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Events marking the 2017 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, WSICE Project, ended recently in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The weeklong programme commenced with the arrival on July 12, of the 83 finalists in the annual WSICE Secondary School Essay competition, who were made to write an essay on the topic: 'Intolerance; The Burden of our Moral and National Conscience'.
Graced by the Nobel Laureate himself, who welcomed the finalists from 17 states, the students were mentored on the importance of TOLERANCE in human relationships, especially in the area of nation building.
The Essay writing competition took place on July 13, and at the end, head of the jury Dr. Razinat Mohammed (an English Language lecturer with the University of Maiduguri announced Hawkins-Ogelle Emmanuel of Jomeg College, Umuahia, Abia State as coming tops; Nwanga Solomon of St. Charles Secondary
School, Nigercem, Ebonyi came 2nd while Aboloko Erica of Breakthrough Academy, Ogun State took the 3rd position. The 1st place winner was given a scholarship worth N100000 while the 2nd and 3rd place winners received N75000 and N50000 respectively.
As part of the WSICE 2017, there was a performance of one of Soyinka's classic drama, 'Death and The King's Horseman' at the JF Ade Ajayi Hall (formerly UNILAG Auditorium) as directed by Bisi Adigun, Founder/Artistic Director of Ireland-based Arambe Productions. The production featured popular performers such as Tunji Sotiminrin, Wale Obadeyi, Bukky Ogunnote and Tunde Onikoyi among others.
After the highly emotional result announcement and presentation of prizes and certificates, the students were taken on a tour of Prof. Soyinka's country home, otherwise called the Ijegba Forest Residence in Idi Aba. They were received by the former head of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan and an associate of Soyinka, Dr. Tunde Awosanmi, who also mentored them on the essence of the chosen life and lifestyle of the Nobel Laureate. He enjoined them to emulate the good, focused and disciplined life of Soyinka, and imbibe the spirit of humanism that defined his life and career.
Awosanmi presented each of the 83 students with CD recording of Mandeland, a collection of poems by renowned poets selected from around the world in tribute to the legendary political activist/prisoner and former South African president, Nelson Mandela, but which were voiced by Soyinka himself.
From the Ijegba Forest, the students were then taken on a tour of the famous Olumo Rock in Abeokuta.
The creative workshop for the targeted 1000 Ogun State had students learning how to make accessories and book covers with Ankara fabrics and also print making using oil paint and glass. They also had workshops on storytelling, dance and acting. The students were very excited and eager to learn and at the end of the day came up with very beautiful crafts and print drawings.
The events came to a climatic end with the staging of the dance-drama "Obi at'Orogbo' by the youthful-members of Footprints of David as devised by Seun Awobajo at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.
The Federal Government has granted 'Pioneer Status' to the Creative Industry in a landmark move aimed at transforming the industry to a creative economy and creating jobs.
In a statement issued in Abuja on recently, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the decision to grant the industry 'Pioneer Status' is in fulfillment of the promise made by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, at the opening of the Creative Industry Financing Conference in Lagos 17-18 July 2017.
The 'Pioneer Status' is granted to companies making investments in qualifying industries and products as tax holiday from the payment of corporate income tax and withholding tax on dividend from pioneer profits for an initial period of three years, extendable for one or two additional years.
The 'Pioneer Status' for the Creative Industry covers music production, publishing and distribution (including online digital distribution); Photography; Production and post-production of digital content for motion pictures, videos, television programs, commercials, distribution and exhibition (digital movies, animation, videos, TV programs and commercials); Publishing of books (copyrighted books) and development and Publishing of ready-made software (operating systems, software applications and computer games).
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated the Anti-Piracy Committee, charged with working out the modalities to tackle the piracy of creative works in the country.
Lai Mohammed
The inauguration followed last week's visit to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, by the Minister to solicit the support of the Police in the fight against piracy.
Members of the committee include the Director General, National Film and Videoa Censorship Board, Mr. Adedayo Thomas; The Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji; Deputies Inspector General of Police in Charge of Criminal Investigation Department, Hyacinth Maidugu, and that of Operations Joshak Habila; President, Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPAN), Abdullahi Maikano Usman; Ms. Tundun Aderibigbe of the House of Tara and Mr. Tonye Princewell, a movie producer.
While inaugurating the Committee, the Minister said the time has come for a decisive action against piracy in the country. "This is the first meeting between the police and the major stakeholders in the Ministry of Information and Culture as well as the Creative Industry (on piracy). This meeting is evidence that this is not just mere talk, but action,'' he said.
Alhaji Mohammed tasked the committee to devise a pragmatic approach that will ensure a regular and sustained enforcement, with a view to putting an end to the menace of piracy.
He said if piracy is not tamed now, it will become a monster that will destroy the Creative Industry.
Reading Dr. Grant Onokurefe Akata's Corporate Governance: An emerging economy perspective published 2017 by University Press Plc., is almost like attending the Harvard Business School. What is corporate governance? Akata, citing Heyden (2010) says it is the "thinking, discussing, and decision-making…about the future of a business…about how the power and resources of the organization are harnessed and deployed in the process of value creation for stakeholders, while respecting the legal obligations of the nation or broadly the environment where the business operates."
Good corporate governance is to the economy of a country, what blood is to the human body. A state fails or succeeds depending on the corporate culture of companies that operate in that state. This becomes truer when the broader issues of leadership are linked to this theme of corporate governance as the author has done. Grant Akata's book, rich in local content, couldn't have been published at a better time in Nigeria than now when the country is grappling with the problem of corruption, both in the public and private sector. As the author wrote in the preface, it is a book "written to provide a simple but clear discourse on the entire spectrum of corporate governance theory and practice in Nigeria."
This exquisitely made 329-page book is divided into sixteen chapters. The first chapter gave the definition and conceptual clarifications of corporate governance, while chapter 2 and 3 treat the theories of corporate governance and corporate governance practice in emerging economies respectively. Other chapters deal with board of directors, board of committees, company directors: legal duties and liabilities, stakeholders and markets.
From chapter 8-16 the author takes the reader on the Internal workings of the board and measuring corporate governance, risk management and corporate governance, the role of audit in corporate governance, ethics in corporate governance, corporate governance in other sectors, leadership in corporate governance, global concern for corporate governance: curbing corruption, accountability and reporting, and the future of corporate governance.
Discussing the need for effective corporate governance in organizations, the author writes on page 3: "If the rules and regulations of an organisation are duly complied with, such an organization will deliver much more consistently over a long tenure on the goals for which it was conceived and established." This is a point that needs to be stressed in every discussion about corporate governance. The key phrase here is "if the rules and regulations are duly complied with…." The problem is not in the making of the rules and codes but in the obeying of the rules. People always find ways of circumventing the rules.
When the author wrote on page 4 that "governance as a concept… should be independent from management…" the question that comes to mind is: who exercises governance? Grant provides the answer on page 5 where he discussed corporate governance versus corporate management, saying the two are two sides of the same coin. "While corporate governance focuses on the 'processes, structures and relationships through which the board of directors oversees what the executives do, corporate management is focused on defining and achieving the objectives of the company as approved by the board of directors." So from here, we learn that corporate governance is the duty of the board of directors.
The relevance of corporate governance in Nigeria
This section reveals that in writing this book, Dr. Grant Onokurefe Akata has his country, Nigeria, in mind, and the reader, after reading this part, cannot but be convinced that if we adopt the ideas he made available to us in this book, soon, we would sing a song of victory.
Dr. Akata did not try to be nice by hiding our problems. After acknowledging Nigeria's huge potentials for future rapid economic and industrial growth, Grant, like a surgeon, went straight to the ailing organ of Nigeria's economy with his surgical blade: "In spite of IMF's projected annual economic growth rate put at about 7% (already sliding to negative) and its strategic geo-political position in the African continent, facts of terrorism, religious bigotry and unduly expensive democracy, the nation's economy and its practices, including corporate governance lie prostrate…Nigeria's governance process is an area where it needs support…"
In chapter 3, after ex-raying corporate governance practices in emerging economies, Dr. Akata on page 47, locates where Nigeria's corporate governance practice fits in the continuum.
Theories of corporate governance
This chapter will be most useful to scholars of business and economics, though it should also be of interest to all practically oriented readers, given the fact that practice has its base in theory. The theories of corporate governance discussed here are stewardship theory, the agency theory, the stakeholders' theory, and the transaction theory. This illuminating chapter closes with discussion on "working with stakeholders".
The chapter on board of directors is lucid, which dovetails into a valuable analysis of why boards fail. From there the author goes on to the related issue of board committees of which the risk management committee is one. However, risk management is discussed broadly in chapter 9 under "risk management and corporate governance".
Among the discourses on the chapter dealing with company directors: legal duties and liabilities, are the appointment of directors and their conditions of service; the principal responsibilities of the Chairman (described as the Chief Governance Officer); the CEO and the company secretary, amongst others.
Nigeria resurfaces in chapter 14 under the theme, Global concern for corporate governance: curbing corruption. After looking at other climes in relation to this issue, the author broaches a question on page 283: "how has Nigeria faired?" and then submits that "neither the globe nor emerging countries like Nigeria has achieved any appreciable measure of success. The human being with technology is becoming increasingly more sophisticated in contravention of laws, regulations and codes. The inherent human nature to cut corners and seek advantage willfully at the expense of others has made the regime of legislations unable to keep pace with devices which beat decent conduct and probity."
But that statement does not translate to admittance of hopelessness, for the author provides corruption prevention guiding principles on page 287.
It would be ridiculous to think that all the wisdom deposited in this 329-page compendium on corporate governance would be captured in a newspaper review of the book. Corporate Governance: An emerging economy perspective is a collectors' item for those who know the eternal value of good books. Whenever I run into such books in bookshops, I buy many copies: one for my bookshelf, one for my vault, and the rest as priced gifts to loved ones who know the value of good books. I urge you to do same with this particular book. It's simply a treasure.
Owerri – Four occupants of a two storey building on Fire Service/Mbaise Road died after the building collapsed at the early hour on Sunday.
Five other occupants of the building were, however, rescued but they sustained various degrees of injuries.
The Coordinator of Owerri Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Evans Ugoh, who confirmed the casualties to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said rescues operation was ongoing.
"We have been able to rescue five people while four have been confirmed dead, but we are still on to see if there are others trapped in the building," he said. Okochukwu Nnadi, an eyewitness and tricycle operator, said the incident happened around 4 a.m on Sunday.
"I came out very early to convey early morning worshipers to church before the collapse happened.
"I was the one who rushed to the police station near the house to alert them on the incident. "I was shocked to see four people already dead when they were brought out of the place," he said.
Gov.Rochas Okorocha, who later visited the scene said, "This is very sad." "I will take drastic measures to checkmate sub-standard buildings in this state, regardless of who is involved," he said.
Okorocha assured that the state government would take care of the medical bills of the victims recuperating in the hospital.(NAN)
South African Caster Semenya, dogged by gender accusations since shooting to fame in 2009, won a third world title in the women’s 800m on Sunday.
South Africa’s Caster Semenya wins the final of the women’s 800m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Semenya, the defending Olympic champion and also world champion in 2009 and 2011, timed 1min 55.16sec, the fastest time of the year so far.
Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, the Olympic silver medallist, finished second in 1:55.92, with American Ajee Wilson taking bronze (1:56.65).
By Jimitota Onoyume The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, OGFZA, and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, are committed to working together for improved service delivery to clients in the nation's free trade zones, authorities of both agencies of government have said.
Addressing a joint stakeholders' forum of the two agencies in Onne, Rivers State, organised to fine-tune a pathway to better service delivery in the free zones, the Managing Director of OGFZA, Mr. Umana Umana and the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), said their agencies were united by the collective objective of delivering best-in-class services to investors in the free zones in line with the Ease of Doing Business policy of the Federal Government.
Umana added: "This conference is jointly hosted by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service to underscore the fact that the Ease of Doing Business initiative is a national policy under one government, by which fact all relevant agencies of government are to work together in implementing the policy to deliver efficient services to the investor.
"That is both the letter and spirit of the policy, whose urgency has been reinforced by the Executive Orders issued by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo."
In his remarks, Col. Ali, Comptroller-General of Customs, declared that the service was committed to working with OGFZA for the good of the nation.
"We recognise the need to work with you in our match towards evolving an efficient and responsive service," he added.
He explained that full engagement with all stakeholders in the oil and gas trade is a requirement for success of the industry.
By Emma Amaize WARR I- Spokesperson of the group, Jomo Gbomo, in a statement, said: "Our decision to abandon PANDEF stems from the commercial and political motives of the leaders and most of the members, who now see the platform as a means to bounce back financially and politically."
"It is also as a result of the lie told by Chief Clark to State House correspondents after the PANDEF volte-face meeting with the Acting President on Thursday, August 3, 2017, where he said that MEND was part of the parley when the group was not represented.
"MEND has also lost confidence in the effete leadership of Chief Edwin Clark and HRH, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, still crave for power, wealth and pleasure to the detriment of developing the younger generation in leadership," the militant group said.
Its words: "It is annoying working with pretenders who conspired to keep silent when Goodluck Jonathan wasted the opportunity of the region and were part of the conspiracy to suppress the voice of Henry Okah and MEND."
"Today, the East West road they have suddenly realised that is in need of urgent repairs is a shameful deathtrap, which passes alongside oil wells and sits on top of huge gas reserves.
"PANDEF is demanding for the road to be completed, but during the six wasted years, these same members used the dilapidated road, lost loved ones there and said nothing, engaging instead on worthless pleasures, with the Abuja residence of Chief Clark as the rallying point.
"Chief Clark, who had direct access to his 'son', Goodluck Jonathan did not advice the former President to address the root issues and develop the region. Many sons and daughters, who enriched themselves, including the current PANDEF leaders, have no single viable industry built in the Niger Delta to show for it.
"The assets they have acquired are now forfeited to the region or the EFCC. Those ill-gotten assets cleverly hidden from the EFCC that we discover will be attacked and burnt to the ground," it added.
MEND asserted: "The Niger Delta is today blessed with private, State, and Federal University presence; including a Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, which was established in the early 80s. One begins to wonder if the desperation and insistence of another similar university as a top priority by PANDEF is not just a ploy to cover-up an established financial crime."
The group stated: "MEND will in the interim align with the new Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, under Barrister Oweilaemi and will continue disdaining the old impostors claiming to be IYC,"
"We will also cooperate with the Niger Delta People’s Congress, NDPC, and genuine militants desiring change such as the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, which have shown consistency in doing away with the old order," it said.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday identified the right investment in sports as the necessary impetus that can bring about good performance of Nigerian athletes in sporting competitions, saying that it was time for the country to focus in such direction. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with Nigeria table Tennis player, Aruna Quadri (left); representative of Sport Minister & Director, Federation & Elite Athlete Department, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme (2nd right) and President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Engr. Ishaku Tikon (right) during the Seamaster ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday, August 13, 2017.
Governor Ambode, who made the reamrks while speaking to journalists at the end of the Seamaster ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open held at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, tagged Lagos 2017, said government and all the necessary stakeholders must now invest more in sports to take the country to its rightful place in the world of sports.
He expressed excitement at the successful hosting of the tournament which attracted Table Tennis stars from 22 countries, saying that the development was gratifying and in line with his vision to use sports as a catalyst for growth and development of the economy.
He said: "We are very happy to have hosted this competition. This is the fourth edition and you can see that this year’s competition has actually attracted more people and then more countries. The idea is to use sports as a catalyst for the growth and development of the economy.
"It is also a catalyst for tourism and it is my strong believe that we must continue to support sports as a means of allowing us to develop the mental capabilities of younger ones and Lagos State is ready to do that."
When asked whether he was disappointed that no Nigerian qualified for the finals of the competition, Governor Ambode said on the contrary, he was not disappointed but that the development called for greater investment in sports in the country.
"I am not disappointed at all about that. It's called Nigerian open and so it's open to everybody and again we had Nigerians in the semifinal. So, we need to do more work and then more coaching and also develop sports. Government has to support sports thoroughly if you want to see Nigerians in the finals.
"I mean you can see the level of skill-set that the Egyptians displayed here and if we say we are giant of Africa, we have to prove it in all ramifications. So, my believe is that government has to spend more time and money in developing sports in this country," Governor Ambode said.
Speaking on plans for the competition next year, the Governor promised to increase the price money and also the number of participating countries, saying that as the destination for sports in Africa, Lagos must lead the way in promoting sporting tournaments.
"For me, I am going to scale up the price money to attract more people to come for this competition. So next year, you will see more price money and then more countries participating in the competition. Lagos is the destination for sports in Africa and that is the only way we have to go," the Governor said.
The overall winner of the competition, Assar Omar from Egypt, went home with $5,000, while the first runner up, Gandhi Sarthak from India went home with $2,300.
"He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, saying, 'if you only knew today what is needed for peace!”
–Jesus Christ, Luke: 19 vs. 41 & 42B
ACCORDING to some Christian leaders Jesus wept because, being God himself, he knew that the fickle minded Jews of Jerusalem who were shouting "Hosanna!" as he entered the city would almost immediately make a full 360 degree turn in conspiracy with the religious elite and cry "Crucify Him!"
For me, I believe Jesus wept because, as a great moral teacher, he may have calculated from what he observed about the hot headedness of his people, that if they did not slow down, the Romans would end up inflicting a dire fate on them.
He warned and they did not listen and around 70AD the Romans sacked the city.
The same issues that may have prompted the tears of the Saviour then, namely religion and politics, are still very much at play today; only that this time they may have far reaching consequences not only for Jerusalem but for the entire world.
As write these words, Israelis and Palestinians, both of them cousins and today living in the same land over which our Lord wept, are slaughtering each other again, the reason being religion mixed with politics.
The cause of the latest conflict is the decision of the Israeli government to set up metal detectors, after gunmen smuggled weapons inside the al-Aqsa mosque complex and used them to kill two Israeli police officers in the streets of Eastern Jerusalem.
Some people believe the final war between the forces of evil and good will be fought in Jerusalem. Others believe the crisis there may one day engulf the entire world. Yet, both parties are unyielding and continue to lay claim to the city prompting the question of whether there will ever be peace in that region?
In 1947, the United Nations voted on a partition plan to divide what was then British-Mandate Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Under the plan, Jerusalem and Bethlehem were designated corpus separatum, and placed under international rule, because of the city's importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Israel accepted this plan but Arab leaders rejected it. When Israel declared independence the following year, Arab leaders declared war on them. Israeli forces fought their way to a 78 percent control of the territory.
Years later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited Abraham's biblical connection to Hebron as one reason his government wanted to maintain a Jewish presence in the predominantly Muslim West Bank city. In response, Palestinians began to promote the notion that the Palestinians are the modern-day successors to the Canaanites, who lived there, long before Abraham's appearance.
Some say Israel's stand is predicated on the ancient Jewish connection to Jerusalem and that for over three thousand years; Judaism has made Jerusalem a holy city and has remained steadfast to it. That in addition to countless other rituals that the Jews pray in its direction, mentions its name constantly in prayers, closes the Passover service with the longing statement "Next year in Jerusalem," and recall the city in the blessing at the end of each meal.
They add that throughout Bible times Jerusalem was the only capital of a Jewish state, and is the only city with a Jewish majority during the whole of the past century. A mayor of Jerusalem was quoted as saying the city represents "the purist expression of all that Jews prayed for, dreamed of, cried for, and died for in the two thousand years since the destruction of the Second Temple."
They say the same cannot be said of the Islamic world where Jerusalem is not a place to which they pray, not once mentioned by name in their prayers, and is connected to any mundane events in their narrative nor did it ever serve as capital of a sovereign Muslim state?
They say Jerusalem appears in the Jewish Bible 669 times, Christian Bible, 154 times but zero time in the Qur'an.
They say although history tells us that in its early stage, Islam adopted the Judaic practice of facing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during prayer as its first qibla (direction of prayer), this did not last long due to Jewish rejection of the new religion around 624AD. They say the Qur'an at 2:142-52 later explained why in the following words;
The Fools among the people will say: "What has turned them [the Muslims] from the qibla to which they were always used?" "We appointed the qibla that to which you was used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels [on Islam]'.
That Mecca became the direction of prayer from then on that the Qur'an added;
'Even if you were to bring all the signs to the people of the Book [i.e., Jews], they would not follow your qibla.'
They say Tabari, an early Muslim commentator on the Qur'an noted that, "and the Jews were glad." for this change.
They say after this incident, no significant Islamic connection to the city was mentioned again until the rule of the Damascus-based Umayyad dynasty in 661-750AD.
Of all the various powers that controlled the city throughout her history, the Umayyad, had more influence on the city. They constructed a number of religious edifices, palaces, and roads. The Israeli scholar Izhak Hasson explained that, the "Umayyad regime was interested in ascribing an Islamic aura to its stronghold and centre" as well as to assert Islam's presence in its competition with Christianity. They built Islam's first grand structure, the Dome of the Rock, right on the spot of the Jewish Temple, in 688-91AD. Their actions according to experts were partly inspired by a passage in Qur'an 17:1 describing the Prophet's Night Journey to heaven (isra'):
'Glory to He who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the furthest mosque.' But Daniel Pipe, a scholar in religious matters, in his essay on the subject noted that; 'When this passage was first revealed in about 621AD,…"furthest mosque" was a turn of phrase, not a place. Some early Muslims understood it as metaphorical…place in heaven…and Palestine would seem an unlikely location, for many reasons… being that elsewhere in the Qur'an (30:1) Palestine is called "the closest land" (adna al-ard)…and had not yet been conquered by the Muslims and contained not a single mosque…'
In 715AD, the Umayyad built a second mosque in Jerusalem, again on the Temple Mount, and called this one the Furthest Mosque (al-masjid al-aqsa, Al-Aqsa Mosque). Many experts believe this marked the point where the city was given a role in the Islamic narrative.
Palestinian historian A. L. Tibawi explained in his work that by building the mosque, the Umayyad, "gave reality to the figurative name used in the Koran." That Jerusalem came to be seen as the site of the Last Judgment, after they cast aside the non-religious Roman name for the city, Aelia Capitolina and replaced it with Jewish Al-Quds (The Holy) or Bayt al-Maqdis (The Temple). They say the Umayyad sponsored a form of literature praising the "virtues of Jerusalem," some of them equating the city with Mecca. There was even an effort to move the pilgrimage (hajj) from Mecca to Jerusalem.
They argue that the construction of the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, the rituals instituted by the Umayyad on the Temple Mount and the dissemination of Islamic-oriented Traditions regarding the sanctity of the site, all pointed to the political motives which underlay the glorification of Jerusalem among the Umayyad.
Jerusalem fell into near-obscurity after the demise of the Umayyad. The dome over the rock even collapsed in 1016AD.
When the Crusaders took the city in 1099AD, initially this did not arouse Muslim response that much. The calls to Jihad inside the city then even got no response at the time. But by now, there were already hadiths that stressed the virtues of Jerusalem. New ones were written to inspire the Muslim world to Jihad to retake the city, even though not a single volume appeared in the period between 1100 and 50AD.
In 1187AD, Saladin took the city and wrote to his Crusaders opponent that the city "is to us as it is to you. It is even more important to us." Thereafter, a great building and restoration programme quickly followed. It was during Saladin that the Dome of the Rock came to be seen as the exact place where the prophet ascended to heaven (mi'raj) on his Night Journey, the very rock from which Jesus was thought to have ascended to heaven. It is worthy of note that one of Saladin's grandsons al-Kamil, during his own rule, offered to trade Jerusalem to the Europeans if they would leave Egypt, but they turned him down, but he became successful with German Emperor Friedrich II in 1229AD.
In 1244AD, troops from Asia, the Ayyibids took the city again after it had exchanged hands back and forth, and this time it remained safely under Muslim rule for nearly seven centuries.
The psychology at work in those times according to experts is that, the Ayyibids felt that if Christians could travel from distant Europe to make Jerusalem their capital, it must be important thus accounting for why the city became the third most holy city of Islam (thalith al-masajid).
The Mamluk under whose rule the city witnessed decline, came between 1250-1516AD. Then the Ottoman 1516-1917AD, got off on an excellent start when Süleyman the Magnificent rebuilt the city walls in 1537-41AD and lavished money on it. However, taxes soon sent the city reverting back to her state of decline, so much so that, an historian reported that even the standards dropped so low that even the preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque spoke a low standard of literary Arabic.
Britain recognised the minimal Muslim interest in Jerusalem during World War I. In negotiations with Sharif Husayn of Mecca in 1915-16AD, London decided not to include Jerusalem in territories to be assigned to the Arabs because, as the chief British negotiator, Henry McMahon, put it, "there was no place of sufficient importance further south" of Damascus "to which the Arabs attached vital importance."
Israeli scholar Hava Lazarus-Yafeh noted that, Jerusalem "became the focus of religious and political Arab activity only at the beginning of last century." She ascribes the change mainly to "the renewed Jewish activity in the city and Judaism's claims on the Western Wailing Wall."
The Jordanian era saw a decline in the city's status and an insulting religious standing where, mosques lacked sufficient funds, where Jordanian radio broadcast the Friday prayers not from Al-Aqsa Mosque but from mosques in Amman.
It was the Israeli era that brought the neglect to an abrupt end after June 1967 war. Almost immediately the city quickly became the single most emotional issue of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The conflicts have not ended till this day.
Ibrahim Hooper, an American based Muslim speaks of how "the Muslim attachment to Jerusalem does not begin with the prophet Muhammad, it begins with the prophets Abraham, David, Solomon and Jesus, who are also prophets in Islam."
Some say if this is so, doesn't the fact that for a time Muslims directed prayers toward Jerusalem and upon revelation uniquely rejected the city and turned towards Mecca a sign that God had rejected the city for them?
Others wonder if Jerusalem, considered third in line in Islam, will ever be more than a secondary city for Muslims? They say considering the similarity between both religions in principle, Jerusalem should be to Jews what Mecca is to Muslims? That the Qur'an itself at 2:145, recognised that Muslims have one qibla and "the people of the Book [Jews]" another one that this should support their argument.
I believe Jews and Palestinians are one people. Jews pray thrice to Jerusalem, Muslims five times daily to Mecca. Muslims see Mecca as the navel of the world, just as Jews see Jerusalem. Whereas Jews believe Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac in Jerusalem, Muslims believe it was Ishmael, and that it was in Mecca. The Ka'ba in Mecca has similar functions for Muslims as the Temple in Jerusalem for Jew. Worshipers take off their shoes and go barefoot in both their places of worship. Jews don't eat pig, Muslim don't eat pig. Jews fast in Yom Kippur and the Muslims fast in Ramadan and so on.
Time to set aside the almost nonexistent differences, find a common ground and live together, that tiny piece of land should cease to be reason for all the strife and bloodshed, and neither side should be denied access to their holy sites.
Finally, a constructive breakthrough that requires an outside-the-box approach in that region is urgently necessary to put an end to the bloodshed and maybe save the rest of the world from the crisis that may emanate from there.
Albert Afeso Akanbi is a Novelist, Researcher and Humanitarian. He lives in Abuja, FCT.
SKILLFUL traditional dancer, Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, narrowly danced out of impeachment three days ago. His nimble political feet enabled him by a slim 21-vote difference to continue his performance in office. He has been in office since 2009 and has two years left, but the unrelenting opposition went for an eighth attempt to remove him.
National Assembly Speaker, Baleka Mbete had ruffled the African political scene with an announcement that the latest Parliamentary vote would be secret, which meant that parliamentarians would vote true to their conscience and not necessarily along party lines.
After submitting to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, one million signatures demanding Zuma's ouster, the parliamentary opposition posted 177 votes, but not enough to surpass the 198 parliamentarians who voted for Zuma. With nine abstentions, it was clear that some lawmakers of Zuma's ANC, voted for his ouster or were indifferent.
To Police Minister, Fikile Mbalula, this was clearly an attempt to seize the popular mandate given to Zuma: "We were inside (parliament), they said they're going to topple the President. But with your support, we have defeated them inside. There are those who have been asking (us to vote with) our conscience. We've got political conscience to keep the ANC in power forever, and that is political conscience …"
Clearly, there will be more attempts to unseat Zuma, so the question is, will Zuma just sit and wait to be removed or move to ensure he survives until his tenure expires? In any case, what do you do with a parliament that is proving so relentless? Zuma might need to learn how his colleague, President Muhammed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania handled the Senate of his country that refused to cooperate with him in his bid for an unconstitutional Third Term.
Aziz, a former Chairman of the African Union had been a leader in the August 2005 coup that removed President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya. Three years later, he unseated President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and in July 2009 was elected President. He survived a gun shot on 13 October 2012. Until today, it remains unclear if this was an accident or assassination attempt.
His maximum two terms expire in two years, but the Aziz insist he has to continue in office beyond 2019. For this, he needs to change the constitution. But the Senate which is the Upper Chamber did not cooperate. So he sold the Senate to the public as a parasitic, useless and costly Chamber which does not deserve a place in governance. He therefore demanded it be abolished. In March, 2017, the Lower House by a wide 121 – 19 margin, voted to abolish the Senate. President Aziz then invited the government- controlled Senate to abolish itself. But 33 of the 56 Distinguished Senators voted against the Senate committing suicide. So Aziz on Saturday, August 5, 2017, held a referendum to kill of the Senate. This was done with a 53.73 percent voter turnout 85 percent of who returned a 'Yes' verdict. Although the opposition parties characterised the referendum as an "electoral farce which has given way to open-air fraud," Aziz has had his way.
The primary lesson President Aziz has taught Africa is that the best way to meet the challenge of opposition, is to abolish it; the best way to treat a Senate that will not cooperate, is to eliminate it.
Aziz is following in the footsteps of President Macky Sall, the Geologist who in 2012, caused a seismic shift in the political calculus of Senegal when he abolished the Senate. He had been a political godson of his predecessor, Abdoulaye Wade whom he served as Prime Minister for three years before becoming the President of the National Assembly. But he revolted against his master and replaced him as President in April 2012. However, he felt that merely defeating Wade at the polls without smashing his power base would be dangerous. So he immediately worked for the abolition of the Senate dominated by Wade supporters. He had an ingenuous excuse; that the abolition will save Senegal $15 million! Money he said could be used to tackle the 2012 floods in the country.
Unlike their Mauritanian counterparts, the Senators in Rwanda have nothing to fear as they are ready allies of President Paul Kagame who like Aziz, is gunning for an unconstitutional Third Term. In reality, the Rwandan Senate virtually does not exist. It is a tiny assemblage of 26 persons with 14 of them appointed. President Kagame directly appoints 8, four are appointed by the Forum of Political Parties while two are appointed by university staff. The remaining 12 are elected from the local level while any former President can apply to the Supreme Court to enlist him as a Senator. This provision might actually be a fallback position for Kagame as his six predecessors except Pasteur Bizimungu, are dead. The latter who was President from 1994, resigned in 2000 over appointment of the cabinet, and Kagame took over.
Bizimungu tried to stand up politically by establishing his own Democratic Renewal Party which was quickly banned. When he persisted on running the party, he was jailed for fifteen years in 2004 for running the party and endangering national security.
Kagame has succeeded not just in bagging the power to run for a Third Term, but in fact to run for three extra terms of five years each. So by the referendum which gave a 98 percent endorsement, he can remain in office until 2032 or a total of 42 years in power.
The National Assembly in Nigeria must have been very lucky to escape 'impeachment' by an imperial President who fought to change the constitution and bag a Third Term. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried all he could to extend his tenure beyond the constitutional limits, but the parliament frustrated him. The Assembly leadership even accused him of bribing members. Perhaps, Obasanjo failed because he merely employed arm twisting methods, some persuasion and political lobbying. He might have succeeded if he had tried the Aziz method; dissolve his opponents and continue in office. Who knows, rather than depart ten years ago, he might still have been in power.
Almost at every turn and curve, Africa has adventurers in power who believe that their countries cannot survive without them. As I wrote in the heady days of the Abacha regime; the grave is full of such messiahs.
The only goal of the game through a spot kick in the 90th minute after Aremu lost the ball in the box and committed a foul in a bid to win it back.
Head Coach Salisu Yusuf now has the task of rallying his boys together and making sure they score at least two unreplied goals to qualify for the championship billed to hold in Kenya when both teams square up for the return leg next Saturday, 19th August in Kano or Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated President Uhuru Kenyatta on his re-election as President of the Republic of Kenya.
Mr Laolu Akande, the acting President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the congratulatory message was contained in a letter signed by the Acting President and addressed to the Kenyan leader.
Kenyatta's electoral victory was formally announced by the country's electoral commission on Friday amid allegations of voting fraud by his rival, Raila Odinga.
Osinbajo, however, noted that President Kenyatta's re-election was a clear testimony to his selfless service to Kenya and the giant strides he took to transform the country in the last few years.
He said: "I have the honour on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to congratulate you on your successful re-election as the President of the Republic of Kenya.
"Permit me, therefore, to use this momentous occasion to reiterate Nigeria's support and cooperation with Kenya in our collective determination to advance the development of Africa and its people.''
The acting President also congratulated and extended his best wishes to the people of Kenya on the successful conclusion of the Aug. 8 general elections in the country.
He wished President Kenyatta "a very successful new term in office.''
The official figures released by the Kenya's electoral commission indicated that Kenyatta secured 54.27 per cent to defeat Odinga who scored 44.74 per cent of the ballots cast.
The senior special assistant to Gov. Obiano on social media, Mr. Ifeanyi Aniagoh, Sunday, said that the alleged Assemblies of God church attack in Onitsha is nothing but a falsified report.
Obiano
He said that nothing like that happened except an attack on policemen along Oguta road in Onitsha.
In his words, "No Church Attack in Onitsha… Please Ignore the Rumour! The Onitsha incidence has nothing to do with church attack as confirmed by the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Princess Nkiru Nwode.
"She said the attack was on policemen who were on foot patrol along Oguta Road Onitsha.
"According to her, the attackers were hoodlums who disquised themselves as masquerades to dispossess innocent citizens of their belongings and in the process killed a police man and injured some others.
"Recall that in an effort to ensure safer society, the government of Anambra State recently launched Motorbike Brigade in addition to several other Security Units that maintain regular patrol of our communities.
“May the soul of deceased officer who died in active duty find eternal peace,"he finally said.
By Festus Ahon & Ochuko Akuopha ASABA—DELTA State Police Command has promised to investigate and address cases of harassment of journalists carrying out their legitimate duties by some Police officers in the state.
Giving the assurance when executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council, paid him a courtesy visit, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, said the Command has zero tolerance for impunity, harassment and corruption, reiterating the need for men and officers of the Command to respect the human rights of others.
Police
He said: "Anybody that harasses any journalist wants to create problems for me and I cannot be friendly with any policeman who does that.
"Get me the inventory of such cases so that we can address them. If there is anything subsequently, let me know."
Enjoining journalists to key into the Federal Government's whistle-blowing policy, he advised them against sensational reportage.
Earlier, Chairman of NUJ Delta State Council, Mr. Michael Ikeogwu, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Patrick Ochei, said the visit was to strengthen collaboration with the Command on ways to correct societal ills.
Kylian Mbappe watched on from the bench as Radamel Falcao struck a hat-trick in champions Monaco’s 4-1 victory away to Dijon in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Monaco’s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Dijon FCO and AS Monaco, on August 13, 2017 at Gaston Gerard stadium in Dijon, northern France. / AFP PHOTO
Jemerson also scored in a comprehensive victory for the principality side that made it two wins from two after they started the campaign by beating Toulouse 3-2 last weekend.
It was also their 14th consecutive league win, equalling the record set by Bordeaux in 2009.
They join Lyon, Marseille and Saint-Etienne on maximum points before Paris Saint-Germain — with Neymar poised to make his debut — visit Guingamp later (1900 GMT).
But it was the absence of Mbappe that will likely prove the biggest talking point of Monaco’s trip to Burgundy.
The 18-year-old France forward was one of the stars of Monaco’s title triumph and run to the Champions League semi-finals last season.
However, he is said to be determined to leave the principality before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month, with Real Madrid keen but PSG his preferred destination. His club want 180 million euros ($213 million, £164 million) if they are to sell.
Mbappe was in the Monaco squad at the Stade Gaston Gerard but did not make it off the bench as coach Leonardo Jardim gave a debut to 21-year-old winger Adama Diakhaby, a 10 million-euro signing from Rennes.
Without Mbappe, Monaco went ahead inside three minutes as Kamil Glik headed down a corner and Falcao helped the ball towards goal, with goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet getting a touch but unable to stop it from crossing the line.
Brazil centre-back Jemerson then produced a remarkable overhead-kick finish from another corner to double Monaco’s lead and Diakhaby fed Falcao for a shot that took a slight deflection on its way in to make it 3-0 in the 37th minute.
Wesley Said pulled one back for Dijon before the break but Colombian star Falcao headed home another corner shortly after the restart to complete a fine victory for the away side.
– Chaotic defeat for Lille –
Earlier, Marcelo Bielsa suffered his first loss as coach of Lille, three different players going in goal in a chaotic 3-0 defeat away to newly-promoted Strasbourg.
On a miserable day for Bielsa and his side, Lille lost Brazilian recruit Thiago Mendes and full-back Kevin Malcuit to injury in the first 18 minutes at the Stade de la Meinau.
Bielsa then opted to make another substitution before the interval, so when goalkeeper Mike Maignan was shown a straight red card just after the hour mark for throwing the ball at Benjamin Corgnet, Lille were in trouble.
Unable to send on substitute goalkeeper Herve Koffi, Lille were instead forced to hand the gloves to striker Nicolas De Preville.
He promptly denied Idriss Saadi when the Strasbourg player found himself clean through, but the home side had been on top throughout and they got the breakthrough they deserved in the 74th minute through Jonas Martin.
De Preville had had enough of his stint in goal and he opted to give the gloves to captain Ibrahim Amadou for the closing stages.
He was beaten twice in the last 10 minutes, first from a Dimitri Lienard penalty and then from Jeremy Grimm’s long-range strike as Strasbourg won a top-flight game for the first time in more than nine years.
“I can’t approve of it but I understand it,” said Bielsa of the sending-off.
“But for me it wasn’t the turning point. Our opponents deserved their advantage, regardless of the fact we had to play without our goalkeeper for the last half-hour.”
By Gabriel Enogholase BENIN—A group, Midwest Movement, has threatened to declare Bendel Republic if the leadership of the country fails to play its constitutional role and entrench true federalism.
The group said the proposed Bendel Republic is made up of Edo and Delta states and comprise 12 tribes that include Akoko-Edo, Esan, Benin, Etsako, Owan, Anionma, Ika, Ndokwa, Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri.
The movement warned that should government continue to play the ostrich with the current agitations for restructuring, the Midwest region will resist all attempts to annex, attach or conscript it as part or any part of its near or far neighbours.
The group said: "If the federation of Nigeria fails to hold under the weight of government's inability to play its constitutional role and because of the reckless actions of ethnic jingoists, the Midwest territorial area shall employ, embrace and adopt every available international instrument, conventions and protocols to take its destiny in its hands as a territory to be called Bendel Republic or any name or appellation our people so choose to adopt."
Dr. Don Obaseki, Convener of the movement, in an eight-point demand in Benin, the Edo State capital yesterday, said the group was deeply concerned about the situation in the country, adding that "the federation of Nigeria is in dire crisis due to injustice, marginali-sation and flagrant violation of the terms agreed upon by its founding fathers."
…lists demands
The group demanded, among others, "that government and representatives of the people in parliament to consciously heed the voices of reason on the call for a re-federalisation of the country, using all available constitutional means, while factoring the interests and aspirations of all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria;
"That government and its officials refrain from and resist the temptation of casting all those calling for peaceful resolution of the current political impasse as mere appointment seekers;
"Government should, as a matter of urgency, broaden its consultation and engagement with stakeholders of all ethnic nationalities, with a view to working out modalities to ease the current avoidable tension in the country."
By Azu Ishiekwene A BOOK with the title of this article published 33 years ago by British investigative journalist, David Yallop, made the Catholic Church very, very uncomfortable.
Yallop said in the book that Pope John Paul I, who lasted only 33 days as pope, did not die a natural death.
He said the Pope, who was not the preferred choice, was murdered by vested interests in the Vatican because he was poised to rid the Church of its hypocrisy, hubris and corruption, a claim that the Church denounced as trash.
Trash or not, the Church in Rome and elsewhere has had to examine itself in light of many existential threats, after centuries of complicity in and ambivalence over some of the worst atrocities in the world. And believe it or not, money is at the root of it.
In response to increasing financial pressures, the Church is bending to new social trends and becoming quite creative at expanding its membership base.
The Message And The Messenger
The point in Yallop's book is that beyond the façade of piety, religion is a deadly game of power, influence and survival of the fittest.
And it's all in God's name.
As the country mourns the outrageous killings at St. Philip's Catholic Church Ozubulu last Sunday, the public is left to contemplate the tragic irony that Aloysius Ikegwuonu the obvious target, might also have been killed in the Church he donated to the community in God's name.
His father and 12 or 18 other worshipers, depending on whose account you believe, were not so lucky. They were killed at morning Mass, innocent victims of what appears to be a gang war over money or God-knows-what between Aloysius and some "unknown" persons abroad.
The Crime Scene
It seems inappropriate to get past the dead, the wounded and the grieving to talk about how this tragedy came to happen in the first place. But who knows how many lives may be saved in future by shining the light on the church, the scene of the crime?
Aloysius was not a stranger to the place. The fellow, who had already been made a "high chief" at 36, is obviously one of the princes of a contemporary Igbo obsession, "osina nwata buru ogaranya," literally meaning "one who became wealthy from childhood."
Aloysius, famously celebrated as "Ebubechukwu Ozubulu" (God's glory in Ozubulu), also built two other churches, in God's name, to mark his piety. His charity is a validation of his status and he has also been nicknamed "bishop", to show for it. He has made it, as we say.
At what price?
Several accounts after the incident indicate that the clergy and laymen in Ozubulu knew Aloysius quite well. You cannot be "God's glory" shining through hefty donations and dodgy philanthropy and not be known.
International Businessman
Beyond accepting the keys of the new church building and blessing Aloysius and his crowd at a special Sunday thanksgiving, did the parish priest or anyone in the Diocese bother to find out exactly what he does for a living?
Or was it just enough that he had performed charity in the name of God?
One of his spokespersons said he is an "international businessman" based in South Africa, with thriving businesses in real estate and also an importer and exporter of spare parts.
The spokesperson did not name any of Aloysius's companies or subsidiaries or the city in South Africa where this international businessman lives. And just like the parishioners, none of the journalists at the press conference asked him. Not one.
But Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, appears to know Aloysius a bit. It was the governor who shared the narrative about drugs, dodgy businesses and imported gang warfare.
Interestingly, just like the parishioners Obiano said nothing about Aloysius when the same fellow lined Awka with life-size billboards of the governor and himself announcing the official commissioning of roads he built to mark his 36th birthday in May.
Did the governor know then what he knows now?
What Did Obiano Know?
The logic appeared to be that helping God and helping Obiano's politics could go hand in hand. Now, the scale has fallen from the governor's eyes and I wonder if after what he said publicly about Aloysius he is thinking he should have acted differently at least three months ago.
It happens all the time, talebearers conning people and doing havoc in God's name. Chukwudi Onuwamadike, otherwise called Evans the kidnap kingpin, is another recent example.
He was a nice guy, minding his business, making hefty donations in church and paying his tithes, before he was found out. It was not the church or his neighbours that found him out; it was his greed.
No Sacred Place
I'm not suggesting for one moment that the church should take over the job of the police. But if the clergy loses its seasoning as a moral agent and becomes just another trading post, then it would be liable to the laws and vagaries of trading posts, including levies, taxes and tighter regulation.
Ozubulu happened because criminals in business and politics no longer see a distinction between a place of worship and any other place. They are, in fact, under the notion that places of worship are compromised and have, therefore, become either extensions of their domains or legitimate targets of their senseless retribution.
I've been watching politicians dramatise their regret over Ozubulu and swear that the culprits would be brought to justice. They do this all the time, knowing full well that it means nothing. But since Obiano, in whose backyard this crime was committed has said it would be different this time, let us wait and see.
One thing is clear: No serious investigation of this crime would be complete without following the money trail through its dodgy errands of charity in the community, church and wherever else the trail may lead.
Ozubulu could not have been in God's name.
Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine and board member of the Paris-based Global Editors Network
The New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) says it will invest 15 million dollars through a partnership with a Turkish firm to reactivate the collapsed Kaduna Textile company.
The Group Managing Director, Dr. Ahmed Musa, said this to newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting with the Turkish business delegation at the NNDC's head office in Kaduna.
The delegation had earlier inspected the site of the firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, both at the Kakuri Industrial Layout in Kaduna.
The GMD said the NNDC and the Turkish firm, Sur International Textile, would invest the amount in revitalising the Kaduna Textile.
According to the proposal, the Turkish firm will provide 35 per cent of the amount, the Federal Government 45 per cent and KTL will give 20 per cent of the funds.
Musa said in a short term, the KTL would produce uniform needs for the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as the Police and other paramilitary agencies in the country, and across the West Africa subregion.
He said revamping the KTL would boost the economy of Kaduna state and create employment opportunities to the unemployed youths within and outside the state.
"We held a private meeting with a team of delegation from Turkey.
" They want to invest in Kaduna Textile and turn it around.
" In summary, they want to start producing military and paramilitary uniforms for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces," Musa said.
According to him, the project is a big and laudable one that will boost the economy of Kaduna State by increasing its revenue drive and create massive employment.
" We have been able to attract investors into the state," he added.
The NNDC's Executive Director, Investments, Alhaji Abdullahi Ali-Gombe, said the agreement would revamp the collapsed Textile firm, owned by the 19 Northern States.
Besides boosting the ailing economy, Ali-Gombe explained that when operational, the firm would essentially go into production of military and paramilitary garments.
" Ali-Gombe, who is also the Chairman, Restructuring Committee of the KTL, said "we can not say tentatively when this will take off. We are hoping very soon.
The Kaduna Textile Limited, established in 1957, operated a large integrated textile mill, producing various kinds of garments.
The company, currently in a state of comatose, started operation in November 1957, spinning country's cotton and later in January 1958, went into full production of unbleached grey bafts.
In 1961, it began the production of finished garments.
The firm was financed by the Northern Nigeria regional Marketing Board and the region's development corporation and was managed by an expatriate firm, David Whitehead & Sons.
It was closed down in 2000 following various financial crises and inadequate power supply.
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