The Nation Newspaper

Tag: through

  • ‘N1.6b was raised for church through Jonathan’

    Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s former aide Dr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the N1.6billion he was accused of concealing was part of money raised for a church.

    He said the former President gave him instructions on how to keep the money for the church.

    Dudafa opened his defence before Justice Mohammed Idris, following the dismissal of his no-case submission.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him and a banker, Iwejuo Joseph Nna, on June 11, 2016 on a 23-count charge of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to N1.6billion.

    EFCC said they used companies to launder the money between June 2013 and June 2015.

    But, led in evidence by his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), Dudafa said the money was part of N6billion raised towards the building of St. Stephen’s Youth Development Centre, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, by the Anglican Communion of Otuoke community.

    He said: “From my interactions with former President Jonathan, I know that the funds were proceeds of a launching by the Anglican Communion of Otuoke community for the building of St. Stephens Youth Development Centre, Otuoke.

    “The launching, done in Lagos on March 16, 2013, was organised by the former president as a member of the Anglican Communion and grand patron.

    “About N6 billion was realised from the event. People made donations at the event, while the chief launcher, Prince Arthur Eze, donated $10 million (about N1.8 billion). The donation by the chief launcher was a pledge, which he promised to fulfil in piece-meal.

    “When Prince Eze started redeeming his pledge in piece-meal, the former president directed that I get somebody in the private sector that would keep the fund.

  • If Nigeria must break through

    With the efforts at the executive arm of government to inspire change in all ramifications in Nigeria, there is a silver lining of a breakthrough in the country. The notion of a breakthrough is reaching the desired destination from a torturous journey, not by magic or miracle but by a definitive and systematic process that requires careful planning and patience. This is the gist of President Muhammadu Buhari’s thesis on process reform instead of restructuring obsession while addressing the nation on Monday.

    So, in what way must we reform our processes or must we act to achieve that systematic breakthrough?

    There is no doubt that every responsible government acts in the interest of the public, as whatever the government chooses to do or not is the open definition of public policy. Today, we blame our government and the leadership for every ill that plagues our land, expecting it to act with dispatch in public interest. Yet, if government must act with the urgency and intensity we expect, it must necessarily abridge the diverse and often conflicting vested interests that have limited our ability to reach our full national potentials. Therefore, it must step not only on the mighty cancerous toes causing extreme pains in our body politic, but also crush the feeble viral fingers of criminal toddlers.

    The problem with our nation is the erosion of a national culture built on integrity. Integrity is defined as an unimpaired character that stands public scrutiny, demonstrated by a well-ordered private and public life devoid of moral or material corruptibility. When integrity is asphyxiated in any polity, the essence of public service is lost as hedonism and pursuit of vested interests take over the instinct of virtually every stakeholder. We all lament that our constitution is deficient in certain areas and advocate that our nation must be guided by the rule of law, yet we are not united around the core value of integrity that needs to be addressed for the protection of our collective national interest. We all cry for national rebirth or reform without appreciating the depth integrity deficit in our polity.

    There are three dimensions to the compromise of this core value in Nigeria: abdication of public service, professionalization and desecration of politics and celebration of corruption. The sin of abdication of public service is a product of the desecration of the noble art of politics and condoning of corruption in public and private life in the country. Mahatma Gandhi, the man Indian deify as father of the nation, in 1925 illustrated these vices as politics without principle, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity and worship without sacrifice. Our nation rates very high in all these disturbing indices, needing serious and collective intervention. In discreet and practical terms, our government must make fundamental decisions that would produce radical changes in our culture of disdain and corruption. This of cause is the fulcrum of the president’s idea of process reform.

    There is optimism that the various reform initiatives of the government will manifestly address these issues. At the street level however, the understanding of reform is withdrawal of rights and privileges and curtailment of freedoms. Therefore, it induces trepidation and rejection. Yes, reform may seem punitive (and of course would ‘block’ some vested interests), its longer term goals and objectives are to ensure equilibrium in the society by expanding access to national wealth, ensuring provision of public goods and services and guaranteeing protection of life and properties of all citizens.

    The urgency with which we want the government to address the accumulated challenges of the nation demands the initiation and pursuit of radical reform policies that must definitely inconvenience many interest groups during the process of implementation. Such reform process will manifest in rigid state control, seeming over-regulation of public life with strong monitoring, compliance and deterrence strategies of enforcement that are punitive in outlook. But we cannot in a world of democracy and human rights afford official high-handedness and return to a police state. Without being overly prescriptive, what our nation needs in this difficult moment is the regulation of our public life in a manner that does not cause extreme dislocation, nor induce shock and glut.

    Since our first sin in Nigeria is the abdication of public service, we need a restoration of pride in public service through consolidation and alignment of the public sector with recognition, empowerment and reward of bureaucrats and technocrats who are invaluable to national growth and development but have suffered a high degree of de-motivation and insecurity in the recent past.  The pursuit of our national reform project must be real and tangible in its criminalization of corruption in all its ramifications. It must of cause seek to de-professionalize political offices, but ensure that only citizens with impeccable record in public and private sector management are attracted into politics to continue “to serve with integrity”.

    The seed of our national reform should be sown in benchmarking our national core value on this vital index of good governance. Our reform agenda should be capable of exorcising the nation of the cardinal sins illustrated by Mahatma Gandhi. In assuming public office and conducting public affairs, we must adhere to the Seven Principles of Public Life, the Nolan Principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. Reforming Nigeria is a hydra-headed challenge, demanding a 360 degrees attention to reach our Canaan. We must acknowledge and respect the genuine agitations of many Nigerians on the future of our country but such agitations and expressions will be meaningless if the fundamental issue of evolving a national culture built on integrity is not addressed. This should be our beacon as we engage ourselves in the subject of National Rebirth, Restructuring or Reform.

    Happily, President Muhammadu Buhari has in his national broadcast of Monday, given an insight into what a New Nigeria will look like with the definitive actions he has outlined to cleanse the rot in our country. The President believes we should pay special attention to process, beyond obsession with restructuring. I seem to agree with him. Most of our processes of ensuring distributive justice are fundamentally flawed. They are the reason for the agitation for restructuring. So, when the processes are fixed, it will even be easier to achieve restructuring without controversy or threat to our corporate existence.

    The critical and urgent nature of the reform process however demands a correct appreciation from players in the mass media as providers of public service, through the style and content of our mediation or moderation of issues in the public sphere, by setting the agenda for reform in way and manner we frame issues and problems. The existence of trust between the government, the citizen and the press, and involvement at every stage of policy making process through public deliberation or participation will smoothen our ride along the difficult path of reform and inspire our preparedness for change.

    This is the essence of change; after all, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.

    • Solanke is of Voice of Nigeria, Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • Halfway through

    The four-year democratic term of President Muham-madu Buhari’s administration yesterday crossed the halfway mark.

    Not a few Nigerians were highly hopeful at the inception of this administration that all the problems bedevilling the country will vanish overnight.

    They were more or less expecting the government to wave a kind of magic wand that will solve all the problems and automatically transform the country.

    But from the beginning of the current administration, the government had raised alarm that it met an empty treasury while the international prices of oil that hovered over $100 per barrel during the last administration crashed as low as $30 per barrel for a better part of last two years. The economy is largely dependent on oil.

    With the lean purse greatly impeding the government’s masses-oriented programmes, the administration said that it will take some time to clear the mess left behind by the last administration.

    Two years down the lane, there is not much difference in the story.

    While the government is still striving to put the nation on the path of growth, it is believed that it is too early to assess the government as it has a four-year term to work and not two years.

    Midway into the administration, some Nigerians have scored the government high on its anti-corruption drive and on its efforts to secure the country.

    But they felt that the economy is still not doing well as it is still in recession and many Nigerians adversely affected by the harsh economic environment.

    Some of the remarkable achievements of the government in the last two years, according to them, can be found under security and anti-graft battle.

    Apart from rescuing over 100 Chibok Secondary School girls from the insurgents, Boko Haram, a few weeks back, the administration had reclaimed the 14 local governments’ areas in the Northeast under the control of the insurgents in May 2015.

    The dreaded Sambisa forest where the insurgents freely operated from also fell to the Nigerian security agencies. The military unveiled its plans to turn the forest to training ground for officers and men of the Armed Forces.

    While there is now free movement of citizens in the Northeast, millions of internal displaced persons resulting from the activities of Boko Haram, have started movement back to their villages and communities.

    Relative peace has also returned to the Niger Delta region, where militants were blowing up pipelines and oil installations.

    On its anti-graft battle, while some Nigerians felt that the government has been selective, many others have given kudos to the Buhari’s administration.

    Apart from some Nigerians still in detention over alleged theft of government money, many others in the last two years have been returning stolen assets acquired under the past administration to Buhari government.

    Under the current administration, the dragnet has been capturing more suspects while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have also been storming some residential premises and offices.

    Based on tips from whistle-blowers, EFCC has been able to recover large sums of local and foreign currencies.

    The government has also recorded great achievements by enforcing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) blocking many fraudulent loopholes.

    President Buhari administration is said to be succeeding with the policy, which was started by the last administration, by giving political will and support and support to ensure its execution.

    Through the policy, the government has centralisation records domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Thousands of ghost workers are said to have been uncovered in the last two years through the policy, while billions of naira is said to have been saved by the government.

    The Power, Works and Housing Sectors of the economy have also been identified as a hub in the drive to improve infrastructure by the administration across the country, to create jobs and serve as a    springboard to reflate the economy.

    The three sectors, which were said to be better funded in 2016, have through its activities created over 9,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect jobs in the Power Sector.

    The works sector has also employed approximately 17,749 direct jobs and over 52,000 indirect jobs.

    Also in the Housing Sector, due to the National Housing Programme initiative introduced by the government targets 1060 housing blocks of various house types, totaling 2,736 mix housing

    units to the National Housing Stock.

    Through the initiative, 542 local contractors have been empowered nationwide, 13,680 direct jobs created and 41,040 indirect jobs created through this initiative. Other housing programmes like the PPP Housing scheme, Ministerial Housing Initiative programme etc have created approximately 500 direct jobs and over 5,000 indirect jobs (suppliers, food vendors and others).  The following sector by

    sector analysis gives an insight into the activities of the Ministry in the last two years.

    On the power sector, the average generation of Power at the inception of this administration in May 2015, which was 3,324MW, increased to 4,357MW in August 2015 and rose to a peak generation of 5,077MW in February 2016.

    But presently, the generation is on average of about 3000MW as a result of spate of gas infrastructure vandalism and low level of water in the dam during dry season that affected the output of the 3 main Hydro Power Stations.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on the two years anniversary, the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, last Tuesday, said “We have the achievement chronicled in the three key areas, this administration has three focal points, securing the country, fighting corruption and reviving the economy.

    “So we have in the area of economy phasing out of subsidy regimes for petroleum products and fertilizers, you have the anchor borrowers programme in which the CBN is assisting farmers particularly to grow rice, we have the presidential fertiliser initiative, support for micro small and medium enterprises, the new Developmyent Bank of Nigeria, ease of doing business reform successes and so many others.

    “We have achievements in the area of infrastructure with details then alignment of monetary fiscal policies, a new social housing programme and am sure you all reported it that N1.2 trillion was released for capital expenditure in 2016 budget year. This is a record in this country, then we have the social investment programme in which all the four components have taken off.

    “We have strategic engagement with OPEC and in the Niger Delta, we know that there is relative peace in the Niger Delta now compared to what we had in 2016 and then the new vision for that region of the country.

    “There are beneficial government to government partnerships with China and Morocco, we have all the details, the national economic recovery and growth plan has also been launched, in the area of anti-corruption and transparency, we have the presidential initiative on continuous audit we have budget reforms that have been put in place and then the TSA, this government met it but expanded it and you know strides that have been taken in the area of TSA.

    “Development of BVN for payroll and social investment programmes, you know that through the use of BVN for payroll, over 20,000 ghost workers were weeded out of the civil service, there is replacement of old cashed based accounting system with an accrual based system.

    “The country enlisted into the open government partnership and there is a national action plan of the OGP global summit in Paris,France in December 2016.

    “We have asset recovery reforms of long standing petroleum sector cash call arrangements and so many others. We have the new whistle blowing policy.” he added

    While many Nigerians are waiting for the promised change to manifest to transform the country in every sector and reduce hardship in the land, it is hoped that the next two years will be better than the first two years of this administration.

    Not only bringing the economy out of recession, but placing it on a path of sustainable growth.

     

  • Through the looking-glass

    • (To the ‘press boys’ or ‘Gentlemen of the press?’)

    Now, the truth has fewer moments. History is as we tell it and every day, we fabricate new histories with sore rhetoric. Our fitful dalliances tender fresh traceries of chaos in cataclysmic garments we love to adorn as needle points, on the pasty bosoms of our motherland.

    Fangled stitches, in-bred strife and hate-entanglements resonate in our news pages, on to the streets, into our strife-torn yards. And so we re-enact towering tragedies on impulse, fabricating new beginnings from no ends and disastrous endings from bogus beginnings.

    All these because we crave a new car; because we lust for a trophy wife, ‘nouveau riche’ status and concubines. Our lust for money pushes us to do several hideous things. Every hour, it turns thousands who could have overcome its darkness into eternal addicts to the base and inane. For the love of a lousy buck, many a Nigerian journalist dies, everyday.

    The Nigerian journalist will sell his closest friend and colleague, and the entire Fourth Estate out at the blink of an eye.

    Now, everybody stares at us with contempt. Naked in the storm of their maddening glare, we have grown to know insult; now we love and understand it as inseparable part of our calling.

    Nothing distinguishes us from dispensable hooligans-for-hire save our obsequiousness to serve, albeit with remarkable élan, and our desperation to function as anything and everything, including a soundboard for clichés and sham realism –innate essence of our socio-politics. We have become the stamen that lets down the azalea, the comforter that brings grief, and the emissaries of needless hate.

    One hundred and fifty six years of print journalism and 56 years of broadcast journalism yet we are still that pitiful band with no lasting legacy save all that could be termed loathsome and fundamentally offensive.

    The grammar of our language has since been fathomed by those whom we seek to chaperon. The tenor of our thinking, owing to our customary habit of allowing each sentence trail off in sophistry and confusion, tears at our reasoning and cochlea meaning nothing, substantiating naught and denoting only calumny, deceit, greed and all that cowardice and double-speak ever gives.

    Our lamentations are of bad leadership but even now that we are in position to unlearn every perfidy that we have learnt and denounce the hypocrisies that drives us to beatify shams and delusions as the soundest of truths while we canonise reality as the genesis of farce, we dither.

    We do not inform. We do not educate. Not enough anyway, for every story and analysis we have run till date beclouds every parameter that we have set, to identify and challenge true leadership when it wavers in our face.

    We are still the watchdogs desperately playing lapdogs and regretfully, junkyard dogs of the ruling class. Our “fearless” barks still resound like the chatter of enfant terrible rodents crisscrossing our dilapidated rooftops.

    We do not speak to power although we love to beat our chests that we do. If we do really, then we would have enlightened the electorate to the candidate whose politics deserve our mandate and patronage; we would have alerted the electorate to those expectations and demands we are meant to enshrine and perpetuate in the face of political campaigns primed only to befuddle and entertain.

    If we are truly as visionary as we claim to be, we wouldn’t find much substance in such issues as the religious inclinations of Muhammadu Buhari nor would we find much to interest us in incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan; we would not find much to project as the likely benefits of keeping President Jonathan in power come February 14.

    We would rather be bent on reflecting the citizenry’s insistence that their mandate counts in the election of the proverbial candidate whose leadership will titillate measure, while his deeds become the thrust of timeless odes and narratives.

    If we truly possess dauntless intelligence, professionalism and understanding of our socio-politics, we would teach the nation to explore the politics and soul of at least one candidate in order to trust him.

    We would have set the agenda for every manner of campaign that every manner of “messiah” would incorporate and propagate. We would write through decadence and filth to silence the neurotic tick-tock of midnight before it smothers totally, the sunny whispers of dawn.

    Were we as patriotic and professional as we claim to be, we would endeavour to become something more than disposable pawns in the designs of political parties and candidates with the most hideous plans; we would write not what we have been paid to write but what we honestly ought to write.

    If we are truly as honourable as we would like to be addressed, we would strip every candidate and their apologists of the smokescreen that deceives, like the leverage of incumbency, wealth, power and deceitful imagery we continually launder and foster; we would present each candidate in the light of his vanities, idiosyncrasies, politics and citizenship of humanity and every time, we get to interview him – no matter how desperate he is to be portrayed as the best president or governor Nigeria would ever have. We would, among other things, ask the questions that reveal and infuriate, not just because it is trendy and impressive to do so but because it is those questions they labour to avoid that matter.

    If we are truly the statesmen we pride ourselves to be, we shall desist from profiling the candidates that emerge in the light of vanities we seek to satisfy, like our desire to own a house, acquire a posh car, join an elite club, foot education bills and increase our bank accounts; all these things we shall hopefully acquire under the leadership that improves and furthers, if we could take the pains to install it.

    Today, we see the death of chivalry and reason because we are desperate enough to demean the powers of our Fourth Estate. We have chosen to play errand boys to even the least honourable political public office holder, party chieftain and thug.

    That is why for all the bluster we muster, pimping and syndicating highfaluting articles, “Special Investigations” and “Truths of the matter” that are as relative as our inclinations to submit and play dumb, we remain among other things, emissaries of distrust and rancour and pitiful pawns in the designs of every contestant and godfather with a deep-pocket.

    We do not get it, still; although we think we do just because we manage to pretend to do so. We are still as impotent as our words. Beneath our bloated affectations of high character, our lives remain sketchier than we wish they are but our people do not know so. Thus some of them read us and listen, still.

    But who is it that actually listens? Who are those whose lives we impact by our pretentious lines and mercantile intellectualisation? The trodden perhaps or could it be our benefactors in power? If only we could understand our strength and substance, we would know that there is no true activist except us; we would know that there is no powerful kingmaker than we could ever become. Perhaps we do, we are just too selfish for

     

  • Doing it better through tourism

    Doing it better through tourism

    Tourism is now a major engine of growth and development contributing significantly to Gross Domestic Product of many nations.

    Arising from the Earth Summit in 1992 organised by World Commission on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, sustainability has become a major ingredient for development.

    This book takes a cue from the publication of the World Tourism Organisation ( Indicators of Sustainable Development of Tourism Destination a Guidebook) to further help and inform Policy Makers and Destination Managers to obtain as much information as possible to guide their decision making process.

    To further articulate and interpret the subject matter, a set of component issues are provided including its performance indicators and verification to allow deeper knowledge. Sustainable development of tourism is applicable to all forms of tourism without exception.

    Tourism destination cannot exist without tourism product. Tourism products are the assets of the local community. They include complimentary attractions such as natural resources (beaches, waterfalls, mountains, ecosystems and landscapes) cultural and historical resources (festivals, historic sites, museums, local food) infrastructural facilities (roads, marinas, airport terminals) and support services ( tour operations, courier services, insurance, tourist information office etc).

    These attractions are planned in an integrated manner with the community aspiration and their active participation. The planning also involves creating partnership with other stakeholders such as travel agents, the tour operators, the hotel owners, the transporters  and owners of the heritage sites to mention but a few.

    These attractions are planned in an integrated manner with the community aspiration and their active participation.  The planning also involves creating partnership with other stakeholders such as the travel agents, the tour operators, the hotel owners, the transporters and owners of the heritage sites to mention but a few.

    There should be fundamental principles of creating tourism products, its development guidelines, planning process and marketing strategy.  Planners are encouraged to develop as many as what to see and what to do because tourism products are amalgamation of attractions, because the more of what to do and what to see; the more the visitors are attracted to the destination.

    The author made reference to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Environmental Programme, which set out twelve aims towards achieving sustainable development through tourism.

    From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Human Development Report of 2003 reviewed in 2011 and 2013 respectively, it was reported that these aims are set to reduce poverty in the world.   Already over 1.2 billion people are in extreme poverty level.  More than two-third of them live in Asia, half of them are in South Asia while one fourth reside in Sub-Sahara Africa.  The larger majority of the poor live in medium and large size countries.  More than sixty percent of the event world’s poor reside in just five countries and other less developed nations live in hunger and malnutrition, lack access to good health, water, housing, education and basic skills.

    The book tourism development is recommended to some of these countries as a means of combating poverty thereby reducing their poverty level and improving their quality of life.

    The overall objective of the concluding part of the book is to identify specific policy areas for which policy implementation can be formulated to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the people.  The policy area articulated include conservation of physical integrity, visitor’s fulfilment, economic viability of tourism enterprises, its local prosperity, employment opportunities and the impact on the wellbeing of the local population.

    Visitors appeals are the attractions of the destination which could be natural, cultural, historical and manmade.  Maintenance and conservation of the attractions with respect to local circumstance are subject to policy formation.  Government is encouraged to develop appropriate policies that will bring about deliberate actions towards sustainable development.

    Sustainable development of tourism requires sound planning as well as protection and management of key elements such as destination assets, involvement of the local community and other stakeholders.

    Where no plan exists in a locality, it becomes imperative to identify possible assets and collate data on all elements associated with tourism potentials and threats.   Where a plan exists, then evaluate current tourism plan, issues and objectives to improve upon the existing system and initiate plans in consonance with sustainable development of tourism.

    The chapter is designed to provide in-depth study on destination planning and development by throwing more lights on tourism and planning, destination elements and characteristics, types of planning approach, destination development and control including parties that make tourism work at a destination.  Policy Makers and Destination Managers are encouraged to understand the planning process in tourism and what makes tourism work sustainably in a destination.

    Who has the mandate to plan and manage tourism destination?, the author asks.

    He went further in the publication to describe tourism as multi-sectorial and multi-discipline where no single entity (stakeholder) can lay absolute acknowledge to its management.  It bore on the importance of destination managers to understand the policy behind sustainability.

    The highlight of the success of the any destination is based on the following:

    •Emphasis on poverty reduction and increase on the quality of life of the local residents;

    •Protection of unique ecosystem, heritage sites and places of memory.

    •Establishment of the role of private sector in the planning, financing, implementation and ownership of the tourism operations;

    •Ensuring that the poor play active  role in the supply of goods and services including management of destinations;

    •Development of effective marketing and promotion strategies;

    •Co-ordination of essential government services;

    •Creating awareness among the stakeholders and the local community;

    •Ensuring implementation of regulation and control throughout the destination area.

    Tourism Destination Management; A Guide for Policy Makers and Destination Management gives an insight into the roles of various stakeholders and the Destination Management Organisation in the overall management of the destinations.

    Tourism destination is a place where visitors spend atleast one night. It covers a geographical and administrative boundary where products and services are offered to the visitors.

    Visitors in turn absorb complimentary and experiences, and share same with other (friends, families, colleagues and group).  These complimentary and experiences are expectations.  They could either be interesting or unpleasant.  It is a place where several actors and stakeholders nest, network and offer their services.  They are not limited to the following; public authorities, destination management organizations, transport operators, accommodation providers, heritage conservators, travel agent, tour operators, tour guide, financial institutions, other ancillaries and service providers including the host community.

    Destinations vary depending on their assets and unique attractions.  While issues affecting one destination may be similar to the other but several destinations are distinct in their attractiveness.  This chapter is designed for tourism professionals and managers of destinations to understand and appreciate the complexity, flexibility, similarity and uniqueness of destinations.

    It is certainly possible that issues affecting cultural heritage sites in the areas of protection and conservations are likely to have similar issues of ecosystem and biodiversity with beaches and coastal zones.

  • Serena going through ‘difficult period’

    Serena going through ‘difficult period’

    Serena Williams is going through a “difficult period”, her coach Patrick Mouratoglou has said.

    World No1 Williams suffered her earliest Wimbledon defeat since 2005 last month as she lost to France’s Alize Cornet in the third round at SW19.

    The 32-year-old American has not been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam in 2014, but Mouratoglou said she is already focused on attempting to regain her form at the US Open next month and also denied suggestions of a rift between the pair.

    “Serena is clearly going through a difficult period. But since Wimbledon, we have had long hours of talks and we are getting back to work,” Mouratoglou told Tennis Magazine France.

    “Today she is in the mood to get back to training so she can return even stronger. At no time was there any question of us stopping our collaboration.

    “I have never discussed private matters and I am not going to talk about them now. There have been difficult things. For sure, Serena is in a difficult phase but I will leave it there.”

  • I’m going through hell at Rangers – Obuh

    I’m going through hell at Rangers – Obuh

    Embattled Rangers coach John Obuh has admitted he has endured a rather difficult time at the club.

    But at the same time, he insisted the problems have been more to do with players’ morale than what happens on the pitch.

    ‘The Flying Antelopes’ are a lowly 15th on the table with 24 points after the first round of the Nigeria Premier League.

    However, former Nigeria Under 20 coach Obuh has argued he inherited a rash of problems when he joined the team which he never knew existed and the players’ low spirit had been most worrisome.

    “Honestly speaking, it has been very difficult and tough. Unfortunately, most of the events that led to this happened before I joined the team and I inherited all of them,” argued Obuh, who has been handed a four-match ultimatum for the start of the next round of the campaign.

    “However, I am not afraid of these problems as I know that they won’t kill me, but rather make me stronger on the job.

    “These problems are related to the human mind with regards to the players, who are the chief actors, over the non-fulfillment of their financial entitlements by the management.”

  • Heartland, Enyimba through to Round of 32

    Heartland, Enyimba through to Round of 32

    Former Champions, Heartland barely booked a ticket to the next round of the Federation Cup after they battled hard to survive the scare of rookies, Ebonyi United to nick a place in the Round of 32 at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba yesterday.

    Happy Okuoka got the Naze Millionaires’ only goal and the team from Ebonyi State did not allow the intimidating credentials of the premier league campaigners to cage them into submission.

    The game ended a goal apiece at the end of regulation time before Heartland triumphed 4-3 on penalties.

    Federation Cup defending champions, Enyimba had to come back from a goal down before beating Sokoto North 3-1 at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja.

    Goals from John Uche, Abdulrahman Bashir and Bobby Sokari cancelled out Sokoto North’s opener and secured them a place in the Round of 32.

  • Lagos to develop sport through infrastructure

    Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund (LSSEF) has embarked on a bold move to revolutionise sports development in Lagos State through public private sector initiative.

    The LSSEF, which was reactivated by the Fashola administration, has released a plan that would involve all major stakeholders from the public and private sectors, to take sports to the next level in the state, through massive infrastructural development.

    At a maiden Town Hall meeting held in Lagos last week as part of its efforts to raise funds for sports development where critical stakeholders assembled, the board of the LSSEF speaking through its chairman Real Admiral Anthony Oni (rtd), said the body will continue to work assiduously to encourage public-private sector to support sports in the state.He also presented its plan to build sports centers’ across all the local councils in the state, to promote grassroots sports development amongst the youths.

    The chairman reaffirmed the commitment of the LSSEF to keep refining and reviewing its priorities on a regular basis to keep abreast of achieving its set goals, which is sourcing funds through partnership to develop sport infrastructure in Lagos state.

    He said that the fund was set up to provide strategic leadership, impetus and funding for sports in Lagos State with a renewed clarity of purpose and a focused approach to working with their partners to make a difference for and through sports.

    Also speaking at the event Executive Secretary of LSSEF, Mr.Tunde Bank-Anthonytouched on the composition of the LSSEF board as a well balanced decision making organ comprising five representatives at directorate level from the Lagos State government and10 representatives from the private sector as a way of building confidence of all critical stakeholders in the adjudication and channeling of mobilized funds to achieve the desired objectives.

    The executive secretary stressed on the immediate plan of the body to embark on a road show to sensitize the fifty three local councils and local council development areas in the state to bring them on board in the fund mobilization drive to build sports infrastructures in the state.

    The Chairman of the occasion, Chief MoladeOkoya-Thomas charged the LSSEF to involve the community in their plans and in their bid to raise funds and support for the project, while also calling for massive support of the private sector in the project to develop sports in Lagos state.

    In the main presentation on the theme; “Sports Development and Social Engineering; The Role of the Private and Public sector”, Mr. TunjiAdeyinka, managing director of Connect Marketing noted that an endowment fund is a necessity in a state like Lagos for sustained investment in sports.

  • Heartland, Akwa through to the last 8

    Heartland, Akwa through to the last 8

    Heartland the defending champions of the Federation Cup are through to the quarter final of the competition after they edged Sharks of Port Harcourt 5-4 on penalties at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

    The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes before both sides resulted to the spot kick with Bright Ejike getting the curtain raiser for Heartland against his former club while Tayo Fabiyi got the equaliser for the Blue Angels.

    The Naze Millionaires proved to be more potent than their opponent as they scored 4 and Sharks converted only 3 during the penalty kick.

    At U J Esuene Stadium, Akwa Starlets halted the aspirations of Abia Warriors as they defeated the Abia State reps 2-0 through goals from Utibe Achibong and Jelili Adebola. Both goals were scored in the first half.

    Warri Wolves, Nasarawa United and Akwa United also progressed after beating Niger Tornadoes, Sunshine Stars and Enugu Rangers in that order.

    The Rangers/Akwa United cracker took place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium,Owerri with Akwa United having the upper hand.

    The boys from Uyo got the first goal through Stephen Adah in the 28th minute but the Flying Antelopes fought back gamely and scored the leveller through Pierre Coly whose header rested at the back of Akwa United net.

    Akwa United did not allow the equaliser to weigh them down and at the restart of the second half, they were the better side and deservedly got the second goal which eventually decided the tie in the 60th minute through an own goal scored by Ousmane Sane. The Senegalese national’s desperate attempt to clear a goal bound ball ended diverting the ball into his own net.