Bash Ali Causes Stir At Nexim Bank Over N150m Deal

For the second time this year, middleweight boxer, Mr. Bash Ali, yesterday laid siege at the headquarters of Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) over a N150 million failed business deal with the bank.
The professional boxer had mobilised his supporters to the bank’s office as early as 11am to demand the release of N150 million financial support to aid the hosting of his boxing competition.
But instead of attending the meeting earlier scheduled with the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Robert Orya, Ali laid flat at the entrance of the bank, thus disrupting business and creating an ugly scene.
According to the boxer, he came to the bank following another letter he addressed to the bank dated July 20, which it responded to and invited him for a meeting.
He said the management of the bank denied his supporters entrance but he insisted that his supporters must attend the meeting. This generated a fracas between him and the security before he was overpowered by the securitymen, who pushed him down and a vehicle climbed his legs.
However, Orya had denied Ali’s allegation, saying that NEXIM Bank has no mandate to fund boxing activities.
“Please ask him what he is doing there. I have explained to this man times without number that NEXIM Bank does not have the mandate to sponsor sporting activities,” Orya said.
Recall that Ali had early this year barricaded NEXIM’s office over the same issue.

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ABA: A CITY BEGGING FOR GOVERNMENT ATTENTION!

Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, is lying prostrate, in ut­ter ruins. It is in shackles, bruised and battered. And no one seems to care. Worse still, the residents have been cowed. So, they see no evil and speak no evil because they are afraid of the son of a top elected official in the state nicknamed Whirlwind. In Abia, the fear of Whirlwind is the beginning of wisdom. If you incur the wrath of Whirlwind, you will have yourself to blame. Aba has fallen from grace to grass. It has lost its former glory that dressed it in the admirable robe of the eastern commer­cial pride and made it attractive to investors and business people from within and outside the region.
The vibrancy that defined the city is gone and the once thriving city is a shadow of it­self. Today, Aba is a terrible and indescrib­able sight. Indeed, words are not enough to capture the present state of the once famous Enyimba City. As Lewis Hine said, “if I could tell the story (of Aba) in words I wouldn’t need a lug around a camera.” According to Henri Cartier Bresson, “they (pictures) speak for themselves.” And, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Aba, which was conceived as the industrial engine of the East, paints a piteous picture. It has decayed on all fronts, making it one of the ugliest cit­ies in Nigeria. Anyone who knew Aba when it was blazing in glory would weep at the present state of things. The home of creativity and haven of local technology oth­erwise known as the Japan of Africa is now defined by broken and ravaged streets as well as mountains of garbage, sometimes piled too close to human domestic life. One of the heart-rending scenes is in Ngwa Road where traders display their wares amid the putrid seepage from rotten wastes overflowing the road. There, maggots and flies dance on veg­etables and other edibles on sale. There, ‘Aba perfume’ hangs thick in the air. Take this: Ep­idemic is imminent in Aba as sewage flowing down dirty streets is a common sight.
Broken roads: Coming into Aba, you soon discover that something is wrong. To start with, it is not a tea party entering into the city from any point, as all the roads linking it are in terrible condition. The Enugu – Aba – Port Harcourt Expressway is deplorably bad, par­ticularly at the Osisioma axis through which the main town is accessed. The Aba – Ikot Ekpene Road is an expressway to hell, as cra­ters dot the long stretch. If you are coming from Akwa Ibom, the way that you will know that you have reached the border is the state of the road at the Abia end. As soon as you enter Abia State, you begin to navigate through the valley of the shadow of death. And the fear of evil will be your portion be­cause the Azumini area, in Abia State, is ritu­alists’ den. Not long ago, scores of human heads, decomposing bodies and skeletons were discovered at Kilometre 15 on the Aba/ Azumini Highway popularly known as ‘No man’s land’ after Akpaa village in Obingwa LGA of Abia State. The victims include an unidentified national youth service corps member as his uniform showed. The Ogbor Hill section, which is right inside the city, is too bad. In fact, the right side from Opobo junction is impassable, so drivers drive against traffic there. “Aba is the heart of Abia State. But government is far from Aba.” This submission by a commercial tricycle rider, Mr Chiemela Nwogu, succinctly captures the state of affairs in the city. It will be easier for the state- owned team, Enyimba Football Club, to win the FIFA World Cup than to lo­cate an entirely good stretch of road in Aba.
The reporter was in Aba recently, and saw the once bubbly city in chains. In this rainy sea­son, Aba is floating, so to say. Most of the roads are flood-prone because there are no drainages and where they exist, they have been blocked. So, with nowhere to go, the ensuing floods take over the streets and es­cape into homes and business premises. As a matter of fact, some streets have turned to river in Aba. One of the ‘rivers’ is found on the Umuojima Road, which leads to the Aba – Enugu expressway.
An elderly resident of Umuojima Road, who identified himself as Mr Nwanguma, volunteered: “The road has been impassable for three years. Sometimes when it rains, our homes are flooded. And because of the condition of the road, most of the residents of the area don’t bring their cars back anymore.” Indeed, the elderly fellow was excited when he saw the reporter taking pictures of the ‘river’ on his street. Disclos­ing that the residents of the area were going through hell, he lamented: “My son, please help us appeal to government to come to our aid. We have suffered so much in this area. There was a time they came in the name of repairing the road about three years ago but they ended up destroying it and ever since we have been passing through hell. Any time the rain is a bit heavy, many of us in this area will not have it easy.” Nwanguma, however, joked that Aba residents get some relief when the rains go away through Okochi (Dry Sea­son) Construction Company which comes to their assistance. From one end of the city to the other, it is the same story. From the ‘town part’ to Umungasi, Umule, Ama Ogbonna, Over Rail and Ama Mmong among others, it is the story of overflowing dumpsites, broken and flooded streets and general infrastructur­al decay.
On a rainy day or even several hours after the rains, a speedboat can conve­niently ply the right section of the Aba – Ow­erri Road, from the point where a private university is, to way beyond Crest/Enitona junction. A federal facility, it was given a facelift about two years ago but some por­tions have started failing because it is peren­nially flooded. And while the flood lasts, traders at Umungasi market close shops, oth­erwise their wares will be submerged and destroyed. Worst still, there is an open man­hole at Brass junction, and when it rains, peo­ple fall into it. A source disclosed that many people have lost their lives in the manhole while several others had sustained debilitat­ing injuries.

You cannot tell the story of Aba without talking about Ariaria Interna­tional Market, which is the most popular market in the city. In fact, Ariaria used to be the face of the town but not anymore. Today, going to the market through Faulks Road is an agonizing experience because a journey of a few minutes can last for hours because of the terrible condition of the road, resulting in traffic bottleneck. But if Faulks Road is pot­holes infested, the popular Ukwu Mango is a scene from the pit of hell. Before now, the spot used to be flooded but somehow pass­able but after the state government ‘worked’ on it, the drainage was blocked. The result is that the place has become totally impassable. Like most parts of Aba, you cannot wear shoes when going to Ariara.
The reason is that all the surroundings are flooded. The only way out is to remove your shoes and fold your trousers, wrappers or skirt to knee length and trek. In fact, when the heavens open up, keke riders and bus drivers disap­pear because, if they don’t, their vehicles will be submerged. “When it rains, people’s goods are destroyed by flood. My wife’s wares were damaged, that was why she left the place.
Considering the status of Ariaria as an international market, the state of the envi­ronment leaves so much to be desired,” Chiemela said. Bakassi Street, in the Ariaria area, which has a large concentration of shoemakers, does not belong to this age and time. Umuocham Road that links Aba – Ow­erri Road is cut off. Osusu Road leading to Ama Ogbonna is also cut off. The popular MCC Road is in a terrible state, especially at the point around the Lord’s Chosen Charis­matic Revival Ministry, Aba headquarters area. Powerline Road is also bad just as some portions of St Michael’s Road and Asa Road also contend with massive moulds of waste. Eziukwu Road is in a mess.
But Port Har­court Road is simply in a class of its own. An arterial road, it should pass as one of the worst roads on the face of the earth. There, vehicles are trapped every day. In fact, only trucks and other big vehicles ply the road. A car can easily be bur­ied in the gullies on the road and when it hap­pens, the army of jobless young men in the area will jump into the muddy water and push out the trapped vehicle for a fee. They call it, ‘self em­powerment.’ If all the major hubs are dilapidat­ed, the adjoining or inner streets are simply non-existent. Ngwa Road also needs a special mention in ignominy.
Apart from the distress as­sociated with bad roads, heaps of waste occupy a large portion of it and compete with traders. And as noted above, there is the threat of disease outbreak due to overflowing decayed garbage emitting acid odour. It is a wonder how human beings do business under such atmosphere. An­other place where epidemic is looming is Emel­ogu where a mountain of refuse has sprung up.
There, an offensive odour pervades the air. From bad to worse. In 2012, the reporter was in Aba to do a comprehensive report on the city following the peaceful demonstration by law­yers who wore rainboots to show that Aba had become a jungle. The lawyers’ grouse was that life in Aba was brutish and harrowing. Or rather, living in Aba was a nightmare. The placards car­ried by the lawyers bore such inscriptions as: “Live in Aba, live in hell,” The worst roads in the world are in Aba,” “Weep for Aba,” “Gov­ernment neglect of Aba is injustice,” “ Lawyers are asking for good governance” and “This is Aba, the location of hell on earth.” “The econo­my of Aba has collapsed because of the neglect of the town. People are merely living here now by the grace of God. They live from day to day, praying that God sees them through the next day,” Chief Charles Eduzor, the then Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch, had said.
About two years down the line, nothing has changed in positive terms. Eduzor observed that things have actually gone from bad to worse. “Things have dilapidated more; that is the situa­tion. There is no improvement. The governor has not done anything in Aba since. I don’t know what the problem is. Perhaps the governor is leaving the problem to the next governor.
It is unfortunate,” Eduzor told the reporter. Ironical­ly, Gov. T.A. Orji and his men had debunked the report, saying it did not reflect the state of affairs in Aba. But in the same breath, few days after the report was published, the state government announced that it was awarding contracts for the rehabilitation of the same roads it had announced were shipshape. But the action was, at best, sophistry. The roads have worsened as nothing was done on them. Investigations revealed that potholes are turning into craters and gullies. Roads that were passable a few years ago had become no-go areas. Putting the matter in per­spective, Chief Dr. Francis Ene, a businessman, opined that the residents have never had it so rough and tough.
Waxing philosophical, Chief Ene said: “Living in Aba is suffering and smiling because all the roads are totally dilapidated; there is no exemption. It is a terrible situation. Some of us who have customers from outside the state are feeling the pinch. This is because customers cannot come from Akwa Ibom to Aba, even coming from Port Harcourt to Aba is a herculean task. From Umuahia to Aba is no mean task; you will spend hours on the road be­cause of the bad road. There is no side you can mention and say it is better than the other in Aba. If you go to Ngwa Road, you can’t pass there. If you go to Ogbor hill, no way. Obohia Road is nothing to write home about.
Even Ariaria Inter­national Market is in a sorry state. If you manage to enter Ariaria, you will spend hours before you come out because of the nature of the road. You can’t even come through Ukwu Mango, not to talk of Faulks Road. All those areas are death traps. So, living in Aba is suffering and smiling.” Chief Ene went on: “I have been in Aba since 1970. It is a great town that had made a lot of people.
We have senators here in Aba. We have House of Representatives and state House of As­sembly members. Aba has produced so many successful people in various spheres of life. Abia is not supposed to be abandoned just like that. So, I’m appealing to the Federal Government to help us. Aba is part of Nigeria and is the com­mercial nerve centre of Abia and the South East states. “Aba boasts of skilled and skilful artisans like shoemakers and tailors, among many oth­ers, who can hold their own anywhere. All they need is the enabling environment to thrive. Any­time there is politics or during election time, they will remember Aba to come and seek for votes. But immediately after that, the place will be abandoned. So, I’m begging the Federal Gov­ernment to come to our aid because Aba is an important town that has the potential of turning around the fortunes of the country in terms of manpower and technical know-how.”
Chief Ene further said landlords in Aba also contend with other headaches apart from the infrastructural decay. “At a point, touts were almost taking over Aba after the kidnapper, Osisikankwu’s issue. We have suffered too many things. I was shot in my own office before the intervention of soldiers in the state. My place has been invaded so many times. After all the suffering, touts took over.

Residents Grab Catholic Seminarians, Tag Them Terrorists

There was confusion in the Akute area of Ogun State on Tuesday as residents accosted three Catholic Fathers-in-training, popularly called seminarians, tagging them terrorists.

It was learnt that the three seminarians, who were students of Franciscal Friars of the Emaculate Seminary School, Sagamu, Ogun State, had come to the area on a visit to their friend when they were mistaken for terrorists.

It was learnt that the students attracted the attention of the residents because they were dressed in white gowns.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity for security reason, said, “The white gown attracted attention. One of them even had a beard. Some of us stopped them to know their mission. But before you know it, many people went to town that terrorists were in Akute.”

Another resident, a commercial motorcycle rider, who also declined to give his name, said after interviewing the students, the residents were convinced that they were not terrorists

He said, “Yes, we confronted three young men dressed as Catholic Church priests. We initially thought that they were Boko Haram members. However, after having a chat with them and searching them, we discovered that they were not terrorists. We subsequently allowed them to go. Nobody arrested them.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the students were taken to the police station where their identities were confirmed.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said, “Those seen and challenged by members of the public in the Akute area were actually students of Franciscal Friars of the Emaculate Seminary School Sagamu Ogun State.

“They were on a visit to a friend at Kayode Afolabi Close, Mubarak Estate Akute,Ogun State, before a distress call was put across to the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Ajuwon Division.

“The intending catholic priests were on their normal white robes with beards which made the residents to be suspicious that they were members of Boko Haram. They were taken to the Police Divisional Office for interrogation where their identities were confirmed.

“The leaders and representatives of the seminary school in Sagamu, the Catholic Priest in Akute and some other students of the school have visited the police division in Ajuwon to identify them as their catholic members who are actually on training.”

Adejobi appealed to the general public to always clarify issues before spreading wrong information, particularly sensitive issues on security.

Every Part of Me is An Asset — Ijeoma Aguh

Ijeoma Aguh is a lady who is very passionate about what she believes in. The actress in this interview speaks about her passion and how her career has grown over the years.

Educational background

I attended Franej International High School, Benin City for my primary and secondary school education. Then I went to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where I studied Biochemistry.

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Foray into acting

I remember when I was 14, I was watching a television programme and I saw a friend of mine among the group of actors on stage. I later asked her about it and told her I was interested in acting. She introduced me to the creative director and that was how I did my first stage plays; Morountodun and Twelfth Night. The Theatre troupe then was called Creative Steps. I started acting  professionally in 2007; I had just finished my degree exams and felt that was the career I wanted to pursue professionally. So, I came back to Lagos and started going for auditions and four months later, I did my first screen acting in Eldorado, a TV series directed by Fidelis Duker.

The movie that brought me to limelight

I’d say I’m yet to hit the limelight, but HoodRush, a musical in which I played Kelechi; a victimised character, brought me some form of recognition and of course the psychological thriller, Misfit, where I played the starring role of an abducted prostitute kept in hiding for ritual purposes, also put my name out there. 

First experience on set

It was surreal and exciting at the same time. I was confident but at the same time terrified. It was a mixture of emotions to say the least. But it all went well. I’m sure I’d say the opposite if I were to watch my performance now. 

Challenges faced at the initial stage of my career

I still face them now, because playing roles that push boundaries is a big challenge for me. Interpreting human angle stories that deal on the human character and of course auditioning for roles is not easy. But resilience and  the determination to go a long way in this craft has kept me going. If you are disciplined and keep at it, as the Bible says, your talent will eventually make a way for you.

Experience on the Hoodrush set

It was quite exciting. I enjoyed every minute of living and being ‘Kelechi’. It was also great working with talented actors, like OC Ukeje, Bimbo Akintola, Gabriel Afolayan and a director who believed in talents and knew what he was doing.

Why I regret studying Applied Bio-Chemistry

Yes, I regret it because it was a time that I could have gone into studying something I loved and would later pursue, which is acting. As to why I didn’t study acting? Let’s just say it was in the days of ‘you must be a doctor, engineer, lawyer and so on’ but there is no need crying over spilt milk. We are here now and striving to make the best of it.

What inspired my one-man show, A Chronicle of Heroines from Nigerian Plays.

I put it together last year and it was because I loved playing strong independent characters, women who have surmounted all odds. So, while I was looking for a project to submit for the 30Nigeria Award grant, my mentor, Joke Silva suggested; ‘why not do a one-woman show,’ so I decided to re-enact the lives of famous characters from Nigerian Plays.

The reception…

It was great. Not only was it selected,  it also won the three thousand pounds grant from the Theatre Royal Stratford East in the UK. It was well received when I staged it here in Nigeria and it was selected as part of the plays to celebrate the International Women History month in March 2013.

Stage and screen experiences, the one I prefer most

The truth is an actor should be versatile on all media, both the stage and the screen, because each medium gives you a certain training needed to be a rounded actor. I seek that so, I pursue all.

On the issue of dwindling flair for travelling theatre 

One has to understand that time changes and with it comes adaptation. Travelling theatre as seen in the days of Hubert Ogunde, was when television wasn’t available to everyone. We had some form of communal living, such as town centers and so on, so people got their entertainment from watching shows of theatre troupes who came to their towns and villages.

But these days, people would rather get this same entertainment in the comfort of their homes. So, artistes had to devise a means of getting their works to people’s homes via television, which gave birth to home videos. Thankfully, the cinema culture has been revived and once again, people can go out and be entertained. 

First thing I do when I get a role

I thank God because usually you’d have to audition with a whole lot of people and for you to clinch the role is just God’s mercy. Then I go through the script to see how much information the writer gives about who the character is; the background, personality, journey, wants, goals and so on. The much you uncover about the character helps you in playing the role. If you are lucky, you get all the information you need in the script, if not, that’s why you are an actor, a role interpreter. 

Coping with competition in the industry

Truth is, for me, it’s not about the competition but about doing something you love, something that fulfills you. The sky is big enough, so do what you can and let your talent speak for you. No two great actors would play a character the same way.

Coping with sexual harassment on the job

I have been lucky to say the truth. I’ve not been in such a fix before.

How I feel being a part of the Nigerian movie industry 

I couldn’t have asked for a better time. I believe the industry is going through a renaissance period and to be part of it all is surreal.

Memorable moments of my career

Being part of the ensemble cast that performed at Stratford during the London 2012 Olympics was a moment I’ll never forget. Also being invited to Paris by NollywoodWeek Film Festival for the international screening of the movie Misfit is also memorable for me.

Then winning the 30Nigeria Award grant, performing on an international stage and my various acting nominations; NMA, City People, BON Awards, it’s quite encouraging.

How I improve my craft

I read a lot of books on acting, I watch tapes, study and listen to the great artistes such as  Merryl Streep, Katherine Hepburn, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joke Silva and many other veterans.

Opinion on actresses and provocative dressing

I believe if it is for a role, then I have nothing against it because you have to be the character and interprete the role very well. But if it is personal style, I think everyone has her own style.

Opinion on acting nude

If it helps and moves the story or character forward, then you have to do your job unless if it is not necessary. But moderation is the watchword as it is not porn you are shooting.

Opinion on toning

Personally, I don’t ascribe to it.

Any role restriction

No, I don’t have any.

Life as a married woman

I’m married to Daniel Emeke Oriahi. He is a filmmaker and it has been a wonderful experince. As regards who my ideal man is? There is no ideal man. If you love each other and have God in your relationship, then you will endeavour to make it work. 

If I could star in the remake of a classic movie…

That would be Sophie’s Choice, Casablanca and Pretty Woman.

Favourite Nigerian and international actors

I love and respect Joke Silva so much. And people like Genevieve Nnaji, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett and Julia Roberts are among my favourites.

My greatest physical asset

Every part of me is a great asset.

Likes and dislikes

I like honest and real people and I can’t stand phonies and snobs.

Fashion sense

I don’t know much about fashion and I’m still learning. But classy, glamorous would do.

Beauty regimen

I have none. In fact, it is even really hard for me to wash my face twice a day.

Favourite colour

I love cream and chocolate.

Favourite holiday spot

That would be Surrey in the United Kingdom, because it is really serene and of course Paris, the City of lights and love, to quote my husband.

The next step I’m taking now

I’m building a family for now and career wise, I’m building a film empire with my hubby. And I’m also making memorable movies that will stand the test of time.

Philosophy of life

Success rewards hard work.

How I relax

I love swimming and karaoke, but most of all, I just like chilling at home with hubby.