I’m not Tinubu’s mole –Agbaje

■ Says he has no godfather
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate
in Lagos State in the coming election, Mr Jimi Agbaje last
week spoke to a select group of journalists on his programme
for the state and the role of god fathers in his political life.
Excerpts.
Your emergence as the governorship candidate of your party
was enmeshed in controversy. To what effort did Bode George
contribute to your emergence?
If you remember, I ran for the governorship of Lagos State in
2007 on the platform of the DPA. That 2007 campaign
generated significant goodwill and I retained an interest in
running for the office a second time. This time, however, I
decided to use a stronger platform and engaged with all the
leaders of PDP in Lagos State, including Chief Bode George,
Chief Ogunlewe, the state Chairman, Captain Shelle, Rahman
Owokoniran who is now my campaign Director General, Mrs
Aduke Maina, Bode Oyedele, even Senator Obanikoro and
many other leaders of the party. Most, indeed nearly all of the
leaders were amenable to my candidacy and supported me in
the primaries. Chief Bode George, of course, is one of the
leaders and he supported us too, just like most of the other
leaders.
Governor Raji Fashola has taunted you of being too old to
govern the state. What is your reaction to this?
I think most Nigerians and Lagosians have answered the
governor appropriately on that issue. If you look at his party’s
governors in several states, some of whom are seeking re-
election, they are my agemates and some are my seniors.
Their party is in fact presenting a man who is about 15 years
older than me for the presidency of the whole of Nigeria. I am
healthy, virile, agile and certainly very well prepared-mentally,
intellectually, politically, policy and administration-wise and in
any other way for the governorship of Lagos State
You have gone round the 20 local governments holding town
hall meetings in the state, what has been your message and
how has the reception been?
The reception has been fantastic and certainly very
encouraging. We decided to go on the town halls in order to
engage directly with our people first, before commencing our
rallies. The town halls were a very good opportunity to listen
to the people, to feel their pains, to hear their complaints and
suggestions and also to deliver our message of hope, shelter,
trust and a government focused on the needs of the people to
them. The reception has been very good and we think its been
a very worthwhile exercise.
The bad blood generated in your party by your emergence as
the PDP candidate, was such that created so much
apprehension about your chances. Can we know the inside
story of the mending of fences that resulted in the current
unity of purpose in the party?
There is really no bad blood. It is to be expected in a
democratic political system that some people may be unhappy
about the outcome of party electoral processes.
We have certainly put all that behind us now and we are all
united by the imperative of reclaiming the freedom of our
people in Lagos State. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is fully
behind our campaign and we are all working together, along
with all other leaders of the party.
It has also been said that you are sitting on a tripod of god
fathers, considering the powers believed to have been
responsible for your emergence. What do you make of that?
I have said categorically in an earlier interaction with the
media and I repeat today-I have, absolutely no godfather or
godfathers. When I ran on DPA platform, who was my
godfather? The reason they rejected our candidacy in the
other party is because they knew we were not the kind of
person that would accept to be a puppet or stooge for their
designs.
Acting under the commands and manipulation of a godfather
is contrary to my personal inclinations and they know that. I
proved that in 2007 . I have no godfather. I will work with the
members and leaders of the party and indeed the generality of
the citizens of Lagos to govern Lagos responsibly and in the
interest of our people, and not for the benefit of any godfather.
Lagosians actually know on what side of the divide they
should be worried about godfathers and god sons or
puppeteers and puppets!
You have said that if elected governor, you would retain 37
LCDAs in the state. Don’t you think doing that would
contravene your party’s stance on the matter
It doesn’t. Our position today is that we have moved on on
the issue of 57 LGAs/LCDAs. I certainly would retain the 37
LCDAS. In fact, even our party structure recognises those
LCDAs.
Your proposed reversal of some policy actions of the APC
administration has come under criticisms, from those who
argued that you are not bringing anything new to the table.
Yes, I insist and reconfirm that there are some things that
need to be reversed! I certainly would not collect tolls on the
Lagos-Epe Expressway which is no longer a PPP project as
the state government has already bought out the interest of
the private investors (for N30 billion more than the original
amount even though the road was not completed!). The road
was a pre-existing road, initially built with state resources and
it is unfair to ask people to pay tolls to get to their homes and
communities.
You said recently that PDP remains your last bus stop. What
would you do if the governorship election goes the other way?
I am in this contest to win, and I believe that we will prevail. I
am not countenancing the prospect of not winning.
You have been accused of being a mole for Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu. How true is this?
Of course that is absolutely without basis, and illogical! There
can be no logical basis for any such hypothesis. I am not, and
can never be a mole for anyone, certainly not for Bola Tinubu.
Also, when and why did you fall apart with Tinubu?
I think it is normal in politics for individual perceptions and
interests to diverge. Bola Tinubu is not my enemy, but we are
also not as close as we used to be. But I think that is the
nature of politics.
I think some politicians often get to a point where they want
only subservient people around them. I don’t believe in that
type of politics. I view politics as a sacrifice and service, and I
view it as the most honourable of vocations. I believe politics
should actually be about truth, integrity and service.
APC seems to have outspent you in terms of campaign
funding as the party’s candidate is visible in all parts of the
states through adverts, posters and billboards. Are you
having a funding challenge? And is this not a threat to your
aspiration?
No one expects us to match APC in terms of spending!
They have ruled over Lagos for 16 years and some people
have described this election as somebody’s attempt to have a
fifth term! They have access to all the resources of Lagos
State! Our campaign is resonating in the hearts and minds,
the homes and communities across the state and in spite of
the noise and posters, we believe our campaign is gaining
attention where it matters and I am convinced that we will
prevail.

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‘Governors have taken over PDP’

Continued from two weeks ago
Two weeks ago, Sunday Sun published an interview with a
former governor of Plateau State, Sir Fidelis Tapgun, with a
headline PDP is dying . In this edition, we bring you the
conclusion.
With the defections and bitterness in the party, is PDP likely
to make headway at the national level, talking in terms of
the presidential poll?
I hope they do, but in Plateau State, I don’t see how PDP is
going to make any headway because the people of the state
and I mean it, are determined that Jang cannot impose
somebody on the people. The CAN is in this matter, the JNI is
in this matter, the labour unions are in this matter and the civil
society groups are in this matter. It is a Plateau matter. They
told him in very unmistakable terms that he will not be
allowed to do what he wants. But if he goes and squeezes
himself in there, hmn.
From that perspective, I want you to take a look at the
presidential election and with what you can see as the cam­
paigns progress, what is your projection?
Well, it is a very dicey situation. Really, really dicey situation;
very dicey as far as I am concerned because there is no state
you will go today that you will not find crisis in the PDP, not
one single state. And what is the cause of the crisis?
Imposition. So, it is going to be a very dicey situation.
What do you see then?
I don’t see anything; it’s just a dicey situation.
Some commentators say Nigeria is tending towards two party
state with PDP and APC being the two dominant and vibrant
parties. With one in opposition and the other ruling, what
have you observed is the impact on Nigeria and Nigerians?
The truth of the matter is that we don’t have ideologies in the
parties. PDP and the APC are all the same thing as far as I
am concerned. There is no clear-cut ideology. Otherwise, peo­
ple will not be jumping from one place to the other. If you
have an ideology, you will stick to where you belong and I
thought that was what PDP was meant to do from the start.
When we were forming this PDP from the start, it was SDP we
had in mind. And the SDP is a socialist party. That was what
we had. That was formed by the military because they liked it.
It was a socialist party. It was the people’s party and people
determine who gets what. People chose their leaders
themselves. That was the focus. After the military regime, we
said we will go back to the SDP. But some people argued that
SDP was truncated by the military. So, we sat down and this
“People’s” came in. So, we removed the S and put the P. That
is how People’s Democratic Party came into the scene. It is
just another name of the Social Democratic Party. It’s
supposed to be a very, very socialist party and it is the
people’s party. But the focus has been diluted; the aim has
been defeated by people over time, especially the governors.
The greatest headache of the PDP are the governors.
With what you have in mind, the issue of imposition, I’ll like
to have your comments on the adoption of the president as
the sole candidate of your party.
That was not an imposition. The argument there was that in
the American system we are copying, a sitting president
usually doesn’t go for primary. That’s the model and that’s
what they came up with. But you know at the end of the day,
people protested and they allowed people to buy the form
even though it was … but that’s the model. It’s not anything
new. We are copying a model which is USA. So, that is how
his emergence came about. From the party structures, it was
endorsed all through.
How come we have party stalwarts talking of imposition and
lack of internal democracy?
You see this is the point I am making. I said we are copying.
If you are copying…the American system we are copying
that’s the way it goes. You have never criticized that anyway.
Have you?
It is your party and American affair.
That’s what I am saying. That is why we said we should
model our own to suit us. When we are talking of democracy
and we copy western democracy, we should model our own to
suit our system. And that is what we tried to do at the last
National Conference. We should model something that suits
Nigeria. Others should come and copy also what we are doing
in years to come. But we are depending on western model that
we cannot practice here. We talk but we can’t put it into
practice. So, instead of us modeling something that suits
Nigeria, our culture, tradition and everything, we are copying.
From Buhari’s incursion into the Middle Belt, you hear…
It is because of this imposition. It is because of this lack of
justice, this injustice that is being perpetrated by the
governors all over the PDP states. That’s just the reason and
it doesn’t appear to the party hierarchy there in Abuja to ad­
dress this issue. They don’t want to. They look at it and just
pass by. That is why I said the PDP is dying. Honestly. If they
continue like this, the PDP will not exist.
Before now, we used to have the problems of the Niger-Delta
militants. They wanted the control of the oil. In the South-
West, it is the OPC. They are fighting to defend the Yoruba
interests. If you go to the South-East, MASSOB wants the
actualization of a sovereign state of Biafra. Now, in the
North, it is Boko Haram, a sect fighting to establish an
Islamic state. From your wealth of experience, what do you
think is happening?
I think there is no country that has developed that has never
experienced insurgency or internal crises of the nature we are
facing in this country. The Niger-Delta militants and the OPC,
these are internal things. But the Boko Haram fighters are not
Nigerians. But they recruit Nigerians. But in general, there is
no country that has developed, be it America or any other
country that has not gone through this type of crisis. But this
is something we should accommodate and learn to curb it.
Terrorism is a world-wide phenomenon. It has just happened
in France. They just killed people in France last week. So, it is
a world-wide phenomenon and it is growing world-wide.
That’s why the government is trying to curb it. That is why
international cooperation is very important to curb this thing.
You don’t equate this to the Niger-Delta or OPC problems.
There are certain things these groups want on ground.
From the look of things, are you expecting a president of
northern extraction?
From the look of things, I am expecting a president that will
be elected by Nigerians; elected in a free and fair election by
Nigerians. Anybody that emerges is the president of Nigeria.
I asked this question because the north appears not to be
finding it easy to get the allegiance of their traditional
political ally, the South-East. It is like with Buhari’s
candidacy, they have been able to awaken the old ghost and
that despite everything, it looks like the South-East political
elites are not comfortable working with the Hausa-Fulani,
their former political ally and…
(Laughs) I know where you are heading to. You know Kenny,
this politics is dynamic. It is very, very dynamic. It cannot be
static at all. When the military handed over and they started,
people…first of all people just came into this thing and they
want to try. People came in unprepared. So, people were just
trying to ensure the military go away. But over time, people
are beginning to see what was making them win elections
before.
So if this one doesn’t suit us we will go back to our roots.
That’s why this alliance is coming up now. And it is growing
and good for the country. It is good for the country because it
will make us integrate. The country will be integrated. It is
winning election that is important for you in politics. And in
winning elections, you go to friends that will make you win the
election.
What are your fears this year?
Well, I don’t have any fear. The fear is just what government
has been trying to address. People think there is going to be
crisis, violence. We don’t hope for it. We don’t want Nigeria to
go into any crisis at all. The election should be free, should be
fair so that people who lose will know they have genuinely
lost and those who win will know they have really won. The
fear is just about the election. People think there is going to
be a lot of trouble; but I don’t think so. The government is
doing a lot. INEC is also doing a lot to make sure that the
elections are free and fair and people are satisfied with the
results at the end of the day.
People ascribe these problems to those of ethnic
nationalities. Do you think Nigeria has a future if we don’t
solve this ethnic nationalism problem? They seem to be
distorting other things.
No. That’s why when you said people are making incursions
into the South-East, I told you people have traditional allies.
We in the Middle Belt have our traditional allies in the South,
the South-South and the North-East during those days. So,
as politics goes on and you look at where you are and you are
not making headways, then you begin to follow. That itself will
integrate the country. It is part of integrating the country
because at the end of the day, we need a country that is
strong, united and the people can be proud of, a country
where people will say I am not Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba, but
that I am a Nigerian. That’s what we want.
What can you now say of the alliance between the South-
South and the Middle Belt? It seems to be nose diving.
I don’t think so. The alliance between the South-South and
the Middle Belt is still on. If you ask the South-South people
they will tell you. We walked along the lines of our alliance at
the last National Conference. So, everything you see that came
out of that place is the result of the alliance between the
Middle Belt and the South; most of it, about 90 percent of it.
The alliance is still there, but like I said, the APC and the incur­
sion you talked about, yes in the former Northern Region time,
NPC had their alliance with the south. That’s how Shagari
and Ekwueme came in. This small alliances help at the end of
the day. Let me say something. In the PDP, people have not
been given space. If in 2007, I was the one asked to come and
lead Jang campaign here because I was the one on ground
and now you say I got only one vote, are you not surprised
yourself? It is just trying to make people irrelevant because
they know our worth. They know what I can do. So, everybody
is afraid. And for the fact that he was called and told this is
the man on ground. He is going to lead your campaign
otherwise, you cannot win, he knows who I am. So, if he is
not afraid of me, he will not be afraid of anybody in the world
again.
But he appears to have dealt with you.
He has not dealt with me o. He has dealt with himself. This
party, the PDP was formed in my house here in 1998. Solomon
Lar told them that Tapgun is the leader in this state, so let’s
go to his house. If you came here that time, you will not be
able to pass here.
That is why if anything comes from the party secretariat in
Abuja, my name must be there. That’s why they are angry
now. A lot of people who are there talking now don’t know
anything about PDP. Like I said, the governors have hijacked
the party. Somebody very close to them was asking me last
two weeks ago or so when I was in Abuja. He said have you
ever met the President? I said I have never met the President.
I said I only met him when we went for this Jos crisis
discussion. He was surprised, but that is the truth. And that is
the sad aspect of the whole thing. When I answered the man
that I have not seen the President, he said are you serious?
He said why would the President be talking of PDP in Plateau
State and would not look for you? And that is my
lamentation: that the PDP is just going down, down and down
with this kind of attitude. Look at what Muazu was saying the
other day at the campaign inauguration that there is so much
injustice.

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How military chiefs got INEC to postpone polls

The inability of military authorities to assure the Independent
National Electoral Commission, (INEC) of a secured
atmosphere for the conduct of the general elections, according
to TheCable, an online news medium, may have forced the
commission to yield to the pressure of shifting the dates of
the elections by six weeks.
Although INEC was reported to have given other reasons for
the shift in the dates of the elections which were initially
scheduled for 14th and 28th of this month, TheCable insists
that the threats by the security chief that the nation’s military
authorities could not guarantee security for the conduct of the
polls necessitated the decision for the postponement
Senior military chiefs were reported to have said at the
meeting of the National Council of State last Thursday that
Nigeria’s security agencies were overstretched because of the
scaling-up of the war against Boko Haram involving the coun­
try and neighbouring African countries. The shift was a sudden
volte-face by the electoral umpire which had earlier insisted
that the exercise would go on as scheduled despite concerns
over the commission’s level of preparedness as many feared
that a lot of qualified Nigerians could be disenfranchised
following INEC’s failure to complete the distribution of PVCs.
An INEC official was quoted to have informed TheCable that
Professor Attaihiru Jega was caught in a dilemma when he
was informed about the military’s plan to back out of the
whole exercise should INEC fail to extend the dates of the
polls by at least six weeks to allow the operations against
Boko Haram to be concluded. “They told him that it is in the
national interest and INEC’s interest to hold elections in all
the states of the federation, which can only be done if the
Boko Haram insurgents are completely incapacitated in those
states,” the source said.
Indication that the elections could be shifted forward emerged
few weeks ago when the National Security Adviser, Col.
Sambo Dasuki (retd) disclosed in London that he had advised
INEC to postpone the polls because of the concerns over PVC
distribution.

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My recipe, my staying power in business –Suraj BabatundeAkeeb, CEO, Islander Barbeque

Although his parents could not afford to sponsor his university
education, Akeeb, went ahead into the business of roasting
chicken, call it barbeque if you like, and now has secured a big
name for himself, to the extent that he even travels across the
world for the simple business of making barbeque. Interesting
still, he has carved a niche for himself and has a couple of
company buses and even a dispatch rider for prompt delivery
of his barbeque to doorsteps of customers which include
corporate organisations. In his interview with AYO ALONGE,
Suraj Akeeb speaks on his journey so far, the edge he has
over his contemporaries, the challenges, and more. Excerpts:
Who are you?
Well, my name is Suraj Babatunde Akeeb, the CEO of Islander
Barbeque and Asun Limited.
Tell us about your educational background…
I schooled at Albino Primary School, Surulere and went to
Akintan Grammar School, here in Surulere too. That’s all.
You mean you never had university education?
I tried but my parents were bouyant and I tried to make things
work by helping myself. I would have loved to get into the
Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA). I did the exams twice but
there was no follow-up for me. I mean there was no one that
would help me and you know how the Nigerian system is. So,
I started hustling the normal way by myself on the streets.
How did you come up with the name Islander?
I was an ankara dealer while on Lagos Island, as I told you,
and every time I came back from work, some street boys
would hail me “Islander”. Some would call me Zurich, that’s
from my real name Suraj. Others, especially from my old
school, would call me Lelelele. I thought of the best among
the three nicknames and I opted for Islander.
How long have you been in this business?
I have been in this business for 16 years now. For good 16
years, my brother.
So how has it been these past 16 years making barbeque?
Really, I didn’t know people would want to take such business
seriously, but I take it so seriously and I always feel I can
make something out of it. I just have that love for it. Mind
you, I never went to any training school for it. I just decided
one day to go into this barbeque business.
What’s your unique selling point compared to others?
The main thing there is my recipe. From day one, I didn’t just
jump into making barbeque. I was helping my aunty sell
textiles at Balogun in Lagos Island. In the process , I met one
lady called Sherifat who is actually from Porto Novo. She
would come with textiles from there on Mondays and
Thursdays. Most times, she would come with their barbeque
fish and we suddenly became friends and she always gave me
part of the fish every time she brought them. Then, I was
always everywhere in business. I was not just going to sell
ankara for my sister, I was also going to work with one of my
uncles that runs a hotel business. I would resume in the
evening and work till dawn since it was a guest house. I did
all I had to do overnight, and at daybreak, I would still face
Balogun market to go and help my sister at her shop. With all
that, I got some token amount. One day, I just woke up in the
morning and started talking to myself, I was growing older
and I wondered how I’ll make it in life? That was on a Sunday
morning as I can still remember vividly. The ankara business
was not really attractive again except one has huge capital.
So, it was a no-go area for me and I could not just imagine
myself towing such line of business for survival.
I had to think back to the concept I once got from Sherifat. I
thought of it that there was no one in the whole of Surulere
making barbeque except one Mr. John. I thought of not going
close to him because I wouldn’t want to spoil his business for
him. I even thought it won’t be ideal if I went to him and say
I wanted to learn from him.
I left that day and it took me another week to have a second
thought. I met a man close to my house and asked him if we
could pool resources together and start the business since I
had a small amount of money with me and we went to inspect
a possible space at their family house around Ojuelegba.
There was something that came to me that moment that I
would say came like a cool breeze that blew on me. A spirit
within me just told me that I didn’t need any partner to start
the business and that it was better I went alone, and that was
it.
Can you recall your start-up capital?
Very well! I started the business with something close to N5,
000.
So, how did a N5,000 business become what it is now?
God bless you! When I started, I told you I called a guy to
train me to start it. I asked him to give me the idea and he
just gave me some tips. When I made mine for the first time, I
compared the taste with the one I was always getting from
Sherifat and I decided to combine the two concepts and that
was it. I told you I never went to any training school. I only
adopted both ideas. I would go to the market and buy like six
to seven pieces of chicken, and ensure that I got very big ones
just to entice people, you know. Nigerians love big things,
especially when it is very cheap. I thought they would
patronise me also because my recipe alone is just very okay.
Since then, I came to get this space here and started
expanding from there. Meanwhile, my ankara business was
still there for me to always fall back on. I had a friend by the
name Ismail Balogun, who would help me stay here and run
my business when I would have finished preparing it in the
morning because I would still go and fetch something from the
ankara business.
I opened shop on September 19, 1999 and I can recall that
sooner enough, I picked a stand at a carnival in Surulere and
that December, people started noticing my business and
shortly after, I made a hell of money from that carnival.
Can you recall your biggest contract in this business?
The biggest was from the old Econet Telecommunication
Company, and as you know, that was many years ago. They
paid me close to N1.6million. I was so shocked to see such
amount of money. They gave us that contract and that was a
boom for us.
What’s the idea behind having dispatch riders delivering bar­
beque for you?
See, I think and act like an Igbo man. When people even see
me, they think I am Igbo because of the way I have taken my
business. I go the way things are moving in the society. You
have some big companies with their own dispatch riders,
especially those of them into courier services. I looked at
myself and said I should be able to tell people that I can also
serve them better in that regard. I must not limit myself and
say it’s because I am into a small scale business.
Has it been working for you?
Yes! I receive calls from people everywhere and I must say
that it has really been working. I am even going to Lekki right
now.
Do you deal with corporate clients too?
Yes, I deal with them, especially during the festive periods, like
in December when they have end of the year parties. Like in
Zenith Bank, every time they want to do their lighting, I am
always their main barbeque man. I hang rams all over for
them. When Lagos state did its New Year countdown, I was
the main barbeque man too.
What key factor has helped you in business?
What has really made me succeed in this business is my
recipe and consistency in what I am doing. Most people came
into the business after I started mine but they soon faded
away because they lacked the mind, the spirit of consistency.
They would not open again when they saw that they never
made good profit over the last one. They couldn’t understand
how I run my business. They didn’t even know that I had
something else I was falling back on. That’s my ankara
business and the guest house show.
Do you still run these alongside?
No, I have stopped and I now make barbeque fulltime.
What are the challenges you face?
The only problem I face is the problem of electricity
But what do you use that for?
Of course I need electricity to run my deep freezers for my
bars. This is not the only branch I have. I have two others in
this same Surulere.
How do you hope to develop your business and make it
bigger than what you have now?
Well, if the bank can just assist me, I feel like buying a whole
building. A lot of my customers are telling me to get a bigger
place and I hope to still do so because I still have a lot of new
ideas on how to do barbeque. I have an idea like hanging a
full cow and people just come to cut theirs by themselves, pay
and go but space is another challenge I have concerning this.
Don’t you see yourself competing with bigger eateries in Ni­
geria?
I don’t see myself competing with them because for me, I
don’t want to sell rice, amala or so. Mine is strictly barbeque.
If I want to add, I will add cassava grains, which is garri. We
will make a place where people would come and soak garri
and barbeque. That is also a big concept I hope to come up
with soon. There are a lot of people who would go and buy
just rice from eateries and come here to pick my barbeque
chicken.
What do you think you do better than these eateries?
Of course I do my barbeque better than theirs.
Are you sure?
Yes. Most of these eateries have called me to come and train
them on barbeque. I go there and give them another concept
of recipe entirely different from my type because mine is just
so unique to me.
What’s your vision for your business?
It’s going far, even out of the country. I also wish to have
branches in every state in Nigeria.
Can you tell us about your family?
I have three kids – A girl and two boys – and my wife is in
the UK now and would finish what she went for and be back
in two months’ time.
How about you? Have you ever traveled out too?
Well, I thank God. Two of my customers have taken me out of
the country on different occasions to prepare barbeque for
them – A birthday party and a wedding party. They so liked
my fish and even the Oyinbo (Whites) ate my chili. All these
foreigners always complain they don’t eat pepper but when
they taste it and what they have in their mouth is nice, they
will only keep complaining but will never spew it out.
What advice do you have for young ones hoping to do
business someday?
They should be consistent. They should push forward and be
focused. They must not say that they are graduates because
graduates come to us and we train them.
You mean you train graduates too?
It’s not everyone that will carry books or carry this “radio”
like you. People come from big places and I train them. In any
big party today, I must be the only one or among the few
barbeque chefs invited. Islander Barbeque must be there.
There is no place in this country that I don’t travel to.

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AFCON 2015: Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire in titanic final clash

Ghana Black Stars and the Elephants of Ivory Coast will go
head to head in today’s epic final of the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations in Bata, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
The encounter evokes memories of the 1992 final of the
tournament involving both sides when Ivory Coast won its first
and only AFCON title. The two nations also met in the third
place play-off of the 2008 edition with Ghana claiming a 4-2
victory.
The Black Stars will be looking to add a fifth continental
crown, and first since 1982, to their honours list.
Both sides are deserving finalists at this year’s tournament,
having arguably been amongst the most exciting teams at the
tournament.
Ivory Coast finished top of Group D, thanks to 1-1 draws with
Guinea and Mali, before it beat Cameroon 1-0.
The Elephants grew stronger as they went into the knockout
phase, scoring six goals as they beat the continent’s number-
one ranked side, Algeria, and the dangerous Democratic
Republic of Congo, winning 3-1 on both occasions.
Ghana also finished top of its group, bouncing back from a
2-1 opening day defeat to Senegal to beat Algeria and South
Africa.
Like today’s opponents, Ghana also netted six goals in the
knockout phase, beating both Guinea and Equatorial Guinea
3-0.
Captain, Yaya Toure, is the talisman to watch in the Ivorian
side. The Manchester City of England play maker is yet to
help his star-studded side deliver on their full potential at an
international tournament.
But the four-time African Footballer of the Year has so far
displayed a steely drive and determination to achieve glory for
his country, and scored a sensational goal to set up the
victory over the DRC.
Up front, Wilfried Bony will be a marked man, but the burly
striker will still likely be a big goal threat for the Elephants.
The energy and drive brought to the team by Max Gradel has
also been an asset, especially if Newcastle United hard man
Cheick Tiote fails to recover from injury.
Ghana’s biggest injury concern is its captain and all-time
leading scorer, Asmoah Gyan, who missed the semi-final win
over the host nation, but is still hopeful of making it back for
today’s final.
However, in Gyan’s absence, Andre Ayew has been superb,
while newcomer to the side, Kwessi Appiah, has made a
positive contribution when called upon.
Midfielder, Mubarak Wakaso could, however, be the man to un­
lock the Elephants’ defence; the Celtic left-footer having been
in sparkling form at the competition.
Ivory Coast manager, Herve Renard, will be looking for a sec­
ond AFCON title after winning the tournament with Zambia in
2012.
Ghana, meanwhile, has Avram Grant at the helm, and the
Israeli-born former Chelsea manager would surely love to
show the world his coaching acumen by winning a fifth
AFCON title for the Black Stars.

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Oshoala living the dream

Living the dream is a cliche often overused in football, but for
20-year-old Nigerian Asisat Oshoala it fits the bill. Within the
space of just five months, she won the adidas Golden Ball and
Golden Boot award at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, the
Golden Ball at the African Women’s Championship, the African
Women’s Youth Player of the Year and then topped it off with
the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award. And those
are just the individual awards. Add to that, picking up a
runners-up medal from the U-20 World Cup in Canada last
year, a winning medal at the African Championships and
signing a professional contract with Liverpool Ladies FC, and
Oshoala is truly living the dream.
Oshoala is well on the way to taking over from Nigerian
woman’s footballing legend Perpetua Nkwocha, and she told
FIFA.com that the four-time winner of the African Women’s
Footballer of the Year award, who also won the African
Championships four times and participated at three FIFA
Women’s World Cups, is her role model. “She is a very good
person and a very good player and has encouraged me a lot.
She helped my game. I have tried to emulate her style of play,
but it is not only on the field that I have learned from her, it’s
also off the pitch. I look at her character and see that it is
something that young people can aspire to.”
Nkwocha, repays the compliments. “[Oshoala] is a genius. She
is a brilliant team player who is willing to carry the
responsibility of the team on her shoulders. I have not seen
any weaknesses in her game. If there is any advice that I
could give, it is to remain focused.”
Meteoric rise
It seems likely that she will do just that, as success has not
gone to her head. When asked if she would exchange her
Golden Ball award from Canada last year with a winners
medal from the same tournament she laughs. “That is a tough
question,” she says with the honesty that makes her so
likeable. “It is not an easy choice, and I don’t know what I
would do.”
Oshoala started playing football in secondary school. “I was
always into sport and was an athlete at first. I used to run
home from school. I then started playing football with my
friends and classmates. Mainly boys and that is when I
became really interested. I did not think about becoming a pro­
fessional then, though. I also did not have the support of my
parents, who did not want me to play. It was only when they
noticed that I was serious that they started supporting me.”
Oshoala joined FC River Internationals in Lagos, before being
signed by River Angels from Port Harcourt. Just a few weeks
ago, Oshoala signed a contract with Liverpool Ladies. “That
was something special, and I am sure it will give me a lot
more experience. I will have a chance to play in the
Champions League.”
Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon says she can play
anywhere. “I could even use her in defence, she is that good,
but I use her mainly as a striker.” For Oshoala, it makes no
difference where she plays. “I have no favourite position. The
coach often uses me on the wings and I am fine with that. I
just love playing, but it makes no difference where.”
Going back to Canada
It is likely that Oshoala will spearhead the Super Falcons’
attack at the Women’s World Cup in Canada later this year,
where the Africans are hoping to finally arrive on the big
stage. Although they have long been a global player in youth
football – with three semi-final appearances in a row at the
U-20 level, they have not managed to bring that success to a
senior women’s level and have only once, from six
appearances, made it out of the group stage. “We have huge
number of talents at the youth level, but we need to properly
harness them as they graduate to the senior team,” says
Nkwocha. “But with good preparation surely our team will
excel. We have the players and experience to do well in
Canada.”
It is a view that Oshoala shares. “I am confident that this year
we will see Nigeria doing well. We have the players and many
of them have already played together at youth level.”
Whether or not the 20-year-old will team up with the 38-year-
old depends on Okon, who took Nkwocha to Namibia for the
African championships at the end of last year. “Whether she
makes the squad for Canada is up to the coaching staff. We
will look at the players and then take the best squad.”
Nkwocha, who has just signed a contract as player-coach at
Swedish lower league side Clemensnas IF, would like to be in
Canada. “If they call me up I should be grateful to serve my
country.”
It could well be the only opportunity that the two players –
the one an African footballing legend and the other a potential
legend in the making – have the opportunity of parading their
skills together on the global stage.

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Kidiaba leads Congo DR to bronze

Congo DR claimed the bronze medal at the Africa Cup of
Nations after defeating Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in a penalty-
shootout.
The home side went in search of the opener and were nearly
rewarded inside the opening 10 minutes, with both Javier
Bilboa and Emili Nsue having their close range efforts saved
by Robert Kidiaba.
Hervé Kage went close for Congo after the half hour mark, the
midfielder got on the end of Yannick Bolasie’s knockdown but
his goal-bound effort was blocked.
The remaining 15 minutes of the first half proved to be a
scrappy affair with both sides being reduced to long range
efforts.
Bolasie came close breaking the deadlock for Congo in the
59th minute but his strike from the edge of the area was
saved by Ovono.
Bolasie went close again in the 66th minute, the Crystal
Palace man cut in from the left before curling one towards
goal, only Ovono to produce a fine save.
Neither side could break the deadlock in the closing stages of
the half and the was to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
And it was Ibenge’s men who held their nerve, scoring all four
of their penalties, with Guinea missing two, to clinch third
place at the tournament.

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Nigeria’s a market place for talents -Aleshe

For the most part of last week, two football agents from the
UK were in Nigeria, under the aegis of Trial@rap-aid talent
identification in partnership with a renowned administrator,
Mike Idoko, to scout for talents for football academies.
The aim is to enlist talents from the country for a two-week
trial in professional clubs in England which will further
guarantee them a two-year educational programme with
colleges directly affiliated to teams in the UK and the USA.
The Chief Executive Officer, Tim Aleshe and the technical
instructor, Derek Robinson spoke to Sunday SoccerStar on
the eve of their departure.
First to speak was Aleshe.
You were in Nigeria for a week, how was the experience?
Tim: It was fantastic. We enjoyed the football, we learnt new
things.
From the profile I have seen, you scout for some teams in
Europe for their academies, may I know the process?
The process is straightforward. To be honest with you, finding
the talents is more difficult than taking the players away. First
on the issue that has to do with the age. We spent time with
the case of age more than the football itself. If they requested
for ages 15, 16, 17, and 20 and if at the end we have those on
the age bracket of 29, 30 etc, it has defeated the purpose. In
some other case, they deny the young people the opportunity
but the right thing is for us to look for quality players. For
instance, giving the U-17 the chance to play with the U-20 so
we can pair them together. All we also need to do is identify
the player, the coach and also speak with their parents based
on the educational aspect of their kids.
The whole plan, if I’m right, is on age grade development
Yes, it’s the initiative. Since we already doing similar thing in
Europe with such clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham,
Watford and Tottenham. All these clubs I mentioned are aware
of our programme. I know if I come down here (Nigeria), it will
be easy for us to get those boys. It’s a case of taking that
opportunity to gain those resources in Lagos and Nigeria as a
whole.
So, how do you rate the performances of the players you saw
at the trial?
Good, we saw about 1620 players. They came from afar as
Warri, Abuja, Abia state, Port Harcourt and Lagos. We also
have teams from nearby such as Ondo, Ogun and Oyo States.
We look at the technical aspect and we discovered that 17, 18
years old boy hardly can control the ball, hardly move with the
ball but over there in the UK, we can easily see a boy of 9, 10,
11 years old doing better. So, it shows where we are. If you
are 18 and you can move with the ball, I bet you, you will be
playing for top clubs in Europe.
Over all, will you say your trip is a success?
Yes it’s. We saw two more players, a 14-year-old boy and
he’s truly good to go straight to the academy. As I said, we
had up to 1620 players but not a single parent showed up. So,
going to UK with this boy will be difficult, they will ask us if
we got the parents’ consent or not. We have achieved what
our aim, we have come down to Nigeria without government
giving us tickets, with Ebola everywhere, election near and the
Boko Haram threat. Nigeria has a fantastic league but lack
the facility. For instance, the National Stadium, Lagos is an
eyesore and this is not encouraging, we saw people playing
football on the concrete floor while the pitch is locked.
May I know the development process for the players after
training?
We have partnership with clubs in Nigeria, where we can
monitor their progress. We will have scouts to regularly watch
them and analyze their performance. In addition, the clubs we
are taking them to in Europe already have arrangement with
some colleges ands vocational schools because education is
attached to this programme. Those who drop can still manage
to catch up and I think with all these, we are close to
success.

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Edo as most tax friendly state: The significance of MAN’sreport

The role of taxation in the socioeconomic development of any
country or society cannot be overemphasized. Taxation is the
foundation of the modern state because it is the primary
source of public finance. Taxation enables the government to
mobilize the needed resources to fund the provision of social
amenities and infrastructure towards the improvement of
social welfare of the citizens.
It’s necessary to point out, however, that while taxation is an
indispensable tool in the development of the society and the
sustenance of democracy, the manner it is administered is
crucial to the attainment of these goals. That explains why no
government can easily overlook the key issues of efficiency,
effectiveness and transparency of tax policy and
administration, even though it also keeps an eye on the
quantum of the revenues from taxation that go into
government coffers.
Thus, in a situation whereby tax assessment and collection,
including the utilization of tax revenues are not optimal, there
will be problems of disincentives to the private sector, which
will in turn lead to lower productivity, job losses and capital
flight.
A critical element in tax administration that could have
adverse implication on economy-wide growth and welfare is
the phenomenon of multiple taxation. Multiple taxation has
several dimensions, but it is typically the arbitrary, sometimes
unofficial imposition of exorbitant levies, taxes and charges on
individuals and businesses across different levels of economic
activities and jurisdictions.
Indeed, multiple taxation, no matter how it is executed, is akin
to extortion. It not only undermines the economic health of
the society, it also has moral implications, in the sense that
government cannot just be emptying people’s pockets
because it has the power. It distorts economic decision of
firms and households, it stifles initiative, it impairs the overall
operating environment, making it harsher for the private sector
to operate, and generate inequalities amongst citizens.
In fact, it has been established that one of the best ways to
create an enabling, clement environment for business and the
private sector and enthrone economic fairness amongst
citizens, is to make taxation friendly. This of course include
confidence building in the taxpaying public; it also relates to
the modus operandi of the tax authority, and more
importantly, how the tax revenues are deployed in terms of the
provision of quality infrastructure. Once this is achieved,
production costs and cost of doing business would be
significantly lowered and the profitability of firms boosted.
However, as we pointed out above, the efficiency,
effectiveness and transparency of revenue collection also have
an important role to play towards the creation of a sound
business environment that encourages the private sector to
willingly come forward to fulfill the civic duty of paying tax
without resort to coercion or legal processes by the
government.
It’s in the light of the foregoing that we must situate the
significance of the recent report submitted to the National
Economic Council (NEC) by the Manufacturers Association of
Nigeria (MAN). The 96-page report titled: MAN Presentation
on Multiple Taxation Across the Country at Various Levels and
its Effects on the Manufacturing Sector’s Productivity”
comprehensively surveyed the business environments of the 36
states of the federation, including the FCT. The report which
singled out Edo State as the most tax-friendly state in the
federation also showed that while majority of the states in the
federation impose many taxes and levies over and above the
approved, the 19 taxes approved by the Federal Government
as contained in the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collec­
tion) Act cap T2 LFN, 2004, in Edo State, manufacturers pay
altogether 16 taxes and levies.
To underscore the friendliness of the Edo State tax
environment, the report indeed, showed that while some states
imposed up to 97 taxes and levies paid by manufacturers,
others make manufacturers to pay up to 20 levies and taxes
and at the same time allow local governments to also impose
similar taxes. The report concluded that majority of the states
operate a very harsh tax environment that is characterized not
only by double/multiple taxation but by a cumbersome
process of assessment and collection and without
mechanisms for redressing inequities.
It should be noted that before the advent of the Comrade
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s administration, arbitrary collection
of taxes and levies through illegal ticketing were common
place in Edo State. Often times, these activities were exacer­
bated by outright extortion because they were carried out by
groups and individuals not recognized officially as tax
collectors and revenues were hardly remitted to the treasury.
The result was that besides the fact that no revenue goes into
government’s coffers, considerable hardship was inflicted on
the citizens.
However, recognizing the critical place of taxation both for
augmenting internally generated revenue (IGR) and creating
the enabling environment for the productive sector of the
economy, the state government made it a cardinal priority to
put an end to the indiscriminate and haphazard multiple
taxation and the diversion of tax revenues to private pockets.
The government started by first, streamlining tax operations,
in terms of the rates, levies and fees charged by the
government throughout the state. This singular action alone
has the effect of creating a predictable and optimal
environment for business and drastically reduced the tax rate
payable. To reinforce this new direction in tax administration,
the state government proceeded to implement far-reaching
reforms covering the legal, institutional and regulatory
environment for tax assessment and collection.
The government not only overhauled the Edo State Internal
Revenue Service (EIRS) and staffed it with capable leadership
and hands under Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah, as Executive
Chairman and an equally tested and experienced administra­
tor, but it enacted a new legislation, the Revenue
Administration Law, which gave strong legal backing to the
reforms in 2012. This law was undoubtedly a watershed in tax
administration in Edo State, underscoring the determination of
the people’s centred administration of Comrade Oshiomhole to
break the mold, including the repositioning and
professionalization of the EIRS.
On its part, the EIRS under the leadership of Chief (Sir) Oseni
Elamah have been working tirelessly to discharge its mandate.
It introduced laudable innovations and incorporated elements
of international best practices in tax administration in its
operations. It also sought ways to deepen the tax culture in
Edo State through concerted sensitization and public engage­
ment of the citizens of the state.
The EIRS, also implemented measures that included the mod­
ernization of the tax collection processes; the restoration of
confidence of the taxpaying public through a credible conflict
resolution mechanism (the Tax Assessment Review
Committee, TARC); the increase in tax compliance through
simplification of procedures, and the expansion of the tax net
through continuous update of the tax database. All these have
no doubt, improved performance in revenue collection quite
considerably, including lowering of the defaults rates and
under-remittance by over 80%. Overall, tax payment in Edo
State is now made easier, it’s a total break from the past in
which people paid taxes with tears, and can hardly see the
result in terms of concrete provision of amenities and
infrastructure.
Not surprisingly, as a consequence, the IGR was boosted from
N280 million monthly on the average to a peak of about N2
billion monthly in 2011. It has now stabilized within the region
of N1.5 billion monthly owing to the series of reliefs granted
to low income earners to cushion the effects of hardships
occasioned by some government’s policies, notably, the
removal of subsidies on petroleum products in 2012 and the
attendant inflationary pressures. Yet, there are huge potential
for growth in the coming years and the EIRS is not resting on
its oars.
There is no questioning the fact that the status of Edo as the
most tax friendly state in the federation is very assured. It’s
the culmination of the vision of the Comrade Governor and his
unyielding support to the EIRS. It’s important to mention at
this juncture that the positive verdict from MAN, as the
leading private sector body in Nigeria has punctured to
smithereens the partisan reading of some individuals that
negatively portrayed Edo State as a high tax jurisdiction just
to score political points. It is now clear that in Edo State,
taxation is not only optimal; it is purposeful and not
burdensome. MAN’s endorsement surely is an ample
testimony to the current administration’s strategic efforts to
make Edo State the hub of investors and entrepreneurs
operating in the commercial, industrial and other productive
spheres of the national economy through the instrumentality
of taxation.
Furthermore, the report has, indeed, said it loud and clear that
the reforms put in place in the last six years are working and
positively so. Commendably, it has provided the needed
encouragement to do more in terms of making the tax
environment friendlier through new innovations, not just for
the purpose of garnering accolades but for the singular
purpose of using taxation to build an enduring and productive
economic base for Edo State, as well as improving the welfare
of the Edo people.
The state government under the current administration is ever
more committed towards sustaining its developmental strides
through the judicious utilization of tax payers’ money.

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Securing gas and oil pipelines

Nigeria has been counting the cost of pipeline vandalisation in
the last six weeks. According to Mr. David Ige, Group
Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC), the country has lost over N21.37 billion
as a result of vandalisation of the Trans- Forcados and the
Escravos- Lagos pipelines, which convey crude oil and gas to
various power plants in the country.
This is in tandem with the recent claim by Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Petroleum Minister, that vandals
break underwater pipelines and leak gas into the water for no
other reason than to sabotage electricity supply. This, it is
believed, is done to promote the multi-billion naira generator
importation business which is one of the fastest growing in
the country.
The whole scenario, therefore, reeks of economic sabotage
which the country can ill-afford. If we may ask: Where is the
government in this situation? It has become increasingly
difficult to accept these routine explanations and excuses for
poor performance of the power sector from government
officials, seeing that concrete efforts are not seen being made
to address them.
Apart from the organisations which have statutory
responsibility for the security of the nation’s oil facilities,
government paid huge sums of money to some ex-militants to
also police the pipelines. Nigeria, certainly, is not getting value
for the money being paid for the security of the pipelines.
What this means is that the nation is in double jeopardy: we
lose oil to vandals and our energy plants are denied needed
gas to generate the power that we need, yet, we pay heavily
for the protection of the pipelines with little or no results.
This, to say the least, is a terrible situation for any country or
a people to be in and government must do something urgently
to reassure the people that it is not merely paying lip-service
to the problem of economic sabotage. Vandals must be
caught and the full weight of the law brought to bear on them
to deter would-be saboteurs. There cannot be half-measures
about this.
Another dimension to this unsavory development is that it
adds to the general air of insecurity in the land. The country,
which is currently in the throes of a devastating insurgency in
the North-East geo-political zone of the country, cannot afford
the rising wave of pipeline vandalisation that we are currently
witnessing.
By most accounts, about 400,000 barrels of oil are stolen
daily, accounting for trillions of naira loss to the economy.
When we add the value of the gas condensate lost also, the
figures rise to astronomical levels, the impact of which we can
only imagine.
A nation cannot continuously fold its hands and leave its fate
to economic saboteurs, especially in the light of very serious
economic challenges such as the fall in global crude oil price.
Unless, as has been insinuated in some circles, government is
guilty is guilty of acquiescence in the malfeasance.
This is not the fate we want for our country. Let the
government act quickly to restore confidence of the people in
its ability to properly secure and manage national assets.

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PFN denies receiving N6bn bribe to influence election

Highly respected leaders of the Pentecostal Fellowship of
Nigeria have debunked the rumour making the rounds that
clerics belonging to PFN were paid N6 billion to influence and
mobilize members of their congregations for the forthcoming
general elections.
Firing the first salvo in his closing remarks at the 13th Bien­
nial PFN conference held at the headquarters of The
Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), the president of PFN,
Dr Felix Omobude debunked the ugly rumour attributed to an
unnamed governor and exonerated the body from the
allegation.
He said: “I can assure you that PFN and her leadership are
not part of it. We as a body are asking the governor who
made that allegation to substantiate his claims and name
names.”
He noted that he, as a person, had vehemently resisted that
PFN should serve as a foot soldier to any political party, stat­
ing: “We will not be partisan. We have APC members, PDP
members SDP and all the other parties in our churches. So we
will not knock one head against another as leaders.”
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God,
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who spoke on the opening night said
he was hurt reading about the N6 billion saga in the news­
paper.
He said the clergy had charged whosoever collected any
money from politicians to influence election to return the
money quickly.
His words: “If you receive money to influence election one way
or the other, you are not just selling your vote, you are selling
your anointing and you are even selling your calling. Return
the money quickly and the Almighty God will bless you.”
However, General Overseer of Winners Chapel, Bishop David
Oyedepo dismissed the allegation as a lie from the pit of hell,
stressing that there was nothing like that.
“I’m speaking to you the truth in Christ Jesus because a num­
ber of us are close enough to the leadership of our platform
that we should know if anything happens. Therefore, let’s
forgive freely and go our way.
“wWe don’t bother ourselves about what is not true.”
Omobude, however, charged the congregation to bear in mind
that their vote is important to their life, urging them not to
vote into office someone who would turn around to fight them
just because of one bag of rice or garri.

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I like flaunting my boobs –Stella Ebegbunem

Standing at over six feet tall, Stella Ebegbunem could be said
to have an intimidating personality. Though, her name may
not ring a bell, the Ambrose Ali University law graduate, who
dropped her debut single, Kolo in 2005, is back on the block
with a new single, Every Part of Me. She tells Entertainer her
story.
Tell us about yourself and background?
My name is Stella Francis Ebegbunem. I am from Delta State,
from a family of seven and I am the last child. I was born and
brought up in Lagos.
Tell us about growing up, were you born with a silver spoon?
Growing up was fun. I was very close to my dad. I learnt lots
of things from him. It was a fun home where every weekend
there was one function or the other. We learnt to love our
neighbours, and be contented and happy at all times. I grew
up having everything I wanted because my dad made sure we
got the best. He wasn’t materially wealthy, his greatest asset
are his children. As the last child of the family I always had
my way. I was a little naughty but God fearing, and that was
the handiwork of my mum and dad. They taught us how to
love and fear God and also know the difference between good
and bad. I grew up in a lovely home.
What motivated you into music?
Music has always been part of my life. I grew up in a family
where music was loved and appreciated; my dad especially
loved music. I am very close to him and he is my best friend.
He loves to dance a lot. I believe he motivated my pursuing
music as a career.
When did you start music professionally?
My very first single, Kolo, was released in 2005. I later did the
remix with Ruggedman; it was a massive hit!
Could you describe your kind of music?
I am an Afropop singer. I dance a lot and it reflects in my
songs.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
First, my inspiration came from God Almighty because He gave
me the talent. Then I get inspiration from my surroundings,
events, my moods and the words I hear.
Tell us about the songs you’ve done so far?
My last single was Every Part Of Me and the video is about to
hit the airwaves. Every Part Of Me is a dance song with a
strong African feel. It has an electrifying and magical force
and a powerful love background. The video was shot by a very
young and talented video director, Six. It was produced by the
youngest of all producers, Prince Micah. Before Every Part Of
Me there was Superwoman, a song that appreciates women
who go through the challenges of marriage, career and
motherhood, women who work hard to support their husbands
and family. And my next single is Ibadi , a club banger that will
be produced by Puffy T, producer of Olu Maintain’s Yahoozee.
Which artistes would you say have influenced you musically?
I was inspired by a lot of artistes in my growing up days. I
listened to Onyeka Onwenu, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner,
Alicia Keys and many more.
The industry is competitive, how do you hope to break in?
Yes, it is competitive and that is the beauty of it because it
makes you work harder and brings out the best in you.
Breaking through will never be a problem because the sky is
wide enough and can accommodate everyone as long as you
work hard and remain unique.
Why did you dump law for music?
I followed my passion, but law has continued to guide my
music career and has broadened it.
Which contemporary artistes would you like to work with and
why?
I love Olamide; he is very talented. Flavour is just out of this
world and Tiwa Savage is awesome! I would also like to work
with Mode 9, Don Jazzy and Phyno; they are all beautiful
artistes.
Are you single or married?
I am not married but hoping to get married soon.
Are you seeing anyone?
That is supposed to be private.
Could you marry someone from the music industry?
God knows best. I will marry anyone who is my friend and
confidante and he could be from any field or walk of life. As
long as he is God fearing and we respect each other, I could
marry him.
Who is your ideal man?
I have never been into looks or height but I know I always get
blown by a kind hearted and caring man, a man who is
interesting, lively and fun to be with. He must be ambitious
and most importantly, intelligent and God fearing. Funny
enough, a short man has never approached me.
Why?
Well, people say I have an intimidating height for a lady, and
my complexion and look could make people think that I am
proud and snobbish. They say I have a very strong personality
so, if you are not free minded, you would assume wrongly.
Meanwhile, I am a very shy and loving person.
Has a man broken your heart before?
Men will always break your heart at some point in your life as
long as you are a human being.
What is your selling point?
Some say it is my beauty, others say it is my height while
others yet say it is my complexion and some parts of my
body. But I will say my simplicity and the energy I exude in my
music and stage performances stands me out.
What is that part of your body you love to flaunt?
God has blessed me with a very good body so I can flaunt any
part of it, but I think I love my tummy because it is effort­
lessly flat. I can also flaunt my legs because they are beautiful
and shapely. Also, I love to flaunt the upper part of my body
because I am fully endowed; I don’t know which is my favou­
rite (laughter). I can flaunt any and every part of me. But I
wish I could flaunt my heart because it is the most beautiful
and favourite part of me.
In the next five years where do you think music will take you?
Higher than where I am right now. In the next five years, I will
own a very big record label and assist up-and-coming artistes
by God’s special grace.

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6 years after, Kanye West to perform at Grammys

Mr. West is in the building once more! After a six-year hiatus
from the show, Kanye West is set to make his big return to
the Grammy Awards today.
The ‘Bound 2’ rapper, 37, was added to the lineup for the 57th
Annual Grammy Awards. West will perform twice during the
star-studded show, including taking the stage with Beatles
great, Paul McCartney and Rihanna – with whom he recently
collaborated for the single ‘FourFiveSeconds’.
West’s choice to attend the show, let alone perform on the
Grammys stage, is a surprising one. He has made his distaste
for the Grammys wildly known in recent years and hasn’t
attended any of the awards shows since 2009.
Kim Kardashian’s husband was nominated during his Grammy
hiatus in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and won awards
at the 2010, 2012, and 2013 shows, but was not present to
receive his honours. West’s absence has not been a
scheduling conflict but an apparent choice, as he is not a fan
of the show.

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Lamili duets with Timaya on Radical

After a successful 2014, Lamili has kicked off the New Year
with two banging numbers. The fast rising diva teams up with
dancehall master, Timaya on the popping track entitled,
Radical, and also serenades her fans with a brilliant highlife
tune entitled, Together.
The Wanna Love You singer, who just entered a management
deal with topnotch video director and CEO of Horizon Point
Entertainment, promises to unleash more hot collabos this
year with the likes of Flavour, Tuface and Phyno.

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Highlife music died with Oliver De Coque –Nwem Bassey,band member

For years, Nwem Sunday Bassey aka Mr. USB was the lead
singer in Oliver De Coque’s band. In this chat with The
Entertainer, the Akwa Ibom indigene recounts his life with the
late legend of highlife music.
Excerpts:
How long have you been into music?
I have been into music for 30 years now.
Can you give us a little background of yourself?
I come from Mbiokporo in Nsit Ibom LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
I was born into a family of seven. Life was not a tea party. I
spent most of my childhood in the state.
How did you come into music?
My dad had a turntable back then and I used it to play songs
of Don Williams, Shalama, Cool & The Gang, Abba, Jim Reeves
and so many others. These artistes inspired me to start
singing. However, as a child, my journey into music began
with a street drummer, Eno Funk. He heard me sing once while
performing among my friends on the streets, and when he got
the chance, he told me that he heard me singing and
mentioned how talented I was. One day, he took me to the
rehearsal of his band, The Citizens. I was asked to sing and
when I did they were all blown away. They all started rejoicing
that they had finally found a good singer. Though, it was my
first time of performing for a group of professionals, I was not
surprised because I knew my ability. That was how I started
playing at hotel shows. Each time I performed, the crowd
never stopped screaming for more. However, the cheers and
glamour never stopped me from improving in my performance.
From The Citizen Band, my fame started to spread like wild
fire. Another popular group soon picked interest in me and the
group leader lured me to the Visitors Funk Band. I became
very popular. I later met a guy called Ime Nsa. He attended
my show and invited me to join his group in Owerri called the
Zebs Band. We performed at Concord Hotel, Mode Hotel and
many parties; it was fun.
How did you join Oliver De Coque’s band?
One day, we had a show in Orlu for a man called Taramazon.
Oliver De Coque performed with Orlu Brothers Band. When it
was my turn to perform, I did a popular song by Yvonne
Chaka Chaka and another one by Michael Jackson. The whole
arena was on fire. Oliver De Coque immediately sent his
manager to come and spray me money, and in the process, he
whispered into my ear that Oliver would want to see me in
Ihiala. I went and today the rest is history. He employed and
made me the cashier of the band. We recorded lots of hit
songs like Egene Asili, Ane Enwe Obodo Enwe , Biri Ka Mbiri,
Father Father, Nebolisa, Ndi Ogiriga and Nwa Bu Nwa to
mention a few. Before he died, I rose to the position of his
lead singer. I did over 45 albums with him. After his death I
began my own band.
What are the things you learnt from the legend?
Everything! His attitude on stage, the way he composed his
songs, the way he wrote music and so many other things. He
taught us to be punctual at any occasion we were invited to.
How was your relationship with him?
Our relationship was very cordial. He loved me so much
because I used to be the high pitch singer of the band. I did
all the choruses you hear in his music. He really valued me
because I was dedicated and humble and served him well to
the very end.
What are you doing to preserve his legacy?
After he died, his first son who is based in Spain, Sunny Oliver
De Coque always attends my shows. Most times, he would
come down to Nigeria and we would perform Oliver’s songs
together. In general, I still have good relationship with his
family.
What are the things you miss most about Oliver De Coque?
A lot of things, I miss his jokes. He was a jovial man.
Sometimes he would take me to my hometown to greet my
parents. We all miss the man. I don’t want to start shedding
tears; can you please change the topic?
They say musicians are womanisers, was that true for Oliver?
Oliver De Coque was not a womaniser, I can boldly tell you
that. He never had time for women because he was always
composing songs. Most times when he wanted to compose,
he would call Ebere Amafula and I. We would sit with him to
compose and most of the songs made waves. I am going to
build on those standards.
Are you saying Nigeria should expect another Oliver De Coque
from Akwa Ibom?
Well, not Oliver De Coque but the real Mr. USB, because I
have my own thing to show to the people coming from that
background. I have to be at my best and that is why I am
taking my time.
After the demise of Oliver De Coque, would you say live
music is progressing for you?
Live band and Igbo highlife music perished with Oliver De
Coque. Live music has no value not to talk of sponsorship.
The genre is dying. I am working on my own album, which
would be released very soon. I have recorded 15 tracks so far
and I am coming out very soon with my video, so watch out!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CEO OF AMEBOCITY

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CEO OF AMEBOCITY . AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY I PRAY THAT GOD IN HIS MERCIES LIFT YOU HIGHER AMEN.... FROM YOUR ADMIN

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General elections: I SEE BLOODSHED

■ Cardinal Okogie declares
■ Says only prayers can avert looming danger
Outspoken Catholic priest and former Archbishop of Lagos,
Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie has expressed fears that
there will be bloodshed occasioned by the general elections
slated for this month. The renowned cleric, who spoke with
VERA WISDOM-BASSEY in his Ikoyi, Lagos residence last
week, warned that only intense prayers can avert the danger
he is seeing ahead. Excerpts:
How has it been since you retired?
There is a slight difference between when I was in office and
now, because people still come to consult me, I still run
around to do a few things. I do make sure I keep myself busy,
life has been very pleasant. I am no more in office, I have to
have my own schedule, I am not tired yet. But in Roman
Catholic, there is a law that once you are 75 years, you have
to inform authorities in Rome meaning you have to retire, that
is generous enough. Look at our lifespan here, some don’t
even get to 60, I can still go another round if I am allowed but
that is not the case in Roman Catholic. Well, I missed moving
around with people, not that I don’t move around but it is
curtailed, I always go around schools to make sure that things
are in order, it’s quite good, that’s the beauty of Catholic
church, you don’t hold on to anything, things are given to you
to use for the good of others, I own nothing.
When I left, I had no place to stay, if we really want to make
Nigeria one as it should be, we should see one another as
brothers and sisters, that’s the correct thing to do.
What does it take to keep Nigeria one?
I think they say to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be
done but we are not keeping the nation one, look at the
innocent soldiers that risked their lives, where are they today?
How many people remembered them? It’s painful, and look at
all the people eating and drinking and spending the money the
way they like. Look at Boko Haram, how many of those
leaders are ready to go and sympathise with the parents of
those children who were kidnapped in Chibok? I feel bad. Look
at the newspapers, instead of addressing the issues, the
political campaigns are nothing but abuses, unearthing the
past, disgracing themselves. When you look at it realistically,
those thinking they are disgracing their opponent, are indi­
rectly campaigning for that person. I expect the issues to be
on education, unemployment and how they are going to
address them. How many manifestos have you seen out and
we are preparing for elections.
My fear in this election is bloodshed and it’s already
happening and am praying seriously, am begging God to avert
it, you can see the atmosphere is tense, look at what is
happening in Ekiti for example, how somebody will be doing as
he likes without being checked, just because he belongs to a
party.
This is not a joke, Nigeria belongs to all of us, there is no
other nation we can call ours, the good Lord that brought us
under one umbrella and call us Nigeria knows what He is
doing. Thank God Nigeria is changing; revolution.
Are you saying there is silent revolution going on?
The youths are coming up, there is a silent revolution coming
up, the youths are watching, that was the kind of thing
Ojukwu wanted to do but he was too ambitious, but our
heavenly Father knows what He is doing with everyone of us,
He knows when to call the break, He is wisdom personified, so
you can’t outdo things. When you look at the way the nation
is going on, some people must be checked and if they don’t
listen, they should be behind bars for peace sake, let’s be
frank.
We started getting it wrong from political godfathers, and they
are gradually dying out, they are fading away fast, then you
will find refined godfathers because they will always be there,
the refined ones will not ask for all the powers, they will just
tell you this is what they want you to do, if you don’t obey,
they will keep quiet and wait for you.
How do you rate the administration of President Jonathan on
the fight against corruption?
The current administration the way I see them, they plan
many things in the air but you will not see them on the
ground, the one you find on the ground, they don’t last, waste
of money and that to me doesn’t augur well. People travel,
they see all these roads, are they stupid, talk of Chibok girls,
these are minus, even if they are doing very well, all these
things are minus, for a nation like Nigeria we expect
something better, not that they are not capable but eye-
service is too much, and then of course, when you begin to
look at faces because they are members of your party, you are
wasting your time, the people that are really serious will just
look at you and smile.
If they want to cut corruption in this country, let them begin
by reducing the money of all the National Assembly members,
Senators, even the governors, then you will see that there will
be few politicians, the ones that will be there will be sincere
politicians who are not running after the national cake.
How do you see CAN in your time when you were the
chairman and now?
CAN now and then; the difference is clear in terms of action.
During our own era, we didn’t go beg governor for a favour,
you call a spade a spade, we had only one term and we know
the President, whether you are from the South East or North
or South-West, if you have any problem, you bring it to the
President, and if he cannot solve it, then we call the general
ground. If you want to be a leader and be a good leader you
must be a father in the real sense of the word, you don’t bring
in religion, you don’t bring affluence, these people are hungry,
how do I treat them, some people are fighting, how do I
correct it, those are the duties of a father, that is what a
leader should do, you don’t wait for people to say do this, do
that, if you wait too much, delay is dangerous, Nigeria belongs
to all of us, we don’t need to be afraid.
Are you of the opinion that the coming elections be
postponed as being canvassed?
There are those who are afraid of having this election
postponed because they are thinking of where to get fresh
money to begin a new campaign, the money they have, they
have expended it, they are looking at fire coming out and they
are still saying go ahead, the way I see it, we are not ready
and we should postpone it. If it is postponed, we will have a
peaceful election because there will be less money to spend,
money they cannot use for the poor, they are spending it on
campaigns, as far as I am concerned, am one of the many
that say it should be postponed.
Jonathan and Buhari, who is a better leader?
They should begin to publish their manifestoes and defend
them, they should be bold to say this is what they will do
when they get there.
Except they know that this candidate can deliver provided he
is not a cleric, and they have every assurance but how can
you have a 100 per cent assurance?
We have to pray because the atmosphere is too tense and I
think only God can help us, there must be spirit of self-
sacrifice, love, to be another man’s keeper, I think is lacking a
lot, people don’t care, that is gone. We need a selfless leader,
a leader who will see everybody as his own, and of course
there must be the fear of God because the fear of God is the
beginning of wisdom. You cannot rule out God in our nation
today and that is one of the things that is killing us. We think
we know better, who is God after all, and some will even ask
you show me your God. Our leader must be patriotic, he must
see Nigeria as his own, that one is lacking, completely lacking
in this nation, whether you say the pledge or sing the national
anthem, we can see we don’t mean it. It’s clear that we don’t
mean it.

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2015: Mbu talks tough ■ Controversial police AIG says ‘I’mbattle ready’

Lagos residents may have to brace up for more surprises from
the controversial Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police,
Mbu Joseph Mbu who heads the zone 2 command
headquarters of the force. He has threatened it will be fire for
fire in the coming elections.
“Nobody, no matter the position, will be above the law, I will
shame critics as we are not afraid of any person, I repeat,
anybody who attacks my men violently, we will respond
violently as we are battle ready”, Mbu thundered at a lecture
he held for senior police officers at the Lagos police command
headquarters, Ikeja on Wednesday.
The warning from Mbu, who came into limelight as a
Commissioner of police in Rivers Statewith his frequent
clashes with the state governor, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike
Amaechi is coming on the heels of his face-off with the Lekki
Concession Company, operators of the Lekki toll gates last
week.
The police chief had last week ordered the detention of some
LCC officials and policemen attached to the company after his
convoy of six vehicles was asked to pay toll fees.
However, addressing senior officers of the Lagos command on
Wednesday, Mbu attempted to paint the picture of a
gentleman who cannot hurt a fly. According to him: “You can
see for yourself that I am a simple man. Very friendly to be
around with, and humble. Anyone who is afraid of me must be
a lawbreaker. I can barely hurt a fly. Anyone who had worked
with me will understand that I hate indiscipline and will not
tolerate a dirty looking policeman.
“For now I do not have another job and will only do the right
thing to protect my job. All I need is police officers to know
the power they carry and utilize it properly according to the
constitution.”
For him, the 2015 general elections provide an opportunity for
him to shame his critics. “We will do our best. This is not the
first time that I have monitored elections and so far, it has
been peaceful in those areas and this will not be an exception.
“We have enough vehicles, manpower from police units such
as Mobile Police Force, Special Protection Unit, Rapid
Response Squad and we can even seek the assistance of the
Army”, he added.
He charged the senior police officers, including the rank and
file, to keep to the ethics of the profession and desist from
any act of corruption. “I want to warn policemen against
selling their conscience because of money or personal interest.
Policemen should be prepared to do the job and build
confidence rather than pursuing money, taking police job like a
personal business”, he said.
Mbu noted that his men should be prepared to work hard for
the success of the coming polls and be ready to either be
promoted, demoted or shown the way out of the police force if
found in any act of dereliction of duty.
The new AIG said policemen should not allow themselves to
be used or intimidated by any politician or political party,
saying that he would be ready to defend them when they are
on the right path.
He advised policemen who would be deployed to polling
centres to resist any form of violence, ensure that they take
pictures or video record of perpetrators of violence and always
update their bosses with situation reports.
He warned policemen against injustice and impartiality, adding
that they have nothing to do with election results or rigging.
Meanwhile, calm has returned to the Lekki tow gate, after the
ugly incident that led to the withdrawal of mobile policemen
posted to guard the area and ensure compliance by Mbu
Friday, last week.
Mbu’s convoy, consisting of six cars and an armoured
personnel carrier, sought to transit through the Ikoyi-Lekki toll
plaza on Lane 8.
On reaching the toll point, some of the police orderlies
escorting the convoy allegedly ran up and informed the LCC
official on duty and the mobile policemen standing by that the
AIG was in the convoy.
The LCC official was said to have retorted: “Who is the AIG?
He should follow procedure and pay the toll.”
Mbu, who was said to have overheard the remark, felt insulted
by the effrontery of the LCC toll plaza staff. To make matters
worse, the five mobile policemen attached to the plaza were
also said to have engaged the orderlies escorting the convoy
in an altercation. Their conduct was said to have enraged the
AIG, who then ordered that they be arrested along with the
LCC staff and detained at the Maroko police station. Mbu also
ordered the withdrawal of all policemen attached to LCC.
As a result, the LCC management was said to have reached
out to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, who allegedly
facilitated the release of all the detainees. The monarch is a
retired Assistant Inspector General, AIG, of police.
Mbu was, however, said to have refused to restore the
security details attached to the company despite pleas from
the Oba. Saturday Sun gathered that it took the intervention of
a former IGP, Musiliu Smith to convince Mbu to restore the
company’s security details.
Meanwhile, Saturday Sun learnt that while the face-off lasted,
LCC was at the mercy of local vigilantes and policemen from
Maroko division who patrolled the area.

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Osun: Aregbesola floors Omisore

Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday
dismissed the petition filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore, the
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the
victory of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014,
governorship election in the state.
The tribunal led by the chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejieme,
in a judgment, which lasted about seven hours ruled that the
petitioner failed to prove his case by not providing reliable
evidences.
The PDP candidate is challenging the election before the panel
in some units and wards in 17 local government councils of
the state.
Omisore and his party, PDP, alleged that the election was
characterised by irregularities and manipulation in favour of
APC and Aregbesola, thus, asking the tribunal to cancel the
election results in the affected local government areas.
He also prayed the tribunal to declare him winner of the
election, saying he had the majority credible votes, stressing
that the votes cast for Aregbesola and APC were not valid and
should be nullified.
The chairman of the tribunal in her judgment on the eligibility
of the petition ruled that the appellant failed when it did not
file his reply within the five days stipulated under the law.
The tribunal held that the five days the appellant had
commenced on the day they were served on October 9, 2014,
lapsed on October 13, saying the days under the law included
Sunday, which the appellant tried to exclude from the five
days.
She pointed out that the Appellants, having filed the reply on
October 14, fell foul of the law, noting that the law is settled
when it stated the method and dates to follow in filling reply.
On the issue of the Appellants abandoning their case, the
tribunal noted that for the purpose of fair hearing, the tribunal
would go on in delivering its judgment on the substantive
case.
Delivering judgment on the substantive suit, the tribunal held
that the petitioner failed to prove alleged harassment,
intimidation, molestation, over voting, voting by proxy,
inducement, improper accreditation, alteration of results,
irreconcilable figures in the local governments under review.
The tribunal also held that the evidence led by the petitioners
in Ayedaade Local Government Area, lacked any degree of
specificity and cannot be relied on by the tribunal as they
failed completely to prove any of the allegations.
The chairman held that for the petitioner not to have
satisfactorily proved his case in any of the 17 local
governments, the panel has no reason to void the election.
The tribunal therefore returned Mr. Rauf Aregbesola as the
duly elected governor in the election and dismissed the case
of the petitioner.

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2015: Abians seek change

As the 2015 general elections draw near, the traumatised peo­
ple of Abia State are excited about the prospect of change in
terms of the administration of the state. From the south to
the north and central senatorial districts of the state, the
prayer is the same: Let the cup of inefficient and insensitive
administration pass over us.
Indeed, in over seven years, the people of the state have been
gnashing their teeth over the decayed infrastructure and the
general poor state of affairs in the state. The situation is such
that respected business mogul and billionaire, Chief Arthur
Eze, openly admitted that the state was stinking.
Recently, Saturday Sun correspondent visited the state and
discovered that nothing had changed. In fact, the state is still
stinking to high heavens. The state roads are still in
deplorable condition while garbage litters the streets.
Consider this: Even in February, when the rains are on holiday,
Ohanku road in Aba leading to the hometown of the immediate
past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu,
remains impassable, both to human and vehicular traffic. The
road is flooded with water from the gutters even as the entire
stretch is enveloped by offensive odour. Every now and then, it
was learnt, state officials come and damage the road more in
the name of rehabilitating it.
A trader in the area said: “We are living in hell. The road is
like a pathway to hell. The road is in a deplorable condition
even as the overflowing gutter stinks so terribly. You are here,
so you can see things for yourself. In fact, you were able to
get to this point because the rains have stopped. If you come
here during the rainy season, you would have been totally
messed up. We have, indeed, suffered so much in the last
couple of years. When you consider the fact that the road that
leads to the home town of someone like the former Minister of
Labour and Productivity is in such a decrepit state, you have
no doubt that the present government is grossly inept. But the
good thing is that in a couple of days, we will have the
opportunity of sending out the clueless administration, if the
votes will count, that is. We are fed up with the situation
because those presently running the affairs of the state are
not responsive to the needs and yearnings of the people. If we
ask for fish, they give us snake; if we ask for bread, they give
us stone. My brother, I have never seen a thing like this
anywhere.”
Ngwa road, an arterial road connecting Ohanku, is also in
ruins. There, you see traders doing business beside a
mountain of refuse. The area emits an acrid odour because of
the overflowing, rotten garbage. You see maggots and flies
everywhere. Again, the traders have taken over a sizeable
portion of the road where they display their wares. It was
gathered that in the desperation of the people at the helm of
affairs and their cronies to make money, they allow the traders
to display their wares on the road. A traditional ruler in the
area was also fingered in the traders’ occupation of the road
as he receives a piece of the cake.
A source said: “The traders are allowed to occupy part of the
road because they pay some people who claim to be govern­
ment officials. Of course, the result is traffic congestion.
Sometimes, people are knocked down by vehicles but the
traders remain there because they do not have a choice as it
were. The traders cannot afford to rent stalls, so they lay their
lives on the line to earn a living.
“Regarding the overflowing garbage, it is a permanent feature
of the area. The area has a permanent odour because of the
refuse. Once in awhile, they come to clear the garbage but it
is only when it had become a mountain. As you can see, some
of the traders close to the mountain of garbage cover their
noses with handkerchiefs. We recognise the dangers of doing
business in such an unhygienic environment but what can one
do? Funnily enough, a former deputy director general of the
state environmental protection agency in the zone is gunning
for the position of governor in the forthcoming election. We
call him ‘dirty boy’ because he had failed woefully in his job. I
wonder how someone who couldn’t keep Aba clean would be
the standard bearer of a political party. It shows that the
powers-that-be are bent on ensuring that we continue to live
in misery.”
Ngwa road is not the only road taken over by traders in Aba.
Traders sit pretty on a section of Danfodio road doing
business. Ndoki road has also been taken over by traders who
pay fees to some officials. In fact, the vicinity of the popular
Enyimba Stadium leaves so much to be desired.
Indeed, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State could
be described as one of the dirtiest cities in the country. Many
of the streets are littered with dirt even as the drainages,
where they exist, are blocked by garbage. The popular East
Street, Hospital road, Park road and Obiora Street are some of
the places filled with dirt. Most parts of the city are neglected,
squalid.
If you see a portion of Danfodio road, you wonder what the
residents had done to deserve the treatment they are getting.
The place is flooded with disease-infested water from
overflowing gutters. Even a war-torn city will fare better.
One of the residents, who simply identified himself as Omaka,
said: “All year round, the place is flooded. It does not matter if
it is dry season or rainy season. The gutters are filled with
dirt and water covers the road. Some people call it ‘River
Danfodio.’ It is not a laughing matter because it breeds
mosquitoes everywhere. The residents are always falling sick
but because it is not easy relocating, we remain here. We are
expecting a change because of the forthcoming elections. Our
only prayer is that they allow the votes to count. We have suf­
fered so much for some years now and we are expecting a
change soon.”
As it is in the cities, so it is in the rural areas. In fact, the
state of roads in the hinterland is pitiable. For example, the
road to Ofeme community, after Eme River bridge, which is a
stone’s throw from Umuahia, the capital city, is in a sorry
state.
“The state of Ariaria-Asa–Amator and Obrete roads is nothing
to write home about. The roads are not passable, not to talk
of being motorable. Pools of ‘streams’ inhabited by reptiles in
the middle of the road are a common sight. The situation
subjects the over eight communities to untold hardship. Last
Christmas was terrible for people in the area because of the
roads. Broken down vehicles was the order of the day. People,
who came home for the Christmas and New Year festivities,
had it rough. Each time I think of going home, I shudder
because of the state of the roads. It is quite unfortunate,”
disclosed Chief Chima, an indigene of the place.
Regarding the road to Arochukwu, in another part of the state,
Okey Ikechukwu wrote: “The road is abominable. That is if we
insist on calling what is essentially a dangerous stretch of
treacherous undulations, massive pot (man) holes and sundry
dangers a road. As you ‘drive’ on this road of questionable
impact on the life of the people in the area, you can see those
who are trekking beside your car briskly overtake you. Mean­
while, you are inside a powerful rough terrain vehicle and they
are not. And those who ply this no-road every day are
Nigerians who have as much right to tolerable social
infrastructure as anyone else. Some mischievous observers
who try to laugh it off by pointing to the well-known Igbo
saying that there is no short distance to Arochukwu forget to
add that the adage speaks of distance, not that there is no
way of getting to Arochukwu at all.
“One thing is for sure today: whoever sets out for Arochukwu
hoping for a leisurely ride may well need to put his ancestors
on notice that he may join them at short notice. Those who
brag about using ‘jeep’ to travel to Arochukwu should know
that the fundamentally alarming fact that one may be tossed
right out of one’s vehicle as it navigates the terrain. My
experience during a recent visit to honour an invitation to
Arochukwu came dangerously close to the above narrative.

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