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Tag: MAN

  • Behind a successful woman is a man

    Behind a successful woman is a man

    When Prof. Juliana Taiwo Makinde told her story at the 307th Inaugural Lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on September 12, it showed that behind a successful woman is a man.

    “I feel proud and highly honoured to say that I am the first female Professor of Public Administration in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and also the first female Professor to give an Inaugural Lecture in the Department of Public Administration, OAU, Ile-Ife,” she said.  Her focus was:  “Policy Somersaults, Poverty of Policy Implementation and Corruption: Obstacles to Development in Nigeria.”

    The story of her journey to a professorial chair is striking for its central lesson in the power of possibilities. Her narrative: “I never dreamt in my wildest imagination of becoming a university lecturer, let alone a professor.  My standing here before you to present my Inaugural Lecture is, therefore, a special privilege from God who has used my husband, Professor Moses Akinola Makinde, as His instrument of positive change in my life.”

    “I started my career as a confidential secretary in the mid-60s after the completion of my secondary education in 1965.  At a point in my career as a secretary, my husband was always drumming it into my ears that I have great potential to join him as an academic later in my life. The way to the fulfillment of his wish for me was opened in 1983 when he went on Fulbright Fellowship to Ohio University, US. Our children (Akinola, Olumide and Kayode) and I accompanied him to the United States where he persuaded me to enroll for a degree programme even though my own intention was to work and make money with which I planned to get some gadgets for our home back in Nigeria.  I got an admission into the Ohio University after performing brilliantly in the prescribed test for foreign students. I enrolled in the Faculty of Education to read Education/English and my performance got me on to the Dean’s list in that first year.”

    She continued: “We came back home after one year and I got an admission into the Faculty of Education, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to continue with my degree programme in 1984, having brought my transcript from Ohio University. By the reason of my age among the young students, I became an automatic auntie to almost all my mates except a few mamas like me in the class.  By 1987, I completed my first degree programme with First Class Honours in Education/English.  My husband was excited and very happy.   He then persuaded me to go for a higher degree in order not to waste the first class degree that I had, always telling me that with my first class degree, I was a professorial material.  I agreed to go ahead on the condition that he would give me N200 a month throughout the programme. This was just to discourage him from persuading me from going further. To my disappointment, he agreed and I applied for and got admission to do M.Phil (Public Administration) in Obafemi Awolowo University, but ended up doing MPA.”

    “While still in the public service with my MPA degree, I was appointed as Special Adviser (Administration and Protocol) in 1992 during the administration of the late Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke of blessed memory – courtesy of my husband’s involvement as a member of the “Think Tank” in the political activities of the state at that time, even though he is from Ekiti in the then Ondo State.  He actually turned down the position he was given and recommended me instead. In November 1993, however, all civil servants-turned politicians were retired by General Sani Abacha and that brought an end to my career in the state public service.”

    Another door opened. Mrs Makinde said: “My journey into the academics started in March 1994. I was only 45 years old when I was retired even though I was not tired.   I was advised by my husband and my children to  go back to school and this I did by applying to do a PhD degree in the department where I had my MPA but  was told that the MPA was not acceptable for the PhD programme, and so, I had to do an MSc as my second Masters degree.  I was fortunate to have been given an appointment then as a Lecturer Grade II in the Department of Public Administration. The appointment was on contract having retired from the civil service.  After my MSc, I enrolled for my PhD which I bagged in 2008 at the age of 60 years.  Surely, age was not a barrier! By this, I became an inspiration to those, especially mothers, who thought that they were too old to study… I owe a deep sense of gratitude to my husband, Professor Moses Akinola Makinde, who saw to it that I did not waste the gift of God in my life.”

  • Man in court for stealing cosmetics

    Man in court for stealing cosmetics

    A 30-year-old man, Fasheyi Olateju, has appeared at an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in Osun State for alleged theft of cosmetics, valued at N785, 297.

    He is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Police prosecutor Sunday Ajayi said the accused committed the offences in 2015 in Omobolanle, Osogbo.

    He said the accused broke into AB Fountain General Services Ltd and stole cosmetics, worth N785,297.

    The accused was apprehended by the police after the theft, Ajayi said.

    The offences contravene sections 383, 516 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun State, 2003.

    The accused pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Mr. Okobie Najite, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Sodamade Fatima, granted the accused bail at N500,000 with one surety.

    She said the surety must be resident in the court’s jurisdiction and should show evidence of tax payment.

    The case was adjourned till November 11 for mention.

  • Man gets two years for stealing cables

    Man gets two years for stealing cables

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja has sentenced Abdullahi Inuwa to two years’ imprisonment for vandalising a transformer and stealing its power supply cables.

    The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave Inuwa an option of N25,000 fine.

    Sadiq advised him to desist from crime, and hoped that the sentence will act as a deterrent to others.

    “It is even dangerous to go close to a transformer,” he said.

    Inuwa, who lives at Jabi Garage, Abuja, was convicted on a three-count charge of conspiracy, trespass and theft, after he pleaded guilty.

    He had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, claiming he acted in ignorance.

    The prosecutor, Mrs, Florence Avhioboh, told the court that Inuwa scaled a fence after stealing the cables but was arrested at Panda Supermarket, Jabi, where he jumped into.

    She said Mr Chukwu Ugbo, of the supermarket, reported the case at Utako Police Station, Abuja, on September 19.

    The prosecutor said the cables were valued at millions of naira.

    She said the offence was punishable under sections 79, 343 and 288 of the Penal Code.

  • How real sector survived recession, by MAN chief

    How real sector survived recession, by MAN chief

    With Nigeria’s exit from recession, all eyes are on the real sector to pick up to aid economic growth. For the manufacturing sector, surviving the recession involved a lot of digging-in.  Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) president, Frank Jacob, in this interview with Bukola Aroloye, said some policies must now be put in place to help the real sector impact on the economy. Excerpts:

    Nigeria has been praised for exiting recession in record time. Looking at how operators weathered the storm,  what did they put in place to survive?

    You may agree with the year 2016 was indeed a very difficult year for all economic agents – government, firms and consumers alike. Unfortunately, the main reason has been the acute shortage of FX following the persistent low crude oil prices in the international market.  As a result, government fell short of its fiscal obligations,   firms/manufacturers cut down production due to inability to import raw-materials used in the sector that are  not locally available and household aggregate consumption plummeted due to erosion in real value of income resulting from high inflation as depreciating naira fed into prices.  The end result was therefore economic recession.

    However, the most important measure taken by MAN in addressing the situation was to step up her advocacy through frequent engagements with the government for better understanding of the veracity of the problems and evolving credible ways of mitigating them.  Consequently, by May 2016, the CBN gave a directive for 60% allocation of all available forex to sector for importation of raw-materials. This helped ease the stagnation in the production in the sector.  MAN advocacy was also responsible for the recent forex policy of 21st of February 2017 that efficaciously narrowed the premium between the parallel and official rates and made forex more available.

    In addition, we encouraged our members to key-in to the economic diversification and backward integration initiatives which have been successful as the sector was able to upscale its  local raw-materials utilisation  from first half of 2016 (46.3%) and the second half (58.98%). Consequently, capacity utilisation increased from 44.3% in first half of 2016 to 59.18% in the second half. Members were encouraged to continue to adopt best practices, engage in backward integration programmes, engage the principles of lean manufacturing, curb wastages and deploy potent survival strategies to stay afloat till the recession storm recedes.

    Apart from MAN advocacy in that period,   the doggedness and resilience of our members also ensured that production in the sector was sustained, notwithstanding the severity of the operating challenges in the period.

    What is the difference in the production cost of manufacturing sector that suggests that recession is over?

    It may be difficult to quantitatively determine for purpose of comparing the period when the economy was in recession and now that it is out.  This is because costs in the sector are determined by individual companies.  However, it is plausible to assess this cost differential by comparing the exchange rate situation in 2016 when manufacturers principally sourced forex from the parallel market  at the rate  well over N400/$ as against  their ability to source officially at N305/$ which has been consistent.  No doubt, this forex differential would reduce the cost of product in the sector in the post-recession period.  Moreover, the fact that inflation rate  is declining also shows that production cost may be declining.  For instance, inflation rate in December 2016 was 18.55% and that of June 2017 was 16.25%, according to the CBN.

    NBS GDP report also shows that the manufacturing sector real output growth was -4.38% in Q3 and -2.54% in Q4 2016. In Q1 2017 the growth rate of output of sector was 1.36 % and 0.64% in Q2 2017. You may agree that it is plausible that low production cost would encourage increased output. By implication, the positive growth recorded in the sector in Q1 and Q2 of 2017 may support that cost is declining in the post-recession period.

    How did the CBN monetary policy influence Nigeria’s exit from recession?

    No doubt, monetary policy is a very important tool for the management of an economy especially in the period of recession.   It can be said that CBN policy measures during the recession and in the post-recession periods vi-a-viz the monetary policy transmission mechanisms of interest rate, exchange rate and aggregate credit has had a mixed-bag.   The CBN’s exchange rate policy in the period, especially recently, has been efficacious as it stabilised  forex market by  narrowing the premium between  the  parallel and official markets rates and making forex more available in the economy.  The same view held for loan to manufacturers, especially those emanating from the development funding windows, particularly the Bank of Industry (BOI). The bank has within its limited capacity been granting credit for acquisition of machinery to manufacturers and other industrialists.  Nonetheless, the CBN interest stance remains a challenge as it retains Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 14% which MAN considers high and is responsible for the increase in the other rates such as the lending rate which stands at about 30%.  The high lending rate from the commercial bank has been a huge disincentive for investment in the manufacturing sector.

    What do you think should be done to prevent the economy from slipping into recession in future?

    The sustainable way to mitigate the recurrence of recession is to adequately tackle its root cause which in this case has been shortage of forex.  I believe that the solution to economic recession in Nigeria lies on the development of non-oil sector so to diversify export earnings in the country.   Therefore, I recommend the following strategies:         The industrial sector, especially the manufacturing sub-sector, should be strengthened   by removing all obstacles restraining its growth and competitiveness.  Forex allocation to the sector should be sustained and the remaining (32 has been reinstated) items of raw-materials in the list of 41 items (in essence 95 items) excluded from the official forex market should be reinstated;

    Stronger synthesis between monetary and fiscal policy policies; the    Federal Ministry of Finance, the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning should work together in developing  policies that will move the non-oil  sector forward;

    Strong support to the intensification of the resource-based industrialisation programme adopted by the federal government and which MAN has also been championing as it involves the utilisation of the country’s abundant natural resources in producing the goods that the country needs. This is a more sustainable and enduring form of industrialisation, compared with the import-dependent industrialisation which has been practiced in Nigeria for long. This would also save the country a lot of foreign exchange currently used in importing raw materials and free funds for government development projects.

    Strongly support the intensification and aggressive undertaking of the development of key selected mineral resources through backward integration especially those with high inter-industry linkages such as iron ore, zinc-led, bitumen, lime stone and coal; Government should intensify backward integration in the agricultural sector to catalyse more industrial input supply from the sector. These would also free more forex as importation of primary raw-materials will be reduced;

    Fast track the recapitalisation of the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the operational phase of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) so as to meet up  with the huge credit demand of the industrial sector; Upscale access to the various funding windows created to assist the development of the sector such as the N220billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMED) and the N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) through relaxing stringent conditions that deny manufacturers access to these funding windows; also fast-track the implementation of the Moveable Assets Collateral Registry system;

    Improve and maintain proper implementation of the newly resuscitated Export Expansion Grant (EEG) by observing and improving on all the provisions in the new guideline so as to encourage more production and export of manufactured goods to boost foreign exchange earnings to the economy;

    Development of support infrastructure so as to facilitate the country’s industrialisation efforts. There is the need to resuscitate the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme through the establishment of Concession Agreements under Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) in road construction and maintenance, rail construction and maintenance, etc;

    Proper deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector to encourage private investment in domestic refining.  Government should consider privatising the four national refineries to make them fully functional and save money for other purposes.

  • Jobless man knows fate Wednesday

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded an unemployed man, Alex Godwin, to prison, pending his sentence for stealing a car battery.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Raji, ordered Godwin, 26, be remanded at Kirikiri Prisons, after he pleaded guilty to stealing.

    Raji adjourned the case till Wednesday for facts and sentencing.

    Godwin lives at Power line in Alagbado, near Lagos.

    The prosecutor, Yomi Egunjobi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 28 at Jungle bus stop, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

    He said the accused was caught with the battery by a security guard at midnight.

    “When he was asked where he got the battery from, he said he removed it from a parked vehicle in Agege. But he refused to take the guard there.”

    Egunjobi said the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused asked the court to grant him mercy, saying: “It was the handiwork of the devil.’’

  • Man in court for theft of N4.5m

    The police have arraigned Kalu Ogechi at a Karu Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing a car, valued at N4.5million.

    Kalu, who hails from Ohafia in Abia State, is standing trial on a one count charge of stealing, an offence he denied.

    The offence is punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Mr. Hassan Ishaq, granted the defendant bail at N200,000, with a surety, and adjourned the case till October 23 for hearing.

    The prosecutor, John Ijagbemi, told the court that Eunice Bob-manuel of Dawaki reported the defendant at Karu Police Station on July 17.

    He said the defendant was employed to wash and clean cars at the car washing business centre of the complainant.

    Ijagbemi said on that day, the complainant handed over her car and its key to the defendant to wash.

    He told the court that as soon as the defendant collected the keys, he ran away with the car to an unknown destination.

    The prosecutor said the car was traced and recovered in Ohafia, Abia State.

    He added that the car, a Toyota Venza, registered as BWR541PV, is valued at N4.5 million.

  • MAN to Fed Govt: follow Tanzania’s economic model

    The Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) has advised the Federal Government to study the economic re-modelling template Tanzania and come out with policies that will accelerate the growth of the economy.

    It said its advice was predicated on the fact that the East African country rebounded from a poor economic state to become one of the promising economies Africa.

    Its President, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, who spoke on the preparations for MAN’s forthcoming 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM), said the theme of the forum will be:  Recovery and growth of the Nigerian eonomy.

    A former President of Tanzania, Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa, will deliver the public lecture on Sustaining economic recovery: Gleaning from the Tanzanian experience.

    He stated that based on Mkapa’s experience in managing an economy that experienced serious economic challenges such as facing our country currently; he came tops in the choice of a key speaker at this point of our national life.

    According to him, prior to 1995, Tanzania’s economy was state-controlled but by 2005 when the tenure of president, Benjamin Mkapa ended Tanzanian economy moved from a command economy to a market economy that demonstrated positive growth.

     

    He said nobody is more qualified to handle the topic better than a man that experienced it all especially the challenges associated with the economic realities of Tanzania in the 1980s occasioned by war in 1979 war with Uganda a neigbouring country.

    The MAN boss recalled that failing to secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1979 the country launched its Self-Guided National Economic Survival Programme as well as economic reforms aimed at trade liberlisation in 1985.

    In addition the economy which is largely controlled by high inflow from agriculture and tourism grew to contribute over 50 per cent in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) into the economy of the East African country with a population of 55.57million people.

    He reiterated that there is no better qualified speaker to handle the topic than the man who has seen it all and made a success story of the challenge that is currently bedeviling most countries in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

    He further disclosed that there would be interactive sessions with Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Ahmed Alli who are expected to speak from their various perspectives.

  • MAN Pharmaceutical Group urges strong partnerships

    For Nigeria to achieve 70 per cent self-sufficiency in domestic pharmaceuticals, there is the need to adopt strong and innovative partnerships with leading lights in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sub-sector.

    The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) canvassed this position at the fourth Nigerian Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME) held in Lagos.

    The Group, through its Chairman, Chief Okechukwu Akpa, said the approach remained one of the most sustainable means the government could drive its bid to secure standardised production and access to quality patent medicines.

    He also said deepening relations with critical stakeholders would effectively drive the requisite investment needed to fix problems facing the sector’s growth.

    Akpa said the challenges of long-term financing, procurement preferences, knowledge and technology transfer and tax incentives, among others, should be addressed to stabilise the operating environment for manufacturers, as well as check counterfeiting.

    Akpa, who noted the group’s contributions to national development via enhancement of access to medicines, reiterated the need to protect the sub-sector through policies that prioritises its growth and efficiency.

    He hailed the Executive Order by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo directing the mandatory patronage of locally-manufactured medicines by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He, however, said the directive should be backed with implementation.

    “This policy is expected to accelerate growth and development of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. It will in turn assure national medicines’ security, boost self sufficiency in production, stimulate considerable employment in the sector, and increase inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” Akpa said.

    He added that it would also facilitate the export of indigeneous medicines to neighbouring countries. “We therefore, look forward to more partnerships and support from critical stakeholders to ensure the industry continues to play its critical national role and reach its full potential”, Akpa said.

    Drug and Research Director, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, who represented the Director-General, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, pledged to support the sector with enhanced regulatory functions.

    She praised efforts at positioning the country as the most concentrated pharmaceutical base in West African, noting that it portends immense opportunities for the sector.

    “We have a responsibility to work to sustain good health through access to quality medicines and vaccines for all. The executive order would be considered to consolidate the effort to expand the local base of pharmaceutical products,” Mrs Oni said.

    MAN President Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs charged the government to address the security of manufacturing investment in the country.

    He said the country needed to ensure that investors were not discouraged by harsh operatimng environment.

    Jacobs, represented by the Chairman, Ikeja branch of MAN, Prince Oba Okojie, noted that the mandate to deliver a sustainable healthcare could be engineered by robust collaboration with government.

  • Obaze, the man, mission and destiny

    Oseloka Henry Obaze, fondly called OHO is an immensely interesting individual. Obaze, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the November 18 gubernatorial election is an embodiment of knowledge, an intellectual of very high repute, a diplomat of esteemed class and a leader of extraordinaire ability.

    Somebody once described a diplomat as one who could dive into turbulent water without making a single splash. He is such diplomat. In him you notice the first quality of any great leader – humility. And he has this unbelievable memory of remembering one’s name after just one introduction.

    OHO is one person, who would not make a decision while conducting any meeting without listening to the views of everyone. He calls you, however junior to him, to listen to you carefully then respond or ginger you with so appropriate words.  And I still don’t know how he manages to do it but he keeps tracks, communicates via sms and email so regularly, despite his work load and out-of-office engagements. Whenever he wouldn’t pick your call, he must return the call to apologise and explain why he couldn’t pick when you called earlier.

    OHO has this unbelievable care for people that he takes to other people’s problem as if he’s directly in their shoes. His attention, complete dedication to finding solutions mark him out as one specially created for the benefit of mankind. It’s not just for sight-seeing that he is one of the most traveled men in the world. While working for the United Nations, he had been sent to over 100 member nations. And he wasn’t just touring neither was he interested in showing around his handsome face. He was indeed being sent to help solve problems.

    You didn’t know anything about the word resilient until you met OHO. I wondered if he ever slept and I’m still wondering. Nothing he believes in will go unattained once he is on it. And he is a perfectionist of some sort. He will continue working on it until it’s perfectly executed. He’s ever consistent with his beliefs and will NEVER compromise any positive act, however tempting the course of cutting corners could present.

    OHO exhumes reliability. His ever amiable demeanour provides him with the exceptional charm that easily breaks barriers.  His consistently being sent to those nations as a UN diplomat is a confirmation of one with the ability to proffer appropriate solutions. He has served Anambra State as the Secretary to the State Government for three years and significantly across two different governors. In his book, Here To Serve, he uncannily branded the term SSG to stand for Senior ScapeGoat. Interesting but then are equally his dedication and accomplishment in those three years. He so redefined the office to not only stand it out as the real administrative hub of the state’s governance but also infused transparent dedication and quality of delivery from the members of staff. So much was his impact that when he decided to resign from that position one year into the tenure of the incumbent governor, the members of staff he was leaving behind were unanimous in printing a farewell banner thus – We Lost A Saint!

    But OHO is not all about administration. He’s much more of action. While in service to his state, he was directly in charge of managing very complex policy and practical issues. Top amongst the practical issues include the flood disaster of 2012, the illegal repatriation of Anambra indigenes from Lagos, the return and settling of Anambra IDPs from Central African Republic, the 2014 Ebola crisis, the spate of collapsed buildings in 2014 as well as handling the leadership crisis within the Anambra State Association in the United States. In all these, OHO exhibited a quality of leadership ability that won over keen observers.

    Taking the flood disaster issue as a reference point, one could be convinced beyond doubt that Anambra State and indeed humanity are blessed to have a man of such dedication and diligence around. OHO brought his years of experience in handling such issues in the UN to bear immediately.

    That unprecedented flood of 2012 devastated properties and farmlands worth trillions of Naira in 24 states of the nation. With 57 communities in eight local government areas adversely affected, Anambra State was not just one of the worst hit, it actually was deemed as the most acutely affected. Two of these LGAs, Ogbaru and Anambra West were extensively submerged. Property and business losses in the state alone were estimated at nearly N23 billion.

    But under OHO in his dual capacity as the chair, Anambra State Flood Disaster Relief Coordination Committee and chair, Anambra State Flood Disaster Relief Trust Fund, Anambra State became the most proactive and transparent state of the 24 states in effectively managing and efficiently responding to the complex natural disaster. Managing 125,000 internally displaced people, IDPs was quite a task but OHO did manage admirably. An estimated 15,000 houses and businesses were fully or partially submerged. In all, four people directly lost their lives via drowning, the lowest number of human fatalities from the 24 states.

    While efficiently coordinating and involving both the state and federal agencies responsible, the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA respectively, Anambra State, under OHO’s firm control, admirably dealt with the worst natural disaster the state had faced since Nigeria came to being.

    Though the state government released N100 million immediately while the federal government came later with N500 million, many well-meaning people donated cash and food items, clothing, etc to the cause. These generous individuals could have been compelled to assist based on humanitarian basis but law of nature would largely revolve their encouragement to do so around the professionalism and transparency shown by the people in charge.

    Concerned Anambrarians took deep interest and time to study that disaster and concluded that in OHO was one individual completely capable of replacing the man he was then serving and assisting in managing the terrible disaster. But those people got the disappointment of their lives. They were never given the opportunity. The very terrible politics of vendetta denied the expecting population of ndi Anambra the opportunity to cast their votes in favour of this amiable and workaholic diplomat. OHO’s party then, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA disqualified him from participating in the primaries.

    And many Anambrarians shed tears, tears that such individual of class was denied the opportunity to govern a state he loved so much as to resign from his plum job and very enviable position in the UN to come home to serve. And because of the zoning formula in Anambra, they all believed the chance was lost forever.

    But the poor masses counted without considering destiny. When OHO agreed to serve this present government of Governor Willie Obiano, it was to show he accepted whatever God put in place in good faith. He decided to serve Anambra further from the number three role, despite the circumstances with which he was schemed out. His love for humanity was the deciding factor. He buried the desire to ever govern Anambra again and moved on.

    But the same man, who benefitted from the political shenanigans that denied OHO; the same man who destiny fortuitously played a favourable orchestra for; the same man who inherited an empire he never contributed anything in building…the same man completely veered off from toeing the path painstakingly designed for him in benefit of dear people of the state. The same man would unwittingly resurrect OHO’s own destiny back to contention.

    OHO’s new party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has already elected him as their candidate. And in doing so the party has thrown up the best candidate for the November 18 election by a mile. Already ndi Anambra are rejoicing that they will make that choice on the D-Day.

    This is DESTINY threatening in its finest form. In OHO is a bestseller waiting to happen.

     

    • Obasi writes from Ozubulu, Anambra State.
  • Man attempts to escape arrest by jumping into shark infested waters

    Man attempts to escape arrest by jumping into shark infested waters

    AN AMERICAN, Zachary Kingsbury, was discovered with suspicious contraband in his vehicle.

    Instead of succumbing to arrest, he jumped into the Atlantic Ocean.

    After swimming more than a mile off shore, police were forced to track Kingsbury with a drone.

    Footage from the chase shows a shark trailing just 25 feet off to the side.

    Kingsbury was later charged with resisting arrest, obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

    A North Carolina man unknowingly jumped into shark infested waters as he tried to escape arrest.

    Surf City police officials said 20-year-old Zachary Kingsbury was pulled over just before 5pm.

    Upon conducting a search in the vehicle, police officers discovered suspicious contraband on the passenger side of the vehicle.

    Kingsbury, who was in the driver’s seat, was then asked to step out of his vehicle, at which point he ‘fled the scene on foot, onto the beach’, and proceeded into the ocean, police documents show.

    After swimming more than a mile away from shore, however, authorities said the arrest turned into a ‘rescue operation’ and launched a drone to track the escapee.

    As the unmanned aerial vehicle flew over Kingsbury, footage shows a shark some 25 feet away trailing the police dodger. It remains unclear if Kingsbury was aware of the animal.

    Authorities were finally able to nab Kingsbury around 7.45pm at the Wicker Avenue beach access in North Topsail Beach, nearly three hours after the ordeal had begun.

    Kingsbury was placed under arrest and is being held at Pender County Jail.

    The 20 year old was slapped with a litany of charges following the event, including resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana of up to a half an ounce.