The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • ‘I masterminded the killing of my gang’s leader’

    A notorious kidnapper, Nwobodo Uchechukwu, has revealed that he masterminded the beheading of the leader of his gang, Christian Nkemjika a.k.a School Boy, because he was very greedy.

    Uchechukwu was arrested alongside other members of his gang- Tony Rafael; Nnaji Romanus; Nwobodo Uche and Uchechukwu Ibekwe, by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The suspects were arrested from their hideouts in Rivers and Imo States.

    They were said to have kidnapped the Chief Accountant of Plantgeria Limited, an oil firm based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Dr. S.M.C Maduagwu in February 2018 and collected N20 million ransom.

    Uchechukwu, 38, disclosed that School Boy collected more than the amount he collected as ransom on a kidnap victim he kidnapped on behalf of the gang.

    He stated that School Boy deceitfully declared a sum of N10 million instead of N20 million ransom he was paid by family members of the victim.

    He said: “I am a full time farmer, but I went into kidnapping when my wife fell sick and was down with stroke. Her doctor demanded the sum of N200, 000 deposit (for her treatment) and I approached School-Boy my gang leader; he gave me the sum of N100, 000 to give to the doctor. He told me about the accountant I was to closely watch or monitor and I did as he instructed for about one month till the day he was ready to kidnap the man. I trailed the man (victim) from the time he left his office and when he got to Oil Mill junction, Schoolboy and other members of the gang who were decked in polce abd army uniform abducted the man and took him away in their Toyota Hilux van.

    Read Also: Three suspected kidnappers shot dead in Kogi

    ‘’The man was taken to my farm where he was kept and negotiation for his ransom was concluded.  I wasn’t in the farm with them, but after the kidnapping, School-Boy gave me the balance of N100,000 to give to my wife’s doctor. Two weeks later School Boy informed me that N10  million had been paid as ransom for the release of the accountant release and that the man had been freed.

    ‘’At that time, I didn’t doubt him and all of us that took part in the operation to the home of a native doctor known as Romanus Nnaji and he started sharing the money. He handed me the sum of N1.5million to give to Ibekwe and Stanley, the informants that brought the job and he also gave me N500, 000 as my own share.

    ‘’Few months after that operation, I got a call that my brother had been arrested by the police over the kidnapping of the accountant and that the actual amount paid for the man’s freedom was N20million. I felt bad that School-Boy cheated every one of us by declaring N10 million as the only ransom that was paid and he kept the other N10million to himself and shared the one he declared with us.

    ‘’I said nothing at that time because the police were looking for me and I ran to a church in Akwa Ibom for prayers to ask God for forgiveness and told the people at the church about the police that were looking for me. But while I was at the church, the policemen trailed me  down to the church and luckily for me I was in the church’s toilet when I saw the police van and I fled into the bush.

    ‘’I trekked in that bush to Ndoni area of Rivers State. When I got back, I called School Boy and told him that the police were looking for me and I could not continue to run and I assured him that I will surrender myself but he threatened to kill me.

    ‘’I then ran to Imo State and I stayed there for three weeks and the police came again to look for me but I escaped. While I was running away to hide for the tide to pass, I called School-Boy to give me part of the N10million he refused to declare to the gang so that I could run out of the country, but he refused, and I felt the best thing I should do at the moment was to set him up and have him killed.

    ‘’I contacted some members of De-Gbam confraternity who had been looking for him and I gave out his location to them and they attacked and beheaded him. After they succeeded in the killing of School-Boy, I approached a lawyer in Owerri Imo  State where I was hiding with my pregnant wife to seek a legal advice on what I could do since the police were hunting for me everywhere. I was there when the nurse at the hospital where my wife had gone to deliver her baby told me on the telephone that policemen had trailed my wife to her hospital and I ran away again. I was later arrested in June 2019 by the operatives in Orlu Imo State,’’ he added.

  • NCS disagrees with Okah on medical treatment 

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has expressed shock over the claim by Charles Okah that he is dying slowly in prison due to lack of access to medical treatment.

    NCS described the claim as false, adding that he is receiving proper medical attention.

    Okah, who is currently confined to the Maiduguri correctional facility was jailed for life with his co-defendant, Obi Nwabueze, for masterminding the bomb blasts which occurred in Abuja on October 1, 2010 and earlier in Warri, Delta State, on March 15 of the same year in a court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

    The two convicts were said to have conspired with Henry Okah who was the leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

    Henry was jailed by a South African court in 2013 for similar offences and sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment.

    The conviction is currently before the Court of Appeal.

    Okah’s claim was contained in a September 3, 2019 letter to the Controller General of the NCS, Ja’afaru Ahmed, by his counsel, C.A Mishael.

    He pleaded to be transferred to either Abuja or Lagos for better care. He also said he had been living with a kidney in the last 37 years and his condition was deteriorating in prison.

    The NCS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Francis Enobore, who spoke with our correspondent on the development, said Okah is receiving best medical attention in Maiduguri.

    Read Also: ‘NCS Act 2019: Bold step towards international standards’

    Enobore said: “There are teaching hospitals all over the country. It is not only Lagos or Abuja that we have teaching hospitals.

    “We have qualified medical doctors all over the country that can take care of inmates. Any sickness that our facilities cannot handle, we take it to the nearest government hospital and that is what we have been doing.

    “We have not lost any inmates on account of poor medical attention. Yes, it is possible for an inmate to be given treatment and the person may not recover from it which, of course, is not peculiar to a prison environment.

    “People in the society also fall sick; they make use of medical facilities and sometimes they are not able to pull through. They do not die because of poor medical attention. The health of every inmate is very important to the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) because we do not pray to lose anyone or have any of our inmates undergoing poor health. It does not even pay us because, if the inmate in not feeding well, the officer in-charge and his men will be disturbed.

    “So what I am trying to tell you is that wherever our inmates are kept, we have a standby medical team assigned to take care of them. Should everybody in Maiduguru be transferred to Lagos or Abuja before he gets medical attention?”

  • Lancelot Imasuen’s ‘WEDE’ shines at Frankfurt

    WEDE, a feature length film by Lancelot Imasuen, that focuses on female genital mutilation was the star at the recently concluded Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) which held in Frankfurt, Germany on August 30 and August 31, 2019.

    The annual event organized by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V, kick started with the premiere of ‘WEDE’.

    Set in the 1980s, ‘Wede’, an adaptation of Professor Julia Okoh’s novel, ‘Edewede’, exposes the negative effects of female genital mutilation which is still very much prevalent among rural dwellers in the Midwestern part of Nigeria. In the story, a fearless and determined young lady led other women to a revolt that saw an age long tradition abolished. They fought courageously and tirelessly to put an end to barbaric tradition, something most men have had the luxury of taking for granted.

    Some stars in the movie include Oge Okoye, Rita Edochie, Nosa Obaseki, Francis Onwochei, Eunice Omoregie and Isio Joseph.

    In his opening speech before the screening, the event director and the innovator of the festival, Mr. Isaac Izoya, said ‘Wede’ was selected because of the originality that depicts the message of a culture that must be exterminated.

    Nollywood, he said, is a cultural exchange learning tool within Germany and Nigeria alike that must be promoted.

    The screening took place at Cinema Film forum Höchst, Emmerich-Josef-Strasse in Frankfurt am Main and some of those who watched it shared their experiences.

    “This is my first time ever watching Nollywood film and I must confess that I’ve a great lesson of how best to approach issues related to traditional matters in Africa,” said Niels Bartels, an African News Analyst.

    “It’s a nice and must-watch movie,” said Sarah Agbebaku, a student in Dusseldorf.

    “I cried at the cinema and it’s a tradition that must be abolished. I advise women to resist it by all means possible.”

    Sadly, Lancelot Imasuen, director of ‘WEDE’ was absent due to the sudden death of his father just few days to the event.

    The chairman of Nigerian community in Hessen State, Engr. Iyamu, praised the turn out to watch WEDE.

  • Minister, NFF agree to rejig football

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare on Friday met with members of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a bid to give new direction to football in the country.

    The meeting which was at the instance of the minister was attended by 15 board members of NFF led by its President, Amaju Pinnick.

    In a communique signed by the Minister and NFF President, the meeting was aimed at ensuring smooth administration of football in the country, as well as charts a new and dynamic focus for the game.

    Read Also: Veteran Journalist Sunday Dare is new sports minister

    Basically, the communique stated that efforts would also be geared towards re-positioning the domestic league, youth development as well as ensuring early preparation for participation in tournaments and championships.

    Also efforts would be made to develop  sporting facilities particularly football pitches and other infrastructure across the country.

    Improving the positive perception of football administration and ensuring the NFF Bill with the National assembly is transmitted for assent by the president speedily were among the issues raised at the parley.

    Efficient management of resources and deepening private investment in sports development are other issues expected to be worked on.

  • Bauchi governor, NLTP and imperfect identity

    Before it is over, the controversy over whether to execute a Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) programme for herdsmen or serve it in the somewhat more inoculated version of National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) will have cost jobs, denuded political influence and prestige, and stoked pain, anger and suspicion all over the country.

    RUGA, which is hated in some parts of the country for its provocative and culturally flagrant acronym, was to be anchored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in ways that stupefied many. NLTP on the other hand, though still viewed with extreme suspicion, emanated from the National Economic Council (NEC). Who first conceived it? It is not clearly stated. For now, flowing from the acrimonious debate over the relevance and security implications of RUGA, the more inclusive NLTP appears to be on the ascendancy, with a hefty budget of about N179bn proposed for its execution over a 10-year period.

    Neither NLTP nor RUGA is devoid of controversy, and may not even be the best scientific approach to solving the so-called herdsmen-farmers clashes. Both programmes came out of many decades of slovenly approach to tackling climate problems and desertification, which pushed herdsmen contentiously farther afield in search of grazing lands, and the increasing conurbation and population explosion that have constricted grazing lands. Unable to find the antidote to a fast-growing and menacing problem, the federal government simply watched, sometimes with futile gestures, as herdsmen and farmers locked horns. Now the problem has reached epidemic levels, and is demanding for a solution whether the government likes it or not.

    But rather than look at the problem carefully and cautiously and weigh every suggested solution against the backdrop of the country’s cultural sensitivities and political complexities, the government has made a fairly conventional assessment of the causes of the problem, stunted the need to seek more modern and efficacious solutions, and is now attempting to impose a solution whose future ramifications are unpredictable. RUGA was the more insensitive of the two solutions, but there is also no proof that even the NLTP has met with anything more than cautious and reluctant acceptance from so-called willing states. Indeed, there is no proof that governors, who are members of the NEC, have all confidently signed on to the sanitised variant of the two programmes, especially with the ongoing subterranean and contentious attempt to settle Fulani herdsmen in some unwilling parts of the country.

    To further muddy the waters, the declaration by the Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed that the Fulani of West Africa have a transcendental identity, and must willy-nilly partake of the NLTP, has stoked controversy and imbued the programme with a suspicious hegemonic quality. The NEC is proposing an initial N100bn budget, fully funded by Nigerian taxpayers. According to Mr Mohammed, however, it would be pointless to attempt to exclude Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring West African countries, because you couldn’t tell the difference: they are all one and the same. They migrate seamlessly and share the same nationality. The governor was, in other words, declaring that the Fulani everywhere see themselves as Fulani first and foremost rather than through the lens of the countries of their birth. This is hugely controversial, ignorant and provocative.

    According the governor:  “I think there is a lot of mistrust and misconception as regards the Fulani man. The Fulani man is a global or African person. He moves from the Gambia to Senegal and his nationality is Fulani. As a person I may have my relations in Cameroon but they are also Fulani. I am a Fulani man from my maternal side. We will just have to take this as our own heritage, something that is African. So, we cannot just close our borders and say the Fulani man is just a Nigerian. In most cases, the crisis is precipitated by those outside Nigeria. When there is a reprisal, it is not the Fulani man within Nigeria that causes it. It is that culture of getting revenge which is embedded in the traditional Fulani man that attracts reprisal…We are already accommodating them. Do you delineate and really know who is not a Nigerian Fulani man? They are all Nigerians because their identity, their citizenship is Nigerian even though they have relatives from all be a $30bn [£22.8bn] company in terms of revenue,” said Dangote.

    Wao! Dangote is renowned for doing good business. Our sports administrators must sit up and embrace the reality that sports increases the GDP of countries that understand the dynamics of the industry. Spain’s economy, a growing one like Nigeria’s, relies greatly on the volume of cash generated from the sports sector.

    FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Villarreal, Valencia are not all about football. They have basketball clubs, volleyball clubs, athletics clubs etc, which are professionally run. But football serves as the fountain where others seek succour, considering its followership as the king of sports.

    La Liga’s contribution in Spain’s national economy is no less than any other top-run industry in the country. The two elite division football leagues in Spain generate 185,000 jobs, €4.1 billion ($4.66 bn) in taxes and a turnover equal to 1.37% of the national GDP. This is one sport – football. Others are also run as businesses. Sample: Vuelta a España, a race around Spain and one of cycling’s biggest events.

    Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues spent a record £5billion on players this summer despite Premier League clubs, usually the continent’s most active shoppers, slightly reining in their spending, Deloitte has revealed.

    Honourable minister sir, sponsorship isn’t donation but value exchange based on inventories of benefits accruing to the firm(s) or individual. Indeed, sponsorship without television as a key element amounts to winking in the dark. Our sports is more of having a half empty glass than a half filled one, largely because those who administered it in the past lacked the political will, which Dare is exhibiting with his reposition of issues in so short a time.

    Indeed, there was no funding of sports here because most of the ministers were interested in fighting NFF chiefs and other federations’ helmsmen than creating a financial sponsorship model driven by the principles of Public Private Partnership (PPP).  Dare needs to find out what happened to all the Sports Lottery Fund and some others like the fund-raisers before the last two World Cup tournaments for the Super Eagles.

    The country seriously needs a Sustenance fund for our athletes which should be tied to big firms and/or rich individuals so that we can chart these sports ambassadors’ growth in the events. Besides, we need to re-introduce the fund-raisers we did at least one year before attending major competitions. President Buhari could commence it with a dinner where the big players in business are told what they stand to gain supporting sports. Such incentives as tax rebates would propel them to support sports for as long as they can be assured that the cash isn’t misapplied. The fund raisers will then be taken round the country for all the states to contribute their quota. However, a deliberate attempt should be made to let everyone know how much was realised and how the cash was spent. The minister could use the visits through the states to dialogue with the governors on his vision for sports.

    It is instructive for the minister to meet with sports friendly firms who have left the industry to find out what informed their exits. That way, past mistakes are corrected so that others can be encouraged to participate.

  • Unease in soldiers’ camp in Katsina

    Not a few eyebrows were raised when the governor of Katsina State, Rt Hon. Aminu Masari, recently took the decision to go into the hideouts of the bandits that had held the state by the jugular for years and engage them in dialogue.

    While some people felt that the move amounted to a great risk on his considering how ruthless the bandits had become, others believed that it was administratively unethical that such anti-social elements would be engaged in a dialogue rather than the fire-for-fire approach.

    It would seem, however, that Masari’s decision has turned out a wise one, going by the revelations that have emerged from it.

    The bandits did not only respond positively to Masari’s olive branch by their decisions to drop their arms and cooperate with the state government in its developmental efforts, some of them were also said to have dropped useful hints to the effect that many of the soldiers and policemen deployed to check the activities of the bandits had been compromised.

    Some of the security agents were said to have entered into agreements with the bandits to look the other way while they carried on with their nefarious activities or even provide them with arms and ammunition while the bandits pay back in cash or rustled cattle.

    Since two leaders of the repentant bandits reportedly opened the Pandora box, security agencies have been working on clues to uncover the soldiers and policemen fueling banditry in the state. Sentry gathered that many of the errant soldiers and policemen are already cringing, with some of them desperately seeking to be transferred away from the state.

  • Unidentified woman steals two-month-old baby in Ekiti

    A yet-to-be-identified woman has reportedly stolen a two-month-old baby boy from his mother in Ado Ekiti

    The incident occurred on Friday around 1PM at the State Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.

    A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the woman tricked  the baby’s mother, Funmilayo Sunday to follow her to the State Secretariat under the guise to help collect some relief materials being given by government to flood victims.

    “On getting there, she sent the mother to help her to procure recharge card but ran away with the baby before the arrival of the woman, a source said.

    Read Also: Son fakes own kidnap to defraud dad of N500,000

    Narrating her ordeal, Funmilayo who was drenched in tears explained  that the abductor whom she suspected to be from the Eastern part of the country, had been patronizing her consistently at the Oja-Oba market, where she sells soup ingredients.

    She said the woman informed her on Wednesday that she would take her to the State Secretariat where her husband works and that the husband would facilitate the relief materials for her.

    The woman, who preferred to be anonymous, explained that the woman came to her shop with a list of possible beneficiaries and included her name making her to believe that she was being favoured.

    According to her, “the woman who had become a regular customer had this morning invited me to the Secretariat and pretended to be waiting for someone, having entered one or two offices under the pretence of making some arrangements.

    “She later took my baby and set from me and asked me to go and buy recharge cards and before I came back, she had fled with my baby,” she stated.

    The poor woman, who claimed she had lost a child recently before the delivery of the stolen boy, said the suspect  collected her phone to prevent her from  contacting the police

  • Oyetola inaugurates governing boards for Osun health insurance agency, primary healthcare

    The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Friday, inaugurated the Governing Boards of Osun Health Insurance Agency and Osun Primary Healthcare Board.

    He said the boards were inaugurated as part of the administration’s commitment to ensure quality, qualitative, affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the people of the state.

    The governor also charged members of the newly inaugurated boards to discharge their duties with a high sense of responsibility, probity, selflessness, commitment and diligence.

    Inaugurating the boards in his office, Oyetola noted that the constitution and the inauguration of the boards marked the effective take-off of the health programme of the administration.

    Members of the  board of Osun Health Insurance Agency, include: Hon. Adeoye Andrew Adelakun (Chairman); Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Niyi Ogini; Director Health Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Health, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; Director Medical Services, Dr. Ayobami Oni; Coordinating Director Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Mr Akinola Adekunle Layiwola and Director Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Abolude Ganiyat Titilola.

    Read Also: We are adopting Edo-HIP to revamp Edo healthcare sector – Obaseki

    Others are: Director, Local Government and Inspectorate Service, Mr. Olusola Adedokun; Director P.S.O, Mr. Najeem Akintola; Director Medical Laboratory Services, Mrs Gbonjubola Akinola; State Coordinator, NHIS, Mr. Ahmed Yahaya, Osun NLC Chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi; Mr Titus Olufemi Aiyedun; Dr Olatunji Olabisi Odebunmi and Comrade S.O Faniran.

    For the Primary Healthcare Board, the members are: Executive Secretary, OPHCDB, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi; Assistant Medical Laboratory Scientist, Mrs. Biyi Adesina; Mr. Kayode Adetola who represents Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Mr. Olusola Kolawole Adedokun from Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dr. Oladeji Gbadamosi from Ministry of Health; Mr. Olusegun Alao Adebayo Akeem Oladepo who represents Alternative Medicine Practitioners; Comrade S. O. Faniran from National Association of Nurses and Midwives; Mr. Olaniyi Olatunji from National Association of Community Health Practitioners; Mr. Muraina Mutiu Olayinka from Health Information Managers Association of Nigeria; and Mr. Gbenga Oyebode from Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria;

    The governor, who reiterated his administration’s determination to ensure equitable health service delivery, expressed confidence that the inauguration of the boards would contribute in no measure to advance the health sector in the state.

    He said the boards would serve as a driven force towards the actualisation of the government’s goal at taking quality healthcare to the people’s doorsteps.

    In their separate remarks, the Chairman Osun Health Insurance Agency, Hon. Adeoye Andrew Adelakun and the Executive Secretary, Osun Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi, commended the governor for reposing confidence in them to serve the state.

    Those who witnessed the inauguration are: Speaker Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola; Head of Service, Dr. Festus Oyebade; State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prince Gboyega Famodun; State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, and members of the state Steering Committee among others.

  • Dare needs support

    The dilapidated nature of sporting facilities in the country is a mirror reflection of what Nigeria is today – jaded or like Idris Adulkareem sang ‘’Nigeria jagajaga, everything scatter scatter, poor man dey suffer suffer, gbosa, gbosa!’’ Many have wondered how administrators could cast indulgent eyes on such monuments which marked watersheds in our sporting history. A visit to most of these rustic structures around the country draw the ire of those who saw those edifices host important competitions just as the stadia produced some of our best sporting heroes and heroines.

    For these administrators, anything government belongs to nobody. It doesn’t matter if the stadia are in ruins for as long as their offices are intact. Cash allocated to infrastructural development is spent on cosmetic jobs such as repainting of buildings, changing the noticeable areas while the rotten are stacked until there is nothing to hide. The ruination of our facilities didn’t start today. The sports minister should visit the ministry’s books to take stock of how much has been budgeted for infrastructural development and ask those who functioned in the department to give account of their stewardship.

    Except people account for what was budgeted for, we won’t be able to change people’s perception towards government-owned properties. Those found to have misapplied the cash should be made to refund them. Such recovered funds can help a great deal to start the process of fixing the abandoned properties and facilities. If such cash in the past had been deplored to the purposes ( periodic repair works) they were meant for, the cash needed to upgrade them now wouldn’t be as colossal. In fact, repairs on any of these facilities should start from the foundation. Otherwise, disaster awaits us in the event of overcrowding during sporting activities – it could be catastrophic.

    We can use the Sunday Dare era to rebuild our sports in all its ramification. Such changes will be meaningless, if we fail to institute a maintenance culture in the handling of sporting facilities. Builders of most sporting edifices ensures that they sign maintenance agreements with the owners of the structure. They are also expectedto train the nationals on the basic things they need to do to keep the place in top shape. And it starts with engaging a facility manager who recruits his team, which should include grounds men and women, security and other facets as recommended by the builders. There would be periodic innovation and adjustments of key parts of the building that may show signs of weakness, needing fortification with the designate local officers having the privilege to see how they are fitted or repaired.

    The stadium manager isn’t just any person. He is eminently qualified for the job and one of the best, if not the best in the business. It isn’t a job for political patronage since the premises are seen as business concerns, with the manager setting the templates to recoup some of what was spent on such facilities. The quintessential manager appreciates the marketing windows available to the facilities such that firms can pitch for different platforms in the place including the name of the premises.

    In business-conscious climes, sporting facilities are either named after prominent people such as Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola Stadium or after top companies who would emerge from a competitive ballot (a case in point being the FNB Stadium in South Africa), where such facility can get seed money to operate. The minister should ensure that stadia are leased out to big firms such that it would be absolutely impossible for anyone by a fiat to organise political rallies or any other business outside sporting activities. It may sound ridiculous, but in a business, such rules are binding on those who leased out the facilities, since targets must be met.

    It is fraudulent for anyone to ask for millions to re-grass the MKO Abiola Stadium’s soccer pitches when we can recruit horticulturists to do it for less. With good horticulturists, they will have nurseries around the stadium where they will nurture grass which they can easily dig up and use to re-grass areas within the playing turf which are ebbing away. The horticulturists restrict themselves to the playing turfs and the practice pitches.  The stadium manager coordinates them. There should also be a business manager whose duties should be spelt out. For effective running, there must be a management team charged with the responsibility of keeping the premises ready to host sporting events. Stadia around the country should be business concerns if we must be in sync with what happens elsewhere.

    Dare stated on his twitter handle during the week that ‘’Sports is business. a first step in engineering PPP in sports development in Nigeria. Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a convert as he listens to my pitch. I’m about the business of sports to engage our youth for employment and entrepreneurship through sports development. We have set out. Babatunde Raji Fashola is on board. I’m a youth advocate. The youth hold the future of our country in their hands, their heads and intellect. the journey to that future starts now. ‘’

    This writer is, however, happy that the minister has taken the bold step to parley with business moguls such as Aliko Dangote to see how he can do the business of sports with Nigeria. Dangote, for the records has severally shown his interest to acquire Arsenal Football Club in London for staggering figures. Dangote knows that sports is the opium of the people here, but it lacks enduring structures to leverage on firms’ investments.

    But, speaking to Bloomberg TV at the New Economy Forum in Singapore, the 61-year-old has now hinted he may have to look elsewhere if Kroenke – who has just completed a full takeover at the Emirates after a power battle with Alisher Usmanov – does not want to sell.

    “I’m very attached to Arsenal but if he won’t sell, I might have to change. I’m very much a fan of football. I’ll like to have a club. I don’t have to own Arsenal. By the time we’ve finished [the oil refinery], we’ll be a $30bn [£22.8bn] company in terms of revenue,” said Dangote.

    Wao! Dangote is renowned for doing good business. Our sports administrators must sit up and embrace the reality that sports increases the GDP of countries that understand the dynamics of the industry. Spain’s economy, a growing one like Nigeria’s, relies greatly on the volume of cash generated from the sports sector.

    FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Villarreal, Valencia are not all about football. They have basketball clubs, volleyball clubs, athletics clubs etc, which are professionally run. But football serves as the fountain where others seek succour, considering its followership as the king of sports.

    La Liga’s contribution in Spain’s national economy is no less than any other top-run industry in the country. The two elite division football leagues in Spain generate 185,000 jobs, €4.1 billion ($4.66 bn) in taxes and a turnover equal to 1.37% of the national GDP. This is one sport – football. Others are also run as businesses. Sample: Vuelta a España, a race around Spain and one of cycling’s biggest events.

    Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues spent a record £5billion on players this summer despite Premier League clubs, usually the continent’s most active shoppers, slightly reining in their spending, Deloitte has revealed.

    Honourable minister sir, sponsorship isn’t donation but value exchange based on inventories of benefits accruing to the firm(s) or individual. Indeed, sponsorship without television as a key element amounts to winking in the dark. Our sports is more of having a half empty glass than a half filled one, largely because those who administered it in the past lacked the political will, which Dare is exhibiting with his reposition of issues in so short a time.

    Indeed, there was no funding of sports here because most of the ministers were interested in fighting NFF chiefs and other federations’ helmsmen than creating a financial sponsorship model driven by the principles of Public Private Partnership (PPP).  Dare needs to find out what happened to all the Sports Lottery Fund and some others like the fund-raisers before the last two World Cup tournaments for the Super Eagles.

    The country seriously needs a Sustenance fund for our athletes which should be tied to big firms and/or rich individuals so that we can chart these sports ambassadors’ growth in the events. Besides, we need to re-introduce the fund-raisers we did at least one year before attending major competitions. President Buhari could commence it with a dinner where the big players in business are told what they stand to gain supporting sports. Such incentives as tax rebates would propel them to support sports for as long as they can be assured that the cash isn’t misapplied. The fund raisers will then be taken round the country for all the states to contribute their quota. However, a deliberate attempt should be made to let everyone know how much was realised and how the cash was spent. The minister could use the visits through the states to dialogue with the governors on his vision for sports.

    It is instructive for the minister to meet with sports friendly firms who have left the industry to find out what informed their exits. That way, past mistakes are corrected so that others can be encouraged to participate.

  • Oko: All eyes on new NDDC director

    Since the Federal Government announced the appointment of a new board of directors for the beleaguered Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Tuesday, August 20, tongues have been wagging in different quarters as to the competence of the people appointed into the board.

    First to raise the alarm were the governors of the Niger Delta states, including those of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo and Ondo. Rising from a meeting in Abuja penultimate Thursday, the governors said the process by which the board members emerged did not reflect effective governance mechanism, saying that they would seek an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the issues.

    The Niger Delta Entrepreneurs Forum (NDEF) also faulted the dissolution of the Nelson Brambaifa-led board and its replacement with the one led by Pius Odubu, a former deputy governor of Edo State. The group alleged that the development did not respect Section 4 of the NDDC Act which stipulates rotation of the chairmanship position.

    But it has been discordant tunes among the region’s stakeholders as the governors themselves came under heavy criticism for rejecting the appointments, alleging that their position was politically motivated.

    In a swift reaction to the Niger Delta governors, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the opposition of the Niger Delta governors to the reconstitution of the board was shameful and disgraceful.

    In a statement issued by its National Vice Chairman (South South), Chief Ntufam Hilliard Eta, the APC asked the governors to concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to their people. The party said it was unfortunate that the opposed to the appointment of “qualified Nigerians” into the board of the NDDC.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to various reports in the news and print media on the very shameful and disgraceful steps taken by South South governors, on the recent appointments made by Mr. President, wherein very qualified sons of South South geo political zone were appointed into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    “Ordinarily, we would have ignored such disgraceful steps by men we thought could have known better, but it has become imperative that we stand in the defence of justice and for the benefit of Nigerians.

    “It is sad that these governors of the oil rich states of the Niger Delta, who should be highly concerned by the level of poverty and deteriorating state of infrastructure in the zone, are rather being parochial, selfish and exhibiting the highest form of ignorance in governance.

    “They are only interested in ensuring that their family members, cronies and stooges are appointed to strategic positions to the detriment of the generality of Nigerians.

    “The steps by these self-serving governors just go to show that indeed their election into such high offices was just a direct product of the subversion of the collective wills of the people in the last general elections.

    “We view the steps taken by these governors as very dishonorable and it shows that governance in our zone is at the lowest ebb.”

    The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) took a swipe at the governors in a communique, saying that the governors’ action could result in unnecessary ethnic clashes in the region. The group said the governors were acting in futility, adding that they lacked both the moral justification and constitutional leverage to advise President Buhari on the appointments.

    Basis for rancour

    At the base of the wrangling impelled by the appointment of a new board is the poor manner the finances of the commission have been handled over the years. Many believe that the development of the region, which was the reason for establishing the commission, had suffered because its funds have not been well managed.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, recently confirmed the fear and apathy of fellow Niger Deltans when he rated the commission low for not performing well in its main responsibility, which was the development of the Niger Delta region.

    Akpabio stressed the need for redirecting the affairs of the NDDC, saying it has more than N2 trillion debt to settle.

    But against this background some stakeholders in the region commended the appointment of Maxwell Oko as the new Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) of the commission.

    For instance, the pioneer president of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Dr. Felix Tuodolo, said with the appointment of Oko who himself had been in the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta as EDFA, funds belonging to the commission would be properly managed.

    He said: “We in the struggle in the human rights circle and those in the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta were very happy to hear the news of the appointment of Maxwell Oko.

    “Some of the things we have been talking about over the years, which is the essence of our struggle, is to develop the Niger Delta; the Niger Delta people controlling their resources and managing same.

    “These are the issues we are talking about, but most times, we realise that while we are talking and struggling on these bases, the little that is available to the Niger Delta is mismanaged by persons that are holding several offices.

    “But we are happy when a person that participated in the struggle gets into office. That person we know he knows the pains and the sufferings of his people, and that person tends to do things better than the ordinary man. He pursues his office with the eyes of somebody who is in the struggle.

    “With Maxwell Oko, who is part and parcel of the struggle, we know that he is going to leave his marks; excellent marks that we will appreciate and people will talk about. He knows the pains and suffering of our people.”

    ‘I’m ready for the task’

    Until his appointment on August 20, Oko was the executive vice Chairman of Eraskorp Nigeria Limited, an indigenous conglomerate with diverse interest in the Nigerian economy, spanning such sectors as power, oil and gas, security, agribusiness, infrastructural development and real estate.

    Born 45 years ago in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the upwardly mobile entrepreneur and investor is a holder of B. Tech in Architecture from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology as well as a post-graduate diploma (PGD) in Architecture from the University of Jos, Plateau State. He is also a former Commissioner for Energy in Bayelsa State.

    He was member, swearing-in sub-committee of Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee (PIPC); board member, Ellah Lakes Plc, a firm listed on the board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and board member, Secure Records Management Solutions. He is also on the boards of Eraskorp Nigeria Limited and Lake Oko Farms Limited.

    With the foregoing background, Oko believes that he is well prepared for the task of repositioning the commission to perform its core mandate.

    He said: “I pride myself as being innovative and action oriented with good knowledge and experience in management and administration. I am regularly involved in value creation within my community and the larger society through ground breaking projects which have provided economic empowerment for many rural communities, creating employment opportunities and alleviating poverty. I have also played leadership roles in different associations, including youth, political and volunteer groups.

    “I have been privileged to serve in various positions in government and thus been exposed to policy formulation and implementation of various programmes in different areas of the economy, both in public and private sector contexts. This has involved interaction and working with different stakeholders: government ministries, the legislature, regulatory agencies, local governments, private investors, representatives of multilateral agencies, and NGOs.

    “In the course of my career, I have acquired good contextual knowledge of local issues and socio-cultural constraints and realities. My work experiences have exposed me to regular field visits, monitoring and evaluation of projects, processes and impacts.

    “I have also learned how to overcome obstacles to achieve my goals. I always try to learn something new from every experience and seek new responsibilities and challenges because I believe there is always room for self-improvement, both personally and professionally.

    “My passion and self-motivation are the keys to my ability to identify and propose innovative solutions to solving problems and implementing improvement in all organisations where I have had professional engagement.

    “I consider myself a reliable and enthusiastic individual with a desire to excel in all I do, and diligent and committed to my set goals. Challenging tasks motivate me and I derive satisfaction in achieving demanding targets. I am convinced that I have the requisite experience and skills set to take on any challenge.”

    Stakeholders set agenda

    Affirming what he called the unassailable records of Oko in public life, the founding chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King W.S. Igbugburu, advised him to maintain his integrity and good name throughout the period of his service in the commission.

    Igbugburu said having known Oko during his days as commissioner in Bayelsa State, he was confident that the new EDFA would deliver if he refused to be hoodwinked by fraudsters whom he said were killing the commission.

    The president of Ijaw Youths Council, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, asked Oko not to disappoint those who believe in his forthrightness and ability to effect changes in the NDDC.

    The IYC president said Comrade Maxwell Oko as Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission is a round peg in a round hole.

    He said: “You know that Comrade Oko is a founding member of the Ijaw Youths Council who is passionate about the development of the region. He was chairman of IYC central zone.

    “He has held several other political offices including commissioner of power and energy in Bayelsa State under Chief Timipre Silver as governor. He also worked with the then petroleum minister, King Daukoru.

    “Maxwell is experienced and he is a man of the youth. We are very certain that he will use his office to redirect the vision of the creation of the commission and bring about desired peace and the long awaited development to the region.

    “Our agenda for him is that he should use his position to address the issues IYC has been canvassing for. As a former chairman, IYC central zone, of course he will not expect us to remind him that the Ijaw nation needs even development from the NDDC. He should ensure that all ongoing projects in Ijaw land are completely executed.

    “The commission should also initiate youth empowerment programmes in order to engage our teaming jobless youths across the region. The purpose for which the commission was established has not been successfully utilised. The developmental response by the commission towards the region is still below expectation.

    “Now that we have a former national executive member of the IYC on the board of the NDDC, we are very certain that most of our demands will be achieved. All we care for is that the commission adequately responds to the developmental needs of the region which should be commensurate to its budgetary provisions.

    “I think Buhari making the choice of Maxwell Oko in the new NDDC board means he has listened to our yearnings and aspirations. I think this is a test case for Oko to show that he has concern for his people which is glaringly the reason why Buhari considered him. Mr. President must have noticed that someone having the spirit of our struggle will know our concerns more than others. The buck now stops in Oko’s table to prove Buhari’s sincerity to the Ijaw people.”

    Also, Dr Edmund Daukoru, a former petroleum minister, spoke in glowing terms about the newly appointed Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the NDDC, saying he can vouch for his capacity, integrity and capacity to deliver on his new job.

    Daukoru said his appointment was commendable, saying that “he is a round peg in a round hole.

    He said: “Maxwell (Oko) is very committed to his work and duties. He served under me as my SA (Special Assistant). He took over from Sylva. It was just revealing to see how much Maxwell parked into his brain. He is very committed, principled, disciplined person and it is just the kind of appointment that we anticipate.”

    He said with Oko’s experience in managing youths-related issues and having been involved in various development issues in the Niger Delta, he was confident that his former aide would perform.

    He said: “Dealing with communities is not an easy affair, especially because resources are always limited. He has the qualities to work with the MD, whoever he is to deliver. He has all the qualities needed to do the work.

    “He is a disciplined person; he understands priorities. When I say he is disciplined, I’m saying it based on what I know about him. He never accepted gratifications from people who tried desperately to see me; people who would want to try to break roadblocks to see the minister.

    “Maxwell was not like that. I never saw any fault in him. I can vouch for him. In terms of doing the job, I have full confidence that he will not let the authorities down. I am extremely proud of him.

    “As an elder and a king, I pray for him to succeed.”