful resort to celebrate her birthday and their wedding anniversary.

All seems great until Omoye runs into a familiar face the charming young man Tare, (Enyinna Nwigwe) who is at the resort with his girlfriend Teni (Beverly Naya), with the intention to propose to her there. Sparks from an encounter five years ago between Omoye and Tare begins to fly, old feelings begin to get rekindled, Tare is once again swept away by Omoyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sexual charm and the connection they shared when they met.

His intended proposal to his girlfriend suffers â&#x20AC;&#x153;cold feetâ&#x20AC;? as he begins to play with fire by openly chasing the ex-colonelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, Omoye. Omoye was sure she could easily shrug off Tareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advances and her desires towards her. She was wrong. Other stars in the thrilling romantic drama include Caroline Danjuma (whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that her new name sef?), Segun Arinze, Padita Agu, and Femi Adebayo Salami.

With a career spanning over a decade and half, Inwang got his first movie credit in 1998 with the

Moses Inwang

co-produced â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Two Good Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. In 2004, he started his production company Sneeze Films and kicked off with the movie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Save My Soulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. In 2008, he directed the movie, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lost Maidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a film which brought the issue of female circumcision to the fore of social discussion.

In 2012, his film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Damageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; earned him the nomination for best director at the African Oscars held in Florida USA, while the film won the award for Best Film at the African Oscars Awards. In 2013, he won the City People Award for Best Director.

His 2013 film Torn received nine nominations at the GIAMA awards in Houston, Texas and six nominations at the Best of Nollywood Awards.

In 2014 he went on record as the first Director in Nollywood to receive two nominations as Best Director at the Nollywood Movies Awards. His movie, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Last 3 Digitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was nominated for best comedy at the African Movie Academy Awards AMAAin 2015 and was also chosen amongst the few selected Nollywood films that were screened to thousands of people at the Nollywood Week Paris.

Inwangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2017 award-winning movie, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Alter Egoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which starred Omotola Jalade and Wale Ojo won the director the Best Screenplay Award at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Award (AMVCA), aside being the most talked about movie that year. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Alter Egoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; also won the award for The Most Outstanding Film at the Africa International Film Festival AFRIFF. It also won the Best Director at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival.

In 2015, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Stalkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, another film written, produced and directed by Moses Inwang, raked in a 12 nominations at the GIAMAawards Houston and won awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Film categories. Still in 2015, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Stalkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; won the award for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best International Filmâ&#x20AC;? at the New York film Festival. Aromantic drama which premiered in Nigeria on 26 February 2016, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Stalkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; received 10 nominations and won 3 awards at the 2015 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards in the United States.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 020

SEPTEMBER 12 , 2020 ˾ THISDAY,THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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26

Ë&#x153; Ëž SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

JOE/FAJ

THEFRONTLINES

Hikes in Utilities Charges: Ominous Signs Ahead

JOSEPH USHIGIALE

I

t was Spanish Philosopher and writer, George Santayana who first penned the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Santayana was hitting at the core human frailty of forgetfulness or if you want, lousiness or our inability to take responsibilities when they matter the most.

And because we often fail to repeatedly learn the lessons from history, we have the tendencies of falling into the same traps that we should have ordinarily avoided based on our commonsense.

Today, we are on a threshold of history as those things that happened in 1983, almost 37 years ago are coming back to haunt us big time. But how did we get to this situation? Well in the words of French Philosopher Joseph de Maistre, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;every nation deserves a government it gets,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; nothing can be more apt than what is currently ruing Nigeria today.

Nigerians are gradually turning out to be the most unlucky set of humans ever created by God going by the way they are being treated by the same people they entrusted and sealed a social contract with - their government.

It is perhaps only in Nigeria that the government is insensitive to the sufferings impacted on the citizenry by the COVID-19 pann demic and is bent on forcing more bitter pills for them to swallow.

In one fell swoop, fuel price has increased, electricity tariffs reviewed upwards by 100%, naira devalued over 300% and exx changing for over N440 to $(USD), a bag of parboiled rice now sells for N30,000; ditto the prices for other foodstuff that have already hit the roof, interest rate on savings reviewed downwards by 50%.

The current government insensitive attitude towards the people is emboldening utility providers like SouthAfrica owned Multii choice and Remita, who also know there shall be no consequence, have the effrontery to follow suit by arbitrarily increasing tariff and imposing charges on water bills as is the case with Remita.

How did we get here? This journey all started in 1983, when Muu hammadu Buhari, then a Major General and his band of coupists overthrew the democratically elected government ofAlhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Shagari had only been in power for four years and was beginning his second term when Buhari struck.

Justifying the military take over, Buhari said â&#x20AC;&#x153;The change became necessary in order to put an end to the serious economic predicament and the crisis of confidence now afflicting our nation.

It is true that there is a worldwide economic recession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, in the case of Nigeria, its impact was aggravated by mismanagee ment. We believe the appropriate government agencies have good advice but the leadership disregarded their advice. The situation could have been avoided if the legislators were alive to

their constitutional responsibilities; Instead, the legislators were preoccupied with determining their salary scales, fringe benefit and unnecessary foreign travels, et al, which took no account of the state of the economy and the welfare of the people they represented.â&#x20AC;?

Hear what Buhari who claimed he was on a rescue mission said he would do in the case of workers who were owed over eight months salaries â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let no one however be deceived that workers who have not received their salaries in the past eight or so months will receive such salaries within today or tomorrow or that hospitals which have been without drugs for months will be provided with enough immediately. We are determined that with the help of God we shall do our best to settle genuine payments to which governn ment is committed, including backlog of workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; salaries after scrutiny.â&#x20AC;?

For a regime that was on a rescue mission, by his speech, it was apparent they had no plans to salvage or correct whatever they deemed wrong in the country if the welfare of the people was not a priority. He went on the accuse the Shagari government of running the economy aground, arguing that â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a result of our inability to cultivate financial discipline and prudent management of the economy, we have come to depend largely on internal and external borrowing to execute government projects with attendant domestic pressure and soaring external debts, thus aggravating the propenn sity of the outgoing civilian administration to mismanaged our financial resources. Nigeria was already condemned perpetually with the twin problem of heavy budget deficits and weak balance of payments position, with the prospect of building a virile and viable economy.â&#x20AC;?

Less than two years into his reign, several top politicians were arrested and handed long convictions for alleged corruption; he ruled by the jackboot. People started grumbling as the economy rather than improving was going worse and his government became repressive, curtailing freedom of expression, censored the press with Decree 2 and 4. It was not long, his colleague could no longer tolerate his tardiness. Buhari was overthrown by yet another army general, Ibrahim Babaginda.

In his inaugural nationwide speech, Babangida had this to say about why Buhari had to be shoved aside: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The principles of discussions, consultation and co-operation which should have guided decision-making process of the Supreme Military Council and the Federal Executive Council were disregarded soon after the government settled down in 1984. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where some of us thought it appropriate to give a little more time, anticipating a conducive atmosphere that would develop, in which affairs of state could be attended to with greater sense of responsibility, it became increasingly clear that such expectations could not be fulfilled.

The King and His Crown Prince

I

n some days, he will be 74 years old; and he is likely to be up and about the same joyous task of entertaining his society as he has done conscientiously for close to 60 years! Yes, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, whom we have been calling KSA or King Sunny Ade for a number of decades, adds a year on September 22, 2020. And we have chosen to spend some time deconstructing the sinews of his greatness, looking for condiments that may be transported into generations after him who dream to tow the gold-speckled footsteps of one of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest show-stoppers, and incomparable composers of delicious evergreens.

The route taken, in this self-appointed celebratory excurr sion, drags along a younger and loud representation of the next generation who is, perhaps, best positioned to ascend the lofty pedestal still being adorned by the â&#x20AC;&#x153;King of World Beatsâ&#x20AC;?. TuFace (Innocent Ujah Idibia) has over the years shown the most durable creative and compositional stamina; which suggests the young man may have been entrusted by the gods of the Muse to be the next heart-charmer of Nigerian lovers of rollicking music, irrespective of genre, tongue or rhythm. Join me...to recapture the essence of my â&#x20AC;&#x153;experimentationâ&#x20AC;?.

Fact 1: Mr. Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (aka King Sunny Ade) - around my adolescent corridor - was the Lord of the Jungleâ&#x20AC;Ś the centre point of my entertainment romance.

Fact 2: Like him or not, Mr. Innocent Idibia, Tuface/2face/2Baba, etc., has been, arguably, the most dominant minstrel of the past decade and more, from Year 2000. As far as my children are concerned, no artiste has more razzle-dazzle than the slender one from the lulling hills of Benue.

It is quite diffi fficult to argue with them. However, one has seen more stars - more â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;erasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and more deflowering of great artistic promise and paradise.

We have been a witness to the great iconoclastic mesmerr ism of Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and mantraâ&#x20AC;Ś One had been a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sighterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the short fl flight and explosive entree of Kris Okotie into our musical fi firmament. We were there when a Jide Obi, Felix Liberty, Nico Mbarga, Shina Peters, Mike Okri, Majek Fashek, The Mandators, Ras Kimono, Onyeka Onwenuâ&#x20AC;Ś stunned the senses with panache and unbridled talent. These names are not footnote in the history of Nigerian musical talent-spread; they are the august members of an illustrious

shortlist of artistes who bewitched us with great debuts and/ or sophomores. Men and women who today may be distant and gyrating below your radar - but believe me when I say they pack a giant punch in the annals of Nigerian true musii cal talentsâ&#x20AC;Ś Fortunately, a few of them are still around at the very top of the mountain, pulling strings that reveal their illustrious antecedentsâ&#x20AC;Ś that is, referring to Lagbaja, Femi Kuti - and who else but the effervescent, swashbuckling don of the musical dynasty - King Sunny Ade, KSA. For diverse factors, (which is not the focus of this write-up) KSA has remained a blinding lodestar - a continual embarrassment of prodigious talents expressed in seemingly endless dimensions and dynamics. The (74) year-old man with half a century (plus a decade) romance with music simply will not be blown away.

It will seem unfair if it appears we are comparing KSA to Tuface - far be it from me. Not only will it be unfair, it will also be disrespectful and utterly unreasonable. The attention of this article is focused on situating the closest next generaa tion artiste that is best positioned to subsequently command the artistic excellence; stage imagery and fl fluorescent charisma of KSA, and therefore attain the elderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality longevity (and true legendary status).

As many times as I went round the subject with my searchlight, the orb of scrutiny always fell on the gangling man with the innocent face. Using certain criteria, the results show beguiling similarities - even in less flattering scenarios and discriminating circumstances.

We will â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;attackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; these elements (positive or negative) with such â&#x20AC;&#x2122;conditionalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; like: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Vocalizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (vocal ability); Stagecraft (or the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ability); Innovation (or turn-aroundability); Compositional Skills (Oh! Thou sweet music) and of course, Lifestyle.

Vocalisation: KSA: The King of World Beats is gifted with caressing yet masculine vocal chords that have continued to whet the appetite of lovers of Juju music. His range, fl flexibility, tonal richness and his especial talent of wrapping traditional lores in contemporary gong-ho style evokes a disarming charm that leaves his fans panting for more.

More than four decades down the long and harsh road of stardom, KSA has maintained the amazing trick of

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

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regrettably, it turned out that Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was too rigid and uncompromising in his attitudes to issues of national significance. Efforts to make him understand that a diverse polity like Nigeria required recognition and appreciation of differences in both cultural and individual perceptions, only served to aggravate these attitudesâ&#x20AC;?,Babangida pointed out.

However, in 2001, undaunted by his previous setbacks and apparently convinced he was the messiah who still had something to offer, he began his quest for the presidency. He contested against then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and failed. He repeated against the late President Umaru Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua and failed. He ran against then President Goodluck Jonathan and lost.At that point, Nigerians were beginning to see him in the mould of late Chief ObafemiAwolowo as possibly the best President they never have.

However, in 2015, either out of mother luck, providence or both, Buhari managed to clinch the presidency. He did not only clinched the presidency, he made history by defeating a sitting president, a feat that is remarkable by all standards. The victory was significant not only to Buhari, to a large extent, many Nigerians who backed his presidential ambition finally gave a great sigh of relief hoping that at last, the messiah had come. How wrong they were.

It is been five years since Buhari ascended the presidency and rather than smiling, Nigerians are reaping sorrows, tears and no joy at all. First, in the area of security, Buhari with his military backk ground and exploits in the battle field was trusted to be the right person to end the internecine Boko Haram insurgency that has held parts of North-east of the country in a vice grip for several years.

Regrettably, more Nigerians estimated at over 3000 under this administration, according to the international crisis group, have reportedly lost their lives as a result of Boko haram insurgency. The figures are even higher when you kick in the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and other sundry armed militias from neighbouring countries who pour into Nigeria unchallenged some of who take to crime, raping women, rustling cattle, engaging in kidnapping and armed banditry activities.

On the economic front, this administration has failed woefully. It is on record that the country is dipping into recession twice in five years under its watch. Every conceivable economic indices that should make growth possible is on a downward spiral.

With the Central Bank of Nigeria still retaining three exchange rates regimes, the naira has suffered interminable devaluation under Buhari than any other administration before him.After promising to make the naira exchange for one USD, he took over in 2015 with the exchange rate at N200 exchanging for $1. Today, the naira is exchanging for N440 after previously hitting an all time high of N520 to $1.

Read ffull article online - www.thisdaylive.com y

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

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

sounding same, yet feeling different - the litmus test of great vocalists. Listen to KSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s epic lyrics up to the 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ally Mekudiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (1968), Mo Gbin La Mi Soko (1970), Afai Ba Won Ja (70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s), Ogidan Ko Ni Se Barber (70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s), Kile Ni Ase (1975), Juju Music (1982), Sweet Banana (1986) and Let Them Say - ft Onyeka Onwenu (1986).

TUFACE: Beyond the pretty face, Tufaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest asset is the power within his voice. The boy can sing! Used to getting free records, tapes and then CDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from promotionseeking record companies, agents and artistes, I have for all of my professional life had easy access to Nigerian music pieces. But I have had to go buy a copy of Tufaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music off the shelves twice. Truly exceptional and confi n dently deliberate in the delivery of songs that stretch out to your soulsâ&#x20AC;Ś like over-idolized â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;African Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in his 2004 debut (Face 2 Face) and Ifana Ibaga; the sophomore (Grass 2 Grace) yielded â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;As You See Me Soâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, True Love, 4 Instance, If Love Is A Crime....

There are tweaks of fancy which betray his tendency to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;over-teachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;play to galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;; or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;join the Jonesesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and hop with the hippiesâ&#x20AC;Ś in songs like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Implicationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, U No Holy Pass, Enter The Place (ft Sound Sultan)â&#x20AC;Ś which do no credit to his vocal prowess and versatility.

Of course, we cannot stop restating that we are dealing with a music great, in KSA, with works stretching over 120 recorded pieces (i.e. in excess of 1,200 songs) spanning a journey [well over] 50 years. And a young man whose body of solo works is still under a decade - and mere four albums (as at 2014). So, focus on the interesting similarities - not comparisons, please.

In due time, we shall glide over other elements in the deconstruction exercise of the King and his rambunctious little Prince - such elements like Stagecraft, Innovation, Compositional Skills and Lifestyle. Keep a date...in honour of the global king of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest-surviving indigenous melodic export, Juju music.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

12.09.2020

NEWS

TITLE DEFENCE BEGINS

Oghenekaro Etebo

Revival Song in Gala?

PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Oghenekaro Etebo

Revival Song in Gala?

From being Stoke City’s Player of theYear, making the bench later became a luxury for Oghenekaro Etebo and was eventually condemned to train with the South Coast team U-23 side, which culminated in his spending the second half of last season on loan to Spanish side, Getafe.The Super Eagles midfielder has, however, made a move to revamp his career as he joined Turkish giant, Galatasaray on a year loan deal

Galatasaray new boy, Ogenekaro Etebo at his unveiling on Wednesday in Istanbul

S

uper Eagles midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, on Wednesday completed a one-year loan move to Turkish giants, Galatasaray following a successful medical, making it his second loan spell after playing the second half of last season in LaLiga with Getafe.

The Nigerian international will spend the 2020-21 campaign with the Yellow and Reds after temporarily leaving the Potters.

Etebo has expressed his delight after joining Galatasaray from Championship side Stoke City on a season-long loan.

The Turkish Super Lig giants announced the signing of the Super Eagles star from the Bet365 Stadium outfit on Wednesday.

The midfielder has been with the Potters since the summer of 2018 when he joined the club from Portuguese side Feirense.

The 24-year-old made 45 Championship appearances for Stoke before heading on loan to La Liga side Getafe in January.

He contributed as the Coliseum Alfonso Perez outfit finished eighth in the Spanish top-flight in the last

campaign.

Etebo will now continue his development with the 22-time Turkish Super Lig champions until the end of the season after successful medicals.

“Galatasaray Sportif AS informed the public that an agreement was reached for the loan transfer of professional football player Oghenekaro Etebo until the end of the season,” read a statement from the club website.

“We welcome Oghenekaro Etebo to our club and wish him a successful season in the Galatasaray jersey.”

Etebo is delighted to team up with the Turkish side and has appreciated those involved in the success of the transfer.

“I am excited to announce my arrival at Galatasaray, I am looking forward to this amazing opportunity and I am happy to be part of such a historic club,” Etebo tweeted.

“Thank you to everyone at Stoke City and thank you to the DW Sports management team.”

He said: “I am very happy to have come to such a big and historic club.

Thank you to our president and our vice presidents for their warm welcome. I really felt at home. See you at the championship at the end of the

season. On this occasion, I would like to thank our President, all technical staff and all our fans for a warm welcome.”

The 24-year-old had earlier told Stoke City Manager, Michael O’Neill he did not see his future at Stoke, saying nothing changed as he spent the summer back home in Nigeria.

“Peter’s a player that made it very clear to me that he saw his future elsewhere so he left in January to go on loan to Getafe,” O’Neill told Radio Stoke’s Lee Blakeman.

“It didn’t go that well if I’m honest, he didn’t play that many games in the period that he was there, so as things stand at the minute, Peter is looking for opportunities elsewhere.

“The club are managing that situation and my understanding is that we’re quite close to an arrangement being in place for Peter.”

The Super Eagles midfielder had on Monday afternoon arrived Istanbul, Turkey ahead of his switch to Super Lig giants Galatasaray before heading straight to the club office at the Turk Telecom Stadium to put finishing touches to the deal.

Istanbul also had another Eagles star Henry Onyekuru on loan with them last season.

Galatasaray had initially confirmed ongoing negotiations with Stoke City and Etebo for the loan signing of the Super Eagles midfielder.

“Official negotiations with the football player and club Stoke City FC have started regarding the temporary transfer of professional footballer Oghenekaro Peter Etebo to our club,” the club had earlier tweeted.

Galatasaray, managed by former Turkish national team handler Fatih Terim finished sixth in the Super Lig last term and will feature in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League.

A move to Galatasaray will make it Etebo’s fifth club in the last 36 months.

He will be lining up alongside compatriot Jesse Sekidika in the Galatasaray colours for the new season.

Etebo missed Super Eagles friendly game against Brazil and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier matches against Benin Republic and Lesotho after he was taken out in the 24th minute of the encounter between Stoke City and Sheffield.

The injury was a huge blow for Stoke City as former coach; Nathan Jones blamed the loss to Sheffield on Etebo’s absence.

“To lose Etebo early was a big blow for us and then lose your centre-half, invariably the one that came on makes a big error for the only goal of the game,” Jones said after the game. Etebo suffered a muscular injury which will take a while to recover.”

Indeed, Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr had admitted missing the services of Etebo who has not been part of the squad during the team’s last AFCON qualifying games.

“I hope everybody will be fit, we missed some players for the qualifiers like Oghenekaro Etebo and Bryan Idowu, who could not come,” Rohr had said.

Etebo started his career with Lord Honour FC youth team and then joined the Nigeria Professional Football League side Warri Wolves in 2012 where he spent three years before leaving for Europe.

The midfielder teamed up with a Portuguese club Feirense in 2016 and made 45 league appearances for the side before he signed for Stoke City in 2018.

Etebo featured for the Nigeria U-23 team and played a significant role as the West Africans clinched a bronze medal in the 2016 Olympic Games.

The 24-year-old made his Super Eagles debut against Ivory Coast in July 2013 and has since featured 35 times for the side.

Etebo featured for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and was part of Rohr’s side that finished third at 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

It however remains to be seen whether Etebo can revive his career in Turkey for an eventual recall to the Super Eagles in the coming months as the new season kicks off.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 12 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Liverpool Trophy celebration

Liverpool Start Title Defence against Leeds Utd at Anfield Last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winners, Liverpool will host the 2019/20 Championship winners, Leeds on their return to the top-flight for the first time in 16 years.

Both sides dominated their respective divisions last season, but the Reds were particularly masterful, as they laid waste all that stood before them in the English top flight. Now they will open the season by facing each other, as Jurgen Klopp comes head-to-head with the godfather of systemic and intense pressing, Marcelo Bielsa, in what is expected to be a riveting contest The opening day of the 2020-21 Premier League season provides a champions versus champions clash as last termâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-flight title winners Liverpool welcome Championship winners Leeds United to Anfield.

Life back in the big time after a 16-year absence could not get off to a tougher start for Leeds, while for Liverpool they will be aiming to get their title defence off to a winning start after ending their 30-year wait to be crowned kings of England.

The memories of last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relentless, remarkable and recordbreaking charge to the Premier League title will not have faded yet for Liverpool, but the league table has been refreshed and Jurgen Klopp will know that the next race begins in the very first game.

Manchester City and perhaps others will expect to put up a much more competitive fight this time around and so Liverpool will consider themselves back in the 2018-19 mindset, when they knew that any dropped points at any stage of the season could prove costly.

The Reds will also be confident, though, and rightly so given that they won the title with an unprecedented seven games to spare last season and finished a whopping 18 points above a Manchester City side

widely regarded to be one of the greatest teams English football has ever seen.

There is likely to be motivation from outside sources too; bookmakers have Man City as clear title favourites despite last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s onehorse procession, and Liverpool will know themselves that to be considered a truly great team they must now defend their crown - or â&#x20AC;&#x153;attackâ&#x20AC;? the next one, as Klopp likes to say.

A Community Shield defeat on penalties to Arsenal will not cause too much consternation for Liverpool, who suffered the same fate at the hands of Man City prior to the 2019-20 campaign, and also like last season they will begin with a home match against the winners of the Championship.

Norwich City visited Anfield on that occasion having stormed to the Championship title with one more point than Leeds managed last season, and the Canaries caused problems despite ultimately falling to a 4-1 defeat.

Leeds will be hoping that a similar fate does not await them both in this game and in the season as a whole, and they at least know that matchday one is about as difficult as it gets.

Liverpool are unbeaten at Anfield since April 2017 - a run of 59 matches and incredibly have won 25 of their last 26 on home turf, the only exception being a 1-1 draw with Burnley in July which ended the longest home winning run in English top-flight history at 24.

It is a formidable record, but Marcelon Bielsa may feel that matchday one, when his side are still buoyant from their promotion and fired up for their first game back in the Premier League since 2004, is as good a time as any to face the champions away.

The visitors certainly have a good record on the opening day, having played more games on matchday one without losing than any other team in Premier League history, winning five and drawing seven of their previous 12.

Leeds also ended last season in fine form and arrive on Merseyside with five wins from their last six away games, although there is only a certain amount you can read into that given that those games came at a different level.

Nonetheless, the Whites will feel that they are well equipped to compete in the top tier, particularly after bringing in proven international

quality with the likes of Rodrigo Moreno and Robin Koch.

Add to that the Bielsa factor - and that he has now confirmed he is staying at the club - and Leeds are very much a promoted team that much of the division will be wary of facing.

Leeds will at least be confident of scoring, with Liverpool having kept just one clean sheet in their last nine outings including preseason, which has seen them beat Stuttgart and Blackpool but draw with Red Bull Salzburg and lose to Arsenal on penalties.

Not since April 2001 have Leeds beaten Liverpool - a run of eight matches which includes six Liverpool wins and two draws - while their most recent visit to Anfield ended with a 2-0 League Cup defeat in 2016.

Meanwhile, Arsenal get the 2020-21 Premier League campaign underway with a trip to London rivals Fulham this afternoon.

The Gunners ended last season on a high after lifting the FA Cup, while Fulham also bring momentum into the new campaign following their promotion from the Championship.

The 2019-20 season will ultimately go down as a successful one for the Gunners thanks to that triumph, but a lot more is expected of them in the Premier League this time around.

Last termâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eighth-placed finish was Arsenalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lowest since 1995, not helped by a return of four wins in their opening 13 fixtures, which they ultimately failed to recover from.

Arteta took over from Unai Emery midway through the season and, while results were largely mixed, the former Manchester City coach did not take long to make his mark on the field.

Arsenal played some impressive football at times and have carried that into this season, having already defeated champions Liverpool on pens in the Community Shield two weeks ago.

That may be little more than a glorified friendly to many, but it showed once again that the Gunners are now capable of holding their own against the divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top sides.

That is not exactly a category opponents Fulham fit into, of course, with the Cottagers preparing for their first season back in the top flight after a one-year absence.

A 2-1 win over bitter rivals Brentford on August 4 sealed a spot in the top division and Parker will now get his first proper shot at keeping Fulham in the division.

The Cottagers have played just one friendly since then, drawing 2-2 with MK Dons at the end of last month, despite Parker fielding a strong XI in the behind-closeddoors clash.

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL TODAY

Fulham v Arsenal 12:30 Crystal Palace v Southampton 15:00 Liverpool v Leeds Utd 17:30 West Ham v Newcastle 20:00 SUNDAY

West Brom v Leicester 14:00 Tottenham Hotspur16:30Everton MONDAY

Sheffield Utd v Wolves 18:00 Brighton v Chelsea 20:15

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 12, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

L-R: Chief Operating OďŹ&#x192;cer, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Olamide Adeyemo; Head, Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC, Samuel Ocheho; Director, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Sola Fijabi with Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Bridget Oyefeso , sponsors of HiFL Masterclass

Semi Ajayi... Set to impress with West Brom

Stanbic IBTC, HiFL Championing Sports NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attempt at Forcing Sponsorship, Growth Opportunities Exclusive Rights Owners to Sub-license is Bad for Business Nnamdi Obanya, sports broadcaster and media enterprise consultant, explains that anti-exclusivity provisions in the National Broadcasting Code, recently released by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), will hurt exclusive broadcast rights owners I listened to you speak at a webinar on the new NBC Code and you spoke about how it affects sports. I would like you to share your views with our readers on what you think the code portends for exclusive broadcast rights, which the Code seeks to outlaw? his particular article (9.0.1), has caused a bit of a stir. This is because it says that no company can sign up for complete exclusivity of content to be broadcast in Nigeria. The article says that the agreement must not restrict competition and must not prevent others from sub-licensing the same content.

I think the aim is to protect and grow the local broadcasting industry. Anyone who buys rights to any content is the owner of the rights. That is for certain.Whatthecommissionmaybetryingtoachieve is a situation where anyone can sit on the rights of premium content, create artificial scarcity and jack up prices for access to it. The ripple effect is higher cost of advertisement, higher cost of consumption (for example, subscription costs).

T

The commission may be seeking a solution to the issue of only certain business and consumer segments having access to certain content.

Myonlyworryisthatwemayneedtodifferentiate howwehandlepremiumcontentasagainstcheaper contentandfreetoaircontent.Premiumcontentcosts moretopurchase,marketandtransmit.Thereisaneed forHDequipment,needtotargettopbrands,premium salariesforsupportstaffandlocalbroadcastteam.The NBCmayneedtoallowabitmorefreedomtothose purchasing very expensive content. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a heavy investment and forcing them to sub-license at unrealistic prices is not good for business.

certain that it violates (or doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t) the copyright laws, to my understanding. The owner of the content still possesses the rights to the content.

The NBC is taking a position where it is insisting that the owner of the rights must sub-license it to prevent unfair competition.

Even though the owner of the rights will be compensated,itlimitstheownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;srighttogenerate value with it as he/she so pleases. They are also providingthesamecontentforcompetition,who canget it in smaller chunks for certain regions and offer lower advert rates.

There is a lot of ambiguity and a lot may still need to be done to ensure that even if unhealthy monopoly is prevented, the rights of content providers are not violated.

There is a provision in the Code that seeks to compel broadcasters airing foreign sport content to spend a percentage of what they spend on such on a local equivalent. Does this not infringe on their right to their resources and how practicable do you think this is, given that there may not be local equivalent?

What is the local equivalent?Again, this allows for a lot of ambiguity. Is it by type? Is it by federation? Article 6.2.1.0 does not properly define what category is and this leaves a lot of room for loopholes to be exploited.

Let me give you an example. Synchronised swimming is basically rhythmic gymnastics in water, but it is governed by FINA, which governs aquaticsports.Gymnasticson the other hand, are governed by FIG. Nigeria has no recognisable FINA (International Swimming Federation) competitions that are broadcast, meaning that synchronised swimming cannot be shown.

The problem here is that a counter-argument is that gymnastics is gymnastics, so sponsor gymnastics.

Does the prohibition of exclusivity not conďŹ&#x201A;ict with our copyright laws that protect broadcast signal and content?

NOTE: This piece is concluded in the online Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very tricky situation and I cannot say for edition on www.thisdaylive.com

StarTimes to Air Top Rank Boxing in Sub-Sahara Africa StarTimes has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for Bob Arumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Rank events in 2020.

This will see the broadcaster air live boxing events including many world titles bouts on the roster.

For nearly half a century, Top Rank has produced some of its most exciting bouts. Top Rankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current stable of champions represents the best the sport has to offer: Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford, Oscar Valdez, Gilberto Ramirez,

Jose Ramirez and Tyson Fury.

StarTimes serves nearly 13 million subscribers via DTT & DTH platform and 20 million OTT users. The media rights will run across all platforms including pay television and online mobile application enabling subscribers to access Top Rankâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s boxing events.

Top Rank Inc. stands as one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere boxing promotions and is working with a global distribution agency FIGHT GLOBE on the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international

media rights distribution plan in Africa and Asia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;StarTimes is delighted to air Top Rank events across Africa. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;noble artâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is very popular on the continent and Top Rank is among the most prestigious boxing promotional companies, with an impressive record of worldclass fights. This partnership illustrates our commitment to give subscribers access to premium and rich content,â&#x20AC;? said Kristen Miao, StarTimes Sports Director.

In an era when all learning seems to have surely and swiftly switched to the virtual space, it is evident that there is no better place to learn anything or get connected to people to share knowledge but from the comfort of their homes and electronic devices.

Like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually said; oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest achievements should be raising achievers.

Hence, part of the ongoing efforts across board is to keep nurturing sports enthusiasts and raising the bar of knowledge-sharing in the sports industry of the country. This is linkable to how PACE Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Stanbic IBTC are taking a lot of actions to ensure that irrespective of the consequences of the currently raging COVID-19 pandemic, the passionate youths especially sport enthusiasts and even non-enthusiasts are constantly being updated with the right information to boost their sports repertoire as well as a potential career. The result of this leveraging power is a sustainable partnership that brought about a sequence of online sessions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The HiFL Masterclass Series with Stanbic IBTC, with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Classes with the Masters 1.0â&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The #HiFLMasterClassSeries featured online sessions organised to grow and empower critical HiFL stakeholders; sports and non-sports enthusiasts with knowledge of the football subsector by engaging experts on pertinent issues that affect the industry.

Stanbic IBTC is also using these efforts to further strengthen its support for collegiate football in Nigeria with the introduction of learning events for these sports enthusiasts.

The strong and insightful messages dispensed during the various sessions are an indication that there is still a lot to learn as regards football, sport generally, and how it all plays out in Nigeria. For instance, despite being the most popular sport in Nigeria, football doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to attract a commensurate number of sponsors. Besides, recent information presented by TWOREPORT analysis and SponsorTrack substantiated that banks and oil and gas companies lead companies who are actively involved in the sponsorship of major sporting events in Nigeria. Out of the 58 companies covered from various subsectors, banks and oil and gas companies represent a combined 25 per cent actively sponsoring sports-related events in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It now clearly shows that sports industry, and collegiate football in particular, where we currently operate in Nigeria still has a long way to go and there are many stakeholders who are ready to walk the talk while supporting the government to achieve better and sustainably driven growth in this regards,â&#x20AC;?

Director, PACE Sports, and Entertainment Marketing, Sola Fijabi noted in a statement upon completion of the series.

Tega Onojaife, an advocate for women in sports and Founder, Ladies in Sport International while speaking at a session on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How Women Thrive In Footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; corroborated the fact that sports sponsorship is taking a new leap in Africa and even beyond, as brands consider the extent to which a team can go through in any tournament before making their sponsorship decisions.

The learning series also come at a crucial time when sports strategy and sponsorship in Nigeria need a complete turnaround.

However, Stanbic IBTC against all odds still believes in the inherent potentials that the youths of the country possess. The renowned financial service group also believes that youths can embrace collegiate football and grow it as an attractive career and an economic endeavour thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worthy of sustainable investment. The Head of Global Markets at Stanbic IBTC, Sam Ocheho had previously pointed out that the group supports access to inclusive, quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities. This has helped Stanbic IBTC to continue to focus its support in Africa by harnessing the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution while keeping faith with developmental efforts in concentrated sectors.

These beliefs were strongly echoed by Obinna Lewis-Asonye, the Zonal Head of Micro Pension & Agency at Stanbic IBTC as he shared critical principles about safeguarding oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finances as people continue to survive and thrive in this new normal.

He advised the need for increased income streams and diversified portfolios. He concluded by further reinforcing Stanbic IBTCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proven antecedents in wealth creation and management.

As part of the solutions to major challenges in Nigeria sports especially football, La Liga representative for Nigeria, Guillermo Perez Castello during his presentation in one of the sessions: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Growing Your Sports Entity Globallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, believes that the La Liga model can be adapted to grow football leagues in Nigeria but there is need to define a workable and unique strategy.

This, according to Castello could include focusing on â&#x20AC;&#x153;qualitative leap in the main variables as an indicator of success in the present and future strategyâ&#x20AC;? and seeing â&#x20AC;&#x153;innovation as the key factor in generating business and brand in the future.â&#x20AC;?

This way, the expected growth and development can be harnessed fully by sharing global best practices in sports through such platforms as this Masterclass.

The MasterClass Series also featured Prof. S.S. Hamafyelto, President of the Nigerian University Games Association; Mutiu Adepoju, legendary Nigerian footballer and LaLiga ambassador; Toyin Ibitoye, Media Officer of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Super Eagles; Abdul Oganla, Founder of the Africa-USA College Soccer Recruitment Tour; Elizabeth Okogun, Founder of Zinovation Sports and SuperSport Host, Mozez Praiz.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 12, 2020

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

Victor Moses

A Heart of Gold On the field of play sometimes he could be brutal in his tackles, aggressive in his offensive play and even controversial when he leads the charge against the men at the centre when some decisions did not go his way. However, off the field,Victor Moses had proven that he has a heart of gold as he tries to save former club- Wigan Atlectic from distress by anonymously donating ÂŁ20,000 the club

N

ot many footballers have fond memories of their former clubs, but former Super Eagles midfielder, Victor Moses not only remembers his days at Atletic with nostalgia but was also there for them in times of need.

Fans are raising funds to keep the Latics up and running in League One after they entered administration in July.

The cash-strapped Wigan Athletic is in dire straits after administrators were summoned in July, resulting in a 12-point penalty and relegation from the Championship to League One and Moses remembered with fond memories his two years at the club and donated ÂŁ20,000 to his former club.

Moses made a significant donation to support his former club Wigan Athletic amid their financial struggles, the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supporter â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body confirmed.

The chairperson of Wigan Athletic Supportersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Club, Caroline Molyneux, confirmed the gesture made by the ex-Nigerian international who played at the DW Stadium between 2010 and 2012.

The supporters are aiming to raise ÂŁ750,000 to support the club this

season, and they are now within ÂŁ100,000 of the target after Moses sent some money. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what can we say? When Victor got in touch to say he wanted to help by donating such a substantial amount, I just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe what I was hearing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such an incredible gesture,â&#x20AC;? Molyneux said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Victor wanted to make the donation and remain anonymous but we simply had to make sure he gets the recognition he deserves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Victor â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution has taken us past ÂŁ650,000 and to within ÂŁ100,000 of our next target of ÂŁ750,000. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so thankful to Victor for his support. He is an excellent footballer, a true role model and someone we always enjoyed watching at the DW Stadium â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he will always be welcome back here, even more so now!â&#x20AC;?

Wigan were deducted 12 points after going into administration towards the end of the 2019-20 season, which forced them into relegation alongside Hull City and Charlton Athletic.

Moses played for the Latics before joining Chelsea in 2012 and he has called for more support to save the future of the 2013 FA Cup winners. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wigan Athletic will always have a special place in my heart,â&#x20AC;? Moses tweeted.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have so many incredible memories from my time there and the people of Wigan and everyone associated with the club have always been so good to me and my family. We must do all we can to protect the future of this great club.â&#x20AC;?

Wigan tweeted their thanks as they look for a buyer to save them from administrationCredit: Twitter @WiganAthSC. They are desperately looking for new owners to reverse their fortunes.

In the meantime, a Supportersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Club Crowdfunder page has been set up to raise cash and save Wigan from going under.

Former Lactics favourites including Roberto Martinez, Reece James and James McClean have all stepped forward with donations.

SunSport exclusively revealed last month that American financiers Randy Frankel and Michael Kalt are ready to rescue Wigan with a ÂŁ5million-plus offer to take them out of administration.

We told you that the pair are even willing to move ground to play at Leighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rugby League Stadium.

And SunSport brought you news today that Simon Grayson is being lined up as Wiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next manager.

Wigan administrator Paul Stanley says there are a dozen investors showing interest in the football club

The former Super Eagles midfielder has returned to Stamford Bridge after spending the second half of last season on loan at Inter Milan.

His future in Frank Lampardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side is still in doubt having spent the last one-and-a-half years on loan.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

TRIBUTE

Yahaya Oladimeji:The : Exit of A Philanthropist E Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x201C; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ&#x2039; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x201C;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; ĂŁ Ă&#x201D; ĂŁ Ă&#x201D; Ă&#x161; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153; Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?âĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x152;Ă?ĂŁĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x161; Ă&#x161; Ă&#x161; ĂŁ ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ę°Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂĄ Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă?

Hammed Shittu

T

he demise of Alhaji j Yahaya y Moronfade Oladimeji j came as a rude shock to many y who in one way y or the other benefitted from his humanitarian gestures. g The deceased who hails from Iwo in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State was a famous p philanthropist p that used all his life to better the socio well being g of his p people p and the entire society. y His exit has created a big g vacuum that no one can fill. Born in 1935, his adventures in life witnessed a tremendous successes to the extent that, his life sojourn j was deemed worthy y of emulation. Though, g the deceased was not born with a silver spoon, p but he used his resources to make life bearable and meet the needs of his immediate family y and entire members of his home town and indeed other adjoining towns and villages of the state.

No wonder, his eight-day Fidau prayers held at his country home, Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin was well attended by who-is-who in the society. The prayer was led by the Seriki Malami of Kwara State, Sheikh Sulaimon Danboronu.

He used the occasion to advise people to do good and stay away from wicked acts. He was born to the family of late Alhaji Yusuf and Alhaja Asimamu Ajoke Oladimeji in Elemure compound Iwo in Isin local government of the state. He attended Iwo-Owu Primary School and later went into business with his father at Oke-ode town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

In 1959, he went to Igbaja to learn carpentry work under late Chief James Salako, where he became his first certified apprentice. He later moved to Aba-kajola Owode in Ondo State, stayed there for years, and got married. As a trained carpenter, late Oladimeji in the early 70s moved to Ilorin where he started his business of buying and selling building materials and became a major distributor for various companies like G.N.L Bed, United Foam and UNIFoam companies.

Oladimeji

Late Oladimeji strived harder in his chosen business which led many apprentices to join him so as to learn the career. These apprentices today have become wealthy and known in the society. Among them is the Chief Executive Offi f cer and Managing Director of KAM Wire industries, the multi billionaire, Alhaji Kanoru Yusuf. This company has engaged thousands of unemployed youths in the manufacturing of wire products like nails, asbestos and other house building materials in the country.

Others include Alhaji Ganiyu Zubair, the Chief Executive Offi f cer of Shojik Motors located along Offa Garage area of Ilorin, Late Muqtar, Mr. Kehinde Muhammed, Mr. Lekan

Oladimeji (Hammex Motor, Lagos), Mr. Nasirudeen Ayoola and many others.

As a building material merchant, late Oladimeji was honest, trust worthy and showed high sense of sincerity in dealing with members of the public which manifested in his success in the business. As a practicing Muslims, he combined his disciplined life in his business which assisted him in dealing with people thereby helping him to get things done promptly which endeared him to many people of the state.

During his lifetime, Late Oladimeji made a lot of contributions to the development of Iwo community and neighbourr ing villages. Apart from this, many people across the length and breadth of the state have also benefited from his humanitarian assistance. He was honoured with the chieftaincy title of the Otun Aare MusuIumi of Iwo, Biobagunwa of Iwo, Bobagunwa of Oke-ABA and also the Patron, Iwo Famous Club, among others.

Speaking to THISDAY in Ilorin, one of his children, Alhaji Mukaila Oladimeji, a motor dealer in Ilorin, described his late father as a good father that always looked after the welfare of his children and other members of society. He said that he remained a philanthropist par excellence to the extent that many people came to him for assistance.

Also speaking, the childhood friend of the deceased, Alhaji Idris Salaudeen, said that late Oladimeji lived an exemplary life that every human being should pray to live.

Salaudeen who is also the Kwara State chairman, of Iwo Development Association, said that he used all his wealth to better the lives of many people. According to him, late Oladimeji was a disciplined Muslim that practiced the ways of Allah and prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive him his sins and grant him eternal rest.

Late Oladimeji was survived by two wives, children, brothers, sisters, grand-children and other relatives.

Simon Okonkwo Ozumba: 1926-2019 Okwudili Ozumba

O

n Sunday 29th December 2019 a great Iroko Tree fell in Enugwu Ukwu Njikoka Local Government Area in Anambra State.

It was on that date that Okeichie Sir Simon Okonkwo Ozumba (OPPA), a man full of accomplishments, a man of wisdom, mission and vision, the Chairman of Enugwu Ukwu Traditional Council bid the world farewell at the very ripe age of 93 years.

Sir Simon Okonkwo Ozumba fondly referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oppaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; was born in Enugwu-Ukwu in the year 1926 to the family of Late Okogwu Ozumba and wife Mary Mgbafor Ozumba (Nee Ada Uduefi). As a young boy he had his early education at Immanuel Church School Enugwu Ukwu from 1933 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1935. He proceeded from Immanuel Church School to Central School Abagana (now St Peters Anglican Church) where he completed his primary school from 1936-1942. After his Primary Education, he waited for 3yrs as a result of lack of funds before going to secondary school.

By divine intervention, two of his uncles (late Benson Uffoh and Paul Nworah) during this waiting period observed his rare gifts of immense intelligence, tact and wisdom and jointly undertook to sponsor his Secondary Education.

He justified this confidence reposed in him by his dear uncles by becoming the fourth person in his village Uruekwo, to pass the prestigious Junior and Senior Cambridge school certificates.

The previous scholars before him were Late Daniel Okafor, Linus Nweke and Ben Okolo.His exceptional brilliance also rubbed off on all his children as they are all graduates of various professional disciplines at both first and second degree levels. If availed the opportunity today, there is no doubt that, with his rare gift of retentive memory he would have the capacity to obtain Doctorate degree in any course of study of his choice.

He briefly joined the medical line at the General Hospital Enugu as a senior nurse but quickly opted out and joined the Nigerian Railway Corporation in the early sixtyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because he could not withstand seeing human blood when injection or other medical procedures were administered to patients. Just before the Civil war broke out in 1967 he rose in rank to the position of Senior Station Master. His job took him to various cities in Nigeria including Abeokuta, Enugu, Ibadan and Lanwa in llorin present Kwara- State where he sojourned for 17years. His stay in Western and Northern Nigeria exposed him to different Nigerian Cultures and he spoke the three Nigerian languages fluently, an asset that was well utilized as an Administrator during the Civil war.

Simon Ozumba The Nigerian Civil war broke out in 1967 and Oppa, along with all the members of Ozumba family moved to Osumenyi. His tact, immense intelligence and high sense of organization ensured his being awarded the Co-ordinator Directorate of Relief materials for the refugees in Amichi, Ekwulummili and Unubi. Himself, late Innocent Akametalu, Mmoo Dike and Felix Nworjih were the leading lights. for the refugees in their camp at Osumenyi from 1968 till the end of the Civil War in 1970.

Aman of ideas and principles, he was elected the Financial Secretary of Uruekwo Development Union under the leadership of the late Ichie H.C.I Abana, a position he held for seventeen years. He was also the Financial Secretary and National Patron and as well as an astute defender of the Chief Chikelue Omesuhled Executive of the Enugwu Ukwu Community Development Union (E.C.D.U). With â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;OPAAna-Enugwuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; you had reason, logic, strategy and justification for any cause you were defending.

He was an active member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) during the Alhaji Shehu Shagari regime between 1979 and 1983, Chairman Enugwu-Ukwu Traditional Council, since its creation six years ago until his death recently, National Patron Enugwu- Ukwu Community Development Union (E.C.D.U,

and Patron E.C.D.U Enugu branch for over 50years. He was also Member College of National Patrons E.C.D.U, and a member of strategic standing Committee during Engr. Chris Okoye-led Executive of E.C.D.U between 1993 and 1996 Oppa met and married his first wife- Mrs Grace Anosike (Nee Okponyia) from Enu-Abomimi village in Enugwu-Ukwu in 1959. The marriage was blessed with two children. He was later remarried to late Lady Ngozi Philomena Ozumba in the year 1966. The marriage was blissful and was further blessed with six children. His commitment and contributions to the educational pursuits of all his children is evident in the fact that they all excelled in their various disciplines which include Medicine, Accountancy, Engineering, Design and Real Estate Consulting, Languages, Business Consulting/Contracting and Building Construction. He loved his children dearly and was instrumental to their academic excellence and career choices. Furthermore, he was a guardian, mentor and benefactor to his siblings as well as their children who relied on him for the fatherly role he played in their various lives.

He was a peace maker and an advocate of sound Education, and encouraged his peers to give same to their Children.

OPPAwas one of the pillars of St Andrews Anglican Church and Immanuel Church Enugwu-Ukwu. His Contributions to the growth of both churches, along with the unwavering support of his dear late wife led to his being knighted by the Bishop of Awka Diocese Anglican Communion in the year 2011. He was a member of the church committee for many years and his ideas and suggestions added to the growth and progress of both churches, especially St Andrews Church Enugwu-Ukwu his home church. He acted as the church treasurer with integrity, due diligence, and dedication.

He was also a Synod delegate and Head Archdeaconry Board of Finance for many years in St Andrews church. Referred dearly as the Father of St Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group, he worked relentlessly to ensure the functionality of the group. His truthfulness and integrity, assertiveness and progressive nature, spirit of togetherness and deep love for his Community and family will be missed by all he left behind.

Aman of impeccable character who stood for Justice, Equity and radiated deep love for his community has left the scene.

Indeed, Enugwu-Ukwu Community and Uruekwo village and the Nigerian nation at large has indeed lost one of their titans.

His remains will be laid to rest on today, September 12, 2020 after funeral service at St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anglican Church Enugwu Ukwu. May your noble soul continue to rest in peace, Okeichie Simon Ozumba, Oppa Enugwu until we meet to part no more.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚ͺË&#x153; 2020

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 08156654414 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

VWPuts new Golf GTI in Showrooms

All-new Toyota GR Yaris

All-new Yaris Drives on Any Road, SaysToyota

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oyota has said it built the allnew GR Yaris as a vehicle that anyone can drive the way they want with peace of mind on any road in the world.

A statement by the automaker said the reason for this is that â&#x20AC;&#x153;it incorporates lessons learned from the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (WRT), including how to make cars that are competitive in the WRC, as well as learnings gleaned from evaluations given by non-Toyota professional drivers from the early stages of development. Based on the desire of master driver Morizo to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;restore the Toyota sports cars,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; the new GR Yaris was created as the first Toyota vehicle developed with

the reversed concept of turning a motorsports car into a production car.â&#x20AC;?

The main features of the new GR Yaris are the Vehicle packaging with attention paid to aerodynamics, light weight, and high rigidity; the high power of a newly-developed 1.6-liter in-line three-cylinder intercooler turbo engine combined with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;GR-FOUR,â&#x20AC;? a newlydeveloped sports 4WD system, to convey power to all four wheels; created from three distinctive models: the base â&#x20AC;&#x153;RZ,â&#x20AC;? the fun to drive â&#x20AC;&#x153;RSâ&#x20AC;? (1.5-liter FF), and the competition based â&#x20AC;&#x153;RC.â&#x20AC;?

In addition, the GR Factory, an exclusive production line, has been created at the Motomachi Plant, where each sports model

has been produced, to build into cars the performance sought through development by takumi (master craftsmanship) team members.

Toyota Gazoo Racing announced that it would hold an event, called the GR Yaris Online FES, that would display virtual images of the GR Yaris to fans, starting at 7:30 p.m. on September 16 (available only in Japanese).

This event will communicate the ideas incorporated in the development of the GR Yaris and its development story, together with information about the GR Factory.

Additionally, President Akio Toyoda, in his Morizo master driver persona, will drive the GR Yaris and offer the opportunity for a VR drive-along.

Digital,networked,sharperdesignandmoreactive driving dynamics than ever before: with the new Golf GTI, Volkswagen again significantly raises the bar in the sporty compact class. The result is a Golf GTI that combines maximum dynamics with maximum comfort. (Golf GTI with 7-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox).

Things continue apace with the new Golf: following the sales launch of the new Golf GTE The next flagship model of the Golf family is now also available â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the new Golf GTI. This sporty model has enhanced the product portfolio since 1976. JĂźrgen Stackmann,MemberoftheVolkswagenBrandBoard of Management responsible for Sales, explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;For over four decades, the three letters GTI have stood for sporty driving pleasure and technology at the highest level. We thank our customers for 2.3 million Golf GTI sold. The new GTI is full of innovation. It too will set new standards and thrill our customers.â&#x20AC;?

Networked and with active driving dynamics.

Like its predecessors, the latest version of the Golf GTI has also been equipped with groundbreaking technical features. The turbocharged engine now develops 180 kW / 245 PS, its torque is 370 Nm. The agility and sportiness has been perfected with the new, networked Vehicle Dynamics Manager. This higher-level control system centrally coordinates all electromechanical running gear functions.

DCC running gear with variable shock absorbers is optionally available so that GTI drivers can choose their own very individual setup using the standard driving profile selection. The result is an even more precise driving experience.

Digital and innovative. The digital displays of the standard Digital Cockpit and infotainment system start up as soon as the doors are opened.

Discover Media â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including streaming and internet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is installed here as standard, while the 10-inch Discover Pro system is optionally available as the maximum specification level.Anew and individual feature is the possibility of activating a custom GTI design. Here, the rev counter is displayed in the middle of the Digital Cockpit. The new standard background lighting bathes the displays and many other illuminated interior areas in a spectrum of 30 freely configurable colours.

Unmistakably GTI. Typical GTI details are also preservedinthenewgeneration.Theclassicchecked pattern has been given a new, fresh look, and now covers the also newly developed sports seats.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Claims Leadership of Light Commercial Vehicle Segment

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ercedes-Benz opened the world to new possibilities on January 23, 1995 when they unveiled their new solution for the light commercial vehicle segment.

This large sized vehicle presented an ultramodern van that was ideal for the logistics challenges ahead. At a time where the transition to e-commerce and the dimension of online trade was still a fragment of imagination, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter became a key part in this transition for many businesses globally.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the frontline brand for Mercedes-Benz Vans and is renowned for being the go-to brand in the size segment of vans between 3.0 and 5.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. The Sprinter is available exclusively in Nigeria courtesy of WeststarAssociates Limited, Authorized General Distributor of MercedesBenz in Nigeria.

With over 4 million units sold and a presence in over130countriesworldwide,theMercedes-Benz Sprinterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success and impact in this fast-changing business world is clear to see. Lending its name to its vehicle segment, the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sprinter Classâ&#x20AC;? has long been used to identify large sized vehicles in the lightweight division. In the Nigerian Market, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has become top of the mind for passenger transport and logistics for many businesses.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter followed the Mercedes-Benz vans philosophy from 1955, when the first light weight commercial vehicle with the Mercedes star rolled out. 1995 became a special time in the history of Mercedes-Benz as the Sprinter debuted as the first Mercedes-Benz van with its own name. A direct descent of the legendary T1 van, the Sprinter immediately made a statement with disk brakes at the front and rear wheels, the anti-lock braking system ABS including the automatic brake differentialABD, a more aerodynamic body, low fuel consumption and many other innovations. This new van set standards in safety, efficiency, ergonomics and comfort.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter The Sprinter received an exceptionally positive reception from the experts on its debut in 1995.

In a benchmark test by German trade magazine â&#x20AC;&#x153;lastauto und omnibusâ&#x20AC;?, it was ranked as the vehicle with the most economical engine. And in an individual test by the magazine, it was considered to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;the quietest transporter currently availableâ&#x20AC;?. It was no surprise then that the Sprinter was crowned â&#x20AC;&#x153;Van of the Year 1995â&#x20AC;? in the same year of its debut.

In 2006, Mercedes-Benz introduced the second

generation of the Sprinter, customers were now able to access a tailor-made solution for practically any requirement. This was possible via the Bodybuilder Portal, which provides all the information required for realizing customer requests. The new vehicle was characterized by numerous innovations: for example, an extra-wide load compartment sliding door, the super-high roof and a fourth body length. Powertrains have been further optimized with a new range of engines and a new 6-speed transmission for diesel vari-

ants. There was also an improved brake system, ADAPTIVE ESP, with extended functions for all tonnages and a revised stowage concept in the vehicle interior. New features also included the wide-base tyres at the rear axle for the 4.6-tonne variant, the bi-xenon headlamps with static cornering and curve lights, a thorax bag for the driver and co-driver, the PARKTRONIC system and much more.

With an efficient drivetrain and numerous innovations, the further-developed Sprinter from 2013 maintained market leadership among the competition. The contributing factors included, among other things, an efficiency package with ECO steering assistance pump, the ECO start/ stop function and a long rear-axle ratio. In addition to an extended mobility guarantee, customers had yet more equipment options to choose from.

The focus was again on safety in particular: The Sprinter was now the first van to be equipped as standard with CrosswindAssist. WhileAdaptive Highbeam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST are just some of the features also available.

By 2018, the third generation of the MercedesBenz Sprinter was unveiled, embodying the Mercedes-Benz Vans adVANce philosophy from 2016 as a provider of comprehensive mobility solutions. It combines progressive design with comfort and safety features only usually seen in passenger cars.

The extensive networking with the internet is revolutionary: the Mercedes PRO connect services and the multimedia system MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) are setting the points in the direction of the future and creating new possibilities for managing a large fleet and for small businesses alike.

From the outset, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has positioned itself as truly multi-purpose: it is available as a chassis, platform vehicle or tipper vehicle, with a crew cab or a single cab respectively, as a panel van and as a crew bus with five to up thirteen seats, with a low or high roof. The wheelbases ranged from 3000 to 4025 millimetres.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚ͺË&#x153; 2020

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AUTO WORLD

Jaguar and Land Rover Partner with World EV Day to Celebrate Ownership Worldwide

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aguar and Land Rover are partners of World EV Day. The event celebrates and promotes electric mobility worldwide and connects stakeholders from across the industry with consumers to showcase the benefits of electrification and to encourage debate on a more sustainable future.

A statement by the automaker said the automotive brands are working together to deliver Destination Zero, a mission to create a more sustainable future with zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion. Delivered through engineering and design creativity, customer-first culture and a readiness to be strategically bold, this vision is already a reality.

One critical contribution to delivery of Destination Zero is the electrification of the brandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; respective product portfolios.

Jaguar was the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first manufacturer to introduce a premium all-electric SUV with the I-PACE and continues to be at the forefront of electrification innovation through its involvement in the FIA Formula E championship. Land Rover now offers four segment-leading plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in its stable from the Land Rover Discovery Sport P300e premium compact SUV and the new Land Rover Defender P400e through to its flagship Range Rover P400e.

Jaguar I-Pace

TIPP Oil Reveals â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grand Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for Nigeria

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IPP Oil, a leading German premium lubricants producer, has revealed what it described as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;grand planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to take the Nigerian lube market by storm with its premium lubricants as well as its plastic container deposit and buy-back scheme.

With the scheme, which is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first in the lubricants industry, the company buys back its 1, 4 and 5 litre plastic containers from customers as a way of protecting the environment.

The plan, according to Olaolu Olusina, Managing Editor, Auto Report Africa, agent for TIPP Oil in Nigeria, is based on the great interest Nigerians have expressed in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products following the recent launch of a global campaign for distributors by the company.

TIPP Oil is currently expanding its distribution network with a global campaign for new distributors for its award-winning and proudly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Made in Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quality products. Nigeria is one of the markets in the West African sub-region where the German premium lube producers had already received good expression of interest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our deposit system (plastic buy back) in the circulation system is generating enthusiasm worldwide,â&#x20AC;? Olusina, quoting TIPP Oil Managing Director, Sebastian Maeir, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have received real interest in our products from Nigeria and we are coming into the market fully soon with our premium lubricants, using our plastic

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deposit system as a great incentive.â&#x20AC;?

Olusina confirmed that the plastic buy back scheme is fast receiving a warm embrace in the markets where TIPP Oil operates with distributors now using it as incentive to also boost sales. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Nigeria, TIPP Oil plans to use the deposit scheme to also boost self-employment among the teeming youth, thereby assisting the government in tackling a major problem. The beauty of it all is that the jobs to be created through this scheme would be sustainable as the German company is also planning to establish a training centre for youth development,â&#x20AC;? Olusina said.

He, however, confirmed that TIPP Oil is not entirely new in Nigeria as the German oil and chemicals company already has a working arrangement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the area of industrial oils supply. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TIPP OIL has also invested heavily in social welfare projects in the country through affiliate organisations of some of the directors. Launching fully into the market would therefore see more of such projects in line with the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corporate social responsibility,â&#x20AC;? Olusina disclosed..

With two lube plants and 25 offices in Germany, TIPP Oil is a global player in the lubricants market as it sells its premium lubricants and chemicals in 40 countries across the world through its partners, accredited agents A delegation from TIPP Oilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head oďŹ&#x192;ce in Germany and oďŹ&#x192;cials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, during a visit to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;Ś recently and exclusive distributors.

Dealth Penalty For Killer Drivers

have never met His Excellency, Bello Mattawale, the Zamfara State Governor.

Yet, I have become one of his numerous admirers since he stirred the hornet nest with his pragmatic position on the fate of killer drivers. My pals on Sunrise Daily on Channels, whose ideas I quoted last week equally joined the discourse by giving thumps up to the Governor whose position must have assuaged the mind of parents and guardians in pain over the loss of their loved ones through avoidable road traffic crashes.

I know what it means to lose a friend or brother.

I have lost friends and I know of colleagues in the Federal Road Safety Corps who are either crippled, bedridden or dead and buried because of the act of a killer driver. In fact, my dear sister and friend, Maope Ogun-Yusuf as the only mother and wife on Sunrise Daily was damn too passionate when she expressed her support for the draconian ideas to checkmate killers on the wheels. The trio of Chamberlain Usor,Ayo Makinde and Kayode Okikiolu shared similar concern and expressed same support . After years spending the better part of my life pleading and begging road users not to kill themselves or waste innocent lives, I must tell you that I share this crazy idea and position, if you would allow me to.

As a Christian, I know this position amounts to invoking the sixth commandants of God in the Holy scripture which in Exodus 20;13 says,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;thou

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps.

shall not killâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and in Exodus 21:12 saysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to deathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; while 21: 14, says if a person schemes and wilfully acts against his neighbour to murder him, you must take him from my Alter to be put to deathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

This commandment according to commentators, is a moral imperative not to take a life. I am sure most Christians would kick against this hard-line position that amounts to an eye for an eye. I could not lay my hands on what the Holy Koran says buy I do hope that my Muslim colleagues will be kind enough to guide and help me out for the sake of my Muslim readers.

While I await the assistance from my Muslim colleagues, I must tell you that in trying to do justice to this topic as usual, I sought the position of my Law teacher and brother who has stubbornly insisted I become a learned colleague despite my reservations. During my first virtual lecture, I surprisingly

discoursed that his ideas and mine are almost similar.

To demonstrate my prowess as a successful participant in a virtual Law class, I threw the first poser on whether the idea of imposing death penalty for road deaths occasioned by dangerous driving amount to asking for the impossible?

I do not know what your thought are especially if you have not lost a loved one through the mistake of a killer driver. But I know the mother who lost her daughter on July 26 in Lagos due to an unlatched container would perhaps ask for a much tougher penalty if there is any other penalty harsher than killing culprits. For the records I must state here that the incidences of road deaths resulting from dangerous driving and other unsafe driving practices according to my teacher, has for a long time remained recurring in Nigeria. Daily, the media is awash with reports of multiple crashes involving trucks, lorries, petroleum laden tankers and articulated vehicles with unlatched containers. The media reports also includes crashes involving passenger carrying vehicles as well as convoy drivers, in addition to bullion van drivers.

According to my teacher, the underlying factors or common outcomes in every of such occurrences are deaths, maiming of commuters, loss of valuable property and damage to public presence. Families such as the mother cited earlier, he told me are made to bear the pains of losing beloved ones; wives become widows, husbands become widowers and children become orphans while in some instances, parents

become childless. For greater emphasis, it is instructive, my teacher insists to cite just two or three most recent incidents which brought to bear the dangers road users are exposed to on daily bases plying Nigerian roads, no thanks to drivers who indulge in dangerous driving.

First is the case of Chidimma Ajoku who died alongside her colleague while returning from work.

The 27-year-old died on Sunday July 26 2020 when an unlatched container fell on the bus she was in which had stopped to discharge passengers at Ilasamaja bus stop. That crash led to the death of the late Chidimma Ajoku and one other passenger while three others sustained injuries. Another incident that left a very sour taste in the mouth of the country and specifically, the Nigerian Air Force and the victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biological families in particular is the death of the prodigy, reputed to be the first Nigerian female combat pilot, Tolulope Arotile. The circumstance that led to her death being an issue under investigation and already before the courts need not be over flogged here.

There is yet another; the death of 16 persons along the Gusau- Funtua road in Zamfara state. It was attributed to the loss of control by a truck driver who rammed into about four vehicles conveying the unfortunate passengers who became his victims.

The Governor of the state, His Excellency Bello Mattawale was so pained that he vowed to ensure that drivers who cause road deaths by dangerous driving are made to face death sentence. This,my teacher noted, is amongst other stiff measures the Governor undertook to take to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

POLITY Oba Ajibade Ogunoye

How I UseTraditional Oath to Curb Cultism in Owo Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, The Olowo of Owo, recently clocked one year on the throne of his forefathers. In this interview with James Sowole, the 32nd monarch of the ancient kingdom, spoke about challenges, his vision for the kingdom and other issues. Excerpts

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and industry, on sports, culture and tourism? The focus is how do we develop Owo in specific areas.

Take for instance, the culture and tourism. Owo is a land of tradition and culture. Our notable festival is the Igogo festival. I believe it is such a brand that should be promoted globally. It will attract tourists from across the world. We can generate fund through cultural tourism. It will be so branded and promoted. I have been able to package it within the month that it attracted a lot of people. Some of our indigene came from abroad to witness it because they know that Igogo festival used to be a festival of note that must be promoted. We have other festivals too. The sports committee will package our traditional sports. There is no way we cannot attract small and medium scale businesses to Owo. The committee on Commerce and Industry will handle that. It will engage our people. We have the committee on agriculture that will ensure our youths are engage in agriculture and give incentives to farmers.

Within the next three or five years, Owo will be the kingdom to behold.

ow has it been one year after ascending the throne of your forefathers?

It has been fine and fulfilling. There have been challenges but I think we have been able to overcome.

It has been well and good.

It is however a low key celebration because of COVID-19.

Can you share some of the challenges in the last one year as a monarch?

So far as we live, we are bound to face challenges in the course of one’s life. So long as we live in a group, villages or kingdom, challenges will come. Not that they are not surmountable.

Nothing comes so easy. The activities of human relationship are not a straight jacketed. Before I became king, Owo was notorious for violence, acrimony and all social vices. Our youths were neck deep into cultism. My selection was unique that it was raucour free. The outcome was acceptable to all including my brothers, cousins that vied for the throne. It was clear that it was generally acceptable. Those who voted were 15 and I got 14 votes. It was the wish of the people that the desired prince was selected. Unlike in the past when the outcome of Olowo’s selection was not acceptable, mine was a clear departure from the past. The celebration was massive. It was unprecedented. The outcome was so peaceful that I have been able to build on that and ensure peaceful coexistence of our people. I appeal to them that it is time to come together and unify the kingdom. All divisions have been broken. All cleavages are no more rising up. I have been open to our people and humble in accepting the outcome of the results.

The peaceful coexistence has been established in Owo which is key to development. We are now to build on that . I have taken practical steps to ensure we build on the peace currently enjoyed in Owo. The next thing is to face cultism.

I have appealed to our youths as well as used the instrumentality of our foundation to ensure that a lot of them renounced violence. More than 500 of them have renounced violence. The various cult organisations have their footholds in Owo. Our youths fight against themselves based on their Oba Ogunoye cult leaning. There is peace now and our youths are now looking towards the positive things of life. With that, I have been able to encourage them to face farming and to learn skills.

They have embraced the idea. We now have youths that are well focused. They are now into agriculture and learning various skills.

We have been able to direct them aright.

Do you ever think of becoming the king?

Definitely.Any prince ordinarily will have the ambition of becoming a king. Whoever that becomes will have the thought earlier than the selection date. I know it was possible for me to become the king. I had prepared myself for the throne. It was not just happenstance. It was a desire in me. I thank God that my desire came through and I was eventually enthroned as the 32nd Olowo of Owo. You recently said you will be forced to curse those causing crisis in your kingdom. Did that actually happen?

That came up with the issue of politics. Some of our youths that have renounced violence were lured by some politicians to cause skirmishes in the kingdom. We called various interest groups to build on the foundation we have laid. It was there I gave a stern warning to those who think violence will be the order of the day.

That was where I warned them that I will curse whoever former trouble. Thank God nothing like that has happened.

How did you discourage the youths from returning to cultism?

It was one of the instruments we used. They swore to our traditional oath. They know the consequences. Owo is unique. The African is in us. Those youths know the implication of swearing to that oath.

Are you thinking about marrying more wives as a King?

Marrying more wives is not peculiar to kings alone. Any man

can desire to marry more than one wife. It is not only an Africa thing. It is a general thing. It is a global thing. The desire of man is not bounded by continent, colour, religion or whatever. Any man can desire to have more than one wife. It happens in the West. Polygamy is not only in Africa. The difference is that the law in the Western world disallows them to keep more than one woman at home at a time. If not because of the law, you would have seen a lot of white men keeping more than one woman at home. They still circumvent the law. You see them divorcing women almost after marriage. Two years after losing interest in a woman, he divorces her and go after another one. Is that not polygamy? It is the law that does not allow the man to keep them. Our laws allow us to keep them. Ours is much more better because it solves a lot of social problem. Instead of throwing the lady out there, you keep her as you are able. Which is better? Is it the one that says you can throw away and pick another one or the one that says you can keep her? If need be I will pick another woman and marry her.

Are there things you now miss as a king?

Yes. I can longer go out on my free will. I cannot socialize with people or meet with my friends. Before now, I can just pick my car and drive out. I know the implications of becoming a king. I lived in the palace when my father was king for close to 25 years and such I know the requirements. I am used to it.

What are your plans for Owo? I have been able to within this short period put up the Owo Development Council. The Council is constituted by sons and daughters of Owo that have made their marks in life in various fields. I added few outsiders that are so key to the initiative.

They could jolt development in any areas. That council has been divided into committees. Is it on education, commerce

What is your take on call that traditional rulers should get constitutional roles?

It is necessary. It should be a must. Traditional rulers are owners of the land. Why should we be excluded in our constitution?

There should be constitutional roles for traditional rulers. In Great Britain, the Queen is the head of government. Why should there not be a semblance of that here. We should have a system that is similar to that. If you see the quantum of responsibility on a traditional ruler, you will know that it is necessary to recognise them. Within the last one year, if you see the rate people come to the palace and I have been able to provide leadership for them. I have been able to handle cases from morning till evening. Cases that would have gone to court are settled, given direction to people. What we get is merger stipend from the local government. Those are issues.

How were you able to cope with the number of aspirants from your kingdom?

Owo is a political school. We have been able to develop a good number of people that could assume leadership position. That a lot of our sons came out to struggle for the APC tickets shows that we have a lot to offer Ondo State. It is their constitutional right to aspire. I advise them and talk to them that they are qualified to be Governor but for the fact we have a sitting Governor who is performing, I advised the aspirants to support the incumbent. You know you don’t change a winning team.

It is advisable not to change a winning team. Mr. Governor has impacted the length and breadth of Ondo State. He has impacted us positively which is visible and verifiable. I have a lot to talk about the performance of Akeredolu. Do we talk about the roads going on in Akure. Akure has been turned into a modern state capital through the instrumentality of Mr. Governor. Owo has benefitted. He dualised our major road. He is also impacting other parts of Ondo State. Do you talk about the bridge in Ore. there is the industrial hub. They are visible. Since the exit of Pa Adekunle Ajasin from governance, Ondo has never had one additional modern industry. Akeredolu has brought five industries and they are working. Go to the South, roads construction are currently ongoing. The bitumen deposit that would turn the economy around has started working. Unlike in the past when there was nothing to show. The Ondo port is being worked on. It will be a turnaround for the economy of Ondo. So a person that is doing all these must be supported.

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

POLITY Oba Ajibade Ogunoye

I Have Been Exposed to Generosity of Black Communities A social and environmental justice leader, Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland is Founder and CEO ofTheWomen Invested to Save Earth (WISE) Fund, an innovation enterprise, supporting grassroots black and indigenous women climate change innovators in Africa, Brazil, Australia and the USA. She tells Tosin Clegg about starting Black Philanthropy Month, her works for the black community in America and Africa

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hat inspired me to set up Black Philanthropy Month I have been exposed to the generosity of black communities all my life, growing up in Philadelphia; studying and working in Nigeria in my early career; and then working throughout the world, including the Black Diaspora in many African and other countries. Giving time, talent and treasure is a strong dynamic of our cultures. I lived in the Minnesota twin cities of Minneapolis/ St. Paul for many years and although the Black community there is small, in the early 2000s, it was the most ethnically diverse Black metro region with more Somalis, Kenyans and Liberians than anywhere else in the US. I formed a coalition of diverse Black women, including African-Americans, Afro-Latinix, African and African-Caribbean immigrants to support each other’s giving and community leadership. In fact, available research shows that US Black communities give about $11 billion a year, and the highest percentage of their income in philanthropy. I want African-descent and all people to know that we are a philanthropic people. I want Black people to marshall the resources to address our communities’ challenges; and promote a culture of giving that supports innovative people and organisations that can save the world. I want our giving to be a tool of economic empowerment and hope that allies of all backgrounds can join us to rebuild society for social, racial and environmental justice. I am inspired by the hope that we can leave the world better for my daughter and all our children.

BPM always had a Pan-African focus So far it has been very fulfilling and increases in impact each year and that’s because of its Minneapolis roots, BPM always had a Pan-African, global focus and a degree of social media sophistication from inception. I founded it in 2011 with a kickoff Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Summit, which was the first BPM with proclamations from the UN as part of the year and later Decade

to the times but always encourages the creative use of time, talent, treasure and voice for the greater good of the community, society and the planet. Deeply rooted in Africa and transplanted throughout its Diaspora, it is built on the classical South African philosophy of Ubuntu, represented with different terms throughout Africa and its Diaspora. It means that ‘I am because you are.’

It recognises that society is not sustainable unless it is built on the interconnections between people and nature that make life possible for all. Money is just a tool and one form of giving. It is rooted in love of humanity, including the unapologetic love of Black and African people. Given a world still struggling with racism and neocolonialism that stereotypes all African-descent peoples as the inferior supplicants of the world, Black Philanthropy is potentially radical. It affirms our giving traditions and agency to pool hope and resources to change our future. It says we have ideas and organizations worth funding and we practice self-help, just like all other people. It recognises that every successful Black Liberation Movement from the Underground Railroad to the AntiAparthied Movement and now Black Lives Matters Movements were funded with our own resources.

Copeland for People of African Descent; the US Congress, as well as several states and other municipalities. In 2013, two social innovators in their own right, Valaida Fullwood, Creator of Soul of Philanthropy and Tracey Webb, Founder of Black Benefactors joined me as “coarchitects.” After we joined forces, we had even more social media reach. Our national and global reach continues to expand to the point that we have engaged at least 17 million people. My move to Silicon Valley and work in technology exposed me to other tools for community engagement, as well as inequity in the field, including funding for people of colour. This year, drawing on my background in tech and concerned about funding disparities for Black nonprofits and businesses, I founded the Black Giving and Beyond Summit to create New Black Giving Principles to increase community engagement.

Black Philanthropy is an ancient culture of giving that adapts

Why Black-led nonprofits and businesses are chronically underfunded by the private sector We hope to affirmatively identify new ways of funding our organisations, and also to accelerate and scale COVID recovery, racial justice and sustainability. Even though COVID-19 is having a disproportionately negative impact on Black communities, I want people of African-descent to remember that our giving, advocacy and self-help has changed the course of our history and can do it again. The specifically high tech, immersive summit and year-round events are designed to infuse our community and allies with a palpable, visceral sense of community connection, hope and a future that we can co-create, despite the social isolation, despair and anxiety of the times.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Senior Pastor, Trinity House/Director, Market Doctor Initiatives, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; CEO, Market Doctor Initiatives, Dr. Yetunde Oyalowo; and Director, Market Doctor Initiatives/Resident Pastor, RCCG, Jesus House, Naslville, US, Pastor Taiwo Osinusi, during the dedication of the new Market Doctor Office and Mobile Clinic in Surulere, Lagos ...recently

L-R: Managing Director/CEO Federal Housing Authority, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Executive Director, Business Development, Federal Housing Authority, Hon. Abdulmumuni Jibrin, during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor’s Office, Alausa, Lagos STATE HOUSE

L-R: Head of Accounts, Apapa General Hospital, Taiye Taiwo; Head of Administration/Human Resources,

L-R: Devon King’s Brand Influencer, Chef Obubu; First runner up of The King’s Chef Challenge, Apapa General Hospital,Taiwo Ibilola Aramide; Chief Medical Director, Dr. Ajibola Keshinro; and Group Head, Omolabake Davis; and Category and Brand Manager, PZ Wilmar, Toyin Popoola-Diana, at The Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, Olumuyiwa Akande, during the donation of 5 laptops, 6 desktop SUNDAY ADIGUN King’s Chef Challenge prize presentation ceremony in Lagos ...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN computers and 18 wall fans by SIFAX Group to the hospital in Lagos ...recently

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

POLITY

Akwasa in 2016 when he surrendered weapons to the state government as part of an Amnesty programme

Fall of the Notorious Gana in Benue State George Okoh in Makurdi

F

or several years, Terwase Akwasa popularly referred to as Gana, was a wanted man around the North-east area of Benue State, where he orchestrated a reign of terror on his own people. He was known as the king of the underworld.

He was said to have controlled a large portion of land stretching to Katsina Ala, Ukum, Logo and parts of Taraba State and was said to have been responsible for most of the crimes committed in the area including kidnapping, robberies, assassinations, cattle rustling and communal clashes. He was feared and dreaded by the inhabitants of the area and was courted by government, politicians, security operatives and locals. He was venerated for having a fetish power that elevated him to a cult figure that must be obeyed or death will befall who ever dared him.

According to a local source, Gana was a normal young man from Gbise in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of the state who grew up in Makurdi, the state capital. He was said to have attended primary school like his peers from 1985 to 1990 before leaving for his hometown in Gbise.

While in Gbise, he reportedly joined a militia group that defended his community against series of Fulani herdsmen and Jukun militia attacks. His heroic feats during these series of attack brought him to limelight as he was admired by locals, traditional chiefs and even the government.

According to a source, Mr Terhemen Timothy, Gana’s heroic feat of defending the Tiv people against the Fulani’s and Jukun aggression came with an accolade of a saint, saviour and messiah of a sort.

The source believed that after his victories in many battles, local priests from the area decided to fortify him with some fetish power that enabled him to disappear and turned into a different human being whenever attempts were made on his life. “He was also fortified with charms that protected him against weapons and bullets,” Timothy stated. There were speculations that Gana was involved in human sacrifices which some claimed included burying his own daughter alive in the presence of his wailing wife.

In all these, he was celebrated more for his achievements against the Fulani herdsmen who terrorized the people for long.

They also confiscated and destroyed their farmlands. Outside, this he was also known for his philanthropy. Asort of Robin Hood who stole from the rich to give to the poor. He built schools and gave out scholarships to less-privileged pupils.

Many of the beneficiaries of his sponsorship programme are said to have graduated from the universities and are currently lawyers, doctors, engineers and teachers. He also empowered people of his community with cars, motorbikes, grinding machines and money for businesses.

However, Gana’s actions and motives reportedly changed as from 2011. Having conquered external aggression, He was said to

Terwase Akwasa with the Chief of Sankara, Abu King Shuluwa and other chiefs on the day of his capture and death have become a tyrant to his own people and crime rate suddenly increased in his domain. He was said to have held everyone to ransome. Royalty and tax were paid to him for protection and peace. His gangs became a terror group committing very terrible and heinous crimes against his own people.

One of such crimes was the invasion of Zaki Biam yam market where over 50 people were killed following a supremacy fight between Gana and his deputy. The market, which was the biggest yam market in the country fell under the control of Gana as local and state government owners of the market became helpless. The three council areas, which were the economic hubs for agricultural produce became deserted as Gana and his gang terrorized who dared them.

Several people, including top politicians, were killed and many were reported missing within the area.

The situation got worse when he attempted to sponsor his wife into politics. She contested for a seat in the the state house of Assembly but failed.

Gana was said to have be miffed by his wife’s rejection and he reportedly unleashed more terror on the people.

According to an observer of his reign of terror, Terna Iornem, Gana was so upset that he stopped some politicians for daring to participate in the 2019 election.

It was at the height of this that Governor Samuel Ortom in

2016 tried to negotiate with Gana by granting amnesty to him and his gang in exchange for peace. Atruce was agreed and he surrendered his weapons under the governor’s amnesty programme. However, shortly after the amnesty, he was accused of masterminding the killing of Ortom’s Special Assistant on Security, Denen Igbana. He was yet again declared wanted by the governor but he ran into hiding and returned to his past ways. A N10 million bounty was placed on him but no one could find him.

To assist the state in tracking Gana, the Federal Government sent a special military operation known as Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) to track him down.

His hideout in Gbise was bombed and destroyed, but he was said to have narrowly escaped.

The hunt for him continued for four years but due to his mastery of the area, he couldn’t be caught until Tuesday when he showed up in Katsina Ala. His coming and the manner he was received by residents was heroic at the Akume Atongo stadium. He surrendeted his arms and charms and declared his intention to embrace a second amnesty offered by the state government.

It was while he was being escorted to meet the state Governor that he was intercepted by the military forces and killed. Ironically, condemnation has continued to trail his death.

Both Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator Gabriel Suswam, religious bodies and socio-cultural organizations have all condemned the killing.

Ortom expressed shock over the interception of a government convoy, and the subsequent arrest and killing of Gana by military authorities. Also, the former state Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, condemned the alleged extra-judicial killing of Gana.

Acommunity leader, who pleaded for anonimity, said Gana was in a government convoy when he was dragged out of a car by soldiers at a checkpoint in Gbitse in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state. But the Commander of Operation Ayem A. Kpatuma, Major General Ali Gadzama, said on Tuesday that Gana was killed in a gun battle with soldiers.

One of Gana’s wives, Wantor said her husband was in a convoy of government officials, traditional rulers and clergymen, heading to Makurdi, the state capital, to finalise the amnesty deal he had with the state government before he was killed.

The 34-year-old, who spoke in Abuja, said Akwaza only accepted the state government’s offer of amnesty and came out of his hiding after a former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, visited and assured him that he was involved in the deal.

She said her late husband whom she last spoke with on Saturday, accepted the government’s amnesty offer because he was tired of living in hiding and wanted to start living as a freeman. Wantor said, “He said he had worked for the world for too long; so he wanted to work for God. He said he wanted to be a free man.”

She wanted government to “bring the people” who killed her husband to justice. She also wanted a compensation of N5bn to be paid to the family.

39

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž 12, 2020

SPORTS XTRA

Semi Ajayi Vows to Make Impact with West Brom

A

s the English Premier League kicks off today, Super Eagles defender, SemiAjayi has stated that despite the fact that its his first season in the English top flight he is determined to make an impact with West Bromwich Albion.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not here to make up the numbers, we are here to compete and show everyone how good we are,â&#x20AC;? Ajayi said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Underestimate us at your peril. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a good side and hungry individuals who are looking to make a name for themselves at this level, including me,â&#x20AC;? he noted.

Despite missing out on playing in the Premier League

withArsenal,Ajayi was always confident he would make it one day.

The 26-year-old Nigeria defenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to the Premier League instead saw him dropping to the lower leagues to play regular football.

Now though he is preparing for life in the English top flight with newly promoted West Brom .

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always believe in your own ability,â&#x20AC;? he told BBC Sport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never let anyone tell you that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it or that your dreams are too big. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Look at me I was in League One just 18 months ago and now I am getting ready to play in the Premier League.â&#x20AC;?

West Brom earned their promotion by finishing as runners-up in the Champion-

ship and begin their Premier League campaign on Sunday against visiting Leicester City.

London-born Ajayi began his youth career at Charlton Athletic before signing a contract with the senior team and being loaned to non-league Dartford for a season.

At the age of 20 he moved to Arsenal and despite playing in several friendlies for them and even being named on the substitutes bench for several Premier League games he never made the breakthrough.

Instead was loaned to Cardiff City, who made his move permanent in 2015 - however he was again sent out on loan, this time to AFC Wimbledon then Crewe Alexandra.

A third temporary move to Rotherham in League One ended up being the turning point for Ajayi as he not only secured a permanent move to the club but was impressive enough for West Brom to sign him.

Last season as West Brom

earned promotion back to the Premier League, Ajayi made 43 league appearances and scored five goals.

He believes that his time playing at different levels has helped rather than hindered his career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Experiencing different leagues and international football holds you in good stead and you always have to believe in your own ability,â&#x20AC;? he explained.

Ajayi has 10 caps for Nigeria and just missed out on the final Super Eagles squad for last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was gutted (to miss out) but I wished the boys all the best and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take it personally,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I knew I just had to come back and show what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m about.â&#x20AC;?

He is still dreaming of success with Nigeria - and has two targets in mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Definitely win Afcon - that would be amazing for Nigeria - and play at a World Cup and win that as well - why not?â&#x20AC;? he enthused.

US OPEN FINAL

Osaka Sets up Showdown with Azarenka

Ola Aina displays his Fulham jersey after he was unveiled by the London club

Ola Aina Joins Fulham on Season Loan Fulham yesterday confirmed the signing of Nigerian international full back Ola Aina on a season-long loan from Torino.

The 23 year-old defender, who came through Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth academy before moving to Italy, has been a longstanding Fulham target and the newly-promoted side have an agreed a loan deal with an option to make the switch permanent next summer. Aina told FulhamFCTV: I feel very excited and privileged to be able to play for a club like this. It feels amazing to be back closer to my family, back in the capital where I was born and raised. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great bunch of lads here. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really good friends with Big Hec and Josh Onomah. I feel very comfortable on either foot, I can fill in wherever needs be. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m

pretty quick and I like to attack, but I also like to help the team and do the dirty work as much as I can.

Aina, who can also play at left back, in central defence or in either wide midfield position, was part of Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-conquering under 18 and under 23 sides and made six first-team appearances as the Blues won the 2016/2017 league title. He spent a season on loan with Hull City, before moving to Torino, also initially on loan. He made 30 league appearances as Torino qualified for the Europa League and the Italian side opted to sign him permanently.

Aina made 37 league appearances last term as Torino battled successfully against the drop.

Having represented England at youth level, Aina was offered the opportunity

to play for Nigeria, the birthplace of his parents, and has now made fourteen senior international appearances. He missed on the 2018 World Cup squad narrowly, but was part of the Nigeria side that finished third at Africa Cup of Nations last year.

Fulhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice chairman and director of football operations, Tony Khan said: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pleased to announce the arrival of Ola Aina to Fulham on loan from Torino. Ola is an exciting young player who can further strengthen our squad this season in the Premier League. In our loan agreement, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve secured an option for a permanent transfer for Ola to potentially remain at Fulham if this season proves to be a good fit for us, which is a great situation for the club given our belief in Olaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talent and in his potential.

Stoke City ConďŹ rm Signing of Nigeria U17 Center Back With a statement on their official website, Championship club Stoke City have finally confirmed the signing of former Nigeria U17 invitee Ifeanyi Udanoh.

The Potters beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signature of the central defender who has been likened to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

Stoke City announced on Friday that the dual-eligible Udanoh is among the twelve players who have put pen to paper to become first-year scholars at the club.

On Udanoh, Stoke City wrote : â&#x20AC;&#x153;Centre back from London/Nigeria. Came to the Club on a trial in January before he unfortunately sustained an injury just after.

Nine Nigerians Feature for Arsenal in Premier League 2 Opener Nine players of Nigerian descent were on show at London Colney as Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Southampton B in the Premier League 2 Division 1 curtain raiser yesterday.

Left-back Tolaji Bola and central midfielder Miguel Azeez were joined in Arsenalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starting lineup by Daniel Oyegoke, James Olayinka, RyanAlebiosu and Folarin Balogun, while summer signing from Huddersfield Town, Tim

Akinola entered the game as a substitute at minute 63.

As for Southampton, Belgium youth international Kazeem Olaigbe started while former Arsenal schoolboy David Agbontohoma entered the fray in the 84th minute.

Arsenalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ben Cottrell slotted past goalkeeper Harry Lewis from close range to open the scoring in the 11th minute but the Saints got back on level terms

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Still getting back to full fitness following lockdown but an aggressive centre back who likes physical challenges.â&#x20AC;?

Stoke City are mindful of the fact that Udanoh has just recovered from injury and he will be rested for their first three games in the U18 Premier League in the 2020-2021 campaign. through Josh Sims three minutes after the restart.

Kegs Chauke scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 64th minute.

Republic of Ireland U19 center back Mazeed Ogungbo watched proceedings from the bench for the entirety of the game and his Arsenal teammate Arthur Okonkwo wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t included in the matchday squad.

Tim Akinola has now made two competitive appearances for Arsenalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth teams this season, having featured off the bench in the EFL Trophy win against Ipswich Town on September 8.

Victoria Azarenka won a vintage US Open battle against Serena Williams to reach her first grand slam final for seven years.

Williams looked supreme in the first set as a New York final rematch against Naomi Osaka beckoned but Azarenka fought back superbly to win 1-6 6-3 6-3.

Williams was not helped by a jarred Achilles early in the deciding set that required heavy strapping, and her quest to equal Margaret Courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record of 24 grand slam singles titles goes on.

Instead it is two-timeAustralian Open championAzarenka who will face Osaka â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an impressive winner in a superb match against Jennifer Brady in a quite remarkable story of resurgence.

The 31-year-old had been a shadow of her former self since her stop-start return from maternity leave in 2017 and had almost been written off as a major contender prior to her victory on the same courts in the Western & Southern Open last month.

A lengthy custody battle with her former partner over their three-year-old son, Leo, kept her away for several spells and took its toll on and off court, while her confidence ebbed away.

This was the former world number oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first slam semifinal since her second consecutive final against Williams in New York in 2013, both of which were high-quality, close affairs but both were won by the American.

Gov. Abdulrazaq to Host USA â&#x20AC;&#x2122;94 Eagles in Memory of Yekini The Governor of Kwara State Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has promised to host the 1994 Super Eagles in recognition of their role in lifting the image of the country and to keep the memory of late Rashidi Yekini alive.

The Governor made this pledge while on a visit to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare where they also discussed prospects in youth and sports development and areas of mutual collaboration.

Governor Abdulrazaq announced that progress had been made to immortalize late Nigerian football icon Rashidi Yekini by naming the Kwara State Sports Complex Stadium, Ilorin, after him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will send a bill to the State House of Assembly to immortalize Rashidi Yekini with the name of the stadium changing, after the approval.â&#x20AC;?

The Minister reminded the Governor of the series of letters that had been written to the Kwara State Government to immortalize Yekini with the naming of the stadium after the late football legend.

Governor Abdulrahman said he was a passionate follower of the US â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;94 squad. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was at the stadium in the US when DanielAmokachi scored what seemed to be the best goal against Greece. It was quite memorable for me as an ardent lover of the game of football.

After that goal, I fell in love with Jersey â&#x20AC;&#x153;Number 14â&#x20AC;? which Amokachi wore,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Saturday, September 12, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Mailafia to DSS

“I have reason to believe that some sinister political forces want me silenced forever. My life is in danger, all because I have chosen to speak truth to power and because I have dared to stand up for the Holy Martyrs” – Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank on Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia protesting his third summon by the Department of State Security (DSS) over his comments on Boko Haram.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Dino Melaye and the Critics of His Lifestyle

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ellow Nigerians, please permit me to make some quick clarifications. I’m not a Lawyer.

I’m not a Prosecutor. I do not work for EFCC, ICPC, SFU, CID, DSS, NIA or any of such organizations. I’m a journalist, a reporter, a columnist, a publisher, a social media addict, an author, etc, who is amazingly passionate about his career. Journalism happens to be the most flexible profession on planet earth. That is the reason anyone can be a media practitioner.

There are infinite genres of journalism, including investigative, developmental, professional, lifestyles and entertainment, political, business, finance and so on. You can stretch this, ad infinitum.

I chose one niche only, Lifestyle and Entertainment, and decided to run with it. I leave it to the judgment of my fans and critics to decide whether I have made a success or failure of it. One fact is clear.

Every soul has a choice of what to read or watch.

If you visit any W. H. Smith Bookstore, in London, you will always be welcomed by an avalanche of books, newspapers and magazines and you would be spoilt for choice, if you’re a voracious reader like me. Please, endure my preamble. I’m not just a reporter, I’m trained to write. Armed with a Master’s degree in Literature-in-English, from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, I migrated to Lagos, in search of greener pastures in 1988. I was exceptionally lucky as fame and relative fortune smiled at me, sooner rather than later, not on a platter of gold but by dint of hard work. I’m a workaholic. But I will not bore you with my comprehensive trajectories of journalistic conquests. I had to navigate and meander my ways through the labyrinth of a forest of a thousand daemons but at every stage I triumphed.

I was lucky to have had the traits of a typical Taurean. I’m a bull. I’m self-assured and very confident. I’m stubborn and stoical. I’m focused.

No one can discourage me. I’m gentle but ready to pounce when threatened, or unnecessarily provoked.

I have kept faith with my job. I enjoy every bit of it. I love my readers and fans. I try to tolerate those who come at me but respond whenever they cross the red line of abject ignorance. I must know that I understand the plight of some of my traducers. First, they do not understand my job but pretend to be experts, and you wonder why they can’t publish theirs, if so good. Then there are arrogant colleagues who discriminate against you for various reasons: Dele did not attend any journalism school; Dele hobnobs with the rich and famous; Dele made a fortune by praising corrupt Nigerians; and so on, all untrue, as I shall demonstrate, in a jiffy.

The first allegation is unfounded and baseless.

You do not have to attend a journalism school before you can be regarded a reporter. The principal tool of media is language. It was the reason I was employed instantly by the Editor of the African Concord magazine, Mr Lewis Obi, in 1988. That was the reason I was selected as a pioneer staff of Weekend Concord in 1989, and enjoyed rapid and sporadic promotions from my Editor, Mr Mike Awoyinfa. It was the reason I gained the attention of our Managing Director, Dr Doyinsola Abiola, and our dear beloved Chairman, Chief Moshood Abiola. It was the reason I became the highest paid Editor at Classique magazine, in 1990, at the special invitation of Publisher, May Ellen Ezekiel Mofe Damijo. Same goes for my being appointed the pioneer Editor at Leaders & Company, in 1992, in what metamorphosed into Thisday newspapers,

by Publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena. Each of these could not have been fluke.

Now imagine, how a self-professed journalism policeman wrote during my 60th birthday celebration that “Dele Momodu is not a journalist!” The man must have assumed that that was the best congratulatory message he could send to me on my special day. Such is the irresistible effect of hate and envy. I deliberately did not give him the attention he was seeking by not responding

Melaye and will still not dignify him with a mention of his name.

I have suffered many such attacks from colleagues, friends, haters, and others for simply minding my business diligently, professionally, ethically and successfully. If there is any offense I have committed, it is my refusal to join them in mob journalism, media lynching, practicing entertainment journalism as opposed to bolekajanism, granting access to everyone whether saints or sinners, and so on. Do I not have the right to my own style while you also have yours?

This spate of attacks started about 20 years ago when Ovation International magazine published the dual weddings of General Sani Abacha’s daughters, Zeynab and Gumsu. All hell broke loose. A friend of mine was in a hurry to declare a fatwa on Ovation International. The magazine must die, many chorused. I was unmoved by the empty threats. They told me Nigerians have decided to boycott the magazine and I asked the venue of their meeting. Instead of the magazine dying, it sold out completely. Unknown to my attackers, I had my role models and learned so much from them, theoretically and practically. One of them was The Madiba, Nelson Mandela, who despite spending 27 years behind bars, with many of his comrades murdered, he came back preaching peace and reconciliation. Our own country is in this big mess today, and in perpetual strife and stress, because of our proclivity and propensity for rabid vindictiveness. I found the Abachas newsworthy, I wanted to unveil where and how they lived, and I returned with a monstrous scoop.

We even published never seen before pictures of the mausoleum in which Abacha was buried. If I were an American, I would have earned millions of dollars from owning the copyright. Yet my selfrighteous critics and colleagues were happy to steal our pictures, shamelessly and lavishly publishing them, without authorization.

Let me give one more example before we get to Senator Dino Melaye’s gallery of a home in Abuja. About five years ago, I was in London when the news of the arrest of former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, by the British Police, hit the airways like thunderbolt. The reporter in me immediately sprang into action. I pressed a few buttons here and there and soon found those who knew her movements. I pleaded with them to arrange an exclusive interview with her, a seeming impossibility at first. She told my sources that I was an enemy of their government and one of those whose pens sacked them from power. I sent word back that I could be trusted with reporting whatever she says, verbatim, without embellishments or misinterpretations. Once I gave

those guarantees, she agreed to meet me at a secret location. I was already seated before she came.

And she left before I left. Our mutual contact was present. She was clutching some files which turned out to contain some hospital documents. She looked drained of her usual effervescent life and glowing looks. I was shocked.

We chatted briefly and she told me she was too tired to talk that evening after going through her dose of chemotherapy. I prayed for her recovery, since I’m not a vulture who takes delight in macabre ritual dance of death. We agreed to meet soon, and she left. Our contact promised to make the interview possible, but I should be on standby for an impromptu date and venue. When the call eventually came, I was given the shortest notice possible and my wife had to drive me when I could not get a cab sooner. The venue turned out to be a breakfast restaurant around Regents Park.

When I walked in, I saw a black lady who was not Diezani. She recognized me and invited me to a corner where a reservation had been made.

Diezani soon walked in clutching some documents again. Because it was morning, this time, I was able to fix a proper gaze on her. Her eyes were bigger and almost bulging out of her sockets. Her hair was substantially off, perhaps the fallout from her chemo treatments, I soliloquized.

I spent time with the famed woman who now cut a pitiable figure in front of me. However, she did not make any effort to be pitied or considered a victim. Despite her palpable discomfort, she was determined to express herself and debunk the stories that she had stolen anything from 20 billion dollars upward. As we spoke, I fired different salvos, what my boss, Mike Awoyinfa, would have called “satanic questions”. She answered some and refused others because she was still under investigation and would not want to jeopardize her case. I used my iPhone to take about hundred pictures from different angles. She cooperated beautifully and I reiterated my promise not to misquote her. We took personal pictures together, for the records, and off I went.

I was pleased with myself, that I got to interview the most wanted woman in Nigeria. Off I went on my other missions. I sent the interview to my team. It came in handy at a time we were already working on an online newspaper to be called The Boss. I was in Dubai when we released this spectacular story. The first person to call me was Omoyele Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters He requested for unmarked pictures of Diezani. I said I couldn’t oblige since I did not have authorization to hand out her pictures.

Also, I suspected the angle of the story or the slant Sahara Reporters would likely bring to the story.

All my journalism career, I have steadfastly built a reputation as a mild-mannered reporter with the ability to interview the biggest newsmakers.

Days later, Sahara Reporters interviewed a certain lawyer in Lagos who tried to cast aspersions on my exclusive interview by saying Diezani did not grant the interview. I remained unperturbed.

Diezani soon reached out to say she never said so to anyone and apologized for the embarrassment.

As soon as our story went out, I received blistering attacks for talking to Diezani. Many of them called me unprintable names. I must have collected part of her billions. Diezani had no cancer. Dele was the one spinning such stories to attract pity. I endured it all. To achieve success in a land littered with angry people, you must sometimes acquire the skin of a porcupine. Once again, my attackers all used my pictures and story they couldn’t get directly, free of charge!

Let’s now go inside Dino Melaye’s palace in Abuja. I was in the Federal Capital City last weekend and decided to visit Dino, a man who had always treated me with the respect of an avuncular friend.

While our friendship started over a decade ago, Dino continues to shower me with tremendous regard. For example, while he commands about

two million followers on Twitter, I control one million and three hundred followers. Yet I’m the only soul he follows. I still can’t explain why but I’m one of those who can advise him on any issue, and he won’t feel offended. I had never been to his house and decided to pay him a visit last Saturday. I’m glad I did.

Dino was having a steam session when I arrived.

He had his head buried in a bucket, steaming with some hot balms added and covered up with a thick blanket. He signalled to me to wait for him. He later told me he was prone to breathing problems and so must battle any likely infection of the nose and lungs. We spoke generally and then I requested for a tour of his beautiful home. He gladly obliged, but let me reiterate that it was not a planned session. It may have been difficult for any journalist to gain such unrestrained and unrestricted access to every part of that monumental home, but he granted me that privilege as a Brother he loves unconditionally. He once said he would take a bullet for me and I also love him, warts and all, no matter what anyone says about him. Ours is not a business transaction. I respect those who respect me and I’m not in the habit of judging anyone.

Let me say for emphasis, that I was totally wowed by what I saw. I have covered many homes of the rich and famous, including that of Ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez, in New York, Alhaji Mai Deribe, in Maiduguri, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide in Stanmore, England, Jimoh Ibrahim’s mansion on The Bishop’s Avenue, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s home in London, South Africa, Abuja and Benin, Otunba Subomi Balogun, on Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and others, but Dino’s home turned out to be an artistic masterpiece. Everything in the house was, obviously, deliberately and meticulously, put together. From his vintage and contemporary cars, artworks, dogs, super bikes, chandeliers, gold plated dinner plates and cutlery, elevator, bars, bedrooms, floating swimming pool, assorted drinks which he does not drink, clothes, shoes and the most controversial, over 200 pieces of exotic wristwatches.

I traversed the building inside and outside while I was transmitting live on Instagram. I will rate this unprecedented work of journalistic excellence one of my best stories ever, even if the critics develop epileptic spasms in the process. Everyman has a right to his existence and lifestyle. Very young artists in America fly private jets. The attacks here are because Dino is a politician and there is too much hunger in the land. Every one of the critics was pontificating and pointing accusing fingers at Dino as if they would reject being dashed that architectural edifice, if only for a few days. Worse still, they are angry that I did not ask how he got the money to acquire such expensive taste. I’m sorry, that’s not my job as a celebrity reporter. Others have the capacity to investigate supposed looters, while my focus is on how the money is spent.

From sufficient experience and exposure to men and women of means, I know that Dino has never been in such a position to have executive access to government funds at that level. Even if he were the Senate President, or Governor of Lagos State, he could not have amassed such stupendous wealth.

Where then did he get all that money from? My answer is I don’t know, and I did not expect him to tell me his secrets. All I know is some people are very talented in the art and science of making money and I should never assume I know how or all.

I read one of my attackers yesterday. He is a Facebook journalist who feels so important about abusing anyone in sight. I only felt pity for him because I could feel the bitterness that was choking him up. I wondered why he couldn’t channel all that energy into building his own business and brand instead of wasting his strength on demolishing others. He and his ilk should be told that being bitter can never make your own life better...

It is a fact of life...

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