SATURDAY 5TH JANUARY 2019

Boko Haram: Fight to Finish, Buratai Orders Troops Special Motor Cycle Section inaugurated in Chibok Gaidam: No need for exodus from Yobe communities Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Damaturu The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has ordered troops battling Boko

Haram in the North-east and bandits in the North-west to “fight to finish.” The Army chief gave the order yesterday while inaugurating the Special Motor Cycle Section of 117

Mohammed Usman, Buratai urged the troops to be proactive and committed to the fight against insurgency. He said motor bikes were introduced to enhance quick counter attack measures

Task Force Battalion’s Quick Response Group in Chibok, Borno State. Represented by the Commander, 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General

against the insurgents. General Usman emphasised that the creation of the Special Motor Cycle Section would enable the troops to chase the terrorist completely out of their enclaves.

He further urged the troops to intensify the conduct of clearance and confidencebuilding patrol within their area of responsibility, which Continued on page 6

Okowa Flags off Campaign for Reelection, Gets Ibori’s Endorsement… Page 6 Saturday 5 January, 2019 Vol 23. No 8662

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N250

N

Zakari Shares No Blood Relationship with Buhari, Says Presidency INEC commissioner not appointed by President PDP insists Zakari must go, urges N’Assembly to sack her Omololu Ogunmade, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, and Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu The Presidency yesterday in

Abuja, dismissed accusations that Mrs. Amina Zakari is the niece of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Zakari shared no blood relationship with the president.

Consequently, it accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of launching baseless attacks on the INEC commissioner. But the PDP insisted that

Zakari must quit all her positions in INEC, urging the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of her removal. Zakari, a Commissioner

of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), came under attacks from the PDP on Thursday following her appointment by INEC as presidential election collation

officer. The PDP who described Zakari as Buhari's niece, said the appointment of the Continued on page 6

Minimum Wage: FG, Labour Meeting Deadlocked Again Government still going through the report of tripartite committee NLC, TUC move to shut down Nigeria Tuesday Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The meeting, yesterday in Abuja, between the Federal Government and organised labour, aimed at averting a nationwide strike next Tuesday, has ended without agreement on the key issue of when to transmit the new minimum wage bill to the National Assembly. The meeting was, therefore, adjourned till Monday to allow for more consultations on both sides. But while the talks were on, organised labour commenced the mobilisation of its members ahead of the January 8 nationwide strike over payment of the agreed N30,000 new minimum wage.

Addressing journalists at about 7.50 pm when the meeting ended, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said that issues were not conclusively dealt with. He said that although significant progress was made in getting labour to understand the position of the government, there was need for another round of talks on Monday in order to agree on the date for transmitting the minimum wage bill to the legislature. Ngige said: "No, the meeting is not deadlocked, we are continuing on Monday. We have made substantial progress in our talks with labour in Continued on page 6

Oshiomhole: Atiku, Obi will Trade Away Nigeria if Elected... Page 52

IN OKOWA WE TRUST, OTHERS TO WAIT... L-R: Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; former Governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, and Okowa’s wife, Dame Edith during the flag off of Okowa’s governorship reelection campaign at Oghara Township Stadium, Delta State… yesterday

2

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

3

4

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

5

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

7

8

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

Buhari Must Engage Scary ISSA Report

I

have spent quality time reading the recent Defence and Foreign Affairs report on the Nigerian military, published by the United States-based International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA). The long and the short of the special analysis released late last year is that massive corruption among top military chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for the sagging war against terrorism. The intensity of Boko Haram assaults across villages and towns in the North-east in the last few months is a further confirmation that this report is on point. The leadership of the Nigerian military has been doing everything possible to discredit this report, but result from the war front waters down these moves. My message to President Buhari this morning is a very simple one: If he is genuinely interested in ending the bloodshed in the North-east and parts of the North-west, he should get a copy of the ISSA report and engage it proactively. Washington-based ISSA is a non-governmental organisation with a worldwide membership of professionals involved in national and international security and strategic policy. It also provides strategic information and analysis to governments worldwide. ISSA incorporates the Global Information System (GIS), an encrypted on-line intelligence service for governments. So, it can be trusted to deliver unbiased report. My take away from the report was where it stated that at present, the Nigerian government had completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and could show no instance when the government presently had tactical, theater, strategic, or information dominance of any aspect of the conflict. “The insurgent groups grow stronger, and the government forces grow weaker and more beset by morale collapse. It is fair to say that the Nigerian intelligence community itself is no longer sure what groups even comprise ‘Boko Haram’, nor has it addressed the international logistical, ideological, and support aspects contributing to the ongoing viability of the groups.� It states further: “Despite this, the only significant engagement which the Nigerian military leadership - up to and including the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. (rtd.) Mohammed Babagana Monguno - seem to prioritise is the fight to stop the leakage of information about massive corruption, running into the equivalent of several billions of dollars, in the purchase by senior military officers of major military capital goods and military consumables, including the troops’ own food. The conduct of the war in the North is tied to the corruption in the military, and Buhari - ring-fenced by his own team - is unable to tackle the issue. “It is significant that Buhari, who received the findings of the commission (investigating defense procurement) as much as a year ago, has refused to allow it to be made

Buhari claims to be worried about the anguish in the North-east. So, why is he not acting on this report? Any serious government would have ensured a robust engagement of this bang. Nigeria is now the 3rd most terrorised country in the world, no thanks to Boko Haram and killer herders. The military is unable to contain these terrorists. This insignia of disgrace should task our President public and he, through National Security Adviser Monguno, has attempted to have the commission disbanded. However, it is believed that Monguno and Buhari are aware that copies of the report are beyond their reach and could be released unofficially if further attempts are made to assassinate commission members. “The commission, investigating defense procurement from 2007 onwards, made significant strides which were initially accepted by the Buhari government, until the scope of the inquiry went beyond the period relating to the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan, and began to show corruption patterns extending into officers still serving under President Buhari.� The report stated that the death of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (rtd.) Alex Badeh (who became Chief of Defence Staff), and that of a former Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Major General Idris Alkali, on September 3, 2018 were not a mere coincidence. It said, “Given the upsurge in momentum by ‘the highest levels of government’ to stop the findings becoming public from the corruption commission on defense procurement, it is plausible that the attribution of a criminal ‘kidnapping-attempt-gone-wrong’ against the Air Chief Marshal was a convenient excuse to ensure that the victim - Badeh - could not divulge in court the pattern and details of corruption which has grown even more rampant in the current generation of defense leadership. “On September 3, 2018, the retired Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Idris Alkali, was also killed, ostensibly by a gang of youthful protestors

who set up a roadblock near Jos, the capital of Plateau State. His body was discovered on October 31, 2018. And his death was blamed on ‘an irate mob’, protesting in the Du-ra-Du community against the September 2, 2018, killing of 11 members of their own community.� Our dear President claims to be worried about the anguish in the North-east and North-west. So, why is he not acting on this report? Any serious government would have ensured a robust engagement of this bang. Nigeria is now the 3rd most terrorised country in the world, no thanks to Boko Haram and killer herders. Unfortunately, the military has been unable to contain these terrorists. This insignia of disgrace should task our President. On the flip side, hundreds of Baga residents and surrounding towns are still fleeing to Maiduguri following insurgents’ attacks. A faction of Boko Haram, ISWAP, which split from the main group in 2016, had attacked a military base in Baga, few days back. The fight to control Baga – a strategic town as it borders Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon – forced hundreds to seek safety in Maiduguri, some 200 km to the south. The military and insurgents also clashed in Monguno, a town close to Baga. The influx of men, women and children into Maiduguri, as well as reports of many dying on the way, have triggered tension in Borno State, with people calling for drastic action to be taken by the federal government against the terrorists. It was good seeing Governor Kashim Shettima convening an extraordinary security meeting of stakeholders. Unfortunately, nothing will happen if the President does not act appropriately. Boko Haram and ISWAP are beyond the capabilities of Nigerian military. Nigeria needs to seek help from developed countries. Nigeria surely needs mercenaries from Israel, Russia and South Africa. This is the only way forward for our dear country. Terrorism is also raging in Katsina State. For the first time, Governor Aminu Masari was honest to acknowledge that the gunmen were about overrunning his domain, with little resistance from the military. He said: “The citizens are on daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers. Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits, who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, they kill their victims. The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened. Our state is in a dangerous situation. Travelers are afraid of being stopped on the highway and arrested by kidnappers who demand ransom.� It is a big shame that Masari is just coming out to acknowledge the crisis in his state. The Katsina governor and his likes have kept quiet for this long for political reasons. These sycophants prefer to remain silent while bandits and killer herders slaughter their people. What a country!

The Lucky Lad Called Nuhu Ribadu I watched the former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on television, inaugurating 40 vehicles donated by his support group, Black Cap Revolutionary Movement, for the mobilisation of voters in Adamawa for President Buhari. Yes, 40 vehicles; that’s what the anti-corruption czar, Ribadu, mobilised for Buhari. Even if they are fairly used vehicles, what I saw could be in the region of N80 million. This great guy called Ribadu fought corruption so well while at the EFCC, and the beneficiaries are reciprocating. What a lucky chap; they now donate generously to his movement. This guy is great. Ribadu has also vowed that Buhari would get double of the votes he got in 2015 in Adamawa State. I guess he is already into the voodoo vote game: “If Buhari won Adamawa by over 600,000 votes in 2015, by the grace of God, we are going to give him

over one million votes in 2019. Adamawa is 100 per cent for Buhari; we will make sure Buhari is re-elected, because he deserves it. Let’s help Buhari so that he can continue to work for Nigeria.� Ribadu is already adept at conjuring votes. Yes, he has promised one million votes for Buhari in Adamawa. No wonder he was made Director of Field Operation of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council. Ribadu clearly understands his mandate. He has the capacity to deliver voodoo votes based on his brilliant performance as EFCC boss. The powerful Ribadu has also told Governor Abdullahi Bindow to forget about 2nd term in Adamawa State. He said his campaign structure would not campaign for his reelection. The Black Cappers believe Bindow is working for Abubakar Atiku and have decided to “deal� with him. All hail Ribadu, the new Adamawa power broker.

Ribadu

Yari

Yari’s Senseless War against Wakkala When Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara State was going on holiday last month, he handed over to the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly,Sanusi Rikij. Apparently, Yari illegally made Rikij acting governor to spite theDeputy Governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala. Those keenly following the dirty politics in Zamfara State were not shocked. The vindictive Yari has persistently humiliated Wakkala for indicating interest in succeeding him and for belonging to G8, a group opposed to Yari’s leadership of the APC in the state. As a result, the governor denies Wakkala his rights and privileges. What offence did Wakkala commit? When did it become a crime to aspire to become governor without the approval of the incumbent? Wakkala told newsmen in Gusau: “For months now, several of the legal funding that are supposed to be made to my office were stopped and I have been completely sidelined by the state government. This attitude against me started when I indicated interest to run for the governorship of the state on the platform of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I know that nothing stops me as a citizen from contesting for any elective position, so I want those concerned and responsible for the interpretation and implementation of the constitutional provisions that accorded me rights and privileges to explain to me why I am being treated this way. “If my crime is my declaration, then what about my supporting staff made up of casual staff, feeding of security personnel, fueling and services of vehicles attached to my office, what have they done to have their allowances stopped? My concern at the moment is to see that Zamfara is free from all these security challenges where the killings, kidnappings and animal rustling have taken charge.� Constitutionally, only the deputy governor can act in the absence of the governor, except if the deputy governor had been impeached, removed from office by court order or death. None of these is the case at the moment in Zamfara State. So, why is Yari disrespecting the constitution of this country? This governor has already browbeaten the state’s legislators, so, they can’t check him. I urge Wakkala to continue the fight (with his G8 friends) to free Zamfara from the shackles of Yari.

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

9

10

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 5, 2019

SUPER SATURDAY

RMD is Sturdier with Jumobi

Ace Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), praised his loving wife, Jumobi Damijo (nee Adegbesan), as they celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary recently. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

H

ow time flies. Just like yesterday in 2000, they got married, three years after dating . Nollywood actor and model Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) and his beautiful wife, Jumobi celebrated their 18th-year wedding anniversary last December. The actor took to his Instagram page to announce the anniversary with a post: “18 years. Grateful. Humbled by your love and strength. Thank you for making me a better man Abike,” he wrote. It’s been a commonplace to see the superstar actor pronounce his affection and emotion for his wife. Same way he shares pictures of his family on Instgram and oftentimes expresses his gratitude for the close bond he has with his children and grandchildren. Their marriage has been blessed with four wonderful children – two boys and two girls. It was said that those who worked closely with Jumobi when she was an OAP on African Independent Television (AIT) would recall her dreams to be known as Mrs. Mofe Damijo. True to her dreams, she had the love of her life proposing to her shortly after the demise of his first wife May Ellen Ezekiel in 1996. Although Jumobi went under the radar after the marriage, RMD seizes every opportunity to celebrate the woman

who has brought so much sunshine to his life. They are known to grace social events together but keep their marriage off social media, which is one reason attributed to the success of the union as it was the resolution of Jumobi to stay off the limelight for her husband and to face the home front. Over the years, Jumobi has built a wonderful family with her famous actor and she has achieved quite a lot of success in the business and corporate world since she left AIT. RMD once wrote that “I have never done a WCW post so here we go. Here is wifey at a family function recently. She rarely allows her pictures to be taken and video recordings are a no-no but since she has a soft spot for her friend turned sister @ brownsugar4bim who made the fabulous outfit she’s wearing, she obliged with a stern warning that it must not be on social media. “She constantly warns me to keep her away from my social media but I am taking the liberty to post this anyway, anything wen wan happen, make e happen because today the world must see not just my Woman Crush Wednesday but my Woman Crush Everyday as I tell you all that only very few things ring truer than Happy wife, happy life.” Sometimes, the media speculate about his infidelity to his wife, but he always denies these rumours and

shows that Jumobi is his one and only love. He confessed that he has never considered himself to be a “ladies man” as widely believed because, in fact, he is really shy, and says that the rumours about him are complete nonsense. When RMD is asked how to preserve a happy marriage between two celebrities, he had said you should just listen to your second half and be open with them. He had admitted that he is happy for his wife’s success, just like she is happy for his acting career, and they always involve each other into each other’s work. His sterling career in acting has outlived his other professions. He appeared in a television soap opera, Ripples in the late 80s and had a stint with Metro Magazines and Concord Newspapers as a reporter. He had played major roles in 13 movies in 2003 alone, including Romantic Attraction. The following year saw him feature as lead actor in 18 movies including I Want Your Wife, Deadly Desire, and Critical Assignment – a pan African action film. He wrote, produced and acted in his first film Out of Bounds in 1997. RMD took a break from Nollywood from 2007 to 2013 to concentrate on politics. Born into a family of 18, he had acknowledged love, support, understanding, and honesty as the main conditions for happy family life.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 5, 2019

11

SUPERSATURDAY

Genevieve Nnaji’s 20 Years in Nollywood Superstar actress and filmmaker Genevieve Nnaji is celebrating 20 years in the art of filmmaking, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

“I

don’t think I have reached my peak necessarily. So, I hope for other opportunities, greater opportunities to express myself. Mostly because there is still something inside of me that I just feel I haven’t let out and it’s really trying to come out and trying to burst loose so I’m hoping for that opportunity…I just want that story, that story that challenges me even further.” That was veteran Nollywood personality, Genevieve Nnaji during an African Voices interview with CNN in 2011. The screen idol is officially 20 years in the industry. The superstar actress whose career kicked off in 1998, in the spirit of the New Year, took to social media to celebrate the landmark and also extend heartfelt wishes to her fans. “As 2018 comes to an end, I mark 20 years in the art of filmmaking. I’m grateful for my life, journey, and growth thus far. I’m happy I could celebrate with you through a product that embodied all of me, mentally and spiritually; for all of your pleasure. May 2019 be our best yet. Happy New Year!” she wrote on her Instagram page. Considered the poster girl of Nollywood, Genevieve started her acting career as a child actress in the then popular television soap opera ‘Ripples’ at the age of eight. In 1998, at the age of 19, she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie ‘Most Wanted’. Her filmography is endless, some of which must have overlooked her memory. Her breakthrough came in 2002 when she acted in the movie, Sharon Stone. Her subsequent movies include Last Party, Mark of the Beast, Power of Love, Not Man Enough, Blood Sister, Keeping Faith, Love Boat, For Better For Worse. She is ranked one of the best paid Nollywood actresses. In 2010, she starred in the awardwinning film Ijé: The Journey. Amongst most recent movies she starred in are Tango with Me, Weekend Getaway, Half of a Yellow Sun, Doctor Bello, Mirror Boy, the 2013 movie which gave her first international

prominence and Road to Yesterday, a film that marked her first outing as a producer in 2015 and remarkably, earned her Best Overall Movie West Africa at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards amidst a handful of criticism. She was also the first to be awarded Best Actress by the Censors Board of Nigeria in 2003. And in 2011 was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic

(OFR) by the Nigerian Government for her to the art. Genevieve has received several awards and nominations for her work, including the Best Actress in a Lead Role at the 2005 edition of Africa Movie Academy Awards, making her the first actress to win that category. Aside 2018 being her anniversary year, for the actress and filmmaker, it was spectacularly momentous for her as well for having had to seal a deal with one of the largest talent agencies in the world, United Talent Agency (UTA). The collaboration would see to the possibility of Genevieve and the talent agency, working with top Hollywood filmmakers to produce movies from African stories. This followed the rights to her directorial debut ‘Lion Heart’, which was acquired by Netflix, making it the first original Nigerian production to be bought by the America movie streaming company. However, as 2018 drew to a close, the renowned actress rocked the boat. Genevieve’s directorial debut was reportedly delayed from showing in the cinemas a week after its private screening, allegedly because of ‘power tussle’ and ‘arm twisting’ by cinema distributors. She said: “To be honest, as an investor in this project, I have no complaints. I am happy with the progress I have made and remain grateful for how far I have come. But as an artiste , having you watch my first-time film as a director meant a lot to me. Plus, I am aware of the challenges of streaming in this region, so bringing this home to you was important. Unfortunately, the cinemas have refused to show Lion Heart. “Despite all my efforts, they remain insistent. I don’t own a cinema chain of my own so my hands are tied. Lion Heart will be waiting for you starting January 4 on Netflix. I hope you are as proud of it as I am. As for the ‘powers that be’, this is not over. On the contrary, it is just the beginning. You are going to respect what I stand for which is art. You are going to respect where I came from which is Nollywood. You are going to respect the talent.”

12

Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

WAITING GAME OF KWARA’S POLITICAL GLADIATORS Kwara is waiting to choose between continuity and change, writes Tajudeen Kareem

S

horn of intrigues and suspense, politics will be dull and drab. Take these two ingredients away, Nigerian politicians are like ďŹ sh out of water. Welcome to Kwara State where the political calculations are in a state of flux. The major gladiators are tentative, quite unsure of how and when to call the first shot. The people are edgy, expectant, yearning for action as a new year entered stealthily and the countdown to general elections began. Shortly before Christmas a few misguided people in Ilorin metropolis had exhibited some acts of intolerance. First, they disrupted the yearly gathering of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union when they turned the arena to a campaign ground much to the discomfiture of the emir, the highly cerebral Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari. After the show of shame, the miscreants proceeded, under the cover of night, to vandalize billboards of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. This act of intolerance has been widely condemned by all well-meaning Kwarans. To be sure, the State of Harmony has enjoyed relative peace, even as the contest for political power promises to be very fierce. Those who have played the opposition and sidelined in the distribution of perks and opportunities are now restive and agitated. On the flip side, those who have monopolized power in the last 16 years are becoming desperate, confronted by the possibility of ‘power shift’ and the dismantling of a parasitic elite group that has held the state by the jugular since 2003. For the ‘ruling elite’, the emergence of Abdulrazaq as APC candidate is a mixture of sweet and sour. A self-effacing politician of silent mien and solid background, this is one candidate the ruling PDP had derided as a weakling after his emergence from the gubernatorial primary election. Now the reality is emerging fast with uncontrollable furry. The APC standard bearer has come from behind the mask with the stomach-rumbling slogan, o to ge! This is one innocuous message with punch, deep nuance and nerve-racking indictment of rapacious governance. Translated, it reads enough is enough! The people are asking: have we reached the cross roads? Kwara is at a junction; waiting to choose between continuity and change. The electorate is waiting, the candidates are rolling their sleeves. What will they sell to Kwara’s 1.2 million voters? How will APC and PDP persuade the electorate when both are yet to unveil their manifestoes? A swell of goodwill is waiting for the APC to tap. Its candidate, Abdulrazaq comes from a well-known family in Ilorin Emirate. The patriarch of the family is Alhaji Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrazaq- a well-respected community leader and first legal practitioner of northern Nigeria extraction. He likes to describe himself as a hard working business man and a politician. “I did a lot of trading. I went into oil and gas trading with NNPC and started exporting petroleum products and crude oil. I was the first Nigerian to export petroleum products and crude oil,â€? he said in a recent interview.

THE STATE OF HARMONY HAS ENJOYED RELATIVE PEACE, EVEN AS THE CONTEST FOR POLITICAL POWER PROMISES TO BE VERY FIERCE

Abdulrazaq prides himself as an “originalâ€? Ilorin man, who had is formative education in the city, attending the Demonstration School, in Magajin Geri, Ilorin. “Growing up in Ilorin in those days was easy. I remember growing up in Ile Karatu in Alanamu before we moved to Surulere. I know the whole of Ilorin because I used to walk all over the place. “From Pakata to Omoda to the old market and the Central Mosque we criss-crossed Ilorin on foot‌ we used to play football on the streets,â€? he said with pride and great nostalgia. Despite his success in the business world, he disagrees that he was a silver spoon child. “I don’t agree with that because we were not spoilt at home because we did everything the normal family did in those days. We did not live in the GRA, we lived in Ilorin metropolis. We attended the normal school everybody went to,â€? he elaborated. He has identified poverty and youth unemployment as two evils plaguing Kwara owing to what he describes as a visionless dynasty. “We have a dynasty that has no sense of where Kwara should be going. Each one of us in our families in Kwara has become a local government onto himself because you have to provide healthcare, water and all other services for yourself and the extended family,â€? said Abdulrasaq. While many party stalwarts are worried on the seeming delay in getting the campaign to full throttle, the APC candidate believes in what he terms “collective leadershipâ€? in routing the opposition. “The way the APC is structured is such that every local government has a strong leader, therefore we are all putting hands together; it is a collective leadership,â€? he said. He also expressed optimism in winning the electorate to his side, especially with the resolve of many Kwarans to try a new leadership. “We are very optimistic about winning the next election. Everywhere we go today is O to ge, O to ge. O to ge. The crowd mobbed us, we can’t even do the door- to- door campaign because they won’t allow us; the people are excited, the people are tired of 16 years of inactivity, 16 years of waste, 16 years of a dynasty that has no idea. So, we are very confident we will win the next election,â€? Abdulrasaq said with gusto. Top on his agenda for Kwara after youth and women empowerment are agriculture and industrialization. “My vision is to see a state where we are no longer dependent on statutory allocations from Abuja, where we use our enterprise to generate enough funds to run the state, where we reduce unemployment, where our women have free maternal care, where our women are empowered to achieve what they want to do. Where students have a good environment to study and can pursue what they want with government assistance either through scholarship or free education,â€? he said. What is your vision for Kwara, he was asked? A state of harmony where everybody is happy, he said. “We have lined up sincere programmes to uplift our peope‌ we are launching our manifesto next week, which will lay out our plans for Kwara and our plans to succeed because we do not intend to disappoint the people,â€? he intoned even as he prayed for divine guidance.

GANI ADAMS AND PRESERVATION OF CULTURE

Tayo Ogunbiyi writes that the NUJ identifies with Gani Adams because of his love for culture and tradition

O

n 13th January 2018, AlaaďŹ n of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, ofďŹ cially installed Iba Gani Abiodun Adams the 15th Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland at the ancient town of Oyo. The pomp and grandeur of the event sufďŹ ciently attests to the substance of the Kakanfo chieftaincy title in Yorubaland. The ofďŹ ce was last held by late business mogul and winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola, who died in detention in 1998 after refusing to give up his mandate, which was annulled by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida. In the old Oyo Empire, Aare Onakakanfo was the military general who controlled the armed forces. Holders of the tittles were reputed to be fearless, courageous and highly proficient in the art of warfare. Indeed, it could be safely affirmed that the office of the Aare Onakakanfo was partly one of the reasons why the old Oyo Empire enjoyed so much glory and might. At the peak of its power, the old Oyo Empire covered the entire modern day Yorubaland, part of the old Mid-Western region, part of the present day Middle Belt as well as old Dahomey (now Republic of Benin). The Kakanfo chieftaincy title was instituted by Alaafin Ajagbo (1587 -1624) who installed a native of Iwoye (in present day Republic of Benin) and daring hunter, popularly called Kokoro Gangan as the first Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland. Kokoro Gangan was alleged to possess magical powers that made him untouchable and beyond repression, by any means. According to history, he was so powerful that he singlehandedly subdued towns. Subsequent Aare Onakakanfos were to follow in this tradition of fearlessness, bravery and gallantry. History had it that most of them had amazing mystical powers that made them to live and act mysteriously. For instance, it was alleged that

Kokoro Gangan, the first Aare Onakakanfo, had supernatural powers that made him disappear and appear as he wished. Not only that, it was alleged that he also had powers that made him listen to conversations about him, irrespective of the distance. It could, thus, be established that, in the olden days, Aare Onakakanfos were dominant men who possessed unusual paranormal powers. This couldn’t have been otherwise because in those days the influence of kingdoms and empires were measured by the fierceness and invisibility of their military. In those days, territories were subdued and acquired through military might and naked force. However, in contemporary times, the trend seems to be changing. For instance, late Chief S.L. Akintola, the then Premier of Western Nigeria and the 13th Aare-Ona Kakanfo, was a colourful politician and a brilliant lawyer. Similarly, his successor, late Chief M.K.O Abiola, was an affluent industrialist with wide range interests in diverse sectors of the national and global economy. He was equally an accomplished politician and statesman who was famous all over the world. Hence, it could be accurately asserted that in the modern era, dexterity in the art of warfare is no longer a desirable feature in the selection and appointment of an Aare Onakakanfo. The appointment of the current Aare Onakakanfo follows in this contemporary tradition. While it is true that Aare Gani Abiodun Adams has a rich history of political activism, it is, nonetheless, his love for the promotion of Yoruba cultural and traditional heritage that put him in better stead ahead of other top contenders for the high office. In proclaiming Adams as the 15th Aare, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, declared that “his antecedents in the promotion of Yoruba culture are unquestionable, and he has a clear vision of where

the nation should be in its cultural reawakening both at home and overseas�. In view of Adams’ undying and conscientious passion for the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition, his appointment as the 15th Aare Onakakanfo is, no doubt, a befitting one. In 2011, he founded Oodua Peoples’ Union (OPU) as a body for Yoruba people in Diaspora and he has since established branches of OPU in major countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. One of the most fundamental goals of the body is to foster unity and harmony among all Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world. In 2004, Adams founded Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) with which he annually promotes 18 traditional festivals across Yorubaland. He is firmly convinced that culture can be used as a vehicle for national integration and a platform for the realization of the elusive peace and love in our society. As a strong believer in the attributes of the Yoruba cultural heritage, his Olokun Festival Foundation remains the only Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that is exclusively dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Yoruba culture and tradition. The Olokun Festival Foundation actively sponsors and takes part in the following festivals across Yoruba land: Eledumare Festival in Ijora Lagos, Ajagunmale Festival in Lekki Lagos, Osun Osogbo, Olokun Festival in Badagry Lagos, Oya Festival in Kwara State, Oke Ibadan Festival in Oyo State, Oodua Festival in Ile-Ife, Grandmothers’ Festival in Epe, Lagos; Olumo Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun/ Ifa Festival in Lagos, Aje Festival in Agege, Lagos; Obatala Festival in Oyo State; Oranmiyan Festival in Oyo State; Okota Festival in Ondo State, Oro Festival in Iseyin, Oyo State, Ogun Festival in Ikorodu, Lagos State and Elegbara Festival in Shasa,

Lagos among others. It is in view of his zeal for preserving indigenous culture and tradition that the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, is identifying with the installation anniversary of Aare Gani Abiodun Adams. The main goal is to ensure that younger and coming generations of Nigerians take pride in their language, culture and tradition. This way, they can desist from perceiving foreign culture as superior to theirs. Towards this end, the union will be unveiling two books in honour of Aare Gani Abiodun Adams. The historical publications will be unveiled on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja. It is the firm conviction of the Dr. Qasim Akinreti-led NUJ, Lagos State Council that for our beloved nation to move forward, we must go back to the path of holding our culture in high esteem and with great reverence. For the avoidance of doubt, our indigenous culture is laid on certain core values for the development of the people and their homeland. Sadly, ‘civilization’ and technological advancement has encouraged new generation of compatriots to abandon these traits. We need to take a cue from developed nations such as China, Japan, Germany, Portugal, USA and a few others that use their culture as veritable tool for developing morality and social justice in the society to attain enviable heights. They respect their language and other cultural values so much so that they can do anything to preserve them. We need to follow same trend by rebuilding the collapsed wall of our cultural and traditional heritage. Ogunbiyi, Assistant Director, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, is Chairman, Publication Committee, NUJ, Lagos State Council

13

Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Happy New Year...

Nigeria Needs Businessmen, Not Bureaucrats

N

igeria is a place of ďŹ rm beliefs. We believe in our religions ďŹ rmly, dogmatically, and wholeheartedly. We believe in our family and tribal traditions and have great respect for where we come from. But one thing we don’t believe in is our politics, or in fact our politicians. And quite rightly so. There is no firm ideology, no left or right. Can you tell me what the difference is today between the core ideas and worldviews of our leaders and the various candidates? The answer is clearly no. So when we go to vote in these historic elections, what are we looking for, if not ideology and ideas? Let’s remember what sort of state our country is in right now. We are in total crisis. The lack of jobs; crisis. The lack of affordable healthcare; crisis. The lack of basic foodstuff, crisis. The endemic violence; crisis. And of course, the bleeding jugular of our economy, our governance, and our polity; corruption, the lynchpin of our contemporary crisis. When living in a truly existentially crisis, both on a national and individual level, it is incumbent upon us all to first recognise that the status quo is unsustainable. Things must change. Some 99% of the country, who aren’t the corrupted super wealthy, or the lucky heirs of a family fortune, come home daily to their families frustrated. And for all those who recognise that change is necessary, they must ask themselves, how will that change come about? Who is qualified, experienced, and driven to move this behemoth in the right direction? Who understands the economy? Who is experienced in business and succeeding against all the odds? Who enshrines democracy, freedom, and productivity? There are many new and interesting candidates in the race this time around. But we all know that this is a two-horse race. It’s the APC against the PDP, and no matter how many more acronyms are thrown into the ring, or how many individuals put up billboards and commercials, the choice we are making lies between those two parties. It’s Buhari versus Atiku. The APC came to power four years ago with grand promises, and of course, the PDP is making the same noises today. But if you are like me and don’t trust promises, or campaign pledges, if you think politicians are full of hot air, then look for something more substantial. Look directly at the candidate. Look at his character, look at his background, look at his experience. Look for a track record! The current president has been at the helm twice already, and has failed. He has failed to deliver on his two most basic pledges: security and corruption. Today we are jobless and we are hopeless. The president of course is not alone in his decision making apparatus, yet despite a huge support network of supposed experts, the military minded Buhari is making no ground. Perhaps he is stuck in

the mindset of a leader of a military government, blinding him from taking on board consultation from ‘lower ranking officers’ or in this case advisors? Or perhaps, he has been stifled by his years of experience in public sector and military roles whereby bureaucracy places barriers to progress, and there is nothing the so-called decision maker can do about it. Whatever is the reason for Buhari’s failures, he has had his chance. He has failed. It is now time to look beyond his failed leadership and the APC, and toward a leader’s whose track record is the polar opposite of the corrupt and inefficient bureaucrat. Which brings us to the PDP. Whether you like the party or not, Atiku gets things done. He may not be the young Barack Obama we have all been dreaming of, but in a twohorse race, he is the stronger horse. He may not be perfect, but he is certainly the more likely candidate to lead us out of these multiple crises in which we find ourselves. Why? Because he is a doer. A businessman. An entrepreneur. A man who understands the pitfalls of the public sector, privatises where necessary, and puts efficiency and productivity above all. And when we are mired in crisis, struggling from day- today, what could be more important for a nation the size of Nigeria than efficiency and productivity? It’s time we had a businessman not a bureaucrat. It’s time for change. Victoria Abuto, Abuja

A Tribute to Leah Sharibu

“

I have been kidnapped and been missing for 10 years. I am here. I am free now. It was really hard, going to sleep at night, you know. If you wanted to toss on to your back, you couldn’t do that—you would have to take the whole chain and move it to the front of your stomach so that you are not laying on the big lock on your back.� —Amanda Berry I hope the threshold of this year signifies an outright end to human rights’ subjugation and heinous crime in Nigeria. The country has transformed into a jungle where people are killed ruthlessly without any trials and an abode where innocent ones disappear without any traces. Leah Sharibu is one of the thousand Nigerians who had been stripped off of their human dignity unjustifiably. She alongside her colleagues was abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists’ group from their boarding school in Dapchi village, Yobe State on the February 19, 2018. Barely two months after the incident, other students regained their freedom while Leah Sharibu remains in captivity. It was reported that

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

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

she is being held for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. The psychological and mental trauma that Leah Sharibu has been undergoing can be pictured vividly through her recent audio clip released by Boko Haram. I anticipate a day when Sharibu will face the whole world and narrate her ordeals in the Boko Haram’s enclave like Amanda Berry who gave the aforementioned account after she regained her freedom from Ariel Castro in the USA. Unlike Berry who spent 10 years in captivity, I hope Sharibu regains her freedom soonest. In this epoch, if there is ever a human being that is worthy of celebration in the terrain of Christendom, that person is Leah Sharibu. I have read the story of heroes and heroines who stood firm on their conviction amidst stern intimidation but I am privy to witness the story of Sharibu, the goddess of resistance. She has laid and rejuvenated indelible imprints on standing against oppression. Sharibu has secured a remarkable place for herself in human history in an era percolated with individuals upholding zigzag and swingy stances. It is sardonic that the federal government of Nigeria shows nonchalant disposition to Sharibu’s disappearance. The FG has failed to take any serious practical steps to secure her release. Unfortunately, the Christian religious leaders as well seem to have been more interested in organising prayers and fasts for corrupt politicians and affluent personality. Sharibu who strongly upholds the tenet of Christianity is forgotten while its saboteurs are being celebrated. Boko Haram is a terrorist sect. Its political and religious worldview utterly contradicts Islamic doctrines. Islam values humanity, peace and freedom like every other religion in Nigeria. Boko Haram sect is a common enemy. Therefore, all the religious leaders must unite and campaign against this deadly sect. It is also pertinent that they join the civil rights’ movements both locally and internationally in demanding for the immediate release of Miss Leah Sharibu. The FG must reposition the Nigerian security intelligence to facilitate her release and bring an end to terrorism and human rights’ violations in Nigeria. Binzak Azeez, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

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

I APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS AND PRAYERS ... R-L: Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau; Chief of Sta, Mallam Abba Kyari; President Muhammadu Buhari; Leader of the delegation, His Most Eminence, Prophet Dr. Solomon Alao; His Eminence Reuben O. Basorun; Special Apostle Dr. T. J Odedele; Supt Apostle Emmanuel Owomoyela; and Her Eminence, Dr. Marian Adeleye, during a courtesy visit at the State House Abuja, yesterday

Alleged Culpable Homicide: Melaye Finally Surrenders to Police, Slumps Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, yesterday, surrendered to the Nigeria Police, exactly a week after operatives of the Force besieged his Abuja residence seeking his arrest over alleged attempted culpable homicide. The Senator, however, slumped as he entered the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in Abuja. In a video by Channels Television, Melaye is seen being helped into the vehicle by some people

around him, with some saying, “Give him water.� The Force had since Friday, December 28, 2018, laid siege at the No: 11 Sangha Street, off Mississippi, Maitama, Abuja, residence of the Senator in a bid to arrest him over alleged act of attempted culpable homicide. Before the siege, Melaye had tweeted that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris had ordered for his arrest and plans to inject him to death. The police denied the allegations and urged Melaye to present himself to the Force instead of whipping up public sentiment.

However, few days later, the police swooped on the Senator at his house in Abuja, forcing him to go underground. But the Force vowed never to vacate the premises until he turns himself in for investigation over the alleged act. Exactly a week after, Melaye who had been tweeting from his hiding place finally turned himself to the police for investigation. Report has it that, the embattled Senator decided to surrender himself to the police shortly after some legislators from both Chambers of the National Assembly paid him

a visit alongside his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN). The Senator, whom sources say appears sick and in need of medical attention, made his way to the Headquarters of the Police Force in Abuja to meet with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. However, following the absence of the IG, who was believed to be having a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, the lawmaker was later moved to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad office, Guzape, Abuja. The current location of the

embattled Senator cannot be ascertained, as information reaching us confirmed that the Senator was no longer at the SARS office, and that he may have been taken away for medical attention. Melaye, according to a statement by the Force, was wanted over allegations of attempted culpable homicide he and some of his alleged thugs have committed in Lokaja, Kogi State, on July 19, last year. The allegation was that he “and his armed thugs attacked Police personnel; shot and wounded Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police

Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.� The police said they resorted to a siege on his residence following the Senator’s refusal to honour various police invitation for investigation of the alleged crime. Before yesterday’s surrender, the Senator had through the court attempted to get the police off his premises but failed as the court refused to grant his exparte application to that effect. The court, however, ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.

Use Your Good Position to Rescue PDP Accuses Masari of Sharibu, C&S Tasks Buhari Squandering Billions on Security Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

The Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria yesterday in Abuja tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to use his vantage position to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity. Leah, one of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in February, last year, was held back in March when 104 others were freed by their captors following her refusal to renounce her Christian faith. A delegation of C&S Church to the State House yesterday, led by Prophet Solomon Adegboyega Alao, appealed to the president to use his good office to rescue Leah who has been in captivity for about 320 days. The group also advocated the provision of a level playing field for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and

Francis Sardauna Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹

fair polls in 2019. It also urged the president to consider the clamour for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation. A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Alao also encouraged the president to remain resolute in the first against corruption, saying he will prevail despite attendant challenges “We anticipate that corruption, which is killing Nigeria, may fight back, but you will prevail because majority of Nigerians are with you,� Adesina quoted Alao as saying. According to the statement, the president in his response, commended the group for upholding his administration by its prayers, particularly as the general election draws nearer. The statement which added that the president expressed hope that with the group’s prayers, he would win the

forthcoming presidential poll, also expressed gratitude to members, saying their action was expected of a group fellowshipping with God. The president was quoted as saying, “I am very grateful for this visit. God will answer our prayers. With your prayers, we will go into the field, and be victorious. “Your good intentions and prayers are appreciated. This is what is expected of institutions working for God.� Adesina also disclosed that Buhari said he was glad that the church acknowledged the good work being done by his government in the areas of infrastructure, anti-corruption war and security. “It will encourage us to do more. We have no other country than Nigeria, and we must do the best for her. I said it more than a generation ago. Thank you for identifying with our objectives,� the president was further quoted.

The Katsina State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, yesterday, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) government in the state of spending billions of naira “without securing� the lives and property of the citizenry. But in a swift reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Masari on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi described the allegations as “baseless and of no value.� Regardless, Majigiri, who was responding to a statement made by the state Governor Aminu Bello Masari that “Katsina is under security siege�, alleged that the government was plunging the state into debt and severe hardship by deploying limited resources into “fictitious projects without security for the people of Katsina. If the chief security officer of a state cannot provide security for the people

of the state, then what about the billions of naira spent on security? Who did he secure with the billions of naira?� The PDP boss therefore, urged the governor to resign with immediate effect to pave way for people he described as competent hands to pilot the affairs of the state. He said: “I think his resignation will make Katsina not to be under siege anymore. Katsina will be secure and safe when Masari resigns because this is about 42 or 43 months of his 48 months in the office. “They have been spending billions on security matters but at the end what is the result? It is better for him to resign to give way to some people to come on board and secure our people.� Majigiri debunked insinuations making the rounds that APC inherited insecurity from PDP, adding that: “It was never inherited from PDP, even if it was inherited President Muhammadu Buhari said it

in Akwa Ibom that he has fulfilled his campaign promises by providing security, economy and fight against corruption.� Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Masari on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, who debunked the allegation as mere politics, said, “When Majigiri was chief of staff to former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, what advice did he give him when 142 persons were killed by cattle rustlers in Faskari, Sabuwa and Musawa during their administration? “It is mere politics. Therefore, Governor Masari is not out to play politics with the lives of Katsina people. Masari is the only North-west governor that mobilises others to fight against insecurity.� He advised those interested in the truth about the Masari government to come over and be properly briefed instead of “hurling inflammatory statements at members of the public.�

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝ËœÍşÍ¸ÍšÎ

16

NEWS

In Brief Navy Appoints New Spokesman

The Nigerian Navy has appointed a new spokesman. He is Commodore Suleman Dahun. He replaces Navy Captain Ayo Olugbode. Dahun is returning to the position he vacated 11 months ago to attend the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State. In a statement signed by Directior of Plans, Rear Admiral OB Daji, said Dahun graduated from the University of Maiduguri where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication. He also attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria graduating with a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy. He has attended several military and professional courses both within and outside Nigeria. Some of these include Junior and Senior Staff courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. Commodore Dahun was a member of the Senior Executive Course 40 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos The senior officer also attended the Deputy Spokesman’s Course at the Joint Information Activities Group (JIAG), Royal Airforce Base, Halton, United Kingdom (2016), the Journalist Protection in Conflict Zones Course at the Hellenic Multi-National PSOs Training Centre, Kilkis, Greece (2016) and the Joint Information Operations Course at JIAG, RAF, Halton (2017).

Buhari, IGP Meet in Presidential Villa

THANK YOU ALL... L-R: Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; Orangun of Ila, Oba AbduWahab Oyedotun; his wife, Olori Abosede Oyedotun; and Oluresi of Iresi, Oba Sikiru Adeseun Ibiloye, during a thank you visit/town hall meeting with Ila/Boluwaduro/Ifedayo Federal Constituency at Mini Stadium, Ila-Orangun...recently

FG Approves N161bn for Public Tertiary Institutions Kuni Tyessi Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The federal government has approved the sum of N161 billion to be used for the 2019 interventions in benefitting public tertiary institutions across the country. The Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa who made this known Friday, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, disclosed that each benefitting university would get an allocation of over 700 million naira, while each benefitting polytechnic and College of Education would get over 500m naira each with a little difference in favour of polytechnics. According to him, the increased intervention was as a result of an increase in the 2017 Education Tax Collection which stands at over N200 billion, and as such, public tertiary institutions now have an opportunity to enjoy more scholarships, research funds and infrastructural development.

He said: “The approval of the 2018 intervention budget by Mr. President in December 2018 heralds the commencement of the 2019 TETFund intervention activities. The approved sum of N161billion has been allocated to the eligible institutions for 2019 intervention activities in accordance with the provisions of the TETFund Act 2011. “Consequently, each public university will get an allocation of N785,832,700.00; each public polytechnic N536,703,502.00; and each College of Education will get an allocation of N510,084,900.00 respectively. The detailed breakdown of the allocations will be released after the Fund communicates the allocation letters to the institutions. “As at November 2018, the total Education Tax collection stands at N200,793,193,208.54. This shows an increase of about 25.47% over the previous year’s collection of N154.9 billion. The growth in the Education Tax collection is a clear

Enugu PDP Strategises to Sweep 2019 Polls The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Enugu State chapter has resolved to make a clean sweep of the 2019 polls in the state. To this end, the party decided to embark on mass mobilsation and fundraising at all levels in the state to ensure robust campaign. The Director-General of the Enugu State Campaign Organisation, Dr. Charles Egumgbe, made this known after a strategy meeting with all the State House of Assembly, National Assembly, and Governorship candidates of the party at the Government House, Enugu, on Friday. The meeting, which was attended by the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy

Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; and State Chairman of the party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani; and all the candidates of the party in the 2019 general elections resolved to hold fundraising at the local, zonal, and state levels. Chief Egumgbe said Enugu State remained fully PDP, noting that the party was not ready to let go in 2019. He thanked the people of Enugu State for their total support for the party and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration, adding that voting the PDP all the way remained the surest route to sustaining the peace, security, and democracy dividends in the state.

confirmation that Nigeria’s economy has recovered from the avoidable recession it was plunged into by the previous administration. “The increased collection will obviously translate to a bigger allocation for public tertiary education institutions and therefore more projects, more scholarships, more research funds in the institutions,� he added. Baffa who noted that over N133.84 billion was disbursed by the Fund to tertiary institutions in 2018 as against the sum of N69.18 billion in 2017, explained that this 93.5% increase in disbursement was possible due to the 2017 projects proposal defense and

access clinic organised for benefitting institutions by TETFUND. “Fund disbursement for the period January-December, 2018 across the various intervention lines was N133.84 billion. The distribution across the three levels are: Universities – N66.93 billion, Polytechnics - N32.37 billion, Colleges of Education –N32.65 billion while others were N1.89 billion. The Fund reaped the benefits of its 2017 Projects Proposal Defense and Access Clinic for institutions in 2018 with about 97% increase in access of intervention fund by Beneficiary Institutions from N69.18B in 2017 to N133.84B in 2018,� he added.

Clarify Monorail Budget Controversy, BudgIT Tells Lagos A civic organisation, BudgIT, has called for the openness of Lagos State budget in the light rail project awarded to China Railway Construction Corporation. The group said that trending report on the Lagos monorail has piqued its curiosity and unrelenting demand for transparency on how the taxpayers’ funds are being expended by the Lagos State Government. In a statement by BudgIT Communication Lead, Adeniyi Soleye, the group said it is seriously concerned about the discrepancy betweenthe figure contained in the 2010 report delivered by China Railway Construction Corporation to its shareholders (USD$182m), as published on the company’s website, and the officially acclaimed figure by the Lagos State Government, which puts the project cost at USD$1.2bn. The statement partly read: “The value of the Group’s new overseas contracts during the reporting period was RMB9.5568 billion, which involved the following significant overseas projects: light rail project in Lagos, Nigeria (the value of the contracts for blue line and red line was RMB1.256 billion). “While being conscious of pos-

sible underlying factors that could be responsible for this humongous difference, we say with certitude that ambiguities of this like would have ceased to occur had the state government yielded to our demand and that of the people to put an end to its budget secrecy. Lagosians deserve to know, steadily and accordingly, full details of how state resources are being used without any hesitation on the part of the government. “Aside from the monorail, we reiterate our concern about the same opacity that plaques toll gates operation and large constructions in Lagos. Same goes to the abject lack of transparency in the procurement process, an impenetrable system which has ringfenced public funds around private interests. “To put to rest all doubts and concerns, BudgIT demands that the Lagos State Government should break the silence and come out clean on this matter. What is the overall cost of the Monorail project? Why the discrepancy between the official figure and the contractor’s report? These are key questions that demand an immediate response from the state authority.�

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, met with the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, in the State House, Abuja. Coming 24 hours after the IGP was reportedly due for retirement having attained mandatory 35 years in service, there were speculations that the meeting might not be unconnected with his imminent retirement or possible extension of his service years. Although meetings between the president and heads of security chiefs are routine events in the State House, this particular meeting generated a measure of curiosity in view of criticisms which had accompanied alleged move by the president to extend Idris’ tenure. Aside attaining 35 years of service, Idris will also attain 60 years of age on January 15, which is the due age for retirement in public service. After the meeting ended at 2.35p.m., there was neither information on the reason for the meeting nor what the resolve on the IGP’s tenure is.

Oyetola Produces Youth Policy

Provision of appropriate policy framework to guide the youth as well as address the enormous challenges that are confronting teeming youths in the State of Osun have been classified a priority step for the future leaders. This was disclosed by the Governor State of Osun, Mr. Isiak Gboyega Oyetola at the opening ceremony of the inter-ministerial committee meeting on the production of a draft of Youth Policy of the State of Osun, organised by the Ministry of Empowerment and Youth Engagement. The governor who was represented by the Head of Service (HOS) and Acting State Secretary General (SSG), Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade stated that the production of the draft Youth Policy was apt and timely, adding that it is the first of its kind since the creation of the state, for the youths who are potentially and actually the greatest investment for a country’s development.

Gwarzo Tasks MAAUN Graduates on Good Conduct

Adamu Abubakar-Gwarzo, the President of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN) has advised graduands of the university to be good ambassadors of the institution whenever they found themselves. Gwarzo who gave the charge at the Class 2018 graduation dinner and award night held in Kano on Thursday night, said the call was necessary so as to promote and protect the good name and reputation which the university had established since its was establishment. “I don’t think you will face any challenge in Nigeria and anywhere you may find yourselves because you are the best in Africa. I am particularly proud of students of laboratory science because the department recorded 99 per cent success in their examinations,� he said. Abubakar-Gwarzo, who is the founder of the first English university in Niger Republic, urged Nursing school students to study hard as the Council examination would soon be conducted in Abuja. He expressed optimism that the students would come out with flying colours after the examination as they had undergone rigorous training during their stay at the university.

Fire Guts Indigent Widow’s Home

A widow, Mrs. Blessing Onwudinjo, who lost her husband few months ago, has also lost her three bedroom apartment to fire disaster that occurred in Awka. The inferno which was said to have started around 8p.m., completely razed down the building with all her belongings. Our correspondent who visited the scene of the fire incident observed that the widow still in shock, while she also lamented that her clothes and those of her children were all burnt in the inferno. She said the incident started when some of her children had slept, while she and some others were outside. She said she was suspecting that it started from a fridge in one of the rooms and spread, until the entire building was completely razed. A neighbour to the family, Mr. Michael Mmoufunaya, explained that he and others around, struggled to put out the fire after calling the fire service who did not show up and only called for the location of the building when the fire has almost been put out.

Umeh Hails Buhari over Zik’s Mausoleum

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Victor Umeh, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari over the completion of the mausoleum of former president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Umeh who spoke to journalists in Awka chided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for not completing the Zik’s Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State in all the 16 years of its reign. Umeh said what the PDP could not do in 16 years was what President Muhammadu Buhari did and commissioned in just three years. The senator said, “President Buhari should also complete ongoing road projects in the South-east region as well as embark on new ones and equally give appointments to Ndigbo as the principle of equity and fairness demands.�

Plus

Victor Omole I Resolved as a Student Never to Work for Anyone…Till Date I Haven’t

GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND FASHION FILE SHOWBIZFLAIR

Quincy Ayodele

pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 42 pg. 45

My Biggest Fear in Life is Poverty… Not Just Poverty of Pocket, But Poverty of Spirit

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 5, 2019

18

PLUS

My Biggest Fear in Life is Poverty…Not Just Poverty of Pocket, But Poverty of Spirit Twenty-one years ago, foremost herbal slimming expert, Quincy Ayodele, opened her shop to add value to humanity. Over the years, she has taken some steps to step up her game, one of which was launching the products in the international market. Although the journey was full of ups and downs, today, Quincy has a good testimony to back up her story. The beautiful boss of Quincy Herbal shares the story of her rise to fame with Bayo Adeoye

Y

ou are looking very young, how do you feel at 60? I feel great and highly blessed. Above all, I feel healthy. I thank God every day for his mercies. Well, I think I have always looked a bit younger due to my petite frame, and I used to hate it when I was younger. I later realised it was a gift when I gained a lot of weight in my thirties and began to look much older. After losing the weight with natural herbs and diet and taking off about the 10 years off my age, I realised you can actually age backward based on your lifestyle. I take a lot of leafy vegetables daily and drink plenty of water. I get in some brief exercise for heart exercise, but diet is more important - You are what you eat. Where did you spend your formative years? I spent my formative years in Olorunsogo Village via Abeokuta, Ogun State with my late paternal grandmother, while my parents were away in England. My father went to pursue a legal education there. They returned to Nigeria 14 years later. It was wonderful growing up there in terms of the tranquility, the invented games children from outside, listening to tales by my grandfather after

dinner, going to the farm, etc. It was also fraught with illness - I was a sickly child - I spent more time indoors, being treated with nothing but agbo (natural herbs) because there was no hospital in my village even up till now. How did your background shape your life? I believe it was absolutely fundamental to who I am today. The regimen of waking up early, excellent work ethic, that Yoruba respect for elders, humility, the use of preventative and naturopathic medicine for treatment, are things I stand for today. Tell us about your parents My parents are Mrs. and Chief Amos Oluwole Sodimu of Olorunsogo Village in Ogun State. My dad was a lawyer; educated in England. He is late now. I was a Daddy’s girl. I love my daddy so much and I miss him every day. What was the best gift you remember receiving as a child? When my father came back from England, he took us on a walk around the Marina and we climbed for the very first time the escalator in Kingsway Marina. Mind you, here I was this village girl, and my dad this distinguished British lawyer. I was in awe. He told us that that was

Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

19

PLUS My Desire is to Positively Impact More People Relying on how people behaved in London and then we ate tomato sandwiches (which now I think are the worst thing ever, but then they tasted like heaven to me). As an adult, I have been given so many gifts but my best gift is the salvation of my soul by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Â˜Â ČąÂ˜Â•Â?ČąÂ ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ?˜Â?Čą –Š››’ŽÂ?Ǿȹ Â˜Â ČąÂ?Â’Â?ȹ’Â?ȹ‘Š™™Ž—Ǿ I was 23 years old when I got married. I had met my husband, Engr. John Oladipo Ayodele in my town, Abeokuta. He was a brilliant young engineer who had come for a project in my town, and he had become friendly with my dad, one of the influential Chiefs in the community. He used to see me outside of my home, washing clothes. One day I was ill, and he offered to take me to the hospital, and the rest is history. ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ–Â˜ÂœÂ?ČąÂ?’ĜŒž•Â?Čą Â?‘’—Â?ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ȹŽÂ&#x;Ž›ȹ‘Š™™Ž—ŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČą Â’Â—ČąÂŠÂ•Â•ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂ˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ‘Â˜Â ČąÂ?Â’Â?ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČą ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›ÂŒÂ˜Â–ÂŽČąÂ’Â?Çľ The biggest difficulty was, as Christian and a believer, the fetish name I was labelled when I first started talking about the efficacy of natural herbs in the 90s. But with persistence and the support of the Almighty God of nature Himself, I was able to overcome all the difficulties. But I won’t tell lies; it was sometimes quite dejecting for me as someone who was a married woman and a believer to have to read some of the things written about me. Luckily, my husband, who is a very strong and independent person, always reassured me that it was normal and actually a sign of achievement. I eventually developed a thick skin and started educating Nigerians about the efficacy of medicinal herbs. With my involvement with World Health Organisation (WHO) as an Expert Committee member on Development of African Traditional Medicine, we advocated for the development of medicinal plants and today, nearly everyone has embraced the use of medicinal herbs. To the glory of God, I live my life without worry or fear. ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂŒÂ˜Â—ÂœÂ’Â?Ž›ȹÂ?‘Žȹ‹’Â?Â?ÂŽÂœÂ?Čą –’œÂ?ÂŠÂ”ÂŽČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ&#x;ŽȹŽÂ&#x;Ž›ȹ–ŠÂ?ÂŽÇľ Not starting Quincy Herbals sooner. Fear and self-doubt held me back for a while. I was almost 40 when I started. But I started and I thank God for seeing me through till today. That’s why I tell people, it’s never too late. ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂœÂ˜Â–ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžÂ›Čą ’—Â?Ž•’‹•Žȹ‘’Â?Â‘ČąÂ™Â˜Â’Â—Â?ÂœČąÂ’Â—Čą •’Â?ÂŽÇľ It was meeting President Olusegun Obasanjo in Aso Rock after I was appointed the pioneer Secretary General of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners. I am forever grateful to his administration- that was the positive turning point for my natural health industry - the federal government recognised the efficacy of traditional/naturopathic medicine in Nigeria and began setting us up on a trajectory for our medicinal herbs to be recognised globally like in China. That was a dream come true; something I had been fighting

for all of my career years even up to WHO level. The Chinese are proud of their herbs and not ashamed, so why shouldn’t we? ‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂ‹Â’Â?Â?ÂŽÂœÂ?ČąÂ?ŽŠ›ȹ’—ȹ•’Â?ÂŽÇľ My biggest fear is poverty and I hope that my children and generations will not experience poverty again. Not just poverty of pocket, but the poverty of spirit. It is very important to have peace of mind above all else. ›ŽȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂœÂ?’••ȹÂ?‘’—Â?ÂœČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ?ÂŽÂœÂ’Â›ÂŽÇľ Of course dear; don’t we all? To whom much is given, much is expected. I have many people relying on me. My desire is to be able positively to impact more on those people and more, and then have them also be able to impact others. This might be funny, but those close to me know that I have always desired to learn how to do professional makeup. So if anyone wants to teach me, I have some spare time now (laughs). What are some of the lessons life has taught you? As a woman in business, I think the most important thing is to be vocal - stand firm and let people know you can hold your own. Be humble - the more you learn, the more you know that you don’t know. Life is short - so find your purpose fast and do it. Show love regardless. You are a forerunner in your kind of business, what gives you the edge? Well, it’s not easy but I think the two most important things are knowledge and passion. You’ve got to know your stuff. It’s a very technical and skills-based industry, so it’s not enough to just dazzle people on quackery, you’ve got to know your stuff, love it, and stay on top of industry trends. ÂŠÂ—ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ?ÂŠÂ”ÂŽČąÂžÂœČąÂ‹ÂŠÂŒÂ”Čą ˜— ÂžÂ’Â—ÂŒÂ˘ČąÂ‘ÂŽÂ›Â‹ÂŠÂ•ČąÂœÂ?Â˜Â›Â˘Čą ÂœÂ?Š›Â?ÂŽÂ?Çľ Well, I

have always been into natural beauty therapy and was already used to natural remedies to combat ailments, but the idea of combining the two was because of a personal journey I undertook. I had terrible eating habits and had become overweight, and I also suffered from high blood pressure and obesity-related problems. I was always rushing to the hospital and I was sick of it. I started researching and always grav-

itated towards natural herbs for treatment. Using the herbs and an altered diet, I lost the weight and my beauty salon clients wanted to know my secret. That was how it started. Â˜ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÂ?ŽŽ•ȹÂ?ž•ę••ŽÂ?ČąÂœÂ˜ČąÂ?Š›ȹ’—ȹÂ?Â‘Â’ÂœČą Â“Â˜ÂžÂ›Â—ÂŽÂ˘Çľ I certainly feel fulfilled; never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that God would take it this far. To God be the glory. You seem to have stepped aside from the main business and handed over to your children. Are you satisfied with their works so far? Well, I think one of Nigeria’s biggest problems in businesses is lack of succession. My business is now 22 years old to the Glory of God, and I absolutely positively know that my children were monumental to it still standing. They revamped the products, placed them in capsules and world-standard packaging and made them more edible; introduced our brand to social media, and placed the products on international platforms like Amazon and the Oscars. They are currently expanding our products to include weight-friendly grains and foods for export, and so much more. I simply watch in awe these days, and I proffer guidance where needed. I am excited to see where next the brand is headed, and I am grateful to God for the journey.

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

PLUS

Victor Omole I Resolved as a Student Never to Work for Anyone‌Till Date I Victor Omole likes innovation, a spirit acquired from being born into a trading family. In his university days, he had his eyes set on entrepreneurship. From foraying into sale of printing chemicals, to pioneering investment in the liqueďŹ ed petroleum gas, to revolutionising the production and distribution of oxygen to parts of Nigeria that was termed remote, he is known for his ability to make small companies great. Omole, who is the Chairman, Archers Group, speaks with Adedayo Adejobi on how his childhood prepared him for entrepreneurship

Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

21

PLUS I Resolved as a Student Never to Work for Anyone‌Till Date I Haven’t

F

rom his early days, Victor Omole swore to a life of entrepreneurship, even at a time Nigeria’s economy was vibrant and employment came with ease. On graduating from the university, he skipped the NYSC for a year to dip his feeble feet in some entrepreneurial exploration in the United Kingdom. Returning in 1992, a year later, he observed the mandatory youth service in the hinterlands of Kaduna after which he delved into researching the burgeoning printing industry in Somolu, Lagos. Like his big brother, who is noted to have started the importation of fairly used cars popularly known as Tokunbo into the country, he was armed to the teeth with useful market information, and he was ready to go big into the market. He had useful contacts and was able to move around Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg, thus experiencing an eventful sojourn into the business world. “Having spent some time researching in Belgium, I stumbled on a product from Belgium, told my aunt about it, we faxed the company, I changed $6,000 and the rest is history. The first consignment, being 48 cartons of the chemical came in and my profit was 250%. I brought in 96 cartons, profit slightly dropped and my third trip, I brought in two containers. “In 1993, after the June 12 crisis, there was massive problem in getting petroleum products and gas, so I went in to research the market and found out that there was huge profit in the business.� Omole said he sold all he had, solely to face the cooking gas business. His incursion into the cooking gas business came with its own test: “That was the first time I went into red. I’ve never been broke in my life, but it happened because the business was different. With a hectare of land at Amuwo Odofin, machines and approval, I thought it was child’s play. I never believed I could sell cooking gas. The profit from LPG was good because then we lifted from the refineries. So, this country has made entrepreneurs. I had 6th sense. I knew the business would die. It couldn’t last forever. So, a major shakeup was when the depot came to Lagos, profit dwindled because the profit was embedded in our trucking and logistics. I knew I had to look elsewhere.� Call it Hubris, but he is self-content and prides himself in living within his means. Seeing the bleak future of his business, he had a conversation with God, saying “I don’t know how to beg people for favours, so I had to sulk up to God for direction and so I took the plunge.� Like any business, Omole’s new terrain (Oxygen Gas plant) came with its own unique challenges: “The first quote we received from Italy was 1.4 million Euro. So I went to a plant in India sometime in 2003 and I made a deposit of $40,000. Even after the plant was assembled, we had to buy and fabricate some parts and components locally. It was such a challenging period. As soon as we started working, I realised the plant was restricted to certain size of cylinders. So immediately I started saving for a second plant in 2006 and in 2007, we started operations. Without sounding proud, I have the largest investment in Oxygen Gas plant.� Having entrenched himself in the Oxygen Gas business, an energetic and restless Victor was looking to conquer

another territory - property. In less than four years, he is playing big across Nigeria, Ghana and thinking to conquer the African market. “Away from the oxygen business that requires me being on my toes, I needed something calmer so I looked into properties; I set the time for it, saved for it and God made it work. I acquired my first land in Ilupeju and sold it to a Television host. I’ve since then acquired more prime properties across Nigeria, built schools for my wife, Magdalene Omole. “Understanding, self-control, selfmanagement are key to going far. Our success in Ghana is phenomenal and hinged on self-control. I enjoy and love my business and in Ghana we are on ground in terms of reputation and goodwill. People are willing to work with us. Give me anywhere; I am not afraid to turn it to Dubai with the best infrastructure, light and road. I believe that once you offer value, the money would come.� Omole’s daily routine is taking a walk at 5am. He then returns to have his morning devotion for 120 minutes and then prays for at least three hours before leaving the house: “Upon the realisation of my unique relationship with God, I’ve transcended everyday struggle. I don’t write business plans. I know my limitations, and there are some things I don’t want. I don’t put my mind on it; it’s just who I am. At 50, he’s already climbing a steep slope, but he’s not showing signs of slowing: “The next frontier is to build a 150 house estate in Ghana, and bond more with my children. At 50, I’m grateful, content and thankful to God. I have three gas plants, two in Lagos, and one in Ilesha. It’s under lock and key because I don’t have the strength for the stress. I’ve been dealt with by my staff who stole me blind. I thought I was making money then but they were the ones taking the most of it. In Lagos, I’m controlling it and its better. I see what I want to see from here. I’ve built houses; I have a wife and kids. I’m content. I don’t have diseases; neither do I have what takes money from men. I don’t know how to club, drink or smoke. I don’t live to impress anybody. “My prayer for young men is to grow older. Don’t stay too long on a chapter. Move on and be relevant. Let your scenes change. You can create your own movie. There could be challenges, but young men have to deal with the challenges.� When he looks back, this is how he sees himself in his children, “My Last born is my carbon copy. He took after me with everything in my naughtiness and sixth sense. First son took after the mother. He’s very emotional. My daughter is a mixture of both; she knows what I want. Funny enough, I think she’s the most caring. Children are different. The greatest gift you can give to kids is to love their mother. I don’t think they’ve seen us quarrel before. I never saw my parents quarrel; my mother is super submissive. I’m excited about family bonding. I’m a strong family man. I believe kids must not be left alone. I believe kids must he trained.� These last words are further attestation to the fact the Victor Omole is living the life of his dreams; “the feeling of 50 is a window to dress what God has done in my life. It’s an opportunity to showcase the blessings of God upon my life. I’m 50, but I feel 22. I’m preparing for 60 now. I have no regrets. I married my wife. I was never a minute late in business. I was on time. No regrets absolutely.�

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

Fashion File

Hallero Presents Kimon

The Rise of the New Ethnic Queen

JANUARY 5, 2019 Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

FASHION FILE The Rise of the New Ethnic Queen

A

frocentric womenswear brand - Hallero, has redefined ethnic royalty in an all new collection called Kimon tagged The Ethnic Queen . The collection pays homage to the age long traditional sophistication of fashion timeless craft - The Adire . The kimon collection has changed the narrative by interpreting the hand dyed craft from the regular canvas to luxurious fabrics of silk, organza and other various fancy finds of the best quality to match the elevated fashion requests of that modern lady who commands silence with her every appearance . Parading stunning pieces of bubas with celebratory sleeves, 2 piece combos and elaborate jumpsuits, the vibe of this collection speaks in the rich colors tones of peacock , emerald, flamingo and burnt caramel, each speaking Royalty in its ethnic language . All hail the Ethnic Queen . Credits Brand : @halleros_collection Location: White Wood Mall Models : @xa_mode ls Photographer : Lypix Art Direction : Heych PR: @morsipr

23

24

˜ ˞ JANUARY 5, 2019

FOR THE RECORD

Borno State Security Situation Getting Worse Kashim Shettima

Y

our royal highnesses and our elders, I will like to start by saying that the aim of convening this important meeting is not to pass blames or to pass any kind of verdict on our security agencies. I think the most inhuman way to go is to gather and condemn those who are putting their lives on the line and giving their lives in efforts to find peace. We are principally here as a family, as a people all affected by the situation in Borno State, to discuss suggestions that will hopefully contribute to combined ongoing efforts towards addressing the problem. For seven years, we held our regular security council meetings. I from to time consult with some of the participants here. However, I never for once convene an extraordinary meeting of this nature because, frankly speaking, I was avoiding a sort of dramatisation or being sensational about our challenges in Borno State. Without being insensitive to the realities of our situation, I feel deeply pained whenever Borno is being discussed on the basis of helpless weakness. I prefer to assume a position of strength; a position of normalcy and a character of being incurably optimistic. It was in these regards that we created a fullfledged Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement and deployed enormous public resources to rebuild more than 30,000 homes of citizens, hospitals, water installations, local government secretariats, schools and palaces of traditional rulers. It was with the same mind that we kept on pushing for voluntary and dignified return of displaced citizens to safe and rebuilt communities. My greatest wish was and still is, not to bequeath Boko Haram challenges and IDP Camps to my successor. We wanted to, and still want to get Borno fully back to normal days. Sometimes, I unconsciously find myself boasting that Borno is safer than Lagos. I simply feel very bad to sound pessimistic about Borno. I so much believe in optimism. Of course, I know that in governance, responding to some situations demand a combination of being both optimistic and realistic. The realities, Your Royal Highnesses, invited Shettima participants, is that while so much was achieved by our gallant military men and women, we are today faced with serious challenges in Borno State. But then, these challenges should strengthen our abiding faith and resolve to continually do whatever we can, in support of our military, the police, the DSS, our Civilian JTF, all para-military agencies and political authorities at the federal level, to end the Boko Haram insurgency. I have met the President a number of times, including a few weeks ago. I have led our national assembly members to the president and in all our discussions, we all saw on the face, in words and actions of the President, absolute sincerity in terms of his deep concern, his empathy and his compassion towards our plight in the northeast, particularly in Borno. President Muhammadu Buhari is without the slightest doubt, devoted to the fight against Boko Haram. I believe that service chiefs, the IGP, the DG of DSS and

Let me say that even under the previous administration, I regularly supported and defended the military. When I said in February 2014, that the military was not being well equipped, it was not a comment by design, it was a spontaneous reaction which came out of frustration and it was in defence of the soldiers being killed in front lines. I knew the problems

heads of all para-military agencies share the commitment of Mr. President. Most importantly, troops in the front lines, have with their own lives, proved their commitment in the service of our country and in obedience to the President, Commander In Chief. The President has mobilised world leaders in support of Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram. He has fostered regional cooperation and he supports troops. Some persons have asked why I have not criticised the Buhari government or the Nigerian military over situations in Borno. My response to them is that unlike in previous years when I was treated as an enemy of the Presidency, I have from 2015 to date, gained unfettered access to the President. I see the Commander-In-Chief at the shortest request and I tell him my concerns, he listens to me with keen interest and in most cases, he takes measures. I have not had reason to be frustrated with the Presidency, unlike previous years. Let me say that even under the previous administration, I regularly supported and defended the military. When I said in February 2014, that the military was not being well equipped, it was not a comment by design, it was a spontaneous reaction which came out of frustration and it was in defence of the soldiers being killed in front lines. I knew the problems. Some people have said I was later vindicated. Nigerians can bear witness that from 2011 to date, I prefer to speak from a position of strength rather than a position of hopelessness. I prefer to inspire our military and citizens. I prefer to make security matters as discrete as possible. There were times I managed to see the former President but our meetings were always under rush . There were times I resorted to writing him for the record. I remember one specific instance I wrote a strong letter in 2013, over serious concerns raised by the Nigerian Air Force command in Borno State, and I have to admit that President Jonathan took immediate measures on that. As a state government, we have done and will continue to do everything humanly possible in support of the fight against Boko Haram. We have given very serious financial, moral and political support to the counter-insurgency. All security agencies and the federal government (including the previous Jonathan administration) have strongly acknowledged the role of the Civilian JTF in the successes recorded by the military. From 2013 to date, Borno State Government has been solely responsible for funding the Civilian JTF in terms of their training, their allowances, deployment, operational vehicles and their kits. We will continue to support the Civilian JTF, our

military, the police and all other security agencies. We have secretly been engaging hunters in some areas without making noise. We believe security of lives is what makes government legitimate. Your royal highnesses, invited participants, everyone here has been playing one or more roles in the fight against Boko Haram. This fight is a collective one that affects all of us. We all have stakes in the peace and stability of Borno and this is why we chose to hold an extraordinary security meeting with carefully chosen participants. There are many important stakeholders that were not invited and it is not because they do not matter but because we wanted to minimize our number. We deliberately did not invite persons on individual basis in order to prevent perceptions or feelings of alienation. Even as this gathering is constituted, it is too large from a security point of view. Nevertheless, we are at a point in which we needed to convene a meeting of this nature so as to form a broader and more inclusive platform to listen to each other, to hopefully generate some new ideas. To chart a new course and to also rebuild public confidence. Leadership requires building and nurturing the hopes of citizens. Times like ours require all of us raising the hopes of citizens, but these hopes should not be blind ones. They should be based on the measures we take. Their Royal Highnesses are permanent leaders and custodians of our communities. We politicians come and go, royal fathers do not have tenure of office. Our elders here are the conscience of our communities. They stood for Borno when it was impossible to move freely in our state capital. Our national and state assembly members are representatives of our people. I do not think it is wise to see security as purely an executive thing. I believe in productive and strategic cooperation. We all need ourselves to move faster. The legislature is sometimes the most authoritative in relating with organs of the Federal Government. All the groups we invited have roles to play. We need the buy-in and ideas of the NLC, whose members have been victims in different places attacked. We need the NBA whose lawyers deal with issues of public rights including being defendants of suspects under prosecution and who should guide us. We need our retired military elders in the Nigerian Legion whose experiences of yesterday can be a benefit to this gathering. We invited journalists. We need the NUJ leadership to as stakeholders, help us manage information in ways that will help the state and not destabilise it. I have in the course of work realised that the best way to relate with journalists is to sometimes take them into confidence. We invited unions of transport and road workers whose hundreds of members move around the state and have come across different security situations. They see so much on the roads. We invited representatives of our tertiary institutions, religious leaders and management of markets for us to think ahead of insurgents. Knowing the Boko Haram, they may send our minds to the north while planning to head the south. We need to strengthen security measures in schools, mosques and churches, markets and all public places across Borno State. We should not be taken unawares. We invited the council on women societies because women and our children constitute the largest number of traumatised and displaced victims of the Boko Haram insurgency. They bear the brunt. Your royal highnesses, elders, national and state assembly members, heads of security establishments, members of the state executive council, chairmen, representatives of various groups, I will like to appeal to all of us that our meeting should not be driven by emotions. We should speak with logic. We should see all of here as stakeholders with genuine interest in the peace and security of Borno. We should speak with mutual respect and with trust in the sincerity of each other. Our focus should largely be about finding solutions. We all know the situation of things. Let us as a family with equal stakes, suggest solutions that will insha’Allah, contribute to addressing our problems. I wish us a meaningful meeting and not a tea party. I will at this point thank and request our friends in the media to allow us to hold a closed-door meeting. I will like to say also that we are not issuing a communique. Whatever we resolve will be transmitted to the President, Commander-In-Chief in writing and not for public consumption. ––Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State delivered this speech on Monday during an extraordinary security meeting he summoned to discuss the security situation in the state.

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 5, 2019

POLITY How Accord Party is Changing Lives in Kwara State Accord Party in Kwara State led by its governorship candidate, Prince Ayorinde Adedoyin is restoring life into the neglected communities through the provision of boreholes and electricity, writes Benneth Oghifo

F Adedoyin

or over 100 communities spread across 14 local governments in Kwara State, life could not have been better in terms of access to clean water. People in these communities have endured hardship and suffered tirelessly from water-borne diseases due to lack of potable water. In one of the communities in Irepodun LGA, the 106th borehole had just been drilled, it was a dream come true as women, children and men joyfully recounted their ordeal on how they felt abandoned by the Kwara State Government without provision of any social amenities over the past years. Like many disadvantaged communities in Kwara, where the presence of government is not felt in any way, people have many years relied on wells and the stream for their subsistence life and the women in the communities had to struggle daily with walking long distances to the stream to fetch water for drinking, cooking and other household chores. Not having potable water too, has posed many health challenges to the people in rural areas in Kwara State as children and even adults had contracted water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and others. The State Chairman of Accord Party, Chief Jaiyeola Omotoso noted that his party is providing water to the communities by drilling boreholes, repairing existing damaged and disused boreholes bringing succour to the people who have been neglected by successive governments in Kwara since 1999. “The sad reality is that our people across the state are subjected to life of misery because of the wickedness of those who pretend to serve them. There is no running public water in any house in the whole of Kwara not even in

One of the rehabilitated boreholes in Kwara

Ilorin, the state capital. “Our state is plagued by worst kind of leadership possible in Nigeria. Our candidate for the position of the governorship, Prince Ayorinde Adedoyin is doing this to alleviate their suffering to our people and save them from water-borne diseases.” The Ayorinde Adedoyin Borehole Water project has reached Onila, Bolorunduro, Agbamu Il Ajase, Rore, Arandun, Agbamu, Esie , Iludun- oro , Omido, Eggi OyoPo, Buhari, Okeya, Igbaja, Oro, Ago Panu, Okerimi, Eyeba, Egudu, Ijan, Iwo, OmuAran, Odo-Owa, Ipetu, Eleyin all in Irepodun Local Government. Other locations include Kulende area, Ita

Goma, Sango, Gaa Akanbi, Meduku, Ori Apata, Balogun Fulani Ward 1 in Ilorin South Local Government. The intervention also reached Isin Local Government, Ilorin Central and Asa Local Governments where the people thanked Adedoyin for coming to their rescue with the provision of water and electricity. Apart from taking water to the people, the Adedoyin intervention also covers repairs of transformers, feeders and getting generators into the communities to propel economic activities. One of the beneficiaries at Kulende Area, Mrs. Serifat Ahmed expressed her gratitude for the restoration of water in the Area for the use of the people. She narrated the sordid experience of women who come by the

market daily. “We don’t have water to use here to drink or for prayers because the borehole we have here is not working again. Government abandoned it and nobody came for repairs until this party people came to repair it for us so we can have water to use. Everybody knows that water is very important for human beings. We want to beg our government to make water available for the people. Also, we want electricity. Many of us depend on electricity to do our small business. I want to thank the man who did the water for us, Prince Ayorinde Adedoyin. They said he wants to be governor. That is the kind of man the people need. Somebody who will have mercy on poor people.” At Onila District in Ajase Ipo the area where Abayomi Adigun lives, he said the restoration of the borehole will bring relief to the people. “You need to see how people suffer to fetch water. Many who can afford pay money to Mallam and wheelbarrow people to help them get water for use. We are happy with this repair and this is what the government should have done. Our government needs to have maintenance culture. It is very sad how simple things are left to become bad because of corruption.” Speaking on his empowerment project which is focused on improving the quality of life of the people through restoration and provision of borehole water to communities and skills acquisition for youths, Adedoyin, the governorship candidate of Accord Party maintained that he is in the race for the leadership of the state because of the pertinent need to liberate Kwara State from stranglehold of selfish politicians that have stunted the growth of the state socially and economically. “Our people should never be this poor as to live in squalid conditions they have been subjected to. We have a very selfish political elite in this state. Nobody is thinking about the future of the state - our women, children and young people. There is virtually no industry that is working in kwara again yet all our governments since 1999 are concerned about is how to share the resources among a tiny group of people. “We must change direction. Our people must be ready to vote against poverty. Look at the over 100 communities we have provided water for, some of the boreholes we repaired require as little as N50,000 to fix yet, they have been abandoned for years. Do you know what three mechanised boreholes per 193 wards can do in solving the water problem? “This is the reason I am running to be governor; to give new life to our people; to rebuild the economy of the state; to create opportunities for our people to better their lives. Our people deserve better.’’

Akinlade: Ogun Electorate Ready to Return Stolen Mandate Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta

T

he Ogun State Governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade, who kicked off his ward-to-ward campaign, preparatory to the forthcoming March 2 governorship election has stated that the people of the state are ready to reclaim the mandate “stolen from him”, while in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Akinlade’s campaign train began its grassroots rally in Imeko-Afon, the Local Government Area, and home council of one of the strongholds of the African Democratic Party (ADC) governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka. During the APM candidate’s ward-toward campaign tour, which began on Thursday and lasted till the wee hours

of Friday, he reeled out his programmes, with a promise to tackle deplorable roads and water scarcity in the area. Akinlade also promised to provide Cassava processing facilities to the rural communities to ensure young men and women are empowered. He commended the rousing welcome accorded his campaign train, which he said showed the rural dwellers “genuine consciousness to actualise and uphold that mandate of October 2, 2018.” His said: “I think what I have seen is the genuine consciousness and a revolution I must say. And that the people of Ogun State have come to the realisation that the injustice that was perpetrated on October 2, 2018 would not stand. And that is what you are seen all over. People are coming out genuinely, ready to actualise and uphold that mandate that was given to us on October 2, 2018.

People are happy. “What you are seeing is just a product of 24 hours notification. We didn’t have two or three weeks to plan. We just told them that we wanted to commence campaign Thursday. So, I am really happy with what we have seen. That tells you what is going to happen on March 2, 2019. The revolution that is starting in Imeko will spread across the state. “No man can give everything. What we are going to do are those essential things, road, water among others. Cassava which is our symbol is one of their biggest plants here. What we have seen is that they need processing facilities and that will empower and ensure young men and women are gainfully employed. Ones you have the genuine intention to do it, you have plans and look for resource to achieve it.”

Akinlade

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 5, 2019

POLITY

Intrigues over Ogun APC Governorship Succession Femi Ogbonnikan takes a close look at the intrigues trailing the Ogun State All Progressives Congress governorship succession game

A

head of the forthcoming general elections in Ogun State, unfolding political events seem unpalatable, especially within the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The party is enmeshed in a battle of wits and grits, resulting from the outcomes of both the governorship and legislative primaries conducted last October, an aftermath of which has pitched Governor Ibikunle Amosun, against the national leadership of the party. While the governorship primary favoured Prince Dapo Abiodun, as the flag bearer, the incumbent governor, who felt cheated for not having his preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, declared winner by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, left no one in doubt about his opposition to Abiodun. Amosun moved his governorship candidate, Akinlade, and his close allies that were also denied legislative tickets at both the National and State House of Assembly into the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), while he remains in the APC, as Ogun Central Senatorial candidate. Though the governor’s ploy to stay put in the APC is said to be tactical, ostensibly to use the potent platform to market his senatorial ambition and the re-election of his godfather, President Muhammadu Buhari, while he is stopping at nothing to play the role of a spoiler and undermine the general interest of the party, by working against the governorship ambition of his archrival, Abiodun, National and State House of Assembly candidates whose elections fall on the same day. Having thrown all manners of dirty tricks into the mix, and despite overtures to let party’s supremacy reign, Amosun has resisted the urge to pander to pleas and persuasions. Instead, he has chosen to tread a different path. In understanding his undertone language, observers believe, the outgoing governor is only trying to promote imperial control in his attempt to foist his anointed son, Akinlade, on the people of the state. Known to many, Abiodun is a survivor of subterfuge. While several gambits have failed to sway his candidature, Abiodun’s traducers have resorted to dig into the archives. They have continued to ruffle feathers. Their new joker is about the alleged “false information” contained in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) form CF 001. Likening to a partisan frenzy, on Thursday, December 20, 2018, the governor, with a horde of his close allies, took Abeokuta, the state capital, by storm with the inauguration of the APM at MKO Abiola Stadium. It was gathered that huge state funds that was meant to defray the backlogs of outstanding salaries and deductions of civil servants and staff of the state-owned tertiary institutions was spent for unveiling the new party. Starting from Sagamu/Isiun interchange to Abeokuta, the state capital, APM billboards and banners mounted on street light poles along the highway and adorning every strategic location, is a living testimony to the substantial state resources that might have been frittered away in the name of selling the new party to the people of the state. The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Mr. Oluseyi Olufade-Olowookere, identifies the state government’s wrong approach to governance thus: “We have a government that has not been broad-minded, in terms of approach to governance. Astate government that doesn’t allow local governments to function, at least up to 60 per cent of how they are allowed constitutionally, it is not a government that is broad-minded, because, from the centre, there is only little you can do.

But much worse is the style of key Amosun’s political appointees and associates, who collect weekly dole from the NURTW, RTEAN, ACOMORAN and AMORAN. It has never happened before in Ogun State. And, the boys have always been angry about this. Successive Governments have always given these boys funds, not take from them. Today, they are sometimes tasked, by being ordered to produce certain amounts for the personal needs of political appointees

Abiodun

“Project management or implementation requires a hierarchical approach and it is what is called work-breakdown structure. The only tier of government that has access of visibility of small pockets of jobs that need to be done is the local government. So, one thing that is wrong first and foremost is that the state government has not promoted or encouraged local government autonomy in any way. All I hear is that what the state government does to the allocations, is just to give them a stipend, I read somewhere, N2 million for salaries. How can a local government function with that? Why won’t we have faulty roads, faulty healthcare, with all these things local governments should do? That is one thing that is definitely wrong.” Also, Anthony Ojesina, who is the campaign Director-General of the Ogun State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prince Gboyega Isiaka, took a swipe at the state government’s level of intolerance. “Two issues are pertinent. First, we have unimpeachable information and tested facts, that there are pre-meditated plans to subvert the electoral process via provocations and violence. Secondly, we have noticed and recorded sequence of events since 1st December – that serve as pointers to our assumptions. “The first indication of hostility occurred on Saturday 1st December 2018, when officials of the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Agency attacked our advert materials (A-Boards) which were placed at strategic points in parts of Abeokuta – defacing them and carting it away where possible. It took the direct intervention and confrontation of the rampaging officials by Isiaka before temporary order was restored. We recall also that the background to this was the initial evasiveness of the agency in receiving our approval request before the incidence,” said the DG. Besides, an APC stalwart, Chief Bode Mustapha, is optimistic that the party will win the forthcoming governorship election in the state, no matter the intrigues and intimidation from any quarter. Though he expressed worries ov er secur ity of lives and property, that he has it on good authority that some people have been stock-piling dangerous weapons in a particular location within the state capital that cannot be searched. But he said the electorate cannot and won’t be deterred by that unsavoury development. “The people of Ogun State, whether they are teachers or pensioners or traders, name it, can’t wait to embrace the reality on ground . They are better prepared to vote for a change and that change is Abiodun,” said the Bobagunwa of Egbaland. Reminiscent of the outplay of the strong forces that worked against the preferred candidate of the immediate past governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, in the 2011 general elections, on the heel of the formation of the Peoples’ Party of Nigeria (PPN), following an outbreak of crisis within the state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but which eventually threw up the incumbent governor, who was the governorship candidate of the then, Action Congress (AC), by sheer providence, it was learnt Amosun is yet to take a cue from the history of the past in his latest ambivalence approach.

Former Chief Press Secretary to Daniel, Wale Adedayo, holds the view that it is individual ambition that is currently shaping the pace. According to him, “while negative public opinion worked against OGD in Ogun State during the 2011 governorship election, it was a coalition that removed his hands from office. PPN was the best organised political party in 2011. It spent the most money too, largely state resources, as it is being done today. But, in the end, those opposed to OGD’s style of administration banded together and gave victory to ACN to produce Amosun,” said Adedayo. He said the much-talk-about bloc votes from Ogun Central Senatorial District is going the way of APM, but noted that many among those postulating the idea ever gave a thought to the thousands of Lagos State workers and traders resident in these three local governments, Ado Odo/Ota, Ifo and Obafemi Owode. “They constitute at least 40 per cent of the electorate in these local governments. In some, especially Ifo and Obafemi Owode, they could be as high as 60 per cent . They will most likely align with APC, being the party that will certainly carry the day in Lagos State. “Besides, the reality of a bandwagon effect is there. APC should clear the Presidential and National Assembly elections. I doubt if allowance will be given Amosun to dictate the tempo of security arrangements at voting venues. Once that happens, it will be APC all the way. Those who voted APC in that election will certainly remain with the party, no doubt about it at all. “More than the last paragraph, Ogun Central should have some challenges for APM. Amosun has National Assembly candidates. Plenty of voided votes, which should have gone to APM might come due to challenges by those in APM, but loyal to Mr. Governor. The only way to check this is for Amosun to have control over the Police CP, DSS Director and Alamala Barracks C.O. If he is shortchanged at the security arrangement end, APM will hit the dust across Egbaland. “Intimidation of voters, using boys is also key. Amosun had a monopoly before now. But it appears things are changing. Key leaders of the boys are changing camps. It has been a rough deal for them under the current administration. Persons who had no business with the transport unions were imposed as leaders since 2011. It became worse for Okada riders, whose union, ACOMORAN, was diluted with AMORAN, mainly boys used by Amosun before he became governor. “But much worse is the style of key Amosun’s political appointees and associates, who collect weekly dole from the NURTW, RTEAN, ACOMORAN and AMORAN. It has never happened before in Ogun State. And, the boys have always been angry about this. Successive governments have always given these boys funds, not take from them. Today, they are sometimes tasked, by being ordered to produce certain amounts for the personal needs of political appointees. “With the ouster of Ogun West’s popular grassroots mobiliser , Biodun Akinlade, from the APC running mate slot, ADC’s GNI should be more than happy. If things do not go wrong for GNI, getting at least 70 per cent of the votes from Ogun West should not be a problem for him. The real challenge remains Ado Odo/Ota with its heavy voting population, mostly people from Lagos resident in Sango and its axis. “But APC should be happy about Ado Odo/Ota. However, the party needs to work. The people of Atan, Igbesa and Agbara will certainly distance themselves from APM, being Amosun’s party. They have been short-changed since 2011. It should be the same story among residents of Akute, Lambe, Iju, Ajuwon, whose roads remain in bad shape despite earlier promises to complete same. “Abeokuta South should present an interesting challenge. I dare say Afolabi Afuwape should be able to assist APC if he remains with the party. He remains an uncommon grassroots mobiliser . APM has nothing to offer Odeda. It should be the same story in Abeokuta North. Apart from the fact that residents of these areas have various economic challenges, many are aghast with Amosun’s nepotism. The bridges in the urban parts of town have added no economic value to the life of an average resident. Of course, the pockets of Ijebu, Remo and Ogun West civil servants resident in Abeokuta may not vote APM. But it is not too sure about Ewekoro. “Ogun East is PDP ‘country’. Majority are either for Ladi Adebutu or Senator Buruji Kashamu. But APC could smile here if the party is able to work on the divisions within the PDP to get quality support for itself. PDP remains popular in Ogun East because Amosun appears to have a deliberate policy of not believing that the place is part of Ogun State. The party that is most able to engage residents in turning around the fortunes of Ogun East should be able to carry the day,” said the former CPS. Conscious of the factors that could work in his favour, Abiodun, at an investors’ Forum organised by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State chapter held at MAN secretariat, Ota, on December 18, 2018, claimed that his choice of running mate, followed a due process and consultations with critical stakeholders within the party, before arriving at the candidature of Mrs. Noimot SalakoOyedele, a Muslim and a true daughter of Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota local government. According to the APC governorship candidate, “about 70 per cent of the population of Awori people are predominantly Muslims. So, the majority of the voting populace in Ogun West come from Ado-Odo/Ota local government because of their proximity to Lagos State. We are conscious of that.”

27

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 5, 2019

POLITY

Lekki Gardens: Court Fixes Date for Estate Distortion Suit Bennett Oghifo

L P

agos High Court has fixed January 8, 2018 to hear the suit filed by 20 homeowners against embattled Chairman of Lekki Gardens, Richard Nyong, and one of his estate development companies, Lekki Gardens Limited. According to the court processes made

available to newsmen, Nyong and his company allegedly violated the layout of the Horizon Premier-1 Estate in Lekki by converting children playground and areas reserved for recreation and greening to commercial use without regard for comfort, safety and security of the estate residents. The homeowners also alleged that rather than complete the estate and deliver it to subscribers, the developer had focused more on the commercial structure, which

has since commenced operations, while basic facilities such as potable water are still lacking in the estate. The 33 units in the estate were sold in 2015 with a pledge by the developer to hand over completed houses to subscribers in 2016. The homeowners insisted that the action of Nyong and his company was a breach of the sale contract, noting that the layout and brochure with which the estate was marketed to subscribers made clear provision

Chelsea London Dry Gin Lights Up Barracuda remium Gin Brand – Chelsea London Dry Gin over the weekend hosted her loyal consumers to an end of year beach carnival tagged ‘Catching Fun with Jaywon’. The music fiesta which was held at Bar-

racuda Beach Resort, Lagos, had artistes like Small Doctor, Jaywon, Dotman, Joeel, Solidstar, Slimcase, Dremo and a host of upcoming artistes perform at the event. Brand Manager Chelsea London Dry Gin, Afolabi Kasomo was enthused at the massive turnout of brand patrons at the event. He informed that consumers

Jaywon Small Doctor on stage

asked for another brand experience after the recent sponsorship of Felabration and the beach fiesta was the perfect response to their request. There were fun games at the event for attendees and winners went home with lots of branded and household gift items like TV, Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Microwave Ovens etc.

for playground, recreation and green areas among other facilities. In the brochure, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, facilities promised by the developer included “club house with beautiful pool, basketball and tennis courts, a gym, children’s playground, tree-lined walks and nooks, pocket parks, green areas and manicured gardens”. But in the estate as currently developed, none of the listed facilities is provided and the hope of subsequent provision of the facilities was dashed with the conversion of the allocated space to commercial use. One of the homeowners said all efforts to get Nyong and his company to adhere to the original layout proved abortive. “They insisted that they are in business and that disgruntled homeowners were free to request a refund of their investment,” said the homeowner, who pleaded not to be named for fear of attack by the developer’s agents. She added that the company has subsequently advertised the sale of shops and office spaces created from the converted space despite some of the correspondences from their office claiming that the structure was offices for the estate facility. Efforts to get Nyong or any official of Lekki Gardens to speak proved abortive. It would be recalled that a six-storey building at Ikate Elegushi area of Lekki belonging to the developer collapsed on March 10, 2016 during construction, killing over 30 people and injuring many others. The company and its promoters, including Nyong, are currently facing criminal charges in a Lagos High Court for the incident, having been accused of negligence and deliberate violation of the original plan of the collapsed building. Following the incident and buyers’ apathy towards the Lekki Gardens brand, Nyong set up new property development companies to advance his business. The companies include Meridian Park Estate Limited, Horizon Estate Limited and Foreshore Waters (Signatoria) Limited.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the new Face of Okija, Achukwu Promise Chidi, founder of the Obijackson Foundation, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi; and the new Queen, Oluchi Blessing Nwizugbo, at the Face of Okija Cultural Festival held in Okija in Anambra State... recently

L-R: Representative of Afenmai Association of California, USA, Dr. Olumide Akerele presenting a N500,000 cheque to the Proprietor, Itseoghena Orphanage, Mr. Oshole Samuel; and Director of Administration, Mrs. Elizabeth Abu, during the cheque presentation in Jattu-Uzairue, Etsako West LGA, Edo State...recently

L-R: Group Head Corporate Communications, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi; Brand Manager, International Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chinwe Greg-Egu; Group Managing Director and CEO Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Awilo Longomba; and Executive Creative Director, Livespot Group, Darey Art Alade, at the Born in Africa Festival 2018 held in Lagos

L-R: Partner SIAO, Mr. Ladi Smith; Rep. Chartered Institute of Taxation, Titilayo Fowokan; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler; Managing Partner SIAO, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Executive Chairman Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Ayodele Subair; and ICAN Registrar, Mr. John Evbodaghe, a t an interactive breakfast meeting organised by SIAO on recent developments in income tax in Nigeria SUNDAY ADIGUN

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

28

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Regional Event Manager, International Breweries Plc, Atobalo Ayotola; Honourable promo winner, Abiodun Tolulope, and company’s Sales Manger, Osun and Ekiti state, Olayinka Ikotun at the presentation of prizes to promo winners by International Breweries Plc in Ilesa, Osun State.…recently

L-R: Modern Trade Manager, Ajuma Ademu; Brand Manager, Ginny Tewatia; participant of Indomie Relish game, Ado Adams; and Sales Team Manager, Abuja, Mary Talabi , all of Indomie Relish during the official launch of the product at Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja, recently

Total Fetes Staff, Unveils Direction for 2019 Total Nigeria Plc has announced plans to invest heavily in renewable power sources as part of its major projects for 2019. Managing Director of the company, Imrane Barry, disclosed this at the company’s 2018 end-of-year and award presentation ceremony organised for staff in Lagos recently. The colourful event held at Queens Park Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos and had in attendance top executives of the company, stakeholders, musical artistes and staff members, who came in company of family and friends. Providing insight to the company’s exploits in 2018, Barry explained that the year had been challenging, notwithstanding, the company recorded huge feats in several areas, one of which was its 30th solar - powered service station that opened in October. On the company’s agenda in the New

Year, Barry said, “We are looking forward to a proper transition of government in 2019, this would impact the economy greatly as we are also working towards growth and sustainability. In specific, we are aligning with federal government plans to diversify into solar energy as we plan to expand our solar energy output to increase electricity capacity in Nigeria. “We are also working on building and acquiring new stations to avail us with more outlets where customers can have more access to our products around the country,” he informed. The company’s General Manager, Human Resources, Olubunmi Popoola- Mordi spoke further on the purpose of the gathering as one way of keeping staff lively in a fun and relaxed manner away from the formal atmosphere at work.

She was of the belief that the initiative would also impact positively on the bottom line of the company as well as the consumers. “This is important for us because the success of a company is determined by the happiness of its staff. We are here today to celebrate ourselves, catch fun to the fullest and connect with ourselves much more than before. As you can see, the staff are motivated and ready to face the challenges of the New Year.” The event also saw some old staff of the company who have stayed for a period of 10 to 35 years, specially recognised and awarded. The highlight of the event was a mindblowing performance by Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, better known by his stage name, Reekado Bank, that thrilled every member of staff including the Managing Director to the dance floor.

Shoppers Express Delight at Ecobank Discount Promo Customers who have benefitted from the Ecobank special end-of-year discount promo have appreciated the bank for putting up the initiative this season. As announced by the bank, the discount offering was designed for merchant and shoppers who use the Ecobankpay option to accept and make payment for goods and services during the yuletide. The Ecobankpay is a convenient digital QR code that enables payments using the mobile phone, without the need for a plastic card. That the payment option is compatible with either MasterPass, MVisa and Mcash platforms, avail customers privilege to carry out transactions across the three platforms regardless of their bank card. At the launch of the promo, Head of

Commercial Banking at Ecobank, Rotimi Morohunfola, explained that customers on the platform are only privileged to access the promo in select shops in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Aba, where the QR code is on display. Giving a further explanation on the offering, he said “If the person that wishes to buy goods from you is coming from a bank that has MVisa and wishes to pay, the same QRcode would accept an MVisa payment and vice versa. “That creates interoperability and convenience for the merchants and as you know, the QRcode is much cheaper than having a point of sale (PoS),” he stated. He added that the option also takes away the the cost of setting up for the merchant

Lush Hair Enters ‘Streets’ to Engage Consumers In the spirit of the season, popular hair brand and a subsidiary of Lucky Fibres Limited, Lush Hair, have identified with its loyals in an informal settings to celebrate and reward them for consistency of patronage. The beauty brand which in a road show, stormed Lagos streets in style, connected more with direct users of its products and retailers by way of one on one interaction. This activity also availed the company an opportunity to get direct feedbacks from consumers on ways and how to serve them better. The well organised road show started from Lucky Fibre Office in Surulere and moved through Costain,Stadium, Ojuelegba, Mushin and Oshodi. The movement continued from Ikeja Along through Mangoro,Cement, Iyana

Ipaja, Ogba-Ikeja,Maryland, Palm Groove, Fadeyi, Yaba, Oyingbo and back to Costain, all in Lagos. During the road show, which had in attendance the General Manager of Lucky Fibres, Mr. Jitesh Pamnani, women were seen in droves cheering up the brand’s team, while the brand in return, doled out varieties of gift items to the excited customers. Speaking on the activity, Brand Manager of Lush Hair, Sukhmbir Pannu, stated that the essence of the show was to know more about product users as well as appreciate them. “We all know that our product is the newest thing for every Nigerian woman. A lot of our customers have used our products with great satisfaction, but may not have met the brand in its exciting character you are seeing today.

who can simply print out a QR code on a paper and stick it anywhere without any risks involved. “It is convenient and the mobile app allows you the ubiquity, it allows you 24/7 access, it is affordable and for every Nigeria. When you are a merchant and we onboard you on EcobankPay, you will automatically have a QR code that accepts all the three payment platforms – MasterPass, MVisa and Mcash.” The promo, coming at a time when shopping is most heavy makes it more relevant and has been greeted with positive feedback by enthusiasts. The bank has urged more customers to take advantage of the offering available in identified locations as it is billed to collapse by end of January, 2019.

Baba Fryo, Magi Thrill at Ginai Kids Party In the spirit of the Christmas holidays and New Year season, Ginai Kids Entertainment organised a special end of the year party for children in private nursery and primary schools in Apapa area of Lagos State. The two day Christmas holiday funfair had parents, proprietress and proprietors of the schools in attendance in an atmosphere of fun and excitement. The well-organised kids’ party was geared towards having the kids, in company of their teachers and guardians engage in different fun fill activities like games, dance competitions, drama, and group presentation, quiz and debate. From their various and individual presentations, one can class them as the pupils engaged themselves in a manner that showed them knowledgeably in wits as they participate in the events, showcasing their various schools. The colourful children’s party which was held at Naval Barracks in Ajegunle presented opportunities for the kids from different backgrounds to interact with one another amidst fun and fanfare while also been treated to music and comedy from renowned comedians and musicians such as Baba Fryo, Yellow Banton and Magi, with members of the media covering the event. According to the organiser of the event, Regina Jideonwo, the essence of the 2018 children’s funfair was to merge entertainment with education to give the children fun, adding that “This is the end of the year and a lot of schools do have school parties and we want to make it easier so we decided to organise this party for them to attend individually and enjoy the special treat of the season of relaxation.” The winners of the games and competitions were presented with various gift items. The highpoint of the Ginai Kids Entertainment event was the presentation by Kamsy Victory Fenuga, a grade 5 pupil from Sowers Best Leaders Academy in Awodiora Estate. Titled ‘A Look Ahead @ Nigeria Election in February 2019 was inspiring, her recitation was quite wonderful, such that wowed the audience and stirred the setting in admiration and praises of her intelligence.

Chi Bags Top 50 Brands Nigeria Award CHI Limited has been recognised among the foremost brands in 2018, at the recently held Top 50 Brands Nigeria Awards. The brand appeared and came top on the winning list having matched with the innovations and quality criteria for the award. In the word of the award organisers, it considered brand popularity, category leadership, innovation, national spread, corporate social responsibility and online engagement to measure qualified brands. Chief Executive Officer of Top 50 Brands Nigeria, Taiwo Oluboyede, stated that awards evaluate and celebrate top brands that have consistently maintained leadership position in their categories, living up to their promises to become a part of the popular culture, owning properties and associations that evoke positive emotion from consumers. He added that top brands for 2018 are those that are fast growing in value and have succeeded in delivering their promise to the consumers.

“Chivita and Hollandia are two brands that have stood out in their categories for their conscious effort to build equity, by offering healthy products with superior value and insightful consumer engagements,” he said. “Responding to the feat, Marketing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya, expressed that the initiative was a welcome development for a brand that has prioritised consumers’ expectations as well as the health, nutrition and refreshment needs of consumers. “We are happy on the recognition because it is a reflection of our commitment in ensuring that only the best in juice and value added dairy products are made available to meet consumers’ expectations. “We will continue to deliver on the promise of superior value and innovation by identifying consumer needs and meeting them,” he said. This award joins a growing list of recognition in honour of the company in recent times.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

3

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

05.01.2019

Bukayo Saka Thrilled by Premier League Debut

NEWS

FA Cup: Chelsea Seeking SuccourPAGE 32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

30

GLOBAL SOCCER

Bukayo Saka Thrilled by Premier League Debut Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka of Nigerian descent became the subject of an interesting statistic when he made his Premier League debut on New Year’s Day and the 17-year-old – born September 5, became the ďŹ rst player born in the year 2001 to feature in the elite division

“I

love them and will miss everyone at the club. I want them to know that any day and anytime, I still remain at Robo Queen and will always represent them well anywhere I find myself and will do my best to give back to the club. “To the upcoming players at Robo, if it can happen to me, I believe everyone can have the same opportunity of going far and wide. I will urge them to keep working hard and doing their best. “I also want to thank coach Osahon. He has been the backbone of every

31

JANUARY 5, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

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

success I’ve achieved today and has tolerated and persevered with me. I am very grateful to him,” Ajibade said. Avaldsnes manager Tyriberget believe they have snapped up one of Africa’s most promising young talents ahead of the 2019 Toposerien season which starts in March. Born December 8, 1999, Ajibade has represented Nigeria at U-17, U-20 and the senior national team. She has been playing for FC Robo since the 2013 Nigeria Women Premier League season. In 2014, she was listed as one of the best young talents in the league and in September 2018, she won the Nigerian

women football freestyle competition for the second consecutive time. During the 2015 NWPL Week 2 games, Ajibade was listed in the team of the week, compiled by Soccerladuma South Africa, despite her team losing to Confluence Queens during the round of matches. Ajibade won the first edition of Nigeria National Freestyle Championship, which is a competition to promote freestyling football and in 2017, despite Robo not being among teams that finished tops, Ajibade was voted Player of the Season after scoring eight goals to save her team from relegation.

In 2018, she was nominated as the Best Player in the 2017 NWPL at Nigeria Pitch Awards. Ajibade scored once as Nigeria won a ninth title at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana and was a joint-top scorer with 10 goals as the Falconets qualified for the Under-20 World Cup this year and also helped the senior B Team to a third-place finish at the 2018 West Africa Football Union title. She is regarded as one of the best female freestyle footballers in Nigeria after winning the competition back-toback in September.

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

Rasheedat Ajibade A Dream Come True For an average Nigerian player, his or her dream is to one day leave the shores of the country and join the big leagues in Europe and for Falcons star, Rasheedat Ajibade, it was a dream come true as she put pen to paper for Norwegian side Avaldsnes on a two-year deal

I

n spite of the Super Falconets of Nigeria not going past the quarter-final stage at the 2018 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in France, Rasheedat Ajibade was one of the shining lights in the Nigerian team and it did not come as a surprise as she was named in the Nigerian team to the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations where she won the tournament alongside her teammates. Late last year, Ajibade made a shocking revelation as she left FC Robo after penning a farewell message to the club as she brought an end to her nine-year career at the NWPFL club. The 18-year-old who recently signed for Norwegian side Avaldsnes on a two-year deal, is one of many expected to leave FC Robo before the new league season. Last Sunday, the young forward tweeted: “Every story, every adventure has and must have an ending. My story and journey with FC Robo Queens have come to an end. It’s been an extraordinary nine years journey‌.. am indeed very grateful to God.â€? Continuing she said: “From my heart, I want to appreciate all at FC Robo Queens, especially my fatherly head coach Emmanuel Osahon, who tremendously developed me to who I’ve become. Thanks for everything. I promise that you’ll forever be in my heart. In my soul, I will forever be a Robo Queens player. And to everyone that contributed to my progress so far and made this dream come true, thank you all, God bless you and answer your secret prayer.â€? During her time with Robo, the forward earned invitations to the National U-17, U-20

and senior women’s national team and won the 2018 CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. Having finished ninth in the Toposerien log last season, coach Lena Tyriberget bolstered her squad with the highly rated 19-year-old versatile forward’s signing ahead of the 2018-19 season. “When you look at her age and her merits – been central to the U-20 team and the senior national team, most recently in the Africa championship that Nigeria and Rasheedat won. You realise thatRasheedat is a very promising Nigerian national team player. As a player type, she is typically either number 8 or 10 on the pitch,� said club’s coach Lena Tyriberget last Wednesday. “She is good with the ball, is forwardlooking in the game and has a good drive. She is a player for the future. We look forward to having Rasheedat with us for the next two years.� The new league season starts in March and Ajibade will be focused on settling in her new surroundings. The Nigerian international said, “it’s a dream come true� for her after joining Avaldsnes. The 19-year-old was handed a two-year contract in Norway after ending a nine-year stay with FC Robo Queens. Her move came on the heels of her title-winning debut at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana as she scored once in four appearances for the Super Falcons. “I am grateful to God and it feels like a

dream come true,� Ajibade told Goal. “I’ve been so excited since I secured my deal, being it’s my first professional contract. Before going to Ghana (for the Africa Women Cup of Nations), I had told myself that I have to go there to fight for my place and prove my worth to everyone. “I also vowed that I will not leave Robo Queens to any other club in Nigeria, but work hard for a good offer abroad comes for me. It’s definitely going to be a stepping stone because it won’t end there as it’s another journey for me. “I think playing for Avaldsnes and being introduced to the European style of play in my game will polish my skills and improve my personality. I just have to go there and perform better, gain more experience than what I’ve had already. “I believe the club will help me improve and also challenge for my place in the Super Falcons ahead of the next year’s Women’s World Cup. With God and my performance, I promise to help my club succeed in Norway and make the Nigeria squad to France.� Ajibade further issued an emotional farewell message to her childhood club, FC Robo Queens, and coach Emmanuel Osahon while pledging to remain a good ambassador of the club. “I wish to appreciate everyone at FC Robo Queens for how far and much they have contributed to my development and career success so far.� “I love them and will miss everyone at the club. I want them to know that any day and anytime, I still remain at Robo Queen and will always represent them well anywhere I find myself and will do my best to give back to the club. “To the upcoming players at Robo, if it can

happen to me, I believe everyone can have the same opportunity of going far and wide. I will urge them to keep working hard and doing their best. “I also want to thank coach Osahon. He has been the backbone of every success I’ve achieved today and has tolerated and persevered with me. I am very grateful to him,� Ajibade said. Avaldsnes manager Tyriberget believe they have snapped up one of Africa’s most promising young talents ahead of the 2019 Toposerien season which starts in March. Born December 8, 1999, Ajibade has represented Nigeria at U-17, U-20 and the senior national team. She has been playing for FC Robo since the 2013 Nigeria Women Premier League season. In 2014, she was listed as one of the best young talents in the league and in September 2018, she won the Nigerian women football freestyle competition for the second consecutive time. During the 2015 NWPL Week 2 games, Ajibade was listed in the team of the week, compiled by Soccerladuma South Africa, despite her team losing to Confluence Queens during the round of matches. Ajibade won the first edition of Nigeria National Freestyle Championship, which is a competition to promote freestyling football and in 2017, despite Robo not being among teams that finished tops, Ajibade was voted Player of the Season after scoring eight goals to save her team from relegation. In 2018, she was nominated as the Best Player in the 2017 NWPL at Nigeria Pitch Awards.

Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

33

GLOBAL SOCCER

FA Cup: Chelsea Turn to Nottingham Forest for Succour After dropping two points on home ground against Southampton, defending champions, Chelsea begin their FA Cup campaign against Nottingham Forest to looking to move a step closer to retaining the trophy that they lifted with victory over Manchester United in May last year, while Nottingham Forest make the trip to Stamford Bridge having returned to winning ways with a 4-2 triumph over Leeds United on New Year’s Day

S

even points from four games over the Christmas period with an injury list which got longer by the match was not the worst return for Chelsea, but it has left Maurizio Sarri with problems heading into the rest of January. The Blues must find a way to cope with a fixture schedule which brings a double-header with Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup semi-finals at the same time when they also have to contend with three important games in the Premier League. Sarri’s side now only sit three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal after Wednesday’s goalless draw with Southampton, and more of his players are beginning to pick up minor muscle injuries after a busy schedule on both the domestic and European scene. Chelsea have already played 31 competitive matches since Sarri’s arrival in July but even though the Italian has a large squad at his disposal, he has not taken the chance to rotate his players over Christmas. There were signs against the Saints that some of the members of his squad are ready for a weekend off, but whether that materialises against a strong Forest side remains to be seen. Alvaro Morata made his first start since December 13 in midweek, but the Spaniard continues to look short of confidence in the final third and Chelsea have a decision to make regarding his long-term future.

Cesc Fabregas has barely been used by Sarri all season, and an appearance against Forest on Saturday could mark the playmaker’s final appearance at Stamford Bridge ahead of a transfer away from the club. Whoever is selected by Sarri will be given the responsibility of trying to end a run of 10 matches where Chelsea have failed to score more than two goals in a game in any competition. Nottingham Forest manager, Aitor Karanka went into the game with Leeds earlier this week aware that a defeat may result in Forest terminating his contract, but the Spaniard has been given a reprieve due to his side’s dramatic triumph against the Championship leaders. There is an argument that Karanka should not be under as much pressure as has been reported, but the 45-year-old has at least brought himself some time to prove that he remains the man to deliver promotion to the Premier League. Just five points have been recorded from their last half-a-dozen outings at the second tier, although it is a period which has included games against the top two in the standings and fierce rivals Derby County. That period followed a run of 11 points from five matches and although Forest sit four points adrift of the playoffs, they at least remain firmly in the promotion hunt at a time when the club’s hierarchy will look to strengthen the squad.

The trip to England’s capital to play Chelsea will be regarded as an opportunity rather than a fixture where a result is required at all costs, and that may play into Karanka’s favour. There will be changes to the starting lineup after such a run of fixtures, but Karanka has already used 25 players in the league this season and he will have confidence in whichever team he selects at the weekend. Forest have already had success against Premier League opposition this season, with a dramatic 3-2 win being registered over Newcastle United in the second round of the EFL Cup. The East Midlands outfit received their fair share of luck during the closing stages, but that occasion is one of many this season where they have risen to the occasion in big matches and that could prove to be the case this weekend. Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be looking tow make it five wins from five as interim Manchester United boss when his side welcome Reading to Old Trafford today. The Red Devils get their FA Cup campaign underway in the third round and will be expected to progress with minimum fuss against their Championship opponents. United have already been knocked out of one cup competition at home to a Championship outfit this season, but there is a completely different air around the club now following Jose Mourinho’s exit last month.

Facts

Ëž ÙÎËã˪Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÒĂ? Î ÍťĂœĂŽ Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ÞÓÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÞåÙ Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?Ëœ åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă‹ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ͝΀ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ͺ͞ Ă Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?Þ˛ Ëž Ă’Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ùʼ Ă™Ă˜ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă&#x;Ă—Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÚÖËãĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?ÓÞÒĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x;Ú˛ Ëž Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ ͽ͚̋ Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă&#x;Ú˛

FA CUP THIRD ROUND TODAY

Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒ Ă ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ™Ă˜ ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă–Ă?ĂŁ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŁ ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÎ Ă Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă’Ă?ĘŠĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă?ĂŽ Ă Ă&#x;ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă’ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ?ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂœĂŁ à ÞÙÕĂ? ÓÞã ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă?Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă Ă“Ă‘Ă‹Ă˜ ÞÒÖĂ?ÞÓĂ? ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă— Ă Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă’Ă‹Ă— ÓÞã ͚ͺË?͝͸ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă ĂšĂ?ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă’ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă?ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă‹ Ă ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă‹ ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă™Ă–ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– ͚ͽË?͸͸ ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă™ĂœĂŽ à âĂ?Ă™ĂœĂŽ Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă‹ Ă Ă™ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă’Ă‹Ă— Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă?ĂœĂŒĂŁ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂŁ Ă Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂžĂ™Ă˜ ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă Ă?ĂœĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă˜ ÓÞã ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă–Ă?Ă?ÞåÙÙÎ Ă Ă“Ă—ĂŒĂ–Ă?ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă’Ă‹Ă— Ă Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂ“ĘĽ ÓÞã ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă“ĂŽĂŽĂ–Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ͚ͽË?͸͸ Ă–Ă‹Ă?ÕÚÙÙÖ Ă ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ͚ͿË?͝͸ ĂœĂ“Ă?ÞÙÖ ÓÞã Ă Ă&#x;ĂŽĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ʨĂ?Ă–ĂŽ ͚ͿË?͝͸ ĂœĂŁĂ?ÞËÖ Ă‹Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă?ĂŒĂŁ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ͚ͿË?͝͸ Ă?ĂĄĂ?Ă‹Ă?ÞÖĂ? Ă Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ ͚ͿË?͝͸ Ă™ĂœĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă’ ÓÞã Ă Ă™ĂœĂžĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒ ͚ͿË?͝͸ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă–Ă’Ă‹Ă— Ă Ă–ĂŽĂ’Ă‹Ă— ͚͟Ë?͸͸ Ă‹Ă˜ ÓÞã à ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ’Ă‹Ă— ͚͟Ë?͸͸ Ă“Ă–Ă–ĂĄĂ‹Ă–Ă– Ă Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– ÓÞã ͚͟Ë?͸͸ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ͚͟Ë?͸͸ Ă Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ? Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ͚͟Ë?͸͸ Ă’Ă?ĘŠĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ăž ͚͟Ë?͸͸ Ă™Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă™ĂœĂŽ ͚͟Ë?͸͸ Ă?ĂĄĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂŁ Ă Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ÓÞã ͚͞Ë?͝͸ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ÙÖà Ă?ĂœĂ’Ă‹Ă—ĂšĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂšĂ™Ă™Ă– ͚ΠË?͟ͽ

r a

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

GLOBAL SOCCER

Solskjaer with Matial

Michael Shumacher

Reflections on the Career of F1 Great, Schumacher as He Turns 50

Michael Schumacher turns 50 on January 3, but his physical condition remains a mystery to those outside his personal circle, following the skiing accident which left him with severe brain injuries in December 2013. He has not been seen in public since. But the memory of what Schumacher achieved in Formula 1 over a career that totalled more than 18 seasons and spanned 21 years is indelible. On Thursday, Toto Wolff, the boss of Mercedes, the final team for which Schumacher drove, paid tribute to the “tremendous impact� the German had on the sport. Beyond the records of seven world titles and 91 wins, Wolff pointed out, Schumacher “also shaped and changed the sport forever. As a driver, Michael took Formula 1 to a whole new level with his attention to detail and his technical knowledge�. He could have added physical preparation to the list as well. Wolff’s remarks took one’s mind back to October 2012, when Schumacher announced his retirement at the Japanese Grand Prix. He did not always have the warmest of relations with the media - he was too controversial for that - but as he finished his prepared statement in the Mercedes area that day he was given a round of applause. It was a mark of the respect in which Schumacher was held, regardless of some of the darker mome nts of his career. Sadly for someone who achieved so much, Schumacher’s career fizzled out. He had returned to F1 in 2010 with Mercedes, hoping to add to his records. Instead, with an uncompetitive car, he managed just one podium, and was generally out-performed by team-mate Nico Rosberg. It was a discombobulating experience during those three years to watch a man who had

dominated the sport for so long look like just another driver. In that way, the Schumacher who returned to F1 was quite different from the one who finished his first career with Ferrari in 2006. The new Schumacher was more human, more open and more likeable. But he was also nowhere near as good. As he put it himself that day in Japan: “In the past six years I have learned a lot about myself. For example that you can open yourself without losing focus, that losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning. Sometimes I lost this out of sight in the earlier years.� It was not a remark you could have imagined him making in his first career, when self-doubt was something that simply did not appear to be part of his make-up. A final pole for pride There was one big high point in that final season of 2012. Schumacher took pole in Monaco, beating all the new generation of drivers who had taken his place - Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel et al. In normal circumstances, that would almost have guaranteed he went on to add a 92nd win the following day. But the achievement of being the fastest man of all one final time was only for pride, and a fleeting reminder of what he had once been. Schumacher had a five-place grid penalty, which demoted him from pole position to sixth on the grid. He retired from the race. That penalty was given to Schumacher for an accident he caused at the previous race in Spain, when he rammed into the back of Williams driver Bruno Senna having misjudged his rival’s actions. That was only one of four similar incidents in a span of 18 months that crystallised the impression that the time was ap-

proaching where Schumacher should call it a day. The impression was not lost on Schumacher. For months that summer, he vacillated on his future and in the end his hand was forced. Mercedes, then run by Schumacher’s long-time collaborator Ross Brawn, signed Lewis Hamilton and Schumacher was left with the decision of trying to get a drive with a lesser team or quitting. He made the right call. Questions - and records remain The struggles during his return had an unfortunate effect on Schumacher’s legacy while he was competing in those final three years of his career. People within F1 - people with the highest regard for his achievements - began to question what had gone before. There had always been question marks over his first title with Benetton in 1994, given the highly controversial nature of that year. Illegal driver aids were found in the car, but Benetton were not punished because governing body the FIA said they could find no proof they had been used. But during his comeback, people began to look back at the dominant Ferrari era of the early 2000s, when Schumacher won five titles in a row, and started to wonder aloud just how much of an advantage he had. It was the richest team, they had unlimited testing and bespoke tyres. Did this, people have said, mean Schumacher was not as good as he had looked? If you had watched him during his first career, though, you knew how ridiculous an assertion this was. Schumacher in his pomp was something truly special, a man who was routinely, on every lap, able to dance on a limit accessible to almost no-one else. Sure, the competition in his heyday was not as deep as it

was when he made his return, but Schumacher performed miracles with a racing car that stand comparison with the greatest drives of any era. Victories such as his wetweather domination of Spain in 1996, his incredible fightback in Hungary in 1998, his on-thelimit battle with Mika Hakkinen at Suzuka that clinched his first title in 2000 were tours de force. And there were many more among that astonishing total of 91 victories. A darker or more human side? So too, as has been well documented, there was a dark side to Schumacher, and it was never far away through his first career. Notoriously, he won his first world title after driving into Damon Hill’s Williams. He failed to pull off a similar stunt in 1997 with Jacques Villeneuve. And perhaps most pernicious of all, he deliberately parked his car in Monaco qualifying in 2006 to stop Fernando Alonso taking pole position from him. Those were just the most extreme examples of a modus operandi in which Schumacher seemed often to act without morals, a man who was prepared to do literally anything to win, the sporting personification of Machiavelli’s prince, for whom the ends justified the means. People who worked with him say these were aberrations at odds with a man who, to those in his inner circle, was warm, honest, humble and generous to a fault. But those acts continued to haunt Schumacher to the end of his career, and he always refused to discuss them, never entertained the prospect of saying sorry. “We are all humans and we all make mistakes,� he said at Suzuka that Thursday. “And with hindsight you would probably do it differently if you had a second opportunity, but that’s life.�

Solskjaer Hope to Make United Job Permanent Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted he will not want to leave Manchester United in the summer after their 2-0 win at Newcastle saw him match Sir Matt Busby’s record of winning his first four games as manager of the club. Second-half goals from substitute Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford ensured United maintained their perfect

start under Solskjaer. The interim manager has watched his side score 14 goals and concede three in four Premier League matches, with United now six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Solskjaer is set to remain in charge until the end of the season, but when asked if he would not want to leave in May, he said with a smile: “Of course

I won’t, I don’t want to. “It’s such a great bunch of players, a fantastic atmosphere, but it’s the next game, it’s the next game, it’s the next game and I’m doing my job as long as I’m here.� The victory may have matched a feat only Busby has previously managed at United, but Solskjaer recalled the approach of his former manager

Sir Alex Ferguson, who he said would have challenged the side to look forward and win the next four games as well. Solskjaer added: “That will be in the books, but it’s nothing that I’m thinking of. I’m just thinking about the next game because if you win four, you can win another four at this club. That’s the challenge and that’s the standard that we’re known for.

17 Schools to Jostle for Honours at 3rd Howzat Lagos Junior T20 Cricket Tourney The third edition of the Howzat Lagos Junior T20 Cricket Tournament will kick off on Monday, January 14 through the 26th of February. In a press statement made available to THISDAY by the Tournament Coordinator, Onome Oghenekevwe, the tournament which is sponsored by Alhaji Femi Okunnu will feature about 17 schools in both the male and female categories. As part of efforts at ensuring for adequate preparation and a hitch-free tournament, a meeting has been scheduled for January 7, with games masters or representatives of the participating schools and to draw up fixtures for the tournament. The venue of the meeting is slated for Howzat Foundation for Cricket,13, Jubril Martin Street, Lawanson, Surulere, at 12 noon. About 10 male and seven female teams have indicated their interests in participating in this year’s tournament. The participating schools are Ansar-ud-deen College, Isolo, Ansar-ud-deen Gramma school, Surulere, Adebola Baptist High School, Surulere, CMS Grammar School, Bariga and Obele Community High School, Surulere. Others include Onitolo Community High School, Surulere, Igbobi College, Yaba, King’s College, Lagos and St. Gregorys’ College, Ikoyi. In the girls’ category, the participating schools are, Adebola Baptist High School, Surulere, Ansar-ud-deen College, Isolo, Ansar-ud-deen Girls’ High School, Itire, Ideal Girls’ High School, Surulere, Obele Community High School, Surulere, Onitolo Community High School, Surulere and Surulere Girls’ Secondary School, Surulere.

Ubulu Unity Cup Final Holds Tomorrow The Ubulu community in Imo State will witness large turnout of soccer loving fans as the second edition of Ogbuehi Udemba Obi Football tournament final holds tomorrow at the Comprehensive Secondary School sports ground, Ubulu. The tournament tagged ‘Ubulu Unity Cup’ is sponsored by Obi, the executive chairman, Oru West Local Government with the aim of fostering unity, friendship and to discover talented youths within the community and its environs. The soccer event which kicked-off on December 28, 2018, is featuring nine teams representing various communities namely: Umuoru/Umuoleaku; Umuchukwu; Eleke; Umuonyeyilem; Umuanyachu/Dudumiri/Umuoma; Uziezike; Amorie; Umuihejiofor, and Ubaha/Amadehi. Eminent sons and daughters from all the communities in the council as well as many others across the state are expected to grace tomorrow’s final. Speaking on the tournament, the council boss noted that it was part of his passion and desire to bring all the youths together during the festive period and also to discover some of the budding talents locally and to be nurtured to national limelight.

FAB-5 Football Initiative Celebrates with Pupils, Teachers

FAB-5 Initiative, organisers of the popular five-a-side football challenge which started since 2012, in the spirit of the season, celebrated with parents, teachers and the general public to a fun fair day at the Funfactory Lekki Phase 1. In its continued bid to “promote education through sport/ recreation for a sustainable future�, children were entertained with educative games, rides and goodies from the Santa’s grotto. According to the Project Director, Dare Amokeodo, “This will also usher in the 2019 Edition of the initiative slated for Q1/Q2 which promises to be a bumper package with the inclusion of new and exciting elements.�

Partners of this initiative are; Access Bank, Indomie Noodles, Fryda Nigeria and Pet-Bamok & Company.

Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

35

GLOBAL SOCCER

Francis Uzoho

Catches a Beautiful Bride Super Eagles ďŹ rst choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has proven that he is not only a reputable shot stopper but that he can also catch a beautiful lady as he on Boxing Day said goodbye to bachelorhood as he married his long-term girlfriend in a colourful wedding ceremony in Owerri, Imo State

N

igerian international Francis Uzoho on December 26, 2018, dumped bachelorhood as he married his long-term girlfriend in acolourful wedding ceremony in Owerri, Imo State. The Super Eagles first choice goalie who just recuperated from an injury was said to have been in a relationship with his lover before he tied the knot on Boxing Day. The wedding ceremony took place at Anglican Cathedral playground, Egbu in Owerri, Imo State and Super Eagles’ duo of Henry Onyekuru and Samuel Kalu were on the ground for the wedding of their national teammate. Despite not playing a part in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, Uzoho made it to Russia and was the Super Eagles first choice at the championship. He was in goal for Nigeria against Iceland, Croatiaand Argentina as the Super Eagles crashed out in the first round. In spite of booking Russia 2018 World Cup ticket with a match to spare, one area that gave Coach Gernot Rohr and his coaching crew sleepless night was the goalkeeping department. Ahead of Nigeria’s last qualifier against Algeria, the German tactician turned his attention in the direction of the then 18-year-old former Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, who only just made three appearances for the La Liga side then. Uzoho was only extended an invite for the Super Eagles’ last Russia 2018 qualifying match against the Desert Foxes on November 10. “Francis Uzoho, a goalkeeper who recently debuted in an official match with RC Deportivo, has been called up for the first time by Nigeria, for the last qualifying match for the 2018 World

Cup,â€? a statement on his former club website read. “A day that will never disappear from my memory – my debut – thanks all for the support,â€? he said. After regular first-choice goalkeeper, Ruben had suffered a finger injury, Deportivo boss Pepe Mel opted for the Nigerian ahead of the experienced Costel Pantilimon and was impressed by the youngster. “A coach has to act according to the things he sees in training. He is only 18 and he can barely speak Spanish but I know what he can offer this club,â€? Mel said. Uzoho was born on October 28, 1998. He joined Qatari Aspire Academy in 2013 when he was 14. Uzoho started his footballing career as an attacker but was converted to a goalkeeper after being deemed “too slowâ€? at the age of 12. In 2016, after impressing on a tournament in Barcelona, he joined Deportivo de La Coruna’s Juvenile squad. Age rules meant that Uzoho could only become available to sign a contract with DĂŠpor in January 2017; shortly after signing his contract, he started to train with the first team and was promoted to the reserves ahead of the new season. He made his senior debut on September 10 in a 3–0 Segunda Division B home win against Real Madrid Castilla. Uzoho made his first team and La Liga debut on 15 October in a 0–0 away draw against Eibar. At the age of 18 years and 352 days, he became the youngest ever foreign goalkeeper to debut in La Liga, and the second-youngest player to appear in the league behind Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi.

Uzoho with Super Eagles team mates, Onyekuru and Kalu

Uzoho and wife

36

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

SPYGLASS

with BAYO ADEOYE email: bayoolunla@gmail.com

Endorsement Galore for Jimi Agbaje As the race for the 2019 governorship election in Lagos State hots up, JimiAgbaje, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has continued to receive endorsements from notable individuals and organisations. In the view of many, the endorsements are proofs of his rising profile and confidence in his candidature for the plum job. Agroup, Lagos Solidarity Forum, under the leadership of Oladele Martins, has joined the long list of political parties and associations rooting for the pharmacist turned politician. The Forum, it was further learnt, declared its unconditional support for Agbaje, who is seen as the man who can take the state to the next level. Speaking on the group’s Ngozi Juliet Olejeme was once the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust-fund (NSITF) andtheSubsidyRe-InvestmentProgram(SURE-P). At a point, she was a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State. But like a disgraced Olympian, the woman is gradually falling from her grace to disgrace. She is enmeshed in trouble that may take a very long time to wriggle through which may also tarnish her reputation. She has since been fighting through legal means toclearhername. Butthemoreshetries,thedeeper she sinks, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is allegedly tightening its noose around her neck. AFederal High Court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu has ordered the interim forfeiture of assets and properties traced to her. “An order is hereby made attaching/forfeiting in the interim, all assets and properties set out in the schedule attached to this application, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, pending the hearing and determinationofthetrialinChargeNo.CR/365/17 pending at,� the judge ruled. The order was made following an Ex-parte

conviction, Martins said: “Mr. Jimi Agbaje’s in-depth understanding of class issues in Lagos State, as well as his well-known dogged resistance to god-fatherism, has drawn him to the voiceless and downtrodden of the state. “We believe that he has the sincerity of purpose to free Lagos State from political marauders feasting on its resources for their benefits and cronies alike. We have utmost belief in Mr. Agbaje to revive the hopes of Lagosians health system and services, waste management, education, power, water, roads, drainage,andtaxation.WeallknowthatLagos is vastly blessed and full of opportunities that can better the lives of indigenes and its residents at large. “With the recent unfolding political events

in Lagos State, theAll Progressives Congress, APC, has exposed itself as a party built on fraud, god-fatherism, corruption and total disregard for internal democracy. The Lagos Solidarity Forum is politically ready to mobilise all active political structures within the state that are committed to collaborate and uproot the entrenched reactionary leadership in Lagos State. “We call on all visionaries and people of good conscience in the state to rally round and help refocus our Lagos to the path of economic empowerment and development that will benefit all and sundry by supporting Mr. Agbaje in the onerous task of becoming the next Governor of Lagos State by all means legally necessary.�

JIMI AGBAJE

Fall of Ngozi Olejeme

NGOZI OJELEME

Originating Summons, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, ElizabethAlabi, on December 12, praying the court for the following orders: The schedule of properties referred to in the Summons includes

parcels of lands, duplexes, a bank building, and hotel buildings, amongst others. Some of them are one-storey semi-detached residential building, located at house/flat 86, 11 Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja; a fenced plot of land with C of O No. DTSR16326, located at plots 104 and 105, Block IV, Phase V, Core Area, Asaba, Delta State; Six units of one bedroom apartment; one unit of five bedroom bungalow; a block of six units of office space, all located at 196, Melford OkiloRoad,Amarata-Epie,Yenegoa,BayelsaState. Othersincludeoneduplexand4houseresidential building with swimming pool, gatehouse, fully furnished with state-of-the-art facilities, located at No. 25 Kainji Crescent, off Maitama, Abuja. This same property is also known as Plot No. 738 Cadastral Zone AO5, Maitama, Abuja; A storey building; two bungalows; printing press with printing equipment; a fenced empty land measuring 1422.765 square metres, located at km.9 Asaba-Benin Express Road, Asaba, Delta State. Another property is a twin duplex office build-

ing, located at Plot R/151 (No. 30A) Kingsway Road, Old GRA, Enugu State, registered at Enugu Land Registry. Others are two Duplexes with Boys Quarters, Generator House, Gym and Car Park, located at No. 3D Opolo, Old Commissioner’s Quarters, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State; Ten plots of land, located at plot 7, 8, 11, 12, 16, 20, 23, and 24 Phase IV, Block 111, Core Area, Asaba, Delta State, with C of O No. DSTR1194;Atwo bedroom bungalow, located at No. 3 Ogwa Godspower Avenue, Oshimili South LGA,Asaba, Delta State; Atwo bedroom bungalow, located at No. 11 Chiweta Street, off EzenieAvenue,Asaba, Delta State, measuring 527.141 square meters;Atwo bedroom bungalow,locatedatJamesOdittahStreet,Oshimili

Ayiri Emami’s Romantic Side If springing a surprise is an art, it can be taken for granted that wealthy businessman, Ayiri Emami, has a compelling mastery of it. On several occasions, he has done this, to the chagrin of his critics. He is a man of means and power. He loves luxury and is living in absolute comfort. Strangely, he is fond of showing this side of him mostly when there is a widespread rumour about his financial status. Last Wednesday, December 26, the Ologbotshere of Warri Kingdom surprised his wife, Empress, on the occasion of the 9th anniversary of their wedding. In celebra-

tion of the memorable day, the business tycoonpurchasedabrandnewRollsRoyce for his wife. His wedding to Empress in December 26, 2009 was a grand one, and it is still considered as one of the best in Delta State. Emami is the CEO of A & E Petrol andA& E Group of companies with interests in oil, construction, logistics, 911 Hotels & Resorts, and 911 Entertainment. He is also the former chairman of Delta WaterwaysSecurityCommitteeandBoard Chairman of NigerCat, a construction company under Chief James Onanefe Ibori administration in Delta State.

HADIZA EL-RUFAI

Kaduna First Lady, Hadiza El-Rufai’s Inspiring Words AYIRI EMAMI

Another Feather for ADRON Homes Boss Adetola Probably if name is a barrier, Adetola Emmanuel King, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ADRON Homes and Properties Ltd, wouldn’t have gotten his names combination right. Undoubtedly, he is a young and energetic man who is living his dream and sharpening edges within the short time of ADRON’s creation. As Borokini, Bobajiro, Babalaje, Akile, Asiwaju, Asoludero and now Aare Apesinola of Ibadan land, probably he would become an unopposed king someday. Oba Adetola Emmanel King as he preferred to be called is a man of no match when it comes to Real Estate management. He does that with relentless joy of the heart. He is a philanthropist whose passion is to make common man have foods on their on their table. Also, his dream is to make Nigerians own houses and become landlords within

ADRON BOSS

short time with properties spread across Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Ogun and Dubai, just to mention few.

Thus, it’s often said that when a man makes his ways right with his creator, the oozes of divine blessings upon him and his households would be like ritual making. Emmanuel King blessing comes with a basket full of thanksgiving as he manages one of the leading Real Estate Management Company within and outside the country. Recently in Ibadan, his Royal Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji conferred on him and his beautiful wife, Aderonke, the Aare Apesinola of Ibadan land and Yeye Aare Apesinola. For Emmanuel King, the well-being of his staff is his best watchword. He does that to the fullest and that is why many of the company’s employees can count years of fruitfulness, which was reeled out at the recent Lemon party hosted by the company to honour and reward the staff and contributors.

Kaduna State First Lady, Hadiza el-Rufai, has always shown evidence of a privileged woman blessed with a heart of gold. In fact, all her actions in the past years point to the fact that she shares in her husband’s vision, which is to further change the face of Kaduna State and the country at large, while also bettering the lives of the indigenes recently, the beautiful woman left a lasting impression about herself at the maiden edition of The African Writers Conference and Awards ceremony, an annual event organised by African Writers Development Trust (AWDT). At the event with the theme ‘Reimagining African Literature: New Voices, New Narratives in the Fight for the Girl Child’, el-Rufai charged women to be good role models to girls. She was quoted as saying, “the female journalists have a role to play. They need to blow the trumpet of women who have done very good things in society so that the young girls will have role models and people to aspire to. They will see people who are like themselves in positions of authority and will aspire to be that.�

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

AUTO Lexus Embarks On HighTech Road-Safety Project

L

The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE

Electric Jaguar I-Pace Voted Norway’s Car of The Year Stories by Bennett Oghifo

T

he all-electric Jaguar I-PACE has been awarded Norwegian Car of the Year 2019. Eight expert jurors voted for Jaguar’s first electric vehicle (EV) against eight other finalists, including the Volvo V60, Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus. The jury, which included a racing driver and industrial designer as well as automotive journalists, evaluated all aspects of each vehicle’s performance, and loved I-PACE’s driving dynamics, range and premium feel. Seven of the eight voted the I-PACE as the winner. Jaguar deserves a lot of respect for its debut electric vehicle. The I-PACE sets the standard for premium feel and quality, while ride, handling, range and design are its greatest strengths. I’ve driven a lot of

electric vehicles, and this is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. It’s been a long time since our final decision on Norway Car of the Year was so clear,� Espen Stensrud, Lead Juror for Norway Car of the Year. The British EV has had a profound impact in the Norwegian market, more than doubling Jaguar sales there in the last six months. Norway is one of the most developed markets for electrified vehicles in the world: there are more than 178,500 EVs on the road already, and they account for 29% of the vehicles sold in the country this year so far – add in hybrid and plugin hybrid electric vehicles and that figure reaches 60%*. Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover’s Executive Director for Product Engineering, said “The Jaguar I-PACE is our first all-electric vehicle, so winning Car of the Year in the world’s most competitive electric vehicle

market is a brilliant achievement. It is testament to the hard work of our pioneering engineers and designers, and something we’re all extremely proud of.� The I-PACE has now received over 30 awards globally since its 01 March reveal, including German Car of the Year, BBC TopGear Magazine EV of the Year and China Green Car of the Year. Jaguar’s heritage of elegant design and breathtaking performance has excited and delighted the world for 80 years. Today’s world-class Jaguar family embodies the Art of Performance, with the remarkable, much admired and award-winning XE, XF and XJ saloons, the dramatic F-TYPE sports car, the F-PACE performance crossover – the fastest-selling Jaguar ever, the new E-PACE compact performance SUV and now I-PACE, the all-electric performance SUV that puts Jaguar at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution.

exus Australia will partner the Victorian Government in a twoyear trial of connected-vehicle technology aimed at reducing road trauma. Lexus Australia and Telstra will undertake the Advanced Connected Vehicles Victoria (ACV2) trial to test cellularbased communications technology designed to reduce traffic accidents while managing traffic flow to reduce congestion, fuel consumption and emissions. Two specially-equipped Lexus RX 450h F Sport luxury SUVs will be fitted with sensitive equipment that will enable them to communicate with each other and with roadside infrastructure, using new features of the 4G cellular network. Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the luxury carmaker was proud to be involved in this local project aimed at making roads safer and driving more efficient and enjoyable. “The role of Lexus as an innovator and leader in the development of advanced safety and traffic-management technologies is central to our parent company’s global vision to reduce traffic fatalities to zero,� Mr Thompson said. “It is significant that this ground-breaking trial involves our local Connected Vehicle Services department along with VicRoads, the Transport Accident Commission and Telstra,� he said. Mr. Thompson said the extensive active and passive safety features plus the roomy interior of the RX 450h F Sport provides the ideal platform to test cooperative intelligent transport systems using cellular-toeverything technology. “Lexus self-charging hybrids, such as the RX 450h F Sport, are often chosen to support the trialling of high-tech equipment due to the availability of two power sources - the petrol engine and the special hybrid technology.� The Victorian Government is backing the trial through a grant program that supports the development of vehicles with connected and automated technology and safety features. The two Lexus vehicles are already equipped with advanced safety features such as automated lane-keeping, autonomous emergency braking and a forward collision warning system. Additional vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle to infrastructure and vehicle-to-network technologies to be trialled with the two vehicles are: r &NFSHFODZ FMFDUSPOJD CSBLF MJHIU "MFSUT drivers to a co-operative vehicle that is braking hard some distance ahead. r *O WFIJDMF TQFFE XBSOJOH 1SPWJEFT ESJWers with information about active, static or variable speed limits.

Peugeot Revisits History in Pickup Segment

P

eugeot is revisiting its history in the pick-up segment, particularly in Africa, dating back to the Peugeot 403 CamionnetteBâchÊe of 1956, the Peugeot 404 Camionnette-BâchÊe of 1967, and then the Peugeot 504 Pick-up which succeeded it until 2005, the last year of production at PAN Nigeria Limited, assemblers of Peugeot brand of vehicles. The new Peugeot Pick Up is proof of the Brand’s ambitions for a return to the pick-up market as part of its international growth. The brand unveiled the new Peugeot Pick Up in Morocco, September 2017. This signals the return of PEUGEOT to the pick-up market within the African continent to accelerate the internationalization of the Brand. Benefiting from a remarkable level of roominess and equipment, the Peugeot Pick Up fulfils the fundamental needs for robustness, endurance and 4x4 drivetrain in the segment With a high body belt line, a vertical front, a horizontal bonnet and a large ground clearance (210 to 215 mm, depending on model) the Peugeot Pick Up possesses all of the fundamentals of the pick-up universe. At the centre of its large grille is the emblem of the lion: the image of all the new SUVs of the brand. The Peugeot lettering stamped on the rear panel echoes its illustrious

forebears, Peugeot 404 and 504 Pick-up. The cab and the rear compartment are fixed on a ladder chassis with a rigid rear axle, four-bladed springs and YOKOHAMA tyres as standard. These assets assure reliability and endurance, adapted to the load and use on all terrains in every condition. The load zone has a bed that is 1.40m long and 1.39m wide, equipped with anchoring hooks on the outside. The side walls and the real panel are completely covered with a protective resin which adds to the rigidity and robustness of the whole vehicle. The maximum payload of the vehicle is 815 kg. The Peugeot Pick Up has a performance drivetrain adapted to the needs of the core market. Its longitudinal 2.5l common rail turbo diesel engine develops 115bhp and 280Nm, combined with a manual 5-speed gearbox. It is available in 4x4 and 4x2 versions. The 4x4 version is engaged using a special lever to transmit some of the power to the front drivetrain. This allows the driver to make a selection where needed, whether in normal 4x4 4H (4 High) mode or in the 4L (4 Low) mode at short speeds. Thanks to a reducer, extra torque can be applied at very slow speeds to maneuver out of the most extreme driving situations. The 4x4 version, therefore, gives the new Peugeot Pick Up versatility, easy use in every weather condition and over every terrain.

PAN set for comeback with new Peugeot Pickup in the segment

With its focus on reliability and ease of use, the new Peugeot Pick Up offers many features as standard, manual air-conditioning, electric windows, radio with CD player and USB port are present at all levels. For safety and ease of

driving, the new Peugeot Pick Up is equipped as standard with an ABS braking system with brake force distribution, rear parking aids, passenger and driver air bags, plus electrically adjustable exterior mirrors.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

39

AUTO

Volvo Cars’ Award-winning Line-up Proves 3 Design Heads are Better than One Stories by Bennett Oghifo

V

olvo Cars for the first time brought together its three design heads and the full range of new cars they designed at a special event in Stockholm, recently. Thomas Ingenlath, Robin Page and Maximilian Missoni jointly established Volvo Cars as one of the world’s leading premium car brands. They worked closely together in developing a proud and confident Scandinavian design language through their differentiating, collaborative approach, according to a statement by the automaker. The new range exemplifies the transformation of the company’s finances and operations in recent years, with five consecutive global sales records since 2014 and a strong improvement in profitability. Having transformed the look of Volvo Cars’ portfolio and rejuvenating the Volvo brand in recent years, the three designers will now focus on future design opportunities created by the company’s move towards electrified and ultimately autonomous cars. The XC90 large SUV, launched in 2014, was the first model to introduce Volvo’s new design

language. It set the tone for all subsequent new 90, 60 and 40 Series cars, based on the SPA and CMA modular vehicle architectures that allow for true premium proportions. All three SUVs in the range won prestigious Car of the Year awards in North America, Asia and Europe, demonstrating the success of Volvo’s new design language. “Working with Max and Robin is very pleasant. We feel comfortable around each other and it is inspiring working together,” said Thomas Ingenlath, chief design officer. “What I am most proud of is taking this incredible brand and putting it into the right frame of a premium Scandinavian brand, with a design that makes it an attractive and desirable product.” “We have a really good friendship and a good way of working together as colleagues,” said Robin Page, head of Volvo design. “Before Max and I arrived at Volvo, Thomas created the strategy and then we built the team needed to deliver his vision. The result is here today, with a fantastic range of cars.” “I think we really elevated Volvo’s design into the premium segment,” said Maximilian Missoni, head of exterior design. “Thomas’ greatest strength is that he is a visionary and he has that sense for the next big thing.

R-L: Thomas Ingenlath, Robin Page and Maximilian Missoni jointly established Volvo Cars as one of the world’s leading premium car brands

BMW Models Enjoy Awards-rich Year in 2018

A

rray of accolades endorse outstanding standards of quality, innovation, connectivity and design. BMW can look back on a highly successful 2018 yielding an impressive haul of awards and accolades. Over the course of the past year, vehicles from BMW have managed to win over not just automotive journalists and experts from around the world, but also the readers of motoring magazines, market researchers and IT insiders. What’s more, the award winners distinguished themselves in areas ranging from product quality and design to technical innovation, intelligent connectivity and sustainability. BMW picked up two of the world’s most coveted honours in the process, with the title of World Performance Car going to the BMW M5 and the International Engine of the Year award bestowed on the BMW i8 for the fourth year in succession. The string of successes racked up by the super-sporty BMW M models, which topped the podium on several occasions, provided further good news. And the premium carmaker also took home a hat-trick of wins as the most innovative brand in the premium segment. BMW 5 Series on top once again Following on from the triumphs of the previous 12 months, 2018 turned out to be another highly successful year for the BMW 5 Series models, both in Germany and internationally. The awards for the 5 Series included Best Car in the upper mid-size

category from German motoring magazine auto motor und sport. In theAuto Trophy – World’s Best Cars awards, the 5 Series again received the most votes in the executive category from readers ofAuto Zeitung magazine. In the awards presented byAuto Test magazine, it was the BMW 530d Touring that madethebestimpressionandwasultimatelydeclared the overall winner, while the BMW 520d Touring was judged to offer the best price-performance ratio in the upper mid-size segment. The BMW 5 Series received wide acclaim in the UK, too, where it picked up not one but two coveted UK Car of the Year awards – for Best Executive Car and Best Estate Car. The Sedan and Touring variants were also named Car of the Year by other motoring journals, including What Car?, Company Car Today and Car Express. Meanwhile, the BMW 520d xDrive Touring emerged as the overall winner in the Tow CarAwards presented jointly by What Car?, Practical Caravan and The Camping and Caravanning Club. Podium finishes for BMW M models In 2018, juries far and wide again considered BMW vehicles the sporting benchmark, with models from BMW M GmbH leading the way. The new BMW M5 high-performance sedan proved an instant hit at the World Car Awards, duly earning the title of World Performance Car. The BMW M5 and other BMW M models were a dominant force on winners’ lists in Germany, too. The BMW M5 Competition was crowned Sports Car

L-R: General Manager, Coscharis Mobility, Christian Chigbundu; NSM, BMW, Coscharis Motors, Joseph Omokhape; GMD, Coscharis Group, Josiah Samuel; VP, Coscharis Group, Mrs. Charity Maduka; President, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka; GM, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde; DGM, Jaguar Land Rover, Coscharis Motors, Ufuoma Umukoro; and PA to the President, Joseph Nwagbo, at a surprise presentation of gifts to Dr. Maduka at the airport lounge on arrival from a trip on the day he clocked 60 years… recently of the Year by Auto Bild Sportscars magazine in the Sedans/Station Wagons category, while the BMW M2 Competition was awarded the corresponding accolade in the Small/Compact Car category.

Still on Tame Traffic Demons

O

n 24 November 2018, he added a year to his age. Unlike his other birthdays,thisyear’sbirthdaywas solemnlymarkedforreasonseven his parents could not fathom. But becauseitwashiswish,hisparents obliged despite their curiosity and concern for such an odd wish from a boy of his age. Junior was just 10 years old. He was witty, highly active, intelligent, and a master in scripture rendition. He was adored by his parents and was fondly called adorable by his mother.Besideshisactivenessinschoolandneighborhood, he was also a parent’s delight because of his involvement in church activities. In fact, he was the darlingoftheteachersinthechildrenchurchbecause of his mastery of scripture recitation during church activities. These attributes made Junior the love of the church as parents longed to see their children grow in the footsteps of a young boy who despite his age was always referred to by many, including his peers and adults as junior Pastor. Exactlyonemonthafterhissolemnbirthday,tragedy struck this child of destiny. On the fateful day, Junior hadaccompaniedhismothertoachurchserviceheld in the morning of 24 December 2018. For reasons none was able to explain, Junior suddenly left the church premises with another boy about his age. It was while trying to cross the busy road inAbuja, the Federal Capital Territory, that a vehicle driven by a female driver knocked and killed him on the spot leaving wailings and tears in their home and the home of the female driver. His death left church

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 members and family speechless. Even eye witnessed struggled to reconstruct the circumstances of the road traffic crash. I wish I can attempt raising some salient issues but this will not bring back this promising boy whose dreams and aspirations have been cut short. It is just a couple of hours to 2019.Yet between the 22 December and today the 29 December 2018, barely seven days after the opening part of this piece on how to tame demons was published, there have been deaths and injuries in senseless and avoidable road traffic crashes. These deaths include that of Junior. As I ponder on the scanty information I received, too many questions keep popping up: Why did he leave the church premises? Where was he heading to? Who was responsible for watching over him and other children in the church? What speed was the female driver on when it happened? Was she really observant while driving? Last week, I concluded the first part of this piece by tellingyouthatthereisnothinglikeademonalthough I also acknowledged that there are forces of hell on

the highways and everywhere. I also told you that there are responsibilities that we must brace up to as drivers, commuters and even as pedestrians. A review of driving habits reveals the following as responsible for road crashes and not demons. My focus would, however, be on few of these starting with tyre blowout which is a major causative factor behindroadcrashesthathaveclaimedthelivesofsome prominent Nigerians. Incidentally, motorists exhibit a high level of ignorance which explains why you will see people travelling with their families with fairly used tyres or tyres not properly cared for. What really causestyreblowout?Themajorcauseoftyreblowout is incorrect tyre inflation especially under-inflation. Tyres are the most vital part of the car. It determines stability. That is why tyre manufacturers specify the correcttyregaugeandtheexpirydatewhichisusually stamped on the side of the tyre. It is very easy to find out the expiry date. Just check the side and you will find a 4-digit number stamped on it. This number indicates the week and year of manufacture and the expiry date will be four years after. Manufacturersalsoindicatethemaximumallowable inflating pressure for specific tyres. Different tyres are designed for different pressures. Unfortunately, most ofusarecarelessaboutthisvitalinformationandhave become victims of quacks marauding as vulcanisers. Under-inflationcausestwothingsthatultimatelylead to blowouts. First, it causes undue flexing of the tyres as the vehicle speeds along the undulating surface of the road. This causes a separation between the internal materials used in making the tyres and the rubber flesh that holds the materials. This separation

In the readers’ poll conducted by sport auto magazine to find the sportiest cars of the year, the Munich-based premium carmaker’s models were voted top in eight different categories. weakens the tyre. Secondly, it causes an increase in what is known as rolling resistance as the vehicle moves. The increased rolling resistance generates a tremendous amount of heat which together with the separation of the internal materials leads to an explosion. Incorrect tyre inflation could also cause a crash in other ways- When a tyre is incorrectly inflated, it makes partial contact with the road surface and so does not have a firm grip on the surface. With over inflation, the edges of the contact patch (the part of the tyre that should be in contact with the road surface) does not touch the ground In the case of under inflation, the crown (the middle portion of the tyre) of the contact patch does not touch the ground. Either way, you have an impartial contact of the tyre on the road surface and so less grip. The impartial contact could cause crash thus; since the tyres don’t have a firm grip on the road surface, it prolongs the stopping distance when the brakes are applied in an emergency and this could make the vehicle crash into the object it wants to avoid. It could also lead to loss of control of the vehicle when speeding.Thisismorewithover-inflatedtyres.High vehicles like trailers could lose their balance when they hit a bump, pothole or while descending a sharpbend.Thesituationcanbelikenedtosomeone with one leg shorter than the other. Shockingly, the tyre problem is compounded by the grim picture painted by vulcaniser as they use the worst type of gauge-the pencil gauge that malfunctions easily when subjects to heavy usage. Besides using the pencil type of gauge they use one gauge for all tyre pressures and this is a big blunder. This is why we advise we own personal gauge and get conversant with the right pressure for our tyres.

40

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER หพ อฝห อบอธอนฮ

JANUARY 5, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

41

42

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍłËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

EVENTS

Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÖÙà Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Alhaji Abdulkadir Nagode ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?ĂĄ ×ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂĄĂ?ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ëœ Dr. Yusuf Olarewaju Ali Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Barr. Hasiya Altine Nagode Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ‹ Ă?ÞËÞĂ? Ă?ËÚÓÞËÖ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă?Ă˜ĂŽË› ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă• Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ùʼ åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă‹Ăž Ă&#x;ĂœËŞĂ‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ ÍşÎ€ĂžĂ’Ëœ ͺ͸͚΀˛ Ă˜ Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ ÍşÎ ĂžĂ’Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ?ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂĄ ×Ùà Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă™Ă?Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă•Ă•Ă‹Ă’ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ă?ĂĄ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Newly married couple, Dr. Yusuf Olarewaju Ali and wife, former Barr. Hasiya Altine Nagoge

L-R: Parents of the bride, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nagode with wife, Hajia Hafsat Nagode and father of the groom, Mallam Yusuf Ali SAN

L-R: Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad,; Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed; and chairman of the occasion Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki

L-R: Ciroma of Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Sulu-Gambari; and uncle of the bride, Alhaji Ahmed Bolaji Nagode

L-R: Former Commissioer of Police, Mr. Olasupo Ajani; and former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala

L-R: Prof. Is-haq Oloyede; Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN; and Justice Kayode Ariwoola of the Supreme Court

L-R: Reps. of Governors of Borno and Yobe States, Hon. Babagana Tijani; Barr. Kaka Lawan; and Alhaji Ahmed Mustapha Goniri

L-R: Barr. Ayo Olanrewaju, Y.K.O Abdulkareem and Mallam Aliu Badmus

L-R: Former Minister for National Planning., Prof. Suleiman Abubakar; Mr. Adebayo Adelodun, SAN; and Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN

43

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍłËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

EVENTS

Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Abidemi Oyetunji and Olori Adedoyin Oyetunji

HRM, Oba Akinola Oyetade Akinrera, Latiri 1, Olubosin of Ifetedo and Olori Adetokunbo Akinrera

L-R: Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Adekeye Oyedare; and Olojoku of Ojoku, Oba Abdulrazaq Adegboyega Afolabi

Ohoro of Shao, Oba B.A. Adegbite

R-L: Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN; Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN; and Alhaji Liad Tella

Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN and wife, Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Awomolo, SAN

L-R: Imam Basar Borokini; Prof. A. Oladosu; and Dr. Y.K. Jimoh

L-R: Dr. Sururah Ali; Dr. (Mrs.) Raheemah Oloyede; the groom, Dr. Yusuf Ali; maternal grandmother of the groom, Alhaja Munirat Akintoye; and paternal grandmother of the groom, Alhaja Toibat Ali

L-R: Alhaji Jamiu Ekungba; former Chief Judge, Kwara State, Hon. Justice Ayinla Bamgbola; ViceChancellor, Uniosun, Prof. Labo Popoola; and father of the groom, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN

L.R: Mrs. Barakah Ali-Nagode; the groom, Dr. Yusuf Ali; Hon. Justice Titi Daibu; Mr. Abdulrahman Nagode; and Alhaja Gobir

Olosi of Osi, HRM Oba Salihu Abdulkarim Adasofegbe

44

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍłËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Walks of Life

EBERE WABARA

P

OLITY of December 29 circulated the opening blunder this year: “Atiku’s policy document is very wide, painstaking and productive consultations with Nigerians from all walks of live (life)....â€? “Total fetes children at end of year (end-of-year) partyâ€? “Last weekend the Chelsea loanee (sic) put up a man of the match (man-of-thematch) performance in his club’s....â€? “...leaving many in the beauty world to conclude it’s evidence (evident) that more “A delegate of the PDP in Ogun State‌ slumped and died in the early hours of Thursday in an hotel in Abeokuta, the state capital.â€? (THE PUNCH, January 1, 2019) This is certainly the old school genre. New class: a hotel. “Police absolves security agencies of electoral fraudâ€? (Headline from the above edition) It would be astounding for the Nigeria Police to indict fellow state gangsters! And, of course: police absolve (not absolves). THE PUNCH OPINION pages of January 2 circulated some unpardonable mistakes: â€œâ€Śeven if it means going extra miles‌.â€? I will go the extra mile (note the fixed expression) to ensure that this column appears unfailingly every week. “And like (as) someone said recently‌.â€? â€œâ€Śin the evacuation of dead bodies to mortuary .â€? On a clinical note: corpses instead of ‘dead bodies’ and a mortuary or mortuaries, depending on the fact of the matter. â€œâ€Śas well as condoning the place and evacuating the dead and survivors to nearest health facilities.â€? Bomb blasts

BY

and conflicting figures: cordoning off (take note of the spelling and correct entry) the place. “There seems (seem) to be stiff competitions among the foreign media and local press as well as‌.â€? â€œâ€Śpoliticians are also culprits in overheating the system with provocative statements in blaming their opponents over (for) every misdeed.â€? â€œâ€Śthe likely antics of masquerades behind some of those disasters when one juxtaposes the scenario to the forthcoming general elections.â€? Get it right: juxtaposes the scenario and/with (not to) the forthcoming general elections. As elections draw near, let us carry out our civic duty by participating and being our brother’s keeper (not brothers’ keepers, irrespective of the number)! Let us welcome last week’s edition of this medium which contained a few errors and thereafter a cocktail of nondescript infelicities from the mass media: “Baring few skirmishes which regrettably led to the death of four persons‌.â€? An anatomy of the season of linguistic violence: there is a world of distinction between ‘a few’ (which correctly applies here) and ‘few’, which connotatively suggests an expectation of more skirmishes—except if the writer has a weird denotative inclination towards potentialities for more skirmishes! Otherwise, the extract is lexically absurd because of his regret. “Just imagine a young man that rounded up his apprenticeship as a welder.â€? This is an indication of the current malaise in scholarship: a situation where a lecturer cannot distinguish between phrasal verbs, ‘round up’ and ‘round off’ (which applies here). “Will anybody please let us know which country became a super-power

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

by allowing its best brains to roam about the world?â€? ‘Roam’ encompasses ‘about’. “News from the universities are no longer about innovation.‌â€? News is news (uncountable). “The condition, which is said to be due to an abnormality in either the number or structure of the chromosomes, cuts across every races .â€? Get it right: every race or all races. “Janet, a twelve-year-old and the third child of her parents’ four offsprings and the only one with the problem‌â€? ‘Offspring’ is non-count. “Since 1993, funding of oil exploration have (has) been beset by different levels of problems.â€? “In answering this question we classify the outcomes into long term and short term implications.â€? The greatest problem of journalists: unnecessary embellishment (outcome) of words. “This is clearly a danger signal as the time between discovering an oil field and commercially putting it on stream could be between four to five years.â€? No analysis: between four and five or from four to five years. “THISDAY checks reveal that every termination penalties (penalty) goes from 500,000 US dollars to 2 million US dollarsâ€?. Check the discord as already discussed above. “Lack of funds cripple waste management activitiesâ€? Another error of attraction: Lack of funds cripples. “Nevertheless, the donor country is also interested in this decision to ensure that the loan is repaid as at when due with its accrued interest.â€? Without any periscope: the loan is repaid when due (not as at when due which is pleonastic). “Government should consider the destructive effect that further delay in

the sale of rescued banks would mete out on the banking systemâ€?. Stock phrase: mete out to (not on) the banking system. “If the family cannot truely relish at least a decent meal‌.â€? Spelling counts: truly. “A man does not have to be a money bag (sic) before he can dress well and look charming in his own little way.â€? Brighten up your English usage: A man does not have to be moneybags‌. Moneybag is a sac! â€œâ€Śin addition, (sic) to dispensing drugs for immediate relief and giving counsel on the steps necessary to prevent a reoccurrence.â€? Good grammar: recurrence. â€œâ€Śit sent the signal that those responsible for the security of lives and properties in Oyo State are working at cross-purposesâ€?. Some caution, please: life and property. “The arsonists usually escape with their loot as the embattled market lays in ashes, leaving many traders terminally ruined financially.â€? There should be no dilemma: ‘lays’ for ‘lies’? “If somebody had told me when I met with late Dr. Ernest Ogunade shortly before his death that it was going to be the last encounter with him.‌â€? The first and only time when I met (not with) the (vital article) late Dr. Ogunade he commended this column as published in the heyday of Daily Times profusely. May his cerebral soul continue to rest in peace (not ‘perfect peace’ as abused in Nigeria)! “I still remember vividly that when it was my turn to speak at the occasion‌.â€? I thought we had gone past this stage: on (never at) the occasion.

PERSPECTIVE

Ă’Ă? Ă™ĂœĂžĂ’ Ă“Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Abu Shekara

I

have always admired the South-west of Nigeria. One of the topics that fascinated me in secondary school history was that of Oyo Empire, particularly the story of Kakanfo, the renegade general, whose rebellious streak gave rise to Ife Kingdom. I have learnt from history that conformity gives rise to very little. It is not the catalyst to change. If everyone simply belonged and obeyed, no revolution would have taken place in any sphere of human endeavour . Let’s face it. The South-west has it; that Kakanfo streak that has made Lagos-Ibadan the nucleus and watershed for everything that is new in Nigeria. The average “Lagosian� does not wait for manna from heaven. He struggles for standing space in a “ molue “, so does he jostles for a niche in the socioeconomic space. That is the character and role of the South-west in the evolution of Nigeria’s body politics. From the struggle for independence to that of self-assertion, the region has made its bones by shear agitation, to its benefit and the benefit of the nation. Just name it, Lagos is in the thick of it. And look what the South-west has become in Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation! That today, the South-west holds sway, when the North, its historical arch rival is at the helm is not by accident. It is a simple equation: from each according to their capacity, to each according to their need. The North will give anything to produce the President; the South-west will do anything to control him. And so, the alliance held to produce as President, the most unlikely person to get the nod of the South-west: General Muhammadu Buhari. Everyone is reaping from their traditional posture. The North, still in delirium for being President, is, as always, conformist. Being at the very apex is good enough. Buhari is the leader. He can do no wrong, even though he is obviously not the one doing much. So satisfied, the North makes no demands of this government. Successive budgets for three years record the region as a mere footnote. The North is right now the most perilous part of the country to live, due to insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and ethno-religious bloodshed. But the people are supposed to be contented because their own is President. Most Northern economic activities have been adversely targeted by economic policies that must be ascribed to President Buhari, as the Chief Executive but he obviously has no inkling of their ravaging impact on the livelihoods of

Buhari

the Northern masses. And as the part of the country suffer the debilitation of the resultant poverty and unemployment, Northerners groan and bear it. It is, after all, a homegrown predicament brought upon them by their own. That is simply the difference between suffering before 2015 and suffering now. When a group gives unconditional support to a leader, he takes them for granted, expecting from them, nothing but allegiance and praise, seeing nothing in them but contentment. The caution of voices in the wilderness is shouted down in a

cacophony of adulation, which the leader 0does nothing but hype up. The worst kind of oppression is that of the people upon themselves; the exact kind happening to Northern Nigeria, where dissent that is in the general interest is stifled by the people themselves. If there is ever a geopolitical group that honoured a leader with a mandate, only to be ignominiously treated by his administration and yet, their continued loyalty is still expected, it is Northern Nigeria. An embodiment of ironies is indeed, what the North has become in this Buhari era; an apt depiction of late Fela’s song, “Suffering and Smiling�. If religion is “the opium of the masses�, Karl Marx might as well have referred to this subservience, this impulsive conformity as the drug that intoxicates Northern Nigeria into retrogressive oblivion. No region of Nigeria supports a political interest solely because it satisfies their ethnic whims except the North. The situation of Northern Nigeria under the Buhari Presidency illustrates how unquestionable supporters of failure become the worst victims of it; whose situation is compounded by not having the faintest idea that their condition is caused by their allegiance to an order that cares little for their fate. In an ironic twist, therefore, supporters of President Buhari in the North create excuses for his failures on the same issues, for which they vilified his predecessor. And when all defences fail, they attribute the serious shortcomings of his administration to Divine will, unwittingly suggesting that Divine will had no effect in the previous dispensation! Hypocrisy has a high price and it is taking its toll on Northern Nigeria, as a price being paid for injustice and double standards. And as the 2019 elections come so close, the forces of reason are once again, drawing attention to the folly of primordial attitude to matters that concern the survival and destiny of the people. At this time, when other astute parts of Nigeria are sorting themselves out in the political arena, the North will continue to give in to parochial sentiments only at its own peril. All other zones have through the nation’s political experience, evolved into smart pressure groups, with the acumen to secure for their masses the best bargains. But the North’s only prize is to produce the “ oga at the top�, who in the case of President Buhari, is not on top of the situation at all. Shekara is media aide to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State –––Shekara is media aide to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

45

SHOWBIZFLAIR

For Linda Ikeji, the Beat Goes On REGINA CHUKWU I Used to Sell Wares By Road Side… Now I Live a Better Life pg. 48

Izu Ojukwu’s ‘Power of Oneness’ Reawakens Nigerians pg. 50

46

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

For Linda Ikeji, the Beat Goes On Omolabake Fasogbon

far He’s brought me. 2018 has so far been the best year of my life ffluent celebrity and these are the things I’m most blogger, Linda grateful for...in the particular Ikeji, has been order...asides from life and good celebrating her health because really without successes in 2018 that, nothing else matters.” with pictures. She described her son, Jayce as She declared: “by far the best thing that’s ever “You know what they say, ‘count happened to me in 2018.” your blessings and name them On her parents, she wrote: one by one’. So here I am doing “Alive, healthy, still in love exactly that on the last day of the and enjoying the fruit of their year and thanking God for how labour.”

A

Linda with baby, Jayce

She wrote on the picture of her siblings: “My siblings. All happy and doing well. The best brother and sisters anyone could ask for.” On her highly successful Blog, she wrote: “The platform that changed my life and made it possible for me to change other people’s lives. 12 years later, it’s still thriving and still making mega box.” On her beautiful Banana Island home in Lagos, she wrote: “The

first time I visited Banana Island was in 2013. And I remember looking around in wonder and thinking people who lived there were so lucky. I never imagined I’d buy a house there two years later.” As for her Bentley, she wrote: “My worldly possession in 2008. My 700k car was repossessed because I couldn’t pay the balance on the car...who knew that ten years later, I’d own a Bentley Mulsanne?”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

47

SHOWBIZFLAIR For Linda Ikeji, the Beat Goes On

Linda with her siblings

Linda’s house on Banana Island, Lagos

Linda’s parents

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

48

SHOWBIZFLAIR REGINA CHUKWU

I Used to Sell Wares By Road Side… Now I Live a Better Life Regina Chukwu is an actress, producer and director who has made her mark in the movie industry, shooting and taking part in many major movies. With 12 movies and counting, to her credit, she is hungry for more. She tells Tosin Clegg about her journey, motherhood, her career in the different sectors of the industry and much more Regina the Lagos girl was born in Lagos and grew up in Lagos in Alimosho. I attended Alimosho Primary and Grammar Schools then later went to Lagos State Polytechnic (Laspotech). I think right now, I am living my dream, as a kid of being an actress and see myself on TV. I watched a lot of TV programmes when I was younger and I admired people on my TV screen. So, I think am living my dream now.

kind of children that would understand if we don’t have one or two things, and they manage with me. We have been blessed with good health and love around us so I just thank God.

I

Talking about successes Looking back at the journey and where I started from and where I am today, it’s a success story for me. So many people we started the journey together have abandoned this profession, but I’m still here and relevant. That’s a success story for me, as I have produced about 12 movies. Also, I basically raised my kids with this work and it’s a success story for me. My life is a success story, and even my kids are going to university. So many things represent my success story, as I have come a long way.

I’m a Nigerian first before being Igbo I was born and live among the Yorubas in Lagos. Yoruba is a language I understand very well and I think I speak Yoruba more than my language. Going into the movie industry, I wanted to go into the English side but Yoruba movies affected me and they were welcoming and made me feel at home. So, I started off with them.

My ongoing projects I have shot some movies that hopefully would get to the cinema, and I am still hoping to shoot more this New Year and I pray to God to help me to finish them. And I have a movie titled, ‘Encounter’ and that’s one of the biggest movies I have shot so far. So I’m hoping it goes to the cinema this year.

I have always loved acting But the person that showed me the right steps to take was this young guy that lived in my area in those days. He would say ‘Aunty Regina I like your face o and if you act you would make it’. Then I was like I would love to act but for now, I don’t have time for that, as things were not too okay for me then and I was like not now. But he comes every other day to disturb me where I was selling to tell me to let him introduce me to somebody who would be my mentor in the industry. Then one day I decided to go with him and that was how it started. I joined the guy’s circle and stayed with him for a year or two then I moved to Kunle Afod circle. I understudied him for a few years and did my first movie. That was it and the rest they say is history. Earlier challenges When I came to the industry, I thought it was going to be easy and that I would just come and there would be rules and that’s just it. But it wasn’t easy, as it was difficult and roles weren’t coming, nothing was happening and nobody believed in anybody as they didn’t believe in wasting their time on who they are not sure of. So, the first one was the fact that it was difficult for me to get roles, so I had to become a makeup artiste on set and with that, I became acquainted with so many people and when I go to production and probably they need extra cast I would be able to take a role. Later on, I shot my own movie and became the lead cast, and that was it. I produced myself and it was called ‘Ogunso’ and everyone was like who is this new girl and all that. After Ogunso, I shot another one, Idaro and everyone started getting accustomed to me. Then the biggest of them all came, which was ‘Akun’ where I played a stubborn character.

Life has taught me that whatever will be, will be Sometimes you look at yourself and feel you are probably losing something or somebody else is getting something or what’s wrong with me? Or is there something I’m not doing right or are other people having this and am not? But I believe when it’s your time, it would come, as everybody has their own special time to be celebrated. Just keep pushing and doing that thing you love to do best. I deal with fame pretty fine And fame hasn’t cost me anything I do normally. I’m a free person and I still do the things I used to do, except the fact that I used to sell wares beside the road, and now I live a better life. When I’m off the set I’m still Regina and if being a celebrity has done anything for me, it’s to be a better me.

Chukwu

It was the movie that brought me to the limelight and paved way for me. It’s a nice movie and people still make reference to it, such as ‘that grandma daughter, that girl that played a secondary school girl in the movie and she is even Igbo’ and all. I have produced about 12 movies and the first actors I was opportune to work with in my early days were Antar Laniyan, Toyin Adewale, Baba T, Liz Dasilva, Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo and more, as I have worked with so many producers and actors.

My kids are everything to me I have a boy and a girl and they are no longer kids though. They are teenagers and the challenge is that I have been the only one catering for them since we lost their father. And it’s not been easy and it’s been 15 years since their father died and it was a painful phase taking care of them. I’ve been their mother and father, doing so many things that ought to be done by their father. As a young widow in the society, I bless God and the kind of children He blessed me with. They are the

I like business And I would love to do buying and selling. I like it so much more and, asides from that, it’s acting and everything that has to do with filming. For my hobbies, I like travelling and seeing beautiful places and watching movies a lot. I like Korean movies and staying indoors enjoying my space. The happiest you see me is when I’m in front of the camera and I like going to locations. I see myself where God wants to place me I see myself as a better person, as the plan of God for me is a better one. I know where he wants to place me is better.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

49

Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY

Gists BURNA BOY SHINES WITH 2018 BURNA LIVE CONCERT

It was a night of absolute glee as Burna Boy gave a multitude of fans a musical experience never to be forgotten soon, at his concert entitled ‘Burna Live’, which held on Wednesday, December 26 at EKO Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The concert, in particular, featured feats Burna had promised fans they would witness following the announcement of the concert a couple of weeks back. This included a spectacular entrance that saw him ascend the stage in a model plane; which undoubtedly became one of the most alluring highlights of the concert. Perhaps one of the most exhilarating performances of the night came when DMW’s Mayorkun ascended the stage, with Davido and his signees Peruzzi and Dremo emerging shortly after – a performance that caught the audience by surprise. But Burna wasn’t done, he had more surprises in store for his beloved fans. As the show progressed with more Burna performances, the singer brought out Star Boy Wizkid on stage; further sending fans into an uncontrolled frenzy as the two superstars shared the stage. Singers Timaya and Patoranking also raised the boisterousness of the night several notches higher after they paid Burna Boy a surprise visit on stage; with both artistes thanking his fans for coming out to support the singer on his big night. All in all, Burna Boy didn’t let his fans down – he gave them a spectacular concert that would go on to become one of the most momentous musical gatherings in the history of Nigerian music as we know it.

AIM FESTIVAL GOES BEYOND MUSICAL JAMBOREE The President, Motherland Beckons Movement, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, has disclosed that the Africa International Music Festival (AIM), the second edition of which was held from December 7 to 9 2018 at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ikegun, was not a mere musical jamboree, but “an indigenous concept of revving African music and songs to stoke the Africanism consciousness in us for the strengthening and amplification of the nobility of the black race.” He pointed this out in his speech while declaring open the 2018 Africa International Music Festival, at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ikegun, Village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos. Addressing the mammoth

crowd, which included the traditional chiefs of Ibeju–Lekki, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire in Nigeria, Mr. Samson Siasia, Dr. Akinboboye pointed out “Our gathering here at this momentous time and period is not only to dance and wriggle our waists to the finest beats of African music or listen with fresh excitement to the most melodious of songs streaming out from mouths of wonderful beautiful stars of Africa in sonorous tones, but we are here also to stimulate our memory, to kindle our interest and to showcase through music, sounds, songs, acts, chants, the values and elements which make the African nation a unique regional continent for the Black of the world.”

OLAIDE CAREW

I Rediscovered My Passion for Fashion When I Got Pregnant Olaide Carew is a socialite, a fashion enthusiast, a bespoke fashion designer who styles and sews. She is known majorly for her creative and vogue designs. Tosin Clegg gets the multi-talented woman to speak about her crafts, her journey and her plans

H

ow did your journey into fashion start out?

SHARON JATTO LAUNCHES CLOTHING LINE Sharon is a young pretty woman who had a major break on MTV Shuga series and ever since has soared to achieve more and make a mark for herself in the industry. She has since featured in a few movies but she is also planning big for 2019. A while ago, she launched her own ready to wear brand called, Saro which is creative and chick at Silver Cafe, Yaba and was well attended by fashion lovers, her fans, family and friends. According to her, “Our pieces are ridiculously available and we have mind-blowing pieces that are quite affordable.” The Kogi State-born actress is defying odds despite her young age, as she goes into other strides of the industry such as movie production and more. Without fear of living her dreams and achieving a lot, she also has her own hair business which is growing and is building a reputation for her.

It started five years ago when I got pregnant and was encouraged to go learn a trade which I immediately did and went into something I had a passion for, which is fashion. And I bless God it’s been superb ever since.

Tell us about the kind of pieces you do and what makes your works exceptional?

I’m into both male and female outfits and I’m also known for detailed prim pieces. And what makes my work exceptional is just because I create banging designs that are wearable for both my male and female clients. I also connect people in an aspiring way.

What are your set goals as a fashion designer and a social figure?

My major goal is to build a customer base online and offline. To make people happy in the outfits I made them and also create beauty in their lives. To do a show in every major fashion capital and to get major celebrities to wear it (both at home and abroad).

Who are your role models and why did you choose them?

They are Tiannah Stylings and April By Kunbi. Tiannah is a strong-willed woman, super energetic, business oriented and one of the strongest women I know. April By Kunbi, on the other hand, is a definition of class.

Where do you see yourself in a few years?

I see myself being the best in my fashion department and Carew Couture expanded. I see myself being super skilled and even more experienced than I am now to handle whatever responsibilities that might come my way.

50

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Ojukwu

Izu Ojukwu’s ‘Power of Oneness’ Reawakens Nigerians With its star-studded cast and celebrity guests in attendance at the premiere, it was a relief to the long wait months after the movie ‘Power of 1’ was first announced. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

A

lready opened at the cinemas just about a week ago, ‘Power of 1’, the much anticipated cinematic work directed by award-winning Izu Ojukwu bears the sub-theme of a music concert held annually, which is in its seventh run. Prior to the “Buckwyld and Breathless: #Power of 1” concert by music superstar, Tuface Idibia it was revealed, among other things, that the singer’s wife, Annie Idibia, would feature in the movie, with its teaser released at the concert held on the 20th of October. The movie’s impressive cast of accomplished actors includes Jibola Dabo, Jide Kosoko, Bimbo Manuel, Rachel Oniga and Ramsey Nuoah. Also in the cast are Alex Ekubo, Padita Agu, Tommy Oyewole and Michelle Dede and a stellar support cast of celebrity cameos. “Power of 1” follows the story of Jutin Aba, (played by Alexx Ekubo) a successful musician and a socially

conscious Nigerian. He has a large fan base and didn’t know how powerful he was until he supported a cause by identifying with the cause. Without an ulterior motive, he had put up a random message being circulated on social media and which was shown him by his wife and this singular post changed his life and the lives of the people that he loves most. As a socially conscious individual, he decided to go along with the people to stage a protest against the government’s policies and this brought about the intrigues, secrets and politicians jostling to get him to their sides. Efe Omoregbe, the CEO of Buckwyld Media, producers of the movie, had informed that the movie was to reawaken Nigerians. “It is, therefore, aimed at correcting the notion that the action of one person does not hold value,” he said. One of the foremost purposes of the movie was to reawaken civic responsibility in every Nigerian, with the aim of effacing the mentality that the

action of a single person does not hold much value. Ahead of the movie premiere, Omorogbe had expressed delight at finally being able to tell a true life incident with added fictional inputs but majorly showing the power of every single Nigerian. The movie stems from a long story which has already been told before 2Baba supported the people to join a protest and this spurred different occurrences in a matter of few days. The story basically is to tell and show Nigerian youths and the general public that if they believe in their power, they can always get the desired change because everything starts with the Power of 1. According to Tuface Idibia, the movie is his effort to impact the country. This is to ensure that it moves from a third world country. He, however, added that the movie aims at impacting the society, to a point where citizens will be proud of their country. The pulsating political drama captures a nerveracking sequence of events that ensued when a pop

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t+"/6"3: , 2019

51

SHOWBIZFLAIR ‘Power of Oneness’ Reawakens Nigerians

Tuface

One of the foremost purposes of the movie was to reawaken civic responsibility in every Nigerian, with the aim of effacing the mentality that the action of a single person does not hold much value superstar raises his voice to demand answers to the questions bugging millions of his fellow countrymen. Things spiral dangerously out of control as neither he nor the authorities seem ready for the explosive fall out. Shot in locations around Lagos State, ‘Power of 1’ is aimed at preaching the power in the strength of just one individual. ‘Power of 1’ is the story of a legendary musician. Early last year, 2Baba was set to lead a revolt against the Nigerian government, as he felt that they had failed by leading the country into an economic crisis. As news of his planned march gathered momentum, attempts were made to politicise it and scared that it could lose its credibility with severe consequences for him, the singer withdrew from the protest in a broadcast that instantly went viral and he was subsequently labelled a coward. Although this protest never happened, it, however, inspired the Power of 1 movie. According to Omorogbe, “the movie ‘Power of 1’ has in it some of the things 2baba went through. The movie is a mix of fiction and real-life events and when you read the synopsis, you don’t see it all until you get to watch the movie. The trailer is a proverbial tip of the iceberg because the film itself is on a whole different level.” Omorogbe said it all began with 2baba foundation in 2011. “I work with the 2Baba foundation and we started in 2011 to get into the political space and by 2014, we had some organisations joined us and we launched ‘Vote not Fight’ and the reason was simple,” he explained. “There

were so many predictions about 2015 to be violent and we sat and said, yes there might be these predictions but what can we do to stop or reduce it to the barest minimum and we designed a campaign called ‘Vote not Fight, Election no be war’ and we engaged youths for months on end. “We went from place to place using 2baba’s star power and resources of these other organisations to engage young people and showing them clearly reasons why violence is not an option for 2015 election and by the time it was the election, we had covered over 744 local governments and the election was relatively peaceful. This made it clear that we could get it done. So, we’ve been working on sensitising the youths making them understand why their votes count and why they need to make it count by a singular decision. “And in January 24, 2017, 2Baba posted something on Instagram supporting the cries of the masses and it was like matches and petrol and we saw drama unfolding before our very eyes, it was very close to something we might not be able to handle so he pulled the plug to primarily douse the tension and reduce the possibility of violence where people will get hurt...” The Power of 1 confronts head-on issues plaguing the nation today ranging from corruption, unemployment, terrorism, ostentatious lifestyle against a backdrop of crippling poverty and exposes the despondency of the Nigerian youth in a society where their votes no longer matter.

Ramsey Nuoah, Jibola Dabo and Alex Ekubo

52

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝ËœÍşÍ¸ÍšÎ

NEWSXTRA

Oshiomhole: Atiku, Obi will Trade Away Nigeria if Elected Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiohmole yesterday urged Nigerians to be wary of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the vice presidential candidate Peter Obi, alleging that that if voted into power in the February election, both would trade off Nigeria. Oshiomhole stated this while speaking at the flag off of the Governor Simon Lalong’s reelection campaign in Plateau State. He said that both were businessmen “as one was a former customs man while the other was a former trader.� Oshiohmole continued: “Atiku said he would put Nigeria on sale, and he would sell NNPC. Are you going to vote for traders? Are you going to support Nigeria being on sale?� He said that Lalong had ensured justice and fair play in his administration which

he said guaranteed peace in the state compared to what obtained during the reign of his predecessor. The national chairman, therefore, urged the electorate to vote en masse for the governor to consolidate his present achievements in the general elections. Oshiomhole commended Lalong for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries, adding that by paying salaries, Lalong had given practical expression by responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the people in the logo of the party that is progressive and pro-people because the primary purpose of governance is the welfare of the people. While responding to Oshiomhole, Lalong said that the occasion was not a speech making event as it was to flag off his campaign. He further urged the crowd to say no to people deceiving people. As the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) then, he said that

BROTHER DINO’S TRIAL... The Senator representing Kogi West at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, being assisted by aides after slumping while entering the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in Abuja‌yesterday

“When former President Olusegun Obasanjo came to power, he stated that within

six months, he was going to fix electricity while Atiku Abubakar was the vice presi-

dent. They spent $16 billion US Dollars. The more dollars they spent, the more darkness

enveloped Nigeria. Where was the power promised? No answer,� he queried.

Prepare to Take over Leadership, Buhari Charges Nigerian Youths

2019: Our Strike, Not Designed to Sabotage Government, Says ASUP

Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔËt

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja charged Nigerian youths to prepare to take over political leadership, saying his generation would soon quit the stage. The president who made these remarks while receiving the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its Acting National Leader, Kingsley Dozie Lawrence, described Nigerian youths as very active and critically important in the Nigerian project. ‘‘Youths are very virile and active. A greater part of the Nigerian population is made up of youths. They must always

be a factor at all times. ‘‘Youths must begin to groom themselves for the leadership of Nigeria. ‘‘I said this to the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students yesterday (Thursday) - sooner than later we will leave the stage and you will takeover. You have to equip yourselves properly,’’ the president was quoted as saying. The president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari welcomed the group for appreciating his administration’s effort in providing the much-needed infrastructure across the country. Adesina also said Buhari appreciated the youngsters

for acknowledging his government’s role in ensuring that Nigerians celebrated the Yuletide with both the availability and stability of the price of petroleum products. ‘‘I am glad you appreciate government’s efforts. That is why we are here to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians and on infrastructure. We will ensure that the resources of Nigeria work for Nigerians,’’ he further quoted him. The statement also said the president expressed hope that ‘‘good reason will prevail� on the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Rivers PDP Moves to Reconcile Aggrieved Members Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

As the countdown to the February 16, 2019 general election gets underway, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has set up a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to reconcile all members who felt aggrieved following the outcome of the party’s primaries held in 2018. Speaking while inaugurating a 30-member Peace and Reconciliation Committee at the party’s Secretariat, Aba Road in Port Harcourt on Thursday, State Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah, said the committee was constituted by the leader of the party in the state, Governor Nyesom Wike, after due consultations with stakeholders. Obuah said with the 2019 general elections around the corner, the party would leave no stone unturned to ensure total victory

for the PDP in the state, adding that it becomes imperative to put aside all grievances and ‘pursue our common interest’. “It therefore becomes necessary to put together our great men and women to carry out this onerous task of uniting members of our great party who are aggrieved for one reason or the other, ahead of this all important election. “You have been selected as men and women of integrity to reach out to these aggrieved members because every member of our party is important and cannot be overlooked,� he charged members of the committee. The 30-member committee which has 10 members for each of the three Senatorial Zones in the State, has the Chairman of the Board of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, as Chairman for Rivers South East while Uche

Okirigwe serves as Secretary. For Rivers West Senatorial Zone, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara, was appointed as Chairman with Kingsley Chuku as Secretary. Former Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo would serve as Chairman for Rivers East Senatorial Zone while Isaac Kamalu serves as Secretary. Speaking on behalf of the committee for the three Senatorial Zones, Opara thanked Wike and the State PDP Chairman, Obuah for finding them worthy to serve the party in that capacity and assured they would discharge their responsibilities creditably. He said it is not uncommon that disagreements come after primary elections and power struggles but noted that for every election, a winner is expected to emerge.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has said that it’s nationwide strike which it embarked upon since December 12, 2018, was not targeted at sabotaging the government, and has nothing to do with the 2019 elections, but a struggle to get government live to it’s responsibility of resolving all it’s demands since 2017 that have clogged the progress of the Polytechnic sector. Addressing a press conference on Jos, Plateau State, Zone B Coordinator of the union, Comrade Abdullahi Yalwa, said the union has done its best to get the attention of government to meet these demands met, some of which are not financial, but all the efforts have been treated with disdain. He said the union had also written series of memoranda and had consultative meetings

with the government, but all to no avail, thereby subsequently leading to the strike action. He reiterated their specific reasons for the strike to include; non-approval and non-implementation of the NEED ASSESSMENT report of N800bn, shortfalls in personnel cost releases and withdrawal of allowances, unhealthy conditions of state-owned institutions, and non-release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears. Others, according to Yalwa, are delay in assenting to the amendment of the Polytechnic acts, infractions in the appointment of Rectors and continued victimisation of union officials. ASUP said, “It is unfortunate that we had to resort to this last and only option and I assure the general public that we will remain resolute in the pursuance of these demands, so that we can salvage the sector

from further deterioration. It is our hope that government will resolve this impasse as soon as possible and save this sector from total collapse. As we progress on this strike action, we assure all our members that we will continue to protect their rights.� Yalwa also lamented that a major problems facing the Polytechnics is the composition of the governing council where politicians and government appointees, who are not necessarily educated, are appointed into governing council by government to compensate them for their support, adding that these members can hire and fire at will and also recommend persons to be appointed/selected as Rectors. On the appointment of the Rectors, he decried imposition of University Professors to head Polytechnics rather that Appointing from the Chief Lecturers in the Polytechnics with requisite qualifications.

Banditry: Defence Chief Reassures Zamfara People of Safety Kingsley Nwezeh Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, has reassured the people of Zamfara State of their safety. The state has been under siege in recent times as armed bandits went on rampage, leaving a trail of blood and destruction. The situation has also prompted the establishment of military divisions and air support platforms in the state to contain the menace.

The CDS said ‘Operation Sharan Daji’ was focused on restoring peace and security in the entire area. The reassurance is coming after “a debriefing of the CDS by the Force Commander of the Operation, Major General Stevenson Olabanji alongside some principal staff officers of the Defence and Services Headquarters�. It would be recalled that “attacks on innocent citizens in villages of Zamfara State became rampant in recent times hence, the debriefing became

necessary to re-strategize the operation. “Going by the debriefing of the Commander, progress is being made in the safeguarding of lives and properties of citizens within the joint operations area. “Operation Sharan Daji’ was established in Zamfara State to fight banditry, kidnapping and rustling and currently engaged as part of ,’Operation 777’ nationwide, a statement by Defence Spokesman, Brigadier-General John Agim, said.

53

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝ËœÍşÍ¸ÍšÎ

NEWSXTRA

2019: I’ll Build More Houses for Indigent Women, Obiano’s Wife Pledges David-Chyddy Eleke Ă“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ•Ă‹

BEHOLD THE FIRST PHOTO!... Nollywood actress Funke Akindele-Bello and hubby, Abdulrasheed Bello (JJC Skillz) with his other children as the celebrity couple shows off their twin baby boys for the first time, yesterday

Balogun-Fulani APC in Kwara Inaugurates Campaign Council Hammed Shittu Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜

The court-recognised All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani in Kwara State, yesterday, inaugurated a 45-man Campaign Council. Speaking at the inauguration in Ilorin, Balogun-Fulani called on the electorate to give massive support to APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Kayode Abdulwahab, as well as President Muhammad Buhari. He said that the inauguration of the campaign council was in line with the recent decision of the Ilorin High Court. According to him, “The court granted the 13 reliefs sought by the applicants in the matter and the

sixth relief allowed his leadership to undertake activities and processes related to election at all levels of government in the state.� He noted the objective of the party was that all its candidates must win, hence the call on members of the campaign council to work assiduously for successful outing in the elections. The APC chairman, however, extended hands of fellowship to the aggrieved members of the party, asking them to return to the party’s mainstream. While acknowledging the need for the party’s members and stalwarts to work together as a team, Balogun-Fulani said the leadership of the party was

open to dialogue. Responding on behalf of other members of the council, the Director General, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun expressed their readiness to work for the success of the party under the leadership of Balogun-Fulani. He reiterated the fact that the same leadership won the 2015 elections for the party hence there was every assurance that it would do the same again. In his remarks, the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Hon. Kayode AbdulWahab, a former editorial staff of THISDAY Newspapers, promised that if elected, his government would ensure the progress of the state across board and charged members to go back

and mobilise residents to come and vote for the party. Also yesterday, the Hon.Bashr Bolarinwa-led APC state executive council paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Ilorin with a pledge to accord traditional rulers in the state their due recognition. Bolarinwa stated this in Ilorin when he led the state executive committee of his faction of the party to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari on courtesy visit. He said that the party had nothing against the Emir as being raised in certain quarters, adding that the Emir was a father to all of the politicians in the state.

APC’s Threat to Takeover Power in Kwara N’Delta Oil Communities Demand is an Unrealistic Dream, Says PDP Direct Payment of Gas Flare Penalty Hammed Shittu Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the purported threat of the All Progressives Congress (APC’) and their leaders in the state to takeover power in the state in 2019 as an unrealistic ambition that would not see the light of the day. Besides, the party said that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed’s boast that the APC would defeat Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki in Kwara central senatorial district and the entire state, was mere wishful thinking. In a statement issued by Mr Tunde Ashaolu, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, yesterday, said that “although Lai Mohammed and the APC are entitled to such ambition, it will only remain a dream.� The PDP was apparently reacting to a recent comment by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed in one of the national dailies (not THISDAY) during his facility visit to the campaign office of

Buhari/Osinbajo in Ilorin ahead of its official commissioning that the APC would sack Senate President, Dr. Bukola during the 2019 election at Kwara central senatorial district of the state and also win the state for APC. According to the statement, “A seasonal politician like Lai Mohammed must be daydreaming when he said the APC will defeat Dr. Bukola Saraki in Kwara Central. We cannot prevent the minister from day-dreaming but we will advise him to stop dwelling on delusions.� The statement said, “This is an electioneering period, where people nurse all sort of impossible dreams and hold onto false expectations. APC can dream as they like, but we make bold to say that the APC will not only lose in Kwara Central but will also lose in other senatorial districts of the State. “It is even ludicrous that a member of a faction of a party that has been declared illegitimate by the court could be caught boasting that his party will defeat Dr. Bukola Saraki and the PDP.

Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹

The National Executive Council of the Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSCON), a Niger Delta group representing oil-producing areas, has urged the federal government to begin the payment of gas flare penalties directly to the affected communities. The group also said that it was satisfied with President Muhammadu Buhari’s stand during its meeting with him a few weeks ago that communities where oil and gas are taken from should benefit from it. Part of the argument by HOSCON has been that communities in the Niger Delta which bear the brunt of the effects of gas flaring activities by oil companies should receive the levy paid by the culprits (oil multinationals) rather than the federal government. A statement by Mr Monday Whiskey, National Director of Media and Publicity of the host oil and gas producing communities, said the position of HOSCON was arrived at after an enlarged meeting of the group in Warri. The members drawn from the nine oil producing areas, he said, also agreed that there was need to award pipelines contracts to groups which have the goodwill and capacity

to deliver. “After an enlarged emergency National meeting at the headquarters of HOSCON in Warri to review the recent audience granted by President Muhammadu Buhari, we resolved that the President should prevail on the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to urgently release all outstanding gas flare penalty levy to the benefit of our people. “This will fast-track the development initiative of HOSCON and her foreign development partners� the statement said. Accordingly, it said: “That a vote of confidence was passed on President Muhammadu Buhari for his vision to ensure that the constitution of Nigeria is strictly followed in the application of the 13% derivation fund that was hitherto misapplied by Governors of the oil bearing states to the detriment of the oil/gas bearing constituents. “That the intention to ensure the 13% derivation fund is made directly available to the people of the oil/gas bearing constituents is one of the most outstanding decisions that this government can take as its affects the social economic and infrastructural transformation of the long neglected and impoverished oil bearing region of the country.�

Wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano has said that she would build more houses for indigent women in Anambra State in 2019. Mrs. Obiano who has become popular for the building of free bungalows with water facilities for indigent women in the state in a new year message said she was ready to put more smiles on the faces of people in the state. In her New Year message which was delivered by Mr James Ozumba, Chief Media Officer to Governor Willie Obiano, she stated that this year, she would redouble her efforts, using her NGO; Caring Family Enhancement Initiative(CAFÉ) to rally philanthropist and ensure bigger empowerment for indigent women. “I have facilitated the training and empowerment of over 4,350 indigent widows, women and youths in self-reliant small-scale business ventures. “I restate my resolve to train

and empower more persons as well as build more free houses for indigent widows. I will build more modern toilet facilities to promote hygiene in rural markets across Anambra, and will continue to support the State Government’s efforts to improve lives of Ndi-Anambra through other programmes of CAFE scheduled for 2019.� While wishing Ndi-Anambra, especially the women, and Nigerians Happy New Year, she stressed that, it was only with renewed faith in themselves, their values, that they can truly tap into the gains of the year. She enjoined the people to be steadfast in their commitment to the pursuit of the good of humans in society irrespective of whatever personal sacrifices they might be required to make towards the attainment of this goal. “I pray that God may grant the wishes of our people for more pleasant and greater lives ahead in a peaceful political environment.�

2019 Elections Between the Rich, Poor, Says Amaechi Hammed Shittu Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜

Director General Buhari/ Osibajo Campaign Organisation, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi on Friday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital hinted that the 2019 elections in Kwara state and all other 35 states of the federation are between the rich and the poor. He however urged the Nigerians to come out enmsse and cast their votes for President Muhammadu Buharii for second term in office and all other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates nationwide so as to move the nation forward. Speaking at the inauguration of APC ward canvassers, coordinators and secretaries across the 193 wards in Kwara state ahead of 2019 general elections in the state, Hon.Amaechi however added that the rich and thieves have ganged-up against the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the country. Amaechi, who is the current Transportation Minister said that, “We are gathered here today to peacefully take over power from the rich and hand over to the poor in Kwara state. “That is what APC stands for. We join the poor to say we must take power from the rich. We join the poor to say ‘enough is enough.’ “The elite and the thieves have ganged-up against APC. But they don’t have the power because they don’t have the number. The number is with the poor and the poor must rise to vote on that day�. CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

I, ONAH OKOCHE EDOO and ONAH ERDOO JOY refers to one and the same person. I however want my Bank details to bear ONAH OKOCHE EDOO henceforth. The general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

This is to confirm that Victor Attam Sunday and Victor Attam refer to on and the same person, now wish to be known asVictor Attam Sunday.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

The DG opined that, “This election is between the rich and the poor. Now the poor have realized that they are tired. If at the end of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government we had $58 billion, where is the money now? How much did state governments collect? How much did the Federal Government collect? What did they do with the money? “When I was a student at the University of Port Harcourt I predicted that one day the poor will rise. It will get to a point when the poor will begin to eat big men. What you are seeing in Kwara is a modern Tunisia. “It was a poor man that started the Arab Spring in Tunisia. Today Kwara is leading the revolution to change Nigeria. Power must return to the poor. One problem we all have is that even we the poor are being deceived by them�. He, however, stressed that, “Big men are in all the parties o! The difference between other parties and ours is that the big men in our party are all progressives. Other parties don’t care, they want to even collect what the poor is eating from them.� Earlier, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the gathering was a demonstration of the people’s resolve to rescue the state from “those who have allegedly held it by the jugular, those who have allegedly pauperized our people, the pathologically-dishonest ones who govern by deceit.�

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as RUTH NGOZI CHIWENWA EKE, now wish to be known as RUTH NGOZI CHIWENWA PIKIBO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as IKEA BIBIANA CHIOMA, now wish to be known as EKEH BIBIANA CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í˝Ëœ ͺ͸͚Î

NEWSXTRA

ASUU Agrees Participation in 2019 Elections Kuni Tyessi Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

CONGRATULATIONS... L-R: Mr. Oluwole Tunde; Mrs. Omolara Tunde; Mr. Omololu Babarinde; Mrs. Adenike Babarinde; Chief (Mrs) Tejumola Babarinde (Celebrant); Prof. Olufemi Babarinde; Dr. (Mrs.) Tinuola Babarinde; Mr. Ibukun Babarinde; Mrs. Itunu Babarinde; Mrs Tolulola Babarinde; and Mr. Abiona Babarinde, at the 80th birthday celebration for Chief (Mrs. ) Florence Tejumola Babarinde in Lagos‌ recently

Kidnapping, Banditry May Affect 2019 Polls in Katsina, Says SSG FrancisSardauna Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹

The Katsina State Government has said the incessant kidnapping, banditry and other heinous crimes bedeviling the state may affect a hitch-free general elections in the state. This was even as the state identified lack of synergy between the affected states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Maradi (Niger Republic) and inadequate security personnel and logistics as factors responsible for the menace across north-west. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Mustapha Inuwa stated this Thursday evening

while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state extra-ordinary security meeting with state security chiefs, traditional institutions, civil society organizations and non-governmental organisations held last Wednesday. He said: “Certainly if you allow these thing to continue, whether you like or not in some areas it will affect the election. Like in the frontline areas that you are talking about. “So we have to secure the places before the election. We all agreed that the affected states including Niger Republic must come together and fight this thing at ones�. Inuwa further added that: “The

number of people kidnapped in Katsina within six to eight weeks now, I believed has been so much. If you look at the record of kidnapping we had before now, this current number has overthrown the record. It is sad and no any responsible government will allow this happen. On what the state government is doing to curtail the menace, Inuwa said: “The governor has set up a committee chaired by SGS to look at all the issues and advise him on how to address the menace. In the matter of weeks this issue will be deal with�. He however, accused people whom he described as local informants for the persistent cases

of kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling in the state. “It is believed by almost everybody that most of this kidnapping cases are planned and perpetrated by people living together as community. They have informants that always inform them of the movement of individuals and their targets�, he explained. Inuwa, however called on the governors of the affected states to work together in order to curb the menace by equipping security personnel with modern fighting apparatus to fight the perpetrators of the heinous acts.

Scientists’ Innovative Genomics Tool Directs Buhari Says Billions of Naira Public Health Response Early in Outbreak Paid to Pensioners Ended Their Bennett Oghifo total for the three previous years. Dehumanisation The sudden upsurge in cases For the first time during an ongoing Lassa fever outbreak, scientists have used rapid, portable genomic sequencing technology to identify viruses without prior knowledge of the cause of disease. This enabled researchers to allay fears and direct the public health interventions to limit the spread of the virus and help to protect more people from disease. This is contained in a statement by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), which said the research, conducted during the 2018 Lassa fever epidemic in Nigeria, was carried out by scientists from Public Health England (UK), the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (Germany) and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State (Nigeria), in collaboration with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and was published in the journal Science on 4 January 2019. Lassa fever is caused by a virus carried in the urine or faeces of infected rats. The virus causes fever, weakness, muscle pain and seizures, and is frequently fatal. Lassa virus occurs endemically in West Africa and while it regularly causes small outbreaks, an outbreak of the virus in the area in early 2018 led to 376 confirmed cases within a few months– more than the combined

raised concerns that a new, highly transmissible form of the virus had evolved, able to pass from person to person more effectively than previous strains. In order to better understand the reasons for the heightened number of cases, the NCDC, together with the WHO, commissioned the research team to analyse patient samples to understand if the virus had an increased transmission potential. The research builds on work that was carried out by PHE and BNITM during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak. The team, working at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in Irrua, Nigeria, used Oxford Nanopore Technology‘s portable device to rapidly sequence the genetic code of 120 virus samples. Traditionally, genomic assays used in the field required researchers to look at one genetic marker or virus strain at a time. However, this time a different approach was used, in combination with DNA sequencing, and known as metagenomics, which enabled the team to test for multiple different variations of Lassa virus genome, which is known to be highly diverse– speeding up the process of identifying the strains responsible for causing illness in this outbreak.

Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said his administration had paid billions of dollars to pensioners since he came to power in 2015. Consequently, he said such move had put paid to the anguish of senior citizens. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president made the remarks when he received a delegation of Nigeria Union of Pensioners led by its acting president, Comrade Musa Ayuba Dallatu, in the State House According to the statement, the president said under his watch, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) completed full payment of N5.8 billion to police retirees in August 2018 while in November 2018, N13.7 billion was paid to parastatal retirees and another N18 billion paid to civil service Pensioners. It also said the Directorate which supervised the payment of pension arrears to over 50,000 verified civil service pensioners, also oversaw the payment of N917.6 million to 432 war retirees. Adesina quoted the president as saying, “These few examples testify to the Government’s positive impact

on pensioners’ lives. In addition, we achieved huge savings in budgetary provisions through the elimination of ghost and duplicated details. ‘‘We have restored qualified pensioners arbitrarily removed from the payroll, thus bringing succour and hope to senior citizens, thereby improving the confidence of the entire county in the Government and its policies,’’ he said. He also said the president noted that his administration had put paid to the dehumanisation of federal pensioners by ensuring that they were paid their entitlements and backlog of arrears as and when due. The president’s spokesman added that the president observed that the welfare of pensioners remained one of the priorities of his administration since May 2015. Furthermore, he said Buhari noted that the retirees deserve timely payment of their emoluments, recognition, and respect for their work as well as dedication to the country during their active working years. ‘‘In recent times pensioners were ignored, neglected and even persecuted. We have put a stop to that. As you yourselves have confirmed today, we have begun regular payment of monthly pensions and payment of backlog of arrears.

With 42 days away to the commencement of the general elections, he Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), has declared that its members would participate as Returning and Collation Officers in the forthcoming general elections. The President, of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, disclosed this Friday after a meeting with The delegation of Independent National Electoral Commisaion (INEC), led by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. He said, “We had a good meeting with the INEC team and our relationship with INEC dates back to 2010 when a former President of the union, who was also the commission’s chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega,

collaborated with us.� “We have assured them that we will not stand in the way of our members participating in the election as ad hoc staff. The position of our union is that our members are free as citizens to participate in the election as ad hoc staff and we have reinstated this that we are not going to stop any of our members who wishes to serve in that capacity. We have also assured them that we will continue to work together to deepen the content and process of elections in Nigeria.� Shortly before the closeddoor meeting, the INEC Chairman, said that the Commission wished that the collaboration with ASUU during the election period would continue, despite the ongoing strike.

USAID, Coca-Cola Foundation Partner C’River, Abia Bassey Inyang Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹Ăœ

It has been disclosed that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Coca-Cola Foundation, are working in partnership with the Cross River State and Abia State governments towards the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and health facilities to fifty-eight communities in Cross River State, and Abia State. The disclosure was made when the Coca-Cola Foundation, working in conjunction with USAID, donated a solar- powered borehole, and sanitation facilities to Government Primary School,Ndon Nwong, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. The Projects, among then toilet and health facilities, commissioned pursuant to the Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Support Project, is funded through Water and Development Alliance (WADA) mechanism, a global partnership between USAID) and the Coca-Cola Foundation, (TCCF) Global Environment, Technology Foundation (GETF),and Partners for Development (PTF) as implementing partners in Nigeria. Speaking at the event yesterday, USAID’s Mission Director, Stephen

M. Haykin, who was represented by Dr. Joachim Ezeji, said in the past two years, Coca-Cola Foundation, USAID and Water And Development Alliance (WADA), working in partnership has provided $1 million for funding of projects aimed at the provision of clean drinking water, sanitation, and other health facilities to 56,000 people in rural communities in 58 communities Abia State, and Cross River state. The USAID Mission Director, Mr. Stephen Haykin, said the projects were targeted at ensuring that there was access to clean water, and sanitation to targeted schools, markets and medical clinics in both states. “We are not finish yet, with CocaCola; we are improving access to clean water with more projects like you see here today. We are improving access to clean water in 12 schools, 4 medical centres and 2 market areas as well as improving sanitation in 23 schools, 8 medical clinics and one market area in each of 4 LGAs in the two states, to benefit of 56,000 people�, Haykins said. He said in the last two years, the partnership between Coca-Cola Foundation, USAID, WADA, the government of both states, and the benefiting local government areas have been very successful.

February Election is about the Future of Nigeria, Says Obi The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to see the February 2019 general elections as decisive about the future and economic progress of Nigeria and not about the usual casting of votes because of vested interests. Obi who stated this yesterday in Rano, Kano State, during the PDP Kano South Senatorial rally said that over three years now that the foundations of Nigeria had come under serious threats due to incompetent governance, inadequate attention to the economy which has spiraled into unprecedented unemployment, inflation, economic hardship and mistaken outspokenness on corruption for real policies that will make corruption unattractive. The PDP vice presidential candidate said the only way to stop what he described as “the backwards

movement of the country,� was by sending those that have failed to improve their lives out of power through the ballots. “When I became the governor of Anambra State, I did not complain about what I met on ground. God, I believe, gave us eyes in the front to look forward and not backwards . This does not mean that we should not take note of the past in order to build a great future, but the case of failing to solve even one of Nigerians’ many problems and to perpetually resort to blame game is a sign of incompetence to govern. What Nigerians should do is to vote in Atiku/Obi for their proven track records of successes in employment generation, wealth creation and consensus building among Nigerians,� Obi said. If elected into office, Obi said that they would create jobs, secure and unify the country.

5 ) * 4 % ": t SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

55

Saturday, January 5, 2019

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Ezekwesili on Unending Killings “The security situation in the country shows a lack of effective leadership by Buhari. This is demonstrated in the very troubling inertia to decisively confront and end the frequent killings of our citizens” – The Presidential Candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Obi Ezekwesili, lamenting endless killings in Nigeria.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Another Appeal to President Buhari and His Supporters

F

ellow Nigerians, please permit me to say happy new year to you all. May God almighty make this a peaceful year for our dear beloved country. There is nothing greater to ask for than peace in an election year. And this is the main crux of my message to you on this page today. The tension in the land is so hot and suffocating because of the general elections coming up from next month. In case you are wondering why I’m specifically appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari and not to his main rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the deluge of other aspirants, let me explain quickly. I’m a social media addict and through this, I’m able to gauge the mood in public domain. I have been active in politics since 1982. The first crazy election I witnessed was in 1983 when the ruling party, NPN, declared itself winner in several unlikely places. The result was fatally cataclysmic as people in those areas reacted spontaneously and violently. Some parts of Yorubaland went up in flames and human beings were roasted like barbecue meat. About three months later, the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari collapsed like a pack of cards. The military coup that came capitalised on the recklessness and profligacy of the Shagari regime as a veritable excuse to torpedo that government. Politicians were promptly arrested, detained, prosecuted and jailed and given horrendous prison terms that made a mockery of the justice system in Nigeria. There were too many examples of double standards which portrayed the government as vengeful or outrightly neurotic. Laws were made and backdated. Journalists were tried by decrees and jailed by fiat, God’s case, no appeal. Before long, the Nigerian economy took a nosedive and and plunged into a bottomless pit of misery. The situation was so chaotic that Nigerians queued for mere commodities like victims of war or famine. It never recovered until the Buhari government itself was sacked and banished to the dustbin of history. The full story is for another day. The next election, thereafter, was that of June 12, 1993, which turned out to be the best conducted and the least controversial until the military government of President Ibrahim Babangida decided to intervene and aborted a full grown baby just before it was born. Since then, Nigeria has known no real peace, possibly, as punishment for this pre-meditated murder of an innocent political baby. Instead of learning our lessons and apologising to Nigerians for this unfortunate saga, government after government, like the ostrich, buried its cocky head in the sand, pretending that there was nothing special about the election and that life can move on as normal. From 1993 to 1999, Nigeria, once more, came under the jackboots of the military after the short-lived Interim Government, headed by Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan. General Sani Abacha led junta ruled with iron fists from November 1993 to June 1998, when he suddenly took ill, mysteriously, and died, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar took over and handed over to a former military ruler, General Olusegun Obasanjo,

Buhari

who led a new civilian administration from May 1999 to May 2007. Interestingly, for a man that many had clearly forgotten about, General Muhammadu Buhari resurfaced from nowhere, around 2003, and promptly announced his interest in the Presidential race. It was like a script out of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “we have scorched the snake, not killed it…” Buhari was well and alive. While many laughed, scornfully, at him, there were those who admired his guts. Poverty was already growing in the land and politicians had returned to their days of psychedelic existence. Thus many Nigerians longed for those days when Buhari took over power and punished the politicians mercilessly. The only thing they forgot was that Buhari would no longer be a military dictator with all the appurtenances of State coercion. And he would no longer have the collaboration of his second in command, Babatunde Idiagbon. But Buhari was very smart, or better put, his packagers. He had transfigured into a friend of the poor and champion of Northern interests. He returned triumphantly from the throes of disgrace and incarceration after the Babangida coup. He contested serially, and stubbornly, on three occasions, against Presidents Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan and lost monumentally, but he garnered millions of votes from his catchment areas, especially in the North. By 2011, Buhari had become battle weary and it seemed it was over for him. He was quoted to have said he would no longer contest. But one thing led to another and Buhari’s interest was re-awakened, and re-activated, by certain interest groups looking for a way to scatter the ruling party to the winds. PDP was becoming too comfortable and very self-conceited. It was also engaged in a silly war of attrition that led to the exit of some key members of the party. Perhaps, if PDP had not mismanaged its internal wrangling, the end would not have come at the time it did, and the manner it happened. Lord have mercy, the grand conspiracy against the incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, would ultimately go into the history books as one of the most lethal. Anyway, Buhari returned to the race and contested in 2015, and won resoundingly.

Buhari’s victory was a popular mandate from all over the country. We were all very happy and excited and many friends of Nigeria from everywhere in the world rejoiced with us. The goodwill Buhari commanded was almost unprecedented. But no sooner than he took over power that things began to fall apart. I will spare you the horror of how Buhari frittered away that massive equity, as we watched helplessly, with our arms akimbo. A few that warned him about the sad turn of events were soon labelled enemies of Buhari, friends of looters, corrupt people, who are no longer making and enjoying free money in the system. It didn’t take long before the economy collapsed, as scare-mongering crept in on the country again. As he did in 1983-85, Buhari renewed his war against corruption but, this time, without military power to enforce anything. Again, like it happened to his predecessors, he was accused of witch-hunt because most of those under siege were members of the opposition. The blame game also became over-amplified. Every failure, and frustration, of government was explained away as the stultification of governance that was brought about by Jonathan and his crew. Buhari and his acolytes have never stopped groaning and complaining about Jonathan, PDP, or both. According to the APC, PDP was responsible for all the bad things that happened in Nigeria. That’s fine. But the real enemy is time. Now, suddenly, reality has dawned on the Federal Government that it has spent nearly four years in power. Yes, time truly flies. And the next cycle of election has come. The pressure is usually on the ruling government. This is the reason for my long preamble. The Federal Government and its ardent supporters would want members of the public believe they have performed wonders, and that President Buhari is the 21st century wonder, but this is far from the truth. Many APC chieftains would normally confess privately, and confidentially, that they have fumbled, big time, but we should, please, give, or just dash, them another term, with promises to do much better. Personally, I believe it is up to Nigerians to vote for any candidate of their choice, or fancy. As for me, I’m convinced that Buhari has already exhausted the capacity to govern a country as complicated, and convoluted, as Nigeria. I may be wrong. My support in 2015 was based on certain misplaced hopes and permutations. 1. That, after 30 years in retirement, he has had enough time to reflect on his past mistakes and he is ready to make amends. 2. That he would hit the ground running and pursue the onerous task of nation-building with assistance from some of the brightest people it has pleased God to bless Nigeria with. 3. That he would give more power to his highly cerebral and cosmopolitan Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. 4. That he would abhor nepotism, unite our divided country and treat all Nigerians as free citizens of this great nation. 5. That he would build stronger institutions and not tougher dictatorship. 6. That he would empower our anti-corruption agencies and embolden them to operate without fear

or favour. 7. That he would make the welfare and well-being of our security forces his top priority in this season of unprecedented anomy, as a retired General himself. 8. That he would reduce waste in government to barest minimum based on the promises he made, before God and man, during his campaigns. I can go on, ad infinitum. But, to my chagrin, Buhari’s government failed on most of these counts. Please, note that I did not even mention issues of the economy, infrastructure, youth employment and empowerment. I’m aware they have been distributing ten thousand naira in market places but I’m not sure how far this can go in a country where over 80 percent of the population live in abject poverty. Of course, President Buhari is blessed with some fanatical supporters who see him as the only saint in Nigeria who will help them deal ruthlessly with the enemies who have impoverished them. Buhari appeals to this young Nigerians and they don’t mind if Nigeria is engulfed in mass poverty. Their attitude is since they are already poor, Buhari should tear down the whole system and make the rich poor. The sad part is the fact that they can’t distinguish between those who worked hard and the so-called looters. Herein lies the danger to society at large. I have spent the past weeks engaging with these guys on social media. Many of them are loose cannons who have become totally obsessed with the fake mantra that whoever is not with Buhari is a thief. This may work in favour of Buhari in the short run but may hurt Nigeria and Nigerians, irredeemably, in the long run. I foresee them turning into an uncontrollable army if Buhari does not win the Presidential election next month. Our usually taciturn President must not keep quiet on this danger waiting to explode. At 76, officially, God has been very kind to him. There is nothing in democracy that guarantees two terms for a President, so it should never be a matter of life and death. If you win, you win, and if you lose, you lose. Every effort must be made to make sure the precedence bequeathed by President Jonathan is maintained, even if not improved upon. I was privileged to accompany the former President of Ghana, Dr John Dramani Mahama, to The Gambia during the imbroglio that engulfed that tourist destination after President Yahya Jammeh refused to hand over power despite the obvious fact that he lost election in 2017. I saw the great efforts of President Buhari, Eileen Johnson Sirleaf, Mahama, Mackey Sall and others. It would be a monumental disgrace for the world to start begging our own President, in the same manner, to hand over power if he does not win. My appeal is to President Buhari to prepare the minds and souls of his supporters for any eventuality in the next couple of weeks. If he wins, fair and square, the whole world will celebrate him. I will join them, as an avowed democrat. But if he does not win, he should do us the favour of going in peace, and not leave our dear country in pieces. God bless Nigeria.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com