By Yemi Babalola, Lagos

Akwa United on Sunday 15 October 2017 emerged champions of the AITEO Cup (formerly known as the Federations Cup). The team defeated Niger Tornadoes 3-2 via Penalties, after playing goalless at full time.

Knowing that both teams are former champions of the competition with Niger Tornadoes winning the title 17 years ago and Akwa United just two seasons ago did prove that it would be a tough cracker between both sides. With Tornadoes starting vibrantly in both halves of the match. The match saw both sides having chances that were not converted into a goal during the fixture until it took penalties to decide who would scoop the title.

During the spot kicks, Niger Tornadoes were able to convert just two of their five spot kicks. While Akwa united on their part converted three with substitute Okechukwu Gabriel scoring the decider for his side.

The Most valuable player of the competition was Akwa’s goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke, who was also awarded the Goalkeeper of the tournament. As teammate, Christian Pyagbara was the highest goal scorer of the competition.

Akwa United having won this title would be joining former league champions Enyimba on the continent at the CAF Confederations Cup next season. Speaking about why teams representing Nigeria on the continent do not do so well, Coach of Akwa United Abdu Maikaba advised that ‘’teams should plan well, avoid mistakes like overhauling the whole team, that would eliminate the issue of continuity in the team.Overhauling the whole team it means it’s another build up and it would take time, so it is better to do it with the players that achieved this feat’’.

The final had in attendance the CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, the governors of Lagos and Akwa Ibom, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Governor Emmanuel Udom respectively. Other football dignitaries in attendance are the NFF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFF Vice Presidents, LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko, and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.

By Jutha Gupah Maiduguri

The Secretary General of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Jan Egeland has said that 1.6 million displaced persons in the North-East are not ready to return home, because of insecurity to lives and property.
Egeland disclosed this on Sunday in Maiduguri in a new report he released to journalists at the NRC office, off Damboa Road.
He said when 86 per cent or 1.55 million of IDPs show the NRC that they are not ready to go home; they should not be forced to return by government or agency.
The report titled: “Not Ready to Return,” also warned: “The findings of the report are indisputable. When 86 per cent of people tell us they aren’t ready to go home yet, we must listen. This cannot fall on deaf ears.”
Egeland said that the affected people must decide to return of their own free will, warning that; “Coercing communities to move home is a deadly recipe set to worsen the conflict that has claimed many lives and property.”
He said over 80 per cent of people who are unwilling to return home; in the immediate future attributed insecurity to continue stay put.
“Attacks against civilians are on the rise; and members of the communities feel scared,” said Egeland on IDPs’ fears to return home.
The Nigerian military has recently gained ground in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism.
In response, the armed group has stepped up attacks on soft targets, which include markets and sites sheltering displaced persons on the outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis and other liberated communities.
Egeland further warned: “While the end game is for communities to return home. The unfortunate truth is that pushing people back now; will have harmful consequences.”
On state of security of camps, the report said: “An overwhelming 85 per cent of people living in formal camps tell us they feel safer there than where they were before; despite the deplorable attacks on camps.”
He said even if the security situation improves, 50 per cent of the interviewed in the report say their houses were destroyed in the conflict; while 48 per cent of IDPs do not have information about the current state of their homes.
This indicated that the figure could be much higher. The report recommended that the overall security situation must improve, so that communities could feel safe. It said capital and human resources must be channeled into rebuilding homes and re-establishment of livelihoods.
“It is important that displaced communities are involved in developing these programmes,” recommended the report. Egeland also assured that; “We are ready to work with the government to help displaced Nigerians
return home. But movements must be voluntary, safe and informed.”

…Unveils Late Afrobeat Legend’s Statue In Ikeja

By Adebisi Adeyemi Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday eulogized the virtues of late Afrobeat legend and freedom fighter, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti describing him as an enigmatic artiste who used the platform of his art to agitate for social and human rights by challenging government and people to explore development through social and economic activities that are rooted in African values.  

Speaking while unveiling the Liberation Statue in honour of Fela erected at Allen Roundabout in Ikeja as part of activities marking his 79^th posthumous birthday and the 20^th anniversary of his demise, Governor Ambode said aside from challenging people to free their minds of all inhibitions and actualise their true potentials, the late music icon also voluntarily turned his back on a life of comfort and privilege, and took up his saxophone as a weapon to fight for the liberation of the people from neo-colonialism and bad governance.

While insisting that the spirit of Fela was still alive as a movement of social consciousness and justice against oppression, the Governor said the late legend made the world sit up and take notice of the energy of African art and music, adding that he will forever be accorded his position in the global hall of fame of artistes.

He said: “The phenomenon that the world knows as “Fela” was deeply rooted in the evolution of Lagos State. The story of music, art, entertainment and tourism in Lagos and Nigeria cannot be told without an eloquent mention of the “Abami eda”.

“On this day, October 15th, which would have been Fela’s 79th birthday, the government and people of Lagos State celebrate ‘’Fela’’ with the unveiling of this Liberation Statue.  It has been 20 years since he passed on but the memories he left us with remain evergreen. Today we celebrate a man who voluntarily turned his back on a life of comfort and privilege, and took up his saxophone as a weapon to fight for the liberation of our people from neo-colonialism and bad governance.

“This “Liberation” statue is not an image of Fela but a symbol of Fela’s philosophy. This artwork was created as a form of respect and remembrance to this legend; what he stood for and fought for with his music; his mythology; struggle for freedom; fight for human dignity; social consciousness; courage and Pan-Africanism,” the Governor said.

While reiterating the continued commitment of the State Government to fully harness the potentials of entertainment, creative arts and tourism to transform the economy of the State and generate wealth and job opportunities for the people, Governor Ambode said his vision is to create a vibrant arts and culture sector that would empower young and talented population to find their own voices and impact society positively.

He said though Fela was no more, but it was gratifying that he is still alive in his music and in the music of Femi, Seun and other artistes who have followed his style of music, assuring that the unveiled statue would be the first of many to celebrate the Afrobeat icon. 

Responding on behalf of the family, Fela’s daughter and social commentator, Yeni Kuti commended Governor Ambode and the artist for coming up with such a monument to recognize and honour their father in a big way, saying that it was a good representation of their late patriarch.   

She specifically justified the design of the monument, saying it was the expression of how the artist felt about the late legend.

She said: “Before people on social media will start to say the Fela has no head or it has no hand and so on, it is art and before you abuse us, let me answer quickly. It is art. How an artist feels is how he feels because if he had put a head and the head did not look like Fela, everybody will say the head did not look like Fela so now you cannot abuse the head because it is not even there.

“The artist has said it is a spirit and when Fela was alive, he hated statues and so I think this effigy is a good representation of what Fela would have wanted because he did not like statues and that is why at the Museum you will notice that there is no statue of Fela. Everybody wants to do his statue and I have fought against it. So, this one I can accept it and so I want to thank the artist who designed it and also thank Governor Ambode for recognizing Fela in a big way.”

The visual artist who designed the effigy, Abolore Sobayo said the work was an expression of how he feels about the late Afrobeat legend, saying that it was designed to generate discussion about the emancipation of the people.

While justifying the fact that the art work had no head, Sobayo said the design came out of extensive research on what Fela represented through his music, and how to use same to correct some of the things he complained about years ago that are still happening.

“For me as an artist, art transcends beyond beauty or aesthetics. For me, art should generate discuss; art should ask question and art should provoke our thoughts. For me, the creation of the Liberation Statue is to represent the essence of Fela by using his costume.

“For me, I believe that this should serve as a conscious to our subconscious that twenty years after Fela’s demise, most of the things he talked about are still happening. For me, this work should come to us not just as a beautiful work, but it should come to us as something that will ginger us to look at the positivity in our lives; positivity in the values of his music; for us to start to emancipate our people positively. Going forward, I have been able to use symbolism as a medium to represent Fela through his costume and to represent his essence,” Sobayo said.

The event was attended by notable members of late Fela’s family including Yemi Ransome-Kuti (Head of family), Seun Kuti, Kunle Kuti, Yeni Kuti, Motunrayo Kuti, Dotun Olukoye Ransome-Kuti, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; veteran Nollywood actor, Pa Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke Silva; Fela’s first manager, Chief Benson Idonije, among others.

Governor Ambode was also at the Kalakuta Museum on Gbemisola Street, Ikeja where he was received by Afrobeat star and Fela’s son, Femi Kuti, among other family and devotees of the late music icon.

He later hosted a Special Lagos Jump to formally round off Felabration 2017 at the New Afrika Shrine, thereby becoming the first Governor in his official capacity to visit the shrine to end the show.

By Tayo Joseph Lagos

The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to recent media reports suggesting that the State House Medical Centre had received N11.01billion as appropriation for the period 2015-2017.

According to the Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal A. Arabi, contrary to the above claims, out of the total Capital Appropriation of N2,941,062,044.00 and Recurrent Appropriation of N465,935,358.00 for the period under reference, only the sum of N969,681,821.53 (representing 32.97%) for Capital and N225,575,200.60 (representing 48.41%) for Recurrent was actually released.

Arabi also said it may interest the public to know that there was zero capital allocation for the Medical Centre in 2017, while out of the N331,730,211.00 being recurrent appropriation for 2017, the actual amount released up to September was N91,370,053.60 (representing only 27.54%).

The Permanent Secretary emphasised that the above figures are verifiable from the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

He observed that during the three-year period under review (indeed two years since no capital allocation for 2017), and despite the shortfalls between budgetary provisions and actual releases, the Medical Centre continued to provide free services to the over 10,000 registered patients annually. In addition, the Centre has continued to execute on-going projects.

Giving further insight into the scope of the Medical Centre’s clientele, Arabi stressed that apart from the Presidency, other beneficiaries of the free services include political appointees, the military, para-military, other security agencies, members of the National Assembly, and the general public.

In the words of the Permanent Secretary, “Considering the unrestricted patronage base and free services of the State House Medical Centre, coupled with the funding hiccups and periodic receipts, it may not be far-fetched to notice gaps between demand and supply of medical equipment and consumables at certain stages of the budget circle.”

By Tayo Joseph Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed delight at the mutually beneficial cooperation that exists between Nigeria and China.

In a letter of felicitation with His Excellency, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, on the occasion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Buhari lauded China for “becoming an indispensable force in the comity of nations.”

The Chinese President is also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC.

The letter from President Buhari states in part:

“On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have the pleasure to send our warmest congratulations to you and through you to all the 2287 delegates and the 89 million party members on the auspicious occasion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

“It is my firm belief that the 19th National Congress of CPC will be a new starting point in the history of China, and it will usher in a new period of great accomplishment for your Party and the nation.

“The leadership of CPC is understood to be the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China has made remarkable progress under the leadership of CPC and remains an inspiration to developing countries and the whole world. In the past 30 years and more, over 700 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty, creating a Chinese miracle in the history of poverty reduction.

“As you often say, ‘Empty talk harms the country, while hard work makes it flourish.’ Under the strong and focused leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Your Excellency as its core, the CPC has continuously guided the Chinese people to achieve the Two Centenary Goals and realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, while China is becoming an indispensable force in the comity of nations. Indeed, I am satisfied with the mutually beneficial cooperation between Nigeria and China.

“While expecting the delivery of policy guidelines and framework for China’s development and foreign relations in the next 5 years and beyond, and the election of a new CPC Central Committee, we wish the 19th National Congress of the CPC a complete success.”