The Nation Newspaper

Tag: talk

  • Truths we choose not to talk about

    SIR: In the wake of the United States’ 2016 election, many experts raised concerns about the potential impact of lies, propaganda, and conspiracy theory propagation and consumption on both political life and innocent individuals. That warning, no doubt, did not go far as fake news consumption almost cost many innocent citizens their lives in Washington D.C.

    In America today, people call news they don’t like fake. This fascination with selective reporting and news consumption has, without a doubt, infiltrated Nigeria with its confirmation bias and propaganda technique.

    Nigerians, like “Evangelicals” and “Liberals”, are constantly falling-out with each other over political and economic situations with fake news, propaganda and deception.

    For the most time, the biting economic realities and lack of justice for people slaughtered, by people who feel it is their birthright it is to foment trouble, does not affect the government’s scorecard. These people have continually employed lies, propaganda and fake news to suppress obvious facts.

    Be that as it may, it is especially significant to note that the lethargic reaction to critical national issues in Nigeria has portrayed the current system of governance as a weak enterprise. Specifically, the government seems helpless against the clambering cases of kidnapping and Boko Haram attacks.

    Besides, the strife between nomadic herdsmen and farmers has, in recent times, reached an unbearable crescendo with increasing clashes and deaths reported in Adamawa, Benue, Taraba and Nassarawa states.

    Strangely enough, the go-to policy for the government has always been to push its media resources into spreading news that insults the intelligence of Nigerians. On the other hand, citizens who dare speak up on the run-down situation of security and the economy are harassed by men of the Department of State Services (DSS). This government attack dog is every ready to visit anybody who dares say or write otherwise.

    In spite of this militarization of democracy by Nigerian government, many Nigerians still remain divided along religious lines. To most people, religious identity and region are determining factors in the election and appointments of leaders. As a matter of fact, competence has never been a factor as die-hard advocates of religion-and-region-before-competence never see beyond a candidate’s religion and region of origin. To such people, the nation can continue to face insecurity to any length but will continue to live in denial of this as long as their favorite candidate remains in power.

    This are truths we as Nigerians know but have chosen not to talk about.

    Paul Watzlawick, an Austrian-American psychologist, communication theorist, and philosopher, said that the secret of propaganda is to totally saturate the person, whom the propaganda wants to lay hold of, with the ideas of the propaganda, without him even noticing that he is being saturated.

    For one thing, misinformation or propaganda is a global phenomenon. Besides, researchers have established that misinformation is “sticky” and is often resistant to correction. In the words of Tom Rosenstiel, misinformation is not like a plumbing problem you fix. It is a social condition, like crime, that you must constantly monitor and adjust to.

    In essence, the threat posed by the spread of misinformation should not be underestimated considering that Nigeria has one of the highest Internet and social media penetration rate in Africa. This why fact-checking news should be the new culture in our society.

    There is need to face this threat by investing in quality information and actions to combat the rise of misinformation, hatred, racism, bigotry and intolerance in our societies. This is an uncomfortable truth we all need to face and it starts with individuals taking responsibility for the information they pass or consume.

     

    • David Dimas,

    Laurel, Maryland, U.S.A

     

  • Morakinyo: Still walking the talk at 60

    He was meeting his boss, Fela Anikulapo Kuti for the first time at the most unlikely place-prison! The legendary musician had been locked away in Benin for falling foul of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime’s stringent foreign currency law on his way to an international engagement in 1984. So here he was alongside Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Fela’s younger brother and Francis Kertekian, the musician’s US based manager at the office of the Controller of Prisons that Saturday afternoon awaiting the arrival of Fela.  The young business manager was introduced to Fela without any formality after which two of the top politicians then serving time in the same prison on conviction on charges of corruption by the regime walked in two former governors- Barkin Zuwo of Kano State and Shaba Lafiaji of Kwara State.  He was surprised hearing Barkin Zuwo actually thanking Fela “for giving the Muslim community in the prison, money to type minutes of their meeting…”

    For Dele Morakinyo, managing the affairs of Fela at such a testy time was onerous but his background came in handy. Born to a school principal, late Christopher Morakinyo of Ijan-Ekiti in Ekiti State and Victoria Morakinyo, also a retired teacher from, Lampese in present Edo State, he attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. His five year stay in the school influenced his artistic inclination as the school provided the right environment for creativity as students had time for extra-curricular activities. He was active in literary studies, drama and scouting.  He taught briefly as a teacher in the primary school before he got admitted to the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University to read Dramatic Arts with specialization in Playwriting. He studied under renowned theatre scholars like Professor Wole Soyinka, the late Dr Carroll Dawes, Sumbo Marinho, Oba Segun Akinbola and Dr Olu Akomolafe among others. He was in the production troupe of the 1st Ondo State Festival of Arts and Culture in 1976 and has produced drama and documentaries for radio and television. He was Assistant director in Jaguar Nana’s Daughter (film), The Turning Wheel (TV) and Prince of the Savanna (film). His feature and opinion articles have been published in The Guardian, Lagos Life, Sunday Concord, The Entertainer and Tempo magazine among others.  He also won the 1st poetry prize in the professional category in the Oyo State Festival of Arts and Culture back in 1980. After graduation he freelanced on radio and newspapers before joining NTA, Ibadan. Moving to Lagos subsequently, the arts community welcomed him with open arms. Indeed, he featured in a popular soap on Lagos Television at the time tagged, Just a Wink …

    Morakinyo who was introduced by Femi Falana, one of Fela’s lawyers to Beko Ransome Kuti for the job settled in easily as Business Manager at the Kalakuta Organization intent on proving his mettle.  Some of his achievements while there include the registration of Kalakuta Organization Ltd to take care of Fela’s business; signing of the contract for the release of Fela’s back catalogue by a recording company and participating actively in the dramatic activities which led to Fela’s release from prison and all the accompanying media hype that took place then.

    “I guess it was a worthy experience which had its own impact on my life,” he reminisces. “I mean working closely with such iconic family could not but be eventful.” Still, he had to leave as soon as Fela was released from prison. On why he did not stay for long with Fela, he says: “From the beginning Femi, Fela’s musician son who was then pivotal in the Egypt ‘80 band during his incarceration did not approve of my engagement. To him I was ‘Beko’s manager.’  And Beko’s peculiar personality was difficult to fathom, and that made working under his supervision a bit uncomfortable, tried as one would. The truth is that he didn’t target you as an employee; that was just him. And then the sudden, but welcome release of Fela from prison which gave Beko a relief, and obviously the need for a third party intervention became needless. There were other details which might form part of a future work.”

    But his foothold in Lagos had been secured. Later he was to publish the Independent Broadcasting News, now rested and served as National Secretary General, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP for two years and ex-officio for three years. Then he joined Videolab/Audiolab Studios, the production arm of BatesCosse, an advertising agency in Ikeja, Lagos as Operations Manager… In 2008, the then governor of his home state in Ekiti, Segun Oni nominated him to the Presidency for appointment as Ekiti State Director of  the National Orientation Agency (NOA) which duly was ratified.

    Inevitably, he relocated to Ado-Ekiti.  NOA was a unique exposure to public service at the very high level for him. The similarity of the mandate of the office with his background in theatre, media, writing and creativity generally made it interesting but equally challenging. As he recalls: “I virtually walked into my role as a mobilizer in the establishment; in fact the management I met on ground actually believed I had prior knowledge of the organization’s duties. I found the job appropriate for my kind of person-gregarious, chatty, creative and perceptive. It was not the normal civil service type of assignment where you were confined to the desk, pushing files across, the contents of which you had very little knowledge of! Here, you carried out the thinking, planned the execution, delegated the duties, coordinated and supervised the process from concept to finish, and ultimately being in a position to evaluate the impact. You only needed to send a report to Abuja through pictorial and audio-visual evidence. And because you felt you were performing, your bosses out there had confidence in you and left you to carry on unhindered, though responsibly within the ambit of the Act which established the agency, and the law of the land.”

    After the tour of duty which lasted four years, he did not bother to return to Lagos. Instead he launched his outfit. He has thus been shuttling between Ado-Ekiti, Ibadan, Lagos and Abuja in pursuit of business opportunities. In 2015, he founded Niyi Osundare International Poetry Festival where he is the Chief Executive with Tunde Laniyan, a veteran theatre artiste and journalist as festival director to celebrate the peoples’ poet on an annual basis. On what informed the setting up of the festival, Morakinyo says: “The idea was borne out of the inspiration that at a time when Nigeria was reeling under the burden of bad and dictatorial leadership, there was this Nigerian out there garnering literary honors in poetry across the globe. Osundare was, and still is the most decorated poet in Nigeria, and more instructively his poetry is deliberately made accessible to the people about whom he writes, and to whom he directs his message.” Instructively as preparation for the maiden edition peaked, the poet was pronounced the winner of the National Merit Award for Arts which is the country’s highest award for academic excellence.  The annual event which is in its fourth year has been garnering global attention and accolades much to his delight. “It is making an impressive impact because as we speak one or two other attempts are being made to organize something similar. But as we say on the street, Oga na still master; and as founder, I remain proud of the vision. We are marching ahead, yes with minimum funding support for now but with maximum co-operation in the area of contents and attendance,” he beams.

    So how does the restless thespian, TV producer, writer and publisher feel as he clocks 60 this September 3?   “I feel good, thankful for what I have received and working and hopeful of what I still desire from life,” he replies. “The truth is that one cannot stop functioning, and life is like planting, so as long as you plant, you hope to harvest.”

    On regrets, he says with philosophical calmness: “I don’t think it is right to regret while you are still alive. And who says your best is still not on the way? He queries. “I am learning to embrace what I have, overlook what I cannot no matter how well I strive, and work towards realistic goals for as long as I live…”

     

    • Onoko, a veteran journalist writes from Abuja.

  • President should talk to us

    SIR: It’s not a new fact that the hallmark and basis of transformational and impactful leadership is the ability of a leader to communicate frequently or at important intervals, with his or her followers. To let them know that he/she share in their pain and also have a blueprint to get the people out of the catastrophic situations that surround them.

    It is surprising that the president has been in a state of near astute ‘incommunicado’ on almost every issue that pertains to the well being of the citizenry. How long will our president hide from speaking to us on the destination we are heading to? We need answers. Even In dictatorial regimes, Hitler, Mussolini, Mao Zedong etc had vocal and communication vibrations that disseminated their intents and views to the citizens which gives them (the citizens) a picture of what they are into.

    This regime seems to have consistently overpushed the responsibility of communicating intent and course of action on rehabilitation efforts and policy formulation to presidential media aides. Why should a media aide be the first in line to explain certain situations that are of utmost importance and concerns to the people? Why should our president play second fiddle to spokesmen on issues that require leader – followers’ interaction and negotiation?

    Development starts from the ability of a leader to build trust with followers through effective communication. If the President must be taken seriously in his various ‘change’ oriented campaign for a better Nigeria, he must voice out his intent frequently, interact more with the citizens, continue to back up his intent with actions, devoid of partisan influences. We need our President to speak and communicate with us. No one can be his mouthpiece, definitely no one.

     

    • Olaniba Bolaji,

    Kogi State.

  • Walk the talk, James charges church leaders

    General Overseer of Glory Christian Ministry (GCM) Lagos, Pastor Iruofagha James, has charged church leaders to live what they preach so that they don’t make Christianity a laughing stock.

    Speaking at the closing session of the 25th anniversary of the church in Lagos, he said: “My charge to Christians has always been in the centrality of what I preach and that is practical and responsible Christianity.

    “The Bible calls us the salt and light of the world. When you accept to be a Christian, put all of your two feet in it, not one foot in and one in the church. When you do things like that you make Christianity a laughing stock.”

    He called on Christians not to compromise their standards but be committed to whatsoever they are doing.

    “It is one thing to be 25 years in existence as a church; it is another to build on what we have learnt within the 25 years of existence.

    “Now, things will be done quicker and better. We are going to teach our children to be better Christians, see themselves as leaders of tomorrow and walk in the way of God.”

    Expressing the joy of clocking 25 years in the ministry, James said: ”l feel proud and humbled, especially when one realises that such feat cannot be achieved by any human strength or endeavour and listening to the testimonies of people whose lives have been transformed makes me happy as these only can be done by God and not man.”

    Using the characteristics of Eagles, he admonished Christians to learn to face their challenges.

    God, he said, has given assurance He will not allow any crisis that can drown or overtake Christians.

    “Meaning if He allows any crisis to come our way, He knows we can handle it and such crisis will strengthen our faith, give us experience and build stamina in us with good Christian characters, so why run away from crisis?”

    He affirmed God teaches Christians to be pure, neat, blameless and clean, but there are reasons some people don’t place priority on these things.

  • Lagos era of less talk, more action

    Lagos era of less talk, more action

    As the countdown to the first anniversary of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration begins, it has been harvest of projects after projects, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

    If there is one fact that is not lost on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, it is that the primary objective of every government is to improve the lives of the people by ensuring it delivers infrastructure that will affect the people directly and indirectly.

    No wonder in some quarters, the governor has been nicknamed ‘less talk, more action’. Some prefer to refer to him as ‘silent achiever’. The reasons are clear.

    In the last 11 months, every local government in the state has felt the impact of the administration through one project or the other.

    From upgrade of road infrastructure to schools’ upgrade as well as street light projects, the wind of change blowing through the state is fast sweeping across all the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    Last week, Ambode was in the news. As part of plans to mark his one year in office, series of projects, including those executed by the local and state government, were inaugurated across the 57 councils.

    For five days, Ambode detailed his cabinet members to hand over the projects to the people.

    In Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area, the governor inaugurated the popular Brown Street, Okota Road in Isolo and a Police Post in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area.

    Brown Street was dilapidated for years until the Ambode administration awarded the contract to Messrs Lubrik Construction Company Limited last October to rehabilitate and upgrade the road.

    The road is 690metres. With its new state, the people’s standard of living, property values and traffic flow would improve.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, said he would not leave anyone behind in his development agenda.

    He said his administration had worked to promote active collaboration among all tiers of government with the community development as the centre piece.

    In Ejigbo, the governor inaugurated the rehabilitated Ashamu Police Post in Ailegun, Ejigbo and handed it over to the police.

    He appealed to community members to support the police in fighting crime by giving out useful information that would lead to nabbing of criminals.

    In Alimosho Local Government Area, the governor inaugurated the Mosan Okunola Mini Waterworks after over 20 years of being moribund.

    The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Housing, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson,  said the state now has 33 mini waterworks and five major waterworks.

    The Executive Secretary of Mosan Okunola LCDA, Mrs Opeyemi Akindele,  said the water project was an eloquent testimony of a promise kept and delivered.

    A community leader and pioneer chairman of Mosan Okunola LCDA, Elder Abel Gbadejo, said in less than a year in office, Ambode has performed creditably well, adding that the Water Project would improve the life style of people in the area because water is very important.

    In Ojo Local Government, Governor Ambode commissioned the Usman Mogaji Road and the Data Capturing Centre.

    Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Urban Development, Mrs Yetunde Onabolu,   told the residents that his administration would not renege on running a transparent government.

    At the inauguration of the data capturing centre in Ojo Local Government where all unemployed youth in the area would register, Ambode urged the residents to make  effective use of the centre for engagement of their youths.

    Also at the inauguration of Usman Mogaji Road in Ajangbadi, the governor advised the residents to make good use of the road and ensure they pay their taxes as at when due.

    A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ayo Ogunlana, commended Governor Ambode for the laudable strides he has recorded in just 11 months in office.

    In Amuwo Odofin Local Government, the governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande, handed over 10 passengers’ capacity fibre boats to Riverine Communities in Amuwo Odofin Local Government and Oriade Local Council Development Area in Ijegun Jetty to aid in conveying school teachers based in riverine areas.

    In Epe, the governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Community and Communications, Kehinde Bamigbetan, inaugurated blocks of classroom at St. Theresa’s College, Oke-Oyingbo, a Town Hall at Ita-Opo, Epe and Regional Water Scheme, Otta-Ikosi, while in Eti-Osa, the 1.9km Unity/1st Avenue Osapa London Road in Eti-Osa Local Government and block of 16 classrooms with modern facilities at Kuramo Primary School in Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    The governor also inaugurated the Job Registration and Labour Exchange Centre for the Lagos Division in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the State as part of the employment creation and wealth generation initiative of his administration.

    In Shomolu Local Government, Ambode inaugurated a Primary Health Centre and Diagnosis Centre named after him and a 400metres road in Bariga Local Council Development Area.

    In Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Governor Ambode who was represented by the Special Adviser, Food Security, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, commissioned the Origanrigan and Awoyaya PHC, saying it was in line with his administration’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality.

    On Monday, May16, the train was at Apapa, Ajeromi, Kosofe, Ikorodu and Badagry local governments.

    At Apapa Local Government, the projects handed over by the Governor include 9 roads within the Apapa Business District, Ultra-modern Liverpool Jetty, 12 block of classrooms at Methodist Nursery and Primary School and 4 block of classrooms at Arakan Barracks Nursery and Primary School with standard facilities such as modern toilets, sick bay, furniture, ceiling fans, ramps to accommodate the physically challenged, among others.

    The road inaugurated are Marine Road, Bombay Crescent, Randle Road, Ibikunle Akintoye Street, Commercial Road, Burma Road, Plateau Road, Zeek Avenue, Marine Road Extension and Connector Road; otherwise known as Bombay Crescent to Calcutta Road Phase III.

    The roads were designed to accommodate walkways, street light and drainage system.

    In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Governor Ambode commissioned an Ultra-modern Court Complex and a 360-meters interlocking road with drainage situated in Aduke Street, while in Ikorodu, the Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Hon. Babatunde Adejare, inaugurated an ultra-modern shopping complex at the popular Sabo Market.

    He also inaugurated the Ota-Ona Dual Carriage Road as well as block of classrooms in Agbede, all in Ikorodu.

    At Badagry, the governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemo, inaugurated a block of 16 classrooms and another block of 8 classrooms, as well as 6 classrooms in Badagry West Local Council Development Area.

    At Kosofe, the governor represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo inaugurated road projects at Oladele, Shoyebi and Ademola Taiwo/Alamu Taiwo/Ogunsola streets.

    Speaking on the 114 LG roads, Ambode, who was represented in Ajeromi-Ifelodun by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said: “The feat is unprecedented in the history of Lagos and this has provided employment to over 9,000 citizens directly and indirectly within the year.”

    The Ojora of Ijora, Oba Fatai Aromire, hailed Ambode, saying the remarkable feat achieved just within one year in office was an eloquent confirmation that the state is progressing.

    “As the paramount ruler of this domain, I like to specially appreciate our amiable governor for the projects he embarked upon in our area. We are indeed very happy and wish the governor well in the leadership of the state,” Oba Aromire said.

    Also, Vice Chairman of Apapa Community Development Committee (CDC) Saka Yussuf said the projects inaugurated in their area were unprecedented in the history of the area, adding that the people were indeed happy with the leadership of the State.

    A former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, who spoke in Ikorodu, commended the laudable stride of the governor in just 11 months of inception, just as he appealed to people who are yet to feel the impact of government in their areas to be patient.

    At Ifako- Ijaye Local Government Area of the state, the governor, who was represented by  the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture Mr. Folorunsho Folarin Coker commissioned Oluwasijibomi, Folorunsho Streets and Iju Primary Health Care Center, Lonlo saying that the era of spending tax payers money on white elephant projects not needed by the people were gone in the state.

    He said the state has experienced improved physical and urban development, proper land administration and illumination of its highways and streets.

    The governor appealed to monarchs and communities leaders to address the menace of cultism, miscreants and hoodlums and promote peace and clean environment at all times.

    With the manner projects are being delivered, many look up to the Ambode administration taking the state to heights not hitherto attained.

     

  • ‘It’s now time to talk’

    ‘It’s now time to talk’

    Text of an address delivered by former National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chief Ayo Opadokun at the inauguration  of the Movement for Value Restoration (MVR)

    Text of an address delivered by former National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chief Ayo Opadokun at the inauguration  of the Movement for Value Restoration (MVR)

    There have been several demands and requests from well-meaning Nigerians and younger folks who recognise that the current times deserve the intervention of people like us who have made enormous sacrifices to the current phase of our politics and nation building.

    Nigeria currently has the best, and perhaps the last hope and opportunity to restore “national values and ethos” which had been totally lost and ignored under various military dictatorship and their civilian surrogates, sympathisers, loyalists and acolytes.

    Today also, majority of Nigerian political elite – military and civilians – are doing their worst to oppose and ridicule President Muhammadu Buhari’s government battle against corruption, thereby making the nation ungovernable for him.

    Members of the old order, the so-called political elite that have run the country down, particularly in the last 30 years – inclusive of the military, politicians, clerics, businessmen, academia, professionals, traditional institutions and others – are using various strategies including ethnicity, religion and status to subvert the efforts being made against corruption. The most blatantly corrosive of these vested interests are:

    • The politically exposed persons
    • A significant number of the Nigerian Judiciary Personnel
    • The few highly unconscionable senior lawyers

    Part of the cherished “old national values” for which we were proud as young Nigerians was that public institutions, be they judiciary, education and protection of civil liberties, had global, commonwealth and continental recognitions.

    Since the military violently overthrew the civilian regime on January 15, 1966, the substantial erosion of all those values had continued till date. Public institutions that existed to defend and sustain democratic norms and values remain ineffective since the advent of the military into governance.

    Today, anything goes and everything is possible through dubious means and violence.  Those below age 40 do not know the old values. They are also not interested in “our old fashion” when there was standard, principle, high moral pedestral, acceptable private and public conduct were the hallmarks for public office seekers.

    Nigerian judiciary – The Bench and the Bar

    Generally, the Nigerian Bench and Bar used to have credible, intellectually sound men of highest credentials until the military era, through such decrees like the Suspension and Modification Decree No.1 of 1966 and 1984; Federal Military Government (Supremacy and Enforcement of Powers) Decree 28 of 1970/1984 and the Tribunal (Miscellaneous Offences) Decree N0.7 under Gen Yakubu Gowon and the decrees promulgated by former heads of state the late Murtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha, which illegally empowered them to appropriate all the powers of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary to the military.

    There used to be revered late Justice Udo Udoma of the Nigeria Supreme Court who was officially released by Nigeria to become the Chief Justice of Uganda. We had late Justice Taslim Olawale Elias, the late Justice Akinola Aguda, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa and others who were not only credible leaders of the Bench and Bar but also rendered commonwealth and continental services.

    The despicable activities of many senior lawyers and judges from the election petition matters to the war against corruption have reached intolerable level that those of us who lost our sweat, blood, liberty, possession and even lives in the struggle for the restoration of democracy and the silent majority who see us as credible leaders can no more “siddon look” but rise to start exposing them and take actions to defend what we fought for.

    The media has exposed how bribes were solicited and received into named accounts of judicial officers, yet those who have ceased to be “fit and proper” are the ones exploiting the judiciary to protect their selfish interests and friends who are being criminally prosecuted.

    For example, the doctrine of “stare decisis” in Nigeria conclusively stipulates that the Supreme Court ruling on a particular subject matter is binding on all lower courts, except in such as might rarely happen that the highest court gave its ruling per incuriam (when it was never ceased of certain relevant facts that might have persuaded the court to rule otherwise)

    Yet, today, we have so-called senior lawyers throwing up the same set of arguments that have been ruled upon by the Supreme Court in different High Court rooms. Perhaps, just to delay the prosecution of the accused and also to enable him remain for long in the office he has so desecrated.

    What other evidence do we need that there is on-going collaboration between accused persons and some of our senior lawyers, who boastfully support their clients’ refusal to attend further trials in fresh charges brought against them before the court. Their reasons have been that because their clients have been admitted to bail on a different matter pending before another court. This is sad and unbecoming.

    These senior lawyers have little regards to the dozens of lives of senior military personnel and the rank and file who have been martyred because the funds meant to procure sophisticated weapons to fight the Boko Haram insurgency were shared for personal and political purposes. The wives of the slain soldiers have been widowed and their children orphaned.

    What a way to glibly talk about “the rule of law”. Where on earth can one man’s right be superior to that of his community?

    What is the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leadership doing with the widely publicised report that some senior lawyers were caught transferring money into the account of judges who will preside over matters where their clients have interests? The Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) must rise to its responsibility.

    The NBA leadership must not speak from both sides of its mouth. It cannot be mouthing its support for the anti-corruption war, and yet, be promoting a “fancifully pretentious meaning and application” called “the rule of law” over and against public interest.

    This only reminds us of a fundamental truth in the stable of the positivists school of jurisprudence which is to the effect that in most given societies, the laws are the coded preferences of the elite. When it suits them, they and their minions will vigorously campaign for the defence and sustenance of such rule, but if their interests are in conflict with these coded laws, they find a way out to ignore the rule of law.

    The judiciary and the senior lawyers have colluded to ensure that save for Mr James Ibori in London prison since 2011 and Lucky Igbinedion, who went away with a ridiculous slap on the wrist (with a fine of N3 or N4 million), all former governors from 1999 till date have not been diligently prosecuted before any trial court with the exception the trials of Sule Lamido in Jigawa and Admiral Murtala Nyarko in Adamawa that are on-going.

    Many of those standing criminal prosecutions have found their way into the Senate as federal lawmakers. What a country!

    We are already compiling the list of persons involved in these ignoble acts to submit to the (NJC) for appropriate constitutional actions to halt further slide of the noble profession into deeper infamy.

    The charade of their trials have been so choreographed and our judges have always granted unreasonable injunctions protecting  the accused brought before them from further arrests, seizure of their travelling documents.

    It is unbelievable that an arm of government will exploit the judiciary to prevent another government department from doing its legitimate responsibility to the public. Most of those cases have remained in the court archives for more than a decade. What does that do to our national ethos? That stealing, perversion and corruption and other vices pay?

    No doubt, over 95 per cent of today’s political players are in office for power, influence and money they can corner to themselves.They claimed to be professional politicians. They change political parties without principle. They were active Abacha politicians; they were agents to the late General Abacha.

    After many negotiated adjournments for about three to four years, the criminal cases against former political office holders like Elumelu, the former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and others were terminated for “want of diligent prosecutions”. Whatever that meant – except by arrangement! Such men have been enjoying their loots, but the effects of their actions on our national ethos remain negatively huge and far-reaching for up-coming youths.

    That is why it is not strange for private or corporals in the police, Department of State Services (DSS), military and their ranks in the civil service to ride in exotic vehicles and their superiors cannot challenge them. They dare not because the junior ranks even as messengers read through the files to discover the many unbelievable secrets of their superiors.

    Biting fuel scarcity

    Nigerians have the rights to be angry because of the pains of incessant fuel shortages. But, let Nigerians know the following truths:

    1. There has been no ruler in the recent years who openly asked Nigerians to forgive him for his inability to deliver on his promises in the first year of assuming office but with a resolve to double up effort and deliver in the next three years. President Buhari, according to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu, has granted more crude allocations to NNPC which hitherto had 450,000 barrels to refine for local consumption. About 250, 000 barrels or so in addition. This is a positive step taken to increase local production and reduce importation.
    • Contracts for Modular Refineries for which approvals would soon be granted for co-location with big refineries. When established, they will significantly reduce or even eliminate importation of petroleum products for domestic consumption. The Buhari-led administration should be commended for these bold initiatives and for not resorting to the usual quick-fix solutions.

    Now, let Buhari’s critics, the beneficiaries of subsidies, their hack writers, including fake and dubious petroleum importers and political opponents respond to the following?

    • Why is it that in the last 30 years, as the world sixth largest oil producer, Nigeria based its fule supply for domestic consumption on importation with its many negative consequences on the well-being of the people?
    • Why has there been no construction of refineries since the 1980s?
    • Why were the contracts for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries awarded with full payments for more than five times under – Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo and Jonathan? Yet, the refineries did not perform optimally and the contractors have neither been brought to account nor made to refund the money collected?
    • Why is it that the cost of prospecting for one barrel of crude oil is the highest in the world?
    • What is preventing private investors from establishing refineries after licence allocations?
    • Has subsidy not been exposed as the gradient fraud for 25 years in Nigeria with the current low price of petrol globally?
    • What has stopped Nigeria in the last two decades from taking its crude to Sierra Leone, Angola and nearby countries with idle refineries for refining and return same home? Oil importers and their collaborators have vehemently opposed such option.
    • Let us tell the public for once and for all that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other non-OPEC officers and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) during the administrations of Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo produced an authoritative templateas to the reasonable price for petrol in the country. But, why are we being forced and punished to pay for meaningless sub-heads like demurrage and gross administrative inadequacies and incompetence?
    • Is it therefore reasonable for anyone to accuse Buhari as clueless or incapable to govern because of petrol shortages whose foundation had been awkwardly constructed since the mid-80s?

    Corruption has robust patrons with wide network and notoriously influential, thereby making their acts becoming culturally assimilated and imbibed by not a few people including the younger folks. It is all about money and power and they are ever ready to kill for money.

    If we all fail to stand up to support General Buhari’s anti-corruption war, we should not be surprised that the war will lose both its vibrancy and focus. The promoters of corruption, who have subverted all public institutions till date, are possibly plotting how to sabotage Buhari so that they can resume their rhythm and dance afresh.

    We all know that Nigeria cannot survive another war. Many of these perverts have relocated overseas, waiting for the signal to return. How the surrogates and accomplices of the late Gen. Abacha and Dr Jonathan plundered the common wealth are being exposed we are not standing publicly to support the crusade against graft. If what we hear is the partisan noise of uninformed commentators and the illogical reasoning of strict enforcers of the “rule of law”, then there is need for vigilance.

    Nigerians should no more be grumbling silently. Let us organise ourselves on the streets, in group discussions to warn these depraved elements that Buhari deserves the support of all in his efforts to tackle corruption. From village to village, street by street, let us stop further fraternisation with these moneybags who wants to scuttle our collective march to greatness.

    Using the dubious enclaves of religion and ethnicity to distract from the genuine battle for the restoration of our lost national ethos is counter-productive. A thief has no other name. That he/she is from one ethnic group or religion cannot exonerate his/her anti-social conduct in the larger interest of the community. In Yoruba land, thieves are isolated. Their offspring usually have difficulty in finding spouses within their immediate communities.

    Like I said about eight months ago, President Buhari should use respected jurists including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to amend the law on corruption and to create special courts to fast-track corruption trials.

    Despite the grave consequences of graft, no one has been successfully prosecuted till date. That is not helpful to the struggle. The new Criminal Act Legislation 2015 is a good template but it needs further amendments to prevent the deliberate and needless delay being caused by intervening motions – the good and the ridiculous – which they have being using even up to Supreme Court to over prolong the trial of their clients.

    The corrupt and their accomplices will do everything to undermine for the restoration of the status quo. This must not be allowed.

  • I TALK TO WEEDS AND PLANTS- TRADO MEDICINE PRACTITIONER QUINCY AYODELE

    I TALK TO WEEDS AND PLANTS- TRADO MEDICINE PRACTITIONER QUINCY AYODELE

    Right from youth, Quincy Olasumbo Ayodele has had a natural attachment to nature. But she took her time, went through formal education and even worked in a bank. Not long, she stepped out and  established Quincy Herbal Slimmers, a leading herbal care centre in Nigeria. But that was 20 years ago. Today, easy-going ‘Quincy’, as she is fondly called, is a successful international businesswoman, a top socialite, grandmother and a consultant to the World Health Organisation(WHO) on herbal medicine. Despite it all, Quincy humbly says she’s just ‘a village girl.’ She spoke to PAUL UKPABIO on life as a young grandmother, junketing around the world promoting herbal medicine, among other issues. 

     

    What has been happening to you in recent times?

    A lot of positive things have been happening. God has taken me to where He promised me. We’ve started climbing the steps to the promised land. We have seen the promised land but we have not entered into it.

    You mean all these years, you were just moving towards the promised land?

    Yes, it was a journey but now we have seen it.

    How long has it taken you to get to where you are today?

    It has taken us 20 years.

    So what does the promise land look like from the point that you are seeing it today?

    It is promising, so bright; it is going to create generational wealth in my lifetime and for the generation to come. That is why it is a promised land. It took me several years to get here.

    Okay, you seem to have been talking in proverbs, can you break it down?

    (Laughs) Yes, right now, we have most of our medicinal plants in place, we have been able to make them into products that are now marketable both in Nigeria and all round the world. Presently, we are in the market in the United States of America; we are registered and our products are on sale;  we are also on the popular local online markets, while still being in our regular offices around the world.

    Another aspect of growth is that my daughters, who were going through the business journey with me, have finally finished their training and now running the business better than I was doing with modern technology. So you can see that I have seen the promised land, what is remaining, is to enter into it. We are now a big brand in Nigeria and all over the world. It is indeed a great feat for us to register our products in the American online market, it doesn’t come cheap. You have to be tested, trusted, licensed and approved by FDA. Our products have gone through those processes. We have skin products, health and slimming products and we have our line.

    What is your organisation hierarchy like now?

    The Almighty God is our Chairman and the rest of us are employees. I, as an employee of Quincy Herbal Slimmers, run the operations of the place, while Mrs Tobi Ayodele Keeney and Mrs Marita Abdul join me in directing the affairs along with our Matron, Mrs Comfort Awoseyi, and then the other passionate staff. For products, we have the Slimming Garri. We have been able to do a garri that slims for the Nigerian market. You mix it as if you are drinking garri. But it cannot be made into eba and it is not even made from cassava. The name garri has been adopted because you soak and drink it like garri in cold water. Also, you cannot drink it with fish or chicken like you drink your normal garri. This one, you have to drink it on its own for clinical effect. It contains traditional medicinal plants that reduce weight. There’s Tummy Blaster which takes care of people with potbelly. We also have our damaged skin repairer.

    Some years back, your products were in their natural form, but looking at them now, they are in re-packaged cans, can you explain this?

    My daughter told me that we have to move according to the trend and technology that is going on in the world, it took me about two years to accept that from her. But when she showed me the advantages that will accrue from that, we had to start to implement the new ideas. Initially, though I didn’t listen to her, I told her to leave me alone and let me be carrying my agbo (herbs) around the way it was (laughs). She told me that the way it was, a customer in Ghana or Europe will not be able to buy my agbo, the way I was carrying it around. And in traditional medicine, we have been continuously taught how we should package our traditional medicine. That is one of the requirements that the World Health Organisation puts before us. They told us that it is what they want. So eventually, I had no choice but to listen. But at the same time, I still carry my agbo for the local market and for those who want to see them in their natural form.

    But there used to be the problem of how to access dosage in traditional medicine, have you been able to solve that issue?

    Yes, there is now dosage in traditional medicine. From the packaging that we export, you can see the dosage written on each product. There is actually dosage for our products.

    How were you able to get a consistent dosage for herbal medicine?

    Like I said earlier, my daughter, Mrs Keeney, came into the business with me. She is a scientist who studied in America. We therefore had no choice but to go to the international market to see how they can develop us. And we got developed without losing the originality of the medicinal plants that we use. I insisted that the content of our products should remain original, no additives, no preservatives. We were able to find mentors in the international industry to develop us and re-package our products. Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t do all these in my earlier years. But then again, I think God’s time is the best.

    Over the years, your friends in the society complain that you are always too busy. Now that you have support from your daughters, are you still busy?

    (Laughs) I am still busy. With a mission and vision like this, I cannot sleep until I achieve the mission and goal. I am busy in the sense that it takes a lot to package these products and the process from the farm to the end product is cumbersome. Usually, I love to be there personally to supervise what they are packaging. I usually also test the new products myself before I release it into the market. All these keep me busy.

    What is your idea of success?

    It is the ability to start a project and end it well. My work keeps me busy because I am seeing the result.

    How do you cope as a career woman, a mother, a wife and a grandmother?

    I enjoy what I do; that keeps me going. If I was not enjoying it, there is no way I would have been able to cope. I do not see challenges in my work though there are. I sleep when there is no immediate pressure with work. But if there is pressure, I just keep on working. During the day, I work from different locations. I move from one place to another after work at each point. I also delegate a lot to my staff.

    How about the home front? How does your husband react to your being busy all the time?

    I am still in charge at the home front. After the Almighty God, it is my husband. He has been very supportive; he is also into the business with me. We do everything together. When I am not able to go to meet a particular situation, he stands in for me. That is how supportive he is.

    What is the future like?

    There is future wealth waiting for us and all those who join us. We are looking at a brand that should turn up like the great world brands. Those who started the world’s great brands have died and gone, but generations after are still on it. That is what I’m looking at for the future.

    Where do you find the time to go to the farm?

    That is part of my busy schedule. I still go to the farm because that is where we source all our traditional medicines from. Though for the sourcing, I also use the services of our Herbs and Ingredients Sellers Association of Nigeria, the Elewe Omo. For the medicinal plant that I cannot have the time to go and source, I call them and they source them for me. I know they cannot source fake ones for me. They are still there strong and active.

    But there was a time that you were strong and active in the association too.

    I am still a member and a matron.

    What role do you play as a matron?

    I give them lectures, teach them on medicinal plants, we just had a workshop where we looked at preservation of products, and my daughter normally teaches them hygiene, how they can keep their premises clean so that contamination and diseases can be avoided. My daughter is not only making impact on Quincy Herbal Slimmers, but she is also affecting the association and organising them. The average member in the association is rendering better services to the public now than before.

    But are more people coming into the herbal trade?

    It ought to be increasing; herbal medicine takes time before it yields results. It also requires knowledge. Once there was a rush, people thought I was busy making money, so they decided to come in. But when they came into the business and they gave patients medicine but it didn’t work, they were identified as fake. After some time, the fake ones had to leave.

    We hear that you are still travelling a lot.

    Yes, the activities of the World Health Organisation take me out a lot. I have been to Namibia, Angola, Mali, Senegal, several African countries. I have been to the African Union to deliver papers on traditional medicine. I am also an expert committee member of WHO on the development of African Traditional medicine and practices. I have delivered papers on systems and delivery of health care in the African continent. I have also delivered papers on how traditional medicine can be intergrated into the existing healthcare system.

    Are people embracing the African traditional medicine in other African countries the way it is being embraced in Nigeria?

    In most African countries, people embrace the traditional medicine even more than it is being embraced in Nigeria. And it seems like other African countries patronise it more than Nigeria, even though Nigeria remains the biggest market for traditional medicine. The reason is that though WHO has asked  African member-states to pass Traditional Medicine Bill-a lot of these other African countries have already passed the bill in their countries-but Nigeria is yet to do so.

    Why do you think the Nigerian government is yet to do so?

    I do not know. It is left for the Nigerian government to answer such question. We have put it in, but the bill is yet to be passed. The association has put it in, I do not know all the processes that bill is supposed to pass through, but I know that the Ministry of Health has also done something about it, but the bill is yet to be out. While I was the pioneer Secretary of the National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners, the umbrella body, we tried to push the passing of the bill, but nothing came out of it. Perhaps the current executive of the association is presently pushing for it.

    What role have you played in reforming the sector?

    As the secretary then, we were able to register about 5,000 practitioners. We also did a lot to make sure that NAFDAC does not register products without approval from the association and I also ensured that products do not carry spurious claims to efficacy in their advertisement. These were ways of sanitising the practice. We are still waiting for that bill, which will enable us to move faster in our practice in Nigeria.

    How about the education of practitioners?

    I read somewhere that Nigeria is planning to include the teaching of traditional medicine in university curriculum. I think the West African Health Association started that call for the inclusion of traditional medicine in schools across Nigeria, which was also my recommendation at the World Health Organisation level when I did a paper on collaboration. University of Ibadan was mentioned then, and I think if they have started it, then it means we are gradually getting there. But what will expedite action will be the Traditional Medicine Bill.

    Still on education, do you believe that some people could be trained to become traditional medical practitioners?

    In my own case it is in-born but yes people can be trained, but then it has to be people with passion to be in the field. More so when we are dealing with nature. Traditional medicine is different from orthodox medicine. In the former, in treating headache, you have to address the root cause. I believe that God also calls people to particular vocations.  In my case, God called me and I love plants, I love nature. I love greenery. I love flowers because of their aroma. It is from flowers that we get aroma. Flowers are also medicinal plants. No plant is useless. Nothing God created is useless; even those ones that are called weeds are useful. When I go to the farm, before I weed anything away, I look at the weed and try to find a message in them. I ask, ‘weed, why are you growing here?’ And I get the message.

    You mean you talk to the weeds? You talk to plants?

    Yes, I do (laughs).

    How’s life as a grandmother?

    My grandchildren are close to me; I look forward to seeing them regularly. They look up to me to inform them about life in the past. So I tell them moonlight stories, yes, a lot of stories about the Tortoise and they enjoy listening to it. I teach them about the Bible and they ask questions about ‘Daddy Jesus.’ That is how they call Jesus. They are growing and filled with the Spirit of God.

    As a socialite, do you feel compelled to attend parties?

    I do not attend all parties. I have kept a regular list of friends who I have known over the years in the course of my work. I still maintain these friends. You know, it is said that when you are going up the ladder, do not forget the people you meet on your way up. So when any of these friends has an event, I have to be there. And when I am at events I forget totally that I am Quincy, I just enjoy myself.

    Has your style changed over the years?

    I am the same Quincy, the same village girl that pioneered herbal medicine practice many years ago in the country. I have not changed that much. I love bright colours. I have also read a lot about the Chinese traditional medicine that incorporates bright colours, especially in the traditional healing practice, bright colours are symbolic. Such colours have meaning in traditional healing.

    Tell us, how has your background contributed to who you are today?

    My background helped me a lot. God helped me throughout. My father taught me that ‘humility costs you nothing, but gets you everything!’ So right from my humble background, I grew up to see and know that in life, I have to be humble and simple. I naturally take life as it comes. My father taught me that I should enjoy everything I do. I know that I am always in the limelight. Knowing that and also knowing that I am working hard to be there, makes me happy. And I enjoy it. Nothing has changed as far as I am concerned. I like what I am doing; that has helped me to cope with the various responsibilities that come my way. I thank God for giving me the strength to cope.

    What were your childhood dreams?

    Oh that, I had a childhood dream. When I was growing up, my dream was to be in a position where I care for as many as I can. I wanted to be able to cater to people. I wanted to take charge of my life and the lives of people around me and be able to care for them. Then I didn’t know that such dreams will eventually put me in the healing profession, but here I have found myself. So at the beginning, it was all just about caring for people. But now I have found out that caring for people is also about giving people healing and good health.

    What fashion accessories do you not do without?

    I am not very attached. As a matter of fact, sometimes I can go out without using necklace. I have no specific attachment to fashion accessories but I cannot do without perfumes. That has become a habit for me. I find it hard to take my eyes off good perfumes. I love perfumes. I am not a jewellery person. I don’t even buy them.

    Recently you received yet another award in respect of your work.

    There are so many of them. I thank God for those who keep noticing and appreciating our work. It also shows that we are having good impact on people out there. It means that we are having good impact on humanity; that is why the awards keep coming. I pray that I continue to be humble, in the sight of God and in the sight of fellow human beings.

    You travel for international programmes, how do you think that Nigeria is rated in terms of traditional medicine practice?

    In the international industry, Nigeria is seen as a leader in the practice and production of the traditional medicine products.

    And what do you feel about the political state of the country as it is now?

    I am proud of the present leadership of General Mohammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osibajo. I like their message of change, and the way they want to change our environment to meet up with the global level. I hope that this present government will not neglect the traditional medicine practice because this industry can be substantiated and enlarged. The medicinal aspect of the practice should be looked into, and not necessarily the fetish aspect. That is because there is money in it, especially now that it has been accepted globally.

    Nigeria can make extra income from exports to add to the GDP of the country. We should not just rely on oil money alone. We used to have the Presidential Industrialisation Committee on Traditional Medicine. I used to be a member of that committee inaugurated by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. He asked us to look into ways of commercialising traditional medicine. If the present administration can set up such, that will be nice. If we can commercialise traditional medicine, we will be able to make a lot of money in the country and more people will be employed.

  • ‘THE DIARY’ TALK SHOW DEBUTS

    ‘THE DIARY’ TALK SHOW DEBUTS

    WITH the aim of inspiring young people to pursue their dreams, a new show, The Diary, is set to hit the television screens soon.

    Set to make its debut on MNET Africa Magic and some other cable platforms from the next quarter, producers of the show say that it is targeted at creating a veritable platform for celebrities/guests to inspire the world by telling their stories, showcasing their works, interest and challenges in life and how they manage it.

    Producers say that the show seeks to, among other things, continually represent and bring to fore via the invited guests, what can be regarded as a safe, decent and good content that a lot of people can take inspiration from.

    The show is anchored by two versatile individuals; Kunle Pelemo (KP), a compere, TV presenter, singer and motivational speaker and Alayande Tosyne, a broadcaster, TV/Content enthusiast, fashion designer and make-over artist.

    According to Alayande Stephen Tolulope, the MD/CEO, Eagles House Global Resources, producers of the show, “the unique selling proposition of The Diary revolves around the untold stories and experiences of the guests which in itself makes the show very different and something to look forward to.”

    Producers also announced a successful completion of the first season which comprises of 15 episodes. Among celebrities who graced the show were Akin Lewis (A Veteran & multiple award winning Nollywood actor), Nomoreloss ( A Vocalist/Producer/Media personality), Baba De Baba (Comedian with the biggest Ear), Kiki Omeili (A Medical Doctor and Nollywood Actress), Joe El (An award winning Afro-Pop singer), Nikki Laoye (AFRIMA Award winning Inspirational singer), Simi (Jamb Question Crooner), Tim Godfrey (A multiple award Gospel artist), Kingsley Omoife (Producer/Director), Bimbo Ademoye (New Generation Nollywood Diva), AJ Dagga Tolar (A leading African renowned Poet, Author & Marxist), Tolulope Tolucci (A Media Entrepreneur/Youth Advocator), Tosin Ajirire (A Veteran Journalist/Author) and Deji Irawo (A Content/Media Person & Empowerment Trainer).

  • NGO engages ladies in leadership talk

    NGO engages ladies in leadership talk

    Representatives of Akintola and Akpabio Halls of Residence at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have collaborated with Wuliareads Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on literacy development, to organise Young Women Open Forum for female undergraduates of the institution.

    Tagged: #ProjectHerLifeMatters, the forum was aimed at improving participants’ knowledge in literature, leadership, health and career. The facilitators engaged the ladies on challenges they face in the university. The forum was facilitated by a team of four young women, including the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Vice President, Chinaza Nebo, a beauty queen, Diamond Okoh-Obiahu, and a blogger, Ada Monique.

    The speakers discussed how they were being able to successfully combine their academics with their passion.

    A medical practitioner, Dr Oluchi Ayogu of Bishop Shanahan Hospital in Nsukka, engaged the ladies on personal hygiene and how they could combat infections from their environment. There was also a free counselling session, where Dr Ayogu met one-on-one with the participants.

    Chimezie
    Chimezie

    Making vote of thanks, the NGO founder, Chimezie Anajama, said many ladies faced challenges because they lacked pragmatic power to deal with problems.

    She said: “Many students end up discovering their talents while they are in university. Some, who tried to do things on their own, may even end up not knowing how to accomplish those things. This is the reason we engage ladies in peer review to show participants that some of their colleagues are already flying even as undergraduates.”

    “Women are partners in nation-building and we must build good future for ourselves. We must be literate and equipped for that future. Women must know that literacy is not just about learning to read and write, but also using our talents to build a society we want.”

    Chimezie urged the participants to read beyond their academic scopes. She added: “It is not really the books you read and your exams that define who you are, but the knowledge you have outside the classrooms play huge impact.”

  • ENYIMBA VS TARABA: Nduka rubbishes ‘no contest’ talk

    ENYIMBA VS TARABA: Nduka rubbishes ‘no contest’ talk

    FC Taraba head coach, Ndubuisi Nduka has rubbished the league clash ‘no contest’ talk between his side and hosts, Enyimba.

    The bottom placed side will be the guests of league leaders, Enyimba in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 25 clash at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

    Nduka said his side are not going for sightseeing in Aba but to fight for the three points at stake in the encounter already dubbed ‘David and Goliath’.

    “All the negative remarks on the match-up are quite good for us, we are happy being rated as underdogs in Sunday’s (today) clash at Enyimba. Enyimba pose near invincible record at home and even before kickoff bookmakers have awarded the three points in the match to them.

    “However, I understand that football is 90 minutes contest, I understand, too that nobody can justifiably lay claims to the three points until the last whistle.

    “I must hasten to say that we are not in Aba to watch the beauty of the city, we are there to fight for the three points at stake. We are going to fight for the duration of the game aimed at taking home a decent result.

    “The goalless draw against Bayelsa United in Jalingo was not because we did not play well or outplayed, we simply had a bad day, a day nothing worked for us. We have a good team that will match Enyimba in the game and I’m hopeful we won’t go home empty-handed,” said the former Heartland coach to supersport.com.

    FC Taraba are at the base of the 20-team Nigerian top flight on paltry 20 points from possible 72 in the 24-week old league.