THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 1ST AUGUST 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2021

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CONTENT Society FAYRELE : EFE IRELE PARTNERS WITH EWAMI ESSENTIALS TO LAUNCH HER NEW SKINCARE LINE PG 6

OPENING OF LA MADISON EVENT CENTRE PG 8-9

Fashion ORANGE CRUSH PG 19 The Emir, HRM Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, needs no introduction. This is simply because the man wears several hats, many of which he has excelled in with great aplomb. He is an academic, a public intellectual, a banker, a regulator, a traditional ruler, a religious scholar and a corporate member. Watching him from afar, listening to his many speeches and mode of delivery, one cannot but admire the confidence he exudes. Executive Editor or STYLE, RUTH OSIME spoke to him as he turns 60.

DAY TO NIGHT OUTFIT IDEAS PG 20-21 FUN FACTS CAPSULE PG 22

PHOTO CREDIT : MAJEEDA STUDIO

THISDAY STYLE FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR RUTH OSIME

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EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

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SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500 CONTRIBUTORS ISIOMA USIADE GUEST CORRESPONDENTS AZUKA OGUJIUBA ZINA ANUMUDU JOANNA MACGREGOR SEYI ALAWODE PHOTOGRAPHER TY BELLO DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

Sometimes in life, we are so settled in our comfort zone and reluctant to step out of it. So much so, that if there is need to go against the grain, we prefer to play it safe by to ‘toeing the line’ and remain ‘politically correct’. We take no risks and are not ready to stick our necks out for anything that will topple our cart so to speak. But there are those who refuse to succumb to societal dictates by playing it safe. They have a deep dogged resistance to anything that does not sit well with them. Regardless of their societal standing, they air their grievances without caring whose ox is gored. Some call them rebels, others call them fundamentalists. Whatever cap they are labeled with, they take a stand and sometimes, they pay the price for doing this especially when it involves criticism of people in the corridors of power. The rest of us watch them giving punches and receiving some in return. We admire their guts. We need not ask what side of the fence our cover personality this week, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ll, sits on because his past anticidents speak for itself. He is never afraid to take the bull by the horn and remains dogged in his stand for his beliefs. His predictions of the banking sector have come to pass. When he became the Emir of Kano, he voiced his concerns unabashed until his critics could take no more, and did what they could to shut him up. But regardless, Sanusi has not rested his laurels and till date, remains unperturbed. How many times have we taken time out to lend our voices to the downtrodden? How have we used what we have or who we are to better the lives of those who have not? Will we step out of our comfort zones and do the needful as and when required regardless of whose ox is gored in the process? Just how far are we willing to go to pursue our purpose? How much sacrifice are we willing to make for positive change and growth for those who need it urgently? What personal steps have we taken to voice our concerns about the frustration of the masses? So many questions, so many unanswered. Instagram: @thisdaystyle | Twitter: @thisdaystyleon | Instagram: @thisdaystyle | Website: www.thisdaystyle.ng

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Fayrele : Efe Irele Partners With Ewami Essentials To Launch Her New Skincare Line Multiple award winning actress Efe Irele has partnered with Ewami Skincare to launch her own skincare line FAYRELE. Announcing this on her social media, she says “As a busy actress, one question I constantly get asked is how do I get to manage my skin and have a balanced routine with the stress that comes with set work?” The launch event took place at Oriental hotel and it was fun and experiential outing. Guests had the opportunity to try out FAYRELE products while also playing games and networking. The FAYRELE skincare line consists of six products; The Gleam Magic oil, The Yummy Skin body lotion, The Dazzle wash gold soap, The fairy dust body scrub , The skin secret sauce Body Serum and The Get Even Onyx .

EFE IRELE

BOLAJI & MAGARETH IRELE

NANCY ISIME

DESMOND ELLIOT

CAROLINE OMORDIA

JACK & SALMA OKONKWO

JOHANNA ADEYILEKA KATHLEEN ERHIMU TOCHI OPARA

DEP GOV PHILIP SHAIBU OF EDO STATE

ADA UDENSI

SAMMY APIAFI

JIDE OMOKHOREN

YEMI AMUSAN ISRAEL ABAM

JIDE OMOKORE

MARY AKPOBOME & RABI MOMOH

MIKE INEGBESEN

ABIYE MENBRE

ELLA PETERS & UJU OBUEKWE

IJEOMA NWANAMODO

MRS IMAGORO

SUNDAY KARIMI

KOLA OLADUNMOYE, CHIJIOKE ISIOLU & MR IMAGORO

Opening of La Madison Event Centre

A night of a thousand smiles, engaging, entertaining and a whole lot of fun! Guests at the La Madison Place Showcase couldn’t help but be filled with admiration for the remarkable spectacle that met their arrival. La Madison Place is one of the most inspiring hospitality centres to be added to the growing list of event spaces in Lagos. It opened with a stunning showcase event that hosted the crème of society in the Lekki corridor of the Lagos mega city recently. Branded with the pay off “Distinct Impressions”, the event aspired to do just that; create a distinct and lasting impression in the mind and heart of everyone who attended. Suffice it to say that by the end of the evening no one will be forgetting La Madison Place anytime soon! Sitting on over 7650 square meters with a sizable setback to accommodate additional parking, La Madison Place is a new multi-purpose, event and hospitality facility. It has embarked on a bold mission to go beyond being just an event centre, but to provide a more complete event production and hospitality service. This is manifest in the availability of additional flexible event spaces like the pergola which provides a great opportunity for lovers of outdoor events and entertainment to explore. From fantasy or themed outdoor weddings, exquisite cocktails to art exhibitions and entertainment nights, the Pergola readily lends its adaptable space to/for innovative clients to explore. The main event space is the La Madison Dome. PHOTOS: KUNLE OGUNFUYI

ANGELA EBAGUA

GOV JAMES IBORI

FIRST LADY BETTY OBASEKI OF EDO STATE

OLU AKPATA

DERIN AGBAJE & BOYE OYEWUMI

MR & MRS SHOLA OSHO

OGHOGHO AKPATA & OSAYAMON OGBEBOR

MR & MRS AUSTIN ALEGIE

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

O D I M A L I S U N SA

I I I S U N A S @60! ! H A F I L A THE KH

The origin of the Tijjaniyya sect is said to date back to the 1830s, and was reportedly introduced to Nigeria by the Sokoto caliphate. The Tijjaniyya Order is a Sufi Order with over 50 million followers. There is no difference in belief or worship between Tijjaniyya followers and other Muslims on the Sunni path. The movement spread widely across West Africa at the hands of a Sufi saint, Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse. His first visit to Nigeria in the 1930s was at the invitation of Sanusi Lamido’s great grandfather, the 10th Fulani Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero. In 1963, Sanusi’s great-grandfather abdicated the throne and was sent on exile till his death, the Sheikh appointed his son, Sanusi’s grandfather as Khalifa in Nigeria. One can safely say history is now repeating itself because our personality cover this week, SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI II is following his grandfather’s footsteps to the letter. After his exit as the Emir of Kano, he is now the Khalifah of Nigeria, just as his grandfather was. This new role demands more responsibilities because of what it represents. Under him, the well being of over 50 million followers lies on his shoulders for good leadership. His new title feeds and compliments his insatiable drive to make a positive impact in the lives of the people he remains so passionate about; those under his watch. Sanusi therefore, hopes to bring his educational and professional experiences to play in achieving these goals, particularly in empowering the girl child, a cause very close to his heart. He believes there would be substantial growth if core problems are addressed and uprooted. For a man whose looks belies his inner strength, it seems he was groomed from birth to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders and he is not in any way afraid to do just that. EXECUTIVE EDITOR, speaks to this captivating man to share his thoughts and state of mind especially now that he has turned 60! You have always been a larger than life personality when you worked in both the private sector as a banker and the public sector as the Emir of Kano. After your role as a serving Emir, you were given another title. Can you please tell us what that title is and what it represents? The Tijjaniyyah Order is a Sufi Order whose adherents constitute the largest number of Muslims in Nigeria and indeed, Africa. There is no difference in creed or articles of faith or belief or worship between Tijjaniyya followers and other Muslims on the Sunni path - the path of the Prophet and early generations. The Schools of Jurisprudence deal with the outer form of worship and conduct. Sufism deals with the soul, (the Nafs), which is the core of Man and the locus of sincerity in our relation to God and mankind, and also the source of good and evil. The path of the Sufi towards God is one that aims to adorn the soul with such qualities as sincerity, humility, perseverence, gratitude, love, modesty etc while ridding it of evil diseases like ingratitude, hatred, envy, covetousness, avarice etc. Muslims seeking this path follow the methods

of a shaykh and in our case, we follow the path of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani. (19th Century Saint born in Algeria and died in Morocco). Think of it in material terms as a man suffering from a bodily ailment who follows the regimen prescribed by the doctor he trusts in the hope of a cure. It does not mean that other doctors are not qualified but everyone goes to the doctor he or she believes is tried and trusted. In Nigeria alone, there are over 50 million Tijjaniyya Muslims. The movement spread widely across West Africa at the hands of a Sufi saint, Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse of Kaolack, Senegal. His first visit to Nigeria was in the 1930s at the invitation of my great grandfather, the 10th Fulani Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero. He established a strong bond with him as sheikh and disciple and also as friends which continued after the Emir’s death with my grandfather, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I. In 1963, my grandfather was compelled to abdicate the throne “voluntarily” by the northern government and sent to exile in Azare in the present Bauchi State. In 1965, Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, as support for my grandfather, sent a letter to all Tijjaniyya

followers appointing my grandfather, Sanusi I, his Khalifa in Nigeria, which at that time, combined spiritual and symbolic leadership. Almost all Tijjaniyya followers trooped to Azare to pay homage and accept his leadership and he remained the Khalifa until his death. So the role I have now is effectively succeeding my grandfather as Khalifa the way I succeeded him as Emir. I was appointed by Sheikh Mahy Niasse the current successor of Sheikh Ibrahim, on the recommendation of the vast majority of the Sheikhs of the Order, as Khalifa in Nigeria and surrounding countries. Of course, the times, and the challenges, are different. In my grandfather’s time, the issues were more of doctrinal disputes and debates about authenticity and legitimacy. Now, my title as Khafila in Nigeria is about unifying the movement, activating all that latent energy, and seeing how 50 million Muslims can address contemporary challenges around education, economic empowerment, social reform and good governance in our country. It

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is also about addressing prohibited innovations in faith matters and strengthening the moderate credentials of Sufis especially in a world of extremists and terrorists. My leadership will therefore, be naturally more like a modern political servant-leader than a spiritual head as we have thousands of shaykhs who are far more educated and competent in the exoteric and esoteric sciences of Islam than myself. It would seem, apart from the fact that my grandfather was also the Khalifa, the consideration was that the movement at this time does need a leader that is modern and progressive, so my educational and professional background were major factors. Many would say you were somewhat targeted because you refused to be intimidated and stop critiquing the way the government ran things. You did not care whose ox was gored to draw attention to what you saw as failure in governance. Are you still very vocal about your views on how the government is running things? When I was Governor of CBN and employed by the federal government, I did not stop being vocal about things. When I was an employed Emir and fully conscious of the vulnerabilty of my position, I did not stop. I have always said that if as a Prince you keep quiet when there is a need to speak up out of fear of political authority, you are not a Prince but a slave wearing a turban. The truth is that there is not much to say. For a decade, every Nigerian will bear me witness, that I predicted that if we did not change course we would end here. The country could not afford the waste and corruption in the subsidy regimes. We needed sustainable tariffs in the power sector. We needed to watch overheads and bloated spending leading to an insustainable debt profile. We needed to build up reserves and resilience to shocks. For making these points and raising the alarm on huge leakages in the system, I was asked to leave the CBN. The new government came in and did nothing to change course. We continued paying trillions of naira in petroleum subsidy. Even when oil price was low and government had credibility, we refused to take advantage of that window. And then we borrowed from the capital markets and CBN to fill the hole we were creating. Of course this means an expansion in money supply, high inflation, devaluation and unsustainable debt-service ratios. I advised in 2016, that if we did not change course, this government would end like its predecessors in ignominy. I advised that the attempt to hold the naira up artificially was doomed to fail. These are things we were taught in years of sitting in economics classes and they are not rocket science. Every trained economist could see we here heading towards economic collapse. I was speaking as a true friend but I became the enemy. In 2019 I said the country was heading towards bankruptcy. Again, I was marked an enemy. Even the masses on whose behalf I was speaking, believed I should keep quiet. I objected to my state government borrowing $1.8b for a light rail project with all the out of school children, malnutrition and low HDI indices we had. I also called for free and fair elections and advised the people to vote for honest and patriotic leaders who were competent. These to me, was my duty as Emir. I do not know if these things led to my being “targeted” as you say, but I do know that no one can escape the Divine decree. When God says your time is up, it is up. Not doing what I believe is right can never get me one more day on the throne than decreed by God. When that day comes I would leave the throne dead or alive. You may be right because the letter given to me accused me of “insubordination” to Government. The governor also later gave an interview to Channels where he

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

said my offense was that I was a “social critic”. I have never engaged anyone on this issue because it would diminish me. The sum of the matter is, I made a deliberate choice to give up a position with my honour intact and my head held high rather than to bow to arrogant power and humiliate myself in order to remain in office. It was a choice I made knowingly, I am proud of myself and happy with my life. And God continues to uplift me and grow me from strength to strength. So back to the economy, where are we today? Last year, we spent 80% of revenues on debt service. I believe we have one of the worst debtservice to revenue ratios in the world. FG retained revenue is currently less that N4trillion per annum but the forecast is that by 2025, debt service will consume N4.8 trillion. The difficult decisions we did not take in 2016, are almost impossible now. If we deregulate fuel subsidy fully, we will need to pay almost N400 per litre. But that is because in the last five years, we have had a massive devaluation of the currency from less than N200 to $1 to N500 now at

So the role I have now is effectively succeeding my grandfather as Khalifa the way I succeeded him as Emir. I was appointed by Sheikh Mahy Niasse the current successor of Sheikh Ibrahim, on the recommendation of the vast majority of the Sheikhs of the Order, as Khalifa in Nigeria and surrounding countries.

the parallel market and over N410 officially. If we had a stable exchange rate, the price would be less than half that. But we had to have a devaluation because the CBN is not getting the dollars it should as NNPC keeps holding back billions in the name of subsidy. Recently, there was a letter from NNPC saying it can make no remittances to FAAC at all. And the CBN has had to monetize government deficits to combat recession. So inflation and devaluation became inevitable. If the right decisions had been taken in 2016, we would have saved the Treasury trillions instead of relying on debt and printing high powered money. We would have had price and exchange rate stability. We would have built reserve buffers to cope with COVID. Every trained economist could tell youth is for free. Monetary dominance is no less dangerous than fiscal dominance. The economic problem predated this administration but this was precisely why we needed a change in 2015. Sadly, we did not take the difficult decisions that needed to be taken on time and now, we are paying for it. The situation we are in was foreseen, it was avoidable and it is almost entirely self-inflicted. Even withoit COVId we were running downhill. I am not speaking now because everyone can now see what I predicted. Search the internet and as far back as 2011 all the way to 2019, you will see that I have been saying this is where we will end up. I can not be jumping and laughing and saying I told you so because the people are suffering. I can also not offer any more advice because it is clear to me that those who speak the truth in this system are considered the enemy. I speak on issues not individuals but cannot help it if politicians have been so surrounded and spoilt by sycophants that

they think every friendly advice not laced with praise-singing is an insult. We pray that God grant the leaders wisdom and that fortune smiles on us. With the right policies, a global recovery and debt relief, we can still pull out of this mess. The Finance Minister is my sister and friend and I pray for her all the time as she has inherited one of the most difficult jobs in the world at this time. Usually by 60, most people start winding down to pursue less stressful ventures or even, pick up a hobby they enjoy. They become less perturbed about the daily challenges of life and embrace more pleasurable pursuits. What is your take on that? (Laughter). Ok. Those who know me will tell you I have always worked hard and played hard. That is the story of my life. I have always set for myself the highest standards of performance. But I have, at the same time, never really avoided “peasurable pursuits” as you call them. So I have not missed much. I take pleasure in new challenges. Now I have published one book (a selection of published articles) which will be presented to the public this August. At that presentation, I intend to raise funds for my SDG challenge with a focus on bringing education to underserved populations, especially the rural girl-child. The book is entitled “For the Good of the Nation” and it is a compilation of some of my interventions as a public intellectual between 1998 and 2005. I am currently a Research Fellow at the African Studies Centre and concurrently an Academic Visitor at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. I have used the time there to complete so far, the first draft of 16 chapters out of a 20 chapter book on my years at the CBN. The book will be entitled “Confronting Vested Interests: Central Banking in a Rentier Economy.” It may make me some more enemies though, as I intend to document for posterity, an inside view of the banking crisis of 2008-2011, the reforms we pursued in the CBN and my conflicts with politicians and political authority. It will give an insight into how the elite in this country, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and even political party, simply come together as a system to extract rent and undermine the poor. I am still taking things out and putting things back in and trying to minimize sensational revelations. In early September, I will pick up on my French language program as I am trying to improve my fluency. I have been admitted and will enrol from late september at SOAS, University of London, for a PhD in Law. This, plus my SDG work, I think, show

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

This is the beauty of the institution. Once an Emir always an Emir. I have not resigned and I am not dead. Apart from the instruments of office and the fact that I do not play an official role, I retain all the privileges of an Emir for life. I dress like one, can have my royal umbrella, sit on a throne (Karaga) etc.

that I am not planning to disappear. In a sense, having started my life as an academic, I am at this stage going to do a PhD and finish that one bit of unfinished business in my life - and also publish books.

As you are aware, for the past few weeks, the emergence of new female MDs of banks has been trending as women especially, are excited that more ceilings have been broken by women taking charge of the reins in various banks. As a former banker, what advice will you give them to enable them make even stronger strides in their tenure? Excellent question. As you know in 2012, I led the Bankers committee into declaring a year of women in banking. Within the CBN, I promoted eight brilliant women to Director positions at a go. It was a real revolution. Before I became governor in 2009, only four women had risen to Director in the 50 year history of the CBN. Imagine having eight of them running areas traditionally monopolized by men, such as Banking Supervision, Risk Management, Consumer Protection, Branch Operations etc. We issued guidelines compelling banks to publish data on gender equality. We asked that at least 50% of new entrants to banks be female, and 40% of top management and 30% of Board members. What is happening today with the surge of female band MDs, is the result of the seeds we planted in my time as Governor, and it shows how with a regulator focused on diversity, the industry can be transformed. This is why even as a nation we need leaders committed to women and to gender equity who will push laws and regulations across the board in support of diversity. Our constitution keeps saying we must have a Minister from every state. Well how about saying no more than 60% of the cabinet can be from one gender? How about diversity laws for electoral seats to ensure female representation? Why can’t at least one of the three Senate seats in every state for example, be declared an all female-contestant seat? On our national currency, all the Naira notes, there is only one woman, an anonymous woman among several men on the N50 note. Intially, she was in the centre of the men, then the note was reissued and she was pushed to the margins. Just looking at the Naira tells you that we are a patriarchal society with little sensitivity to the great role women have played and continue to play in our history. When I was governor, I proposed the introduction of a N5,000 note. Apart from the economic efficiency arguments, the note was designed to address this issue. The image on it was that of three women, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Gambo Sawaba and Margaret Ekpo. These were three great

amazons from west, north and east, who blazed the trail on women’s rights, gender equality, girl child education and women political participation in the First Republic. They were active in the decolonization and independence movements. I wanted to honour the Nigerian women as “founding mothers” since the Naira had up to then, been used to honour “founding fathers” like Herbert Macaulay, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello. I wanted to show that our independence was won not just by heroes but by heroines from across the ethnic divide. I also wanted, in placing these women up there on the highest note of the land, to make the debate on how we treat our girls, our wives, our female colleagues, a topic of discourse. I wanted to place gender at the centre of politics. As you know, the National Assembly and Nigerians in general, fought against this project and President Jonathan, who had approved it earlier, caved in to pressure and cancelled it. Those opposed to it had no valid argument. I recall a Senator suggesting to me that placing women on N5,000 note was “debasing” our founding fathers who were on lower denominations! I hope the N5,000 will be revived by the CBN especially now that the naira has lost so much value, we need higher denominations. Even those who were too blind to see the efficiency angle before can see it now. So, the best advice to these fine women bankers is first to go out there and prove that they can do better than the men, as the female Directors we appointed in CBN did. Second, do NOT be “queen bees” who love the attention of being the only female there. Keep the ladder, reach out and help other women to the top. Implement women friendly policies, have creches, pay for the babies and nannies of nursing mothers when they go on official assignment abroad, encourage remote access and work from home for women on extended maternity leave etc. Finally, the real gender issues in Nigeria are far beyond getting women to Boards. For each one of you, there are millions of girls who are not completing primary school. Issues of forced marriage, domestic violence, arbitrary divorce, “sex for grades” in universities, bankers are Nigerians and you cannot just be focused on money. Use your position and power to fight for the Nigerian girl and woman, especially the poor and voiceless ones. There has also been this long standing rumour that you might run for President in the near future. Is this something you will consider and if not, why not? I have never been interested in party politics and I have no interest now. The option was always there before I became Emir and I was not interested. Politicians had offered me the presidential ticket before and I rejected it. Tinubu wanted me to be the flagbearer of ACN for example. I declined. Now, as an Emir, I am a father to all, so even if I had an interest, I would not drag the position into partisanship. I will continue to serve the country in any way I consider appropriate but I have no interest in holding any elective post. Looking at the profiles of politicians who have run this race, it seems like we keep recycling the same people over and over again. In fact, the candidates who seem most credible usually don’t stand a chance because they lack political structure which explains the swinging chairs with the choices we are left with. How do you think this pattern can be broken to give more credible candidates a fair chance? I think we need to ensure a fair electoral process that allows those voted by the people to emerge. Look at the noise on electronic transmission

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN

ORANGE

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

CRUSH!

DEBBIE BEEKO

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

Those who like a bit of Vitamin C in their fashion diet will be pleased to know Orange is the new Black. The colour is attention-grabbing and is a great way to update your wardrobe and brighten up your look for the dreary raining season. If you are not bold enough to take a chance on this bold hue, you can add it into your closet in small accessories and still make a statement. Whichever you choose, Orange is a colour that demands visual attention.

of votes. INEC says it can do it but politicians are opposed to it. Even the chairman of the Senate Committee that recommended it in the first place turned round to undermine his own recommendation. But also look at the lack of democracy internally with the parties themselves and the role played by security services, INEC and the judiciary, in stealing mandates. When you set rules that you have no intention of abiding by, only the really determined or really desperate can join the game. Can you imagine playing against a team where the referee allows your opponents to score freely from offside positions and also awards penalties to them arbirarily? That is Nigeria’s elections for you. The best legacy the President can leave now is a strong electoral law and ensuring that the progress made by INEC under professor Jega is built upon and not reversed. A man like you must be very busy with work and various commitments. How do you find a balance with your ‘me’ time, family time and work? I work woth my family around me and also take being a father and husband as part of my work. You were one of the most colourfully robed Emirs of all time. You brought so much style and panache to the role. What do you plan to do with all those attires? Would you one day, open a museum to house these outfits so people could visit and see the richness of your cultural history? I am still the 14th Emir of Kano and the Khalifa of Tijjaniyya. I continue to dress like an Emir as that is the tradition. The only thing that has changed is I have handed over the instruments of office - the twin spears, the staff of office, the sword, knife, bow and arrows of Ibrahim Dabo. There are two things here. One is being an Emir which is a muslim title elected traditionally by kingmakers. In Islam, Emirs are never deposed or removed until death. The second is that with colonialism and now modern

You can say anything about me but no one should ever have reason to doubt that I have not lived a boring life. It has been accomplishment and excitement from the beginning, and hopefully to the end.

government, Emirs are employees of the state who can be sacked or suspended by the government. So I have been relieved of the burden of being a government employee but remain Emir of Kano until my death. This is the beauty of the institution. Once an Emir always an Emir. I have not resigned and I am not dead. Apart from the instruments of office and the fact that I do not play an official role, I retain all the privileges of an Emir for life. I dress like one, can have my royal umbrella, sit on a throne (Karaga) etc. Historically, the governments for this reason, kept the Emirs in forced exile. The British did it to Emir of Kano Aliyu and Emir of Zazzau Aliyu among others. In post independence Nigeria, we saw my grandfather, Emir Umar Abba of Muri, Sultan Dasuki, Emir of Gwandu Jokolo, all forced into years of exile after deposition. In my case, I broke the jinx and the government failed and I do not think after me, any Governor will attempt to send an Emir into exile in a democratic regime. So this is why people find all this strange. It is almost like having an Emir-at-large or in diaspora with another one in-situ. As for attire, I have always believed that when you lead, you must think of your people in appearance. As a banker and as governor of CBN I considered myself as representing Nigerians at meetings of the world bank or IMF or some other place. I needed

to be better dressed or at least, as well dressed as every Central Bank governor in the world including the Fed Chairman. As Emir of Kano,the people of Kano have a right to expect their Emir to dress in a manner reflective of their grandeur and rich history. So when I wear clothes to come out at any function, I have to think of my people and if they will be happy or disappointed to see their Emir in those clothes just like I did as a central banker with my bow ties and nehru jackets. I therefore, spend a lot of time choosing my own fabric and sometimes, designing my own outfit and using the best tailors. Everyone has a bucket list of sorts. Some have ticked most of their boxes while others are yet to tick as much. Are there any more boxes you will like to tick on your bucket list? Oh yes. So I have been a Chief Risk Officer, a Chief Executive Officer in a bank, Governor of Central Bank, Emir, MTN global board member, Khalifa. I have ticked the book publication box. There is the PhD box ahead of me. I also want to strengthen fluency in both French and Arabic as I am now an African Statesman and these languages are necessary. I had memorized the entire Quran many years ago but my busy life and age have led to forgeting large portions of it so I also plan to re-memorize the Quran and this time retain it with Allah’s help. So yes. There are boxes to tick. And when ticking these, so long as I am alive, I will create new boxes. You have only one life but as you can see, you can live many lives - as an academic, public intellectual, banker, regulator, traditional ruler, religious scholar, corporate board member. We have to thank God for life, health, opportunities and the parents we had. And I intend to keep having new lives and new role and just ticking all these boxes . You can say anything about me but no one should ever have reason to doubt that I have not lived a boring life. It has been accomplishment and excitement from the beginning, and hopefully to the end.

FOLAKE HUNTOON

OMOWUNMI DADA

HERMES CLIC-CLAC H-BANGLE CUBA BOSA CROP TOP

SHELLY HALTER NECK MIDI DRESS AZ FACTORY SHORTS

CASHMERE IN LOVE HIGH WAISTED SKIRT

How To Wear Orange PLAY IT SAFE

The safest combinations will always be with neutral tones — white, cream and beige, or black, navy or grey.

GO MONOCHROMATIC

Wearing one colour head to toe creates a continuous lengthening silhouette. It’s also a great way to make a bold statement. However, worn tone on tone (in more subtle softer shades), can be a fresh and colourful experience. ATTICO SATIN PUMPS

COLOUR CLASH

Despite it being a difficult colour to

BOTTEGA VENETA INTRECIATO BAG

wear, Orange combined with other bright and bold colours tones, is great. Orange with Pink, Red or Blue are hot combinations especially with cobalt Blue. Teaming orange with Yellow or White is not as empowering. It’s more subtle. You can go tropical and pair Orange with Green.

GO FOR GOLD

Gold accessories worn with orange is a match made in heaven. Gold is the perfect accent for Orange. They are both bold and rich, and complement each other.

ABIRI OLUWABUSAYOMI

STYLE & DESIGN

R U O L CO G N I K THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

DAY TO NIGHT BY USIADE ISIOMA

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

Style is all about how you throw things together to create your own personal look. It’s all about fun even when you’re at work. If your wardrobe has a few versatile pieces, you can mix, match, and rotate different looks to make it easier to transition your corporate work outfit into a chic night look. Here are a few tips on how to turn some of your staple work-appropriate pieces into a stylish evening look.

C O L B

n e e r G d n a e Orang Pairing colours can either make or break your outfit. So, it’s only natural to feel a little uneasy when experimenting with new tones and combos. But that doesn’t mean you have to stick to plain old headto-toe black. The colour Orange has been spreading like freshly pressed juice as the colourcan is on every runway, red carpet and street style. If you are looking for a colour to match this hue, you are in luck. You can pair it with Yellow, Purple or even Pink, but the colourblocking pair of the moment is Orange and Green. It makes a statement. You look chic and it’s definitely a crowd puller for anyone who wants to remain the centre of attention.

COLOUR BLOCKING RULES TO KNOW SOLIDS FIRST: Colour blocking creates a daring

enough look in and of itself. So, for beginners, there is no need to make it more complicated by adding patterns. It is pure with solids only.

LET THE TONE GUIDE YOU: If you are starting with cool tones, keep the other colours cool too but if you are going for bold tones then go all out. Whatever colours you pick should all have the same visual weight.

THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS THE SHIRTDRESS

A shirtdress is another versatile piece that can be modified in a variety of ways. For styling as a day look, wear it with denim jeans or leggings at the office, and at night, you can undo a few top buttons and wear it as a solo dress with strappy shoes and a bag to match. JENNIE JENKINS

A work-appropriate black dress is one of the best daytime fashion pieces that can easily transition into a night look with just a few tweaks. You can pair a black dress with a jacket and sneakers/work shoes during the day, and switch to heels for after-work drinks. You can then wear chunky jewelry and colourful accessories to give it more vibe. CHIOMA IKOKWU

THE COLOUR WHEEL SHOULD BE YOUR GUIDE:

Are you familiar with the colour wheel? Understanding the basics of it can really help as you venture into colour blocking. Here are the first two things you need to know: If you want to mix just two colours, select your favourite colour on the wheel. If that colour is the main colour As workwear, pair culottes with of your look, then match with the colour directly a graphic T-shirt, graphic jacket, opposite of it on the wheel. That colour is known as the and heels. For a night look, add a complementary colour. silk blouse and flattering pumps to be ready for date night or a dinner with friends. ALERO

CULOTTES

THE SILK BLOUSE

Statement sleeves, collared, or button-up, a silk blouse is one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your wardrobe. For a day look, you can wear a silk blouse with slacks or a long skirt. At night, pair the blouse with skinny jeans or a miniskirt, and a bold statement purse. ADEOLA ADEYEMI

THE JUMPSUIT

A neutral or print jumpsuit is an all-inone outfit that can work in a professional and casual setting as long as the print is appropriate for your corporate setting. Pair with a few accessories and sensible shoes during the day, and when you’re ready to take this look out with friends for the night, switch to a heel to complete the outfit. FOLAKE HUNTOON

THE SKIRT

Slit skirts have long been a staple of office attire. They come in a range of fits, from loose and flowy to the classic pencil skirt. These skirts pair well with a long-sleeve top, blouse, or turtleneck as a day outfit, and when you’re ready for nightwear, you can pair it with a tank top with simple slip on and a hat to create a stylish after-hours outfit. THEODORA MOGO

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9579 Sunday, August 1, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN

COMMONLY USED PHRASES

There are so many things in life that we do without even knowing the reason or story behind it. Especially the language we use and how we use it. English is the most globally used language. And many coin phrases used today have been coined by the language so much so that they are used very regularly to form our sentences without giving much thought to the origin. Phrases like ‘meeting a deadline’ to ‘letting your hair down’ have become part of our daily rapport and quite frankly, a shortcut for our delivery to get our points home. Check out the origin of some of these common phrases.

Showing Your True Colour

Meaning: Revealing one’s real character or intentions, especially when they are disreputable or dishonourable. Origin: To confuse their enemies, warships would use multiple flags. However, warfare rules dictated that the ships must show its actual flag before firing and hence, the ships would then have to display its true colours.

Close But No Cigar

Meaning: Almost, but not quite successful. Origin: In the late 19th century, carnival games were targeted to adults and not children, so the winners would get a cigar as a prize instead of stuffed animals. If the person was close to winning but did not succeed, they’d say it was ‘close but no cigar’.

Waking Up on The Wrong Side of The Bed

Meaning: Starting the day in a bad mood. Origin: Throughout history the left side of basically anything was considered to be ‘the evil side,’ so waking up on the left side was also considered a sign of bad luck. To ward off evil, house owners would push the left sides of the beds to the corner, so their guests would have no other option than to get up on the right side.

Butter Someone Up

Meaning: Flatter or otherwise ingratiate oneself with someone. Origin: The people ancient India used to throw balls of clarified butter at the statues of gods in order to seek a favour.

Put A Sock in It

Meaning: Stop talking. Origin: In the late 19th century, people would use woollen socks to stuff the horns of their gramophones or record players to lower the sound, since these machines had no volume controllers.

Son Of A Gun

Meaning: A jocular or affectionate way of addressing or referring to someone. Origin: Back in the day, sailors

would sometimes take their wives on long ocean voyages. It is believed that if the woman gave birth on a ship, it should take place between the cannons on the ship’s gun deck, since it was the most secluded place. Because of this reason, a child that was born on a ship would be called ‘a son of a gun’.

Best Man

Meaning: A male friend or relative chosen by a bridegroom to assist him at his wedding. Origin: It is said that during feudal days, it was possible that a rival Lord would try to break up a wedding ceremony and steal the bride for political reasons. To avoid any trouble, grooms would ask their bestfriends to stand next to them during the ceremony so they would help during the possible battle. The man, standing next to the groom was named ‘Best Man’.

Born With a Silver Spoon in Your Mouth

Meaning: Being born into a wealthy family of high social standing. Origin: It is an old tradition for godparents to gift a silver spoon to a christened child. However, not everyone was able to afford this type of luxury gift so those who did receive the spoon as a gift were considered to be wealthy, sometimes even spoiled.

Steal One’s Thunder

Meaning: Win praise for oneself by pre-empting someone else’s attempt to impress. Origin: You think that you’ve done something awesome and unique, but someone gets in there first and takes your credit! Spare a thought for playwright John Dennis who, back in the 18th Century, made a machine that could nicely mimic the sound of thunder for his play. Sadly, his play wasn’t a success, but somebody had taken note of his clever invention. When, later on in another theatre, Dennis found somebody had copied his thunder machine and was using it without credit, he got mad. Really mad. Somebody had stolen his thunder!

Get One’s Goat

Meaning: Irritate someone. Origin: During horse racing some horses would get anxious, so owners would place goats in the stalls with them to calm them down. Rival horse owners would sometimes steal these goats therefore upsetting the horse and making it more likely to lose.

Alero Adollo aleroadollo@yahoo.com

HISTORY BEHIND

FUN FACTS

CAPSULES BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

Stand by your man….. we are told, support him, be the power behind his throne and help him excel, whilst all that is good and all, what about me, who looks out for the female, who helps her grow, who is the power that helps her soar…..and achieve all of her dreams. We live in a clime that is patriarchal and oftentimes leans toward misogyny. The girl child has to do twice as much to get the recognition she deserves. I believe in the institution of marriage, but I am also an ardent believer in partnerships that enrich both parties. Servitude in the name of submission was not what the good book had in mind when it enjoined wives to submit to their husbands, if that was the case, why then will the same book ask husbands to love their wives. Why are we always eager to mistreat people who genuinely love us and treat them like last week’s trash. Stand by your man, cool, a lesson in loyalty, give him the warmth he needs in a cold world, awesome, but has it occurred to anyone that you cannot give what you don’t have? When you are daily abused and misused because you are a wife, how can you possibly in good conscience stand by anyone, when everything in you is screaming for help. The foundation of every society is the family, as she is an agent of socialization, but when the family is wounded and mangled, how do we begin the repair? Can a wounded lion fight constructively? A wounded lion will destroy everything in his part in a fight. Stand by your man, yes I reiterate, nothing wrong in standing by a man who loves you and will protect you with his life. A man who is your encourager and assists you to succeed not one who daily pulls you down as if you were forced on him, one who treats you like the jewel of inestimable value that you are, now such a man is worth standing by yes? Yes he is, and you, the confident and self assured woman can then return the favour. We were created to complete not compete but only a complete woman can complete another. If you daily zap her moral, kill her pride and make her feel worthless, how can she raise children that you can be proud of, how will she help you to touch the skies after you have succeeded in dwarfing her, how will she sincerely stand by you without subconsciously hoping you fall flat on your face. I don’t care who you are in society, if your home is a mess, you are a mess. Male chauvinism is not pretty no matter how we may think it makes us macho, many things birth by this sometimes flow into the realm of the sadistic. Let us consider the different abuses we mete out to our help mates, there is the emotional abuse which leaves them Aro bound, there is the mental abuse which leaves them cowed, and the physical abuse which prepares them for permanent departure to the world beyond. We swore before God to love and to hold, do we understand what that entails? Society daily bashes the female for not doing all to keep her union in unity… in the face of daily abuse and misuse? can 2 unite except they agree, pray do tell… Do we now understand the role we are playing in muddying up the world, our children watch and are shaped by their foundation, the family, the farm that refused to produce any crop of note because of fathers who just don’t get that treating their wives like queens make them kings. What makes you a man is not how you flex your muscles to overwhelm your woman but how you strengthen these muscles to carry her. I have seen good women break irreparably because their men failed to see the treasure they had stored and reduced them to absolute zero. We need to start doing better by undoing our wrongs, we need to stop our narcissistic behaviour. The soul that you have destroyed or are destroying is a soul that you’ll one day be asked to account for, her pain, her wounds, her tears, you will one day be asked to account for your indifference and wickedness. Be mindful of the feelings of others, dress your words with affection, bathe your acts with love and be a man. A real man is one that is easy to stand by because he has built a home not just a house, so be a man pilgrim, help us build the home.